THE local community gathered at the Carolinian Utt in Garapan on Saturday for the first annual Tipiyeew-Ina’famaolek Marianas Festival.
The festival began at 8 a.m. with the weekly Project Liffang Market, followed by the traditional underground cooking, or “uumw,” cow roast, and smoked meat demonstrations.
Food vendors offering free samples of Chamorro and Carolinian cuisine were also on site, as well as numerous cultural arts and crafts vendors.
At 1 p.m., a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held attended by various government, business, and community leaders and members, including Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, House Minority Leader Angel A. Demapan, Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo, Carolinian Affairs Office executive assistant John Tagabuel, and John Gonzales, the master of ceremonies.
Rev. Father Albert Pellazar opened the celebration with a benediction. This was followed by the singing of the national and CNMI anthems led by young ukulele students.
In his opening remarks, CAO executive assistant Tagabuel highlighted the importance of togetherness and the passing on of cultural practices from generation to generation.
“We need to show our kids our culture. They need to know where we are from and where we are heading,” he said.
He also thanked various government, business, and community partners and volunteers that helped make the event possible.
In his remarks delivered in Chamorro, Gov. Torres thanked various partners and said that the theme of togetherness lies at the core of the festival and, more importantly, at the core of the Chamorro and Carolinian cultures.
Lt. Gov. Palacios, for his part, thanked all partners involved in the event, especially for placing great emphasis on cultural preservation.
MVA Managing Director Iakopo, on behalf of the MVA board and members, said it was truly a pleasure for the tourism agency to support the cultural celebration.
“It is also exciting to see many partners come together in this exhibition of indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian cultures. The new strategic plan towards sustainable tourism includes prioritizing our indigenous cultures of the Marianas as a key part of MVA’s mission in reviving and improving our tourism economy. We kicked off the implementation of this plan earlier this year in collaboration with the Saipan Chamber of Commerce with the Hafa Adai and Tirow Pledge Program inviting businesses, organizations, and individuals as we ask you to pledge and to take action to promote our local cultures,” she said.
Iakopo also noted that in early September, the MVA board designated Cultural Month as one of its annual signature events, and approved the promotion of a weekly cultural promotion event.
In his remarks, House Speaker Villagomez said, “I really do look forward to this event being a signature event every year. We just finished celebrating Cultural Heritage Month, but we must not forget that we should practice our culture, every day, every month, every year, every generation. It is our responsibility to teach our children and to instill that in them so that they can pass it on to the next generation.”
The winners of the Chamorro and Carolinian Heritage Month essay and logo contests were announced and various local musical guests performed for the crowd.
CNMI Covid-19 protocols were observed, and community members were encouraged to bring their own beverages and lawn chairs.
The inaugural event was brought to the public through the collaboration of government, business, and community partners, including the Office of the Governor, the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, CAO, IAO, MVA, the Humanities Council, the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the Chamorro and Carolinian Language Commission, the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation, the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Public Works, the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, the Office of the Mayor of Rota, the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan, 4Ever CNMI, 500 Sails, Century Tours Inc., D&Q International Distributors, Kinpachi Japanese Restaurant, Naked Fish Bar & Grill, Plumeria Steakhouse, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, and the Tinian Cattlemen’s Association.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres, Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo join students in singing the national anthem during the first annual Tipiyeew-Ina’famaolek Marianas Festival on Saturday at the Carolinian Utt in Garapan.
