AFTER a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the in-person Liberation Day parade is making a comeback this year — and it’s anticipated to be bigger and better.
The Liberation Day parade committee, co-chaired by Joe Palacios and Chris Guerrero, met on Wednesday in the Saipan mayor’s conference room to discuss the details of this year’s event.
Joann Aquino chairs the food concession committee, Gordon Marciano chairs the entertainment committee, and Ryan Camacho serves as the committee treasurer.
Other members of the committee are Henry Hofschneider, Jack Guerrero, Jeffrey Cabrera, Joevince Taitano, and Teri Camacho.
The four-night event will include a $63,000 30-minute fireworks show, and may even have not one, but three grand marshals — one for every year since the pandemic hit the community.
Committee Chair Camacho said they will also look into having a drone light display as an alternative or to complement the fireworks show.
Suggestions or nominations have already been submitted to the committee regarding who will be a grand marshal in this year’s parade.
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang said he hopes to have at least one veteran assume this role.
At 9 a.m. on July 4, Beach Road will be lined with various floats, potentially one for each village in the CNMI, which would make the parade the largest in Commonwealth history.
The parade will officially begin at 10 a.m.
The committee intends to involve the public in coming up with this year’s theme, as well as a logo design, prior to Liberation Day.
Because of the time crunch, there will be no Liberation court this year.
Instead, the past Liberation queens – Pressel Jean Cepeda Camacho (2014), Zolenska Marie Yaroitemal (2015), Christine Maebelle Diocares Roque (2016), Peyton Ha’ani Reyes Gomez (2017), Brinae Jessilyn Maratita Cruz (2018), and Pernalynn Janet Borja Camacho (2019) – have all been invited to participate in the parade.
Cash prizes will be awarded to the top six floats — $5,000 for first place; $4,000 for second place; $3,000 for third place; $2,000 for fourth place; $1,000 for fifth place; and a $500 consolation prize.
In the days leading up to Liberation Day, vendors will be allowed to provide concessions free of charge at the Garapan Fishing Base.
The committee will be seeking the assistance of the Department of Public Lands for use of the fishing base, as well as the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. for the lighting of the area.
The main stage for entertainment will also be at the fishing base, with assistance from the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
“I’m looking forward to the [performers] to enrich us again as we celebrate and remember our families that we lost 81 years ago. This is about our families and….we will do our best… as our people most importantly remember that day not only as the Fourth of July, but remembering our families 81 years ago and the struggles they went through. We’re still resilient today. Even with all these typhoons and [this pandemic] that has stopped us for three years, we’re still resilient [and we’re still] going to come together and do this with and for our families,” said Entertainment Committee Chair Marciano.
The committee currently has $29,000 for the budget, including funds that will be used for Department of Commerce fees, as well as monies that will be set aside for next year’s parade.
Fundraisers will be held to cover the cost of this year’s parade. Donations are also welcomed.
Committee co-chair Guerrero said there may be a way to raise $50,000 in a day.
The Liberation Day Committee will meet every Wednesday at 10 a.m. in the Saipan mayor’s conference room until the “big day.”
For more information, contact the Saipan mayor’s office at (670) 234-6208.
Liberation Day in the CNMI commemorates the nation’s Fourth of July holiday, and the anniversary of the release of local residents from protective custody of the U.S. military at Camp Chalan Kanoa on July 4, 1946.
The 2022 Liberation Day committee members pose for a photo in the Saipan mayor’s conference room on Wednesday.
