All I want for Christmas is…

What does your heart want this holiday season? We ask business owners and community leaders and members for their biggest wish is, and they all chorused with better health, and more love and happiness for all. Happy holidays, everyone!

“As difficult as this time in everyone’s life may be…I wish our people will become stronger with patience and hope, and focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses. I hope God gives us our inner strengths and fills our hearts with love and laughter. Let’s look forward to happiness in 2022, Embrace safe holidays everyone.”

—Steve Jang, Plumeria and Ete’ Cafe

“I wholeheartedly hope the spread of the virus stops so that families, friends, and colleagues can share Christmas joy. I sincerely wish all the anxiety and fear to go away and to be replaced by hopes and comforts. Also, as a person in the hospitality industry, hopefully we’ll be having more tourists visit the CNMI in year 2022 :)”

—Lindsay Ahn, E-Land Corp.

“During this Christmas season, I pray for everyone’s health, safety, and God’s blessings. I continue to hope and pray that this pandemic will end soon and that we will be able to return to our normal life again.”

—David M. Apatang, mayor of Saipan

“My wish for this Christmas is for all local people and tourists to enjoy Coral Ocean Resort. Coral Ocean Resort will open this Dece. 29, and will be the first relaxing content Beach Club, with Spanish tapas cuisine and the best sushi and seafood buffet in Saipan.”

—Calvin Park, Coral Ocean Park

“My wish for Christmas is a new boat. …Santa, do you hear that?!”

—Kelsey McClellan, JAMS Foundation

“This Christmas, I’m wishing for a more prosperous 2022 and a CNMI that can return to its roots as a community that embraces inafa’maolek, tipiyeew, and kapwa. The last several years have been hard due to the typhoons and the global pandemic, and it has placed an unfortunate physical and mental strain on our community. My wish is for my family and friends to be safe and healthy, while also wishing for our community to come back together as one Marianas.

—Kevin Bautista, press secretary

“I wish for the pandemic to end.”
—Jill Liske-Clark, Tanapag

“I wish for a bicycle—I live in Marpi and see people on bicycles enjoying our beautiful outdoors every day. I want to experience that too! The feeling of determination to make it up to Suicide Cliff while surrounded by the lush greenery and fresh air would be an awesome Christmas gift. [I also wish for] independence for the Marianas—the ability to make decisions on our own and fully control our immigration, our natural resources, and all things that impact our economy and quality of life. I have faith in our ability to govern ourselves.

“I wish for all parties who create large emissions to take responsibility for their impact on Mother Earth and begin the healing process. I wish for every person in the Marianas to look within, do the work required to heal and grow, find work they love, and create meaningful, lasting relationships; [and] I wish for my parents, Diego and Dolorina Babauta, to travel the world and live life to the fullest!”

—Rep. Sheila Babauta

“Christmas has always been special for me. It fills me with hope for the future when I see how much people can care for each other, even for strangers. My greatest Christmas wish is for all of my family to be happy, healthy, and safe no matter where they are. As a Saipan business owner, I wish for a safe return of our main resource, tourism. Merry Christmas!”

—Rhea McDoulett, Green Flash Drive

“I wish for everyone’s happiness and well-being during this Christmas season and I hope to have a safe delivery next year!”

—Youki Kishimoto, Student Exchange Program

“Good health for everyone. We wish you a Merry Christmas! May [the holidays bring] joy to your heart and happiness to your home.”

—Rep. Richard Lizama

“My biggest wish this Christmas would be for our loved ones near and far to find comfort in their homes, their health (both physical and mental), and their hearts during this pandemic. Our community has dealt with so much these last few years with Soudelor, Mangkhut, Yutu, and the ongoing pandemic that I hope we can all just take a deep breath and find that hint of joy and relaxation before the new year.

“Although I wish my entire family were home this Christmas, I am hopeful that time will come soon but regardless, I am blessed to have loved ones to spend the holidays with right here at home. Lastly, I want to wish my students and colleagues at the Northern Marianas College, as well as, our hardworking team at SHEFA a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!”

—Kaelani Demapan, Northern Marianas College