TSL Foundation assists Miss Marianas pageant

Miss Marianas 2018 Celine Cabrera, seated center, and the candidates of the 2019 Miss Marianas pageant pose for a photo with Stellar Marianas officials, TanHoldings Corp. executives, and representatives from the Tan Siu Foundation, which is a sponsor of the competition that will be held tomorrow at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan. (Contributed Photo)

Recognizing the importance of providing a platform for women empowerment, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation is supporting the 2019 Miss Marianas pageant that will be held tomorrow night at the Hibiscus Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

The TSL Foundation, the philanthropic arm of TanHoldings Corp., has donated $4,750 to the competition’s organizer, Stella Marianas, during the sponsors presentation ceremony at Fiesta Resort last Wednesday morning.

“We join the rest of the community in supporting the 2019 Miss Marianas pageant. We at TanHoldings and Tan Siu Lin Foundation would like to see women be given more opportunities to be heard and lead. We wish to see more women become leaders and take an active role in making our islands a better place to live in by promoting their advocacies and representing the CNMI on the world stage,” said TanHoldings Corp. Community Relations director Carline Sablan, who handed the check to Stellar Marianas president Laila Y. Boyer and other group officials.

The foundation’s donation was on top of the $10,000 it earlier committed to Stellar Marianas to fund the Miss Universe Pageant’s charter fee. The CNMI is hoping to send a representative to the 2020 Miss Universe after a 13-year absence. Shequita Bennett was the Commonwealth’s last representative to the pageant; she competed in the 2006 Miss Universe in Los Angeles, California.

“We are extremely grateful for the amazing support the Tan Si Lin Foundation has extended to Stellar Marianas. It’s going to be a fruitful partnership in terms of helping the CNMI get back to the Miss Universe stage,” Boyer said.

In supporting the CNMI’s return to Miss Universe, TanHoldings chief executive Jerry Tan said, “We should capitalize on every chance to promote our beautiful islands to the rest of the world. TanHoldings and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation are honored to be part of Miss Marianas, as it seeks to open doors for young women hoping to make a difference in the community and gain life-changing experiences.”

Tomorrow, 2018 Miss Marianas Celine Cabrera will relinquish her crown to one of the six candidates: Dierra Palacios, Junalyn Billedo, Riane Capalad, Merly Ann Fernandez, Sharon Palacios, and Shannon Sasamoto.

“We wish all the candidates good luck. Regardless of the results of the competition, may you continue to inspire others to participate in worthy endeavors, such as Miss Marianas, and do things that would highlight the beauty of our islands and its people,” TSL Foundation executive director Merlie Tolentino said. (PR)