History of Liberation Queen Competition

While there were Liberation Day commemorations since 1945 the first Liberation Day queen contest wasn’t held until 1948. Beatrice Blas Calvo Perez was the first Liberation Day Queen of Guam. The winner was declared based on ticket sales, just as it is today.

The Mayor’s Council of Guam and the Liberation Queen Committee plans the Liberation Day Queen competition each year. The executive branch used to handle the competition, until Governor Eddie B. Calvo gave it to the Mayor’s Council of Guam.

There are many eligibility requirements for contestants. Among them, are that contestants must be female, between the ages of 18 and 26, single, have no children, be in good physical health, and have good moral character.

Villages, government agencies, businesses and non-profit organizations can sponsor a queen candidate. Contestants partner with a sponsor to sell tickets and raise money. The contestant or sponsor must must sell or purchase a minimum of $1,500 of raffle tickets to be eligible to win. The sponsor gets to keep 50 percent of the proceeds from their total ticket sales. The remaining money goes to the 2019 Guam Liberation Queen’s Committee.

Sponsors organize events to raise money for their candidate, from door to door sales to dances and other community events. It’s joked about and rumored that families have sold their boat, cars, or even land to raise money for their daughter to win the contest. Candidates run to represent their village and honor those who suffered, died, and survived the war.

There is a Mass celebrated for the Liberation Queen and a coronation. In the past, there was a Queen’s Ball. This year there is a Queen’s breakfast at Government House. The Liberation Queen is expected to attend all official Liberation events. The second runner up is given the title Princess Royal, and takes the place of the Queen if she is not able to fulfill her duties.

The Liberation Queen contestants also get their own float during the Liberation parade, but their float is not eligible for the float competition.

There are also Liberation Queen contests in the United States in various CHamoru communities. The winners are often sent to Guam and participate in the Liberation Day activities.

While there were queens named in the first years of Liberation Day celebrations, they weren’t called Liberation Queen until 1948. Connie V. Griffith was queen in 1945 and Delfina Carbullido Luck was the queen in 1947. Some years are missing, possibly because they did not have a competition due to typhoons or unknown reasons.

Past Liberation Queens

  • 1948 – Beatrice Blas Calvo Perez
  • 1949 – unknown
  • 1950 – Dolores M. Jones
  • 1951 – Rosie M. Trujillo
  • 1952 – Gladys Mae Lujan Lizama
  • 1953 – Gloria C. Martinez
  • 1954 – Cerila Rosa Matias Rapadas
  • 1955 – Martha Limtiaco Speight
  • 1956 – Florence Kamminga
  • 1957 – Genevieve Ploke Snow
  • 1958 – Barbara Bell Corliss
  • 1959 – Esther Roberto Stein
  • 1960 – Sixta Untalan Quidachay
  • 1961 – Belta Sgambelluri Perez
  • 1962 – unknown
  • 1963 – Lucille Flores Leon Guerrero
  • 1964 – Elaine T. Borja
  • 1965 – Patricia B. Aguon
  • 1966 – Scholastica L. Borja
  • 1967 – Frances Toves Barnes
  • 1968 – Margo Story
  • 1969 – Josephine B. Martinez Aflague
  • 1970 – Elizabeth Quinata Franquez
  • 1971 – Antonia Cruz Perez
  • 1972 – Patty D. Guzman
  • 1973 – Mary R. Perez
  • 1974 – Bernice T. Franquez
  • 1975 – Bernice Teresa Paulino Cepeda
  • 1976 – Clara June B. Restuvog
  • 1977 – Sally M. Pasion
  • 1978 – Dolores T. Escalera
  • 1979 – Barbara Ann D. Perez
  • 1980 – Mercedes T. Mendiola
  • 1981 – Frances C. Clark
  • 1982 – Lori Lynn F. Topasna
  • 1983 – Ninalynn Cruz-Jensen
  • 1984 – Gina Grace Lujan
  • 1985 – Elizabeth Jane Q. Aquino
  • 1986 – Barbara T. Chargualaf
  • 1987 – Charmaine Ann T. Shimizu
  • 1988 – Cassandra L. Calvo
  • 1989 – Lisa T. Cruz
  • 1990 – Doreen C. Aguigui
  • 1991 – Liberty Marie C. Mandapat
  • 1992 – Robi-Jolene B. Bukikosa
  • 1993 – Vera Ann Crisostomo
  • 1994 – Bernadette D. Afaisen
  • 1995 – Josephine M.Q. Taitague
  • 1996 – Patricia J. Quinata
  • 1997 – Sheila Hope Paulino
  • 1998 – Christina Maria Garrido De Plata I
  • 1999 – Mary Jane Mesa
  • 2000 – Maria Elaine Taitague
  • 2001 – Jessie Lynn San Nicolas
  • 2002 – Venus Larimer
  • 2003 – Mabel Ann M. Uncangco
  • 2004 – Cyaundra Shimizu
  • 2005 – Annatasha Blas
  • 2006 – Leticia Nauta
  • 2007 – Deana Perez Arriola
  • 2008 – Ceidre Duenas
  • 2009 – Keneisha Raeann Reyes Paulino
  • 2010 – Tarra Van Meter
  • 2011 – Alyssa Naiomi Chaco Charfauros
  • 2012 – Elesiah Ann Malaga
  • 2013 – Ealani Lobaton
  • 2014 – Billi-Jo Guzman
  • 2015 – Bonita Dydasco
  • 2016 – Alana Chargualaf
  • 2017 – Kaemiha Muna
  • 2018 – Kamarin Joy Arriola Nelson
  • 2019 – Regina Duenas

Note: Regina Duenas reigned for a second year as there were no Liberation festivities in 2020 due to the Coronavirus.

View images in Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/guampedia/sets/72157709120247542

By Shannon Ada