M2 Fitness President Mary Grace Bautista, center, poses for a photo with her M2 family after a sendoff session at the M2 Fitness Studio on Middle Road, Gualo Rai on Saturday.
M2 Fitness President Mary Grace Bautista performs a Zumba move during a sendoff session.
Mary Grace Bautista, left, Julie Harrison, right, and Dez Calayo, back to the camera, perform Zumba moves during a sendoff session.
M2 Fitness President Mary Grace Bautista’s Zumba group held a sendoff session for her at M2 Fitness Studio on Middle Road Saturday. They gathered not to say goodbye to Bautista, who is relocating to Guam, but to say “see you later,” group member Dez Calayo said.
Bautista is passing on the torch to her associates, Mita Pelicano and Julie Harrison.
Calayo said Bautista is the heart and soul of M2 Fitness. She said Bautista founded the group three years ago to help members improve their health.
Describing Bautista as the “moving force of the group,” Calayo said she feels a bit sad that the M2 Fitness founder is leaving, but then again, Guam is not that far, she added.
Harrison said Bautista “is probably one of the most inspiring and dedicated people I’ve ever met in my entire life.” She put her heart and soul into M2 Fitness, Harrison added.
She said Bautista doesn’t get anything in return except a workout and sweat, but she made a commitment to help people become the best they can.
Now that Bautista is moving on, Harrison said, “we are excited for her future.”
“We are going to miss her a lot, but we are happy for her,” she added.
Unwavering support
A teary-eyed Bautista thanked her Zumba family. In her message to the group, she said:
“While I embark on a new chapter with a relocation, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support. Our journey doesn’t end here — we’re expanding nonprofit M2 Fitness to the new location. You’ve been the heartbeat of our community, and together, we’ll continue promoting health and well-being, albeit in different geographical spaces. Stay connected, stay committed, and let’s carry our shared mission forward. Shape it up! Get fit! Don’t quit. Stay strong!”
Bautista said she’s leaving Saipan because she was offered a great job opportunity that not only aligns with her career goals but will also provide a better future for her family.
“It’s a positive step for both my professional and personal life,” she said, adding that she is also excited about the future of M2 Fitness. She said her plans involve expanding M2 Fitness to Guam.
She said she will continue to serve as president of M2 Fitness while Pelicano and Harrison take an active role in keeping M2 Fitness together on Saipan.
Three years ago, Bautista said she and Pelicano started the Zumba group as a non-profit organization that wanted to make a meaningful impact on the community’s well-being.
“We’re dedicated to promoting health and fitness education, especially among underserved populations,” she said. “Through collaborative initiatives, we aim to empower individuals with the tools to lead healthier lives, fostering a positive ripple effect on the community as a whole.”
The last three years has been “a rewarding journey. Witnessing the positive impact on the community’s well-being has been inspiring. We’ve achieved milestones in health education, outreach, and fostering a sense of community. Reflecting on our progress fuels my commitment to continuing our mission and making even greater strides in the years ahead,” Babauta said.
Looking back, “I feel a profound sense of pride and gratitude. The journey has been transformative [as I] witness … the organization grow, positively impacting lives, and becoming an integral part of the community. It fuels my passion to continue making a meaningful difference in the years to come.”
