8 schools to compete in Christmas caroling tilt

The 12th Annual Christmas in the Marianas continues tomorrow night, Dec. 14, with the Christmas caroling competition at the Paseo de Marianas.

According to Friends of Paso de Marianas’ Sonia Siwa, eight schools have signed up for this year’s competition, including defending elementary division champion Koblerville Elementary School.

The rest of Saturday’s lineup include Kagman, Oleai, and Garapan elementary schools, Mt. Carmel Elementary School, Green Meadow School, and Kagman High School.

Last year, Koblerville Elementary and Mount Carmel students topped the elementary division and high school divisions, respectively, of the competition.

The 12th Annual Christmas in the Marianas kicked off last week with the Christmas tree decorating contest. San Antonio, Kagman, Tanapag, William S. Reyes, Oleai, Dandan, Gregorio T. Camacho, San Vicente, and Koblerville elementary schools; Green Meadow School, Golden Harvest International School, Grace Christian Academy, Mt. Carmel School, and Agape Christian School took part in the competition.

The monthlong celebration continues on Dec. 21 with the Parade of Floats that will be held around sunset from the Carolinian Affairs Office in Garapan along Beach Road to Paseo de Marianas. Also on Dec. 21, Marianas Walking Association will host the 5K Christmas Health Walk.

Festivities continue with the annual Mochitsuki Festival on Dec. 28, organized in collaboration with the Japanese Society. The festival marks the preparation of mocha—a dough-like substance of glutinous rice—for the Japanese New Year.

In addition to the Saturday events, entertainment will be provided nightly on Dec. 22, 27, 29, and 30.

Christmas in the Marianas is sponsored by the Marianas Visitors Authority, PDM Promoters, Inc., Team PDI, Tan Siu Lin Foundation, Docomo Pacific, DFS Galleria, and Kinpachi Restaurant. Event sponsors are Office of the Governor, DCCA-Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture, Division of Environmental Quality, departments of Public Safety, Public Works, and Lands and Natural Resources; Division of Parks and Recreation, Koblerville Youth Learning Center, CNMI Public School System, MINA, Japan Saipan Travel Association, KKMP, Power 99, KZMI, KCNM, Magic 100, Carolinian Cultural Village Inc., IT&E, RNV Construction, Country House Restaurant, Moby Dick Restaurant, S.P.E. Saipan, Inc., Hamada Production, Misa Enterprises, and Kinpachi Convenience.