13 recognized as ‘Women of Action’

Thirteen women were recognized last Saturday as “Women of Action” as part of the celebration of International Women’s Day at the Pedro P. Tenorio Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe. The honorees were all recognized for surmounting obstacles through grit and motivation to become a better version of themselves.

The honorees were Rose T. Rios, detective at the Department of Public Safety; Lorna B. Liban, instructor at the Northern Marianas College; Victoria Reyes, compliance ranger at the Department of Public Lands; Dorene M. Kintol, HOPE Recovery Center Clinical manager; Nympha D. Sharts, surveillance operator at the Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC; Nadia L. Saralu, Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician; Georgia M. Cabrera, a director at the Department of Corrections; Maria L. Olopai, community development specialist at the Department of Youth Services under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs; Beth B. Demapan, technical service librarian at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library; Tina M. Aguon, administrative officer at the Department of Public Works; Jessica M. Pangelinan, crisis counselor at the Commonwealth Health Care Corp.; Monika H Diaz of NMC’s Tinian campus; and Aubry M. Hocog of the Rota Mayor’s Office.

The 13 were chosen from among a raft of nominees by three judges: first lady Diann Torres; Wella Palacios, the wife of Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios; and Shirley Camacho-Ogumoro, special adviser of the Women’s Affairs Office.

According to Claudia Flores, who is the program coordinator of the Lady Diann Torres Foundation, out of 12 honorees, three particularly stood out for the judges—that of the stories of Rios, Liban, and Reyes—who best fit the description of “a woman who, despite going through hardships, has become the woman she is today and in the position she is in now.”

Torres, Palacios, and Camacho-Ogumoro specifically picked Reyes’ story to share at the event. According to Reyes’ nomination, as submitted by Deveney Dela Cruz, Reyes suffered through the loss of both parents within the span of six years and tried to cope with the pain of her parents’ divorce by using alcohol and drugs, yet managed to pull herself together, obtained a position at DPL, and has been completely sober for over a year. Although she never made it past the 10th grade and had to be pulled out of school due to being overaged, Reyes is now continuing her education by attending classes at the Northern Marianas College.

Growing up, Reyes was a good student, had good grades but to say that she was shocked when she was told that her parents were getting divorced was an understatement. “I took it really hard because I had everything and I was really close with both of my parents,” she said.

From junior high school to middle school, Reyes dealt with the pain by finding ways to escape from her reality through alcohol and drugs. That led to her not being able to graduate from high school. A year later, Reyes lost her dad to cancer. A few years later, her mom followed, nine days before her birthday.

Three months later, after Super Typhoon Yutu, Reyes took the initiative to apply for the Workforce Investment Agency and within one month, she got an internship at DPL as a compliance ranger. Fast forward to today, Reyes has been sober for over a year, paid off her car loan, and is back in school. Even more, Reyes feels confident that she will go even further in life.

In the souvenir booklet at Saturday’s event, it quoted Reyes as saying, “Don’t just think about the problems you’re having today. Think about tomorrow because tomorrow could be the day where you get up and change. It takes one thing in your life that will change the person you are, and prayer definitely helps.”