CNMI Historical Sites

PLACES and sites with historical significance on Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Stay tuned as I add more materials...

Last Command Post

DRIVING all the way to Marpi on the north end of Saipan will lead you to several areas that have been mute witnesses to the poignant events of the Second World War, and one of these areas is the Last Command Post below the colossal 800-foot Suicide Cliffs. Read more...

The rough and dusty road toward Laolao Bay is not really  extraordinary — until one learns about the rich history of the area   from the dive sites to its cultural heritage sites. Read more...

WW2 Japanese tank

ONE one of the many other World War 2 tanks and relics lying around the island as grim reminders of the war under the shade of a canopy of leaves and surrounded by tall bushes near the Saipan International Airport. The sturdy piece of steel did not look like it was going to fall into pieces soon. Read more...

 

Japanese bunkers

Along the way to the Saipan International Airport are cement bunkers, some of the grim reminders of Saipan as one of the sites where the bloodiest World War 2 took place over 60 years ago. I got tthe chance to crawl inside one of...Read more

Celebrating a colorful Sto. Niño Festival

 CLAD in colorful costumes, the street dancers fell in line at the beating of the drums on a bright Sunday afternoon on Tinian and got ready to celebrate another tradition that has continued to attract locals and tourists each year—the Sto. Niño Festival, or festival of the Child Jesus.
As the men who volunteered to carry the Sto. Niño statue for the procession fell into place, the street dancers—composed of kids and adults started their dancing and chanting in front of the San Jose Church on Tinian.

Soon the procession started with the street dancers leading the way, drawing the attention of spectators along the road. Four stations were set along the streets—usually in front of the house of devotees where the street dancers stopped to dance for a few minutes before continuing.
By nightfall, the procession returned to where it originated—in front of the San Jose Church. Huge tents were erected at the back of the church where a lavish feast was laid out on long tables.

Guests and locals fell in line to partake of the mouthwatering dishes prepared by the community members hours before—some even as early as the day before.
It was a time when cultural barriers were crossed and guests from various ethnicities sat side by side eating the same food and sharing experiences with one another.
Some of the street revelers joined the dancing with fervent hopes to make their wishes come true. The Sto. Niño Festival is a time when residents take out the Sto. Niño statues they have at home to have it blessed at the church and join the procession.
The dancing did not end at the streets. It continued on through the potluck and even after the dinner plates were cleared away.
The Filipino community on Tinian initiated the celebration of the Santo Niño Festival, a celebrated Roman Catholic statue of the Child Jesus years every third or last Sunday of January, but during the past years, the Filipino community have successfully drawn the interest and participation of other ethnicities.
From the local Filipino favorites, the potluck dishes expanded to include Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Chamorro and Western favorites.

Next year, the residents of Tinian can expect another lavish Sto. Niño Festival. Mark your calendars a year ahead to make it there.

A visit to Saipan’s hidden jewel

DRIVING northbound late on a cloudy Sunday afternoon led me and a buddy into a deserted boonie road leading into thick bushes just past Marianas Resort in Marpi to visit what can be considered as one of Saipan’s hidden gems.
A sign post that threatens to fall down anytime told us we were heading to Wing Beach, one of the famous diving spots on Saipan. We were not going diving but just to temporarily cure our wanderlust.
Driving on the road that resembles like a dried-up river minus the huge boulders is breath-taking, especially if you are driving your own car. By breath-taking, it means you’re not driving a four-wheel drive vehicle and you hold your breath as you maneuver through one deep rut after another, anticipating that final groan that would leave your car stranded in the middle of the road.
After what felt like an eternity, we heard the splashing of the waves in the distance. When we emerge into the clearing, the hardship of driving through that snaking clearing they call a road was worth it. No one was about as we took our Subway sandwiches out and headed to the shore a few steps down. My attention was not on my sandwich though. Four years after the last time I stepped on the same shore, I got busy taking   pictures of everything.
It was a gloomy afternoon and the huge waves crashing on the reef was not a comforting sight. It was downright scary. The Suicide Cliff loomed from a distance. The thick jungles surrounding us and the vast ocean suddenly made me feel caved in. It was weird to be out in the open and feel claustrophobic at the same time.
We didn’t stay long. I didn’t wish to be there when darkness falls because my imagination was starting to create havoc with my senses.
Wing Beach is known as a popular destination especially on the weekends for barbequing and enjoying the sun, a perfect site for shell collectors and as an entrance for divers to a beautiful dive spot, and I would like to be back again soon, although I prefer to be there when a lot of people around and not with darkness only a few minutes away.
When you have some time, or better yet try to find time to visit Saipan’s hidden jewels. A lot of people from other parts of the world are willing to pay thousands of dollars just to experience what you always have, and may have taken for granted.

Secret cove beyond the rocks and waves

 BELOW the rugged cliffs and ledges and beyond the rocky shoreline of Marine Beach at the eastern coast of Saipan is a cave-like spot that would catch the eye of adventurers.
I’ve been to Marine Beach several times before but did not think that behind the huge rocks is a cove perfect for a photo shoot, until a week ago.
The small cove is concealed and you won’t even know it’s there. The tide was out when I and a couple of buddies waded through ankle-deep water at the very right end of the beach facing the water. Picking our way through the slippery and moss-covered rocks was a challenging feat, especially if you are protecting your camera but the hardship made it all the more appealing.
When we reached the very end of the first rock, it seemed like a dead end and there was no more way out except to wade in deeper water and go around but to the left was a small narrow enclosure—so narrow that we have to crawl our way out. The opening led to another section like a small rocky chamber which goes all the way up to the top of the cliff. Direct sunlight poured down from the small opening above, making the area look like a small grotto.
Framed by the huge rocks, the view from the enclosure was stunning. You can see the huge sprays of water on the cliffs at the far end of the beach, a contrast to the soothing splashes of the rivulets flowing around the toward the enclosure we were in.

There was more beyond, but we dare not venture further. It was too dangerous. A few meters from where we were, huge waves go up as high as the cliffs and roll back to the sea with such force that threaten to carry off anyone and anything in its path.
For a moment, everything suddenly seemed to come to a standstill and suddenly, the tide was slowly coming in. We hurried back to the shore before our entrance point will be filled with water.
I’ve seen what Marine Beach was like during high tide and during times when the wind blew so strong that standing on your feet became almost impossible. I’ve witnessed members of the rescue team holding on to ropes and fighting a losing battle the strong current in search of a lost fisherman. It was hard to imagine that the peaceful and still beach we were on that Saturday noon was the same beach that shows unimaginable fury at times.
Marine Beach is an ideal place to spend a day out. The place has picnic shelters and tables, restrooms, an outdoor shower and BBQ pits and a long stretch of white albeit rocky beach line but the waters speak differently.
There is none of the gentle splashing of the waves on the shores to lull you to relaxation there but waves so strong and huge that could sweep you out to the sea any minute.
And oh, if you dare adventure to that secret cove beyond the rocks, make sure it is low tide and as the locals say, ask permission from the spirits of the land and water first before venturing there.

Secret behind the secret cliffs

OVER a year ago, I featured a secret cove safely hidden behind huge rocks at Long Beach or locally known as Unai Dankulo on Tinian.
There is more to it. Beyond the secret cove is another cove well concealed by rocks and cliffs which, if not for the open skies, it would have been a cave.
The exact spot is accessible only in two ways—braving the strong current and the huge sharp rocks at the coral edge, or crawling in your stomach through a narrow slit in a stone enclosure, a method people with claustrophobia wouldn’t find fascinating.
Bordering the beach on your right side is a rocky cliff which seem to spell ‘deadend’ to your exploration but don’t stop there. Right beside the cliff are shallow parts where kids can swim and frolick. At the bottom of the cliff, get on your stomach and start crawling inside the small opening of a tight crevice. This will lead you to a secluded but very beautiful hidden beach perfect for camping and private parties.
The spot I am focusing on is just a few meters up above this hidden beach. Pick you way a little further passing sharp rocks and crevices and you will come to a rocky enclosure that is perfect for a shrine or a grotto.
Vines clinging to the roots of trees in the cliff add to the spooky atmosphere. At this very spot, you feel like you are cut off from the rest of the world with only the rocks and cliffs and the sound of the waves rushing into the beach down.
At this spot, you can lost track of time and concentrate only in your immediate surroundings—a peaceful and tranquil environment far from the daily cares of work and routine.
Leftovers from a campfire like half burned pieces of coal were the only telltale signs that some people had barbeque in the place previously. A small enclosure under a rocky ledge serves perfect to spread a mat and enjoy a peaceful day away from anybody and everybody.
Unai Dankulo is one of Tinian’s favorite destinations with a long stretch of white sand shores in the North Field. The beach itself is a popular destination not only for tourists but local residents as well, but going beyond the ordinary scene will lead you to exciting nooks and crannies that a lot of people don’t even know existed.
There is more to the island than its pristine beaches and historical treasures. Just keep your eyes and ears open, and be adventurous. You will be surprised!

Gone Fishing

FISHING is one of the most popular water activities on Saipan all year round and there are lots of ways to do it. You can go deep sea fishing, sports fishing and trolling and go home with your catch of tuna, wahoo, barracuda and more.

You can also fish the traditional way by throwing nets but the most common fishing that is free for anyone and which both adults and kids engage and enjoy is fishing with a pole along the shorelines where you don’t have to own a boat to paddle to the middle of the ocean or spend dollars to buy fuel. You can do it anywhere along the shores.
Seeing an individual, groups or even kids at the shorelines with a pole dangling on the water is a very common sight. Fathers and mothers do it, kids do it, and teenagers do it. It’s one pastime that breaks through the barriers of culture and generation.

It’s fun and relaxing to watch these individuals with fishing poles. Some of them fish in groups and ride on bikes. Some fish with one or two companions and some do it alone. The most popular sites for pole fishing are the Fishing Base, Susupe Beach, Beach Road and the Smiling Cove. You can rarely see a day without somebody with a fishing pole in these areas, and whenever I can, I always pause to watch and sneak a photo, although I can count with my fingers the times I saw any of them hauling in fish.

I’ve tried casting a fishing pole several times at the Smiling Cove Marina and at the Fishing Base sometime before but the fish were too clever. They either wait for my sandwich bait to melt and get separated from the hook, or they have a way of pecking their way around the bait without getting hooked. I bought several sets of hooks and plastic baits and other accessories to lure the fish to no avail. But try I did, several times until someone who must have thought I have no future in pole fishing my fishing pole from my car.
It’s fascinating to watch how patient these people are, waiting for any movement from their rods and yanking it out of the water only to find no fish at the end. Even the little kids who don’t have fishing poles found ways to tie the fishing strings around mineral water bottles.
I haven’t given up on pole fishing yet. Give me a call if ever one of you finds a fishing rod that comes with built-in patience. That may be the time I can catch my first fish.

Escape to a Secret Garden

 

THERE is one secret spot which I consider a refuge when I want to get away from it all and just forget everything without driving far or spending anything.

Time and again, I find myself heading toward this spot in Garapan—at the Club Elan inside the Hyatt Regency just to listen to the relaxing sound of the splashing water cascading down from the a man-made falls and flowing to the swimming pool.
The way to the water falls through the reception area is an adventure itself—it is like venturing into a dimly lit stone cave which forks into two directions—one leads straight to the bar and one straight to the pool.

Here is one place where you can sit and daydream while staring at the cascading waters and listening to the soothing, therapeutic sounds for hours, and forget about daily deadlines, pressures and the routine of work.  It is one place where you can have a mini vacation for an hour or two without having to go far—one where you can watch butterflies flitting among the flowers and the birds flying around unafraid of people, where the cool breeze from the lush gardens will caress you and bring you to state of relaxed bliss, where you will sheltered from the scorching heat of the sun beating relentlessly outside.

If you want, you can sit at the bar and order your favorite drink or take it to the tables by the poolside and just relax and while away the time. I call it a secret spot because it is not visible to anyone who visits or passes by the hotel gardens. I have been one of the frequent visitors at the hotel gardens for the past four years as it is one of my favorite destinations for taking pictures of both natural and manmade attractions but I didn’t discover the waterfalls until late last year.
When the pressures get high, try to plot an escape to this secret garden to unwind and experience what wonders an hour or two will do for you. You’ll come back to work refreshed and there’s no need to book plane tickets, spend gas to drive anywhere or file a leave from work.

(First published HERE)