Saipan’s Chinese community rings in the Year of the Dragon

  Hundreds of Chinese community members and guests on Saturday filled the Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Hibiscus Hall for the Lunar New Year party organized by the Chinese Association of Saipan to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

The revelers were treated to good food and entertainment that began with the traditional lion dance performance to ring in good fortune throughout the year for about 300 guests that included officers and members of the Chinese Association and dignitaries like Mayor Donald G. Flores and Superior Court associate judge David Wiseman.

Flores, in his remarks, extended his well wishes on the occasion to the Chinese community on Saipan and his gratitude to their contributions to the islands-“from the delicious Chinese food and cuisine to the graceful dances at our annual Liberation Day Parade.”

“I hope that the Year of the Dragon brings greater success and prosperity for Saipan and Chinese communities across the world.I wish you all an even better year with good health and fortune,” said Flores.

Guests indulged in authentic Chinese cuisine that included pork hocks with vegetables, fried chicken, chop suey, shrimp and roast pork fried rice, and tikoy, among others. Exciting prizes were raffled off, including lunch certificates, hotel stays and other gift certificates, appliances, and a round-trip ticket to Shanghai.

Saturday’s event also featured performances by students of the Chinese Education Center, Trace Tian, the Marianas High School Glee Club’s Rhythm and Harmony, Inatua Chamorritas, and the Refaluwasch Warriors. World-renowned piano virtuoso Roman Rudnytsky also graced the show and wowed the crowd with his remarkable talent.

Association director and former president Rose Chan said that the “Chinese New Year is a very important part of Chinese culture so we want to have the good traditional things through this event.”

Chan, who is also principal of the Chinese Education Center, said the celebration is especially important for the younger Chinese generations. “We want the Chinese on island to carry on with their traditions even though they’re away from home. We want them to know their culture and not forget it,” she said.

Sponsors and donors include ACA, Century Travel, Crystal Palace/Micro Beach Hotel, City Trust Bank, Diamond Restaurant, Double Luck International Corp., Fiesta Resort & Spa, Gree Air Conditioner, Guangdong Hardware, Gourmet Restaurant, Hyatt, IT&E, I Love Saipan, Kevin Store, Luen Fung, Marpac, Modern Stationery, PIC, Pacific Subsea Submarine, Pearl River Co., Pretty Host, Pretty Market, Pretty Tour, Saipan Shipping, Subway, Sunleader, Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, Transamerica Corp., Twins Super Market, Venus Beauty Salon, Wu Shun, and Yaong Corp.