{"id":33452,"date":"2014-04-28T08:50:43","date_gmt":"2014-04-28T00:50:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/?p=33452"},"modified":"2014-04-28T08:50:43","modified_gmt":"2014-04-28T00:50:43","slug":"flame-tree-festival-draws-thousands-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/flame-tree-festival-draws-thousands-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Flame Tree Festival draws thousands"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-33452 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26283.jpg'>155263ID26283<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33459'>\n\t\t\t\tMobil employees smile for Saipan Tribune at their food booth on Saturday morning where they served hundreds of festival attendees. (Photos by Jayson Camacho)\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26284.jpg'>155263ID26284<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33460'>\n\t\t\t\tMajor sponsors, delegates from Tinian, Rota, Guam, and Southern California, government officials and festival committee members stand in prayer for the opening ceremony of the 33rd Flame Tree Arts Festival.\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26285.jpg'>155263ID26285<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33461'>\n\t\t\t\tSponsors, Gov. Eloy S. Inos, and committee members present a plaque of appreciation and dedication to the family of Shawnda Lynn Dela Cruz Taisacan (performing artist).\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26286.jpg'>155263ID26286<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33462'>\n\t\t\t\tA plaque of appreciation and dedication is presented to the family of Cris Matagolai Kaipat who was a performing artist and musician.\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26287.jpg'>155263ID26287<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33463'>\n\t\t\t\tOffice on Aging man?amko perform at the 33rd Flame Tree Arts Festival.\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26288.jpg'>155263ID26288<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33464'>\n\t\t\t\tPhotographer Mike Ronesia poses with one of his underwater photos taken at Lao Lao Beach on Saipan.\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/tribune.ctsi-logistics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/04\/155263ID26289.jpg'>155263ID26289<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<figcaption class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-33465'>\n\t\t\t\tMr. Ashok and his daughter pose with one of their art pieces called \u201cTree of Life,\u201d which is said to bring good vibes to a home.\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>The 33rd Annual Flame Tree Festival over the weekend drew thousands of community members and off-island guests in a celebration of the islands\u2019 culture and traditions.<br \/>\nThe festivities started Friday night and lasted through Sunday night, featuring varied entertainment, performances, 12 food vendors, and 60 booths displaying art and other cultural items.<\/p>\n<p>This year\u2019s celebration was dedicated to Cris Matagolai Kaipat, Vicente Salas Sablan, Herman Delos Reyes Kapileo, and Shawnda Dela Cruz Taisacan\u2014all of whom played a significant role in ensuring that the CNMI\u2019s cultural and artistic heritage is both strengthened and perpetuated.<\/p>\n<p>The families of Kaipat, Sablan, Kapileo, and Taisacan received certificates of dedication during the opening ceremony on Saturday morning that was attended by delegations from Rota, Tinian, Guam, and Southern California as well as Flame Tree Festival sponsors and government officials.<\/p>\n<p>In his remarks, Gov. Eloy S. Inos said that \u201cfor over three decades, despite many challenges thrown its way, this festival has been and continues to be the premiere avenue to promote, preserve, and perpetuate our cultures, and provide a forum to showcase the unique aspects of our identity as islanders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Inos also congratulated the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, the festival\u2019s committee, participants, sponsors, and organizers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur arts, crafts, songs, and dances are fine gifts that have been handed down through generations to preserve our rich history and culture, and we are grateful for your work in keeping them alive and urge you to continue supporting this fine tradition in the years ahead,\u201d Inos said.<\/p>\n<p>Department of Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Laura T. Ogumoro, for her part, urged the public to \u201cstay and experience the endless support and contributions of our sponsors and donors.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn helping to promote our traditions, arts, and culture, the community and sponsors continue to be a source of inspiration for us,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>Parker Yobei, overall chair of the festival committee, expressed appreciation to the festival sponsors, volunteers, and the public for their \u201coverwhelming support.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt feels really great seeing all the community, volunteers, sponsors, and everyone else involved in this year\u2019s festival. It shows that we\u2019re doing our part by uniting different cultures through art forms,\u201d Yobei told Saipan Tribune.<\/p>\n<p>Arts Council executive director Angel S. Hocog said the festival continues to grow into one of the largest annual events in the Micronesian region, showcasing unique cultures and the native delicacies of those who have taken residence in the Marianas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe festival has served to assist in the effort to promote the visual and performing arts and to preserve and perpetuate the traditional indigenous art forms&#8230;in the end its most significant quality is that it brings beauty to our daily lives,\u201d Hocog said.<\/p>\n<p>Saturday\u2019s ceremony also recognized major festival sponsors, each one receiving a ukulele plaque as a token of appreciation. They are Delta Air Lines, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, IT&amp;E, Marianas Visitors Authority, Bank of Guam, Matty\u2019s Barbeque &amp; Catering Store, Canton Restaurant, Mobil, Coca-Cola, Pacific Development Inc., CNMI Energy Division, and KKMP.<\/p>\n<p>The festival throughout the weekend featured entertainment from the Umang Glee Club, Keynotes Music, Saipan Awaodori Team, Black Sands, Taekwondo Blue Dragon, MHS (Poksai Guma Chamorro), Saipan Southern Warriors, the man\u2019amko of the Aging Center, Kristo Rai Church choirs, Baby PJ, Guam\u2019s Ginen I Hila\u2019 I Maga Taotao Siha, San Diego delegation, Rota\u2019s Gilitai traditional dancers, Rota\u2019s New Boyz and Dem Ladiez, CAB Dancers, Tinatak Warriors, Guam\u2019s Taotao Lagu, Hopwood Junior High School, Ukulele Jammers, Pau Hinano, Uncle Ben\u2019s Music and Dance, Alana Ia, Glushko Academy, Reunion Te Kanahau Nui, Stellar Marianas (Ms. Marianas Teen), Hugs and Kisses, Project Blue, Maluw Band, Saipan Southern High \u201cChamoritas,\u201d Item Nine, Saipan Music and Dance School, Rose Dance School, the Yap community, Pacific Flower, Refaluwasch Warriors, Trunesian Breed Band, and Teivi Maori.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The 33rd Annual Flame Tree Festival over the weekend drew thousands of community members and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":33462,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[46,42,51,43],"class_list":["post-33452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fotogalleria","tag-ceremony","tag-food","tag-guam","tag-marianas-visitors-authority"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33452","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33452"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33452\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/33462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33452"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33452"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33452"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}