AFTER five days of jampacked events, the 2021 Tinian San Jose Fiesta came to a close Sunday, May 2.
The fiesta kicked off with a two-day soft opening last Wednesday and Thursday with a performance by JTK Sounds.
Then, on Friday, the fiesta officially began with its opening ceremony.
Gates opened in the late afternoon, complete with the CNMI Covid-19 task force conducting temperature checks.
The Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School JROTC Color Guard posted the colors, followed by local teen idols Isa and Cielo Long leading the singing of the national and CNMI anthems.
Father Anthony Aguason of the Tinian Parish gave the opening invocation, and was followed by the welcoming remarks of Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan.
“Every year, we celebrate this fiesta in honor of our beloved St. Joseph, who is the patron saint of labor and hard work. His name is especially honored during troubling times like this when work is scarce because of [the] Covid-19 pandemic,” Mayor Aldan said.
“We have all come across hard times during this pandemic, and we all share the same struggles, so let us take this weekend to reflect on and count our blessings. May we share in the immense love and support in our community, and the fact that we are all healthy and our community [is] Covid-free.”
“There is plenty to celebrate this weekend, how far we have come since this pandemic, so enjoy yourselves with your loved ones,” he added.
Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz, chairman of the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation, took the stage after Mayor Aldan, giving special remarks on behalf of the delegation.
“We hope that you are having a great time with your family and friends as we celebrate our annual fiesta in honor of St. Joseph…. The fiesta is such a great time to catch up, strengthen and renew ties with people who have helped us during difficult and trying times,” the senator said.
Our fiesta celebration is also a thanksgiving to our Lord for all of the blessings that He has given us… I see that this is an effective avenue to generate community participation and therefore enhance teamwork within our municipality.”
He added, “I am truly honored by and thankful for the unity, participation, and support in this great community of ours.”
Tinian Municipal Council vice chair Thomasa P. Mendiola delivered the closing remarks.
“There are two significant events here on Tinian: the Pika Festival and the San Jose fiesta. But of course, our fiesta for San Jose, which we have been celebrating for the past 65 years, is our main celebration, and this year, our celebration is special because Pope Francis has declared this year as the Year of St. Joseph, our patron [saint],” said the councilwoman.
“We have much to celebrate. For the past two years, we have had to scale down on our activities due to Typhoon Yutu’s destruction of our church, and the [Covid-19] pandemic. These two unprecedented disasters have played major roles in most of our setbacks that we have experienced, but one thing it did not destroy was our faith.”
“We come together as a community and look for that silver lining. That’s who we are,” she added.
Father Aguason gave the closing invocation, before local talent Bobbie Degracia took the stage, followed by Dar Demapan, Gigolo Coverband, and Island Vibe Entertainment.
On Saturday, the fiesta resumed early in the morning with the annual fishing derby.
Island Vibe Entertainment took the stage again in the early afternoon, serenading event participants with local jams.
More competitions were held in the afternoon with the Booth Presentation Competition, the Fiesta Cook-off/Chiba, and the Paddle Board Competition.
In the late afternoon, Mass was celebrated at the San Jose Church.
The JROTC Drill Team led the presentations on stage, followed by performances by Joe Sablan, Colleen Cing, Isa and Cielo Long, Bobbie Degracia, Dar Demapan, Gigolo Cover Band, and Island Vibe Entertainment.
On the final day of festivities, the athletes toughed it out on the field with the Fiesta Softball Tournament.
The first game was a battle between the Batting Bees and Familia, followed by the Hustlers versus Mangachong, and Braves versus Saipan Team.
The winners were announced following each event, before closing out with live entertainment by Island Vibe Entertainment.
The 65th Annual San Jose Fiesta was sponsored by the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan, the Tinian Municipal Council, the Marianas Visitors Authority, Marpac Inc., Fishing Tackle & Sporting Goods, Docomo Pacific, and Triple J.
Members of the Tinian Jr.-Sr. High School JROTC Color Guard post the colors to kick off the 65th Annual San Jose Fiesta on Friday.
Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan photo
