By Emmanuel T. Erediano
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Variety News Staff
KAGMAN residents on Thursday hosted an appreciation lunch for staff members of the Guam Power Authority.
Santa Soledad Parish Church Father Rey Rosal accommodated the residents and GPA workers at the church’s backyard, while Kagman residents Joe Palacios, his nephew Dominic Pangelinan, former Rep. Vicente Camacho, Pastor James Santos, Angel Market owner Henry Xiong and other members of the Kagman community provided food and drinks.
Palacios said the gathering was held to show appreciation for GPA workers.
“This typhoon didn’t just disrupt the lives of people of Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It also disrupted the lives of GPA employees who volunteered to come here, leaving behind the comforts of their homes, their families and their loved ones,” he said.
“So the hosting of the luncheon for GPA was in the spirit of a very good relationship,” he added.
Pangelinan said he and his wife were watching GPA workers fix power lines when they came up with the idea of showing appreciation for their efforts in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku.
He said he and his uncle collaborated to host the luncheon as a gesture of support and gratitude.
Xiong said he appreciated the work GPA employees do for the community in Saipan. “They really worked hard,” he said.
Former Rep. Vicente Camacho said they hosted the luncheon to extend their gratitude to GPA personnel for coming over to help CNMI residents.
Three generations
Among GPA personnel assisting with power restoration efforts was John “Kadi” Manibusan, GPA transportation manager.
Super Typhoon Sinlaku was the third major disaster in the CNMI in which he took part in recovery operations. He also served in the aftermaths of Super Typhoons Soudelor in 2015 and Yutu in 2018, helping replace power poles and transformers damaged by the storms.
Manibusan’s involvement spans three generations of his family. During the Trust Territory era, his father, Juan Mafnas Manibusan, also came to the island to assist in recovery efforts following Super Typhoon Jean in April 1969.
This time, in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Sinlaku, his son, John Anthony Manibusan, accompanied him, along with 48 other GPA personnel deployed to support recovery efforts in the Commonwealth.
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.
