Tan Holdings President Jerry Tan, a keen supporter of environmental efforts in the CNMI, lauded the Tan Holdings team’s participation in the 24^th annual International Coastal Cleanup, which was held last September 19.

The team ardently participated in the said cleanup, with over 100 volunteers from the company who supported this worthwhile international initiative against ocean debris.

The International Coastal Cleanup is considered by many as the world’s largest volunteer effort to help protect our ocean and waterways. It was pioneered by Ocean Conservancy as a means to advocate for the preservation of the ocean waters against ocean debris.

Predicting that the industry will experience a boost if more members of the community will join the Marianas Tourism Education Council (MTEC), Saipan Grand Hotel GM Ed Cho encouraged those who want the tourism industry to flourish to join the organization.

By the standards set by MTEC, any person, business entity, association, organization or agency can become an MTEC member by volunteering to support the council’s activities or by making a monetary or in-kind contribution.

“Tourism is everybody’s business, and we are looking for new ways to partner with our community, especially our youth, in support of the industry,” says Cho.  He further stresses that the council welcomes anyone who wants to join in this important endeavor.

Cho is the president of MTEC, an association that aims to foster and improve community understanding of the visitor industry; to educate the general public, especially school students, about the value, social benefits and economic contribution made to the community by the tourism industry.

Tan Siu Lin Foundation decides to sponsor a comic event which will be staged at the Taga Hall of the Saipan World Resort on September 19.  The show will carry the title Kambal sa Tawa and will be graced by Vice Ganda and Ogie Diaz, two renowned television comedians in the Philippines.

According to reports, this marks the first time for Philippine standup comedians to perform on Saipan.

Part of the proceeds will benefit the Philippine-based children’s’ welfare program called Bantay Bata Foundation.

Other sponsors for Kambal sa Tawa includes IT&E, Bud Light and Magic 100FM

Henry Pun of Century Tours took charge of communicating with some confused Chinese who were caught in a fire incident on a large employee barracks in Koblerville, Saipan last August 16.

According to reports, the 25 Chinese victims of the fire were anxious because they do not understand other languages aside from their own.

Henry helped appease the Chinese victims by talking to them in their native language.  Henry did this through the directive of the American Red Cross.

After reporting to the American Red Cross, Henry shared that, “The workers were very happy that there was assistance for them and for my assistance as many of them were scared and didn’t quite understand what was available for them.”

Starting September 1 of this year, the lunch buffet of Chambre Bar at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan will be adjusted from $5.99 to $6.99 and the $1 increase would benefit a good cause – the Commonwealth health Center (CHC) Volunteers Association.

Annie Benavente, the association’s vice president, said this tie-up will boost their chances of buying a hyperbaric chamber for the hospital.

A hyperbaric chamber is instrumental in treating 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.

Through this partnership with Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, the CHC Volunteers’ is hoping to raise $400,000 for the said equipment.

Pursuant to its vision of upholding intellectual development among students who want to attain higher education but are restrained by financial limitations, the Tan Siu Lin Foundation recently announced a scholarship program for ten of the most deserving students from the Northern Marianas College (NMC).  The Foundation will provide $1,000 per scholarship recipient.

In a statement, Dr. Tan Siu Lin, Chairman and founder shared that:  “We realize the central role that the Northern Marianas College plays in the academic and personal development of students and, on a larger scale, the CNMI’s workforce; and we want to support that role by providing assistance to students who strive hard to excel academically, yet lack the financial means to continuously pursue quality education with the NMC.”

The initial selection for the recipients of the scholarship fund will be based on the students’ academic performance, community involvement activities, and letter of recommendation; after which the students’ written essay will be the final gauge for their eligibility to the TSL Foundation’s scholarship program as the foundation’s scholars.
The deadline for the submission of scholarship applications is on September 30, 2009.  Interested applicants may contact Ed Arriola at: ed_arriola@tanholdings.com or call 670-233-8080.

The Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands (HANMI) concluded its monthly membership meeting last July 30 with an election for three new officials to fill in vacated posts.

Among those elected was Saipan Grand Hotel General Manager Ed Cho, who will be serving as a HANMI board of director for the first time.

Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan continues to be one of the more preferred venues for great festivities as the Rotary Club of Saipan chose the hotel for this year’s Las Vegas Night last July 18.

“The event was a huge success – guests swarmed in and everybody had a good time.”  According to Rotary Club Secretary Elly Stoilova, the event had “a good turnout.”

Majority of the revenue for this event would be used to fund the Kagman Community Children’s Park.