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Man’amko holds annual ball
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Posted on Jun 01 2008
Friday night was transformed into an evening of ageless beauty and bearing when the CNMI Aging Office crowned the 2008 Man’Amko King and Queen and the members of their Royal Court.
Crowned as this year’s Man’Amko King and Queen were Felipe Santiago and Rosalia T. Sablan. Fortunato Rejano and Antonia Aguon were crowned Prince and Princess, while the Royal Court featured Jacoba Asuncion, Manual Mesa, Terry Sorroza, Jesus Kisa, Rosario Ibanez, Jose Torres, Christiana Michael, and Terry Sitae.
The coronation reception ceremony culminated the celebration of May as Older Americans Month.
The Coronation Ball began with the posting of colors by the Kagman JROTC Color Guards.
Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente graced Friday night’s event, while the Marianas High School and Kagman High School JROTC assisted the senior citizens during the ceremony.
Aging Office director Howard I Macaranas, coordinator Walter Manglona, and Novelyn Tenorio hosted the ceremony, which drew a good number of man’amko and their families.
The 2008 Mes Man’Amko Planning Committee acknowledged the support and assistance of all sponsors and individuals who have extended generous contributions in ensuring the success of the Older Americans Month celebration.
Macaranas stressed the need to protect the rights and interests of the CNMI’s senior citizens and noted the importance of the annual Man’amko Coronation ball to the senior citizens.
“This is considered a tradition already. No matter how hard we try to ignore it, it’s so hard. It is the highlight of the entire man’amko event [Mes’Manamko],” Macaranas said.
Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela endorsed the a proclamation earlier in the month, designating May as Mes Man’Amko/Maramual Tuufey, or Older Americans Month, an annual event celebrated across the United States and its territories.
Tudela said he has given his heartfelt support to the program for the past seven years because he knows that the elderly deserve care and support. “Without them, their children and children’s children will not be who they are and what they are today,” he said.
