The search for LibDay Festivities’ ‘Lucky Star’ winner

June 20 was a day for treasure hunting for Skywalker Communications Group public relations manager Rose Ada-Hocog and the Skywalker team.

It all began on Friday night when young Parveen Mingefiiy stepped up to the line and handed her tokens to the game booth attendant for a chance to win at the Balloon Pop game. With just one try, Mingefiiy landed a dart right in the center of the star-shaped bull’s eye. Not realizing what had happen, the young “Lucky Star” hitter was ready to throw her second dart, but was halted by the cheer from her younger sister as well as the crowd around her.

The reaction on her face that followed was an epic look that screamed, “Did I do that?”

After collecting her large teddy bear prize from the game, Mingefiiy and her family disappeared into the large Friday night crowd before the Skywalker team and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang had the chance to present her with her surprise gift for hitting the Lucky Star on the first try.

The Skywalker Communications team took it to the Internet via Ada-Hocog’s Facebook page, where a search went viral in pursuit to finding the “Lucky Star” winner. Many of the CNMI’s residents shared Mingefiiy’s photo in hopes of ensuring she receives her surprise prize from Dr. Bo Hu of Skywalker and Apatang.

Within 24 hours Mingefiiy’s photo was going viral on Facebook and her mother, using the Facebook handle: Naveen Pua-Ming, responded with a “woohooo! Awesome job baby! Her name is Parveen Mingefiiy! {“right on” emoji & “star” emoji}. Immediately after receiving a response from Mingefiiy’s mother, the Skywalker team began making arrangements to award Mingefiiy her prize, but were faced with another challenge. Sunday was Father’s Day and on Monday Mingefiiy and her family were leaving for summer vacation.

According to Dr. Bo Hu, “we owe it to “Lucky Star” to ensure that she receives her prize before she leaves the island.” Instructions were then issued to the Skywalker team to stop everything they were doing and take to the streets to find “Lucky Star.” “Stop whatever you are working on. Your priority is to find ‘Lucky Star’ and give her her prize before she leaves,” instructed Dr. Bo.

Honoring Father’s Day, the Skywalker team left the family alone on Sunday to enjoy their day together before departing the islands. The very next morning, the team hit the streets and drove around the island in an attempt to catch Mingefiiy and her family during their vacation preparation runs. Again, the team had no luck. Skywalker’s Ada-Hocog contacted the Commonwealth Ports Authority and sought their assistance in finding “Lucky Star.”

“There is a special young girl that will be leaving the island today,” Ada-Hocog explained to the CPA receptionist and the Ports Police. “I need your help to find her so we can present her with her prize.” Without hesitation, and after explaining the Do’s and Don’ts to Ada-Hocog, the Ports Police sprang into action.

The Skywalker team then proceeded to the airport to meet with the Ports Police to put their plans in motion. After spending half of the day at the airport waiting for Mingefiiy and her family to arrive at the check-in counter and by 2pm, the Skywalker team was ready to accept that they missed “Lucky Star” and her family. “I turned to look at the check-in line one more time and there they were,” Ada-Hocog explained. The team immediately jumped up and practically ran to where the family was standing. The Mingefiiy family, although startled at first, smiled after they realized what the team was there to do. “Thank you” said Mingefiiy’s dad. “You guys went out of your way to give our daughter her prize.” Ada-Hocog smiled and responded, “There is one more surprise.” It was then that the CPA team carried out their part of the surprise.

“The teamwork and collaboration between Skywalker, the online and offline community members, and the CPA, to find “Lucky Star” and make sure that she receives her prizes is a testament to the spirit of familia that is still present here in the islands,” said Ada-Hocog.

“The Liberation Day Festivities is not just about remembering the lives lost and the sacrifice and hardship made by many,” said Dr. Bo. “It is also about reflecting on and celebrating the two important things in life—family and friends. This is one of the reasons why we [Skywalker Communications Group] decided to step up to the plate and provide assistance in organizing the festivities. The theme: Our Islands Our Heritage says a lot about the respect and recognition of the importance of family and friends here in the CNMI and we are proud members.”