Oleai is Parade of Books champion

Oleai Elementary School emerged champion of this year’s Parade of Books competition, taking home the $1,000 first place cash prize during Saturday’s event at Marianas High School Gymnasium.

Comprised of approximately 40 students, the group impressed jurors and amazed spectators with their effective performance of the popular children’s story “The Beauty and the Beast.”

Oleai, which has been part of the competition since its start four years ago, was the Parade of Books champion in 2006 and 2007.

Garnering a total of 148 points, Oleai bested San Vicente Elementary School, which received 144 points from the judges. San Vicente was adjudged the second place winner for their equally powerful performance of “The Lion King.”

SVES was last year’s defending champion and went home Saturday with $750, a group pass for a water park treat at the Pacific Islands Club, and a one-night stay at the hotel for bagging both the competition’s best producer’s award and the most spirited team award.

Oleai school principal Glenn Muna said the cash prize will be utilized in procuring more books for the school library.

He disclosed that performers, who were from first to sixth grade, diligently rehearsed for two weeks to make sure they will offer a good performance.

“This is the third year we bagged the championship trophy and we’re very happy to get the title back. We’re truly proud of our students. They deserved to win because they really worked hard,” Muna said, adding that selection of the “Beauty and the Beast” was the consensus of the students themselves.

Muna vows the continuous participation of Oleai in the Parade of Books which effectively promotes literacy among kids.

Performing the title role for Oleai in “Beauty and the Beast” was sixth grader Angeline Orsini, who played the character of “Bel.”

She told Saipan Tribune that the competition always brings fun and hope to all of them.

“It always excites me. This is my second year in the competition…and I can say it’s still a great feeling for me!” she said, adding that participation in the annual event also promotes reading—not as a requirement for kids—but for their pleasure as well.

For San Vicente school coordinators Rhonda Camacho and Kathy Pagapular, receiving three major recognitions in the event was truly amazing. The two were lauded for enhancing the kids’ creativity as shown in their well-received performance.

SVES started as among the crowd favorites as they wowed the crowd by their colorful and creative costume and set designs complementing the synchronized moves of the 26-member group.

“Although it was stressful, we’re very proud of what our students did today. After a month of hard work, it finally paid off,” they said, adding that members would be treated to a water park experience before the semester ends.

They said part of the cash prize will be used in buying shirts for the students and donate the other portion to the school operational funds.

The third prize award was bestowed to Garapan Elementary School for their rendition of “Hansel & Gretel” and its students went home with $500 cash prize from Rotarians.

Consolation of $200 cash prize each were awarded to Tanapag Elementary which performed the “Poems for Two Voiced”; Grace Christian Academy for the “Little Mermaid”; and Koblerville Elementary for “The 3 Little Hawaiian Pigs and the Magic Shark.”

Ben Babauta, president of the Saipan Rotary Club, meanwhile expressed the group’s gratitude to the public and private schools that participated in the event, which he promised to become more exciting every year.

“This is another successful year of Parade of Books and we’re very happy with the turnout. This annual event aims to promote and help our schools promote to our kids the importance of reading and encouraging them to have fun in reading,” he told Saipan Tribune.

Babauta extended the group’s appreciation to the event’s major sponsors that included the Delta-Northwest Airlines, Pacific Islands Club, PSS, and Marianas High School.