YuriHana Sasamoto is new speaker of Youth Congress

Former 18th Youth Congress Speaker Cielo Citalli Gutierrez Long receives a Senate joint resolution that both legislative chambers have adopted to recognize her accomplishments, during a recess of the Youth Congress special session in the House of Representatives chamber Friday. Long also received a scholarship check from the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation for being the salutatorian of the Tinian High School Class 2022. To Long’s left is the new Youth Congress Speaker YuriHana Deleon Guerrero Sasamoto. Also in the photo are Long’s father, a family member, and members of the Legislature and Youth Congress. (Contributed Photo)

YuriHana Deleon Guerrero Sasamoto of Mount Carmel School was elected as the new speaker of the 18th CNMI Youth Congress during a special session in the House of Representatives chamber last Friday.

In the reorganization of leadership, Youth Sen. Easton Joel Cabrera Dela Cruz of Marianas High School nominated Sasamoto as the new speaker. No other nominations were offered.

In her acceptance speech, Sasamoto said she is honored to be given this opportunity to be the new speaker of the 18th Youth Congress and thanked her colleagues for entrusting her “with this great privilege and responsibility.”

“Thank you, former speaker [Cielo Citalli Gutierrez] Long for passing the torch to me. I know I have some very big shoes to fill,” said Sasamoto as she promised to do her utmost to carry on the remainder of her term.

She told her Youth Congress colleagues that she’s excited for what’s to come for the Youth Congress and for the youth of the CNMI, especially as they prepare for the new school year this fall.

Before the reorganization of leadership, then-speaker Long presided over the session Friday, her last day of office with the Youth Congress.

Saipan Tribune learned that Long left yesterday to attend Harvard University.

During the session’s recess, Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian) and House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) presented Long with a Senate joint resolution that both legislative chambers had adopted.

Hofschneider said the resolution essentially recognizes Long’s accomplishments, as not only an active and influential student in the CNMI, especially on Tinian, but also being the speaker of the Youth Congress and being the salutatorian of the 2022 Tinian High School graduating class.

“On behalf of the members of the Legislature, both houses, the people of the CNMI and especially the people of Tinian, we wish to present this to you, to honor you and to also bid you the best in your future endeavors,” said Hofschneider in presenting Long with the resolution.

Villagomez thanked Long for her service to the people of the CNMI and to Tinian.

“It’s really a big honor at any level when it comes to serving the public. And I just want to congratulate you as well as your dad and mom for raising someone with the right attitude and personality not only to tackle the issues here in the Youth Congress, but it seems, you know, you’re ready to tackle the future,” Villagomez said.

Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation chair Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz (R-Tinian) extended the delegation’s gratitude and appreciation to Long for the public services that she has done.

Cruz also presented a $2,500 check to Long on behalf of the Tinian leadership as a recipient of the honor scholarship for the Tinian High School.

Long was the school’s salutatorian. Her twin sister, Isa Ha’ani Gutierrez Long, was also given a $5,000 scholarship for being valedictorian of the same class of Tinian High School.

Cielo Long said she has had the privilege of serving in two terms in the Youth Congress for for a total of four years.

“I’ve seen the progression of the organization. I’ve seen the Legislature continuously wanting to chime in and…advocating for the youth,” she said. Long said the organization, which she described as “amazing,” helped her grow in so many ways. She also credited her colleagues for playing pivotal roles in accomplishing things during her term.

Vice Speaker LieKeila’akata Tapua’ialupe Iakopo of Kagman High School resigned effective June 15, 2022. Iakopo notified last month Long that she was a member of this year’s graduating class at KHS, and, because of that, along with educational and career opportunities she intends to pursue, she has decided to forfeit the remainder of her term.

“During this past year, not only have I learned so much of what a lawmaker does, but I have also made a great bunch of friendships that I will forever cherish,” Iakopo said.

Youth Sen. Abriette Patience Taimanao Manglona, of Dr. Rita Hocog Inos Junior-Senior High School, is the other remaining member of the Youth Congress.