Islands Business - Celebrations: CELEBRATING FREEDOM IN THE MARIANAS

Showcasing local and international cultures

Criselda B. Hernandez
This year’s Fourth of July parade marked not only the 61st year of the release of the Chamorros—the indigenous people of the Northern Marianas—from Camp Susupe after the end of World War II, but also served as a celebration of local and international cultures.

Celebration... the many faces of the Northern Marianas.

A float depicting a traditional Chamorro household with live farm animals in tow, traditional Palauan and Japanese dances, gravity-defying martial arts manoeuvres by members of the Korean community, lion dances by the Chinese community, meditation movements by the Falun Dafa Association, military drills by student cadets, and a politically-charged float by a group of long-term Filipino workers, were among the major participants to the Liberation Day parade float competition.

Other groups joined the three-hour parade by marching and dancing on Saipan’s Beach Road, holding banners, distributing flyers or showcasing their products or services.

The Borja family’s entry to the parade float competition—a trailer truck designed to appear like a traditional Chamorro house depicting a simple yet abundant way of life with two live cows and a goat in tow—bagged this year’s grand prize for the float competition.

For others, the parade of cultures was also a chance for families to get together.

Days ahead of July 4, families set up tents and camped out along Beach Road for a good view of the parade which, for the first time, was held in the afternoon instead of the traditional practice of holding it in the morning.

“Holding the parade in the afternoon is a relief for all of us—at least it’s not that hot,” a father of three told ISLANDS BUSINESS as they waited for the major floats to pass in front of their tent set up three days before the July 4 parade.

This year’s Fourth of July marked the 231st birthday of the founding of the United States of America.

For the Northern Marianas, a US territory, July 4 also marked the 61st year of the liberation of the indigenous residents from Camp Susupe, two years after the end of the Battle of Saipan in June 1944.

The camp was where they were kept to receive medical attention and provided with education by American forces that defeated the Japanese, who occupied the islands for years.

“That was the beginning, our new beginning 61 years ago, with our families, friends and loved ones—all survivors of the Battle of Saipan trying to rebuild our lives,” said Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela.

He shared his experiences during the war in 1944, at the opening of the 61st Liberation Day carnival in June.

A few hours after the mayor’s speech, a fireworks platform collapsed, sending fireworks shooting into crowds of people at the kick off of the 61st Liberation Day festivities on June 1.

The incident injured 12 individuals but none needed surgery, and created a minor stampede at the festival grounds. Other than this, this year’s celebration went on smoothly.

CNMI Governor Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez, in a joint message, said the theme of this year’s Liberation Day festivities, “Challenge of Liberation for Peace and Freedom,” considers CNMI’s history after the war.

It also contemplates the islands’ current political and economic efforts to continue meeting the challenges of maintaining peace, freedom, democracy and prosperity in the commonwealth and around the world.

They said the CNMI is grateful for the opportunity to become a proud member of the American political family and to shape the society based on sound democratic principles of government, after having been liberated from a major colonial power in June of 1944, and the indigenous people having been released from Camp Susupe following the end of World War II in August of 1945.

“Armed with the tools of the Covenant agreement we reached with the US government in 1978, we have worked hard to build our government, society and economy.

“And we will continue working to build a stronger, more just and stable society based on respect for freedom, democratic self-government, and individual rights,” the Governor and Lt. Governor said.

The month-long Liberation festivities again carved its mark as one of the biggest cultural events in the CNMI, and a proud moment for residents, guest workers and tourists.