Delegation prepares for trek to FESTPAC
As a delegation of over a hundred prepare to leave for the Solomon Islands, some are raising concern over whether there's a price tag for being ambassadors to the arts.
By KUAM NewsGuam - It's dubbed "The Olympics of arts and culture in the Pacific", and as a delegation of over a hundred prepare to leave for the Solomon Islands for the 11th Festival of Pacific Arts, some are raising concern over whether there's a price tag for being ambassadors to the arts.
Every four years, 27 island nations come together as a means of perpetuating and safe guarding all the cultural traditions and practices in the region. "Because of Guam's participation in FESTPAC, we have been able to go back deep into our roots and really research and feel what our Chamorro culture and values are," said CAHA chairwoman Monica Guzman. She added that since FESTPAC was created in 1972, this year's festivities will serve of particular importance as the committee will be using it as a model in preparation for when Guam hosts the event in 2016.
And in order to accommodate for the next two FESTPACs, the Guam Legislature had appropriated over $400,000 - some of which has raised concern to some participants who are having to fork over some money to make the trip.
Phillip Sablan, a master weaver and owner of the Taotaomona Tattoo Studio and Art Gallery at the Chamorro Village, questions why participants have to pay $750 to attend the event. He declined an on-camera interview, but expressed his concerns by saying as an artist he travels as an ambassador to the arts for two weeks where several have to leave behind families, jobs and businesses to represent Guam on an international level. It's because of this that he believes they shouldn't have to pay even questioning exactly where all the money in the budget is going to.
According to Legislative Committee on Culture chairman Vice-Speaker B.J. Cruz, it's very expensive just trying to get to the Solomon Islands, which is why he isn't going and they're trying best to make this as economical as possible. "And we also as you know, we're not in the best financial condition currently, fortunately I was able to get it out of the tourist attraction fund for this year," he said.
Guzman agrees, saying as much as she would like to bring everyone without having any out of pocket expenses, the economic situation is tight. "We felt and it's happened with previous FESTPACs where every delegate has to come up with a deposit or some kind of money for their participation, and it's the same again this year," she stated.
According to FESTPAC's budget expenses, travel-airfare would cost $164,000 through a charter flight with United Airlines. According to Cruz, because of a strain of malaria and Hepatitis B in the Solomon Islands, they decided to also fund for a physician and vaccinations and medicine through Public Health totaling over $16,000. Meanwhile costs are also being purposed for the eight-member shadow team who will be tagging along in preparation of the next FESTPAC whose expenses include hotel stay, video documentation, marketing and holding a reception as the next hosting island. Cruz says the budget was necessary in order to accommodate the next FESTPAC.
"It's a big production and we're going to have 3,000 people here in and we need to know how we're going to be able to move this," said Cruz.
Meanwhile, the performers and artists will be offering a preview of what's they will be presenting in the Solomon Islands this Sunday at the University of Guam Field House beginning at 11am. Tickets are $20 and whatever tickets the performers and artists sell will be credited to their expenses and allocations.