REPORTERS’ NOTEBOOK

Performing at the Liberation Day parade again after a 10-year absence, the Cordillera Association in the CNMI entertained spectators with their native “Igorot” dance with only the rhythmic gongs as their accompaniment. The men wore long strips of handwoven loincloth called “bahags” and the women wore a wraparound skirt called “lufid.”

One member of the group, Edwin Dacquias, said there weren’t enough members on island to perform the dance, which explains their absence from the parade.

“We are happy to be able to perform again. It took the dancers one month to practice for today’s event,” he said. “We are back this year and we plan to perform every year at the Liberation Day in the years to come for more people to get to know about the Igorot culture.”

The Igorots are an indigenous group in the northern Philippines. (Bea Cabrera)

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People were wondering about the heavy traffic across KS Market in Garapan since the float of the Liberation Queen had already passed, indicating that the Liberation Day parade was over. The traffic happened after police officers blocked the opposite lanes of Beach Road in that area because of a stabbing incident involving two men. Some were asking why police had to block the Garapan-bound lane for quite a while when the stabbing occurred on the side of the southbound lane and the commotion was brief. Over 15 police officers, mostly young ones, responded to the scene.

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The man’amko float was passing when two female senior citizens walked slowly to the middle of the road, stopped by the float, and had their picture taken with the float, posing for pictures with the other senior citizens on the float. Fortunately, the parade’s flow was slow and the float stopped for several minutes, giving enough time for the two women to have their photos taken. The visibly happy two senior citizens slowly walked back to the side of the road to continue watching the parade.

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The humid weather prompted Police Officer Patrick Arriola to pour a bottle of water on himself as he gyrated to music atop the Department of Public Safety float, drawing cheers from the crowd. At 4:10pm, clouds blocked the sunlight, providing a relief to the parade participants and the crowd. People thought it would rain because of the usually treacherous weather on July 4 parades. (Ferdie P. De La Torre)

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For the first time in years, the Liberation Day parade didn’t see a droplet of rain. This year’s parade was instead greeted with an oven-like, scorching heat that caused everyone to sweat profusely.

For nearly four hours straight, there was not even a cloud in the sky that would indicate rain despite the rainfall that happened about an hour before the parade.

Although the heat was nearly unbearable, it didn’t stop community members from pulling out their foldable chairs, cracking open a cold drink, and just enjoying all 14 creative floats that participated in the parade.

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Only in the Marianas would you see a cow in full glam, participating in a national event like the Liberation Day parade.

A russet-colored cow with a floral crown drew smiles on many faces as it pulled a traditional “karetan guaka”or bull cart along Beach Road as part of the Liberation Day parade.

Joining the show-stopping cow was a group of traditionally dressed children dancing to local music. (Kimberly Bautista)

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Much like the Battle of Saipan 75th Anniversary, the U.S. Air Force conducted a flyby around 2:30pm with two B-52 Stratofortress bombers flying over the Liberation Day parade path.

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The float of the Victory Chapel congregation had one of the loudest cheers when it passed by the JP Center Building in Garapan as members and supporters shouted at the top of their lungs. The float came complete with a rap group and speakers spouting testimony how they turned from a life of evil.

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The CNMI Museum again took part in the parade with a carnival-ride train made out of drums with no less than director Danny Aquino playing conductor and giving small kids rides.

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The police bike patrol was quite active during the parade with several offices pedaling the length of the parade path to keep order.

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Umbrellas of all shapes, sizes, colors, and makes dotted the parade ground, but not for the usual drizzle that accompanies every Liberation Day parade on Saipan. This time it was the scorching hot sun paradegoers had to shield themselves from with the umbrellas.

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The Aging Center adapted a Game of Thrones theme with their congregants dressed in medieval costumes to complete the look of the man’amko king and queen who were sitting front and center of their float.

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The United Filipino Organization float put a whole car on their float to mimic the disaster Saipan had to endure in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu last October. (Mark Rabago)

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In honor of the resiliency of the Marianas, Super Typhoon Yutu debris was incorporated into many of the floats that were entered in the Liberation Day parade.

One of the Super Typhoon Yutu debris that stood out was an entire car that had been completely wrecked as a result of a tree falling on top of it.

The car was placed in the center of the float followed by men and women dressed as first responders, Department of Defense personnel, and others that aided in the recovery of the Marianas.

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The Saipan Mayor’s Office float featured artwork made from all the scraps gathered from remnants of Super Typhoon Yutu.

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Eusebio Borja’s entry used a cow to draw the float instead of a truck like the others. With a flower lei placed on the head of the cow, it drew a lot of stares and laughs.

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Motorcycle groups Young Gunz Marianas and the Matua Riders led the charge of the parade and a pair of B-52s flew by the parade route in a flyby that drew cheers.

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All the VIP’s took part in the parade but rode on convertibles, leading the rest of the floats.

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A random spectator danced around the streets like there is no tomorrow. Other spectators were enjoying his performance and took videos of him. (Marc A. Venus)

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As the TanHoldings float came into view at the grandstand near the Garapan Fishing Base, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres expressed gratitude to TanHoldings president and CEO Jerry Tan and the Tan family for their countless contributions to the CNMI.

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Due to technical difficulties, Rep. Luis John Castro (R-Saipan) stepped in to sing the CNMI National Anthem before the parade began.

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Battle of Saipan veteran Burke Waldron saluted the Office of the Governor’s Liberation Day parade float. The Officer of the Governor, along with the Carolinian Affairs Office, designed a float that depicts “how [the people of the CNMI] come together with one heart… to overcome struggles, personal battles, and emotional and mental storm.”

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Saipan’s Victory Chapel received a standing ovation from the government officials and dignitaries after their performance about “liberty by blood, resilience by courage, and destiny by faith.” Their performance portrayed the resiliency of the CNMI after World War II and Super Typhoon Yutu. (Reica Ramirez)