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Summer Festival moves indoors
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Posted on Aug 22 2004
By CASSIE DLG FEJERAN
Special to the Saipan Tribune
The 2nd annual Summer Festival that began in mid-July at the Chamolinian Village in Garapan continues to operate but this time, at the Fiesta Hall of the Hafa Adai Beach Hotel.
According to coordinator Hiroko Tajima, the festival moved indoors as a result of the weather.
“We came in here [Fiesta Hall] because of the rain, but if the weather is good then we go outside,” she said.
The festival continues to provide tourist with lessons and entertainment, as was offered in the Chamolinian village. Lessons on how to make mwar-mwar and beaded accessories, banana painting, and coconut weaving are available for both the local community and tourists.
The Isa dancers and Tipiyeew Carolinian dancers are a couple of dance groups that have been performing for the festival since July.
“Since the beginning, they [Isa dancers] have been performing for this and we are going to end the festival for them,” said Stanley Villagomez, manager for Isa dance group.
“Usually we have 18-20 dancers, but [lately] because of the weather we have like 16,” he said.
For her part, PDI staff Katrina Hocog said she enjoys mingling with the tourist and providing lessons on how to make beaded accessories.
“I’ve been with the festival since Day 1, and like they say in Japanese, it is omoshirio, or interesting,” said Hocog. “All I can say is that we give them an opportunity to learn our culture and traditions so that they know how the Chamolinan life is like.”
The festival also includes color games, balloon darts, and ring toss. On hand to assist with the games are staff and family members of Bolis R Us.
“Terisita Bolis is the one who brought us here to help PDI. We have been helping the festival since it started,” said Terry Bolis.
Despite the bad weather, the festival continues to gain a number of customers. “Today we have about 34 people, but the previous operation we had over 70 people,” said Tajima.
“The last day is on August 31. If the weather is good then we might have it outside. If it is not, then we will end in here,” she added.
