Fitial was among the local celebrities who participated in the “Reading with the Stars” program of Oleai Elementary School.
He talked to the second grade class of Arlene Cholymay about his work and responsibilities as governor.
“My work is to provide services to the people,” he told the students.
During his 30-minute meeting with the students, Fitial focused on the importance of the law.
“You are required to go to school because that’s the law. If you are not going to school then your parent violates the law. Do you want to see your parent go to jail,” he asked the students.
The governor, he added, is authorized by law to hire teachers, to provide classrooms and school materials.
“But if there’s no law I can’t do anything,” he said.
Fitial, in an interview, said he recalled that when he was still in elementary school, a Spanish nun who was reading a story to their class told them that they would be future leaders and one of them would become a governor.
Dandan Elementary School principal Jonas Barcinas, one of the guest readers, said the program’s goal is “to inspire them to continue the habit of reading and inspire them to love reading.”
Miss Marianas Universe 2009 Sorene A. Maratita said she always feels good when meeting with students and informing them about the importance of reading books.
Jasylene Parico, one of the Reading with the Stars coordinators, said they wanted “to bring in outstanding community members to our school to read to our students and to encourage them to read to learn and for their personal enjoyment.”
There were 30 “stars” who showed up.
“The guests read to the class and some even did an activity or a presentation,” Parico said.
The other guests were Rose Castro, Dino Taitano, Senate President Pete P. Reyes, Bob Coldeen, Rep. Ray Tebuteb, Keiko Yamagata, Joylene Limes, Kodep Ogumoro-Uludong, Kelvin Fitial, Charles Aiken, Gabriel White, Steve Smith, Kaye Christian, Tom Thornburg, Greg Borja, David Maratita, Jessica Taylor, Lydia Maniacop, Christine Masga, Charlotte Camacho, John Hosono, Rowena Flores, Marline Anson, Romy de Jesus, Glenn Muna, Jesusa Palacios and Norine Villagomez.
