Marianas Flower Festival a huge success

Dozens of community members and small business owners gathered last Saturday for Local Girls Marianas’ very first Marianas Flower Festival at the Sugar King Park in Chinatown.

The community event was held as a celebration of flowers and floral artists, and according to Local Girl Marianas, it drew close to 20 vendors, six being flower artists. There were also special performances throughout the night. Through heavy downpours, smiles were still evident as crowds socialized in the vendors booths and enjoyed food and entertainment.

Ashley Pangelinan and Tiara Deleon Guerrero of Local Girls Marianas and Local Girls Lemonada were the women behind the festival.

The two said they really wanted to create a community event for the family and the main reason was to help stimulate the local economy through small business owners on the island.

“The reason why I invited them is because graduation and wedding season is just around the corner. I want the community to see what they can offer. They can take pre-orders for graduation if they fall in love with these artists’ crafts. It’s also good to meet the artists behind social media. It’s really nice to see to put one and two together,” said Pangelinan.

As an artist and small business owner herself, she noted that sometimes the challenges of owning a small business is that purchases are very seasonal so she wanted to do the best she could to show support for her fellow entrepreneurs.

“Tiara Deleon Guerrero and I want the community to thrive as well as our local small businesses and local artists. I know that local artists like myself—I run Pulani Crown—we are just seasonal and we don’t make money every month, but we do have months that we’re busy like graduations or weddings. That’s the only time I’m busy. Me and Tiara, we also wear many hats. We sell lemonadas every weekend at Sabalu Market or any pop-up and local events that invite us.”

She shared that since many small business owners do not have a store front, events like the Flower Festival help new businesses get out into the public and community. She also expressed her gratitude for all who came out to join the festival.

“We’re going to try to make it an annual thing. I feel like it’s such a successful night so it looks like it’s going to happen,” said Pangelinan.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office also partnered with Local Girls Marianas to assist with the logistics for the event and provided the venue for the festival.

Mayor Ramon Blas “RB” Camacho told Saipan Tribune that when the group came to him with their proposal, he loved the idea and agreed without hesitation.

“I’m very impressed. The turnout is pretty good and it really shows the community has been waiting for this kind of event. And not only that, it shows the talent. They’re imaginative, creative, and drive the initiative. I’m really looking forward to work with this organizer and see how we can do it and continue this type of event here in our community.”

Local content creators Palm Trio was also recognized for their involvement in the event and in the raffle prizes “The Local Girls Marianas are actually the ones who conceptualize the whole thing. We were just here to help market and gather some businesses. It’s because we just need more things to do and then also to support our small businesses because I know that we’re in a time right now where the economy is really slow and small businesses help boost that,” said Loyd Lely of Palm Trio.

Saipan Tribune also interviewed some vendors and they expressed gratitude for the event.

“It feels great being surrounded by the community. I’m residing and working in Guam. So, I just came here after I saw the post about the Flower Festival and I had to be a part of it. Making mods and lathes are one of my hobbies. We do it together and do it to bond and make extra cash on the side. It’s really nice and I’m so grateful that they created this festival to bring the community together,” said Mary Sablan, who together with Tori Weaver, owns Flores de Maria and Sophia’s Creations.

Tanya Salas of Tahine’s Creations echoed the same thoughts, adding that as a small business owner she is grateful for events like the Flower Festival. “I love it,” she said.