Labor Day picnic is ‘a day of relief’ for many

Sunday’s Labor Day celebration was deluged with rain, but that did not dampen the spirits of the hundreds of government employees who occupied the Civic Center in Susupe for the daylong event.

After a long pause in hosting the celebration, yesterday’s festivity marked the second consecutive year of recognizing government agencies and their employees for their commitment to service by gathering all three branches of government in one location. 

Men and women from the Department of Public Safety show their might against the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. in a tug-of-war game in yesterday’s 2014 Labor Day festivities at the Civic Center in Susupe, while DPS officers including Commissioner James Deleon Guerrero cheer them on. The 10-member CUC team, however, won this round of the game. (Haidee V. Eugenio)

Hundreds of employees and employers alike celebrated the day with food, friends, and family under their respective agency’s tent.

The theme “One heart, One family, One CNMI” was evident and could be seen on the event’s t-shirts worn by participants. 

A total of 35 tents crowded the site, according to Labor Day Committee chair Manny M. Pangelinan. 

He told Saipan Tribune that the Labor Day committee is a non-profit organization that does not receive any government funds to organize the event.

“We have to raise our own money,” he said. “I admire Gov. S. Eloy Inos for setting that standard. This shows that other functions can be self-sustaining. It also shows that everyone can put a little more effort and ask less from the government for any type of event.”

Ultimately, Pangelinan said, the overarching message he hopes people will take away from the event is: “Thank you for the work they have done in our community every year.”

He said that Sunday’s festivity is not about the management but the employees. “They are the ones making things happen. They deserve the recognition.”

The Public School System, Commonwealth Election Commission, and the Office of the Public Auditor were the only organizations without a booth. 

The event featured various contests and games as well.

For the best decorated booth, first place went to the Department of Public Safety. The Department of Corrections took second place and the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. got third. 

The Saipan Mayor’s Office won the “best barbecue” title for their food on the grill. The recipe belonged to Spencer Marchadesch. The secret ingredients, he said, were team work and a lot of love. 

The competitions were judged by Lt. Gov. Jude U. Hofschneider, Chief Justice Alexandro Castro, House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero (Ind.-Saipan), and Presiding Judge Robert Naraja. 

Employees also took part in a tug-of-war competition, basketball tournament, relay race, and a chacha dance-off. 

With fun, joy, and laughter filling the air, many employees described the celebration as a “day of relief for everyone.”

Associate Judge Ken Govendo, for his part, said he is elated to be a part of the event.

“This event is an important one because employees in the government get together to celebrate their labor. We are all working for the common good,” he added.

Jacqueline Che, Northern Marianas College director of Institutional Effectiveness, echoed Govendo. “It is wonderful to see government organizations celebrate their work and the good work of all of us. It is really inspiring.”

She added that NMC continues to work for the prosperity and well-being of the islands.

“NMC is a ray of light and hope for the community. When people look at NMC they see an educational institution that can uplift a community,” she said.

CHCC chief executive officer Esther Muña described the event as a day of appreciation. She said the employees in the frontline at the hospital often go unnoticed. 

“We tend to forget the employees, especially in the hospital. This is an opportunity as one big family to get together and just enjoy the day and have some fun,” Muña said.

One nurse, who works 12-hour shifts, said she appreciates the effort people put into the event in tribute for people like her. 

Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson said, “We all work really hard day in and day out. It is nice to have a day to have fun and get together. We do not have a lot of days like this. It gives us family time, not only as coworkers but as friends.”

“Today we do not need to watch the clock,” she added.

An employee of the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, Selena Forman, who has worked for the library for eight years, came to the event with her son. She said the event was “refreshing.”

“Everyone at the library works together to provide service to the community. I feel happy to provide people with books and resources every year,” she said. 

The Labor Day celebration for government agencies concluded yesterday, but many will continue the celebration with a day-off today, Labor Day, which coincides with the last day of Public Service Recognition Week.

House Speaker Joseph Deleon Guerrero hopes that people will reflect on the work government employees have done over the years. He added that “the standards of public service need to be raised.”

“We need to raise those standards, no matter what you do—whether you clean the roads or tend to our tourists. Let us keep having a high standard of public service.” 

This, he said, is the most the government can do for its people.

“The people deserve that level of excellence and service. Congratulations and thank you to everyone here who continue to work tirelessly for a better Commonwealth,” he added.