Woven items are displayed at the Marianas Experience.
Mwar-making and weaving displays are an important feature of the Marianas Experience.
DOZENS of community members gathered at DFS T-Galleria on Thursday, Sept. 14 for the official launch of the Marianas Experience.
The Marianas Experience, which had a soft launch this summer, features live local arts and crafts stations, including mwar-making, banana leaf art, and coconut weaving; artifacts from the NMI Museum of History and Culture and the Northern Marianas Humanities Council; canoe displays from 500 Sails and the Chamolinian Cultural Village; a local art gallery presented by Bridge Capital LLC; and cultural performances.
The official launch on Thursday was marked by musical and cultural performances, food and beverages.
In her remarks, Marianas Visitors Authority Acting Chair Gloria Cavanagh said she is very glad to have said yes to partnering with DFS T-Galleria for this particular project.
“A couple of hours here interacting with hospitable people [and] this could very well be the best memory of [our guests’] visit,” Cavanagh said.
She added that the Marianas Experience is a “well-thought-out and unique, immersive project.”
“I think most of us agree it’s been one of the best ‘Yes’ for our tourism products this year,” Cavanagh said. “Here visitors can see, hear, touch, feel and taste indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian culture.”
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios, for his part, said the Marianas Experience can benefit tourists and locals.
“This is the beginning of picking ourselves up and reinvigorating our culture, who we are, and displaying it to our visitors and members of our community who have not really experienced this,” Palacios said.
Jamika Taijeron, a DFS manager and an MVA board member, said the Marianas Experience aims to give tourists what they want.
“When people visit or when they’re interested in visiting the islands, part of that interest is their interest in the local culture,” Taijeron said. “Saipan has a really unique and beautiful cultural mix of Chamorro and Carolinian, and a mix of all the cultures that come to Saipan.”
Taijeron said the Marianas Experience also allows the local youth and entrepreneurs a chance to promote their crafts.
DFS’ partners in the Marianas Experience include MVA, the NMI Museum of History and Culture, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, 500 Sails, Chamolinian Cultural Village Inc., Team PDI, Bridge Capital LLC, Ideal Signs, and KKMP.
Cultural dancers perform at the opening of the Marianas Experience.
Community members gather at T Galleria by DFS, Saipan for the official launch of Marianas Experience on Thursday.
