The concept of time

Time is a man-made invention to record period of events. Never had the opportunity to probe the concept for understanding and clarity. No “time” for it either!

Time flies especially when wrapped around some joyful event. Sadness or bad times turn it into an exasperating wait. But our memory allows for reconstruction or rebuilding that long ago journey for quick visits.

At dawn, I took a glimpse at fond memories of yesteryears. I ventured into it having turned 69 at dawn this morning. I was dumbfounded too, wondering where time has gone! The distant road behind me has turned into a thick dark jungle, humbled to have walked it this far. I started humming the folk song Time by Peter, Paul and Mary to reset buttons.

Indeed, we’ve had our share of challenges navigating our canoe with shredded sails amidst the stormy sea of uncertainty in the late ’50s and ’60s.

But persistently we paddled water-soaked heavy oars to guide our canoe to the safe port of self-government. It placed purpose, organization and confidence in the new journey ahead.

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Recalled the Naval Administration closing down and deploying elsewhere in the early ’60s. It rendered many of our people here jobless that forcibly returned to traditional farming and fishing. There wasn’t any meaningful transition period. Perhaps we were stray dogs and inconsequential in military deployment.

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Learning Chamorro was limited to the first and second grade then. Must be part and whole of the deculturation plan. Thanks to PSS for ensuring it is regular instruction in our school system today. It cements sustaining the indigenous culture and tradition.

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We started self-government with a measly $9 million-$14 million in 1978. This has ballooned to $258 million today. It’s a huge leap beyond expectations!

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Our people voted twice against casino but evil geniuses on the hill ignored the voice of the people and returned it. Or is this some strange contraption you didn’t quite catch in your high school civics courses?

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In the mid-’80s, the U.S. Congress asked the NMI to decide between a commercial port facility and a new healthcare system. We decided on the latter, built and opened in 1986 under the steady hands of the late Dr. Jose T. Villagomez.

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William S. Reyes Elementary School was the center of primary education in the late ’50s and ’60s. Every pupil from San Roque to San Jose rides the bus to CK and returns home after three in the afternoon. Today, there are schools everywhere.

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We used to send students to Guam to complete their high school education. It turned history in the mid-’60s when then Hopwood Sr. High was established, including MCS. Eh, we even have a small but growing community college today!

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We chased the dollar-an-hour minimum wage in the late ’60s. It was our single most vital aspiration for reintegration with Guahan. Ours then was about $.16 an hour. However, we learned (to our chagrin) that the dollar is earned!

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Learning manual typewriters (Royal and Underwood) was the aspired goal, strongly pushed by our elderly. It’s seen as the ultimate skills acquisition so you become a clerk. Woe! What vision or is it more like B&W television?

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The NMI now has a non-voting delegate in the U.S. Congress. It’s a status given all territories. Full membership and representation is limited to the 50 states per the U.S. Constitution.

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I was fortunate to have started out in radio and later a reporter with the TTG’s Micronesian News Service (MNS). It was an enriching experience focused on regional events over provincial issues.

Finally, I worked as researcher and public relations for the largest private firm here after retiring from government. I was assigned to head the Saipan Tribune. In less than a year I turned it into a solvent business entity and served as its publisher/editor for seven years. It’s the pride and crown of my private industry career! To one and all, thanks for the memories!

Flag ceremony: In grammar school, we would attend flag ceremonies every Monday morning. We would stand at attention and sing the Star-Spangled Banner.

But the only part of the song we remember was “Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light.” The rest we mumbled to death. Never mind the lyrics for as long as you carry the tune.

A Navy admiral who attended the event later told our principal we did a fabulous job singing the national anthem in the vernacular!