OVER the recent months we have all been depressed by the dire economic condition the CNMI is in. There is not a day that goes by where the media doesn’t pound their printed drums, all too eager to warn us that our economy is doomed and that we are all going to suffer the wrath of an uncontrollable fate that wants to punish us all for our mistakes.
Then reality sets in...
Of course if we all just sit in the corner cowering like a little kid who just got beat up by the school bully, we deserve the fate the media warns us about.
However if we choose to do something in the face of that “economic bully” breathing down our necks, we can turn this “pity filled,” “no control of our fate” attitude around.
One such example is the recent Tinian fiesta sponsored by the Tinian San Jose Parish Council and the Tinian Mayor’s Office.
Faced with the threats of layoffs, payless paydays, little donations and over half the concession booths unsold, the Tinian Mayor’s Office and the Tinian Parish Council proceeded to put on one of the most successful, well planned, entertaining and fun fiesta in years.
I saw no complaints about the economy, I saw no unhappy faces, and I saw nobody cowering in corners. What I saw was a once depressed community brought together by the perseverance and dedication of leadership to change the fate and attitude of the island.
Sure it was only three days of fiesta, but it was three days where people could forget about what the media reminds them of everyday. It was three days filled of families coming together and talking about opening new businesses and fighting the inevitable economic fate that everyone seems to think is facing us.
Folks, attitude is everything…faced with a perceived inevitable damning fate, we can either chose to cower in the corner with the media or come out swinging like the organizers of the Tinian fiesta and face down our economic fate.
As witness to the latter, I am more inclined to make the choice of a fighter. I am here to fight for our economic future and we should all be impressed by the spirit and leadership of the Tinian San Jose Church Parish Council and the Tinian Mayor’s Office for showing us how it is done…
Impressed…very impressed.

PHILLIP MENDIOLA-LONG
Carolinas Heights, Tinian