MCOG provides tentative 80th Liberation Day schedule, a work in progress

BY PAULY SUBA
Journal Staff

Preparations are underway for Guam's 80th Liberation Day festivities, with key events scheduled throughout July, according to Jesse L.G. Alig, president of the Mayor's Council of Guam and Mayor of Piti.

During the council’s regular monthly meeting on June 5, Alig said the Liberation Queen's final counting will be on June 14. Alig said, “We'll know who the Royal Court is by 4 p.m. on June 14."

The coronation has been rescheduled for July 7, instead of July 6. The time and venue will be provided later.

Details of a block party will be provided by Guam Visitors Bureau. At the Mayor's Council meeting, Alig said the block party will be held on July 20 and 21 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Paseo area in Hagåtña.

The 80th Liberation Day Parade is set for Sunday, July 21, with several special arrangements according to Robert RDC. Hoffman, vice president of the Mayors Council of Guam and mayor of Sinajana. However, Hoffman said the governor's office will be sending out the details. He said, "I know they are working on it."

The council also agreed to have a unified memorial service.

While Mañenggon, the site of the largest concentration camp, will continue to receive special attention, Alig stressed the importance of a unified approach. "It is our liberation, and you should have decorations [at your memorials] and you should invite people to come to visit your monument," he said. "But to create another ceremony to add on to the schedule, I think it is counterproductive, and it doesn't do us justice."

Bill A. Quenga, mayor of Yoña, voiced strong support for the Mañenggon Memorial Foundation's plans. "The Mañenggon Memorial Foundation wanted to have it because it's the 80th anniversary, so I'm supporting it no matter what… and you all are welcome to come down… if you have time. So come on down, July 7th,” Quenga said.

Hoffman announced additional plans to honor those lost during the war. "We're going to light up the Plaza de España as well at night. The memorials will stay up from July 19, 20, and 21, and will be open to the public from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.," Hoffman said. "We're also doing a special memorial show with 3,050 individual lights in the shape of the island of Guam, which will signify each soul that was lost during the time."

The tentative schedule, endorsed by the council, begins on July 16 with a World War II virtual reality presentation at the Guam museum. It continues on July 19 with a mass and the unified memorial, followed by a block party on July 20 and July 21, with the parade on July 21.

Alig said that the council continues to work with the governor’s office to ensure the official schedule is widely communicated. He said, “We want to work with the governor's office on it, so that they can press it out as well.” mbj