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.

POI Aviation and TSL Foundation presented checks at the Delta Airlines Ticketing office on Saipan last November 10.  The checks served as payment for their participation in the Delta Airlines Tournament for Children’s Education.

POI Aviation was listed in the Full Hole Sponsorship while Tan Siu Lin Foundation was registered in the Par 3 Hole Scholarship in the fundraising options presented by the organizers.

The proceeds of the event will be used to benefit children’s education in the CNMI

The fundraising golf activity will be held on December 5 at the Laolao Bay Golf Resort Saipan.

Chairmen Tan Siu Lin is interested to contribute for the construction of a special shrine.  The shrine is meant for an old Japanese Buddha statue, which was discovered by the chairman himself on the premises of Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.

The said Japanese Buddha statue brings peace and protection for children.  It also helps sharpen the minds of children.

According to reports, the Buddha statue was created in the 1940’s.  It was destructed but was replaced in 1990.

The construction of the shrine will take about six to 12 months.  Chairman Tan Siu Lin expressed hopes that Japanese visitors and believers will continue to honor the Japanese Buddha statue once the shrine is finished.

The management of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan’s Chambre Bar recently turned over a check worth $516 to the Commonwealth Health Center Volunteers’ Association. This money came from the proceeds of the restaurant’s Healthy Lunch promo, a promo that was initiated in September as a means to help the Association to purchase a hyperbaric chamber.

The said promo involves the restaurant’s adjustment in the price of its lunch buffet from $5.99 to

$6.99. The $1 increase was set to be donated to the CHC Volunteers’ Association.  

The hyperbaric chamber is a sealed chamber in which a high-pressure environment is used primarily to treat decompression sickness, gas embolism, carbon monoxide poisoning, gas gangrene resulting from infection by anaerobic bacteria, tissue injury arising from radiation therapy for cancer and wounds that are difficult to heal.

Asia Pacific Airlines (APA) recently started an open contract with Delta Airlines. The contract involves an overnight schedule maintenance check as well as an air worthiness release for Delta Airlines’ 767 aircrafts.

The said contract was a result of the efforts from APA’s Mx (Maintenance) Team, Operation and Accounting, which shares the same vision in providing safe and reliable services. Signing in attendance are the NW Mx Representatives, Robert Walker and Zar Atalig.

According to the executives of APA, their future plans involve expansions for their Mx Service.

The ground handling services that APA is doing for Delta Airlines is reflective of their mark in providing satisfactory aircraft maintenance.

John Hirsh, American Red Cross (ARC) – NMI Chapter’s Executive Director, recently received donations from the Tan Siu Lin Foundation.  The donations were personally presented by Tan Holdings founder and chairman, Dr. Tan Siu Lin.

The foundation gave out a $5,000 check and a $5,000 worth of in-kind donations to the ARC.

Among those in attendance during the presentation of donations were Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan and some ARC officials Teresa Kim, Lou Johnson, and Juan Lizama.

In a statement, Kim said that “The TSL Foundation has a long history of supporting non-profit organizations here in the Commonwealth; Red Cross is fortunate to have this generous corporate donation from Tan Holdings to help support Red Cross programs here in the NMI.”

The grantees of the Tan Siu Lin Foundation scholarship program were officially named during a special ceremony held at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan last Friday, October 16. Present during the ceremony was Tan Holdings President and Tan Siu Lin Foundation Vice-Chairman, Jerry Tan.

According to the foundation’s executives, the scholarship applicants were screened and deemed qualified for the scholarship program based on their grade point average, essays and participation in community involvement activities.

In a statement, Tan Siu Lin Foundation Manager Ed Arriola shared that investing in students is a sure way to build and retain local workforce on the island.

POI Aviation has received two medals from the 36^th Wing Andersen of the US Air Force.  The awards were given during a special appreciation and commendation event that POI Aviation was invited to.

The first award was presented to POI Aviation for “Shrinking the tyranny of distance”.  Meanwhile, another award was presented for the company’s “World class maintenance for air expeditionary forces”.

The said service was the safekeeping of tools and equipments that will be used to repair the Air Force’s F-22.  The storage of these ground equipments was necessary due to the possible damages that the Typhoon Choi-Wan might cause.

Tango Theatres is moving forward to provide its market with a more diversified selection of films while reflecting Guam’s cultural mix as well:  they recently premiered a South Korean film last October 1.

The film, entitled “Haeundae”, is a blockbuster about a tsunami that struck a South Korean beach resort.  It is one of the highest grossing films in Korean box office history.

Prior to the premiere of this South Korean hit, Tango Theatres already offers Filipino films to the movie-goers.  Further plans include screenings for Chinese and Japanese films with subtitles.

In a statement, Bojo Molina, Tango Theatres’ Marketing Director, clarified that the frequency of South Korean films is yet to be determined because they are still gauging the audiences’ response.

Through the promotions of Air China and Century Tours, the first Air China charter flight arrived on Guam last

October 3.

The said charter flight brought 250 visitors to Guam as China celebrates its 60th National Day.

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan was eyed by the eighteen travel agents from Moscow and St. Petersburg as one of the possible tourist accommodations for Russians on Saipan.

The group visited Saipan, Tinian and Rota.  They arrived on September 19 and left on September 27. 

The participating tour agencies were comprised of magazine Y- Pokupau, Planeta Tour, SIBVEL Tour, “Star of Gabriel” Travel Agency, NEDA Tour Agency, RUEX Tour, Bashkortostan, Evrika-Soft Ltd. Publishing House, Aira-Tour Ltd., Lensey Travel Agency, Ruskkrim Tour Ltd., Tashly Diving Club, Shambhala Trave Moscow, Shambhala Tour Ltd., Capital Tour Ltd., Stekton-M VIP service, Koreana Tour Ltd., and World of Asia Travel Agency.

The residents of Alamagan and Agingan had destructed homes and livelihood when super typhoon Choi-Wan wreaked havoc on their islands.  Seeing the need to take a pro-active stance in helping these displaced residents, Tan Siu Lin Foundation launched a donation campaign that would provide aid to the displaced residents

The donation campaign was pushed through with the support of Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan.  It was through Tan’s directive that the information about the donation campaign was disseminated to various companies under the Tan Holdings group.

The response of the affiliate companies was immediate; food donations were soon provided to the victims of the calamity.

Super typhoon Choi-Wan spared Saipan from destruction but the Northern Islands of Alamagan and Agrigan suffered a different fate as both islands experienced widespread damage from the said calamity.