Rota hosts third annual cultural celebration

The Rota Department of Community and Cultural Affairs hosted the 3rd Annual Cultural Celebration at the DCCA Cultural Center grounds in Songsong Village on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2008.

This year’s theme—“Coconut Tree in our Culture”—emphasized the variety of uses for this important tree that people call “The Tree of Life.”

The event was a collaboration with the Office of Mayor Joseph S. Inos, the hardworking DCCA staff, several community volunteers, the local non-profit organization Inetnon Atten Atistan Luta and visiting members of the Guahan Chamorro Nation who arrived for the Sakman “Saina” flying proa’s historic seafaring voyage. The proa was supposed to make landfall on Sept. 23. Unfortunately, inclement weather postponed the voyage.

This year saw a one-day celebration that included an essay competition for 3rd to 12th grade students from the Sinapalo Elementary School, Rota Junior High School, Rota High School, Eskuelan San Francisco de Borja, and Grace Christian Academy.

Led by Barrie Toves as master of ceremony, the program took off with the singing of the CNMI and Rota anthems led by Elisa DLC. Taisacan, followed by welcoming remarks from DCCA Resident Director Lourdes T. Manglona.

Rota Mayor Joseph S. Inos delivered brief remarks, emphasizing the significance of the coconut tree to local culture and Rota’s image as a tourist destination. Among his office’s achievement with respect to accomplishing this year’s theme were three consecutive years of “Operation Green Revolution,” during which the Rota Mayor’s Office planted hundreds of (haigui) coconut the past three summers.

Rota’s local canoe builder Stan Taisacan facilitated a locally built galaide’ for the Chamorro Nation group of Guahan and Luta for demonstration. Stan was also the special guest speaker at the ceremony, delivering a memorable speech about the different parts of the coconut tree and explaining their traditional uses by ancestral Chamorros called guelo’ and guela’. Stan dissected and narrated the Chamorro names of each part of the coconut plant while explaining their cultural uses.

Various presentations on the different uses of the coconut tree such as food processing, clothing, shelter, tools, weapons, arts, handicraft and medicinal purposes were demonstrated by several community participants and members of non-profit organizations Inetnon Atten Atistan Luta and the Chamorro Nation (Rota), highlighting the theme.

The participants had the opportunity to taste the various local foods processed with coconut. They also witnessed live demonstrations.

Four of the sakman’s crew—Joe Blas Viloria, Ray Blas Viloria, Mike Palomo and Corrin Blas Villoria—were on island a day prior to Saina’s scheduled arrival to participate in the welcoming ceremony on the beach at the Cultural Center. They participated in the cultural celebration event. They wore traditional ancient Chamorro wardrope and demonstrated the use of the “kulu” while paddling on one of Rota’s locally built galaide’ alongside the local Chamorro Nation group. They also displayed various traditional arts, handicraft, tools, and weapons they brought from Guahan.

Plans for next year’s 4th Annual Cultural Celebration aims for a four-day event to incorporate the first three events. A young author’s project is proposed to involve school children to write a book in Chamorro. Topics would be open to the participants’ choice.

“The DCCA looks forward to a larger celebration next year with greater participation from the community as well as our neighboring islands including Guahan. This can be achieved with advanced planning and we intend to embark on it after the holiday season with the creation of a planning committee involving stakeholders or representatives from Saipan, Tinian, Guahan, and local community leaders to spearhead the process,” said DCCA resident director Lourdes T. Manglona.

DCCA continues to work in collaboration with Inos to enhance knowledge, understanding and appreciation of local culture among the younger generations to promote and preserve the heritage. This year’s celebration was funded in part by an ANA grant administered by the Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture with the assistance of the newly confirmed Department Secretary Mrs. Cecilia Celes.

Others who supported the 3rd Annual Cultural Celebration were the 12th Rota Municipal Council, DPW, DLNR, Commerce, Channel 5 Station, Northern Marianas College-Tatachok Campus, Stan Taisacan and his daughter Elisa DLC. Taisacan, Tita A. Hocog, Eusebio A. Hocog, Beato M. Calvo, Albert S. Toves Jr., Natividad Barcinas, Fermina Blas, Timothy San Nicolas, Terrence Taisacan, Carmen Toves, Rita Atalig, Jennifer Manglona, Donna Toves, Maria K. Mesngon, Albert Sablan Toves, Aging Center and all DCCA staff. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]