The cloudy skies above Tinian set a somber mood to the sounding of the sirens ceremony which took place at 9 am.
Sixty or so community members attended the morning ceremony with most of the audience comprised of students from Tinian High School and Koryo High School, Tinian High School’s sister-school from Hiroshima.
Erica Evangelista served as the master of ceremony for both the morning ceremony and the evening vigil, and conducted the ceremony in both English and Japanese for the benefit of the visiting high school students and teachers from Hiroshima.
At 9:15 a.m., a one-minute moment of silence was observed while sirens sounded from emergency vehicles from Tinian’s Department of Public Safety.
A sudden downpour of rain as the sirens went off made for a poignant moment during the ceremony underscoring the somber feeling of the occasion.
Immediately following the sounding of the sirens and moment of silence was a multi-faith prayer for peace led by Sister Luz from the Catholic Church, Vili A. Villan of the Seven Day Adventist Church, and Pastor Buddy Cunanan of Jesus is Lord.
The evening candlelight peace vigil was a less formal affair that started at 7:10 p.m. at the same Kammer beach pavilion as the morning ceremony.
The vigil began with participants helping to light the nearly 300 candles that decorated the main pavilion.
Conducted entirely by candlelight the vigil was intimate and filled with a warm atmosphere that perfectly matched the music and poetry performances by the youthful members of the Tinian community.
The evening’s presentations began with a beautiful rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” by the Tinian Children’s Choir followed by a display of peace cranes by representatives of Hiroshima Koryo High School and Tinian Junior Senior High School.
The 13 students from Hiroshima Koryo High School also performed a song Japanese song called “Peace Loving People.”
The evening also featured poetry reading by Tinian High School student Alisha Shrestha who recited an original poem written for the ceremony entitled “Peace.”
The final performance of the evening came from local Tinian recording artists Anthony Aguon and Nikita Mendiola.
The duo wowed the vigil audience by performing a medley of U2’s “One” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On?”
Vigil participants lingered after the event to take in refreshments provided by community volunteers and to enjoy the candles still lit around the pavilion.
“I think it was a nice ceremony this year. Although it was small, I think the candles and music was something special, and I hope our guests from Hiroshima enjoyed the event,” said Ann Marie Hocog, one of the organizers. “And we would especially like to thank the many people and businesses that had donated so much to this year’s events, without their help none of this would have been possible.”
NMC group formed to maximize benefits of student information softwar
e
(NMC) — To enhance the services provided to Northern Marianas College students, NMC President Carmen Fernandez recently formed a working group — the Power Users Group — to maximize the benefits that a recently upgraded, comprehensive student information software can provide.
The software, named the PowerCAMPUS Unified Digital Campus program, will streamline the registration process by providing students the ability to register for classes more quickly and easily. The software will also, for example, accelerate the billing portion of registration, the preparation of lengthy financial reports, and the turnaround time for the processing of transcripts.
Equally important, the software will better enable the college to track and report student achievement data which are required for accreditation purposes. Reports that had to be produced manually before now only take the push of a button.
“The Power Users Group is composed of dynamic individuals who are passionate about simplifying tasks that used to be too time consuming and cumbersome,” said Fernandez. “I have no doubt the NMC community will soon realize the practical benefits of their work through shorter registration lines, a more efficient admission process, and a quicker turnaround time on routine requests.”
Fernandez named staff and faculty members to the Power Users Group on Aug. 3.
The Power Users Group consists of key individuals who regularly use the software to tap into the college’s database. Members also went through a two-week training session that was facilitated by the software’s vendor.
Heading the group is Joyce Taro of Academic Programs & Services, and serving as vice chair is Leo Pangelinan from Counseling Programs & Services.
Other members include Rose Cepeda (Admissions), James Santos and Eric Abragan (Information Technology), Solita Barnes (Finance), Janice Tenorio (Student Support Services), Loly Kingzio (Fine Arts Department), Cynthia Deleon Guerrero (School of Education), Colleen Villagomez (Financial Aid), Lisa Hasckaylo (Institutional Effectiveness), Bobbie Hunter (Human Resources), David Apatang (Community Programs & Services), and Wil Maui (Business Department).
NMC hosts free information session
(NMC) — Those interested in furthering their education and advancing their professional careers are encouraged to attend Northern Marianas College’s free information session which will be held on Aug. 13, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Room D-1 on the As Terlaje campus.
Representatives from different degree and certificate programs, as well as counseling, financial aid and admissions staff will be on hand to answer questions.
Current students will also be speaking about their experiences at NMC and will be also be fielding questions.
Individuals who attend this free information session will qualify to have their application fee and their placement test fees waived for the Fall 2008 semester.
NMC offers numerous degree and certificate programs, including a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, associate degrees in business, liberal arts, nursing, natural resource management, criminal justice, hospitality management, and more.
Moreover, it offers many certificate programs in different vocational, academic, and professional areas.
The free information session is open to everyone, including graduating seniors and their parents, government and private sector employees, international students, and members of the general public who are interested in learning more about the programs at NMC.
Native medicine symposium program tomorrow
THE Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch will hold a native medicine symposium tomorrow, Aug. 9, at the Manamko’ Center in Garapan, Saipan, its media release stated.
The symposium will start at 8:30 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Because of road closure, head to Sugar King Road and turn right on Husga Ave. to the Manamko’ Center.
The program is as follows:
• 8:30 a.m. – Singing of U.S. and CNMI National Anthems
• 8:40 a.m. – Brief Remarks:
Isidoro T. Cabrera, president of Inetnon Åmot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial
Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela,
Northern Islands Mayor Valentin Taisakan
Howard Macaranas for Community and Cultural Affairs Secretary Melvin Faisao
Presentation of “fusiños” to the Manamko’ Center
• 9 a.m. – Introduction of healers by Manny F. Borja, ANA grant project director
• 9:10 a.m. – Panel Discussions. Lino M. Olopai, moderator
• 10-10:30 a.m. – Break
• 10:30 a.m. – Continuation of panel discussions to be followed by questions and answers
• 11:30-12:30 p.m. – lunch break
• 12:30 – Presentations/demonstrations by Rota healers
• 1:30 – Presentations by Tinian healers
• 2:00 – Presentations/demonstrations by Saipan healers
• 3 p.m. – PowerPoint presentation on traditional medicine artifacts by Noel B. Quituqua
• 3:15-3:25 p.m. – Short Break
• 3:25-3:50 p.m. – Break up into small working groups
• 3:50-4 p.m. – Report from small working groups
• 4 p.m. – Acknowledgment by Manny F. Borja, ANA grant project director.
The mistress of ceremony is. Anicia Q. Tomokane.
The panelists will include Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, Dr. Daniel C. Lamar, Rafael Rangamar, Lourdes Manglona, Ignacia T. Demapan, Juan Q. Kapileo, and representatives from the Commonwealth Health Center, and the Division of Agriculture.
The break out sessions will visit the issues of 1) How can we have legislation to protect CNMI medicinal plants locally? 2) How can we make traditional medicine practices a part of the CNMI public health system? 3) What are the impacts that developers have on CNMI medicinal plants? 4) The future of the Native Medicine Association.
Attendees will be asked to hand in evaluation forms before they leave.
This symposium is presented by the Offices of the Mayors of Saipan and the Northern Islands, in partnership the Inetnon Amot Natibu/Ammwelil Safeyal Faluwasch.
This symposium is funded, in part, by a grant from the Administration for Native American of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
For more information, call 322-0278, or fax 322-0378. You may also visit http://www.amot-safey.org.
Found dog
(PAWS) — If you lost a gentle brown and dark brown/black dog with longer hair and a full coat, please contact PAWS at 285-PAWS. We have a nice dog that would like to go home to its family.
Children’s fun day
THE first ever Children’s Fun Day will be held this coming Sunday, Aug. 10 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kilili Pavilion in Susupe.
Parents are requested to bring their children so they can enjoy the food and entertainment prepared for them. Admission is free.
The organizers are thankful to the generous donations of PIC Saipan, the Rotary Club of Saipan, Eli Arago, Horizons, Inc., MBI and Philpan.
For more information, text Irene at 285-7717 or e-mail [email protected].
‘Briefing with the Boss’ and ‘Patriot Award’ presentation
(ESGR) — Capt. Josephine Blas, public affairs director for the Guam-CNMI Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee announced that a “Briefing with the Boss” will be conducted in addition to a “DOD Patriot Award” presentation today, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Fiesta Resort & Spa with over 70 public and private employers scheduled to attend.
“This is the right thing to do and the right time to do it,” Blas said. “Many of our employers on Guam and in the CNMI are uncertain and concerned over their responsibilities to their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. This informative briefing will provide employers answers to ensure compliance with the USERRA Law, and suggestions on how best to manage their employees who serve their country in the National Guard and Reserve.”
According to Blas, “Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 600,000 National Guard and Reserve men and women across the United States have left their families and employers to serve on active duty in the Global War on Terrorism. Specifically, more than 2,500 are members of the Guard and Reserve, and of that number, almost 500 are currently deployed from their loved ones and places of business. Many of these deployed Guard and Reserve members serve, work, and live in our community. The outpouring of support from the home front has been overwhelming. None of this could have been possible without the strong backing from employers of the brave men and women who serve this great nation and our islands.”
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972.
The mission of ESGR is to gain and maintain active support from all public and private employers for the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve by recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of the law, and resolving conflicts through informal mediation.
For more information, call Capt. Josephine Blas at 671-735-0456 or 671-483-0324 or Rose Igitol in the local ESGR Guam-CNMI office at 670-288-5426.
FSM holds leadership conference
MORTLOCK ISLANDS, Chuuk (FSM Department of Foreign Affairs) — A delegation from the national government headed by Secretary of Education Casiano Shoniber attended, on behalf of Federated States of Micronesia President Manny Mori, the Third Annual Mortlocks Leadership Conference, which commenced on Moch Island in the Mortlocks, Chuuk on July 28 and concluded on Ettal Island on July 30.
Shoniber also represented Mori at the inaugural ceremony for the leadership of Ettal on July 31.
Due to sudden illness while in Weno, Mori was unable to attend these events.
Representatives of various departments and offices of the national government provided technical support to the Mortlocks Leadership Conference on many of the agenda issues including climate change, HIV/AIDS, biodiversity and marine protected area, food security, sea and air transportation, communication, renewable energy, trade and export, and education.
Taking advantage of the presence of the Mortlocks leadership at the inaugural ceremony on Ettal, the delegation reiterated some issues that are central to Mori’s administration, including the maintenance and promotion of cultural skills given the global crisis relating to the escalating costs of fuel and food, as well as promotion of quality education in the outer islands.
Consistent with Mori’s ongoing initiative to promote consumption of local foods, the delegation also delivered to the Mortlocks many breadfruit seedlings for planting.
On the side, Shoniber took the time to meet with principals of the schools on Moch and Ettal.
On behalf of Mori, Shoniber expressed appreciation to the Mortlocks and Ettal leadership for the invitation to participate at these events
