Located next to the Civic Center basketball court is the newly rehabilitated pavilion constructed by the Filipino Community Foundation Inc.-Saipan.
Members of the group raised the funds for the project.
The colorful six-pillar pavilion is ideal for community and family gatherings and events.
Known as the Filipino Community Pavilion, it was first constructed by the Pilipino Association in the Northern Mariana Islands in 1978.
Last year, the group, now known as the Filipino Community Foundation, decided to rehabilitate the pavilion and on Dec. 6, 2010, the ceremonial shoveling at the project site was held.
Filipino Community CNMI president Maribel Loste said the pavilion can be used by members of the public, regardless of ethnicity or nationality.
Like any other pavilion, its use is to be regulated by the Division of Parks and Recreation which maintains all pavilions on island, she said.
On Monday, the newly rehabilitated pavilion was inaugurated during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by CNMI first lady Josie Fitial, Andrea Sablan, wife of Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Loste, Danny and Remy Buniag, Cesar Dumatol, Naneth Delos Santos, Nel Atalig, Filipino Community Foundation secretary Eddie Caranzo, Vir Abuene, United Filipino Organizations president Olive Yana and Paul Madriaga.
“This pavilion is good for parties,” Mrs. Fitial said, as she congratulated the officials of the Filipino Community Foundation for pursuing the rehabilitation project despite the economic hardship on island. “It’s a job well done,” she added.
Mrs. Sablan, for her part, is hoping that the people who will use the pavilion will keep it clean. “It’s a nice pavilion for everybody,” she added.
