Hyatt kicks off holiday with tree lighting ceremony

Hyatt Regency Saipan marked the beginning of its holiday festivities with the annual lighting ceremony of its Christmas tree at the hotel lobby on Friday.

Hotel guests gathered at the lobby as four beneficiaries of the Make-A-Wish Foundation had the honor of officially turning on the lights for the 25-foot Christmas tree.

The ceremony symbolized hope for Jovilita Brondo, whose 5-year-old son, John Emmanuel, is undergoing chemotherapy in his battle against leukemia and was among those who turned on the Christmas tree lights.

“My Christmas wish for my son is to have total healing,” said Brondo.

Jessica Basa of Kannat Tabla, for her part, said she is “thankful to the Lord” that her daughter, Trini B. Magofna, who was diagnosed with a heart condition when she was born, is with them yet again to celebrate another Christmas.

“Hopefully, God knows how much I care about my daughter and I pray that she will be healthy,” said Basa.

Guests sipped wine and juice drinks while being serenaded by the in-house band, Star Society, with a repertoire of well-loved holiday tunes.

Members of the audience were also entertained by the award-winning Umang Glee Club of Koblerville Elementary School, which was invited for the first time to perform at the ceremony.

About 30 club members from second to sixth grades donned red shirts and Santa hats as they crooned Christmas carols in English, Filipino, and Japanese, much to the delight of the crowd.

“We’re very honored and happy that they called us to sing at their lighting ceremony,” Karen Alla, who conducts the group along with John Jimeno, told Saipan Tribune.

Alla disclosed that it took them one and a half weeks of practice after school to prepare for Friday’s performance.

“We’ve added to our song collection Japanese songs because we want to sing languages of all groups here on Saipan as much as possible,” she said.

Alla said the group is scheduled to perform at different programs and venues this holiday, including the Christmas party for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the man’amko.

“If anybody wants the Umang Glee Club to perform in their corporate parties this holiday, please give us a call or send us a message on Facebook. We accept in-kind and monetary donations,” said Alla.

Proceeds of the donation will be used when the group defends its title at the 2012 Tumon Bay Music Festival in Guam slated for March.

“Times may be hard but this holiday, we have to stick together and work together as a community. If the Umang Glee Club can do it as kids, we can do it as adults,” said Rose Ada-Hocog, a parent of one of the club members.

For information, call 285-7109 or 989-1974 or send a message to Umang Glee Facebook page.

Hyatt marketing communications assistant manager Luis Villagomez said they decided to invite the Umang Glee Club so that guests can feel the holiday spirit through the group’s melodious performance.

“This was definitely a very symbolic night for all of us,” said Villagomez. “Despite the gloomy situation in the CNMI, the lighting of the Christmas tree gave hope for everyone in the community.”