The Filipino Catholic tradition of Simbang Gabi or Dawn masses in the CNMI serves parishioners by the nine (9) days novena as preparatory to the birthday of the Savior, fellowship by serving breakfast, sharing gifts or assistance to the cathedrals necessity.
Recently, the group extended assistance to the Philippines through President Arroyo’s school project by building two (2) classrooms under the term on depressed area with the concept of building in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
The group had accomplished Labnig, Albay for Luzon. Borongan Samar for Visayas and now 2008 in Misamis Oriental for Mindanao.
It was a joint effort of the nine coordinators and their respective sponsors or committees that have made it possible to serve as its best.
To all Simbang Gabi sponsors, this is to request your reconfirmation of sponsorship with your respective coordinators. For further information, here are the listings of names and contact nos. of each nine (9) days novena coordinators:
• Dec. 16 – Philippine Consulate General & United Filipino Organizations, c/o. Ms. Flor Miranda – 287-2803 or 233-8880
• Dec. 17 – Mr. Danny Domingo – 288-1657 or 237-8042
• Dec. 18 – Mr. & Mrs. Rommel & Raquel – 234-3369 or Mostales – 234-7937
• Dec. 19 – Mr. & Mrs. Vir /Alice Abueme – 322-3366 or 322-3746 or 287-8188 or 233-8188
• Dec. 20 – Mr. & Mrs. Eddie/Helen Caranzo – 234-8476 or 287-8476
• Dec. 21 – Mr. & Mrs. Romy & Celia Pagapular – 234-8569, c/o Charlene Pagapular – 789-1834
• Dec. 22 – Mr. & Mrs. Rosel/Linda Torres – 234-7732, Mr. & Mrs. Lito/Malou Mendoza – 234-6735
• Dec. 23 – Mrs. Luz D. Loste & Family – 483-5686, Mr. Eric Dulfo – 234-2776
• Dec. 24 – Ms. Nenette Delos Santos – 235-3949 or 235-5009; Bro. Rene Atienza – 285-5008; Sis. Lulu Caringal – 234-1851
For those of you who wish to share and would like to be one of the sponsors for any of the given simbang gabi sponsorship dates written above, please call directly any of the coordinators listed above.
Marianas High School schedule
• Dec. 17 – 2nd quarter midprogress report day, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m., parents/guardians pick up reports from homeroom teachers (students will be released at 1 p.m.)
• Dec. 24 – Jan. 2 – No classes (Christmas break)
For questions and concerns contact 237-3206.
Bangladesh Cultural Group celebrates victory day
BANGLADESH Cultural Group will celebrate its 37 victory day, today at Garapan Central Park at 6 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Rakibul said there will be a cultural shows, which includes Bangladesh history and dinner.
Everyone is invited.
UMDA/UCLA Anderson School partnership to focus on unlimited H-1 Visa workers in Saipan
(UMDA) – The United Micronesia Development Association, Inc. is working with the UCLA Anderson School of Management to develop a new economic engine for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (“CNMI”) driven by the unlimited H-1 Visa status of the island. The new initiative will be focused on creating a Technology Center on Saipan that would ultimately bring mainland-based technology companies, and H-1 Visa workers from throughout Asia, to the island.
UMDA CEO and President Russ Snow said, “The purpose of this program is to explore potential avenues to stimulate the CNMI economy by creating more revenues, jobs and opportunities in the Commonwealth”.
A team of five students of the UCLA Anderson School of Management who visited the Commonwealth last month completed its initial report in early November and presented their findings to CNMI Governor Benigno Filial. UMDA has agreed to provide the land for the Technology Center and to help recruit a major technology company from the U.S. mainland, to become a partner of the new center and establish operations on the island.
Part of the project also involves securing tax benefits from the CNMI government for investments in the Technology Center and extending the time period for no limitations on H-1 visa status on Saipan. “It’s our goal to make Saipan an attractive option for technology companies looking to establish operations in the Asia Pacific region,” stated Governor Filial.
According to Snow, “Local business leaders and the business management team from UCLA Anderson are very excited about the prospect of introducing the CNMI as a safe and secure location for technology companies. Saipan is unique – the island offers great living conditions, low tax rates, and access to an additional H-1 Visa-trained workforce within a U.S. Protectorate, which is on the doorstep of Asia. We’re hoping that these benefits will attract a major technology company partner and we plan to unveil final plans for development of the Technology Center in mid-2009.”
There are major benefits for a mainland company that establishes an operational presence on Saipan. Saipan will have no limitation on the access to a pool of technically qualified H-1 visa workers from nearby Japan, Korea, India and other Asian countries because Saipan does not fall within the H-1 Visa cap, which controls the mainland U.S. employment regulations. In addition, Saipan is a U.S. Protectorate and products developed here are protected by the U.S. Copyright laws and the U.S. Judicial System. For Saipan the creation of the Technology Center would offer new opportunities to the local work force and be the first step in the establishment of a knowledge-based economy in the region.
The U.S. Congress passed legislation earlier this year that exempts the CNMI and Guam from immigration law caps on temporary workers through at least 2014. The immediate purpose of this legislation was to ensure that the Department of Defense would be able to find up to 20,000 workers estimated to be required for the planned military buildup in neighboring Guam. But the legislation also opens the door for U.S. technology companies to establish an operational presence in the CNMI, which offers safe, desirable and affordable living conditions to workers (including a federal tax rate that is 50% of the rate assessed in the States) and ready access for employers to an H-1 Visa work force.
