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Women’s Month kicks off
House vice speaker Janet Maratita (R-Saipan) and Rep. Alice Igitol (R-Saipan) hosted a meet-and-greet luncheon yesterday in honor of Women’s Month at the SandCastle of the Hyatt Regency Saipan.
The event saw a number of women talk about their life experiences and how they overcame challenges. Ranking officials paid tribute to the powerful women in the community and in their lives. The event also included activities that paid tribute to the women that attended.
Maratita said that yesterday’s event was intended to help women talk with one another about today’s issues.
According to Maratita, it was also an informal way for women in the CNMI to come together and open up about what they had been through that empowered them as women.
Some women spoke about experiences that helped shape them into the women they have become. There were also women who shared humorous stories about their experiences that helped encourage one another. There were moments that brought some of the audience to tears, and other moments that caused the entire room to erupt in laughter. Many of the speakers expressed themselves in the vernacular.
Labor Secretary Edith Deleon Guerrero shared a story about growing up with her grandmother and how that shaped her into the type of women she has become today. She explained that growing up without her parents made her strong.
“Women are the foundation of the family,” she said.
A woman from Rota shared her life experiences that caused the entire audience to laugh. She shared her experiences when men would criticize her figure. Through this she learned to love herself as a woman and she encouraged her fellow women to do the same. She believes that all women are beautiful no matter what their shape and size.
Lt. Gov. Victor Hocog made a joke that “every woman needs a man to protect her, right?” but quickly took this back when the crowd reacted with a unified “no.”
First lady Diann Torres and House Speaker Ralph Demapan also gave some words of empowerment to women. (Kimberly A. Bautista)
