(MVA) — The 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 16-17, 2024, in the Marianas served up the spiciest assortment of activities since the inception of the festival by the Marianas Visitors Authority two decades ago.
The festival pays homage to Tinian’s diminutive yet potent “donni sali” hot pepper and was held at the Fiesta Grounds in San Jose, Tinian, adjacent to the picturesque Jones Beach. The festival opening ceremony on Friday, attended by Lt. Gov. David Apatang and other dignitaries, featured a historic sister city agreement signing by the mayors of Tinian and the town of Tublay in the province of Benguet in the Philippines before the kick-off of festivities.
“Any weekend is a great weekend in Tinian, but the Tinian Hot Pepper Festival highlights part of the local culture that is unique — the ‘donni sali’ hot pepper, and our goal is going to find better and new ways to celebrate that each year,” said MVA Deputy Managing Director Judy C. Torres, who welcomed festival celebrants at the opening ceremony. “The Tinian Hot Pepper Festival continues to grow more popular every year as MVA attracts more visitors and more media exposure to the island with this celebration. They come for the festival, the food, the beach and ocean, the burn, and especially, the hospitable people of Tinian. MVA couldn’t do it without them.”
The festival is organized in collaboration with the Tinian Mayor’s Office, and mayors of Saipan, Rota, Northern Islands, and Guam attended the event, along with the Tinian Legislative Delegation. Cash prizes were awarded for all the competitions over the weekend, including the newly added 5K Pika Fun Run, which attracted 58 runners early Saturday. Top finishers in the male division were Keith Longuski, followed by Jeff Pierrot and Jack Russillo. Topping the women’s division were Virginie Ternisien, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, and Mary Sims. All participants also received a 2024 Pika Fun Run t-shirt.
Little Miss Pika 2024 Isadella San Nicolas and Little Mr. Pika 2024 Rickson Quenzy Manglona, the first ever, were crowned for best combined score on hot pepper-inspired costume, Q&A, and overall stage presence. Other top precocious pepper picks for Little Miss were Sesa Lux San Nicolas and Anita Moses, and for Litte Mr. were Kyjhun Alambra and Francisco Moses.
For the first time, men and women went head-to-head in two heats of the Triple J Hot Pepper Eating Contest. On Friday (Feb. 16), Michael Phillip Womack of Pohnpei chomped down on 100 “donni sali” the fastest, followed by Vincent Arriola, and Levi Rouse. On Saturday (Feb. 17), Vladislav Melnik repeated his winning form of a few years back to take top honors, followed by Syliva Biz in 2nd place and Womack in 3rd place.
In the JC Burger Eating Contest, Ilan Bubb downed his pepper-laced burger first, followed by Thomas Erickson and Levi Rouse.
Tinian home cooks swept the titles for best “katdun pika” (spicy beef stew), with Bill Cing in 1st place, Bernard Lopez in 2nd place, and Sylvia Biz in 3rd. When asked when the donni should be added, the cooks jokingly agreed that it could be first, it could be last, or it could be repeatedly throughout the cooking process.
Popular local musician Yobei Parker set the stage for the Cha-cha Dance Contest on Saturday, where contestants were judged based on their hot pepper-inspired costumes and their smooth dance moves. Tearing up the dance floor for 1st place were Francisco Moses and Niziah Dela Cruz, with two other couples also receiving prizes.
The co-ed beach volleyball title, which kicked off on Thursday (Feb. 15) went to Donni Diggers in 1st place, Dorothy San Nicolas in 2nd place, and Tropics Bar in 3rd. The best decorated booth was RB5 & Grands.
Docomo Pacific was the Exclusive Pika Sponsor of the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival, which was organized by MVA in collaboration with the Tinian Mayor’s Office. Additional sponsors were JC Café and Triple J.
Ferry service was provided by the MVA between Saipan and Tinian for the event, and a shuttle service was provided between the airport and seaport and the festival grounds. Free camping was available at Jones Beach, Taga Beach, and at Tachogna Beach nearby.
The Tinian Hot Pepper Festival is held every President’s Day weekend in Tinian.
Vladislav Melnik, left, and Sylvia Biz chomp their way through 100 “donni sali” hot peppers to win 1st and 2nd place, respectively, in the Triple J Hot Pepper Eating Contest on Feb. 17, 2024, at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
Jackson Lockwood, left, of the U.S. and Derence Palacios of Tinian go to the net on Feb. 17, 2024, in the co-ed beach volleyball competition at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival. Donni Diggers dominated the competition to win 1st place at the festival, organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority every President’s Day weekend in February.
Men’s 2nd place finisher Jeff Pierrot, left, and women’s 1st place finisher Virginie Ternisien accept their prize money for Top 3 finishes in the Pika Fun Run on Feb. 17, 2024, during the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival. Fifty-eight participants joined the inaugural race at the festival, organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority every President’s Day weekend in February.
Brian Ayuyu of the Marianas Visitors Authority carefully counts out 100 “donni Sali” hot pepper for the Triple J Hot Pepper Eating Contest on Feb. 17, 2024, at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
Eventual 1st place winner Bill Cing, left, and other home cooks prepare their entries for the Estafao (spicy beef stew) Cooking Contest on Feb. 17, 2024, at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
Visitors sample the entries in the Estafao (spicy beef stew) Cooking Contest on Feb. 17, 2024, at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.
RB5 & Grands wins 1st place in the booth decorating contest at the 20th Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival on Feb. 16 & 17, 2024.
