Flores, a freshman of Saipan Southern High School, bested 11 other contestants.
She read her essay yesterday after the Philippine flag-raising ceremony outside Susupe’s Marianas Business Plaza where the Philippine Consulate General offices are located.
On June 12, the Philippines will mark the 110 anniversary of its Independence Day.
“The questions of skin color, similarities of names, customs, and traditions are just the basic questions that could be answered by reading history books,” Flores write in her essay. “However, answers to questions relating to controversial issues such as federalization, land alienation and abuse of guest workers could go further beyond that point.”
She added, “It is not found by merely reading history books but by understanding and accepting the fact that the ties that bind [the Philippines and the Marianas] are still very much intact today. We should understand that this bond could not be ignored nor erased because it is part of history written not by ink alone but by the blood of our forefathers.”
The essay contest, “The Ties that Bind: Exploring the Historic Connections of the United States, Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands and Republic of the Philippines” was sponsored by the Philippine Consulate General and the NMI Council for the Humanities.
Flores received her award from NMI Council for the Humanities officials Greg Sablan, Carmen Gaskin, Scott Russell, Philippine Consul General Wilfredo Maximo and Consul Belinda Ante.
Flores received a round-trip ticket for two to the Philippines courtesy of Continental Airlines, and a three-day and two-night stay in a hotel compliments of Traders Insurance Co.
Flores will meet with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Malacañang palace and visit other historical sites in Manila.
Russell, one of the three judges in the essay contest, said all the entries made “very good points,” but only Flores mentioned the historical and linguistic evidence that connects the Philippines and the Marianas.
“More than 3,000 years ago, archeologists believe that the first settlers in the Mariana islands came from Southeast Asia, probably from the Philippines or Indonesia,” Flores wrote in her essay. “This was confirmed by the similarities in pottery and language found [here and in the Philippines.] The discovery of pottery made of red clay that closely resembled those found in the Philippines made them conclude that the first Chamorros were most likely descendants of Filipinos or the Malay race.”
She added, “So many travelers from the Northern Marianas who have visited the Philippines that they do not feel away from home because they could easily blend with their hosts in the Philippines. This is also true with Filipinos who come here to the Northern Marianas as guest workers. They feel less homesick than their counterparts that go to other countries, such as the Middle East.”
Named second place was Kevin Bautista from Mount Carmel High School who received a plaque and $300 cash prize. Third place was Hazel Marie Doctor, also from Mount Carmel High School, who won a plaque and $200 cash.
The honorable mentions were Donna Mae Formalejo of Saipan Southern High School and Kenisha Parks of Marianas High School.
