NMC celebrates 27th Charter Day

A 17-year-old Kagman High School Junior student outshined four other contestants of Marianas Idol IV during the Northern Marianas College’s 27th Charter Day celebration April 11 at the school’s As Terlaje Campus.

Tanya Dela Cruz’s rendition of Destiny’s Child’s “Stand Up For Love” won her the Marianas Idol IV title, $300 in cash, and a brand new Motorola Razor cellphone with SIM card.

Judges for this year’s Marianas Idol were Vince Dela Cruz of NMC Office of Student Activities and Leadership, 2006 Marianas Idol winner Juanette Villagomez, and Jennifer Aguon of Stellar Marianas.

Dela Cruz said that it’s her second time to join the competition and she didn’t expect to win. “It feels good [to win]. I’m happy. I thank my friends and my parents for supporting me.”

Thirteen individuals auditioned for the competition and were trimmed down to five finalists, which included Amada Rabauliman, Perry Yalolmar, Janee Babauta, and Felix Rabauliman.

“The Marianas Idol is always the biggest attraction [during Charter Day celebration],” said 2008 Charter Day Committee Secretary Queanna Sablan.

The NMC community celebrates Charter Day annually in commemoration of the 1981 signing of an executive order which established the Northern Marianas College as a division within the CNMI Department of Education.

Traditionally, the celebration has been mostly a two-day event. “Because of the economy, we have to cut back, we have to downscale it as well. But we always try to make the best of what we can,” explained Sablan.

This year’s theme, “Working Together for a Brighter Future,” is manifested in the stage design and backdrop, which showed an illustration of individuals standing together in the shape of a latte stone. “We tried to incorporate the culture along the theme and the NMC colors,” Sablan added.

The celebration featured live performances from Maggie Naputi, Maika’I, Burning Bush, Saipan Grand Hotel’s Zynergy Band, Inatuas, English Department Dance Club, Burning Bush, I Metgot, Penina Ole Vasa, and the Saipan Southern High Manta Ray Concert Band which recently brought home gold after competing successfully in Guam.

The heavy downpour in the evening did not dampen the festive mood of the community members who joined the night’s revelry.

For Leina’Ala Olopai, it was her first time to attend a Charter Day celebration and found it interesting. “They [the featured performers] were good. I like reggae so I like the Burning Bush band.”

Lynette Cabrera, a junior student at Marianas High School, said that the previous celebrations had more life to it. “There was more entertainment before… But it’s still good now, a lot of people still showed up.”

NMC president Carmen Fernandez said that although this year’s celebration is rather “conservative,” she is pleased with this year’s turnout nonetheless and only hopes the best for the NMC community. “We wish to be here forever for all the people of CNMI, ‘til the end of time.”

Since its inception, NMC has focused on meeting the higher education and vocational training needs of the CNMI.