Public forum showcases female candidates

TEN of the 27 female candidates in the upcoming general election participated in the third bi-annual “Journey to the Hill” showcase hosted by the Soroptimist International of the Northern Mariana Islands or SINMI on Friday in the American Memorial Park theatre.

The forum is the only one of its kind in the CNMI, focusing solely on female candidates, who make up roughly 27% of the ballot this general election.

Participating in the forum were Democrats Rep. Celina R. Babauta, Rep. Leila F.C. Staffler, Lauren Yvonne S. Pangelinan, and Rep. Denita Yangetmai; Independents Marissa R. Flores and Rep. Corina L. Magofna; Republicans Ana D. Castro, Janet U. Maratita, and Cecilia R. Taitano; and non-partisan candidate Juanita Mendiola.

They were each given five minutes to share their respective journeys as female candidates, placing an emphasis on education, in line with the SINMI mission to empower women through education.

Going in alphabetical order by surname, Rep. Celina Babauta, a Saipan senatorial candidate, was the first to speak.

Drawing inspiration from the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Babauta said she has taken to heart that women belong in all places where decisions are being made.

“We can’t allow men to make decisions for women,” she said, noting the recent Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade.

Regarding her experience as a lawmaker, she said, “I was motivated to seek a higher office…to see meaningful changes in our system of government. We’ve been able to make incremental changes, but that needs to be taken a little bit further. Our work is not done. My work is not done. There is no limit to what you can do as a public servant. It is a battle every day with the men up on the Hill…. These men are just so hard-headed, I’m sorry. They just don’t see it the way women do.”

For her part, acting Saipan Mayor Ana D. Castro, who is seeking one of the six Precinct 3 seats in the House of Representatives, said women are natural born leaders, putting others before themselves, whether it is their children or community members.

“We know what it is like to face the injustices of inequality. We are champions of fairness in all areas of life and government… When women are in government, we will make it through the tough times, no matter what it is,” said Castro, the chair of the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.

Independent Precinct 3 candidate Marissa R. Flores, for her part, shared her experience raising her autistic child at a time when autism was not widely understood by community members.

“I was not going to have the system tell me what was in my daughter’s best interest and that teaching her was limited to only what was known at the time. Anything is possible through effective communication, cooperation, and collaboration,” she said.

She helped bring the Autism Act of the CNMI into fruition, developing a state plan to guide services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Independent Rep. Corina Magofna, another Saipan senatorial candidate, said in her experience, it takes a lot of time to be a lawmaker, mother, wife, and friend.

“The one thing I learned by being a legislator right now is that you have to be able to learn to listen. Wherever you go, people are going to come up to you, talk to you, and share with you whatever they want to share with you,” she said.

Former House Vice Speaker and Saipan senatorial candidate Janet U. Maratita shared her experience as usually the only woman in a room full of male government officials.

“It was a struggle. At the end of the day, our children deserve elected leaders who will make decisions today that ensure a better quality of life and better opportunities for them and the generations that will follow,” she said.

Tinian Municipal Council member Juanita Mendiola, who is seeking re-election, said: “I choose not to bring the municipal council into the political arena and focus on what it was intended for which is to run apolitically. The intention was just to do what I’ve always done, to just do it because things must be done. Don’t ask questions. Don’t rely on others. Just see what needs to be done and do it. And don’t even glorify it. Just do it because it needs to be done. Don’t be afraid to fight. Fight. You’re hated today, but you’ll be loved again tomorrow, and I swear to God, they’re going to be crying over your coffin,” she added, eliciting laughter and applause.

Mendiola said she was raised by parents who focused on equality, regardless of gender.

“You couldn’t really tell who was the leader inside the house, whether it was my mother or my father,” she said with a smile.

Democratic Precinct 3 candidate Lauren Pangelinan said she draws inspiration from her mother, a Chuukese, who taught herself English and placed an emphasis on education when raising her half-Chamorro and half-Chuukese children.

She said she now places the same emphasis when raising her children, including her 14-year-old daughter.

Having traveled the world and witnessing injustices, Pangelinan said she returned home to Saipan and found more female lawmakers in office, and decided to give it a shot.

“Why not give it a try?” she asked rhetorically.

Democratic Rep. Leila Staffler, the running mate of gubernatorial candidate Rep. Tina Sablan, drew from her personal experience as a long-time educator in the CNMI.

A recipient of CNMI scholarship, she said her purpose had always been to return home to the islands and serve.

She attributes her grit to the strong women in her life, especially her mother and grandmother.

“There is a lot of passion that runs through our family, but I wouldn’t say that we’ve always been political. We are more focused on service. Teaching is one of the most important places you can serve because every teacher creates every single career that you can talk about. You will never become a doctor if you didn’t have a teacher that got you on that path,” she said.

Cecilia R. Taitano, the only female candidate in Precinct 4, said her mother, who succumbed to cancer several years ago, is her inspiration.

She said her mother encouraged her to break the glass ceiling, challenging herself at a very young age to explore things that made her very uncomfortable.

“I believe that as an indigenous person, in my heart, in my soul, and in my roots, that it is my responsibility to serve our people. I want to be a part of that positive change in our state of mind for many, many women and generations to come,” she added.

The last to speak was Precinct 3 Rep. Denita Yangetmai who holds a business degree and is seeking re-election.

She focused on her education and learning about the government in her younger years, including campaigning with her father when she was a child.

She said her first term as a lawmaker is about getting her feet wet, but added that there are a lot of people who need help.

“The government is not reaching those people. It is us, the representatives who go out and help them,” she added.