OVER 300 members of the Chinese Association of Saipan greeted the lunar new year with a fun-filled celebration in the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa on Saturday evening.
The event opened with a colorful and lively lion dance followed by entertainment numbers that featured students of the Chinese Education Center, the instructors of the Rose Dance School and individual performers such as Lu Bin and Paul Dujua.
In his short message, Gov. Benigno R. Fitial wished everybody good luck and a prosperous Year of the Rabbit.
He urged everybody to take after the rabbit and adapt its ability to leap and sprint toward success in any endeavor.
Chinese Association director Rose Chan said she wishes more people will learn about Chinese culture.
“We want more students for the Chinese Education Center,” she said.
Chan said she wishes good health and economic prosperity for everybody this year.
“The global economic hardship that we are going through is not an excuse not to move on. Like the rabbit, we will spring forward and make things happen,” she said.
Highlighting the celebration were games for the children, the distribution of the HongBao or money envelopes, and raffle draws in which winners went home with attractive prizes such as hotel accommodations, meal coupons, water passes, home décor and accessories, gift certificates, home appliances, cash prizes and the grand prize of a round trip ticket to Shanghai for one individual, all courtesy of the various sponsors and contributors.
The CNMI is home to about 2,000 Chinese citizens. (published hERE)
