‘LibDay parade a needed respite’

Representing the CNMI’s multicultural heritage, various cultural offices banded together to create a float that encompasses the different indigenous cultures in the CNMI during the annual Liberation Day parade yesterday. For the Chamorro culture, the group featured a replica of the original Chamorro canoe seemingly sailing in the ocean. (KIMBERLY B. ESMORES)

The flyover from a B-52 jet signaled the start of this year’s 77th Liberation Day celebration with a parade that snaked north along a crowded Beach Road, from the National Office Supply to the grandstand at the Garapan Fishing Base.

Early morning showers briefly appeared before the parade’s start, but the weather held up and sunlight poked through scattered clouds all morning through the afternoon. This was the second Liberation Day Parade in the CNMI since the COVID-19 pandemic halted this public spectacle; the practice of having a July 4 parade resumed last year.

After the parade, Palacios said many in the community came out to watch “because I guess they needed a break from everything else. This is one of the first major events here but I hope we ac continue to do things like this again.”

Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho billed his first parade as mayor a successful one—with 44 parade entries and 15 floats.

This year’s parade also had a float competition and the 2023 Liberation Day Committee will announce the winners later. As part of cost-cutting measures, the parade did not feature the traditional Liberation Day Royal Court.

In an interview after the parade, Camacho said, “I was almost speechless. This is really the meaning of the theme ‘Resiliency Rising.’ Whatever obstacles we went through, it showed today that we are all resilient and we are rising together.

“I thank the community, the partnership, and the media. Thank you so much for making this event a really successful one,” he said. About the turnout, “There were a lot of people and they were enjoying themselves. The floats and participants all looked nice and I’m so impressed.”

Participants of the parade performed in front of the grandstand and presented gifts to the delegates in attendance, including Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and first lady Wella Palacios, Lt. Gov. and Liberation Day grand marshal David M. Apatang, Tinian Mayor Edwin Aldan, Northern Islands Mayor Valentino N. Taisacan, and various U.S. military VIPs led by Joint Region Marianas commander Rear Adm. Gregory C. Huffman.

The start of the parade kicked off with the roar and booming sound of motorcycles from the Young Gunz, followed by the U.S. Army Reserve Color Guards, then Camacho and Apatang.

Unlike the traditional Fourth of July that is celebrated in the U.S, mainland, Liberation Day marks the occasion when the gates of the local internment camp, called Camp Susupe—where the CNMI’s civilian population s were kept during World War II—were officially opened.

In her remarks in the commemorative booklet, 2023 Liberation Day Committee chair Nadine C. Deleon Guerrero thanked committee members and volunteers for their hard work on putting together this years’ festivities.

The Liberation festival grounds at the Garapan Fishing Base officially opened last Saturday, July 1, with over 30 booths. It will last until Saturday, July 22.

On Thursdays and Sundays, the hours of operations are from 5pm to 10pm; on Fridays and Saturdays, it will be from 5pm to 12am. Operations will stop Mondays through Wednesdays, except yesterday, when the carnival grounds was open until midnight.