Somber mood as Tinian commemorates San Jose Fiesta

Youth volunteers carry a religious image of St. Joseph The Worker in a procession yesterday to celebrate the feast day of Tinian’s patron saint.
(Jon Perez)

SAN JOSE, Tinian—Tinian residents and guests celebrated the feast of St. Joseph The Worker yesterday with a not so festive atmosphere with the closure of one of the island’s major employers—the Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino.

Life, however, must go on for the more than 3,000 residents living and working in Saipan’s neighboring island. Tinian and the uninhabited island of Agrihan comprise the Municipality of Tinian.

And Sunday seemed to be just any other day. After the 9am mass, a crowd close to 100 followed the religious image of St. Joseph—carried by four men—for a procession around the parish church.

A brunch was held where members of the community brought their specialty dishes to share it to all the parishioners and guests.

The usual festivities also took place last Saturday at Kammer Beach where dances by various youth groups and the Nepalese community and local singers entertained the crowd that trooped the fiesta grounds.

Booths that sell various items like clothes, toys, novelty items, food, and drinks were scattered around the grounds, while an inflatable slide and castle kept the kids busy.

Neng’s Snack was named the best booth in the competition with E.J. Chill & Grill and Queen’s Restaurant coming in second and third, respectively. They won $300, $200, and $100 each. However, it was not so festive compared to this year’s Pika Festival.

A bicycle race—the 4th Tour de Tinian—tennis and basketball tournaments and a fishing derby was also held as additional events.

Saipan’s Nap Dizon won his third Tour de Tinian men’s open division title, while it was the second straight for Tinian’s Kimberly King-Hinds. Youngster Kenji Matias, who is 16 years old, was the top winner among the Tinian bets beating Charlie Cabreros and Norlo Jacosalem.

The crew of Bunita became the big winner of the fishing derby after hauling a 150-lb billfish. Carmelita came in second with a 104.5-lb catch, while Luka & Ben’s catch weighed 90.2 lbs. Princess Lee, however, had a 1-2-3 finish in the other categories.

Princess Lee was the lone entry that went back with a yellowfin tipping the scales at 10.5 lbs then placed second in the mahi at 22.1 lbs behind the 23.4 lbs of Fiona. Don’t Say Bad Words came in third at 20.3 lbs.

Princess Lee also came in third in the skipkjack category at 9.3 lbs behind the 11.29 lbs of Bottoms Up and Carmelita’s 9.39 lbs. St. Jude (25.49 lbs), D.J. Fish (23.3 lbs), and Amazing Grace (21.49 lbs) were the top three in the wahoo category.