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CNMI leaders: Enjoy Christmas holidays
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Posted on Dec 24 2004
Enjoy, have fun with families and friends during the Christmas holidays, CNMI’s top leaders said yesterday, expressing special greetings for Iraq-bound soldiers who are on a holiday break.
“I want to wish everybody a merry and a safe Christmas. To our soldiers, I salute them for their very special contribution in preserving our freedom. It’s a special time for everybody to enjoy,” said Gov. Juan N. Babauta, who spent half the day yesterday playing golf with friends.
“It’s a holiday. I’m enjoying it,” he said.
He said he would attend a Mass and go to one of his aunts for Christmas dinner.
“I’ll visit families and relatives. I’ve got a lot,” he said.
“I wish all the people a merry Christmas, specially our visiting soldiers who took time to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones,” said Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente.
Benavente said about 60 of some 80 CNMI army reservists who went on training for deployment to Iraq next year are on island.
One of them, he said, is his 20-something nephew Roman Benavente, son of his older brother Eddie.
Another one is Cris Sablan, the husband of his niece.
Benavente said he would celebrate Christmas with his family. “I’ll have a family dinner after the Mass,” he said.
House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial spent his day yesterday attending parties of families and friends.
“It’s a great time to spend with friends and loved ones. I wish everybody a truly blessed Christmas,” he said.
Vice Speaker Timothy Villagomez, for his part, made his last-minute shopping yesterday.
“I’m shopping for kids and adults alike. I’m wishing everybody a merry Christmas,” he said.
Sen. Joseph Mendiola of Tinian was on Saipan yesterday, partly to do some Christmas shopping.
“I’m going back to Tinian later,” he said Friday afternoon.
Mendiola, who was on medical leave recently, also expressed gratefulness for his health.
“I’m back with more zest for life,” he said.
