AFTER setting down his two-way radio, 2002 Liberation Day Committee Chairman Isidoro T. Cabrera looked intently at the large crowd of families and children jostling into the Carnival grounds at American Memorial Park last Saturday.
“It is going pretty good,” he said. “Families are spending more time together, more time with their children—that’s what this year’s festivities are about,” he said.
Time is running quickly for the Liberation Day Committee members as they prepare to crown a queen tonight, hold a Queen’s Ball tomorrow evening, and then kick off the 56th Liberation Day Parade the day after.
“We had so little time to prepare, with new people taking the helm in the middle of things. But this committee is hardworking, and we all help each other,” Cabrera said.
The committee’s hard work paid off, as this year’s Liberation Parade will have 15 floats and more than 25 marching and display groups.
“We are still receiving interested groups that would like to participate. This promises to be an exciting event, and we are pleased with the turnout,” said Float Committee Chairman Joe Tenorio.
Since the festivities’ opening on May 31, Cabrera has yet to see any “major incidents” on the grounds, a fact that the committee is proud of.
“The theme ‘Warm Up to Our Ways This Liberation Day’ signifies what we believe in—that is, the family is the heart of our culture. Gambling and other things that could disrupt the family do not belong as a part of the celebration,” he said.
The National Park Service, along with the Office of the Governor and the Attorney General’s Office, would not allow gambling on the Carnival grounds, Cabrera said. The Office of the Mayor eventually stuck to that decision and caused the resignation of the then committee chairman and other members.
The committee had to re-organize, and some members took on dual roles. “It is a large responsibility, but we are doing the best that we can with what we have,” Cabrera said.
Despite the absence of gambling and the islands’ current economic downturn, the Liberation Carnival manages to attract a good number of local residents as well as visitors, Cabrera said.
“Even in these hard economic times, we still have people taking the time to come out and enjoy the festivities,” he said.
Twenty-eight booths offer freshly cooked, affordable meals and snacks, as well as fun games and prizes at the Liberation Carnival. Four more new Carnival rides, including a mini-ferris wheel, recently opened.
Every night, a schedule of local entertainment is offered on the main stage from bands to cultural dance groups.
On weekdays and on Sundays, the Carnival is open from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. On Fridays and Saturdays, the Carnival is open from 6 p.m. to 12 midnight.
The Liberation Day Queen’s Coronation ceremony starts at 7 p.m. tonight and the public is invited to attend.
The Queen’s Ball is for invited and ticketed guests and it will be held tomorrow evening at Dai-Ichi Hotel. Tickets, which cost $20 each, will be sold at the door.
