Man’amko takeover

Each Man’amko Takeover day is such a memorable page in my life. I’ve taken over a government position for so many years. I remember each day of my being in this or that position burdened with duties and responsibilities for a short time though. Feeling a huge burden of responsibility combined with a wide range of discretions is very exciting and leads me into deep reflection.

This time, the Aging Center promoted me to take over the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs administrator position. This time I was allowed to go into the Child Care and Development Fund Program. I was to hold it in my hands, see its details, and the scale of CNMI-wide childcare.

At 9 o’ clock in the morning of May 10, representatives from different government agencies arrived at the Aging Center to pick up man’amko “takeoverers” to drive them to their assigned offices and perform their assigned duties. As I talked with them about their impressions of taking over this or that position, I came to realize that they really appreciated taking over because they learned something new and positive about life and our current government.

They liked how well they were treated as elderly, as a new officer on duty, as a new colleauge. After lunch with permanent officers, getting to establishe contacts with them for future actions, they were brought back to the Aging Center all excited, full of joy and happiness. They would show each other their certificates of appreciation for their accomplishment at the workplace. They would proudly pose for a picture with their certificate as recognition of their service to the community.

Man’amko understand that taking over is just a short time, but still they see behind this a deep respect of their previous life, their years and years of long labor for our beautiful islands.

A little more about my being a Child Care officer under the command of Mrs. Loste, the administrator of the program. Our society cares about children! A child is not yet born or newly born but a system is already caring about his present and future. Already, money and specialists are at work to give the child a healthy body and soul and ready for follow-up services. Taking into account our prosperity and strong enough following rules and regulations, actually a child’s life is assuerd to have quality, enjoyment, and full of meaning.

It is in contrast from many countries having a baby is hardly a bearable burden and high a risk. In some places like China, having many babies is not allowed, even punished for that! Officials persecute those who stand for child rights in some other countries like India, some children are outcasts! They are untouchable!

In countries like Philippines, some children are born on the streets, they grow up on the streets. He/she lives his/her whole life on the streets, they marry/divorce on the streets of Manila and he/she dies after a lifelong street life still not having his/her own home! The only hope is that the newly elected Philippines leadership will act more mercifully toward children.

There should be a wise and effective enough system of protecting a child’s rights. For example, if a father or mother runs away from caring of their child, the government first gives all the spectrum of needed money and other support to the caregiver parent and finds the parent and deals with him/her with all the harshness of law.

My dear people, let us keep in mind our children’s wellbeing first! Let us take care of them well so they could care for us well later on.

Teddy Guiao
Navy Hill