Tinian braces for San Jose fiesta celebration

In what has been dubbed as the most anticipated event every year in May, the San Jose Fiesta on Tinian is well-known for drawing the largest crowds among all of Tinian’s annual events, rivaling even the annual New Year’s Celebration where thousands of dollars of fireworks are set on display.

“We are expecting thousands of visitors on Tinian, beginning Wednesday this week,” said Ray M. Dela Cruz, chairman of the San Jose Fiesta committee. “The [Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino] and other local motels are already expecting a 100 percent occupancy rate from their own Chinese and Korean visitors, and that is great news for us, because the fiesta is a great time for them to experience the Chamorro culture,” said Dela Cruz.

Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Hotel is expecting good visitor turnouts this weekend. According to Hotel General Manager Tom Liu, they are expecting a full flight on Friday by China Southern Air, the charter flight which begun only this month. That will bring in 198 visitors directly to Tinian from China. In addition, many Korean and Japanese visitors are on vacation at this time, and a number of them are making their way to Tinian.

Some of the over 30 booths at the San Jose Fiesta will be selling specialty products and foods. Thomas A. Fleming, a longtime resident of Hawaii during his earlier years before moving back home to Tinian, will be selling Hawaiian-style foods. Minako’s, a restaurant headed by William Cing and his wife, Corrine, will be selling Tinian Hot Pepper, which they anticipate will gain a lot of sales from people who want to take back a memento of Tinian.

The Northern Marianas College will be selling local fruit juices, including a specially made juice made from the sour sop fruit, a favorite among those who have tasted the sweet, intoxicating beverage. Employees of the Tinian Department of Public Works will also be selling food and drinks to benefit their employees association.

Other favorite island restaurants, such as J.C. Cafe, Kerida’s, Rosie’s Gazebo, Frosty Boy Ice Cream, SN-5 Enterprises, Orlando’s, plus many others will set up booths and offer breakfast, lunch and dinner for as low as $5.00 a plate. Other booths will feature entertainment, such as the traditional fiesta game, “Pay Red,” where players bet on a color to win, with red as the highest paying color.

Other residents will sell their wares, from children’s clothes to decorative items. Daniel Bennett, a resident of Tinian, will be selling porcelain pottery, which he makes, and also offer some demonstrations.

The fiesta will include carnival rides and sports competitions, in addition to the booths, which will all officially open on Wednesday. A cockfight derby is scheduled for Friday and Saturday; a coronation and a battle of the bands competition also on Friday; a Mass, procession, fireworks and the feast on Saturday; and a raffle and Motocross exhibition event on Sunday, plus more.

For more information on the San Jose Fiesta, contact the Tinian Promotions Office at 433-0777. For the sports schedule, contact the Department of Community & Cultural Affairs at 433-9330.