Ogo: Importation of raw bayogo seeds from Rota illegal

Trademark interest in the manufacture of wishing dolls has sparked a controversy on Rota, with the island’s congressional representative, Crispin M. Ogo, saying that importation of raw bayogo seeds from Rota is illegal.

Ogo said he has alerted ports authorities about the possible importation of raw bayogo seeds out of Rota. He said Public Law 13-3 prohibits such importation.

“I’m kind of disturbed and there’s much outrage to learn that someone is trying to claim a product from Rota,” Ogo said.

The congressman said that he knew about the Taimanao family’s manufacturing of Bayogo wishing dolls since he was 9 years old, recalling that he used to collect bayogo seeds from the jungle to sell them to the Rota manufacturer.

According to recent reports, Saipan Handicraft has claimed trademark interest in “Bo Jo Bo” wishing dolls. The company’s lawyer, F. Matthew Smith, reportedly informed Rota’s Taimanao family about his client’s trademark interest in the dolls.

In a media statement last week, Virginia Taimanao said she was shocked upon receiving the attorney’s letter, saying that her family has originally manufactured the “mini Bayogo” wishing dolls since the 1960’s. The Taimanao’s reportedly manufacture the dolls using bayogo seeds that are abundant on Rota.

However, in a telephone interview with Smith yesterday, the lawyer said he doesn’t see any problem with the Taimanao family’s manufacture of the wishing dolls, saying that those dolls do not appear exactly the same as Saipan Handicraft’s products.

“I believe the ones on Rota are different, but we have to give them notice just like anybody else,” Smith said. “They can make their own wishing dolls but they cannot make them look the same [as Saipan Handicraft’s Bo Jo Bo dolls].”

Smith said he sent letters to various entities to discover anyone who might be manufacturing the same wishing dolls that look exactly the same as those of Saipan Handicraft.

Smith also said he is aware of the law that prohibits the importation of raw bayogo seeds out of Rota, but said that Saipan Handicraft manufactures its dolls on that island.

Meanwhile, Ogo said he would propose amendments to the current local law. “I want to make sure that we have a commission to monitor and promulgate rules regarding the manufacture of these dolls.”

Ogo added that the proposed amendments would include a provision that would empower the government to forfeit in its favor products made from smuggled bayogo seeds from Rota, as well as equipment used in the smuggling.