Coming in second and winning $300 was the float of Eusebio Borja and family, followed by third placer GTC Elementary School which bagged the $200 prize.
The two other participants were San Antonio Elementary School and Ladera International School of Saipan.
Arts Council coordinator Lucille Ayuyu earlier said that due to budgetary restraints, there would be no booth competition for this year.
Still, she said, “compared to the past years, there may be fewer visitors due to the economic situation, but it was still a colorful and successful celebration.”
This year’s festival featured 55 booths showcasing traditional craft/visual artists as well as various food items and local delicacies.
Live demonstrations were held everyday regarding the Pohnpeian sakau, Carolinian coconut weaving, Palau wood carving, Chuukese kkol, which is made from breadfruit, Chamorro coconut candy, Samoan pandana weaving and Japanese origami.
Government agencies and business organizations also had booths to provide information to the public: Youth with a Mission, Northern Marianas College, the Child Care Program, the Division of Youth Services, the Historic Preservation Office, the Chamorro/Carolinian Language Poetry Commission and Shell Marianas.
Guests were treated to non-stop live entertainment from the Satawal dancers, the Kulu Natibu/Inatuas cultural dancers, the Welippal cultural dancers, Guam’s Rasan Acho’ Latte Dancers, Gilita, Nolas Kaliga as well as other local cultural dancers and live bands.
The theme of this year’s Micronesian Flame Tree Arts Festival was “Uniting Rainbows of Traditions and Cultures.”
