‘Peace in Diversity’

Jihan Buniag, center, holds her winning check of $500 for the 2015 Liberation Day slogan contest. Joining her in a group photo, from left, are Saipan Mayor’s Office special assistant Henry Hofschneider, Skywalker Communications managing director Dr. Hu Bo, and 2015 Liberation Day chair Chris Leon Guerrero. (Jayson Camacho)

The 70th Liberation Day finally has a slogan after the Saipan Mayor’s Office announced yesterday that Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality staff Jihan Buniag won the competition with her entry, “Peace in Diversity.”

Mayor’s office special assistant Henry Hofschenider said Buniag’s winning slogan won over 105 other entries.

“We put the announcement for a week, 106 entries were received and from that we came down to just one,” he said.

Buniag was presented with the $500 check by 70th Liberation Day organizer Skywalker Communications and Hofschneider yesterday at the mayor’s office in Oleai.

Signifying the CNMI, the 2015 Liberation Day logo represents the sunshine, the palm trees, the fireworks, and the ocean. Aimed at creating more peace and diversity, the logo for the festivity is color-marked for paradise, culture, youth, and modernization. (Jayson Camacho)

She said she came up with the slogan after reflecting on the CNMI’s culture and history.

“It is a melting pot and we shouldn’t separate from each other. We should use our strength and work together. We need to create peace and use this as a benefit to strengthen our community,” she said.

This year’s celebration also already has a logo.

Skywalker Communications business director Elvis Yu said they’ve already decided on the 70th Liberation Day logo design, which he described as youthful, diverse, modern, and focuses on the festivities and the tropical paradise that is the CNMI.

Hofschneider said they will advertise the logo so that the community would become familiar with it.

The China-based creative firm that will be handling this year’s 70th Liberation Day also announced that there will be a $10,000 grand prize for the raffle this year—the highest prize in the history of the event.

With regards to the Liberation Day Royal Court, Hofschneider said they are still inviting young women to sign up for the competition, which is set from June 27 to Aug. 16.

“We have close to six weeks ahead of us so there is a lot of preparations right now,” he said.

The 2015 Liberation Day Royal Court contestant criteria is 15 to 25 years old female, not married, no children, a CNMI resident for at least six months, and of good moral and ethical character.

Yu said there aren’t any limitations to the number of participants for the contest.

“We invite every woman 15 to 25 years of age to sign up for this year’s royal court,” Hofschneider said.

Each candidate may have individual sponsors to assist with the costs of competing and each candidate will have the ability to sell Liberation Day raffle tickets to raise funds and host other various approved fundraisers.

Ten percent of each of the candidates’ total fundraising proceeds will go to the candidate.

This year, one of the region’s leading independent auditing firms will lend its expertise to the 2015 Liberation Day Committee with the verification and counting of the official Liberation Day raffle tickets.

Applications for the 2015 Liberation Day Royal Court are now available at the Saipan Mayor’s Office or email liberationcnmi@gmail.com. Deadline to apply is on Friday, May 15, 2015.

Yu said Skywalker Communication is about more than 50 percent complete with their preparations for the 70th Liberation Day.

“We still have to do many more things. Later we will publish the proposal for sponsors, donors, vendors, and performers. We’re still working on the whole package and maybe next week we might start the announcement,” Yu said.

Yu conceded that they have not set a budget limit nor the costs of preparations for the Liberation Day festivities.

Liberation Day chair Chris Leon Guerrero said he is excited for this year’s event and hopes that everything works out between the collaborating agencies. He also hopes to organize a diverse celebration that will top past Liberation Day festivities.