Thank you!

Last week, Mount Carmel School’s Theatre Club staged its production of Tasi, a musical story about the Marianas featuring music from the islands. The show was a huge success with standing-room only, sold-out performances, raving reviews, and an audience that loved the show. The cast and crew members were phenomenal with top-notch acting, moving songs and choreography, a well-crafted production design, and even quite a bit of humor along the way. Everyone laughed, everyone cried, and everyone had a great time. All in all, it was a fitting way to celebrate culture, cherish our environment, and honor our family values.

Given the show’s huge success, I felt it would be important to thank and recognize the many people and organizations that contributed, in one way or another, to the production. If it takes a village to raise a child, it then takes a whole island community to produce a show like this.

First, as we always do at Mount Carmel School, we thank all mighty God for gracing us all with the spirit to tell this important story. We also thank Bishop Ryan Jimenez, + Bishop Emeritus Tomas Camacho, Mount Carmel School’s Board of Directors, Mount Carmel School Administrators, Faculty, and Staff, AlumKnights and the Mount Carmel School family, and audience members for supporting our Theatre Club and the show. In a special way, we also thank the parents of cast and crew members for their untiring support and for lending us their talented children.

Second, we owe special thanks to Rose Soledad, Janice Tenorio, Natasha Tomokane, and everyone at IT&E for their generous financial support of the production. We are also grateful for a grant made possible by Robert Hunter, the CNMI Department of Community & Cultural Affairs, Parker Yobei, and the Commonwealth Council for Arts & Culture.

Third, the artists on stage and back stage in this production were supported by distinguished artists in their own right. Donald Mendiola lent his cultural and linguistic expertise to translating many aspects of the show. JC Clark helped our music director record music just for the show. And Leeani Villagomez and her Sophomore Art class designed and crafted many of the set and props pieces on stage. For these artists, we owe our thanks.

Fourth, a number of businesses and individuals contributed to specific aspects of the show. John Saludez and HBR International were instrumental in building the show’s set pieces. Ann Zapata, Dominic Travilla, and everyone at Pacific Islands Club ensured that the venue was accommodating for our show. The following individuals and companies also contributed to key elements of the show: Jung’s Variety Shop, Chay Aspa & R&M Printers, Ed Calvo, Jun Mamporte, and Island Apparel. The following media outlets also helped with news coverage of the show: Gary Sword, Rosemond Santos Sword, Gordon Marciano, and KKMP; Zaldy Dandan, Lori Lyn Lirio, and Marianas Variety; Jayvee Vallejera, Erwin Encinares, and Saipan Tribune; Fr. Jason Granado and the North Star; and Chris Nelson, Ashley McDowell, and KSPN2 News.

Fifth, last, and definitely not the least, we thank our amazing cast and crew members for shining on and off stage as true dramatic professionals. While the list of the cast and crew members is long, it is worth recognizing every single person for the talent, creativity, and passion that they invested into the show.

CREW
Director: Kalea Lou Bullan Borja
Assistant Director and Assistant Stage Manager: Brandee Hunter
Music Director: Jan Bobadilla
Choreographers: Jaeleen Aldan, Rosalia Pangelinan, Karen Sato, and Mariana Tenorio
Stage Manager: Quincy Mikaila Chinen
Assistant Stage Manager: Maria “Ria” Terlaje
Art Director: Joanie Paraiso
Assistant Art Directors: Connie Zhu and Katherine Woodruff
Art Crew: Tasi Camacho, Giselle Ivy Leong, and Christine Mago
Hair and Makeup Supervisor: Velma Deleon Guerrero
Hair and Makeup Crew: Ydylle Acosta, Rosa Castro, Erika Cunanan, Christine Mago, and Joanna Pangelinan
Assistant Music Director: Larry Cruz
Floor Manager: Justin Ocampo
Assistant Floor Manager: Mikee Mendoza
Technical Director: Angelo Manese
Sound Board Operator: William Blake Deleon Guerrero
Technical Support: William Año
Floor Crew: Kyle Bautista, Gary Camacho, Raymalyn Guanlao, Maverick Irang, Eric Jang, Dayna Macaranas, Matt Moran, Reica Ramirez, Earl Tabora, and Theresa Toves
Business Manager: Jaden Yamagata
Ushers: Princess Alcantara, Sinahi Cepeda, Shaina Lee, Katelyn Rabang, Vince Salvador, Kloney Virreym and Brian Youn
Assistant Theatre Club Advise: Aysia Adele Duenas Santos

CAST
Tasi: Kina Dela Cruz
Tano (Tasi’s father): John San Nicolas
Rastro (Tasi’s aunt and Unai’s sister): Kalyn Diaz
Guafi (Tasi’s uncle and Tano’s brother) Larry Cruz
Unai (Tasi’s mother): Aysia Adele Duenas Santos
Hale (on the Island Council): Christian Guerrero
Brasu (on the Island Council): Sean Ancheta
Hagon (on the Island Council): Vidal Sablan
Dinga (on the Island Council): Brent Ortizo
Daddek(on the Island Council): Dylan Santos
Mangga (on the Island Council)/Young Tano: Daniel Camacho
Dolphin/Young Unai: Jessiana Tenorio

Dolphins:
Asa Backe
Kyla Cabrera
Kesil Camacho
Valerie Estella
Brissa Hunter
Elise Maratita
Maili Peter
Island Children:
Ainsley Ancheta
Caleb Aldan
Oscar Buenaflor
Cali Cabrera
William Cano
Jada Chang
Latisha DeJesus
Heleyna Dela Santa
Quimari Duenas
Clint Irang
Audrein Jennifer Mallari
Laizza Mallari
Ayanna Matsumoto
Naomi Matsumoto
Donnie Militante
Tricia Palacios
Jadine Pangelinan
Joseph Pangelinan
Kaeli Pathil
Jake Regalato
Lewnyce Regalato
Sierra Reyes
Donald Tagabuel
Quince Tizon
Gavril Santiago
Mehgan Villagomez
Sage R. Villagomez

Every single one of these cast and crew members did their part to bring the magic of Tasi to the stage and to our community. They are all to be commended for giving their heart and soul to the show.

Above all, I appreciate the family that is the Mount Carmel School Theatre Club, where a 1st grade student can work alongside Seniors and AlumKnights to tell compelling stories on stage and in film. This family is near and dear to my heart and the hearts of everyone in that family. And as one of the show’s mantras goes, “Ni hayi hu falingu. Ni hayi hu umalefa.” “No one is ever lost; no one is ever forgotten.” In my heart, you, my dear Theatre Club family, will never be lost; you will never be forgotten.

Galvin Deleon Guerrero
Mt. Carmel Principal