Alomer, Perez families clean up in GCDC Family-Fun-Athon

The Alomer and Perez families landed a nice array of prizes in the Garapan Community Development Center’s Family-Fun-Athon held last Saturday at its location in Garapan.

The activities included a set of mini-games coupled with a volleyball tournament. A rummage sale and pearl shake stand were also available for those in attendance.

Remarkably, the Alomer and Perez duos competed as one team and finished first place in both events.

The mini-games included a Snickers Scramble, Grab Bag, Wacky Waiter, Spoon Toss Race, and Mom or Dad Calling.

Eight teams participated in the set of activities, which was formatted based on a point system for each event.

In the end, the Alomer and Perez families competed as Team 4 and accumulated the most points with 28.

Team 4 members included Regis Perez, John Tam, Jethro Cruz, Yuuki Nishida, and Rey Perez.

The group won three IT&E $5 phone cards and a gift bag, a water park pass for two at Pacific Islands Club, a lunch buffet for two at Hyatt Regency Saipan, a T-shirt from The Trap, a $10 Shell fuel card, and an i-party accessory that can be used with Ipod music players.

Team’s 2’s Roger, Katrina, RV, IV, and Roger Valencia Sr. with Gamela and Sheen Sheen Alegre finished in second place with 26 points.

Team 2 won three $5 prepaid IT&E cards and gift bag, a PIC water park pass for two, a Shell fuel card, and a Trap T-shirt.

K.C., Wilmor, and Zion Alomer teamed up with Regis and his father Rey Perez and represented Team 4 which went undefeated in the volleyball tournament.

The group won another water park pass for two at PIC, a lunch for two at Saipan Grand Hotel, three more IT&E $5 prepaid cards, and gift bag and another Trap T-shirt.

Team 4 swept Team 3 in two sets, 12-5 and 12-7, and then bested Team 1 after just two sets, 12-7 and 12-10.

Then after dropping the opening set, 6-12, Team 4 then thundered back over Team 8 in the next two matches 12-2 and 12-3.

Team 1 fought its way back into the finals over Team 8, 12-8, 7-12, and 12-9; but Team 4 held strong in the end, 12-8, 7-12, and 12-8.

Game point was set at 12 with a must-win-by-two rule in effect. Eight teams made up the field.

House Vice Speaker Felicidad Ogumoro (Cov-Saipan) was also on hand to present the kids there awards and thanked the crowd for coming out to the event.

Ogumoro also wants to remind the public that this upcoming February is headlined Parent Leadership Month and to check out the GCDC’s calendar of events as it plans to has plans of holding similar activities in February and through out the year.

The GCDC is currently collaborating with the Department of Youth Services, the Workers Investment Agency, and the Northern Marianas College’s General Education Diploma program.

“Our goal is to enhance the quality of life in the community through our family-strengthening programs,” said Ogumorro on Saturday.

Ogumoro added that the GCDC’s main areas of focus begins with training and educating those who need assistance and ends with helping such youths and adults find employment.

Various parenting courses are being offered such as common sense parenting, active-teen parenting, and parents anonymous.

GCDC also works with NMC to offer basic adult education classes.

There are currently 30 participants that just finished their placement tests.

The next step in the process is for them to complete mastery tests before they can obtain general education diplomas.

Once the participants receive their GEDs, they can enroll in secondary education classes at NMC.

In addition, the winners of the 2nd Annual IT&E X-mas Youth Friendly Basketball Tournament finally received their medals and prizes from the event held back on Dec. 16 and 17, 2011.

U10 champions John Paul Cruz, Angelo Factor, and John Tam received a basketball and a tennis set equipped with two rackets and a ball provided by All-Star Sporting Goods and a pair of water bottles with Accel Gel from Brabu Pharmacy.

U12’s Angelo Factor, Kristian Itaas, C.J. Morales, and Kyle Rios were awarded a tennis set, a Trap shirt, a $20 gift certificate at the 670 Rocksteady Shop, and a $45 gift certificate for Boarderline.

And finally, U15’s Jeron Ano, Emerson Feria, Irvyn Malonzo, and Toshi Pangelinan were presented with a $25 gift certificate to Athlete’s Foot, a $20 670 Rocksteady Shop certificate, a Rawlings youth football, and a water bottle with a pack of Accel Gel.