Island Snapshots – January 2017
- SAIPAN-DA BACKPACK GIVEAWAY Saipan-da and island “Chamorittas” greet flights arriving on Saipan on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in December 2016, distributing over 800 backpacks on behalf of the Marianas Visitors Authority to children up to 12 years old. (MVA)
- SAIPAN-DA BACKPACK GIVEAWAY Saipan-da distributes over 800 backpacks to children up to 12 years old at Saipan International Airport on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in December 2016. (MVA)
- SAIPAN-DA BACKPACK GIVEAWAY Saipan-da gets shares a hug with children at Saipan International Airport on Christmas Day 2016. As part of its annual Happy Children in Paradise campaign during the summer and holiday seasons, the Marianas Visitors Authority and Saipan-da greeted 32 flights arriving on Saipan on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, distributing over 800 backpacks children up to 12 years old. (MVA)
- ENHANCED STATION Mobil Oil Mariana Islands Inc. announced the re-opening of the Kagman Mobil service station on Dec. 19, 2016, after the completion of upgrading works. Kagman Mobil was previously closed for a planned forecourt canopy upgrade, which started on Nov. 13, 2016. (Contributed Photo)
- NEW OFFICERS Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang administers the oaths of office to councilors L.J. Castro and Diego Kaipat during the swearing in ceremony for the 14th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council on Monday at the Kiosku Round House in Chalan Kanoa. (Mark Rabago)
- NEW OFFICERS L.J. Castro, chairman of the 14th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council, shakes the hand of vice chair Diego Kaipat, second right, as Northern Islands Mayor Jerome Aldan, left, and Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, right, look on. (Mark Rabago)
- VFW CONTEST WINNERS Congratulations to Mount Carmel School’s Jeff Melchor, far right, who took first place in the VFW essay contest, high school division, besting students from Saipan and Guam. Robin Alvarez, second from left, took second place in the middle school division. VFW commander Michael A. O’Kelley, second from right, presented the awards to the MCS students, along with Mount Carmel School vice principal Helene Manning, far left. (Contributed Photo)
- JOINT TRAINING Matt Liston, a supervisor of a school resource officer unit from Wichita, Kansas, talks during the SRO training program attended by both representatives of the Public School System and the Department of Public Safety. (Erwin Encinares)
- 2ND TIMMY WOULD GO MEMORIAL Imperial Pacific International, Ltd., through its Corporate Social Responsibility department, is supporting the 2nd Timmy Would Go Memorial, an ocean event for all ages and the first of its kind with both outrigger and stand-up paddle board races. This will take place on Jan. 28 and 29. Late yesterday afternoon, IPI-CSR executive director Geri Dela Cruz and her team led the donation of $1,000 to the Napu Outrigger Canoe Club, which is hosting the event with Stand Up Paddle Saipan. The CSR team will also be donating banners, refreshments, and manpower for the event. (IPI-CSR)
- FUN RUN Imperial Pacific International CSR team donated refreshments, and provided assistance to the Marianas Visitors Authority in setting up the event grounds of last weekend’s Marianas Sunset 5K Fun Run. (IPI-CSR)
- FUN RUN Imperial Pacific International CSR executive director Geri Dela Cruz, Saipan Mayor David Apatang and MVA managing director Christopher Concepcion are all smiles at the Marianas Sunset 5K Fun Run. (IPI-CSR)
- NEW GRADUATES Marianas High School students pose with their certificates of completion after graduating from the Latte Training Academy Fall 2016 Hotel and Hospitality Certification Course. (Erwin Encinares)
- DONATION Bridge Capital LLC donates $500 to the Intervention Treatment Program of Marianas Behavioral Health Int’l Inc., a non-profit organization whose vision is combat the drug epidemic in the CNMI. From left, Bridge Capital HR manager Tania Fleming Mesa, consultant Joey Arriola, MBHI counselor Grace Vaigaie, MBHI office manager Dorene Kintol, Bridge Capital’s Joe Guerrero, MBHI executive director Diego “DJ” Sablan, and MBHI recovery technician Vince Cabrera. MBHI provides drug and alcohol treatment intervention programs to individuals and their family members and help persons addicted improve their quality of life. (Contributed Photo)
- PARADISE FOR EVERYONE The Marianas Visitors Authority introduced its 2017 campaign “Paradise for Everyone” to 110 travel trade industry representatives on Jan. 9, 2017, in Seoul, Korea. (MVA)
- PARADISE FOR EVERYONE Popular singing artist Jaehoon Lee, left, and celebrity entertainer Jiyoon Park, center, share their experiences visiting the Northern Marianas during the Marianas Visitors Authority’s launch of its 2017 campaign “Paradise for Everyone” on Jan. 9, 2017, in Seoul, Korea. (MVA)
- PARADISE FOR EVERYONE Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Christopher A. Concepcion addressed travel trade industry representatives on Jan. 10, 2017, in Busan, Korea, during the launch of the 2017 campaign “Paradise for Everyone.” (MVA)
- GIVING BACK Representatives of the Corporate Social Responsibility team of Imperial Pacific International, Ltd. and Kagman High School alumna Jia Kapileo and Maelyn Naputi were excited to give back to the school last week. (IPI-CSR)
- GIVING BACK Members of the Corporate Social Responsibility team of Imperial Pacific International, Ltd. do waterblasting on the sidewalks and walkways of Kagman High School. (IPI-CSR)
- GIVING BACK Seedlings and fully grown plants are planted along the entrance and courtyard of Kagman High School. (IPI-CSR)
- ON TO THE NATIONALS The CNMI Aeronautics team is composed of Gaeun “Melody” Yang, Ian Cataluna, Ann Margaret Norcio, Daniel Villarmero, and Chenoa Bunts-Anderson. The group celebrates lunch after hearing the great news that they will be competing and representing the Pacific this April in Washington, D.C., for the 2017 Real World Design Challenge Competition national championship. (Contributed Photo)
- TWO CHEFS Hyatt Regency Shanghai chef Tim Zhu poses with Hyatt Regency Saipan executive chef Gabriele Colombo last week after the landmark Garapan hotel held a food sampling event for its Chinese New Year buffet at the Kili Café & Terrace. (Mark Rabago)
- KEYNOTE SPEAKER TripAdvisor head of Destination Marketing Asia and Pacific region Sarah Mathews shows the audience her Snapchat pictures while serving as the Marianas Tourism Education Council summit keynote speaker last week. (Erwin Encinares)
- AUDITING WORKSHOP The parliamentary committee members of Samoa. The Pacific Association of Supreme Audit Institutions, in partnership with the Office of the Controller and Auditor-General of Samoa, held a two-day workshop on the “Financial oversight and external scrutiny roles of Samoa’s Legislative Committees” on January 19-20, 2017, at the Samoa Parliament Conference facility. (Contributed Photo)
- NEW OFFICERS The new officers of the Society for Human Resource Management NMI Chapter, led by president Esther Ada of DFS Saipan, is sworn in by founding member Frank Gibson during the group’s general membership meeting last Saturday at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley’s Cabaret. (Mark Rabago)