David Sablan is ‘2005 Business Person of the Year’

A clerk-turned-business executive with a big heart for the sick bagged the Saipan Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious “2005 Business Person of the Year” award.

Jokingly described as a “below average golfer” by peers, David Sablan—fondly called “Uncle Dave”—is a top caliber executive who wears many hats and whose contributions to the government, tourism and economy, community and the private sector are more than countless.

A long-time member of the Marianas Visitors Authority, he has chaired the MVA’s board for the past several years. He is board member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, member of the Strategic Economic Council, and honorary member and past president for several times of the Saipan Rotary Club and the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.

Sablan is also president of Century Insurance Co., Ltd., Century Travel, and Century Tours; vice president of CTSI Logistics, Asia-Pacific Airlines, and Cosmos Distributing; and vice chairman of the board of Asia Pacific Hotels, Inc., which owns the Fiesta Resort & Spa on Saipan and Guam, Century Hotel, and the Saipan Grand Hotel.

Despite his accomplishments that could easily make him an icon in the CNMI, Sablan has a compassionate heart for the sick and is an active member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in the CNMI and Guam. He had also chaired the fundraising committee for the reconstruction of the Kristo Rai Church in Garapan.

Sablan said he was “pleasantly surprised” “2003 Business Person of the Year” recipient Jerry Tan introduced the recipient of the 2005 award. Tan quipped that Sablan plays golf below average, but described the awardee as very loyal.

When Tan called out his name, he walked to the stage of the Fiesta Resort & Spa’s Hibiscus Hall “deeply honored” amid a strong round of applause from dignitaries and businessmen during the Chamber of Commerce’s installation dinner for its new set of officers Tuesday night.

“I’m honored by the award that I received as Business Person of the Year of the Chamber,” Sablan said. “I did not know it until 2003 award winner, Jerry Tan, was up there at the stage describing the chosen one.”

Sablan shared the award with Rita Castro Sablan, his wife of 27 years, “who has very patiently put up with me all the years that I’ve toiled in my work and in public service.”

Sablan humbly began his career as steamship traffic clerk at the Atkins, Kroll on Guam. He worked his way up to managerial level and became loan administrator and then assistant general manager of the Bank of Hawaii on Guam.

In 1965, he moved back to Saipan and became the first general manager of Atkins, Kroll Saipan that became the Microl Corp. His participation in the private and government sector further expanded—in 1968 and 1976, respectively, he founded the Pacific Micronesia Corp. and the Tasi Tours and Transportation.

Sablan also established the then Intercontinental Hotel in 1976 at the site of the Fiesta Resort & Spa when the Saipan village had to go a long way to become the island’s premier tourism and commercial district.

Sablan also became special assistant for planning and budgeting for then CNMI Gov. Lorenzo Guerrero, during which he also served as member of Governor’s Economic Advisory Council and the CNMI Aviation Task Force.