The team members of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan volunteered in manning a water station at the Fishermen’s Wharf across Kristo Rai Church last March 13, Saturday, to extend their support to the participants of the 9^th Annual Xterra Saipan Championship.

The 9^th Annual Xterra Saipan Chamionship is a triathlon challenge that aims to test the participants’ endurance in going through rugged terrains around Saipan.

The triathlon challenge includes a 1.5km swim, a 12km trail run, and a 30km mountain bike race.

The event was graced by over 100 participants from around the globe.

Fiesta Resort & Saipan expressed their solidarity for sportsmanship as they volunteered to assist in the 2010 Winter Festival of Runs/Saipan Marathon held last March 6.  Extending their support to the participants of this event involved coming up with volunteers to assist during the event.

Team members from Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan relate that 40 of their volunteers were present at their aid station from 5 AM to 11AM.  This aid station is the turning point of the 10K runners.

The team members further shared that they handed over some necessities to the participants.  Among these were drinking water, power drinks, cold wet sponges, salted plums (Umeboshi) and cut-up fruits.

Shortly after renaming the Annual NMASA Awards to NMASA/Tan Siu Lin Foundation Male and Female Student Athletes of the Year Award last month, Tan Siu Lin Foundation has recently announced the prizes that it will give out to the recipients of the annual student athlete awards.

The foundation has decided to give the awardees a brand new netbook, an Ipod shuffle and their own cardboard & life-size cutout photos.

It was Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan himself who came up with these prizes for the annual winners.

Meanwhile, winners of monthly awards will receive medals, $20 reloadable gift card from Shirley’s Coffee Shop and $50 gift certificate from Modern Stationary.

The management of POI Aviation held a simple farewell affair for retiring Commonwealth Ports Authority (CPA) Comptroller, Frances Mafnas.  The luncheon was held at the AOI Restaurant in Saipan Grand Hotel last February 10.

POI Aviation GM Frank Camacho and two staff members from CPA also attended the luncheon for Mafnas.

CPA has the jurisdiction and control in airport operations while POI Aviation, as an Aircraft Ground Handling company, operates on the airport rules and regulations set by the CPA.  POI Aviation’s affiliation with CPA is furthered due to their business partnership as the latter contracted POI Aviation to man three of their parking booths.

A partnership between the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association (NMASA) and Tan Siu Lin Foundation was recently formed, giving more benefits for the male and female student athletes in the CNMI.

Due to this partnership, the student awards will now be called NMASA/Tan Siu Lin Foundation Male and Female Student Athlete of the Month.

The benefit that the student athletes will reap from this partnership is evident in the additional perks that they will receive if they are named as a monthly awardee.  These are the gifts that the foundation will give out, aside from the recognition that will be given out by NMASA.

According to Tan Siu Lin Foundation Manager Ed Arriola, winners of the top student athlete awards will get bigger prizes at the end of the year.

For the second time, Tan Holdimgs is going to hold the 2^nd Annual A Walk to Remember fund raising activity on February 20.

A Walk to Remember is a three-mile walk that is intended to raise funds for the Marianas March Against Cancer.  The event started off as a form of recognition dedicated to the memory of former Tan Holdings executive, John “JP” Pangilinan.

The organizers of the event were one in encouraging the public to join the event by saying that their contribution will support a very good cause.

Registration for the walk starts at 5am by the Beach Road Pavilion in front of the JP Center in Garapan.

Following the successful partnership between Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan and the Commonwealth Health Center Volunteers’ Association in September 2009, another partnership between the two was formed.  The said partnership was a launch for the second Healthy Lunch Buffet Promo.

The Healthy Lunch Buffet Promo is a special fundraiser that is intended to help the CHCVA to raise funds to purchase a hydraulic chamber for the hospital’s diabetic patients.

The latest turnover of cash for the promo totaled to $303.  The total cash donations have amounted to $2,044 to date.

The fund raising activity works by providing the diners at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Chambre Bar the opportunity to eat healthy meals while giving back to the community at the same time by adding $! To the regular price of the buffet meal.  The $1 difference in the price of the menu will go to the fund for the hospital’s hydraulic chamber.

Last January 18, executives from Century Insurance Company – Saipan welcomed the arrival of Matthew Engling from the renowned German reinsuring company, R+V.  The executives joined Engling for dinner at the 8^th floor of the 360 Revolving Restaurant in Susupe.

Engling, a German lawyer, takes charge of overseeing the operations of R+V in Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands which includes Saipan & Guam.

Engling’s visit marked the first time for CIC – Saipan to accommodate a German reinsurer.

R+V Versicherung AG is one of the leading insurer and reinsurer in Germany along with Allianz Re and Munich Re, who happened to be supporters also of CIC in the facultative reinsurance side.

As an entity that is involved in humanitarian causes, Tan Siu Lin foundation pledged to raise funds to benefit the victims of the earthquake that wreaked havoc in Haiti last January 12.

According to reports, the earthquake in Haiti took the lives of 150,000 people and displaced millions more.
The funds that are being raised by Tan Holdings and Tan Siu Lin Foundation in Guam and Saipan will be donated to their respective American Red Cross chapters.

Last January 19, the Executive Committee and Board of the American Red Cross CNMI Chapter recognized Mr. Tan as its Honorary Board Member.  Having been granted this status, Mr. Tan is entitled to a lifetime board membership from the organization.  Moreover, this also serves as an appreciative effort from the organization for Mr. Tan’s role in promoting the causes of the Red Cross.

Mr. Tan was the American Red Cross CNMI Chapter Director from 2002 to 2008; ha also co-chaired the Annual Club 2002 and 2003, during which the foundation donated funds for The American Red Cross Chapters in Saipan and Guam.

The Red Cross is an internationally acclaimed premier emergency response organization that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of natural and man-made calamities.

POI Aviation takes pride in its growing clientele, especially with its most recent customer, the Nomads Flying House.

After their brief stop in Kona, Hawaii, The Nomads Flying House went straight to Saipan.  The trip was in continuation of the group’s goal to go around the globe.

Aside from appreciating the beautiful sceneries on Saipan, the Nomads Flying House also sought the services of POI Aviation.  POI Aviation was specifically tasked to handle the group’s  aircraft ground handling.

The Nomads Flying House left Saipan after three days of staying on the island.  The renowned travel club held a record in world travel since 1973.

A special luncheon meeting took place at the Saipan Grand Hotel last Thursday, January 28.

The meeting was set for the discussion of air service to Saipan from the source markets of China and Japan.

Among those in attendance were CNMI Gov. Benigno Fitial, CNMI Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos, MVA Board Chair and Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan, DFS Saipan President and MVA Vivce-Chairwoman Marian Pierce, Continental Micronesia President Charles Duncan, and MVA Managing Director Perry Tenorio.

For the sincere efforts he put in organizing the DanDan Neighborhood Watch Task Force, POI Aviation GM Frank Camacho was duly recognized as the recipient of the 2009 Tan Holdings Volunteer of the Year Award.

The award, presented during the Tan Holdings Christmas party at the Susupe Beach Park in December 2009, aimed to distinguish individuals who prioritize community involvement activities for the common good.

Camacho was given a special plaque of recognition.  He was also entitled to a cash prize worth $400.

As a rule, the cash prize received by the awardee is to be pledged to an organization which can put the money to good use.  Camacho chose the Make-A-Wish Foundation

Camacho pledged half of his cash prize to the Make-A-Wish Foundation because he feels that the organization has a notable cause, which is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

Asked on his sentiments about receiving the Tan Holdings Volunteer of the Year Award for 2009, Camacho shares that he is deeply gratifies.  He says the award also encouraged him to commit himself further to the community.

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Assistant Manager for Housekeeping/Housing Romy Rebellon was duly recognized with the Volunteer of the Year Award during the Marianas Visitors Authority General Membership Meeting held at the World Resort last January 14. 

The MVA’s decision to recognize Rebellon for this award was primarily due to Rebellon’s volunteerism in the MVA’s marketing efforts to attract tourists to the CNMI. 

Among these efforts were events such as the Taste of Marianas, tagaman, Exterria and the Beautify CNMI cleanup campaign.

Fiesta Resort Guam once again struck a partnership with Wells Fargo and the Salvation Army of Guam to support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program.

Since October 2009, team members from Fiesta Guam have made material and cash donations as a form of contribution. 

Through this initiative, 111 new toys were distributed as Christmas gifts for the disadvantaged children on Guam.

The Toys for Tots Program is a special program that intends to unite the different sectors of society to support a common cause for the less fortunate children throughout the United States.

Recent reports from A.M. Best Company showed CIC Saipan’s financial strength rating of B+ and an issuer credit rating of bbb-.

The said ratings reflect the positive stature of CIC Saipan despite of the economic crises that continue to challenge Saipan.  Moreover, these ratings are also an indication of the company’s profitability as well as its solid presence on the island.

At present, CIC Saipan continues to be one of the largest general insurers in Saipan. A. M. Best Company is an acclaimed global full-service credit ratings organization.

Cognizant of his contributions in the local business community, Tan Holdings President Jerry tan was recently named as one of the nominees for Guam Business Magazine’s Executive of the Year Award.

The Executive of the Year award is presented in recognition for executives who have raised the bar in their respective business undertakings.

The Executive of the Year awardee will be named on January 16, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Guam.  His or her photo will also appear on the January-February issue of Guam Business.

Aside from Tan, other nominees are:  Corine Berking from the Dewitt Moving & Storage; Hee K. Cho from the JMSH LLC; Matthew Giger from the iConnect; Robert Marks from the Parsons Corp.; James A.Martinez from the Guam Contractors’ Association; Jay R. Shedd from the Docomo Pacific; and Sinforoso M.Tolentino from the Carlsmith Ball LLP.

In response to the New Moon craze, Tango Theatres, in cooperation with Guam PDN, sponsored an essay writing contest for the fans of the Twilight Saga.  The winner was announced last November 19 as Michelle Marie Uson Cruz.

The contest involved the submission of a 150-word essay about the battle concerning vampires and wolves.

For her prize, Cruz was given four reserved tickets to the midnight premiere showing of New Moon at the Micronesia Mall Stadium Theatres last November 20.

The winning essay was featured on Guam PDN.  Meanwhile, the prize tickets were provided by Tango Theatres.