HAPPY Mother’s Day from Marianas Variety!
On May 8, to celebrate mothers and motherhood, the CNMI’s lone newspaper gave out awards for its My Mom’s Story Contest.
CNMI elementary, middle, and high school students were invited to write a creative and interesting essay centered around their mothers. We judged entries based on creativity, originality, emotional impact, clarity, and writing style, among other criteria.
As our judges relayed to us, it was no small task to sift through the 120 entries and select a winner because they were so well written and impactful.
Eleventh grade Mount Carmel student Jessiana Tenorio, and her mother, center.
For 11th grade Mount Carmel student Jessiana Tenorio, who was the first place winner in the High School division, she wanted to join the contest as a way to say thank you to her mom for all that she does.
“I’ve been going through a lot at school and I wanted to show gratitude to her for that,” she said. “I am really proud of myself and especially because I used my mom for the main figure in my story. I just talked about all her accomplishments and how that inspires me to achieve more. I’m proud of my mom for everything that she does in her work and especially her personal life for me.”
Chelsy Reyes, right, and her mother, center.
Fellow MCS student, senior Chelsy Reyes, wrote about her grandmother and dedicated her second-place win to all mother figures in her life.
“I wanted to join the My Mom’s Story contest just to show love to all the mom figures in my life who have really taught me valuable lessons growing up and shaped me into the person I am today,” she said.
She hopes her family can have a barbecue or go to Sushi Spot this Mother’s Day.
Seventh grader Nicole Tangonan, second from right, and her mother, far right.
In the Middle School division, the top essayist, 7th grader Nicole Tangonan, kept her entry a surprise from her mother and was happy that the win is something that resulted in a special honor for the woman who raised her.
“My mom has been struggling a little bit lately. She and I have been arguing a bit so I wanted to make her a little happier, so I decided to join a contest and win something for her,” Tangonan said.
The second place essayist for the Middle School division is Kate Manglona, an 8th grader at Saipan International School who wrote about her mother, attorney Janet King, whom she calls her “inspiration.”
In her essay Manglona describes the lengths her mom goes through to ensure that she and her brother have fulfilling lives.
Jhayrolin Cruz, center.
Jhayrolin Cruz, a Hopwood Middle School 7th grader, was an honoree in the Middle School division. He penned a story about how he and his mom built their relationship after she came back home from the Philippines following an extended medical treatment.
“I feel happy that I was able to be here,” Cruz said, adding that it’s an honor to be in the newspaper.
Ai Nonogaki, right, and her mother, center.
Ai Nonogaki, 4th grader at William S. Reyes Elementary, wanted to surprise her mother with a victory in the contest. Her mother affirmed she was surprised.
Nonogaki wrote about her mom’s “magical” cooking.
Serenity Babauta from Oleai Elementary School.
As for 4th grader Serenity Babauta from Oleai Elementary School, she entered “cuz my mom said she wanted a gift.”
Her essay revolves around a time her mother relayed a story about how her brother, Tasi, got his name.
