Muna’s rubber ducky rules the roost in PIC’s Duck Race

Maria Muna’s duck beat out over 2,000 rubber duckies last Saturday to win first place in the Pacific Islands Club Saipan’s 2024 Duck Race in San Antonio, winning for Muña the grand prize of $2,024.

Gerald Aniciete’s rubber critter slid in for second place and the $500 prize, while Elena Rose Galagaran’s superhero duck swam in for third place and winning the $200 prize, followed by Nami T’s unicorn duck in fourth place and the $50 prize.

Hundreds gathered along the entire length of the PIC Lazy River, which circumnavigates the resort, to watch over 2,000 rubber duckies take a much-anticipated swim against cancer.

As per tradition, the two-man relay race saw last year’s winner, Taiyo Akimaru, return to reclaim the title, this time with teammate Michael Miller, winning for both young men a five-month PIC Explorer membership card. Kean Pajarillaga and Kouki Wanabe came in second place, taking home two five-month PIC Waterpark memberships.

The duck race not only brought family fun and smiles, but it was all for a good cause, as the proceeds will be turned over to the fundraiser’s recipient, the Commonwealth Cancer Association.

According to PIC, this year’s 2,442 duck sales beat out last year’s 2,116.

During the event, E-Land Group CEO Brian Shin thanked all community members who joined, and a special thanks to the CCA, for letting them once again take part in the fight against cancer.

Lynn Tenorio, CCA interim executive director, also expressed her gratitude. “This has been amazing. It’s just so exciting for CCA to be a recipient again for the second year. We were recipients last year as well, and so, being a non-profit, we really can’t do anything without the support of our corporate sponsors and our corporate partners and the community,” she said. “This is such a fun event. I mean, you can see how exciting it is, and it’s just so beautiful. …They did it right around sunset, and you have all these ducks in here, and it’s a fun family event. It’s just a lot of fun. How can you not smile if you see ducks, right?”

She said the funds they will receive will go toward client services.

Janet Aniciete, who along with her husband won second place in the duck race, said they joined the race because her daughter loves ducks. Aniciete added that, along with seeing her children enjoy, and win, they were especially happy to give back to the community while having fun. “We are happy that we’re able to support the Commonwealth Cancer Association. At least we can give a little back to the community by helping out like this,” she said.