By Bryan Manabat
bryan@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
SAIPAN Community School eighth graders witnessed the meaning of U.S. citizenship Monday as they attended a naturalization ceremony at the District Court for the NMI.
Accompanied by Principal Amanda Dunn and teacher Jackie VanDam, the students observed 28 individuals take the oath of allegiance as part of their U.S. history and civics lessons. For many, it was their first time inside a courtroom and their first exposure to the solemn process of naturalization.
“I feel that I learned a lot today because I realized how hard people strive to be U.S. citizens, and that we shouldn’t take it for granted that we are already born citizens,” said eighth grader Sam Pangelinan. “I feel very honored to be born as a U.S. citizen.”
Classmate Mikaela Tenorio said the ceremony underscored the privilege of being American. “We have many opportunities in America that people really want to work for,” she said.
For Hiyori Okua, the experience was eye-opening. “This was my first time seeing this in court, and I realized the importance of being an American and of naturalization for others,” she said.
Daniel Kang described the ceremony as “cool,” noting how people from different places became Americans. “I got to meet new people, and they get to become Americans,” he said.
Alex Diaz reflected on the determination of those who seek citizenship. “It takes a lot of passion and drive to want to become a U.S. citizen,” he said. “A lot of people leave their countries to become citizens, and that means a lot.”
The ceremony, presided over by Chief Judge Ramona V. Manglona, was part of a special court session where new citizens were encouraged to register to vote and serve on juries.
For the SCS students, the event offered a living lesson in civic responsibility and the value of citizenship — one they said they will carry with them beyond the classroom.
Bryan Manabat was a liberal arts student of Northern Marianas College where he also studied criminal justice. He is the recipient of the NMI Humanities Award as an Outstanding Teacher (Non-Classroom) in 2013, and has worked for the CNMI Motheread/Fatheread Literacy Program as lead facilitator.
