Rose DLG Mondala, Office on Aging director, said they appreciate the visit of the Guam senior citizens from the Mangilao Aging Center.
She handed a certificate of appreciation to Mangilao Aging Center manager Carmen Aguon and Ann Benavente, president of the village’s manamko’ advisory council.
Mondala said Saipan has only one center for senior citizens unlike Guam which has 12, but it offers many programs and amenities to the elderly.
She said Saipan may not have shopping centers like Guam but it has “lots of poker machines that visitors can enjoy.”
“We will do something special for you. We will do our best to take care of you,” she told the visiting manamko’.
Mondala said the visit of the Guam senior citizens “has brought happiness to our clients.”
“I am certain that friendship is inevitable. Friendship is vital in keeping a strong bond between inter-island relationships that will last forever,” she said.
The visitors from Guam also presented a certificate of appreciation to Mondala.
In an interview, Benavente said many of the senior citizens at their center want to visit Saipan but financial constraints hinder them.
She said they enjoyed the hospitality extended by their counterparts on Saipan.
The other visiting manamko’ from Guam were Maria Cruz, Julia Unchangco, Angie Mafnas, Rafael Mafnas, Rose Naburn, Lydia Nostratis, Joaqui Mafnas and Dian Garrido
Teresita Sorroza, Saipan’s senior citizens advisory council president, said the visit of their Guam counterparts was “very memorable.”
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