By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Commonwealth Jubilee, a three-day festival marking the 50th anniversary of the Covenant, opened Sunday at the Civic Center in Susupe with cultural exhibits, traditional demonstrations, and community storytelling honoring the Marianas’ living heritage.
This year’s festival is the first in a series of commemorative events leading up to March 24, 2026, the CNMI’s 50th Covenant anniversary. The three-day Commonwealth Jubilee will culminate on that date with a community celebration reflecting on the islands’ political journey and cultural resilience.
The Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States, signed in 1975 and approved by Congress in 1976, established the islands’ status as a U.S. Commonwealth, granted U.S. citizenship to CNMI residents, and defined the balance of local self-government and federal authority. It ended the islands’ status under the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and remains the blueprint for the CNMI’s political identity, cultural protections, and relationship with the United States.
Hosted by the CNMI America 250 Commission, the festival invites residents to “journey through our past, our culture, and our future” as the Commonwealth approaches the 1976–2026 milestone. Commission Chair Leo Pangelinan emphasized that this year’s celebration represents a new, community-driven approach to Covenant Day.
“This is the first time we’ve put together all these different activities to celebrate Covenant Day,” Pangelinan said. “Normally we just observe the holiday. We don’t have many community activities that bring people together. It took a while for people to feel ready to honor our traditions and reflect on American culture over the past 50 years.”
A coalition of cultural practitioners
Planning began in earnest in December, Pangelinan said. It required “pulling together a coalition” of artists, cultural practitioners, educators, and volunteers.
“The Covenant impacts everyone here, so we tried to be as inclusive as possible,” he said. “It’s been successful because this has been a volunteer effort. People are doing it out of passion.”
More than 110 people are involved, including 36 interns supporting logistics, engagement, and documentation. Six activity chairs oversee the cultural programming, while dozens of artists and practitioners lead demonstrations in seafaring, traditional healing, body adornment, and indigenous dance and chant.
Day 2: Embracing American Culture & Heritage | Monday, March 23 | Various Locations
Monday’s programming expands beyond the Civic Center, with events exploring identity, diaspora, and the evolving cultural landscape of the CNMI. Highlights include:
• Living Away — The Marianas Diaspora (5–7 p.m.) — Panel discussion at American Memorial Park’s indoor theatre on the experiences of Chamorros and Carolinians living across the U.S. and Pacific.
• Heritage on a Plate (5–9 p.m.) — Food demonstrations and storytelling at the Fishing Base, showcasing indigenous flavors and traditional dishes.
Day 3: Voyaging Through Self-Government (Covenant Day) | Tuesday, March 24 | Various Locations
Culminating events celebrate the document that defined the CNMI’s political identity:
• Fifty Years of the Covenant (9 a.m.–12 p.m.) — Documentary screening and panel discussion featuring founding father Pete A. Tenorio.
• Covenant at 50 Exhibit (11 a.m.–8 p.m.) — Rare viewing of the original Covenant document at the Crowne Plaza Art Room.
• Trivia Night (4–9 p.m.) — High school and college students test their CNMI history knowledge for prizes.
Smithsonian partnership boosts festival
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage provided financial support and technical guidance, while the Bishop Museum contributed to collecting oral histories. Their involvement helped secure supplies, stipends, and resources for culinary demonstrations.
Sharing stories of identity and belonging
One centerpiece installation, “Share Your Story,” invites residents to reflect on identity, contribution, culture, and aspirations for the next 50 years.
“The Covenant should be in every home,” Pangelinan said. “It’s important for people to have access to it, read it, and discuss what it means.”
Looking ahead, the Commission plans to continue community-driven celebrations for upcoming milestones, including the 80th Liberation Day anniversary and the 40th anniversary of U.S. citizenship for CNMI residents this November.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
