On March 17, Guam’s youth gathered to showcase their talents at the SGI Guam Ikeda Peace and Culture Center, marking a vibrant celebration of unity and creativity.
| The Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra (TBYC), under the guidance of Maximo Ronquillo, graced the festival with a remarkable performance, captivating the audience with their musical prowess. |  |
 | Throughout the event, youth participants expressed their creativity through various activities, including drawing, sketching, bracelet making, and engaging in karaoke sessions. The festival resonated with the harmonious melodies of singing and the melodious tunes of musical instruments. |
| In alignment with Mes Chamoru Month, the festival featured demonstrations highlighting the diverse uses of the coconut in local culture, spanning all generations. Attendees also had the opportunity to indulge in various local treats provided for sampling, further enriching the cultural experience. |  |
 | The Honorable Louise C. Rivera, Mayor of the Municipality of Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon, addressed the audience with her heartfelt remarks: “I’m incredibly proud and honored to stand before all of you. Your talents are truly beautiful and remarkable. Sometimes, I find myself wishing I had pursued music more passionately. Although I played the flute in middle school and high school, and attempted to join the music group, I ultimately ended up pursuing other interests. Witnessing all of you here today with your incredible spirit and the enchanting music you create, fills me with joy. I deeply admire what you do. As a community, we will explore ways to support you, such as finding the perfect place to practice your music.” Then, in a beautiful display of community recognition and support, Mayor Rivera, on behalf of ICAP, presented a donation to several students representing the Youth Orchestra in appreciation of their TBYO’s services and commitment to fostering peace through music. Prior to the youth festival, TBYO conductor Maximo Ranquillo had invited Danny Nagashima, SGI-USA executive advisor, to the Agana Shopping Center for a Baton Blessing ceremony, at which time he gave the following address: |
| “Hello everyone, good afternoon. Thank you so much for allowing us to join in blessing these batons. First, I’d like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the Tumon Bay Youth Orchestra performers.
“We’ve had the privilege to collaborate on various occasions. For instance, last November, here at the Agana Shopping Center, we hosted an All Island high school talent competition. During that event, all of you performed alongside Grammy Award-winning flutist Nestor Torres. It was a truly beautiful and captivating performance. Additionally, we had the pleasure of coming together again for the All Island High School Poetry Slam Competition. |  |
“What I’ve learned from your musical performances is that they evoke images of great oceans, mountains, forests, and, most notably, beautiful skies and rainbows. I believe that by using your instruments alongside these batons, we can create harmony with the nature that surrounds us. In [his explanation of] the theory of evolution, Darwin revealed that before language existed, human instincts created music as a means to express love, akin to birds chirping.
“Our chanting shares a similar essence. Nichiren Daishonin discovered that the sound of the universe permeates everything, including ourselves. By chanting ‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo,’ we empower ourselves with great revelation and achieve complete harmony with the law of the universe.
“Thank you so much, because of your music, we feel encouraged and are able to connect with the universe around us. Therefore, I’d like to offer my sincere blessing to your baton by chanting ‘Nam-myoho-renge-kyo’ three times.”