Island Snapshots — June 2016
- BUSHFIRE: This bushfire destroyed about 3 acres of vegetation in As Gonno across Guangdong Hardware Thursday afternoon. The fire started at a Bureau of Environmental and Coastal project in the jungle area. Investigators said the fire broke out when the Department of Public Works crew were clearing to make access road and a truck was pulling out a hydromower. (Derek Gersonde)
- SUPPORTING UNDER-SERVED CHILD’S COLLEGE DREAM: Best Sunshine International, Ltd. has signified its support to the Million Dollar Scholars of Kagman High School by donating $1,000. In this photo, BSI Corporate Social Responsibility executive director Geralyn Dela Cruz, second right, presents the donation to KHS Million Dollar Scholars club adviser Gerard Van Gills, second left, who was joined by KHS student and Million Dollar Scholar club member Fatimah Skylar Acosta Blake, left, and Lilly Jane Bautista, KHS valedictorian and club member. (Contributed Photo)
- BOOK-MAKING TILT: The William S. Reyes School held it’s 2nd Annual Young Author/Book-making Contest. Congratulations to our WSR Young Author/Book-making Contest winners! First place went to Cyrel Jose and Kaya Rasa for their story Arychoo. second place went to Leilani Taisacan and Freda Villagomez for their story Our Memories of Ms. Zhen, while third place went to author Yonnie Dejillas and illustrator Remedio Dela Cruz for A Room of Fantasy. (Contributed Photo)
- CNMI government leaders and industry players joined the Filipino community and the Office of the Honorary Consulate to the CNMI on Friday evening’s Vin d’honneur as part of a series of community events over the weekend leading to the 118th Philippine Independence Day celebration held simultaneously across the globe. The CNMI Filipino community was joined by Philippine Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny Angara” Jr., third left, who in this photo was joined by Lt. Gov. Victor B. Hocog, Philippine honorary consul to the CNMI Glicerio Eli DM. Arago, Imperial Pacific International majority shareholder Margaret Cui Lijie, Imperial Pacific International chief services officer Tao Xing, Philippine Consul to Guam Edgar Thomas Auxillian, and Best Sunshine International, Ltd. Corporate Social Responsibility executive director Geralyn Dela Cruz. (Vin D’Honneur)
- BEST PRODUCT/SERVICE AWARD Commonwealth Development Authority executive director Manuel A. Sablan, extreme right, and CDA economic development analyst and Junior Achievement Program coordinator Carline B. Sablan, second from the right, pose for a group photo with mentors and members of the Marianas High School’s Blue Marianas Produxtions during the recent CNMI Junior Achievement Company Program Spring 2016 competition’s banquet at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley’s Cabaret. Blue Marianas Produxtions won the Best Product/Service award, while its member, Candice Aldan, received the Vice President of Finance award. (Ferdie De La Torre)
- PACIFIC INSURANCE SPONSORS HANMI GOLF HOLE-IN-ONE PRIZE Pacifica Insurance has donated $10,000 as a hole-in-one prize for the HANMI Charity Golf Classic Tournament slated for June 18, 2016, at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort. Pictured from left are HANMI Golf Committee member Steve Balakrishna, Pacifica Insurance’s Keomi Palacios, HANMI Golf Committee chair Paul Park, Pacifica Insurance’s Jedderlyn Domingo, and Golf Committee member Franco Santos. The donation was made on June 7, 2016, at the Pacifica Insurance office on Saipan. (Contributed Photo)
- DELTA DONATION Karl Reyes, left, Station supervisor of Delta Air Lines, donates two round-trip airline tickets to the continental U.S. or Canada as hole-in-one prizes for the HANMI Charity Golf Classic Tournament on June 18, 2016, at Laolao Bay Golf Resort. Receiving the donation on June 14, 2016, at the Delta check-in counter is Paul Park, Tournament Committee chairman. (Contributed Photo)
- CW SUITCASE Elitza Stoilova joins many longtime foreign workers from different nationalities in waving to motorists to express gratitude to CNMI leaders who support calls for improved immigration status along Beach Road in front of Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium in Susupe Saturday afternoon. Stoilova brings a symbolic suitcase with a message “I am a CW. Want me to stay?” The workers and representatives of some businesses are also appealing to the federal government to immediately resolve the CW crisis to avoid the shut down of many businesses in the Commonwealth. Every day foreign workers affected by the crisis are asking if the federal government has already acted to address the problem. (Ferdie De La Torre)
- ‘WE HAVE A DEAL’ Gov. Ralph DLG Torres signs copies of a programmatic agreement meant to protect cultural artifacts and historic properties from the effects of a proposed divert airfield on Tinian, as U.S. Pacific Command’s Lt. Gen. Anthony Crutchfield looks on at the Governor’s Office Thursday. (Dennis B. Chan)