There are fewer participants compared to last year but “we hope to be livelier,” he said.
This year’s parade grand marshal is Gregorio M. Sablan Sr.
Antonio Benavente, the Saipan mayor’s press information officer, said there are at least three new participants — the Department of Corrections, the Pathfinder of the Seventh-day Adventist and the Inetnon Amot Natibu.
The Inetnon Amot Natibu is headed by Isidoro Cabrera who is also the co-chairman of the Liberation Parade Committee.
“This is a new organization and we want to promote it,” Cabrera told Variety, adding that their group is a non-profit corporation advocating traditional healing methods and medicinal plants.
Tudela said the parade will have four categories — marching, walking, vehicle and float.
The marchers are the Wait-A-Minute Crew, the Saipan Falun Dafa Organization, the CNMI Nursing Association, the Domatsuri Group of Japan, the Multiple School Unit, the Chinese Association, the Rhythm & Body Crew, the Pathfinder and Inetnon Amot Natibu.
Participants in the float category are the Department of Corrections, the Manamko’ Senior Advisory Council, the Island Warriors, the Korean Association of Saipan, the United Filipino Organization, and the Saipan Fishermen’s Association.
The NMI Council for Humanities, the Japanese Society of the NMI, Stellar Marianas, Uncle Ben’s Music & Dance Studio, Taga Riders, UN.LTD.NRG (Unlimited Energy), the Department of Public Safety and PTI are in the vehicle category.
For the walking category, only the Lions International District 204 and the Little Darlings Early Childhood are on the list.
Tudela said the assembly area of the parade participants will be outside the National Office Supply at 12:30 noon and the parade will start at 2 p.m.
The parade route, which ends in front of the grandstand outside the Kristo Rai Church, will be closed to traffic from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The parade line-up will be as follows: the color guard, the V.I.P’s, the grand marshal, the marching units, the village floats, the government floats, the commercial floats, dance troupes and walkers.
The judging for all competitive floats will take place at the reviewing stand and the awards will be announced after the parade.
The competitive floats will be judged on their originality, effort, design/appearance and portrayal.
This year’s Liberation Day theme is “Great Hope and Wisdom Through Liberation.”
The parade sponsors are the Saipan mayor’s office, the Department of Public Safety, Hawaiian Rock Products, Sky Castle and Triple J.
