(MV) — What would a turkey say if it could talk?
“Eat ham.”
2020, in any case, is quite possibly the worst year ever for many of us all around the world, but it’s almost over, and we’re still here.
We must be optimists. And as a very wise man has noted, an optimist is “someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it’s more like a cha-cha.”
And who doesn’t like cha-cha?
Here then is Marianas Variety’s much anticipated, stupendously awesome 26th annual Thanksgiving list (items listed, as usual, in no particular order):
1) Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano wants to thank his family: “my sons, John Gabriel, John Baron, John Yuri, Manuelito John, daughter, Johana Elizabeth, and my love, Jeanette Sarabia; my grandson, Remiel John Demetri, my late Papa Manolo Lola Gundina, my mom Monserrat, siblings, Arlynn, Mayette, Dodong and Inday, and all my nephews and grandnephews for being my inspiration and motivation to stay healthy. My Marianas Variety family, Zaldy Dandan and family, Boss Amier Younis, Salam, Boss Laila and family, Boss Paz Grant, Bryan, Andrea, Lyn, Liza, Tess, and Lala and the whole MV team. Thanks to my Auntie Rose Boll and family, Auntie Annie Michel and family, my late Auntie Lalia, thanks to Legitimong Batang Botocan, Thanks to Dennis Jay Santos and Edgar Gares for being my lifetime best friends no matter what, thanks to my kumpaires, OB, Slow, Uly, and kumaires, Che, Meng, Glenna, Dr. Rita, Chai, Irene and Cris, thanks to Green Meadows principal, Mila Songcuan, teacher Aida, and the entire Green Meadows family, thanks to CNMI Girls Scout, thanks to Kilili and family, Paula Bermudes, Speaker BJ, Floor JP, Reps. Roman, Vice Larry, Leepan and Vicky, Ralph, Ivan, Edmund, LJ, Tina, Richard, Sheila, Sens. Paul and JQ, thanks to Jessica, Doris, Joanne, Terry, Sarges Dennis and Pete, thanks to Nola Hix, Danny Q and Bobby and the NMI Dems, thanks to Clyde, Mark Rabauliman, David Atalig, thanks toTriple J Motors, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Guam, thanks to Discover, Joeten-Kiyu Library, CCC, IPI’s Tao Xing, thanks to my sports friends, Amigos Golf, SGA, MGA, Filtaga, RGA and CWGA, thanks to PSS Commissioner Alfred Ada, BOE chair, Janice and PSS family, CEC, DPW’s Building Safety, thanks to Kindel, Whats App, Netflix, TownNews BloxCMS, Sundance Garden, New Top laundromat, Hyatt Hotel’s Claudine, Kensington, PIC’s Chef William and Manager Gloria, Ate Vivian, Lyceum of the Philippines, Quirino High School, Quirino Elementary School, Miracle Live Christian Center, Pastor Manny, thanks to the people of Saipan, and most of all thank you Lord.”
2) Noemi Borromeo is “thankful and grateful for so many things: My friends around the globe, too many to mention; my brother & my sisters scattered in different parts of the Philippines — thank God they’re all spared from the recent typhoons. My Lovey, and my talented, responsible and sweet children Nathan & Jemimah, My Niedo Cell group, for the love, support and kindness. I am glad we were able to celebrate our birthdays. My Saipan Community church family, Saipan Community school & Ms. Amanda Dunn. Thank you Marianas Variety management, my co-workers, special mention: Sallee and the production team. my editor Zaldy Dandan, my bosses: Ms. Laila; Sir Lawrence, Amier, Salam, Ms. Farah, Ms. Suaad, Ms. Jenni. MV advertisers; Saipan Ice & Water Company, Lollipops, Carmen Safeway Enterprises, Inc., J’s Restaurant & Blossoms, Ms. Carlyn Hofschneider, Odein Apartment, Aqua Resort, CUC, Saipan Southern High, Atty. Samuel I. Mok, Ms. Kimberly Sosa. The many privileges and favors of living in this beautiful island — my home for 27 years. Si Yu’us Ma’ase. And mostly, God, because without Him, I would have nothing else to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving to all!”
3) Thank you Uly!
4) Thank you Mar-Vic for inventing this list in 1995. Hello Joe and kids!
5) Thank you kumaire Virgie Avendaño-Woodruff and kids!
6) Maya & Bruce, Mailman & Kara, LLC staff
7) Brenda & Fred
8) John and Gloria Sablan
9) JG Sablan Ice & Water
10) Dental Care
11) Mount Carmel School
12) Galvin, Velma and their children
13) Matthew Deleon Guerrero and family
14) Kevin Bautista & family
15) Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and family
16) Congressman Kilili and family
17) Ed Propst, Daisy Propst and family
18) Angel Demapan and family
19) Rep. Tina Sablan and family
20) Brad Ruszala and family
21) Our deeply departed Bruce Bateman and family
22) Courtney’s Plaza, Torres Refrigeration, Dante & Josie
23) Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and family
24) Steve Nutting & family
25) Kimberlyn King-Hinds & family
26) Robert T. Torres Law Office
27) Gold’s Gym
28) Rep. Edmund Villagomez and family
29) Rep. Ivan Blanco and family
30) Ivan & Juanita Propst
31) Don Farrell and family
32) Rita and Frank Sablan
33) Sonnie Sablan and Inas’ Kitchen
34) Jeff Schorr and family
35) Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang ang staff
36) Noriyasu Hiroguchi and family
37) Ray Agulto and family
38) Judge Ken Govendo and family
39) Judge Joseph N. Camacho and family
40) Michael Ernest and family
41) Mark Twain who once said, “Too much of anything is bad, but too much good whiskey is barely enough.”
42) Justice Perry Inos’s dissenting opinion in the certified question petition submitted by the governor and the BOE
43) Charles P. Reyes Jr., Esq.
44) Daisy, George and Jordan
45) Pete & Glenna Reyes
46) Bobby and Karen Myers and their kids
47) Diego and Vicky Benavente
48) Arin Greenwood
49) Jeff Turbitt and family
50) Angelo and Edz
51) John H. and Lynn T.
52) Cinta M. Kaipat
53) The Teno family
54) Lang Tenorio and family
55) Beret Strong, John Tweedy and their kids
56) Nick Pichay
57) Gloria Hunter, Donna Cruz and their families
58) Robert Hunter and family
59) Jim and Grace Belyea
60) Glenn Cruz and family; RIP my friend
61) Other old friends and comrades-in-arms: Raffy A., Ferdie, Rick, Jojo, Rene, Fil Olimpo, Flor Pamintuan, Rhony Laigo, Dong Camacho, Eileen Oreiro, Chau Nguyen, Chris Nelson, Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Glenn Wakai
62) Lee and Vicky D.L.G. and their children
63) Vir, Alice and Josh
64) Kindle
65) Roy Reyes and family
66) Pale Ike Ayuyu
67) Roger and Jigz Barber’s Shop
68) Caravan Restaurant
69) Pareng Makoy, Jess G. & family, Sally, Osang, Lisa Cruz & family, Tekya, Talits, Loids, Ariel & Khalil, Vino & family, Ka Ed, Tere & family, Jonathan Logtu, Jon Perez, Arsen & family, Mama Gaya, sister Noemi, Lala and her baby and hubby, Niño and family, George & family, Janet & daughter, Nadine E. and family, Jaki F. and family, Arnold, Choobs, Junhan, Bryan, Lyn, Sophia, K-Andrea, James Sablan, Isaac, Rick & family, Jerome, Moneth, Chummie, Alexie Z., Jacq, Aggie and hubby, Jude and Bob S., Joy, Ella, Paul, Bhadjoe, KC & Dheng, Patz and Emz
70) Dr. Ed Tudor
71) Bestseller bookstores on Guam and Saipan
72) Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and staff
73) CUC, CHCC, DPS, DFEMS, PSS, NMC
75) USA! USA! USA!
76) The people and government of the CNMI
77) IT&E and Docomo Pacific
78) The Guam Daily Post
79) zd says thank you Abed, Paz, Laila, Lawrence, Banny, Amier, Farah, Suaad and Salam
80) And thank you, too, to the hardworking people of MV’s editorial, art, administration, sales, production, accounting and circulation departments
81) Covid-19 vaccine and the frontline personnel!
82) K-Andrea Evarose S. Limol is grateful for her faith; her Sharry, Suda, and Limol families; her friends, most notably the folks from Life in the Son Christian Fellowship, as well as other local media partners; and her coworkers at Marianas Variety, most notably the editorial team members who work so diligently day in and day out to serve the people of the Marianas. She would also like to thank the Office of the Governor, the CNMI Legislature, the Emergency Management Office, the Office of the Mayor of Rota, the Office of the Mayor of Saipan, the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguigan, the Commonwealth Election Commission, the Municipal Council, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality, the Micronesian Islands Nature Alliance, the Commonwealth Development Authority, the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, the Northern Marianas Humanities Council, the JROTC and military recruitment center, and all private partners for their cooperation and due diligence. Lastly, she would like to thank the local community for serving as reminders of why she continues to do what she does.
83) Zoe, Miguel, Chéché & Bob the cat
84) Lori Lyn says thank you to the frontline health workers!
85) MV readers, contributors, advertisers
86) And you of course
