By Emmanuel T. Erediano
Variety News Staff

FOUR champions of previous bartending competitions joined the Light Rum Challenge held on Saturday at the Taste of the Marianas site at American Memorial Park.
A new champion also emerged from among the 11 participants in the beginners category that drew a big crowd even before the breathtaking battle of the champions began.
The competition, which was organized in collaboration with the Marianas Visitor’s Authority, had the theme: “Supporting the CNMI Tourism Industry.”
In the battle of the champions, Marvin Salamat of the Pacific Islands Club won first place and the best in showmanship award with his newly invented “Midnight Chill” which he prepared with “a little bit of circus and magic” — all in five minutes.
Salamat’s three opponents were Jaymar Torres of the Aqua Resort Club and World Resort Hotel’s Rogel Caruana and Alvin Palma.
Lorenzo Divino of Hotel Nikko Saipan won in the beginners category with his “Frozen Marianas Ecstacy” –a combination of Bacardi light rum, coconut milk, pineapple juice, Bailey’s Irish cream and Kahlua coffee liqueur.
Ernie Garcia of the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Jayson Gatdula of the Marianas Resort and Spa won the best in taste award, Dalewin Cortez of the Aqua Resort Hotel was named second runner up, while Day Anne De Leon of Century Hotel was the best in showmanship.
The other participants in the beginners category were Cesar Ambrocio Jr., Aqua Resort; Jerson Villamor, Hyatt; Michael Lim, Nikko; Cleve Allan Torcita, Capricciosa; Joseph Solmarin; and Ramil Eustaquio.
They were given certificates of appreciation by the MVA.
All participants were awarded gift certificates from Joeten Enterprises, PTI and Duty Free.
The judges were Koji Takeda, owner of Johnny’s Bar; Bob Well, sales manager of KZMI; and Hwang Kyung Rok, a.k.a. “The Champ,” of The Flair bar.