(MV) — Best Thanksgiving advice ever:
“At Thanksgiving dinner, if you tell your uncle you like his new mustache make sure you’re not talking to your aunt.”
And so here we are again. The next to the last month of the year which is about to end. We’re no longer that worried about Covid-19, and the long election season is about to be over. 2023 is beginning to look so much better.
But wait. There’s more as the 28th edition of Marianas Variety’s legendary annual Thanksgiving list clearly shows. (As usual, the items are listed in no particular order.)
Gobble ‘til you wobble!
1) Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano says “thanks to the entire Marianas Variety family, Jeanette and Johana, my sons Bullet, Yuri, MJ, John-John and grandson, Remiel, my mom, brother Dong, sisters, Inday, Mayette and Arlynn, Zaldy, Che, Zoe, kumpares and kumares, Discover, Bank of Guam, Sunleader Corp., Franco, Green Meadows School, Madam Mila, friends in politics, Mayor Apatang, Legislature, Jessica Tomokane, Doris Bermudes, NMI Democrats, AD Team, Republicans, and businesses — Joe and Marcia Ayuyu and family, Kinpachi, Misako San and Sonia, Kuya Gary of Sunny Side, Mr. Kim, Elegance, Chowtime, Triple J., Mobil Oil, Twins Market, Rotary Club, Wendell Posadas, M2 Fitness, Mary Grace, NMIFA, Andrew Orsini, Edward Barcinas, Judge Lizama, Kagman Health Center, CHC, Esther Muna, CPA, Kim Hinds, Chris Tenorio, CCC, Ruth Sakisat, Maria B. Salas, San Antonio Church, Father Arman Hagos, Nikon, Star Carwash, Eco Laundry, One Stop Laundry, Joeten, Town House, National Office Supply, I Love Saipan, Bourbon Bar, Yewon Restaurant, Lohas Massage, San Jose Mart.”
2) Bryan Manabat wants to thank “my family, my wife Serrine, children: Ria, Maria, Matt, Brandon, Kezi, Isa, Ale, and my two grands: Amaiya & Jorray. They are my inspiration to work harder, my beacon in challenging times, and my reason to have optimism for the future. Thank you to my parents, Elvira and Mateo, for their untiring guidance about life in general. To my siblings: Glenn, Chris, and Keziah, thank you for always being there for our parents when I can’t be there for them. Thankful to my Marianas Variety family: Amier Younis, for keeping us on our toes; Zaldy Dandan, for the good discussions and conversations on Philippines politics and journalism; Emmanuel ‘Arnold’ Erediano, for healthy debates on CNMI current issues; James Sablan for sports ‘good news’ stories; thanks to the MV Friday Night Gang: Bino, Betong, Julius, Nino for the laughter and fun; also to Mike Temperante and Edmund Robles, my SWAKS (‘Sa Wakas Kalas sa Asawa’) dart prospects.”
3) K-Andrea Limol says, “It would take ages for me to name everything and everyone I am grateful for, so I’ll try to keep this short. Thank you, God, for literally everything. Thank you to my family, for their boundless love and support; Tommy, for keeping me grounded and loving me through every season; my incredibly small circle of close friends, for keeping it real; my bosses, for taking a chance on me; the MV team, for their hard work; my mentors, for investing in my growth; my sources, for putting up with my around-the-clock inquiries; my critics, for reading my work; and my fellow local reporters, for keeping the public informed. Happy Thanksgiving!”
4) Richelle says “thank you to Boss Amier for bringing me back to Marianas Variety, for the whole Marianas Variety team for welcoming me back and most specially to Miss Luisa Cruz for her relentless efforts in all the document processing. Thank you too to Green Meadow Daycare for taking care of Nitchie for the past one month and the Doca family for their love and care to us. Thank you, God, for my life and the strength he gives to me every day. Whoever invented Vit.C with Melatonin, hats off to you, I owe you some nights of sleep and boosted immunity! Thank you, bacon manufacturers, KFC for Crispy Chicken, Winners Laundry Garapan staff for doing my laundry. I’m also grateful to my Marianas Christian Church family.”
5) James Sablan “would like to thank Marianas Variety for a decade of trust in sharing the local sports accomplishments and stories with the community. This goes along with the sports community for allowing me to do so. I would like to thank my girlfriend, Dana Manglona, for always supporting me and my mom and family as well. And lastly, I would like to thank God for always letting me wake up every day and helping me through the toughest of times. Happy Thanksgiving!”
6) The people and the government of the CNMI
7) U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
8) CUC
9) utility vouchers
10) ARPA funds
11) CHCC
12) People who are not into politics. May your tribe increase.
13) Dental Care
14) USCIS Immigration Officer Patricia Phelan
15) Bruce Mailman and Maya Kara, the Mailman & Kara, LLC staff
16) zd says thank you Abed, Paz, Amier, Jenny, Laila, Lawrence, Banny, Farah, Suaad and Salam
17) To the hardworking people of MV’s editorial, art, administration, sales, production, accounting and circulation departments — thank you ever so much.
18) Ulysses Sabuco Torres, MVP
19) Mar-Vic, Joe and the kids
20) Pacific Island Times
21) Virgie Avendaño-Woodruff and her kids
22) Joyce McClure
23) Brenda & Fred
24) John and Gloria Sablan
25) JG Sablan Ice & Water
26) Mount Carmel School
27) Galvin, Velma and their children
28) NMC
29) PSS/BOE
30) PJ O’Rourke’s “Republican Party Reptile”
31) Bob the cat
32) Miguel, Zoe & Chéché
33) Courtney’s Plaza, Torres Refrigeration, Dante & Josie
34) B&R Auto Repair
35) Steve Nutting & family
36) Gold’s Gym
37) Roger and Alma
38) cat food, cat treats, cat litter
39) a free market economy
40) Bernard Mandeville’s “The Fable of the Bees”
41) “Zen Action, Zen Person” by Thomas P. Kasulis
42) “The Gap and the Gain” by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy
43) Mike Ernest & family
44) Shakespeare’s poems and sonnets
45) Nick Pichay
46) Beret Strong, John Tweedy and children
47) Walt FJ Goodridge
48) almond milk
49) Rita and Frank Sablan
50) Sonnie Sablan and Inas’ Kitchen
51) JKPL and its staff
52) Jeff Schorr and family
53) Jeff Turbitt and family
54) Brad Ruszala and family
55) Ivan & Juanita Propst
56) Don Farrell and family
57) Noriyasu Hiroguchi and family
58) Ray Agulto and family
59) Charles P. Reyes Jr., Esq.
60) Judge Ken Govendo and family
61) Judge Joseph N. Camacho and family
62) Daisy, George and Jordan
63) Bobby and Karen Myers and their kids
64) John H. and Lynn T.
65) “Against Leviathan” by Robert Higgs
66) Thomas Sowell’s “A Personal Odyssey”
67) Friedrich Nietzsche
68) chess.com
69) Lord Byron’s Selected Poems
70) The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
71) Holy Rosary
72) National Review
73) The Wall Street Journal
74) Foundation for Economic Education
75) American Institute for Economic Research
76) Spectator USA
77) zd has completed the first draft of his second novel
78) amazon.com
79) kindle
80) Matthew Deleon Guerrero and family
81) internet
82) electricity
83) paved roads
84) IT&E
85) Docomo Pacific
86) smartphones
87) “Four Essays on Liberty” by Isaiah Berlin
88) Jim and Grace Belyea
89) Vaclav Havel’s “Open Letters”
90) Angelo and Edz
91) Cinta M. Kaipat
92) Gloria Hunter and family
93) Donna Cruz and family
94) low fat yogurt
95) oatmeal
96) Kevin Bautista and family
97) Pete P. Reyes and family
98) Diego & Vicky Benavente
99) Arin Greenwood
100) Gov. Ralph DLG Torres and family
101) Congressman Kilili and family
102) Robert Hunter and family
103) Rep. Edwin Propst and family
104) Rep. Tina Sablan and family
105) Lt. Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and family
106) Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and family
107) Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan and family
108) Kimberlyn King-Hinds and family
109) Robert T. Torres and family
110) Pacifica Insurance and Shirley Sablan
111) Joeten stores
112) Triple J Payless SuperFresh & Truckload Store
113) Twins Supermarket
114) LJ’s Store
115) gasoline
116) Mobil and Shell
117) vehicles
118) car dealers
119) mechanics
120) tourism industry
121) Vir, Alice and Josh
122) Lee, Vicky DLG and their children
123) Roy Reyes and family
124) Pale Ike Ayuyu
125) Caravan of Food
126) To old friends and former comrades-in-arms: Raffy A., Ferdie, Rick, Jojo, Gemma, Haidee, Rene, Moneth, Choobs, Alexie Z., Jacq, Aggie, Jude, Junhan, Fil Olimpo, Flor Pamintuan, Rhony Laigo, Dong Camacho, Eileen Oreiro, Chau Nguyen, Chris Nelson, Carlotta Leon Guerrero, Glenn Wakai, Bob Coldeen, Tammy Doty, Sophia Perez
127) Thank you pareng Makoy, Jess G. & family, Sally, Osang, Lisa Cruz & family, Tekya, Prof, Talits, Loids, Ariel & Khalil, Vino & family, Ka Ed, Tere & family, Jonathan Logtu, Jon Perez, Arsen & family, Mama Gaya, sister Noemi, Lala, Jayden, Rey, Niño and family, George & family, Janet & daughter, Arnold, Bryan, Lyn, K-Andrea, James Sablan, Chummie, Virginia Ogerio, Rick & family, Jerome, Bob Schwalbach, Joy, Ella, Paul, Bhadjoe, KC & Dheng, Patz and Emz
128) Bestseller bookstores on Guam and Saipan
129) The Guam Daily Post
130) “The Idea of a Party System” by Richard Hofstadter
131) Humanities Council
132) Salman Rushdie’s “Shame”
133) “Crisis of Revolutionary Leadership: Martial Law and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, 1959-1974” by Joseph Scalice
134) MV readers, contributors, advertisers
135) And you
