Tan Holdings and Tan Siu Lin foundation donated 300 drifit t-shirts given as incentive to participants of the 2017 Walk for Health on March 18, 2017.
The event was hosted by Hopwood Middle School, which promotes health and wellness with the simple act of walking.
10th to 12th grade students from Dr. Rita H. Inos Junior and Senior High School joined the job fair conducted by Tan Holdings last Friday March 3. Applications were sent out to Tan Holdings affiliate companies such as Let’s Go Tours, Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Kanoa Resort, Pacific Oriental, Inc., Saipan Tribune, and Century Tours.
The school and the student body expressed appreciation to the effort of the Tan Holdings team, lead by president Jerry Tan, who revealed the objective of this job fair is to help stimulate the island’s economy. Tan Holdings believes that the potential and talent of the people in Rota will be an asset to the Tan Holdings workforce and could greatly contribute to the CNMI economy.
Tan Holdings held the 9th Annual John Pangelinan (JP) Memorial Glow Run joined by 1,104 participants last February 9, 2017. JP Memorial Glow Run is an annual 5-kilometer fundraising run in memory of John Pangelinan, former Tan Holdings executive and publisher of Saipan Tribune. Proceeds went to the Commonwealth Cancer Association’s March Against Cancer.
This year’s run started at the Garapan Fishing Base in Gualo Rai to the 2.5 km turning point at Quartermaster Road and back to the Fishing Base. The runners this year have more than doubled compared to 2016 Glow Run’s 500 attendees, excluding the unregistered runners. Several groups of the community joined this event including soccer clubs, private and public school students.
Twenty-four of team members of CTSI Guam attended the Department of Transportation’s Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Refresher Course last February 11 to be updated on Hazmat Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.
The Tan Siu Lin (TSL) Foundation, Hyatt Regency Saipan’s longstanding partner donated $2,000 to this year’s 21st Annual Charity Golf Classic.
TSL Foundation’s aims and values correspond with Hyatt Regency Saipan’s for both organizations seek to support the CNMI community and culture, educational advancement and sports development of the island youth.
Hyatt Regency Saipan is grateful to TSL for its continuing support to the CNMI economy, both as a business member of the community and a partner in tourism.
The 21st Annual Charity Golf Classic event will be at LaoLao Bay Golf and Resort west course on April 22, 2017.
Tan Holdings president and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association president Jerry Tan earned the 2016 Administrator of the Year award. His vision of bringing international soccer to Saipan which lead to providing an opportunity for CNMI to participate in world class soccer. This resulted to his nomination by CNMI Hall of Famer Kurt Barnes.
One of the significant developments in CNMI soccer in the last decade was the acquisition of a lot in Koblerville that will soon house the Commonwealth’s first world-class soccer pitch and other facilities. This, as well as numerous factors resulted to NMSA voting members’ consideration to Tan.
A humbled Tan claimed that CNMI soccer’s successes in the last 11 years are products of a team effort which includes vice president Vickie Izuka, Executive Committee members, club officials, coaches, and others that supported him along the way.
The CTSI Team is grateful to BOG for this collaboration. CTSI Logistics displays their gratitude to the patronage for their service by adding to their culture the duty to help those in need. They aim to continue working hard and represent the company at the highest regard by professionally handling and delivering goods to the communities around the globe – the service they do best as a premier logistics company.
51 Volunteers including 4 children from Fiesta Resort & Spa joined the 2016 International Coastal Clean-up Day September 17, 2016. Volunteers picked up trash along the coast of Makaka Beach. A total of 25 bags of trash and debris has been collected by the team. Keeping the ocean healthy wasn’t the only goal that day, volunteers also had to take care of their bodies to keep them strong and healthy. After the clean-up, volunteers exercised callisthenics to maintain a fit physique to better protect the environment.
PHOTOS By ERWIN ENCINARES
This article was originally authored by Contributing Author of the Saipan Tribune and published on September 8th, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Saipan Tribune.
The weeklong commemoration of the 9/11 tragedy unfurled yesterday at the CPA Airport Field with no less than the guest speaker of the “We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” kickoff becoming emotional as soon as he saw the more than 500 U.S. flags planted on the ground.
Duane Samiano, a war veteran and now assistant federal security director for the Transportation Security Administration, admitted he was moved as he drove through the venue.
“As we drove by the field it brings an emotional feeling to see the flags out there and what they represent,” said Samiano. “What they represent are just the individual lives of many of our family and friends, of those we don’t even know who went overseas and sacrificed not only their lives but some came back with wounds and scars that may never heal.”
Samiano mentioned that not only should the tragic incident be remembered, but also the numerous lives that were lost due to the ripple effect 9/11 had on the world.
“When we think about how many lives were lost in the 9/11 tragedy that happened back in 2001, we had nearly 3,000 people killed, those that were on the ground, those that were in the building, and those that were in the aircraft,” said Samiano. “The [succeeding] conflicts over the last 15 years that we’ve had troops overseas, we look at the lives that were lost; nearly 6,000 servicemen, nearly 7,000 injured, nearly 30,000 wounded or casualties throughout Afghanistan and Iraq, all standing on the tragedy that happened on 9/11.”
Samiano stressed that the “We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” event has no relation at all to politics. He said the event is to pay respect and to honor the military servicemen and first responders.
“These is not a political statement; they’re not an ideology. They’re not something we’re trying to politicize or have you think something other than to honor those that have made sacrifices.”
Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), for his part, said the event is a great way for the community to give back to those who are serving and sacrificing their lives in the name of freedom.
“I would say it’s a beautiful day to honor those that have fallen during 9/11 and all our heroes, all men in military, that gave their lives to defend our country and to defend the U.S. in respect to what transpired with 9/11,” he said. “It’s a very emotional day, and I even had goosebumps just coming over to see these flags.”
Igisomar is ecstatic to know that the proceeds of the event would go to the treatment of soldiers and veterans suffering from PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“Its great for me that the proceeds would be going to veterans and servicemen that are suffering with PTSD, because I have family members that are going through these emotional illnesses or troubles and it’s not that easy,” shared Igisomar. “The stress that the person gets, the stress that the family goes through, any little amount of money that we could actually give to them would really help along the way to show them that we are here still. Just to give them a chance to feel normal, to feel loved. To feel loved goes a long way.”
On-leave press secretary Ivan Blanco also shared his sentiments about the event.
“9/11 went down as an infamous date that affected a lot of lives with the U.S. and her allies, even the smaller countries that came out in support. The event is reminding the community that we still remember all those that perished all through that time and show our appreciation to all those first responders who gave their lives, those who survived but are still suffering from the effects of it, including all our men and women in arms that went off to Iraq and Afghanistan, and those that didn’t make it back.”
Cathy Attao, vice president for Corporate Affairs of Tan Holdings Corp., said she was extremely happy with the turnout for the opening ceremonies, with various representatives of numerous departments of the CNMI government attending.
Some 75 servicemen, first responders, government officials, businessmen, and community members attended the 9/11 kickoff event on Saipan.
“We had a great turnout, a great representation of all the different departments, government departments, and the private sector as well,” said Attao. “We are pretty much excited for this whole week and pretty much just want to give back to the community.“
Attao is inviting the community to join this Sunday’s culminating event at the same venue. “We really just hope the community comes out,” she said.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, “We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” commemoration continues with a tribute at 3pm and different departments of the government would be conducting outreach programs as well as community engagements. A freedom walk would start at 5pm, in which attendants are going to walk a lap around the CPA Airport Field.
“We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” commemorates the 15th anniversary of 9/11 tragedy and is hosted by Tan Siu Lin Foundation, the charitable arm of Tan Holdings. The more than 500 American flags at the Airport Field were bought and donated by businesses and individuals who want to honor the heroes of 9/11 and succeeding campaigns for freedom. There will also be simultaneous 9/11 commemorations on Tinian and Rota.
This article was originally authored by Erwin Encinares of the Saipan Tribune and published on September 7th, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Saipan Tribune.
Tinian also commemorated the 15th anniversary of 9/11 with its own kickoff event for the “We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” last Tuesday at the island’s Fiesta Grounds.
The ceremony began with the posting of colors by the Tinian Junior Senior High School JROTC Stallion Battalion.
Karen Joy Lagunay beautifully sang both the U.S. national anthem and the CNMI anthem after being introduced by mistress of ceremonies Alexis Hofschneider, who is departmental assistant at the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan.
Father Rey Rosal then led the invocation after the singing of the national anthems.
Tinian Mayor Joey San Nicolas then spoke by expressing his sentiments of gratitude toward the many benefits that military servicemen and first responders—both past and present—allow civilians to enjoy. Upon hearing the moving words made by San Nicolas, the tone of the event immediately switched to a respectful one.
The “We Will Never Forget: Field of Heroes” is aimed at raising funds to finance the expenses of soldiers past and present diagnosed with the condition called Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, in which keynote speakers Nazario San Nicolas Borja and director Juan E. Santos expounded on during the opening ceremonies.
The opening ceremonies came to a close with Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Saipan) providing words of gratitude toward the attendees, the sponsors, and the Tan Siu Lin Foundation, which thought of and executed the idea of honoring the servicemen and first responders current, past, and most importantly, those who made the ultimate sacrifice in America’s campaign for freedom.
Aside from local leaders and community members, businessmen like Bridge Investment Group executive director Phillip Mendiola-Long and Tan Holdings president and COO Jerry Tan also attended the kickoff event. The TSL Foundation is the charitable arm of Tan Holdings.
This article was originally authored by Erwin Encinares of the Saipan Tribune and published on September 8th, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Saipan Tribune.
KANOA Resort Saipan and Northern Marianas Trade Institute have signed a partnership for an on-the-job training program for NMTI culinary arts students.
NMTI human resource manager and director of student development Victor Mesta, in an interview, said Kanoa Resort “takes in our students as interns and after they complete the required training hours, they may be employed by the hotel.”
He said the trade school has also partnered with other hotels and restaurants including the Hyatt Regency Saipan, Fiesta Resort & Spa, Kensington Hotel and The Shack.
“I think NMTI is currently making progress in getting more hotels on board,” Mesta said. “More businesses are now aware that we have students getting training and are capable of assisting their businesses.”
He added, “The more participation we have the more the word goes out into the community, and the better results we’re going to have.”
Glenn Policare, Kanoa Resort director of operations, said their partnership with NMTI is “an amazing opportunity for developing students for the hospitality workforce.”
NMTI provides the students 180 classroom hours while Kanoa Resort provides 240 on-the-job training hours.
“It is really an opportunity for organizations like Kanoa to get the best of the best out there,” Policare said. “NMTI has an amazing educational aspect to their program, and we also train the students. Then when they are done, it’s really the students’ choice as to where they want to go. But of course we want to absorb those who have trained here into our workforce.”
He added, “The kids that have come here and have been trained here are paid — it is on-the-job training. They are paid to help us out, and get paid to learn.”
Kanoa Resort Saipan staffers Ric Cruz, and Archie Ajoste spoke of how the program helped them.
A front desk staffer, Cruz said: “I highly recommend enrolling at NMTI for its hospitality course. Especially when you’re getting into a trade that you have little information about. NMTI basically helped me with that.”
He said he participated in NMTI’s six-month acceleration program, and obtained certification from the American Hotel and Lodging Institute or AHLEI which is recognized nationwide.
For Archie Ajoste, the training program allowed him to move to a supervisory position.
“I’ve been working in the hospitality industry for eight years, and I wanted to move up, and NMTI gave me the opportunity to do it. It was easy, but I still had to learn a lot to move up.”
He added, “NMTI’s training gave me the push I needed. I recommend it to other people.”
The Hyatt Regency Saipan is NMTI’s main sponsor in the hospitality industry training program. Hyatt provides hospitality instructors for the NMTI classrooms.
Through the program, students are getting hands-on experience, said Valentina Habermann, the Hyatt’s marketing communications manager.
“NMTI gets student trained and placed in the location where they will be employed,” she added.
“The relationship with NMTI is a win-win situation for the hospitality industry as NMTI’s mission is to train and educate those in the local community in trade skills. We are helping educate and train our local labor pool to allow them to go forward in a global economy.”
Habermann thinks it is important to train the local workforce amid the CNMI labor crisis.
“The goal is to have our local community members join the workforce.”
According to NMTI’s Victor Mesta, “I think it is very important to train our local workforce, to get them ready to take the place of contract workers so they don’t become welfare recipients. We feel very strongly that they have something to offer and they need to take charge of their islands.”
Kanoa Resort human resource staffer Kanani Sablan said the partnership with NMTI is something that local residents should take advantage of.
“I think it is an excellent program and an amazing opportunity for people — it’s another option to gain the experience, education and knowledge about specific skills that are very important.”
This article was originally authored by Bryan Manabat of the Marianas Variety and published on September 1st, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Marianas Variety.
This summer, Tan Holdings Corporate Affairs, sent out applications for an internship program for Tan Holdings employee’s kids between the ages of 16-18. This is the pilot year for this program and it began with a partnership with Kanoa Resort. Kanoa’s General Manager Wendi Herring, and Director of Operations Glenn Policare, warmly welcomed the program and created a curriculum that would provide a diverse amount of exposure for the students. This included five departments within Kanoa Resort; Food and Beverage, Front Office, Sports and Recreation, Engineering and Housekeeping.
On July 14, the students came in for an interview with Glenn and Corporate Affairs Program Specialist Eunice Angeles. The interview process was a first for most of the students. Every Monday, the students came in for personal development training with both Eunice and Tan Holdings Corporate Affairs Vice President, Catherine Attao. From Tuesdays to Fridays, the students were at Kanoa Resort to report for duty. Under the guidance and supervision of Ruth Anne Bagne, Ricardo Cruz Jr., Mario Domingo, Ribedindo Pablo, Arthur Saw, Danny Dela Cruz, Roy Tan, Darrel Roligat and Matthew Duenas, the students were able to train, work and learn the specific tasks that each department implements daily. Their daily tasks varied by department as well as their working hours. This taught the interns about flexibility and time management.
The Interns also had the opportunity to volunteer for the JP Walk/Run that took place last July 30th. Volunteer work is highly valued at Tan Holdings and providing this opportunity for the interns was a priority of the Corporate Affairs. The internship program culminated with a graduation ceremony that celebrated at Kanoa Resort’s Latte Stone Conference Room with the interns’ family and friends. During her speech, program participant April Catagatan, expressed her gratitude for a program that not only taught her practical work lessons, but life lessons which she can apply towards a brighter future.
Next summer, Tan Holdings aims to broaden the scope of the internship by providing new opportunities for more individuals and SBU’s to participate in.
The Philippine Children’s Medical Center (PCMC) has presented CTSI Logistics Philippines with the Gawad Mapagunlak award in recognition of the 142 donors who volunteered in the bloodletting efforts conducted by the company.
The awarding ceremony was held during the PCMC 17th Pagkilala at Pasasalamat (Recognition and Gratitude) at the Occupational Safety and Health Center, Quezon City.
The bloodletting drive is part of the group’s CSR efforts geared towards creating positive change in our communities. The donations made are for the benefit of cancer-stricken youth currently being treated at PCMC.
Three executives from three of the biggest hotels on Saipan were elected as new directors of the Marianas Visitors Authority board in yesterday’s election held during the tourism group’s general membership meeting at the Royal Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort in Susupe.
Nick Nishikawa and Gloria Cavanagh, the general managers of Hyatt Regency Saipan and the Mariana Resort & Spa, respectively, and Vicky Benavente were voted by their peers, while Jerry Tan was reelected to another four-year term.
Nishikawa and Tan were elected in absentia as they were attending to prior commitments. A total of 109 members cast their votes, choosing from 14 candidates that were nominated to fill in the four director posts.
Cavanagh brings with her 23 years of experience in the tourism industry and has been working on Saipan since 2011. She said that being elected to the MVA board is a great honor and she accepts the responsibility entrusted to her by her peers.
“I will make sure I will not disappoint those who entrusted to me the responsibility of serving on the MVA board,” said Cavanagh, who is in her final year as Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands president.
She said having a HANMI member serving on the MVA board is something that HANMI has been lobbying for quite sometime. “HANMI fought very hard and lobbied to get a position from the board. Now, we have three from the hotels.”
Cavanagh added the she’s looking forward to do her share in promoting the CNMI especially with a lot of developments happening. “Arrivals are up and there are a lot of unique sites that we can promote to various markets. We can compete with other tourist destinations around us.”
Benavente is making her return to MVA after serving as its managing director more than 10 years ago. She is also the Marianas Tourism Education Council chair and is currently working as an executive administrative assistant to Pacific Islands Club general manager Hiro Sugie.
“I’m here to help guide the MVA especially in its international marketing efforts. I bring with me 30 years of experience working in the tourism industry,” said Benavente, who added that she wanted to emphasize in promoting cultural and environmental awareness.
“Seeing the indigenous culture, watching the native dances, and experiencing what our islands has to offer is what we want our tourists to see. This is part of our destination enhancement.”
“We should also teach our children to embrace other cultures. We are friendly people and we are known for our island hospitality,” Benavente said.
Michael Demapan, Kazusuke Fukuju, Wendi Herring, Paula Monk, Chris Nelson, James Nelson, Elitza Stoilova, Edwin Sze, Dennis Yoshimoto, and Alex Youn were the other nominees.
This article was originally authored by Jon Perez of the Saipan Tribune and published on June 24th, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Saipan Tribune.
Kanoa Resort general manager Wendi Herring has joined the Marianas Tourism Education Council Board of Directors, voted in at the organization’s board meeting on June 15, 2016. Herring was a founding board member of MTEC in 2002 as a then-representative of Pacific Islands Club Saipan.
“I’ve been MTEC’s biggest fan on Facebook since I got back on Saipan,” said Herring.
“I’m excited to be back on the board and am looking forward to our work ahead.”
MTEC chair Vicky Benavente also reported at the meeting that MTEC netted $12,000 from the Governor’s Tourism Cup held last month at Laolao Bay Golf Resort.
“The NMI’s tourism industry can continue to grow and flourish, but only with the collaboration from our community and stakeholders. In celebration of the Marianas Visitors Authority’s 40th anniversary, the government and the private sector teamed up to coordinate a successful fundraiser for the MTEC, said Benavente. “With these funds, MTEC is able to continue the education outreach to the schools, focusing on the theme, “Tourism Is Everybody’s Business.”
The board also voted to offer the first MTEC scholarship to two graduating high school seniors in the amounts of $1,000 and $500. Scholarship criteria are being developed and will be announced within the next several weeks.
MTEC is a non-profit organization aimed at educating the public on the tourism industry and its importance to the community. MTEC is administered by a Board of directors, including Christopher A. Concepcion and Martin Duenas (MVA), Jonas Barcinas and Naomi Nishimura (CNMI Public School System), Larry Lee (MTEC), James Nelson (Sorenson Media Broadcasting), Gordon Marciano (Pacific Development, Inc.), and Shamika Ratwatte (Ernst & Young). (PR)
This article was originally authored by Press Release of the Saipan Tribune and published on June 23rd, 2016. All rights, recognition and acknowledgment belong to the author and the Saipan Tribune.
Last June 11, Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan took part in a clean up operation along the shores of Makaka Beach. The team collected 20 bags of trash and debris weighing approximately 220 pounds. This is their 3rd clean-up day for this year.
Glenn Policare is the new director of operations at Kanoa Resort Saipan. With 13 years of experience in the hospitality industry and appointed with managerial roles at Pacific Islands Club and Saipan World Resort, Glenn is equipped with right skills and expertise to fulfill the new position.
Wendi Herring, general manager of Kanoa Resort, comments on Glenn’s appointment: “He possesses the skills, dedication and dynamic work ethic required to be successful in this industry and will quickly prove himself to be an asset to our team.”
As director of operations, Glenn is tasked to ensure that everyday activities run smoothly and adheres to excellent service standards. He will focus on Kanoa’s Room Division, Food and Beverage, Sports and Recreation departments. Glenn is also responsible for the further development of the skills and talents of the hotel’s workforce.
Tan Holdings SBU’s participated in the 7 Habit s of Highly Effective People program. The team members were taught of professional practices which increases productivity, restores balance, and develops greater maturity and responsibility in any situation at hand.
The workshop has educated our team members on the following key actions:
• Focus and act on what can be controlled and influenced, instead of what can’t.
• Define clear measures of success and create a plan to achieve them for both life and work.
• Prioritize and achieve the most important goals instead of constantly reacting to urgencies.
• Develop innovative solutions that leverage diversity and satisfy all key stakeholders.
• Collaborate more effectively with others by building high-trust relationships of mutual benefit.
• Overall, attendees will learn the essentials of personal effectiveness that will help them take responsibility, recognize and seize opportunities, solve problems, and achieve better results.
2016 Saipan Marathon– 24 Fiesta volunteers showed their spirit of volunteerism during the Saipan Marathon competition held on April 16. Our Water/Aid station was the 10K turn around.
Half Marathon Men 60+ age: Das Krishnan ranked #6
10K : 40-49 age Emma Bacus #15;
10K : 50-59 age Alfred Capacio 50-59+ age #7;Aurelio Cayabyab #8; Edgar Casing #5
10K : 60+ age Evaristo Estabillo #9
10K : 30-39 age Nimade Suweni #8