(MVA) — School’s out, but the teaching continues for the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority, which took their presentations about tourism and hospitality to summer camp on Wednesday, July 24.
With a diverse lineup of activities, the MTEC/MVA team shared the message that “Tourism is Everybody’s Business” with nearly 70 children ages 5-12 at the Division of Youth Services’ Youth Empowerment Summer Camp.
With uke in hand, musician and MTEC Board Member Larry Lee led students in learning the “Hafa Adai” welcome song. Dance instructors Leilani and Bina Marciano took it a step further by teaching the accompanying “Hafa Adai” dance, with students quickly picking up the coconut-shell clicking routine.
Under the tents outdoors, banana print artist Brian Ruben conducted a follow-along tutorial, guiding the creation of numerous crabs and other designs. April Repeki and Nicole Tyquiengco of the dance troupe Simiyan Marianas taught coconut-frond weaving, helping the students weaving fish, hearts, and more, which they proudly displayed throughout the afternoon.
At another station, students imagined being either visitors or hospitable locals, waving their country flags and “riding an airplane” from Korea or Japan, having an “airport welcome” with shells leis and island maps, taking a “bus tour” with videos produced by MVA to various scenic sites, “suiting up” with snorkels and fins for diving at Grotto and other sites, and enjoying one the most common culture practices in the Marianas — sharing food. Chamorro cookies, to be exact.
“MTEC is grateful to the Division of Youth Services, especially Ms. Anna Rangamar, for inviting us to participate in the Summer Camp,” said MTEC Chair Vicky Benavente. “Our young participants were treated to a typical tourist’s experience in the Marianas. They had fun and they learned a lot from the local artists and musicians.”
The outreach was strongly supported by cultural practitioners provided through Pacific Development Inc., Simiyan Marianas and Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc.
“It is important to preserve, promote, and perpetuate our indigenous Chamorro and Refaluwasch culture for our future generation,” said PDI co-owner and MTEC Board Member Gordon Marciano. “Our “kutura,’ ‘kkosch’ (culture) Chamorro yan Refaluwasch connects us all.”
MTEC is a non-profit organization whose mission is to foster and improve community understanding of the visitor industry; to educate the general public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits, and economic contributions made to the community by the visitor industry; and to instill, improve and promote the “Hafa Adai Tirow” hospitality spirit throughout the community.
Nicole Tyquiengco teaches coconut frond weaving at the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority’s outreach in Koblerville on July 24, 2024.
Local performing artist and MTEC Board Member Larry Lee, left, teaches the “Hafa Adai” song at the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority’s outreach in Koblerville on July 24, 2024.
From left, Leilani Marciano and Bina Marciano teach the “Hafa Adai” dance at the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority’s outreach in Koblerville on July 24, 2024.
Children at the Division of Youth Services Youth Empowerment Summer Camp prepare for an imaginary dive at Obyan Beach with Marianas Visitors Authority Community Projects Specialist Jack Aranda on July 24, 2024, in Koblerville.
Children draw what they would like to share with a visiting friend during outreach of the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority on July 24, 2024, in Koblerville.
Brian Ruben teaches banana painting at the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority’s outreach in Koblerville on July 24, 2024.
Children and staff at the Division of Youth Services Youth Empowerment Summer Camp learn about tourism and hospitality from the Marianas Tourism Education Council and Marianas Visitors Authority on July 24, 2024, in Koblerville.
