DPS bags awards in Christmas Village tilt

The Department of Public Safety placed first in several categories in the Lady Diann Torres Christmas Village decoration competition.

A previous Saipan Tribune article quoted first lady Diann Torres as saying that DPS set the standard quite high last year, yet it seems DPS stepped their game up further this year. The hard work paid off because the department was awarded first place for two out of three categories.

This year, a total of 28 agencies and organizations competed to win the most creative, best in theme, and people’s choice awards for each of their unique cottage designs displayed at the Lady Diann Torres Foundation Christmas Village.

During the awarding ceremony last Friday, DPS won first place for most creative and for best in theme.

The department built a cottage that was inspired by the Willy Wonka chocolate factory.

The department was awarded $200 cash, two plaques, and chocolates as a gift from the Lady Diann Torres Foundation.

Bank of Guam and Rufina LLC’s Moana-inspired cottage placed second for most creative and for best in theme and the Department of Fire and Emergency Management Services placed third in both categories and was awarded plaques and chocolates.

The Saipan Mayor’s Office’s folktale-inspired cottage was awarded the people’s choice plum.

The public was encouraged to vote for their favorite cottage every Tuesday from Dec. 5 to 19 and the Saipan Mayor’s Office’s boot cottage, inspired by the Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe folktale, had the most votes.

According to Torres, the Saipan Mayor’s Office was awarded $200, a plaque, and chocolates.

Torres said that overall, the village did greater this year compared to last year because there were bigger crowds and it was even offered as part of a Christmas package for tour agencies, resulting in tourist visits.

Torres said the village hours were also extended to accommodate the many people who came to visit late in the evening.

Originally, the village lighting hours were from 6pm to 9pm on the weekdays and from 6pm to 11pm on the weekends. The foundation extended it from 6pm to 11pm on the weekdays and from 6pm to 6am on the weekends.

Torres looks forward to the contest in the following years.

The Lady Diann Torres Foundation Christmas Village will be taken down on Jan. 9, 2018.