Guam’s ambassador and beauty queen Shayna Jo Afaisen, musicians, dancers, a few leaders and Guam Visitors Bureau staff had the opportunity to promote the island’s culture during the exchange they had with the Japanese people.
There were two parts to the July trip, which was organized by GVB.
The first leg of the trip was from July 22 to 24 to the Kashiwa province. The second leg of the trip was to Sendai in the Tohoku region, from July 24 to 28.
According to a GVB press release, the first part of the trip consisted of a delegation led by Lt. Gov. Ray Tenorio to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Kashiwa-City-Guam Friendship Association at the Kashiwa Festival.
“Signed by Mayor Suzuki of Kashiwa and Guam Gov. Joseph F. Ada on Nov. 30, 1991, the friendship agreement between the two cities has produced a number of positive measures, including creation of the Home Stay Program between St. Francis Catholic School-Guam in Yoña and the Kashiwa International Relations Association,” the release stated.
Since 1992, Guam has participated in the city’s annual festival. This marks two decades of celebrating the long-standing relationship Guam has with Kashiwa.
“We also took part in the annual festival there,” said Afaisen. “In the festival, I was able to take part in their dance competition where myself, along with the dancers led the traditional Kashiwa dance.”
For the second trip, GVB partnered with Continental Airlines to fly Afaisen and a smaller Guam delegation to the Tohoku region to show support for the reopening of the Sendai airport.
The Sendai airport was severely damaged during the March 11 tsunami.
According to GVB Cultural Heritage Officer Sonja Lujan-Sellers, the airport recently opened for international service and Guam was selected to be the first international destination for charter flights.
“The first purpose of our visit was to send off the first international flight since the tsunami, which was to Guam,” said Afaisen.
While there, Afaisen and the delegation presented passengers that were traveling to Guam with gift items prepared by GVB.
“The second purpose of the trip was to personally deliver the message from the people of Guam that we continue to keep the Tohoku people in our prayers and that we have and will continue to support their country in their time of need,” Afaisen said.
Afaisen also was interviewed on a popular radio station in Sendai where the main purpose was to deliver the message of support and prayers from the people of Guam to the Tohoku people. According to Afaisen, musicians Jesse Bias and Ruby Santos had the opportunity to play local music for the people to enjoy.
“On that same day, we visited the government offices delivering the same message. In general, they were very appreciative and deeply touched by our efforts and our support,” said Afaisen.
“The trip was very successful and full of different emotions. I was truly blessed to have been the messenger for Guam indicating our empathy and support for the Tohoku people.”
Afaisen is now preparing herself to be in the best pageant shape possible as she has 16 days before she begins her journey to Brazil to represent Guam in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant.
