Here then is the 16th edition of the Variety’s world-famous annual Thanksgiving list, typed, as usual, not in any particular order, and based on an extensive survey conducted by the editor in the MV newsroom. Read on, pass the finadeni and what do you mean we’re out of Ginebra?!
1) Community organizations and volunteers, Juan Blanco, Angelray T. Guerrero,
2) the Public School System
3) Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, his office and hard-working staff
4) Speaker Lang Tenorio’s comments
5) Amazon.com
6) MV online comments
7) paydays
8) jobs
9) the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and its Friends
10) Jigz Barber Shop and Roger
11) Diet Pepsi, Coke Zero, Western Family’s Diet Cola and 99 Cents Supermarket for selling it
12) Manang Lilly’s siomai, lumpiang shanghai, dinuguan, vegetable lumpia and okoy
13) Sabalu Market
14) H-Mart, Twins Market, LJ Store, Joeten Susupe
15) J’s Restaurant
16) June Padua says, “I am thankful for the gift that God has given me, to have a baby next month. Thank you, to my friends, officemates and especially to Ronnie for always making me happy and secure.”
17) Miguel Dandan
18) Azalea Lanuza says “First of all I would like to thank GOD for all His blessings. I wouldn’t be here if not for Him. Second is my family because when I have a problem they are always at my side to help and support me. Third are tabaching ching and yuri, even if I’m still homesick, these two dogs always make my day happy when I play with them. Fourth are my friends and new friends. Fifth is Facebook because I can’t live on this island without it.”
19) Alexis Asuncion says, “The most important thing that I am thankful for in my life right now is my life itself. I could die any moment, I could die now, tomorrow or I could live longer, and when I do, game’s over. There’s nothing more I can do. But as long as I am here, I am alive, I can be whoever I want to be. I can go anywhere I want to go. I can do all things.”
20) Zyra Marfega wants to thank the following: “Music. It’s one of those things I literally cannot live without. Positivity. Look for the good in everything and you will find it. Family & friends. We have our ups and downs, but they really are my foundation. Without them, life would not be what it is. I’m thankful for the hard times, because they’ve made me stronger and wiser, and for the good times too. I’m thankful for my beloved Maltese dog, Kokey, who is always there to greet me and even hug me when I come through the door. Kokey gives me so much love. I know he won’t be with me forever, but I cherish the time we’ve spent together and the time we still have. There’s nothing like the unconditional love of a dog.”
21) Kassandra Marquez is thankful for a good working environment.
22) Christian Cruz says “I am very thankful for my loving mom, dad, and brother, the food I receive every day, all my belongings, my crazy friends, relatives, my dog that greets me with an annoying bark every morning, my job, the active sports community that brings spice to this island, the internet, the invention of the barbell, and most of all, the chance to improve my life.”
23) Junhan says for “his outstanding achievement, words cannot express my heartfelt gratitude, appreciation and thanks to the ‘people’s champ’ Manny Pacquiao for giving us inspiration.”
24) Arnold says “thanks to the Variety management especially to President Laila Boyer for the all-out support. Thank you for helping me get my own car, getting it fixed, providing me with an SLR camera a laptop and many other blessings. Most importantly, I thank God for His mysterious ways of putting some people out of my sight every day. I also would like to thank Senate Floor Leader Pete Reyes, his wife Glenna, Rota Mayor Melchor Mendiola and NMC-Rota coordinator Alejandro Badilles for my very productive days on Rota. Thanks to you Uly. The best ka!”
25) Raquel says “thank you to my family for the never-ending support — you’re the reason why I’m still hangin’ on, Facebook, editorial dudes with whom I share the deadline rush and freezer-cold temperature of the newsroom everyday — Zaldy, June, Junhan, Andrew, Arnold, KC, Christian, and Waedlynn, Facebook, Jeanette for all the out2eat adventures and misadventures, Facebook again, Chito for going the extra mile with my page designs, Deepthi for the companionship at the office every night, Chris for the midnight chats, Eric for the hash bruises and Miller Lites, Dave S. for all the lessons, all officemates from the up and down staircase, Facebook again!!! for resurrecting long-lost friends, boss Robert for all the memories; Facebook (yet again) for long distance friendships Gwen, Bernard — hello Sudan, Rex, Christine, and Ricardo; Jonathan, for having the patience of the saints in dealing with my idiosyncrasies — hard to find another roommate like you Pre!, my idol for all the impulsive moonlight and jungle escapades, (more!), for the vote of confidence and for bullying me to face anything with an ‘I can do it’ poise, Facebook (again?!) YM, Yahoo Mail, Google, e-Bay, Paypal, Kindle, Hollywood Video and Movie Station, Sabalu and Tuesday markets, Fishing Base, sunsets and a few sunrises, moonlights, ocean breeze, my shutter babies, cable TV and internet, and oh — iConnect despite the increasing number of dead spots…and anything and everything else that helped kept me sane and kicking since Thanksgiving last year.”
26) Gemma Casas says thank you to USCIS, Marianas Variety, Radio Australia, family, friends, colleagues, wires and sources.
27) Andrew wants to “thank you for good health and continued blessings! Andie for making your Dad proud of you, and serving as inspiration. Family, relatives, friends, and enemies for rocking the world! News sources, particularly informants from the government especially those smuggling out documents, and the community for giving us news tips. MV family for spicing up my daily life. Patricia for trusting me to babysit her dogs and cats, and of course, for seeing my family. Cheers, big sister! Eric and Sanjay for the MV Hash Run, and for the many ‘tagays.’ S3H for making half of my brain functioning. Still soaring my sprained ankle! Scooter for being a partner in going around the island. Facebook for letting the whole world know! Local and federal justice/judiciary officials and personnel. Local and federal public safety officials and personnel. Local and federal governments. Good doers and wrong doers who serve as examples of what to learn and not to learn. For policymakers that make the islands’ community, readers here and abroad engaged in animated and free-wheeling discussions. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL!!! Cheers!”
28) hija and Nea
29) Waedynne Maratita says “I am thankful for having so many friends and such a close knit family and I am very grateful for working with really good people and a really great editor! I also thank our readers! I am thankful for Roseline Cepeda for always being there for me as my mother and as ‘Bank-of-Mom’ for not repossessing my car when I couldn’t pay the monthly dues. I love you mom! My grandma Manuela Cepeda, Granda Lucia Blanco Maratita, Grandma Victoria Maratita, my father David R. Maratita Jr., my grandfathers the late Vicente Sablan and the late David Q. Maratita Sr., my companion Jonathan Pangelinan, my cell phone, J’s Restaurant, CREES, DD council, the Board of Education, Facebook for the 500 million people I can be friends with, the Department of Public Works, puppies and Subway.”
30) Brenda & Fred
31) Jeff & Cynthia Turbitt
32) Jane Mack
33) Joe Race
34) Bruce & Maya
35) Ed and Daisy Propst
36) Ivan & Juanita Propst
37) The Propst Party Pit rocks!
38) Tina Sablan & Glen Hunter
39) Beret Strong & John Tweedy
40) Cinta M. Kaipat
41) Greg Cruz, Taotao Tano, Rabby Syed and Ron Hodges
42) The Cranky Club: Angelo Villagomez, Brad Ruszala, Mike Ernest, Brad Derksen, Bruce Bateman
43) Galvin, Velma & Zhen
44) Bobby Myers and family
45) Gold’s Gym, its management, staff and patrons
46) Jim & Grace Belyea
47) zd says thank you to the Variety’s visionary management and hard-working staff on Saipan, Guam and Palau
48) Mar-Vic & Jason Palmertree
49) Jacq & Joy Trinidad Hernandez
50) Aggie and Stefan Sebastian
51) Jude and Bob Schwalbach
52) Alexi “Tamudra” Zotomayor and Fepot Dadacay
53) KZMI, KWAW, KPXP, KRSI
54) Robert T. Torres, Esq.
55) Rep. Stanley T. Torres
56) DPS Commissioner Sandy Tudela
57) Friends of the Arts
58) zd wants to thank the gang: Uly, Joy, Jacq, Ella, Paul, James Kamote, Badjhoe, Dheng, Kaysie, “Father,” Fe, Tom, Patz, Emz, Joan, Dia, Patricia, Eric G., Arnold, Andrew, Gukdako, Bino, Jonathan Logtu, Rick & Baby, Rocelyn, Timbo, Sheryl & Cris, Janet and sister Noemi
59) Wayne and Boni Pangelinan
60) David Cohen
61) Jeff Schorr
62) Whispering Palms School’s Tom Weindl, teachers, parents and students
63) American Dental Services
64) zd’s new apartment and neighbors
65) Ronnie McGyver
66) Nick Pichay
67) Neil Garcia
68) Ophelia A. Dimalanta
69) Danton Remoto
70) Jessica Zafra
71) The fictions of Wilfredo Nolledo
72) Arin Greenwood and her recently published novel!
73) zd says thank you to pareng Makoy, Sally, Loids, Ariel, Khalil, Chito, Dia, June, Cindy, Talits, Ka Ed, Betong, Chris San G., Deepthi & Tekya
74) NMI Humanities Council
75) Kevin’s Video, Movie Station Video, Hollywood Video
76) Wallace Theatres for sticking around
77) Floyd and the band
78) the rosary
79) Christianity and the Roman Catholic Church
80) chess
81) Pacman & Galaga
82) red wine and Emperador
83) scotch and bourbon
84) the CNMI’s public servants
85) Viralicci, Aliviera and Flame Tree Terrace
86) Miguel’s grandparents
87) Levi’s
88) Nike
89) KSPN 2
90) Thelonious Monk
91) Melody Gardot
92) Blackberry
93) Aircards
94) Henry James’ “The Wings of the Dove”
95) Charles P. Reyes Jr.
96) Perry & Teresa Tenorio
97) Judge Ken Govendo
98) Steve and Virgie Woodruff
99) Steve Nutting, Esq.
100) The Variety’s readers, contributors and advertisers
