Fun, food, entertainment in Pika Festival

KAMMER BEACH, Tinian—Local and off-island tourists celebrated Valentine’s Day weekend enjoying the sights and sounds of the 2016 Annual Tinian Hot Pepper Festival.

Families, couples, and lovers were treated to a packed lineup of performances from local bands and dance groups to various competitions, highlighted by the traditional Tinian pepper-eating contest.

Tinian Mayor Joey P. San Nicolas said the annual festival does not only provide entertainment to the local community and off-island tourists, but also pumps in income to the Tinian Mayor’s Office and local businesses.

“Festivals like this are good for local businesses here on Tinian. It gives fun and entertainment to all and at the same time gives income to the business establishments on the islands.”

Saipan businesswoman Ana Cabael, the owner of Natasha Service Center, was among the more than 20 booths that are on the Kammer Beach grounds. She has been joining the Pika Festival for eight years now selling clothes and toys.

San Nicolas said he is thankful for another great turnout this year and the collaboration done by various sectors of the community.

“It was another great turnout. Foreign tourists are here. Locals from Saipan, Rota, and Guam are here. And the community has always been supportive of the festival every year. That’s why I thank the [Marianas Visitors Authority] for continuously promoting these event,” added San Nicolas.

Kids also enjoyed playing in an inflatable castle and going up and down the giant slide aside from cotton candies, pearl shakes, and ice cream. Their parents and other adults savored local cuisine and other favorites like barbecued ribs, hamburgers, and pizza.

A crew from Japanese broadcasting company NHK was on Tinian to film highlights of the festival, while tourists from Korea, China, and the U.S. also joined the celebration.

“I also thank the Tinian Mayor’s Office staff, the Tinian Municipal Council, all of the sponsors, and the local community for all of their hard work for another successful Pika Festival.”

Devin Cing was declared the elementary division kendama champion, while Brandon Santos duplicated the feat in the high school category. They wowed the crowd with various tricks and juggling techniques.

Kendama is a Japanese traditional game that has three cups, a spike, and a ball tied in a string. Various tricks, in order to land the ball on one of the cups or the spike, can be performed.

Cody Dela Cruz, Aiden Borja, and Jasper Borja finished second to fourth in the elementary class, while Edward Quichocho, Rafael Bantolino, and Michael Naputi were the other finishers in the high school division.

The pair of Emily Manglona and Rita Sanchez showed they are the fastest duo when it comes to husking and grating a coconut, while Lucia Ayuyu bested seven other female competitors in the hot pepper- eating contest—where they ate a spicy noodle soup laced with three tablespoons full of the famous Tinian hot pepper.

South Korean cyclist Kaon Cho, preparing for next month’s XTERRA Saipan and Tagaman races, ruled the 65-kilometer Pika Bike race (see story on page 28), while Team J.C. Café won the dragon boat event.

Contest results in the Estofao Pika Cooking, beach volleyball tournament, Pikalicious J.C. burger-eating, umang (hermit crab) race for boys, girls sack race, tug-of-war for kids and adults, male hot pepper eating contest, and chacha dance are unavailable at press time.

The Heavenly Kids, Tinian Elementary School 2B Class Dancers, Dynamic Dancers, The Trio—composed of Nikita Mendiola, Julian Hofschneider, and Arlan Agadar—XO Dancers, Natural Hi from the Tinian Junior and Senior High School, HD Crew, YMB Dancers, Josh & Friends, Kelvin Atalig, Out of the Ordinary Band, Marvin Guerrero, Saipan Dance & Music Studio, Fire Squad Dancers, Dynamic Youth Group Ray Peters Cultural Dancers & Singers, and Luis La Porte were the guest performers.