By: Eustoria Marie Borja
Hagåtña, Guam — The 80th Guam Liberation Day parade featured a vibrant display of floats, with the Palau Community Association of Guam (PCAG) taking first place in the Non-Government/Civic/Community/Non-Profit category.
Parade Reflects Unity and Culture
The annual parade is a highlight of Guam’s Liberation Day celebrations. This year’s theme, “Peace for us always,” was reflected in the diverse floats representing various organizations, communities, and cultures. Spectators lined the streets of Hagåtña to witness the colorful displays and performances.
Palau’s Winning Float
The PCAG’s winning float featured two bai, traditional Palauan men’s meeting houses, symbolizing their dual island homes of Guam and Palau. The structures were connected by a string of Palauan bead money (iek/yek), signifying the strong cultural bond between Palauans and the Chamorro people of Guam.
The float’s sides incorporated the unofficial national bird of Palau, the Biib (Bib) crimson crowned fruit dove, and the unofficial national flower, the Rur (white Rock Island Lily). Black coconut husks, shaped like latte stones, represented the strong cultural foundations of both Palau and Guam.
PCAG members on the float prepared billum, a traditional dish of ground tapioca wrapped in ti leaves and boiled. Kelau, a well-known vocalist in Palauan communities, entertained the crowd with her singing.
PCAG Celebrates Community and Recognition
This marked the first time in over a decade that the PCAG participated in the parade. Elfrie Koshiba, the association’s Public Relations Officer, expressed pride in their return. “We haven’t participated since 2012. With the 80th anniversary and our own 30th independence anniversary coming up in October, we felt it was a great time to rejoin,” she said.
Winning first place was an added bonus. “We wanted to showcase the growth and maturity of the Palauan community on Guam,” Koshiba said. “We are proud contributors to this island’s diverse community and love sharing our heritage.”
PCAG President Lewis Ilek commended the community’s teamwork. “We pulled together to participate with a float despite having just over a week to prepare,” he said. “Everyone volunteered their talents and resources.”
Indira Takeo, a PCAG member, acknowledged the tight deadline but emphasized their determination. “We only had 10 days, but we made it happen,” she said, expressing their desire to maintain their winning streak.
Koshiba and Ilek expressed gratitude to everyone involved. The PCAG’s success exemplifies the strength and unity of the Palauan community on Guam.