Luciann Indelacio, Carley Laniyo, Haoting Romolor and Kaylynn Sablan have been hard at work fundraising by selling raffle tickets to family, friends and community supporters. The candidate who raises the most money wins the coveted title.
MV Teen met up with the busy teenagers for a look into their lives as 2008 Liberation Day Royal Court candidates.
MV Teen: What does liberation mean to you?
“I would define it to being liberated as being a representative of confidence and leadership to our community,” said 15 year-old Luciann Indalecio of Kagman High School.
“It’s celebrating a day for our ancestors and our freedom,” said both 16 year-old Carley Laniyo from Marianas High School and Kaylynn Sablan from Kagman High School.
18 year-old graduate from Saipan Southern High School Haoting Romolor says she sees being liberated as being confident, as well as “being free from drugs and an inspiration to the youth on that direction.”
MV Teen: Would you like to be the next Liberation Day Queen?
“It would mean a lot to me, I would represent the CNMI and my family proudly. As of right now, my fundraising efforts are going really good, and yes, I am getting a lot of attention from the public,” said Sablan.
“This experience is as hectic as the real pageants, so it has been a really good one. I wouldn’t regret anything, so as of now, I can’t wait till the coronation night. My opinion is that we should encourage people to help in our economy,” she said.
“Our people should know that being a Liberation Day candidate is not only about the money, it is also about the respect we get that come with it. This is a really bumpy ride right now,” laughs Laniyo.
“Throughout it all, this is very fun and exciting. I want to win so I can represent freedom, and have a time that the CNMI would be better place, without the gambling, too,” she said.
“I feel happy and proud for the hard work I did, which I know will pay off. I want to represent the Northern Marianas. Everything is as of right now hard work, fun and everything is a new thing to me. This is right now, my very own rollercoaster!” she added.
Indalecio pointed out although she would like to win, she hopes “our people in the community members would be able to live life, and get out and just do everything to the fullest, and stay happy.”
Romolor said, “I’ll just try my best, but even if I don’t win as queen, I did my best and the experience was great. I have met so many people and have learned from them about Saipan and how it became liberated.”
“I want to be well known not only with the Liberation committee, but also I would like to represent what I truly stand for which is my culture, I am a Chinese Carolinian decent,” she said.
“I would like people to know that I am fun and I love meeting new people. I’m smart and confident on what I do. As of right now it’s hard, the competition and everything, but I know it’s going to pay me back in the long run. I have hopes that the economy and the island itself is going to good and okay, I believe in that,” she added.
The Liberation Day Royal Court is usually crowned a few days before the July 4th Parade.
