27 take oath as newest US citizens

U.S. District Court for the NMI Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy (standing extreme left), Immigration Services officer Diane S. Zedde (next to the judge), and Attorney General Edward Manibusan (standing extreme right) pose in a group photo with 27 new U.S. citizens during yesterday’s naturalization ceremony in federal court. (Ferdie De La Torre)

For Maria Luningning Brillo Reyes, obtaining U.S. citizenship after working on Saipan for almost 26 years now means more freedom and more opportunities for federal jobs.

“I’m excited,” said the 48-year-old Reyes on acquiring citizenship.

Reyes, a native of Meycauyan, Bulacan, in the Philippines, first arrived on the island to work as an accountant for a private company in December 1990.

Since 2007, she has been holding a green card through her employment. She then decided to just apply for citizenship instead of renewing her green card for another 10 years.

Reyes is currently the Pacific Islands Club’s financial controller and the executive in charge for human resources. She is also the treasurer of the NMI Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Her three children with Saipan Tribune art director Angel Reyes Jr. are currently staying in the U.S. mainland since Typhoon Soudelor struck the island last year.

For Enmanuel Alberto Cruzeta, who hails from the Dominican Republic, acquiring citizenship is a great blessing as this will provide him more opportunities and privileges.

“I feel very happy. It’s a good feeling because many doors are now open,” said Cruzeta who has been working for two years now at the Seventh Day Adventist as a teacher assistant.

Cruzeta is married to Denesee Walters from the U.S. Virgin Islands whom he met in Puerto Rico. From Massachusetts, the couple moved to Saipan.

For Amielou Fernando Horath, 32, obtaining the citizenship means more freedom.

“In terms of traveling, you own the world,” said Horath, who is currently working as a front desk staff at the Saipan Country Club.

Horath, a native of Bulacan in the Philippines, came to Saipan 10 years ago to work as a waitress. She got a green card after marrying Jimmy Horath.

Reyes, Cruzeta, and Horath were among the 27 persons who took oath as the newest U.S. citizens during the naturalization ceremony held yesterday at the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy presided over the ceremony. The newest U.S. citizens are mostly from the Philippines and the rest are from China, Bangladesh, and the Dominican Republic.

Immigration Services officer Diane S. Zedde moved to accept the 27 candidates as new U.S. citizens.

Attorney General Edward Manibusan served as the guest speaker at the naturalization ceremony held in conjunction with the Law Day.

Aside from Reyes, Cruzeta, and Horath, the other newest citizens are Abner Paul Santos Acosta, Renee Marie Anne Acosta, Maria Rosario Q. Aldan, William Lara Armea, Maryanne Gamao Castro, Emy A. Cita, Flora Bulaon De Leon, Samuel Garcia Enriquez Jr., Amelia Ibanez Galarion, and Nestor Manio Jingco.

The other newest citizens are Jennifer Villanueva Kaipat, Ana Liza Salangsang Mafnas, Manuel Mariano Jr., David Leonardo Markos, Qi Yun Murner, Jane Escio Pagsolingan, Rachel Quiambao Reyes, Dionela Felipe Roppul, Marcelo Carillo Sagun, Restituta Raquepo Sanchez, Iqbal Hossain Syed, Noemi Martinez Urbien, Lizhen Wang, and Elena Manansala Yumul.