I DON’T usually make a closer review of news articles unless it matches my realist and conservative frame of thought. I want to say that Ms. Tina Sablan’s and Ms. Zenn Tomokane’s views match my own perspective. I applaud their courage to express their heartfelt and soul driven concerns for their islands and as a people of these islands. We can draw many good instructions and guidance from caring indigenous young people of the CNMI. Thank so much for the good words that both of you share. Let’s move on with our agenda in taking back our islands and stopping the madness castigating our environment and let’s bring peace to our people and promote a sustainable way of living here at home.
I am a human resource professional by profession, and I draw many of the concepts that I express from the work that I do, but seeking for guidance also come from many diverse sources. I am inspired by Job and Saint Francis of Assisi. These are iconic elements and guru of the teaching of the Church. No one will be blamed for believing in the words of these icons in modern times. We all have our individual perspectives and freedoms, and it is perfectly reasonable to be inspired by the deeds of people whom we think are truthful for our actions and common undertaking to see the new years that we know are coming. In our prayers each day, we look for guidance and I think that we need to do just that if our people are to find the solutions to our dilemma: social, economic, or otherwise.
I would borrow the words in the “Book of Job” to illustrate the meaning of loyalty. In doing so, I take the frame of thought of the CNMI as the broad set. In this way, we can relate to the concept of “set” in high school math or algebra. Thinking in terms of set so that a set consisting of sub-sets is the all inclusive in the bigger set. Once we can stipulate this condition, we could then start assimilating those that belong in the set as mutually inclusive or mutually exclusive. By this process, we could establish a system to internalize the meaning of “loyalty.” But, then again, I am only suggesting a paraphrase of an icon whom I know was much smarter and articulated than I am.
In my reading in “Job,” I saw how this icon defined the word “loyalty” if you believe in the sacred teaching of the Church. We are also dependent on mortal man to give us good deeds and guidance and I will use just that as well. Mr. Elbert Hubbard, a famous writer, summed up the prose that envelop what I like to say. Here is what he said.
“If you work for a man, in heaven’s name work for him. If he pays wages that supply you bread and butter, work for him, speak well of him, think well of him, stand by him, and stand by the institution he represents. I think if I worked for a man I would work for him. I would not work for him a part of his time, but all of his time. I would give an undivided services or none. If put to a pinch, an ounce of loyalty is worth a pound of cleverness.
If you must vilify, condemn and eternally disparage, why, resign your position, and when you are outside, complain to your heart’s content. But, I pray you, so long as you are a part of the institution, do not condemn it. Not that you will injure the institution-not that-but when you disparage the concern of which you are a part, you disparage yourself.”
Let’s put in motion to making the CNMI and its people as object of the “set” to reckon with, and let this be the mission for all of us who feel belonging to this beautiful and vibrant small world of ours as a serious undertaking, and prepare this place we all can call home for enjoyment and pride of the indigenous people and its guests. Your loyalty to the development of our destiny and securing the new years coming for our children who will assume the goodness of what we can save for them is the obligation of the social order today. We are also mindful of our guests who are using the CNMI as a staging ground for their own best interest. This transiting scheme by our guests, no matter what the cost or trouble to the CNMI, is a troubling scenario that takes our energy and attention to other another level and forum. We are hoping that all will respect our wishes and open the way to allow us the full opportunity to fulfill our search for a better society and in expressing our existence to the world as the indigenous people of the CNMI.

FRANCISCO R. AGULTO
Chalan Kanoa, Saipan