By Bryan Manabat
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN will host a two-day Liberation Day celebration this weekend, which also marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, and the 50th year of the Northern Mariana Islands’ Covenant with the U.S., Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho said on Monday.
Despite ongoing recovery from Super Typhoon Sinlaku, he said the event will move forward to give residents a chance to reconnect and regain a sense of normalcy.
Camacho made the announcement during a press conference at his office with Liberation Committee Chair Frances Santos, Vice Chair and Parade Subcommittee Chair Bridget Deleon Guerrero, Mayor’s Chief of Staff Rita Chong, Board Member Patrick Arriola, and Media and Marketing Chair Hazel Sadian.
Camacho said the committee initially considered a one-day event due to the disaster but ultimately opted for two days. “It’s not just to celebrate this 80th liberation, but to bring the people together,” he said. “We all suffered from the typhoon… this is about bringing the community together.”
Santos outlined the schedule: concessions will open at noon Friday at the Civic Center grounds in Susupe, followed by a 4 p.m. opening ceremony. On July 4, the parade will begin at 10 a.m. along Beach Road, starting at Quartermaster Road and ending at the Civic Center. Concessions will run from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and organizers intend to hold fireworks that evening.
Planning was compressed into “record time,” Santos said, noting that the committee had originally begun preparations in October. “We had planned to make it really grand because we’re celebrating the 80th year,” she said. “But the disaster happened…so we had last-minute planning with the committee and subcommittee chairs to put this two-day event together.”
More than 30 parade entries have registered, including floats, marching groups, car clubs, and bike clubs. The float competition will award $3,000 for first place, $2,000 for second, and $1,000 for third.
To encourage participation, all fees for concessions, parade applications, and vendor slots have been waived. The Department of Public Works is also waiving slot fees for parade staging areas.
Santos said the committee is relying on sponsorships, a $35,000 appropriation from the local delegation, and rollover fuel funds from last year. Camacho added that businesses continue to support the event despite economic challenges, and one company may sponsor the fireworks.
Vendor interest surged after the announcement, prompting the committee to expand available slots. This year’s lineup includes 14 food vendors, three beverage vendors, two carnival treat booths, six retail vendors, four education and information booths, eight local artists, and a beer garden.
Camacho said invitations were sent to mayors on Guam, Rota, Tinian, the Northern Islands, and other jurisdictions, as well as the military. A military representative informed the mayor that the band will not attend due to deployments.
Chong said the celebration carries deep historical meaning. “It’s been 80 years since our grandparents, our ancestors were released from Camp [Kanoa],” she said. “It’s 50 years since the signing of the Covenant… and 250 years since the Declaration of Independence.”
The first Liberation Day was on July 4, 1946, when local residents were allowed to leave Camp Chalan Kanoa, where they had been interned after the Battle of Saipan.
Japanese, Okinawans, and Koreans were confined in Camp Susupe.
Chong said residents began calling the mayor’s office in early May asking for at least one day of celebration to “get our minds off the disaster.” The two-day event, she said, will help the community remember its resilience. “This celebration belongs to everybody,” she said.
Camacho encouraged elected leaders, candidates, and all ethnic communities to attend. “Come down and join us,” he said. “It’s 80 years…let’s all celebrate this.”
This year’s theme is “Together We Rise, Together We Stand.”
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.
