Stateless man, 10 others take oath as new citizens

U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, seated center, Magistrate Judge Heather L. Kennedy, seated right, and CNMI Women’s Association president Rose Taman Ada-Hocog, seated left, join the 11 new citizens in a group photo during a naturalization ceremony yesterday. (Ferdie de la Torre)

Ronwaldo Supnet Pascua, 41, a health inspector on Tinian, is relieved to have finally obtained his U.S. citizenship.

Pascua, who used to be a stateless person in the CNMI as he was born and raised on Tinian to Filipino immigrant parents who came to the CNMI in 1965, finally obtained his citizenship after a former spouse petitioned him.

For Lili Duan, 30, she felt that taking her oath as a U.S. citizen was a great moment and she is excited. “I feel like a true part of the United States,” she said.

She acknowledged that obtaining her citizenship confers on her a lot of benefits but she also wants to contribute to the country.

Duan, who is originally from Shenyang, China, first arrived on Saipan in 2014, where she worked as an assistant marketing manager for Pacific Islands Club.

That same year, Duan met her husband, who was born and raised on Saipan.

At present, Duan works as a learning and development manager at the Duty Free Shop.

For Romeo Francisco Villanueva, 71, a security guard on Rota, obtaining his citizenship has been a long-time dream.

Villanueva, who hails from Cavite, Philippines, first came to Rota in 1985, when he worked as an electrician at the then-construction site of Rota Resort.

Villanueva met his wife at the Rota Health Center, where she worked as a nurse. Their daughter is a pharmacist who currently lives in Seattle. Their other daughter, a former member of the U.S. Air Force, lives with her husband in South Korea.

The two daughters petitioned Villanueva and his wife Shirley to become citizens. Shirley Villanueva is expected to take her oath as a new citizen by next week.

Pascua, Duan, and Villanueva were among the 11 individuals who took their oaths as U.S. citizens before U.S. District Court for the NMI Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona during a naturalization ceremony.

The new citizens are from the Philippines, China, Kiribati, and Nepal.

Rose Ada-Hocog, CNMI Women’s Association president and Public School System family engagement coordinator, who served as the guest speaker during the ceremony, said the CNMI is celebrating this month the Commonwealth Covenant Day, the National Women’s History Month, the CNMI Women’s Month, and the International Women’s Day.

Ada-Hocog said this year’s theme of the CNMI Women’s Month celebration is “Lead-Her-Ship: Masters of Our Own Destiny.” The theme calls for women in the CNMI to take charge of their destinies and to steer their lives in the direction they desire.

Ada-Hocog said the new citizens have steered their ship in this direction—life, liberty, and justice.

“Your journey leading up to this very moment have been long, and I am sure, like many, was filled with many challenges,” she said.

Ada-Hocog said it is not easy to leave a place you have known all your life and move to a foreign land to start a new life.

“You all have your personal reasons for leaving the place you called home. But no matter the reason, you are all united by a common thread—a deep love for your family and the desire for something better,” she said.

As a woman, a mother, and a wife, Ada-Hocog can relate to that. “Like you, I have led and am continuing to lead my ship in the direction that would not only benefit me, but my loved ones as well,” she said.

With the new status and citizenship comes added responsibilities that are required of every American, Ada-Hocog said. She said the pledge is but a mere summary of all that is expected and required of every American.

“But let me impress upon you that these responsibilities and expectations give your citizenship a deeper meaning, most especially because, unlike those born in America and became automatic American citizens, you my friends, chose to be American citizens,” she said.

Forty-three years ago, those of Northern Marianas descent voted to join the U.S. family and they became Americans. “For many, it was not by choise, but it was through the collective decision of the majority and our leaders, at that time, who wanted to steer the NMI in the direction of prosperity,” Ada-Hocog said.

Aside from Pascua, Duan, and Villanueva, the other new citizens are Huaping Shan Bacon, Jose Guevarra Jimenez Jr., Ma Viveth Bartolome Jimenez, Isha Adhikari King, Aludia Ramirez Lamorena, Jimmy Camaya Manalang, Ruthzel Libuna Perez, and Salaneta Wessel.