Liberation Queen

Four young girls aged 17 and 18 years old are vying for the title of this year’s Liberation Day Queen to raise funds for the July 4 celebration on the island as well as for their education.

Organizers of the 2000 festivities are hoping to generate at least $60,000 to cover for the expenses incurred by the event and to provide funds to the candidates who will each get 20 percent from the share of tickets they have sold.

Jennifer Camacho Ada, Donna Rose Lieto Blas, Raelene De Leon Guerrero Camacho and Darlene C. Manglona Taisacan debuted as Liberation Day Queen aspirants during a brunch held last Saturday at the Pacific Gardenia Hotel.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Mayor Jose C. Sablan attended the event, the first in a series of public appearances by this year’s candidates leading to the July 4 parade on Saipan.

Agnes M. McPhetres, chair of the Liberation Day Committee, said the organizers have instituted major changes this year to ensure that the search for the Queen will not be problematic.

There will be more control in selling of the tickets in order to have more accountability and the committee will be hiring an outsider, probably a certified public accountant, to monitor the ticket sales, she said.

“During accounting of the tickets, we will not involve in the counting. We will bring somebody outside of the committee, preferably a CPA firm so that the people will be more comfortable and know that we have done this immediately,” added Ms. McPhetres.

The ticket will cost a dollar each, but a booklet containing six tickets will be sold for only $5. The grand prize will be a four-wheel Tacoma truck, while other prizes will include $5,000 cash, a computer system and others. “The prizes are really good. I hope the people buy them even if they don’t want to attend the Liberation Day,” she said.

Although the number of candidates is fewer compared to previous years, — there were 10 last year — the organizers are proud of the four girls who have showed willingness in helping the community for this annual celebration.

Carmen Gaskins, chair of the Queen’s Committee, said the winner will be known by the public, including the candidates themselves and the organizers, only on the coronation night.

The coronation night is scheduled for June 30 where a candidate who has sold the most number of tickets will be crowned as the 2000 Liberation Day Queen.

“We are trying to encourage unity among the candidates in which they are going to be helping each other in all activities. We are going to have a buddy system. It’s working very well,” said Ms. Gaskins as she emphasized the purpose of the search. “The competition is not among each other, but themselves.”

The contest has been running since 1947, a fact that she said made it different from other pageants. “To me, it’s more than trying to get the title, it’s more like volunteering to help us reach the goal of whatever we set aside, whether for scholarships or other community projects,” added Ms. Gaskins.

Raelene, a 17-year-old student of the Northern Marianas Academy, said she joined in this year’s search to contribute something tangible to the community — a sentiment echoed by fellow candidates.

“I want to have the experience and the opportunity to raise money for education,” said Darlene, 18, a student of Marianas High School.

Her grandmother, Lucy Camacho, in fact, was against her joining, but she finally relented because Darlene wanted badly to participate.

Another candidate, Donna, 18, said she wants to set an example among her generation, while Jennifer, 17, said she wants to meet new people.