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.

Tan Holdings Corp. is launching today its annual three-mile walk and fundraiser. The event is being held in honor of and dedicated to the memory of former corporation executive John “JP” Pangelinan. The walk also aims to raise funds for the Marianas March Against Cancer.

For the $5 donation, an adult participant will receive a shirt and will be entitled to refreshments at the end of the walk by the Susupe Beach Park.

The walk will start at 7am and the registration for the event will begin at 6am by the Beach Road Pavilion in front of the JP Center (formerly CIC Center). Corresponding shirt and food stubs will be handed out by JP Walk Coordinators.

Participants are requested to consider parking their vehicles by the Fishing Base area in front of Kristo Rai Church. JP Center parking will be reserved for non-Tan Holdings’ participants. Shuttle service from the Susupe Beach Park to the JP Center, Garapan Fishing Base and Fiesta Resort & Spa areas will be available at the end of the walk.

“Everyone is encouraged to bring their family and loved ones to this meaningful activity. Your contribution will support a very good cause. We look forward to walking with all of you. Stay healthy and be well!” said the JP Walk organizers. (PR)

Tan Holdings Corp. held its annual employee recognition night on Friday, Jan. 16, at the Club V of Saipan Grand Hotel to honor its outstanding employees of 2008.

The Human Resources Department under the office of senior vice president Eli Arago, in collaboration with the executives of eight affiliates, paid tribute to 24 best employees and managers of each affiliate company, from among whom the overall awardees were chosen.

For the first time, Tan Holdings also recognized five of its employees who have contributed to the advancement of community volunteerism in the CNMI.

Cornelio L. Matanguihan, general manager of Century Insurance Corp., was picked as the overall Outstanding Executive of the Year, while Mario C. Mayuga, L&T Engineering and Maintenance Manager, was declared the overall Outstanding Manager of the Year.

The other overall winners:

-Rogelio Espiritu, POI officer-in-charge for GSE Mechanic, Outstanding Supervisor for Operations;

-Cesar G. Lopez, Century Travel accounting officer, Outstanding Supervisor for Support;

-Crispin G. Dayao Jr., Saipan Tribune graphic artist, Outstanding Employee for Operations; and

-Elvis V. Madela, Fiesta Resort & Spa attendant, Outstanding Employee for Support.

All winners received plaques of recognition and cash prizes.

For the first time in its corporate history, Tan Holdings recognized five individuals for being outstanding volunteers in the community. The honor forms part of Tan Holdings president Jerry Tan’s vision of inspiring volunteerism within the company and enabling employees to give back to the community.

The five Volunteer of the Year awardees were:

-Ladyvir D. Canape, Cosmos accountant;

-Lynn Knight, Saipan Tribune publisher and Tan Holdings vice president for Corporate Affairs;

-Ivan E. Quichocho, vice president, Logistics/CFC/Tan Holdings;

-Robert R. Reyes, CTSI account executive; and

-David M. Sablan, CIC and CTAI president/RMS and TSL Plaza vice president.

Also given recognition were Tan Holdings employees who have been with the company for five years, 10 years, 15 years and 25 years.

Only one person qualified for the 25th year Corporate Service Award: Benjie Bocago of Realty Management Services, who was specially recognized by corporation president Tan during the occasion.

Tan congratulated the winners of the annual awards. He also thanked the entire staff of the company for helping the Tan Holdings weather a tough year in 2008.

Generally, he said the company did well last year compared to other businesses on the island but he expects the sailing to get tougher in 2009.

Despite this, with the executives, managers, and employees’ dedication and determination, Tan Holdings is confident in facing the challenges of the current year head on, he added.

The night’s emcees were HR senior manager Malou Ernest and Ed Arriola of Corporate Affairs.

Tan Holdings Corp. in partnership with Joeten Group of Companies launched its 3R reusable shopping bag campaign last weekend at the Azucena Room of Fiesta Report and Spa.

CEO and president Jerry Tan and vice president Dave Sablan led the kick-off for the campaign, which promotes the concept of reducing and reusing recyclable materials to all employees of Tan Holdings.

Representatives of Joeten and the Division of Environmental Quality were also present during the ceremonies.

The campaign encourages employees to use reusable bags instead of plastic bags. In fact, a specially-designed reusable canvas 3R tote bag is being distributed to all Tan Holdings employees. Each time they use the bag for a minimum purchase of just $5 at any Joeten supermarket, they will get a raffle coupon.

Prizes will include a roundtrip ticket to Manila, roundtrip ticket to Guam, and an overnight stay for two at Fiesta Resort and Spa Saipan.

Tan stressed the importance of seriously recognizing the environment and how to contribute to protect it for the next generation to enjoy.

“It is one of the projects we have been putting much effort for several months. We are glad to do little things. It is not much we can do but we have to send a message to the community that we really care about the environment, after all this is our home,” Tan said.

“We can encourage them to join us in this effort. This is the concern of everybody-family and friends. Collectively we can make a difference,” he said.

A video on global warming and climate change was shown to the employees who attended the launching, which also saw the debut of the campaign’s 3R mascot.

Joeten representatives who were present included executive vice president Dennis Yoshimoto, head supervisor Lou Tiyan, wholesale manager J.J. Tenorio, corporate special project manager Bo Palacios, and Gemma Villanueva of the purchasing department.

Yoshimoto said the bag is well-designed and very appropriate because of three reasons-it is good for the island because it reduces waste and it is reusable, it is a cost saving for the business, and the employees can enjoy the great deals.

DEQ was represented by Peter Houk and Frances Castro.

Also present were campaign model Cathy Sablan Cepeda and her husband Charles.

The promotion is exclusive for Tan Holdings employees and is valid from Dec. 8, 2008 to March 26, 2009.

The participating outlets are Joeten Supermarkets in Dandan, Susupe, Garapan, and the soon to be opened Kagman branch.

Although the bags would be distributed to all Tan Holdings employees only, the bag may be used by others in Joeten supermarkets. However, the raffle coupon should bear the name of the employee bag owner only. Prizes will be drawn on March, 28, 2009. prizes are transferable but not redeemable for cash.

A rejuvenated Susupe Beach Park was returned to the community during its formal re-launching yesterday-just in time for this week’s Thanksgiving celebration.

Tan Holdings Corp., led by its president and CEO Jerry Tan, cleaned up the area two weekends last October and this month-removing trash and unwanted debris, fixing and splattering new paint on the pavilions, and even replacing the roof of the main stage that was blown away by a storm years back.

The addition of a new roof for the stage-made with the help of contractor Reliance Construction-was one of the highlights of the restoration project.

Volunteers also took the time to paint the walls and water tanks of Saipan Community School that faced the park.

“We wanted to do this on our own. As you can see, this is now a very beautiful park. The trees can shade the sun anytime of the day,” said Tan.

Two of the district’s lawmakers, Rep. Oscar Babauta and Rep. Raymond Palacios, as well as Sen. Luis Crisostimo and Marianas Visitors Authority managing director Perry Tenorio attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Tan said the revitalization of the Susupe Beach Park is the company’s way of giving back to the community.

The re-launching, he said, is very timely because next week is Thanksgiving and the Christmas season is coming up.

Tan also gave special thanks to the Tan Holdings management team that include Lynn Knight, Ivan Quichocho, Ed Arriola, and Eli Arago for making the project a success.

He also gave kudos to Reliance Construction for helping them complete the revitalization of the Susupe landmark.

“I’m very happy to share this moment with you. We all can see a big difference now. If there’s something else to add to the park, we are open for more suggestions,” Tan said.

Susupe Beach Park encompasses three pavilions-one big and two smaller ones with a complete view of the ocean. There is also a big stage where people can organize events.

“We’re really proud that we were able to restore this. We can continue to promote this place and we promise that we shall maintain this. We really made the right decision and are extremely excited but this is only the beginning,” Tan said.

Rep. Babauta, for his part, said he hopes that youngsters would now use the park and appealed to them to make it a graffiti-free place.

“This is valuable to the community. We extend our appreciation to Tan Holdings Corp.,” he said.

Four 80-gallon Solahart tanks were recently installed atop a future Tan Holdings’ apartment complex on Navy Hill.

“We’re the first commercial facility to use these. Tenants will enjoy free hot water normally on [the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.’s] meter,” said Ivan Quichocho, Tan Holdings’ corporate business developer. “It adds value to the facility and gives future tenants hot water, all compliments of Mother Nature.”

Randy Steele, general manager of Triple J motors, which distributes the tanks in the CNMI, Guam and Micronesia, said Solahart tanks are the future.

“Ten years from now this is how the island will be,” he said.

The tanks have two ceramic layers lining the interior. A sealed jacket surrounds the storage cylinder with the water inside. Pre-installed water surrounds the storage cylinder, which holds water from CUC, Steele said. Corroded CUC water is not used around the storage cylinder.

Solahart panels do not use stainless steel or copper, which can be corroded, or copper, which can’t stand high levels of chlorine, Steele said.

“These are like the Cadillac SUV,” he said, adding that they are expected to last 15 years.

The tanks are optimal for tropical climates like the CNMI, but Steele said hot water would be available even on cloudy days.

The tanks were developed in Australia and have been in Guam since the 1970s and 1980s, Steele said.

According to Solahart data, the tanks are estimated to save 50 to 80 percent of water heating consumption.

And with the current power rates, that can save commercial and residential customers a lot of money, Steele said.

“Obviously, with power going up, using electricity is not the economical way to do it,” he said. “We live on an island, we should be the model. We should use our resources. It seems like a no-brainer opportunity.”

Also, Quichocho said, the tanks are environmentally friendly. They burn less fossil fuel and reduce carbon footprints, something that fits Tan Holdings’ goal of going green.