WITH lead vocalist Josiah chanting “Thank You Saipan,” the crowd of about 5,000 cheered and danced to the island tunes of Ten Feet at American Memorial Park on Saturday night.
It was the biggest concert on Saipan, according to Liberation Day Committee Chairman Isidoro T. Cabrera, adding that it was “unbelievable” for such a huge crowd to gather at the carnival grounds and witness the re-scheduled final activities of this year’s Fourth of July festivities.
“I was not expecting this crowd since this event should have happened on July 4. This is the biggest concert Saipan ever had,” Cabrera told Variety.
At past 10:30 p.m., hundreds more were still arriving at the carnival grounds to witness the much anticipated concert.
The Liberation Day Committee staged a concert to cap the July 4 festivities. However, the “after ceremony” events were re-scheduled twice due to typhoon Chataan which hit the Marianas late Thursday and early Friday.
On Saturday night, Saipan’s Boiz 2 Mix staged an “exceptional demonstration” while Guam’s Blame Adam impressed the crowd with their interpretation of hits from the 1980s.
“Fantastic, superb and excellent,” was how some of the people described the band’s performance.
It was a “chic performance,” according to Power 99 DJ Shotgun.
Ten Feet of Hawaii then took center stage and wowed the crowd with their lively performance.
Budweiser-Marpac, in a statement to Variety, said it wanted to give “something back” to the people of the CNMI in gratitude for their constant support. Liberation Day was one of the best occasions for staging the free concert, Budweiser-Marpac said.
Ten Feet’s final number, “Island in the Stream,” capped their more than an hour performance much to the delight of the crowd.
“This is it—this is what we have been waiting for,” Maisie Bermudes told Variety. She is the treasurer of the Liberation Day Executive Committee.
Clutching her digital camera, Bermudes brought along her two off-island friends to watch the famous band. They cheered along with the crowd and even those who were on the backstage.
Miss CNMI Universe Virginia Ling Gridley and Miss CNMI International Christine Juwelle Cunanan were among the thousands who cheered, danced and sang along with the performing bands.
Prior to Blame Adam and Ten Feet’s performances, the crowd was treated to a 20-minute fireworks display, with rockets and pyrotechnics shooting up as high as 500 feet.
It was a last minute decision of the committee to stage the fireworks show after the bigger and more elaborate display was canceled on July 4. Some $30,000 worth of fireworks had to be disposed due to the weather condition.
Cabrera said close coordination with the Office of Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela ensured the success of the concert.
He also lauded Variety for “putting up a great job” in assisting the Liberation Day Executive Committee in handling the various festivities.
“I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Marianas Variety, its general manager Laila C. Younis and the staff for doing an excellent job,” Cabrera said.
