FORMER Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Perry John Pangelinan Tenorio received the Japan Foreign Minister Commendation for his “remarkable achievements in enhancing the goodwill relationship between Japan and the CNMI.”
“I am honored,” he said in accepting the award at Kevin’s, Aqua Resort Club on Wednesday.
Perry Tenorio, right, receives the Japan Foreign Minister Commendation from Kazuhiko Ono, the head of the Consular Office of Japan on Saipan on Feb. 3 at Aqua Resort Club.
Photo by Bryan Manabat
“There were a lot of people before me who paved the way or had initiated the islands’ good relationship with Japan, and there are people after me who continue to do that, so I accept this award on our collective behalf,” he added.
Tenorio said the award is also a reflection of the people of CNMI and its travel industry as well as the historic friendship between Japan and the islands.
Japanese Consul Kazuhiko Ono said from 1998 to 2002, and from 2006 to 2016, Tenorio was MVA managing director. Japan, then and now, is among the CNMI’s top tourism markets.
Ono said it was Tenorio who organized the “Taste of the Marianas,” which has become an annual event on Saipan that highlights, among other things, Japanese cuisine and culture.
Ono said Tenorio likewise participated in many memorial services held by various organizations from Japan “and greatly contributed to enhance the CNMI’s goodwill relationship with Japan.”
In addition, Ono praised Tenorio for promoting a CNMI-Japan sports exchange program as director of the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association.
Tenorio is the first local resident and the third CNMI recipient of the award. The other two awardees are Japanese nationals and island residents Misako Kamata and Itsuro Hosoda.
According to the Japanese Consulate, 152 individuals and 54 groups received the commendation this year.
