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Festival of Cultures kicks off despite rain
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- Chamorro dancers pose for a photo after impressing the tourists and other festival-goers with native Chamorro dances and chants. (Erwin Encinares)
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- Filipino performers doing the Tinikling dance for the tourists. ( Erwin Encinares)
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- A young spectator poses for a picture while seemingly overjoyed by the higai (coconut leaf) head band made by one of the Carolinian performers. (Erwin Encinares)
The 2nd Annual International Festival of Cultures, organized by the Marianas Visitors Authority, pushed through despite the nasty rain last Saturday at the Paseo de Marianas in Garapan. Starting at 5pm, the festival aimed to bring together the multicultural community of the CNMI.
Aside from the indigenous Chamorro and Carolinian cultures, others cultures were also present in the festivities, among them were that of Japan, Tahiti, and the Philippines. The festival would be on every Saturday of the week, until the last Saturday of September. More international cultures would be joining the festivities in the weeks to come.
The Festival of Cultures featured Many Chamorro and Carolinian dances. The Philippines also presented their “Tinikling,” a dance that has gained popularity since the Spanish era. The Chamorro presented the Få’I chant, a chant used by the ancient Chamorro while preparing rice.
Food from other countries were also present during the festivities. Japanese food, such as katsudon (fried breaded pork cutlet), gyoza (Japanese style dumplings), takoyaki (a ball-shaped Japanese delicacy made of flour based batter mixed with minced vegetables and octopus), and Japanese-style burger steak, to name a few, were sold at the event. Filipino cuisine was presented by Chow Time, with owner Anna Liza Guancia personally serving the food, for Filipinos pining for a taste of home.
Corn Soup, red rice, and barbeque—among the native delicacies—were also served during the festival.
The Festival of Cultures would be ongoing every Saturday of the week. Aug. 20 and 27 and Sept. 3, 10, 17, and 24.
