Community comes to Japan’s aid

Food and beverage staff of Aqua Resort Club was busy in serving members of the community that supported the brunch fundraiser for the victims of the Kumamoto earthquake in Japan last month. (Jon Perez)

The local community banded together and supported the fund raising brunch of Aqua Resort Club. Proceeds from the May 20 event, held at the Costa Terrace restaurant, will be given to the victims of last month’s Kumamoto earthquake in Japan.

Aqua Resort general manager Kevin Tsurui and assistant sales and marketing manager for local market Tokie Mojica thanked everyone who supported the fundraising brunch. The unofficial number is 239 with 196 coming from early reservation.

“The profit of the event, $1,000 from the hotel, and the cash from the donation box will be deposited to the bank account designated by the Japanese Society of the Northern Maraianas,” said Tsurui.

“With the help of the Japan Consular Office on Saipan, the money will reach the victims of the devastating earthquake in Kumamoto,” Tsurui added.

Government officials, several lawmakers from the Legislature, personnel of private businesses, the Japanese community, and members of the local community supported the fundraising event.

“It is very nice to see the community’s support especially during disasters. We need to be compassionate in times like this and reach out to victims of the tragedy. Time to make a difference No matter who you are, we must reach out to those people who are in need,” said Mojica.

It took Aqua Resort’s management and staff only one week to plan the fundraising brunch. “But the community’s response is overwhelming. We were really surprised of the turnout and we are pleased of the turnout given the short notice of planning everything,” said Mojica.

“This is a nice gesture by the community. We are all struggling, with some even recovering from Typhoon Soudelor but when it comes to help others, we will do whatever we can to show that we care,” she added.

The Costa Terrace can fit 150 people, but Aqua Rsort needed to use the adjacent rooms and the Vino Bar to accommodate walk-in customers.

The Japanese Society of Northern Marianas also did their own fundraiser held all Thursdays of May at the Street Market and the four Saturdays of the Taste of the Marianas, while Saipan World Resort had the $5 entrance fee at Wave Jungle.

The 7.0-magnitude quake that hit Kumamoto city last April 16 claimed the lives of 49 people.