By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
IN respect and remembrance of those who have passed, Reps. John Paul P. Sablan and Danny I. Aquino last week initiated a cleanup project at the Chalan Kanoa cemetery.
The project began on Dec. 17, 2025, following a roadside cleanup along major thoroughfares in Precinct 2, from Susupe to Chalan Kanoa, “in a continued display of service rooted in respect and remembrance.” The cleanup was completed on Dec. 20, 2025.
Sablan and Aquino, along with their office staff and community volunteers, tended to the grounds of the CK Cemetery by cutting the grass and trimming overgrown areas, including the narrow alleys inside the cemetery.
The project, Aquino said, was intended to improve accessibility to the final resting places of those who have passed and preserve their dignity. Although the cemetery is located in Precinct 2, where both lawmakers live and which they represent, the cemetery serves families from far beyond the precinct.
The cemetery cleanup was the second joint grass-cutting effort conducted by Sablan and Aquino, both reaffirming their commitment to continue beautification projects despite limited resources, “as a reflection of their respect for cultural values and the importance of honoring those who have passed.”
“CK cemetery belongs to all of us. People from every village are laid to rest here. When we care for this place, we are showing respect not only to those who have passed, but to the families who come here to remember them. This is about unity, respect, and honoring our island’s history,” Sablan said.
Aquino echoed Sablan’s sentiments but stressed it was a “personal responsibility” that he and Sablan feel toward maintaining the cemetery.
“We may not have unlimited resources, but we have a commitment. No matter what, we will always find a way to show our respect for those who came before us. This cemetery holds the stories of our elders, our families, and our island,” Aquino said.
Sablan and Aquino thanked their respective staffers for volunteering their time and effort throughout the week and highlighted the importance of working together to support meaningful community initiatives.
Sablan reflected on the deeper cultural meaning of the effort and its ability to bring people together.
“When we take care of places like CK cemetery, we are reminded that we are one island and one people. Honoring those who have passed is a shared responsibility that connects us across families, villages, and generations,” he said.
Aquino added, “When I walk through this cemetery, I don’t just see headstones — I see our parents, our grandparents, our neighbors, and the sacrifices they made for us. Taking care of this place is our way of saying thank you. It is a promise that they are not forgotten, and that their legacy will always be honored by the people they left behind.”
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
