Back on the calendar – big parties and community events expect support

BY MORGAN LEGEL

Journal Staff

Crisostomo

In the past months of the new COVID-recovery era people have been taking part in social events again — perhaps what some have missed most – even across the islands.

The Saipan Fishermen’s Association 36th Saipan International Fishing Tournament on July 20 saw a notable participation from the fishing community in Guam.  A group from Saipan — in Guam as part of the Pacific Century Fellows leadership program — attended the Guam Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch on July 28.

While some virtual events are still on the calendar, and golf tournaments in the Mariana Islands are back, now non-profit and major community events are solidifying dates, also in anticipation of the cap of 100 in Guam finally rising, even as vaccinations continue. 

Joyce Q. Crisostomo, executive director of CarsPlus and president of the Guam Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association, said that GMHVA is aiming to have its signature events back on the schedule.

“We’re so grateful to be going back,” she said. “As of now, we’re working with our plan A – our traditional events.”

However, the annual charity event is postponed until next April, and the details are still being worked out for GMVHA’s Thanksgiving raffle.

“Because of everything that’s happened, we are very flexible with our events now,” she said.

As far as planning for events, GMHVA’s calendar goes well past April 2022, Crisostomo said.

Both the Hyatt Regency Guam and the Dusit Thani Guam Resort are proving popular for upcoming events, due to the size of their ballrooms.

Cosico

Madelaine Cosico, director of sales and marketing at the Hyatt Regency Guam, said that even with the current maximum occupancy of 100 people, “Every weekend we tend to be full. From weddings to other smaller, social events.”

As restrictions continue to ease up, the Hyatt is getting more and more inquiries about organizations and businesses starting to plan Christmas parties as well as non-profits aiming to bring back gala dinners.

“We have one confirmed for August, the Make-A-Wish event (See chart), but I do think that the social-event scene will be back by the end of the year,” she said.

“Most people are waiting for the 100% occupancy announcement to start planning stuff out,” she said. “Of course, [parties] won’t be as big as before, because people are still not comfortable going out, but it will slowly come back to normal.”

Cosico said the current and upcoming events are different from pre-pandemic ones, so it’s hard to compare.

“We do have 50% of the events that we had before, but in terms of capacity, it’s definitely less – just a different way to gauge it,” she said. “We have been having a larger number of smaller events.”

Maureen N. Maratita, publisher of Glimpses Media — which includes the Journal, said the Guam Business Magazine Executive of the Year gala committee has set a date — Jan. 15 next year, at the Hyatt. “We expect that our major events will come back next year. Typically, EOY is the first party of the year and we have had enquiries about the gala and even a couple of nominations. We are truly blessed, and I think the business communities of the region are ready to honor their own again. What precise guidelines we will have, I can’t say – but our team is certainly flexible – and I am sure attendees will understand.”

At the Sentry Hospitality Corp. Dinner and Wine fundraiser on June 26 at Days Inn Guam wer (From left) Gov. Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero, First Gentleman Jeffrey A. Cook, Veronica Salas, aquatic education program coordinator, Guam Department of Agriculture; and Maria Eugenia Leon Guerrero, executive vice president/chief operating officer at Bank of Guam.
Journal file photo

Some events where organizers think it will still be difficult to social distance, such as this year’s Relay for Life event for the American Cancer Society – typically at the end of May, have had to rethink the event.

The one-day event is now a multi-month schedule, ranging from July to November. After the virtual proclamation ceremony and a survivor and caregiver drive and wave event in July, the event then moves to a luminaria exhibit and ceremony where there will be sign-ups to view the display. In September will be the village campaigns, with participating villages including Agat, Barrigada, Inarajan, Mangilao, Piti, Tamuning, Umatec and Yigo; the villages will host various drive-through displays to show support. Teams will be featured in media in October, and the luminaria exhibit encore and release of team feature compilation will come in November.

The Guam Association of Realtors also held a virtual housing symposium on July 17.

Additional events in the Mariana Islands are community wide ones.

Set to happen on July 31 is the Christmas in July 2021 with Fire at the Beach at Gun Beach and the Ha’anin Minagof at the Valley of the Latte Adventure Park Guam.

Some events have been cancelled such as the Asian Pacific Association for Fiduciary Studies’ 20th Anniversary Fiduciary week-long event in Manila.

Below is a list of upcoming events in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands compiled by the Journal. Sponsorships are available for many of them. If you have an event you’d like to add for promotion and coverage, please contact Morgan Legel, editorial coordinator, at [email protected] mbj