Rota’s Xeayda Manglona is 2024 Liberation Queen

Xeayda Manglona from Rota was crowned the 2024 Liberation Queen at the 78th Annual Liberation Day Royal Court Coronation held at the Garapan Fishing Base Tuesday night.

After a five-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the Royal Court resumed with three ladies taking part in the Royal Court competition. The basis for the decision was the ticket sales, which raised a total of $34,876 among the three candidates. Manglona sold $23,175, which made her win the crown.

Charlene Dabney finished second and received the Royal Princess title, while Nakisha Celis was the first runner-up.

“I am truly speechless, but I feel very grateful and honored and I hope I can really do my best to prove this title worthy [of me] and I really couldn’t be here without my support system, my family, my community, my friends, everyone who’s helped me get here. I love them endlessly and I will always be grateful towards them,” said the newly crowned Liberation Queen.

Bridget Maratita-Deleon Guerrero, the Royal Court chairwoman, said that they are planning to change the age qualification next year because there were only three who participated.

“Unfortunately, this year, we only had the three and looking into next year, I’m possibly going to change the age range because I had about more inquiries, but they were not of age like 15,” said Maratita.

The program was hosted by Patrick Arriola and Gus Kaipat sang the U.S. and CNMI national anthems. Saipan Mayor Ramon B. “RB” Camacho delivered the opening remarks.

Camacho shared in his opening remarks that the CNMI has established unified mayors with strong partnership with the mayors of Tinian and Rota. “I strongly believe that we are stronger, if we all continue to work together. This is the solution to our community problems.”

The 2024 Liberation Queen and the rest of the Royal Court can be seen today in the Liberation Day Parade as part 56 floats and marchers that will be participating. A total of seven floats are entered in the best float competition. Five will compete under the Non-Profit Organization category—TFOE (PE) Saipan Magalahi Eagles Club, Carabao Cart, Highlands Lawn Care, CAB Dancers, and Petlas Marianas, while two will be competing in the Government Category—Office of Aging-Saipan, Tinian, and Rota and the Rota Mayor’s Office. The winner of each category winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000.

Meanwhile, the Saipan Mayor’s Office sent a letter to Department of Corrections Commissioner Anthony Torres in response to a social media post about DOC not being accepted as a competing float in the Liberation Day Parade due to late submission of application.

Torres said that such exclusion does not only diminish the dedication and hard work of DOC as a participant, but also fails to uphold the values of collaboration and unity that are integral to community events like the Liberation Day Parade.

Saipan Mayor Ramon B. “RB” Camacho, however, explained that, “Committee decisions were made to ensure fairness and uphold the integrity of the competition, avoiding any potential protests that may arise during and after the tilt. As the Liberation Day Committee had previously informed your office that DOC can participate in a parade as non-competing float due to not meeting the deadline.”

DOC took home the top prize in the citizenship division in last year’s Liberation Day Parade and won $4,000.