THE 2022 Tinian San Jose Fiesta came to a close on Sunday, May 1, after three days of jam-packed events at the Tinian Fiesta Grounds.
Joining Mayor Edwin P. Aldan onstage at the opening ceremony were his wife, Rosita King-Aldan, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Mark Hashimoto, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider, Senate Floor Leader Vinnie Sablan, Sen. Francisco Cruz, Sen. Karl King-Nabors, Rep. Patrick San Nicolas, 18th Tinian and Aguiguan Municipal Council Chair Joseph Santos, Guam mayors Kevin Susuico of Agat and Anthony Chargualaf of Inalahan, as well as church leaders.
The master of ceremonies was Luis John Castro.
The Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School JROTC Color Guard posted the colors, followed by the singing of the national and CNMI anthems, and an opening invocation.
In his opening remarks, Mayor Aldan thanked the Tinian community for their efforts in keeping the tradition alive.
“It gives me great joy to welcome you to the 2022 Tinian San Jose Fiesta honoring the 66th anniversary of celebrating the island’s patron saint, San Jose the Worker…. The San Jose Fiesta is a long-standing tradition for us and each year, we welcome everyone to join us in this celebration to witness firsthand what our beautiful island of Tinian has to offer,” he said.
“Every year, we get together to keep this tradition alive by showcasing our island’s hospitality, local cuisines, performers, arts and crafts, and local delights. While the San Jose Fiesta is a terrific way to share our culture with each other, we also celebrate this for one reason: the San Jose Fiesta is one of our island’s most significant events in honor of our patron, patron Saint Joe.”
He added, “I feel that it is only necessary to acknowledge how hard our community worked to bring forth a sense of normalcy and continue with our annual traditions despite all of the many struggles that we have faced over the past four years. Thank you all for being patient and doing your part as we continue to overcome this pandemic’s effect on our community.”
In his remarks, Senate President Hofschneider said, “As we celebrate this year, it’s hard to imagine that 1956 was the first celebration and it snowballed into where we’re at today. We are a resilient bunch, that no matter what they throw at us, we make sure that we pay tribute and patronage of our patron saint, San Jose. It is the only signature event of Tinian that collaborates the fiesta, the community celebration, and the religious celebration.”
“As we navigate through,” he added, “we would like to continue asking the community to work with your government leaders, to work with your business leaders, to work through all the challenges because only us, can get through with this. If it’s not us, then it’s nobody, because it’s only us…. So, despite all the challenges, I want to recognize, again, the community and the leadership for having this celebration.”
Municipal council chair Santos, in his closing remarks, said he hopes that the event participants will continue to join the Tinian community in this annual celebration in the years to come.
San Jose, or Saint Joseph, is known as a carpenter and the foster father of Jesus.
Edwin Aldan
