THE Northern Marianas Humanities Council celebrated its 30th anniversary on Friday evening at Saipan World Resort, and honored these five individuals for their outstanding contributions to the humanities:
• Antonio “Tony” Urmeyang Piailug for Preservation of Traditional Cultural Practices
• Denton-Joe O. Pangelinan for Preservation of CNMI History
• Catherine R. Perry for Preservation of CNMI History
• Dr. Sylvia C. Frain for Research and Publication in the Humanities
• Walt F.J. Goodridge for Research and Publications in the Humanities, Preservation of CNMI History, and Outstanding Humanities Teacher
The event kicked off with an opening “kulu,” or blowing of the conch shell led by the council’s development committee chair Lee Tenorio. This was followed by the posting of colors by the Saipan Southern High School JROTC Color Guard and the singing of the national and CNMI anthems by “Da Kine.”
Bishop Ryan P. Jimenez of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa made a benediction of blessings prior to the welcoming remarks of council board chair Tracy Guerrero and vice chair Lawrence Camacho.
Master navigators Antonio Piailug, Cecilio Raiukiulipy, and Mario Benito then led a traditional Refaluwasch chant that was followed by Carmen Taimanao and Manny Borja serenading the audience with “Kantan Chamorrita.”
After Bishop Jimenez gave his keynote address Gov. Ralph DLG Torres talked about the importance of the humanities: arts, culture, history, music, language, traditions and stories.
Guests were also treated to a poetry recital by this year’s Sengebau Poetry Competition winner, Jill Anne Mallari of Mount Carmel School.
Live music was performed by the 2021 Summer Jam Battle of the Bands winner, Sugar King Band.
Awardees
Tony Piailug is a Carolinian master canoe builder and master navigator of the Weriyeng school of navigation.
He began his training as a young boy on Satawal, an island in the Western Pacific located 500 miles south of Guam, and has been building canoes and sailing for over four decades.
He now resides on Saipan where he is part of the Canoe Federation and co-manages the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs seafaring traditions, a program that built Guma Hegai in Susupe, where he leads the carving of traditional canoes.
His work is focused on teaching canoe building and wayfinding at the Piailug Seafaring Academy on Guam.
Denton-Joe O. Pangelinan is a Chamorro and Palauan professional photographer and videographer who has played an integral role in humanities through two of his major projects.
He directed “Our Culture Will Heal Us,” a film that documents oral accounts of CNMI residents in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yutu.
He is also currently in post-production of the film, “Resilience and Reverence: Wartime and Women of the NMI,” a documentary that collects oral accounts of CNMI women who experienced World War II.
Catherine R. Perry said her interest in the humanities began when she developed a love for reading as a child.
Perry is a Marianas High School alumna. She has a bachelor of science degree in broadcasting with concentration in multi-cultural studies from Evangel University in Missouri where she graduated summa cum laude.
A former KMCV-7 reporter and deputy press secretary of the governor’s office, she is the current host of Your Humanities Half-Hour, a weekly radio program. She has interviewed hundreds of people, seeing the program as an opportunity to build understanding and synergy in the community.
She also hosts a Facebook live podcast, “Marianas Stories.”
Dr. Sylvia C. Frain has been living, studying, and working in Oceania for over two decades.
She has nurtured deep, long-term relationships with elders, educators, and researchers in Micronesia and beyond.
Since 2013, she has been living in New Zealand where she is dedicated to regional interconnections and international efforts of decolonization and demilitarization. Among the major contributions she has made to humanities research in the region is co-publishing over 10 peer-reviewed academic articles, book chapters, and online blogs.
Through the support of the Humanities Council, Dr. Frain published her thesis, “Fanoghe Famalåo’an & Fan’tachu Fama’lauan: Women Rising! Indigenous Resistance to Militarization in the Marianas Archipelago.
Walt F.J. Goodridge hails from Jamaica and has lived on Saipan since 2006.
He has a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Columbia University, but Goodridge is better known for writing business and inspirational columns titled “The Saipantrepreneur Project.” The commentary encourages readers to use their talents and cultural worldviews as the basis for a means of economic survival.
He has authored seven books about Saipan history and culture, including “There’s Something About Saipan,” and conducted workshops that have helped CNMI authors publish their books.
The Northern Marianas Humanities Council and Gov. Ralph DLG Torres pose for a photo with the 2021 Governor’s Humanities awardees Antonio U. Piailug, Denton-Joe O. Pangelinan, Catherine R. Perry, Dr. Sylvia C. Frain, and Walt F.J. Goodridge.
