Adam Sablan: Young environmental warrior

For typical 10-year-old boys, weekends usually mean watching cartoons on TV or playing video games to their heart’s content.

For Adam Sablan, though, Saturdays and Sundays are so much more than clutching the TV remote or developing blisters because of the rabid use of control consoles.

Sablan would rise as early as six in the morning and jump onto his parents’ bed to wake them up for the weekend cleanup or tree planting activity somewhere on Saipan.

“I’m excited to wake up my mom and dad and tell them, ‘It’s cleanup time!’” he said.

He would then dash to the kitchen and brew his parents’ coffee just to help them get over their sleepiness. He’s been so accustomed to preparing the coffee that he already has a formula for it: four servings of ground coffee and five cups of water.

Adam said he has enjoyed planting trees and cleaning up the beaches on Saipan since he was six years old. He recalled that when he was 8, he and his brother Zach planted trees along the road to Banzai Cliff. Now that he is 10, he visited the same trees and was happy to see that the trees are now even “bigger than the [I]Saipan Tribune[/I]’s office.”

Some government officials have even noticed his dedication to the environment, because Adam has been actively participating in all Beautify CNMI! meetings and activities.

The 10-year-old said that, of all the events and meetings of the non-profit organization, he had missed only two meetings due to an errand he had to do with his dad, Mike Sablan, the CNMI Public Auditor.

His mom, Juanita, has been his sidekick at almost all of the Beautify CNMI! activities and other environmental activities he has taken part in. He said his mom has been instrumental in developing his interest in helping the environment.

“I enjoy planting trees. It’s fun and better than staying at home and watching TV all day,” he said, adding that the activities have also earned him friends outside school.

Of the activities he has attended, Adam said he would not forget the tree planting activity at the Kagman Watershed. He said it was a bit scary because the area was steep and he had to go there three times.

However, those were just small challenges for little Adam. He said he is still gearing up for more tree plantings and cleanups. He said he’s been spreading the word among his friends at San Vicente Elementary School, telling them that they should also participate in tree planting and other environmental projects.

Adam’s father, Mike, said he and his wife are very proud of their youngest son. He said Adam has been the family’s inspiration.

“We are all inspired by what he’s doing. For someone that young,” he said.

Mike said the entire family is happy for Adam’s enthusiasm, which has also netted him a couple of school awards recently.

He said there are several groups and people that should be acknowledged for Adam’s passion: Beautify CNMI!, Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, Reps. Cinta Kaipat and Abasalon Waki, Angelo Villagomez, and Tina Sablan.

He said he is encouraging parents in the CNMI to allow their children to participate in this “very enjoyable” endeavor to protect and conserve the environment.

“I’d encourage all parents, especially if they have children, to join Beautify CNMI! and other groups like MOVER. It’s our community and our responsibility to keep the islands clean,” he said.

One thing that touched Mike recently was when Adam told him that he is planting trees now so that when he leaves the island to go to school (to either be a part of the National Guard or become a drug enforcement agent), the trees would still be there to welcome him when he comes home.