Reporter’s notes

At 8am yesterday, the Multi-Purpose Center in Susupe appeared empty, in stark contrast to how the place looked like about two hours later—a packed center filled to capacity by the Commonwealth’s who’s who in government in a gathering meant to provide a picture of the current state of the CNMI.

Government officials from all three branches—executive, legislative and judicial—trooped to the center in their suits and formal wear to witness Gov. Juan N. Babauta deliver his State of the Commonwealth Address—two days after the a mission by U.S. investors studying potential business prospects on the island and a major power outage caused by a drained fuel tank at Saipan’s power plant.

Red, white and blue ribbons and flower bouquets festooned the stage inside the center, while government officials, businessmen and other guests mingled as they waited for the occasion to begin. The CNMI’s man’amko and some students also went to the center to witness the event.

At about 10:05am, the emcee took the podium, which signaled members of the Legislature to form a line behind the gallery seats. Minutes later, House Speaker Benigno Fitial led congressmen in march to the right, front wing of the gallery before taking the stage. Senate President Joaquin Adriano then led fellow senators to the left, front wing.

Fitial and Adriano took their seats onstage, and, right after local artist Gus Kaipat and Bishop Tomas Camacho led the singing of the national anthem and the opening prayer, respectively, the House speaker called the session to order at about 10:20am.

With all lawmakers present, except for House Rep. Rey Yumul who is in Iraq, the joint session began, paving the way for the much-awaited speeches by both the governor and Washington Rep. Pete A. Tenorio.

Babauta began his 42-minute address at about 10:26am, which was interrupted by 18 rounds of applause. He began his speech with a quote from President Bush: “Since 2001, we have been given hills to climb and found the strength to climb them.”

The gallery first clapped after Babauta acknowledged the presence of some wives of soldiers who’ve been deployed to Iraq.

There were two interruptions of applause when the governor declared a state of emergency in connection with Saipan’s power crisis, and when he stressed the importance of education.

The popular catchphrase in Babauta’s SOCA last year did not elicit an applause when the governor said yesterday that the “state of the Commonwealth is still ‘pretty darn good.’”

The speech garnered mixed reactions from the crowd. Seventy-six-year-old Pantaleon Valenzuela rated the SOCA as “very good.” “The people of the Marianas will be in good health,” he added.

Opposition senator and aspiring governor Luis Crisostimo did not give the governor a grade, but said the state of the Commonwealth “are times of uncertainty,” when almost every business is in trouble.

“With all the problems that we are overcoming, new problems are coming,” said 16-year-old Sage Benavente. But she said the state of the Commonwealth is getting better, giving the governor a satisfactory rating of 8 on a scale of 1-10.