Man’amko get back-to-back Thanksgiving treat

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for the islands’ [I]man’amko[/I] after they got an early back-to-back Thanksgiving treat yesterday from junior and high school students of Mount Carmel School and the Office of the Governor.

It was a touching moment when at least 20 kids from the school gave hugs to the CNMI elderly. The school children are members of the MCS Youth Legionnaires from the Theology classes of the school. Theology teachers Sr. Remy and Sr. Esperanza and faculty member Julie Cunanan led the presentation.

The students serenaded and danced with the [I]man’amko[/I], who all cheered when the children played ballroom music.

It was a touching moment when some of the students went up to the [I]man’amko[/I] and gave them tight hugs as the other students sang Power of Love.

One of the [I]man’amko[/I] couldn’t help but grab the microphone and sing the song in a trembling voice. Some [I]man’amko[/I] wiped away tears as the students came up to them and embraced them.

Youth Legionnaires officers Brandon Nicholas, Hazel Doctor, Louise Villagomez, and Cinnabun Diaz led their fellow students during the presentation.

Doctor said it was an exciting experience to visit the [I]man’amko[/I]. Nicholas added that it was very rewarding for them to give entertainment to the elderly of the Commonwealth.

“It was very rewarding to see the smiles on their faces,” he said.

The MCS Youth Legionnaires have been busy visiting households, hospitals and other centers to provide entertainment for the upcoming holidays. Last week, the group serenaded the patients at the Commonwealth Health Center. Next week, the group will be visiting the Karidat center for another presentation.

Governor’s feast

Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez and his wife Margaret Kim led the Office of the Governor in another early Thanksgiving feast, right after the visit of the MCS students. Villagomez’s office provided free lunch for the [I]man’amko[/I].

Villagomez assured the [I]man’amko[/I] that Gov. Benigno R. Fitial is in excellent condition, although he is up for a second surgery early next month.

“He wishes to be here but the doctor didn’t give him the green light to travel but every day he checks on how things are here,” he told the [I]man’amko[/I].

He also shared with the [I]man’amko[/I] a short summary of his recent trip to Hawaii for the Department of the Interior conference in Honolulu. Villagomez said the conference strengthened the principle of preserving the CNMI culture through proper care of its elderly.

“The history of the Commonwealth lies with you, our senior citizens,” he said, adding that one of the things to be thankful for this Thanksgiving is that the community could still see and meet the [I]man’amko[/I].

Villagomez also received plaques from Office on Aging director Howard Macaranas. Macaranas also gave two other plaques of appreciation to the Governor and Municipal Council members.