TINIAN (MVA) — The 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival was held on Feb. 13-14, 2021, highlighting the success of the Northern Marianas in preventing the spread of the coronavirus through strong policies and community cooperation.
The annual signature event of the Marianas Visitors Authority, organized in cooperation with the Office of the Mayor of Tinian & Aguiguan, pushed through with a favorable turnout enjoying all the food, fun, and festivities associated with the festival within the parameters of enhancing public safety measures.
The CNMI has not had any community spread of the coronavirus in six months. In her remarks at Saturday’s opening ceremony, MVA Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo also emphasized the importance of indigenous values in helping to flatten the coronavirus curve in the CNMI.
“Here in the Marianas, we have all pulled together to support our executive leadership and our health care leaders in doing what is necessary to keep our people safe, first with testing and quarantine for all arriving passengers into the Marianas, and second, by supporting the very practices we are all committing to this weekend: frequent handwashing, wearing our masks, and social distancing,” said Iakopo.
“It’s about respect and care for others, and we can all take pride that this important virtue in our Chamorro and Refaluwasch cultures has helped keep our community safe and has helped make this weekend’s festival possible.”
The 50K Pika Bike Race early Saturday morning attracted 48 bikers. Joel Buco (01:42:11) and Kriz Gozon (02:17:43) earned 1st place in the Open Category for Men and Women, respectively.
Later that evening Ricardo Carrazco of Nebraska chomped through 100 “donne sali” peppers first to top the Male Hot Pepper Eating Contest. The following day Jessica Cabrera of Tinian took the Women’s title. The JC Café Pikalicious Burger Eating Contest tested competitors with giant, “donne sali”-laced patties, with Thomas Erickson of Tinian defending his title and once again devoured the competition to placed first.
Bernard T. Lopez served up the tastiest dish in the Estufao Pika (spicy chicken stew) Cooking Contest.
The “Umang” (hermit crab) Race for boys and girls was topped by Joaquina Aldan and Hombre Hocog for having the fastest crab to exit the circle. In the adult round of tug of war, two groups of friends faced off with a quick win going to the team informally named “Facial Hair,” while the Sack Race was won by the team of Stanley Jr. and Conan Briggeman Iakopo.
The two-person canoe race was held with mixed success, with only two of four teams finishing the timed course in the turquoise lagoon. Finishing first were Adam Steves and Hannah Dodge.
Local musician Parker Yobei helped wind up the weekend with a Cha Cha Dance Competition topped by Carmen Dela Cruz and Melvin Cruz of Tinian. First place in the Booth Decoration Contest went to Sweetie’s Corner.
Iakopo said MVA and the Office of the Mayor of Tinian & Aguiguan could not have made this year’s “Pika” festival — as it is affectionately known to locals — possible without the event sponsors and donors, including the CNMI Office of the Governor, 18th the Tinian Municipal Council, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp, the CNMI Covid-19 Task Force, the Tinian Fishermen’s Association, JC Café, Bikers Association of Tinian, the Department of Public Safety-Boating Safety, Department of Fire Emergency & Medical Services, KKMP, and Capt. Cecilio Raiukiulipiy.
The Tinian Hot Pepper Festival was held at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose village and is organized every President’s Day weekend in February. Ferry service and airport shuttle service were also provided during the festival.
For more information on Tinian, visit www.mymarianas.com
The 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival was held on Feb. 13-14, 2021, in San Jose, Tinian. The annual signature event of the Marianas Visitors Authority is jointly organized with the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan.
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Upon entry, attendees of the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 13-14, 2021 receive temperature checks and leave their contact information for contact tracing.
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Craftsman Matthew Masga, left, explains his work to a guest on Feb. 13, 2021 at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival in San Jose, Tinian.
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Food vendors serve island favorites on Feb. 13, 2021, at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Priscilla M. Iakopo, center, joins the candidates of the 2021 Miss Marianas pageant for a photo on Feb. 13, 2021 during the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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U.S. Navy Seabee Ricardo Carrazco, who is from Nebraska, chomps his way through 100 “donne sali” peppers on Feb. 13, 202, to win 1st place in the Hot Pepper Eating Contest (Male Category) during the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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Fit Beats warm up the crowd during the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 13, 2021.
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Participants in the 50K Pika Bike Race traverse Broadway on Feb. 13, 2021 at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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The 50K Pika Bike Race on Feb. 13, 2021 attracted 48 bikers at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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Issac Anderson, left, and Stacy Escueta haul their way to a 2nd place finish in the canoe race on Feb. 14, 2021, during the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
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Mask wearing is mandated and frequent handwashing is encouraged at the 17th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 13-14, 2021. The Northern Marianas has not had any community spread of the coronavirus in six months.
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