“On a sad note MVA was not able to support our efforts and lost out on a very valuable marketing tool for us here on Rota,” said event coordinator Tom Glenn Quitugua of the Department of Commerce’s resident office.
The event was the first of its kind in the CNMI, and Quitugua said it drew many visitors from various Chamorro organizations, including those from Guam and Saipan.
Quitugua said the uniqueness of the festival attracted elected officials from Guam, and was given ample media attention there.
The event will be featured on “The Outdoor Chef,” a television cooking show on Guam, he said.
During the festival, the community members demonstrated the various uses of the coconut.
“The imminent need to not only preserve but to protect the coconut tree as well as to pass on the pricelessness we often times take for granted,” Quitugua said.
Organizers of the festival are hoping that the future administration on Rota will hold it annually.
This year’s festival, which was held on Sept. 11 and 12, included competition in arts and crafts, cooking, and coconut-inspired fun games.
Quitugua said the winners of the games were awarded cash prizes from Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos while consolation prizes were provided by the resident departments that sponsored the competitions.
