My family was indeed over blessed for the CNMI’s allowing me to work and live in Saipan from 1987 to 2000.
Because of my past employers, namely Mr. George & the late Mrs. Margarita Duenas (Navy Hill), and the late Mr. Raymund Manglona & Mrs. Guadalupe Sablan Manglona (San Jose) — my present family’s life in the state of Utah — is way different compared to when my family chose to settle in the Philippines after 13 years working in Saipan. I owe them a lifetime of gratitude.
I remembered writing sometimes in 1994 or 1995 a letter to the editor of the Marianas Variety News & Views in response to Mr. Charles P. Reyes Jr.’s view on the federalization of CNMI immigration law. My response suggested a commendable mutual cooperation among the local people, the government and the guest workers in securing a sustainable economy, as well as maintaining a stable political affairs with both the U.S. government and the bilateral relationships with all of the host countries of all guest workers on island. However, the CNMI is never at peace with the U.S. Department of the Interior’s findings & recommendations to the U.S. with some relevant limitations. And at present, I can still personally feel the same spirit of arguments and disagreements to any status changes in the guest worker program.
The bottom line is this, whether or not the guest workers’ improved immigration status will be granted, the CNMI business community as well as the domestic needs of several local people for house workers or farmers will continue to need the guest workers program. The locally trained and experienced or qualified indigenous and resident applicants/workers who are supposed to replace most of the guest workers’ positions in the different industries especially on Saipan can definitely be the best candidates to handle CNMI present and future jobs.
However due to the present low hourly wage of $4.55, which is a less sustainable earning in the CNMI, plus the ongoing typical tensions and other association problems existing between the locals and the guest workers in several local establishments wherein Filipinos are the majority — there is and there will be a continuing trend of CNMI people immigrating to either Guam or the U.S. mainland to find a better or different opportunities, these realities — will definitely decrease the CNMI population even for the next 2-3 years. Thus decreasing too the collection of revenues derived from the sales taxes of the different CNMI business establishments dependent mostly to typical CNMI consumers. Remember about less than two weeks ago the government payroll was delayed due to the unavailability of funds until there was a diversion of CDA fundings expeditiously done. Well most likely in less than 2 or 3 years time, the more the CNMI will experience payrolls & other priority spending problems.
Suggestion
If I will be one of the credible advisers of Governor Fitial, I will truly suggest to him to create more and more incentives especially to non-government jobs, so CNMI people will be attracted to stay in the CNMI, rather than moving to the mainland. So both the local people and the guest workers — will enjoy financial freedom. Thereby encouraging and exercising more nationalism and patriotism in the CNMI, instead of never ending blaming among leaders as well as prolonged governance of a less credible leadership style. Who knows because of this possible future bearing in the entire CNMI, our merciful and just divine providence — will shower continuous blessings of economic prosperity and unconditional political stability — all because future greed for power, fame & selfishness will possibly be done away with in the entire CNMI.
Assurance of zero threat to NMI political affairs
I will bet you, if ever Filipino guest workers in the CNMI will become U.S. citizens — they are not a threat at all in CNMI politics. Most Filipinos are patient and peace-loving people, of course with a few exceptions. That is why Filipinos have always wanted to escape from the Philippine partisan political practices which challenged most of them to be low profile in serving their host countries yet with enduring courage, dignity and dedication like in the CNMI, Guam, Micronesia, Hawaii, U.S. mainland just to name a few destinations of Filipino overseas workers. So the bottom line come down to the question of why will even the most intelligent Filipinos will run for public office in the CNMI, whereas they are tired dealings with almost the same political problems back home. That is why they are venturing their lives in the CNMI hoping to be treated even to the least degree of allowance. As long as they can raise up their present families in the CNMI with even minimum expectation just to justify to both the U.S. DOI and the entire CNMI government that they also deserved to be given new immigration status.
On the other hand, interestingly enough, the CNMI government cannot find enough justifications why it is spending too much time getting rid of the guest worker program especially the granting of the long term immigration status of guest workers in general. The CNMI is just wasting unnecessary taxpayer money to pin down even the obvious evidence of the advantages of the past & present availment of the guest worker program, rather than creating more trade skills for the less experienced locals to run the operational needs of the entire CNMI business community, as well as developing more entrepreneurial skills for the business-minded locals.
Thereby creating initial economic stimulants in the entire business community in the long run if local workforce will be 100 percent committed to those programs. As a result, more and more locals will be more motivated to stay in the island. They will even be discouraged to moved to the U.S. mainland for a better paying jobs. Nevertheless it is sad to conclude that the very people who are presently helping beef up the CNMI economy by almost running the entire CNMI business operations of most of the CNMI business establishments — are the same people who are less welcomed to stay in the CNMI due to either fear of disenfranchisement of the CNMI indigenous people or the ever growing competitions between the locals & the guest workers in applying for any CNMI jobs. Isn’t it? As a result future disharmony will always exist in any typical work environment wherein the Filipinos are in majority.
Replacing fear by hope
To be frank and honest to the entire CNMI people, I can conclude that our merciful, just and loving divine providence who equally created all of us here on earth — will surely be totally disappointed to what is now happening in the entire economic, political and moral affairs of the CNMI. Inspiringly enough, I still hope everyday that one day, especially the CNMI government will start to think and count all of the many blessings both being experiencing and expecting as a result of improved treating especially to most of the guest workers regardless of their length of stay in the CNMI. The most important practical wisdom to remember this year — is that CNMI is blessed by its strategic location in the western Pacific region wherein the U.S. Homeland Security has a great interests on both CNMI & U.S. government regional protectionism & international security while engaged in the business of international tourism and mutual defense treaty against any future terrorism.
The challenging issue now in the CNMI — is that the U.S. government is always supportive of its commonwealth status of autonomous governance of its own people. Let us just always acknowledge that the guest worker program is a partnership towards the full maturity of the implementations of all economic programs the indigenous people had long dreamed to enjoy with all the blessing of the existing bilateral relationships of the host countries of its guest workers. After all righteousness in our thoughts and daily dealings with every single person and families in the CNMI will exalt the entire CNMI conditional to mere obedience to both local and federal laws without exceptions, as well as mutual respect and understanding regardless of present and future immigration status. Long live the divine wisdom for all the CNMI leaders for all righteousness sake to prevail with more Godly bearing to each other!
PETE DE LOS SANTOS JR.
St. George, Utah
