The Annual Marianas March Against Cancer was held on May 13 at the Hopwood Junior High School Field and Tan Holdings was among its most ardent supporters.

For this year, the company worked hand-in-hand with the Kagman High School in creating a booth with the theme, “”a shop”.

The idea behind the booth was for people to donate their own hair and to have it styled in a “Salon” at the Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan.

Initiated by the Commonwealth Cancer association (CCA), the MMAC is the largest cancer program in the CNMI.  Its purpose is to raise funds for cancer patients while raising awareness in fighting the disease as well.

Tan Holdings heeded the call for support sent by the Department of Environment Quality (DEQ) to the public and private sector on Saipan to successfully implement several activities lined up by the department last April.

The Environmental Expo is one of the activities last month which was declared by Governor Fitial as the CNMI Environmental Awareness Month.

Tan Holdings joined several other companies on Saipan in participating at the 3-day Environmental Exposition. Carrying the over-all theme “Invest in the Real Green: Our Environment”, Tan Holdings’ participation showed they are committed to improve,protect and conserve the environment as true environmental stewards do. From April 12-14, they showcased their Going Greeninitiatives such as the Adopt-A-Pavilion, Adopt-A-Bin and the Susupe Rehabilitation project.

As part of Asia Pacific Hotels Inc.’s volunteer efforts on their adopted projects,Saipan Grand Hotel continues to take a lead role on their dedicated monthly clean up at Mt. Tapochau.

The clean up was conducted by its managers and several of their team members who have volunteered their time and effort in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 30, 2011.

Part of the clean up was picking up the trash after the Easter Mass that was held a week earlier and by cutting the grass to spruce up and beautify the area. There will be a monthly clean up to ensure that the highest peak in Saipan will continue to be a favorite place by both foreign guests and locals.

Volunteers from Tan Holdings and its affiliates joined the Division of Environmental Quality DEQ’s Plant-a-Tree event on April 29.

The Plant-a-Tree project is part of DEQ’s activities for the 2011 Environmental Awareness Month.

The group focused on tree planting activities at the Kilili Beach while other volunteers from the community planted trees at the PauPau beach, Tanapag Beach, Lali 4 and Pagpag Beach.

As part of this year’s environmental awareness month, the CNMI Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) launched a series of events that are all directed at preserving the natural beauty of the environment. Supporting these initiatives are the team members of Tan Holdings and its affiliates, who joined DEQ’s Islandwide Cleanup on April 15 and 16.

In summary, CTSI Logistics fielded 30 volunteers, Saipan Grand Hotel has 20 volunteers, Century Tours with 8 volunteers, D&Q with 9, Fiesta Resort and Century Insurance with 51 volunteers and CIC, L&T and Saipan Tribune with 32 volunteers and POI Aviation with 30 volunteers. The Tan Holdings group gathered 236 bags of trash or 5,220 lbs of garbage.

In celebration of the first anniversary of the Tan Holdings Adopt-a-Pavilion initiative, several individuals assembled for a cleanup drive in front of JP Center all the way to the 13th Fishermen’s Memorial.

The cleanup drive, held on March 26, was a gathering of volunteers from the L&T Group of Companies, Century Insurance, and Saipan Tribune.

A total of 30 volunteers showed up for the activity and collected 34 bags of trash

In support of the Tan Holdings Voluntary Donation Drive to help the victims of the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami disaster, Fiesta Guam team members donated a record $3200 to help the Japanese.

To date, this is the largest sum that Fiesta Guam team members have donated for a single cause.

The donation was presented to the American Red Cross – Guam Chapter and will be directed to ARC’sr humanitarian efforts in Japan.

Members of the Saipan Unity Lions Club came together on March 25 for the hot lunch fund drive, a fund raising activity intended for the victims of the Japanese Twin Disaster.

The fund drive was initiated by the active members of the Saipan Unity Lions Club.  Among these are also from Tan Holdings:  the Saipan Unity Lion’s Club’s President, Ladyvir Canape of Cosmos; its treasurer, Noemi Catigan of Asia Pacific Hotel, Inc; its 1-year director Agripino Buensalido of CTSI and its 2-year director, Guillermo T. Canape, Jr. of POI Aviation.

Through the fund drive, the club was able to turn over $500 to the Japanese Society of the NMI.

Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan expressed support to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that recently hit Japan by donating $10,000 to the American Red Cross NMI Chapter.

The donations were presented to Red Cross Executive Director John Hirsh, Board Members Jocelyn Deleon Guerrero, Jerry Facey, and Lou Johnson.

Alongside this, the company also gave donations worth $15,000 to the Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross.

During the presentation of the donation at the TSL Plaza, Tan reiterated the need for the CNMI community to extend their generosity to Japan because of the calamities that struck the country.

Rather than sleep in on a chilly, early Saturday morning, hundreds of family members, close friends, and former colleagues of the late Tan Holdings Corp. executive John “JP” Pangelinan gathered last Feb. 26 for the 3rd Annual “A Walk to Remember.”

The annual walk pays tribute to the former Saipan Tribune publisher who passed away in 2008 after a long battle with cancer.

Most of the 554 participants arrived before sunup to take part in the walk, which began from the JP Center in Garapan all the way to Susupe Beach Park. Water stations were set up for participants throughout the course, with refreshments, entertainment, and shuttle transportation made available at the end of the walk.

This year, various organizations including the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, TanHoldings Football Club, Shirley’s Football Club, United Knights Badminton Club, and the Northern Mariana Islands Badminton Association took part in the event.

Among those who took part in Saturday’s walk included JP’s siblings Herman Pangelinan, Sophia Tenorio, and Martina Ada, who is former Saipan Mayor Gilbert Ada’s wife; JP’s daughter Christina Sablan; nephews and nieces; Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan; Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos; and Mayor Donald Flores with wife Chilang Flores.

“This is the third year that my brother’s friends and family have come out to walk in his memory. It touches my heart to see that there are still so many people that love and miss him. Thank you to Tan Holdings, the volunteers, and especially Jerry Tan whom my brother loved like a son,” JP’s sister Sophia Tenorio told Saipan Tribune.

Niece Ruth Sablan quipped that her uncle would be laughing at her since it was such a chore for her to even walk to the store to get him a drink. “Now I walk three miles each year to show how much I love him and miss him,” she said as she thanked everyone who supported the event.

Jenny Pangelinan, JP’s daughter who’s based in California, thanked everyone who organized and walked for her father. “It moves all of his children when we see and feel the love. My brothers and sisters miss him dearly and we can’t express how much all of your efforts mean to us,” she added.

Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan, a close friend of the Pangelinan family, said JP will always be remembered in their hearts. “I’m sure he was happy that so many of his loved ones, old friends, and new faces showed up to walk in his memory. We really miss him and know that he’s smiling down on us all the time.”

Participants in last Saturday’s walk were also asked to donate $5 each as the event also served as a fundraising activity. A total of $2,142.50 was raised, to be donated to the Marianas March Against Cancer.

On February 16, Tan Siu Lin Foundation President Jerry Tan met with Senator Paul Manglona, Senator Juan Ayuyu, and Senator Luis Crisostomo at the TSL Plaza. The Foundation donated $500 worth of juices and cookies to the 2011 San Isidro Fiesta in Rota.

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and Saipan Grand Hotel joined 25 other companies on the island for the PSS Student Career Fair 2011.  The Career Fair was held at the World Resort on February 15.

Over 90 students from different schools on the island were present at the Career fair.

According to the organizers of the event, the number of participants who attended the Career Fair attests to its positive turnout.

TanHoldings President Jerry Tan presents a check for $2,000 to the NMI Volleyball Association in preparation for their 2011 Marianas Cup which will be held at the Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan this month. Present to receive the check were NMIVA representatives Laurie Peterka and Ed Cho, and Fiesta General Manager B.K. Park.

Jerry Tan and TSL Foundation Manager Ed Arriola, Jr. present $2,000 to the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association’s Garry Ramsey. A portion of the proceeds raised from the 2nd Annual TanHoldings Tennis Classic held in November and December of 2010 was given to the NMITA.

The TSL Foundation proudly supported 2011 youth baseball by donating towards the Man Amigos, Kagman Lions, Dandan Comets, and the Fielders.

Man Amigos’ James Fleming presents their 2nd place trophy from the 2010 season to TanHoldings President Jerry Tan.

Fiesta Guam team members brought a smile to many children in need this Christmas by donating over 100 toys to the Salvation Army of Guam in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

Between October and December, team members contributed new toys or money to purchase toys for the program.

This is the fifth year that the Resort has supported Toys for Tots.

In its continued efforts to promote higher education among students of the CNMI, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation awarded ten (10) Northern Marianas College students to receive $1,000 each in scholarship funds, totaling  $10,000. The recipients of the scholarships were given their awards at the Fiesta Resort and Spa on January 3, 2011.

Of the recipients, five are hospitality management majors, while five others are pursuing other NMC degrees. In addition to hospitality management, the College offers degrees in business, liberal arts, nursing, natural resources management, criminal justice, and education.

The ten recipients of the scholarship are Nazario Ajoste, Daniel Brown, Hazel Doctor, Roque Indalecio, Bernadette Laviste, Katherine Mersai, Nicolas Sablan, Jessie Savellano, John Taman, and Angelina Yobech.

“We are glad that the Tan Siu Lin Foundation continually recognizes the importance of the Northern Marianas College in the development of the CNMI workforce,” said NMC Dean of Student Services Leo Pangelinan. “We will continue to work closely with the Tan Siu Lin Foundation in order to support students as they become key contributors to the CNMI’s economic well-being.”

“We would like to express our utmost gratitude to the Tan Siu Lin Foundation for once again providing this scholarship,” said NMC Interim President Lorraine Cabrera. “The financial support will definitely make a significant impact in helping students pursue their educational goals.”

TanHoldings President Jerry Tan said, “My father and my family are very passionate about education. We’ve been awarding these scholarships for years and we’re proud of all the applicants and all the winners. This new generation of students will be the driving force behind our economy in the years to come and we wish them the best as they pursue their educational and career goals.” The Tan Siu Lin Foundation continues its mission to better serve the communities it operates in by
continually forging initiatives and trusted partnerships with various individuals, families, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies. The scholarships are merit-based and take into considerable account the candidate’s community involvement, academic background, and letters of recommendation. The written essay also plays an important role in the final selection of scholarship recipients.