Kagman Elementary School students set another record at the 28th Flame Tree Arts Festival after they successfully defended their best float title during Saturday\u2019s competition held at Susupe Civic Center.<\/p>\n
Led by principal Ignacia Demapan and school coordinator Maria Helena Jebehn, students amazed spectators with their creativity in designing their float. It carried the island\u2019s traditional hut design, various local produce, and specific items specific to other countries and ethnicities.<\/p>\n
The students continued to impress jurors when they showcased traditional costumes of various countries as they waived to the crowd during the festival parade Saturday morning. <\/p>\n
The float\u2019s notable displays\u2014that included the islands\u2019 traditional canoe, fishing materials, latte stone, Yap\u2019s money stone, Japanese shrine, flags of different nations, and others\u2014also got the jurors\u2019 approval.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s theme is \u201cUniting Rainbows of Cultures and Traditions.\u201d <\/p>\n
Demapan, elated by the festival turnout, disclosed that ever since they decided to enter the competition last year, their students have been focused to win.<\/p>\n
She vowed to continue the school\u2019s participation in the event which, she said, is an extension of the classroom for student learning.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis served as an extension of what our kids learned in the school. We\u2019re bringing them here for them to actually experience and witness the diverse cultures we have in the community. The kids\u2019 involvement in this festival is also our way of partnering with the community,\u201d Demapan said.<\/p>\n
Jebehn said it took the school some weeks to complete the preparation for the festival.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all worth it because this provides fun and learning to our students,\u201d she said, adding that it is also the school\u2019s goal to expose kids to community events.<\/p>\n
Kagman Elementary School students went home with $500 in cash for their victory.<\/p>\n
Named second best float was the \u201cbull cart\u201d entry presented by the family of Eusebio Borja, who is among the sons of the Rosa Borja known for her preservation of the islands\u2019 culture and traditions. Decorated by local produce and century old artifacts, the \u201cbull-cart\u201d was pulled by a cow.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, students of Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School were overjoyed when their entry was named third best float in the competition.<\/p>\n
Second and third best floats received cash prizes of $300 and $200, respectively.<\/p>\n
Few parade participants<\/p>\n
Despite the presence of \u201conly\u201d 200 participants, Parade of Cultures coordinator Jonas Barcinas said the outcome was still satisfying.<\/p>\n
He noted that there were other events held simultaneously on island last Saturday.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very happy with the turnout because we also knew that we have other events ongoing on island,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
There were originally five entries for the float competition but due to unexpected circumstances, two of the contenders backed out at the last minute.<\/p>\n
The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, through festival coordinator Lucille Ayuyu, said they were also quite satisfied with the outcome of the parade and float competition.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s extremely satisfying to see another successful year for the Flame Tree Arts Festival,\u201d said Ayuyu.<\/p>\n
The four-day event was also graced by a crew from National Geographic which traveled to cover the visiting master navigators from Satawal.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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