REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

• During the election for House speaker, Rep. Antonio Sablan (Ind-Saipan) had to clarify that the vote for “Joseph Guerrero” was for Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) and should not be confused with Joseph “Lee Pan” Guerrero (R-Saipan) who is a first-term representative.

• Of the 20 House of Representatives members that were sworn in yesterday, only Rep. Ralph N. Yumul (Ind-Saipan) didn’t wear a suit and tie among the men, instead opting for a barong Tagalog, the traditional formal attire in the Philippines. Yumul’s father, Jess, hails from Pampanga in the Philippines.

• Rep. Edwin K. Propst (Ind-Saipan) said he was trying hard not to cry during his speech because he had a bet with Yumul on whoever sheds a tear would have to fork out $50.

• Rep. Vinson Sablan (Ind) would’ve lost the bet and be $50 poorer as the first-term representative was visibly emotional when he recalled the lessons from his late father, Juan Reyes Sablan.

• Rep. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) thanked the late former speaker Jesus P. Mafnas for establishing the Youth Congress. The former press secretary is the very first CNMI Youth Congress delegate to be voted to the Legislature.

• Demapan sat next to Propst in the House chamber. The two used to not see eye to eye on a plethora of issues during the administration of former governor Benigno R. Fitial. They have since smoked the peace pipe and vowed to work together in the 19th House.

• After three women served in the 18th House of Representatives, only Rep. Felicidad T. Ogumoro (R-Saipan) was elected in the 19th House.

• Speaker Deleon Guerrero and Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb (Ind-Saipan) had to drastically cut their speeches short as the organizational session was pushing toward 1:30pm. Both asked House clerk Linda B. Muna to just accept their lengthy written statements on the record.

• Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) also cut his speech short as he seconded Tebuteb’s comment when the former Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chair said he could already hear Rep. Anthony Benavente’s (Ind-Saipan) grumbling stomach.

• Before the organizational session was adjourned, Vice Speaker Demapan made a point of clarification that Speaker Deleon Guerrero will yield the speakership to him on the “second Monday of January 2016 and not the second Monday of January 2015,” which Deleon Guerrero mistakenly said. This brought a chorus of laughter from the gallery and Deleon thanked Demapan for the clarification “if not he will have to give up the speakership tomorrow.”

• Near the end of his message, Speaker Deleon Guerrero jokingly told Yumul that he believes he already made a lot of money because of the many representatives crying during their speeches.

• Rookie Sen. Teresita A. Santos twice addressed Senate President Victor B. Hocog as “Mr. Speaker” which the latter joked that if the legislator from Rota repeats it again he would penalize her. That elicited laughter from all of those present. Santos was a former representative before being elected to the Senate.

• Gov. Eloy S. Inos and his daughter, Dora, as well as Lt. Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and his wife, Lady Diane, rode ATVs to the inauguration stage.

• A high chair was placed behind Inos during his close to 30-minute speech but the governor didn’t use it despite being slowed down by an apparent cold.

• Torres’ brothers—Vince, Victorino, and Joaquin—became quite emotional when the lieutenant governor spoke about the siblings’ deceased father

• The lieutenant governor volunteered that until now his mother would scold him if he comes home after 12 midnight.

• Former representative and KSPN anchor Tina Sablan was one of the attendees of the House inauguration. (With Jon Perez)