Tinian’s Taga Cultural Dancers bring home trophy

Some 31 students from Tinian Elementary School and Tinian High School were on Guam over the weekend for the “Dinana’ Minagof” Chamorro Cultural Dance Competition held at the Pa’a Taotao Tano’ Village at the Guam Reef Hotel.

This year’s theme was “I Silebrasion I Tuninos”, which means “Celebrating the Dolphins.”

The event started on Saturday, March 19, 10am with the contemporary category. It was then followed by the Spanish category at 1pm. The first day of the two-day competition ended around 4:pm. The last of the three categories, the Ancient category, began the next day at 2pm.

The audience and judges gave an enthusiastic response to Leilani Cunanan’s leading of the chant “Guello yan Guella,” which was echoed by the rest of the dance troop, TES’ “Famagu’on Taga.”

The Best Ancient Performance Over-all award went to the Tinian Junior/Senior High School, the “Taga Cultural Dancers,” who came in 2nd Place Overall last year.

The CNMI was represented in the panel of judges by Frances Sablan. While waiting for the results of the competition, the audience and dancers were graced with a duet performance by Flora Basa-Quan, chairperson of the Guam Humanities Council, and TES principal Julian U. Hofschneider, singing the Chamorro classic, “I Puti’on.”

This trip was supported by island leaders, parents, and local agencies, including Angelo and Librada Cruz, who are instrumental in the organization of the group; and the officers of the Taga Cultural Organization led by president Frances Diaz, secretary Librada Cruz, vice president Arsene Borja, and treasurer Corazon Borja.

Individuals or agencies that contributed included the Tinian Mayor’s Office, Marianas Visitors Authority, Criminal Justice Planning Agency, Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, Jose P. San Nicolas, Community Outreach Program staff, Finance Director Antonia Perez, THC director Rita Manglona, DPW director Ernie Hofschneider, Augusta Famaw and Tano King, Helen Layfag, Sen. and Mrs. Joseph Mendiola and Staff, Councilman Jude Hofschneider, and chaperones/parents Florence Manibusan, Julian Hofschneider, Frances Diaz, Maria Aguon, Rebecca Unchangco, Dolores Chargualaf, Steve Borja, and Gus Dosalua.

Guam’s agencies and individuals who helped host the Tinian dancers were Frank Rabon, master of Chamorro Dance and founder of the Taotao Tano’ Dance Group; Art Pangelinan, Taotao Tano’ dancer; Eric Reyes, Taotao Tano’ member/guitarist/singer; and Agnes Cruz, Taotao Tano’ dancer; Richard Hofschneider of Pacific Cool, Johnny Sablan from the Chamorro Village, the Association of Marianas Island Mayors Council headed by Mayor McDonald, the Guam CNMI Liaison Office (Vince Manglona, Ron Atalig, Dennis Muna, Ian Cruz, Bobbie and the rest of the staff), and Sam Choy’s Restaurant.

Next year will be “Silebrasion I Suruanu” and the following year, 2007, will be “Silebrasion Taga,” which will hopefully be held on Tinian, at the Taga House Latte Stones site.