BSI hosts ‘welcome back’ banquet at Aging Center

The Man’amko Center banquet welcomes the return of the man’amko to the center. (Contributed Photo)

To welcome the island’s elderly back to the center, the Office on Aging collaborated with Best Sunshine International, Ltd. to host a “welcome back” party filled with delicious food, live entertainment, and fun activities.

Staff of Marianas Health Services was also present to carry out a health screening for the man’amko, which included checking their blood pressure and sugar levels.

“When the man’amko gave up their place for evacuees to use during Soudelor, it became a little rundown and uninviting. When they came back and finally got everything back to 100 percent, we thought it would be really nice for them to have a little welcome back party,” said Best Sunshine lead coordinator Chandise Cooper.

Two of Best Sunshine’scorporate social responsibility teams led by director Rita Chong and director Geri Dela Cruz helped plan the party.

Laughter and chatter filled the room as the man’amko lined up for food and socialized with the Best Sunshine CSR teams, sharing their experiences as part of the Man’amko Center and how they coped after Typhoon Soudelor. To welcome Best Sunshine’s CSR team, each one was presented with a mwar-mwar as a sign of appreciation and gratitude.

Margarita A. Aldan, one of the current active registered clients of the Aging Center, said, “We’re very happy to be back to the center and today, we’re happy that they gave us a banquet when we came back. Thanks to Best Sunshine for this touching gesture and also for all their help.”

Best Sunshine CSO Tao Xing, the CSR team, and the man’amko danced to the live in-house band composed of CSR members as well as a couple of man’amko who played the guitar and drums. Following lunch, the man’amko participated in various activities and were given Christmas-themed prizes for participating in all the fun.

Walter Manglona, director of the Aging Center, said that having the elderly back at the center “means a great deal.”

“To have Best Sunshine voluntarily host such an event is very surprising that in such a short time, they were able to come up with something like that,” he added. “From the bottom of my heart, I want to say thank you very much, Best Sunshine. You guys have been awesome, you guys have been extremely generous.”

The CNMI Aging Center, also known as the Man’amko Center, was built in 1974 and was created to be a place where the elderly could socialize with one another and participate in various activities meant to strengthen each other’s independence.

Shortly after the destruction of Typhoon Soudelor that left many on Saipan without shelter, the Man’amko Center became a temporary safe haven for those without running water and electricity.