The top 4 winning rubber ducks.
Human duck race winners Taiyo Akimaru and Michael Miller with the perpetual trophy pose for a photo with Dennis Tababa, director of sports, entertainment and activities at the Pacific Islands Club Saipan, and Reymark Castro, PIC’s animations and events manager.
Brian Shin, the chief executive officer of E-Land Group’s subsidiary, Micronesia Resort Inc., shares a few remarks.
MARIA Muna’s rubber duck ruled this year’s Pacific Islands Club Saipan’s Duck Race for Cancer, which saw the participation of 2,438 rubber ducks on Friday evening.
Muna’s “ninja duck” was the first to cross the finish line in the Lazy River to win the $2,024 grand prize.
In second place was Gerald Aniciete who took home $500. “We joined this race because my son loves ducks,” said Gerald’s wife, Janet Aniciete. “We’re happy because we’re going to Korea next week and also that we’re able to support [the Commonwealth Cancer Association] and give a little back to the community by helping out with events like this,” she said.
Coming in third was Elena Rose Galagaran who won $200 while Nami T. placed fourth and received $50.
A total of 2,442 rubber ducks out of 2,500 were sold — beating last year’s count of 2,116.
In the human duck race, defending champions Taiyo Akimaru and Saipan Swim Club teammate Michael Miller were triumphant, winning a five-month PIC Explorer membership.
Kean Pajarillaga and Kouki Wanabe finished second and received a five-month PIC waterpark membership.
The participating two-person teams had to swim around the Lazy River wearing a life jacket, a duck hat, and fins.
Amazing
CCA Interim Executive Director Lynn Tenorio expressed her gratitude to PIC and its annual event. “This was amazing,” she said. “They had a great turnout, and more tickets were sold. It’s so exciting for CCA to be a recipient again…. It’s a fun family event — how can you not smile when you see ducks?”
She added, “Being a non-profit, we can’t do anything without the support of our corporate sponsors, corporate partners and the community. Funds received will go to CCA’s education and awareness programs as well as cancer prevention and early detection. Our mission is to stamp out cancer.”
For his part, Brian Shin, the chief executive officer of E-Land Group’s subsidiary, Micronesia Resort Inc., thanked the community for supporting the fundraising race and CCA’s mission.
Commonwealth Cancer Association board member Monique Sablan thanked the community for their support in fighting cancer.
