ROTA resident Xeayda Manglona, 19, was crowned the 2024 Liberation Queen at the festival grounds in Garapan on Tuesday evening, July 2.
Joining her in this year’s royal court are Liberation Royal Princess Chariane Cabrera Dabney and Liberation 1st Runner Up Nakisha Celis.
In May, when the three women first entered the fundraising pageant, Manglona told Variety she wanted to inspire the youth of Rota to be ambitious.
On her coronation night, she said: “When you want something and you worked hard towards it, it really doesn’t matter where you come from — I’m from a very small island but we still managed to come through and it just shows to all the younger kids back home that we really can do anything we put our minds to,” she said.
She has committed herself to using her platform as Liberation Queen to “continue advocating for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands.” She is excited to “work towards making a lasting impact.”
“This title is not just a personal achievement, it is a testament to the power of community and collective effort,” she added. “I look forward to what the future holds in building stronger, more vibrant communities on our respective islands that make up our great Commonwealth.”
Manglona was filled with emotion as she accepted her title, thanking her family and friends for being her “pillars of strength and guidance.”
Rota Mayor Aubrey Hocog, who was on Saipan for the Liberation Day festivities, was happy for her constituent’s coronation.
“It feels absolutely amazing,” Hocog said. “We are so honored and humbled, and I just want to thank the generosity of the people of Rota, our friends and family from the neighboring islands, from near and far, who really helped our candidate win her journey.”
“We want programs like this to really showcase the talents and beauty of all our people, whether you’re from Rota, Saipan, Tinian or the Northern Islands. It shows that anything is possible — you just have to believe and be willing to do the work,” the mayor added.
Dabney and Celis said they were grateful for the support, opportunity, and experience.
Dabney said they were all winners for “simply stepping out of our comfort zones and into this crazy beautiful experience.”
It is an opportunity that other young women should seize, she added.
“Do not be afraid to venture into new experiences,” she said. “I would like to encourage each and every one of you to step outside the box and live life to the fullest, for tomorrow is never promised, and in this life of many choices, choose kindness, choose forgiveness, but most importantly choose love.”
Celis said her Liberation Day journey will “always have a special place in my heart.”
“As I express my unforgettable experience running for Miss Liberation, I’m filled with love and appreciation,” she added. “We shared the idea of liberation, independence and harmony, and as we continue forward, let us go on to uplift and motivate one another knowing that with love, support and gratitude we can achieve anything we set our minds to.”
Today’s parade
As for the 78th Liberation Day Parade, the Liberation Day Planning Committee reminds the public that major portions of Beach Road will be closed today, Thursday, July 4.
Starting at 7 a.m., the portion of Beach Road from the Quartermaster intersection to National Office Supply will be closed to the public.
From 9 a.m. onward, the portion of Beach Road from National Office Supply to Garapan Fishing Base will likewise be closed.
The Liberation Day Parade will head northbound beginning at 10 a.m.
This year’s grand marshal is a war survivor, Pete “Bulitourigh” Igitol.
There are 55 participating organizations in this year’s parade, including the Young Gunz motorcycle club, service members from the United States Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz and the USS Rafael Peralta, the Saipan Awaodori Team, the CNMI Martial Arts Academy, the Elusive Kulture Car Club, among others. Ten floats are also participating in the parade.
From left, 1st Runner-Up Nakisha Celis, Royal Princess Chariane Dabney, and 2024 Liberation Queen Xeayda Manglona pose on their coronation night at the Liberation Day festival grounds in Garapan on Tuesday, July 2.
