The annual Christmas Parade of Lights organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority last Saturday was a success. It brought families, friends, and the whole community along Beach Road in Garapan to catch the Christmas spirit and watch Christmas-themed floats.<\/p>\n
According to MVA managing director Chris Concepcion it\u2019s been several years since MVA hosted the Christmas Parade of Lights. <\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year, the parade features schools and government agencies on floats with lights and Christmas-themed decorations and music. It\u2019s always a great feeling to see the community come out to witness and enjoy the Christmas Parade,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool children and government agencies put a lot of effort into creating these unique floats and I\u2019m sure they are humbled by the crowd that showed up,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
MVA recognizes that Christmas is the most important time of the year and an opportune time for the community and tourists to celebrate it as one.<\/p>\n
\u201cChristmas is a time of joy, giving, reflection, and peace. Traditionally, as a predominantly Catholic community, Christmas signifies the birth of Christ and has major religious significance. As an American commonwealth, Christmas has become a consumer-driven, festive holiday period, meant to be spent with family and friends,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a tourist destination, Christmas is a time for our visitors who are primarily from Asia to enjoy a bit of the Chamorro, Carolinian, and American cultures, on gorgeous tropical islands with perfect weather, flashing lights, decorative Christmas trees, presents, and our warm hospitality found only in the CNMI,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
One of the biggest surprises at the parade was the mystery Santa Claus who turned out to be Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was all the mayor\u2019s idea. I was surprised when I walked around the floats prior to the parade and was being called over by Santa Claus only to realize it was actually Mayor Apatang! That was a fun encounter,\u201d Concepcion said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving the honorable mayor of Saipan attend with his staff, having him dressed up as Santa, really meant a lot to our team at MVA and to the community at large. Our mayor is a strong supporter of the tourism industry. We extend our gratitude to the mayor and his hardworking team for their participation in the Christmas Parade,\u201d Concepcion added.<\/p>\n
MVA is going full blast with Christmas events as they invite everyone to join the festivities at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan on Dec. 23 and 30.<\/p>\n
\u201cI personally would like to recognize my hard working team at the MVA on Rota, Tinian, and Saipan for their dedication to the MVA and the tourism industry. Our work never ends. I look at my gray hair in the mirror sometimes and I am reminded of the stress we go through day in and day out, all for the people of the CNMI,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MVA wishes the people of the CNMI a very Merry Christmas. Thank you for your continued support of the tourism industry. There will be ups and downs, as is normal in our industry, but what is constant is the teamwork that exists and must continue for the CNMI to keep moving forward in today\u2019s world,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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