Commonwealth Anthem

This is my good friend Gus Kaipat singing the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Anthem. The words were written a few years back, the music is from a classic German song. The song is usually sung in two languages, Chamorro and Carolinian. It takes Gus all of four minutes to sing the song. I think it should stay the way it is.

Saipan Waterspout Photos

Marianas High School teacher Bryan Jones emailed around some photos of this week's waterspout, which many mistakenly thought was a tornado.  According to Mr. Jones the photos are taken at 3-minute intervals.  The photos are taken from Navy Hill.

 

 

Fri., 7/13--Day 1: Painting of Marianas High School Classrooms

Thanks to all who volunteered to help paint 15 classrooms at Marianas High School. The painting project began on Wednesday, July 11, but we began a two-day painting project on Friday, the 13th. The Office of Cinta Kaipat and Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) donated paint brushes. Other Beautify CNMI coalition partners who provided the manpower included Gus Kaipat and the Kaipat Family Volunteers, and Team Chura Talo. Others who were there also included Beth Nepaial and Sam, who were joined by Patty Mendoza and other young volunteers. The MHS Class of '83 also painted two classrooms on this day. Thanks also to PTI for providing the paint rollers and pans and a big thank you goes to First Hawaii Bank for the donation of thousands of dollars to help paint the classrooms and also to purchase brand-new tables and chairs. Today's lunch was donated by Rep. Cinta Kaipat's Family. Special thanks to Chefs Del and Lee Lieto. Thanks, Olomwaay, Si Yu'us Ma'ase, and Salamat Po, Everyone!Rep. Cinta Kaipat huddles with the volunteers. Okay, ready team? Let's Go!

We painted and took out a gazillion staples tacked to the doors.

We moved the desks and chairs to the side so we could paint the ceiling.

Ditto.

We checked our paint supplies.

Ditto.

We prepared our paint.

Swept the walls to prepare them for painting.

And got busy painting...

...and painting...

...and painting...

...and painting...
...and painting! Gasp! It sure was hot in the classrooms and the smell of the paint was overwhelming at times.
But, at the end of Day 1, the mission was accomplished and it was all worth it.

Then it would be these guys and gal's turn to lead the painting party!

Koblerville Youth Center Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony & 1st Family Fun Night

Don't miss the Grand Opening of the Koblerville Youth Center & 1st Family Fun Night!

When? Friday, June 22, 2007

Time? 5 p.m.

Where? Koblerville Substation

EVERYONE IS INVITED!!! Come one and all to this first ever Family Fun Night. This event will be held every Friday. There will be food, entertainment, outreach info, plus you'll be helping fundraise for all the Youth Centers as 10% of gross receipts will be donated to the Youth Centers courtesy of Mr. Jeff Santos. THANK YOU, JEFF!

Thank You, David Hosono, Jr. of Oleai Elementary School

As they say, better late than never!Representative Cinta Kaipat and young environmentalist David Hosono, Jr. at the Flame Tree Arts Festival. David attends Oleai Elementary School, the same school Rep. Kaipat attended in 6th and 7th grade. David was spotted making several trips to the Beautify CNMI! booth to recycle their trash. Way to go, David! Good Job!!!

Latest Lighthouse Cleanup

If you missed the latest lighthouse cleanup, this is what you missed -- the dancing ladies of FMI. On any given cleanup, you can be sure to see these three ladies shake it while they're cleaning. They hear music and off they go. They are what makes volunteering with Beautify CNMI! FUN!

Thank you to ISA-CNMI for leading the cleanup effort. Also present were FMI, Rep. Cinta Kaipat and staff, Beautify CNMI!'s ever-reliable super volunteers Juanita Fajardo, Adam and Zach Sablan, Gus Kaipat and Leilugh Kaipat. Once, again, the crew proved you can make a big difference and have fun, too!

April Garapan Tourist District Clean up

Yet another successful cleanup this past Sunday at Garapan Tourist District. Here are some pictures of how much fun we had especially with the Garapan Elementary Students! Thank you everyone for coming out and supporting Beautify CNMI!

The groups of Beautify CNMI and partners who participated in the Garapan cleanup were: SDA Church, Garapan Elementary School (GES) 3rd, 4th, and 5th Graders led by faculty members Ms. Mary Grace Mendoza, Ms. MA. Snodgrass, Ms. Jonabel Rumley and Mr. Randy Maderal and some parents; Hopwood Jr. High, CNMI Power, Kinpachi Restaurant staff, FMI, Rep. Cinta Kaipat and Staff, Gus Kaipat and Leilugh.

I hope that is everyone. If I have forgotten you let me know =)

Rep. Manny Tenorio & Tenorio Family Adopt Tun Doi Road

Rep. Manny Tenorio, his staff Eddie Tenorio, and other family members adopted Tun Joaquin "Doi" Tenorio Road from the As Lito intersection on down to the Chalan Kanoa entrance. Welcome and Congratulations!Joining this group are Rep. Cinta Kaipat and her staff and Kaipat and Cabrera Families; the ever-reliable and hardworking Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) volunteers, led by Ms. Marites Castillo, their president; Mrs. Bree Reynolds, ace science teacher for Hopwood and NMC; and Steve Hiney of Steve Hiney Consultants and his daughter Katie (who just arrived on island. Thanks for joining us, Katie!). I especially enjoyed meeting BJ Tenorio, a young leader, who was my partner in sweeping up and clearing the gutters. I look forward to seeing this young man on many more Beautify CNMI! activities!

On this cleanup, we managed to bushcut, sweep the gutters, clean out the dirt clogging the drainages, shovel the dirt that had piled up, and picked up trash. Kyle, of Rep. Kaipat's Office, made three trips to the transfer station to unload the pick-up loads of trash.

Thanks to Rep. Tenorio for supplying the snacks and drinks and to Beautify CNMI! for donating the trash bags and gloves (courtesy of donation by MVA!). A great job was done by everyone!

CNMI National Anthem

I attended the memorial service held for the late President Gerald R Ford yesterday afternoon at American Memorial Park. My good friend Gus Kaipat sang the US National Anthem and the CNMI National Anthem at the beginning of the service.

I recorded Gus singing the CNMI Anthem using the video option on my Canon S80. When I got home I downloaded a program that allows you to rip the sound off of video.

The sound is pretty clear. It was very windy, but I kept my hand over the microphone to keep it from howling. The thing that sounds like a dog barking is my Canon S2 snapping pictures while I take the video with the S80. If you listen carefully, you can hear birds in the background singing along with Gus.

I took Gus' singing and played it over some of the pictures that I have taken (and three that Herb Soll took in Pagan) over the last nine months in Saipan (and Tinian). I tried to incorporate elements of our culture, our natural beauty, and life in the CNMI.

This is the first draft. What do you think?

Angelo