Thank you from the bottom of our heart

We, the Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) family wish to express our deepest appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to all of Camilo D. Laoeng's friends who give their support and cared for him and the community of Saipan at the large who welcomed him into their group. Camilo was one of the most active member of Beautify CNMI! and he's the most active Board of Director member of our FMI group. Camilo loved and always been happy to serve the community. He loved Saipan and embraced the people he worked with as his family and we did the same as well. We are gratefull for his volunteer work and the care and interest he had shown to each one of us.

Your thoughtful prayers and words of consolation lessen our pain and sorrow for our loss.

Thank you so much and may god bless us all!

Sincerely,

Marites Aquino Castillo
FMI President

Friends of the Monument join call for Coral Reef Conservation

The Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument are back in the news, this time calling for the US Senate to pass strong conservation-minded coral reef legislation:

September 3, 2010, Saipan, CNMI / Our coral reefs are in trouble. Almost 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost and an additional 35% are threatened according to the expert opinion of 372 coral reef scientists and managers from 96 countries who contributed to the latest Status of the Coral Reefs of the World, published in 2008.

In response, a coalition of non-governmental organizations and environmental stakeholders issued a letter today calling for the US Senate to pass strong conservation-minded coral reef legislation. The US House version of the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act passed in September of last year. Further movement of the legislation now depends on the US Senate.

Thirty-five organizations signed the Senate corals letter. Groups represented include leading organizations such as the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL), International Society for Reef Studies, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Surfrider Foundation, Greenpeace USA, Environmental Defense Fund, World Wildlife Fund, Coastal States Organization, and Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument.

The Coral Reef Conservation Act authorizes grants for coral reef conservation activities. Funds are awarded under six program categories: State and Territory Coral Reef Management; State and Territory Coral Reef Ecosystem Monitoring; Coral Reef Ecosystem Research; Projects to Improve or Amend Coral Reef Fishery Management Plans; General Coral Reef Conservation; and International Coral Reef Conservation.

The coalition expressed alarm about the declining health of coral reef ecosystems and the threats coral reefs face. Major threats noted include coastal runoff, overfishing and overharvesting, vessel impacts, invasive species, and coral bleaching, disease, and ocean acidification caused by unregulated greenhouse gas pollution.

Measures before Congress, supported by the coalition, include provisions to increase the status of protection for corals in all U.S. waters, increase funding for coral reef conservation efforts, provide support to better understand and manage the trade in coral reef wildlife, and support communitybased approaches to coral reef stewardship, among others.

“Coral reef ecosystems face growing threats from overfishing, habitat destruction, poor water quality and disease”, said Dr. Andrew Baker, a coral reef biologist at the University of Miami and a 2008 Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation. “When you add the devastating impacts of our carbon dioxide emissions, which lead to warmer and more acidic oceans, coral reefs worldwide are left reeling from the impacts. The decline of coral reef ecosystems worldwide underscores the need for Congress to pass coral reef legislation, while also renewing its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas pollution.”

“These valuable and fascinating ecosystems are disappearing within our lifetimes, and their loss will have significant economic, social, and environmental consequences in the United States and worldwide,” said Steven Lutz, Executive Director of Blue Climate Solutions, the group that organized the coalition effort. “The Senate has a fantastic opportunity to protect and conserve coral reefs by passing this important legislation.”

The text of the letter signed by Friends' Chairman Ike Cabrera is as follows:

CORAL REEF COALITION LETTER ON THE PENDING REAUTHORIZATION OF THE UNITED STATES’ CORAL REEF CONSERVATION ACT

The Honorable John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchinson
Ranking Member
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
Chairwoman
Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard

The Honorable Olympia J. Snowe
Ranking Member
Senate Subcommittee on Oceans
Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard

September 3, 2010

Dear Chairpersons and Ranking Members:

As organizations and stakeholders involved with coral reef conservation, we are profoundly alarmed about the threats these unique and invaluable ecosystems face in the United States and around the world. We urge your support for a strong conservation-minded reauthorization of the United States Coral Reef Conservation Act.

Coral reefs provide many important services; they protect coastlines from the damaging effects of storms, and are vital to the economies of many coastal communities in the U.S. and around the world, through revenues generated in tourism and fisheries. The diversity of life they support establishes them as treasure troves of discovery for applications in medicine and industry.

However coral reefs are declining at an alarming rate. Almost 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been lost and an additional 35% are threatened according to the expert opinion of 372 coral reef scientists and managers from 96 countries who contributed to the Status of the Coral Reefs of the World: 2008 report. The major threats to coral reefs include coastal runoff, overfishing and overharvesting, vessel impacts, invasive species, and coral bleaching, disease, and ocean acidification caused by unregulated greenhouse gas pollution.

These valuable and fascinating ecosystems are disappearing within our lifetimes, and their loss will have significant social, economic, and environmental consequences in the United States and worldwide.

We commend the positive steps taken in the reauthorization of the Coral Reef Conservation Act by the Senate. We respectfully ask you to adopt the strongest possible language for the conservation and protection of coral reef ecosystems in the reauthorization of this important legislation. Measures we support include provisions to:

• Increase the status of protection for corals in all U.S. waters;
• Support community-based approaches to coral reef stewardship;
• Enable management to effectively address the threat of vessel groundings and seek appropriate liability for such
incidents (with narrowly defined exceptions);
• Support cooperative relationships with universities and other academic bodies, and non-governmental
organizations in promotion of coral reef conservation;
• Enable all relevant federal agencies to effectively participate in coral reef conservation;
• Provide additional accountability for federal funds used for coral reef conservation efforts;
• Provide support to better understand and manage the trade in coral reef wildlife;
• Strengthen U.S. international coral reef conservation efforts; and
• Authorize increased funding to protect these extraordinary habitats.

Please join the effort to conserve our coral reefs by supporting the reauthorization of the Coral Reef
Conservation Act.

Sincerely yours, (signed by the following thirty-five organizations and stakeholders)

Blue Climate Solutions - Steven J. Lutz, Executive Director, Miami, FL

Center for Biological Diversity - Andrea A. Treece, Senior Attorney, Oceans Program, San Francisco, CA

Coastal States Organization - Kristen Fletcher, Executive Director, Washington, DC

Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) - Rick MacPherson, Director, Conservation Programs, San Francisco, CA

EarthEcho International - Philippe Cousteau, CEO and co-founder, Washington, DC

Environmental Defense Fund - Cara Cooper, Coral Specialist, Saint Petersburg, FL

Fauna & Flora International - Katie Frohardt, Executive Director, Washington, DC

Friends of the Mariana Trench Monument - Ignacio V. Cabrera, Chairman, Saipan, CNMI

Greenpeace USA - Phil Kline, Senior Ocean Campaigner, Washington, DC

International Society for Reef Studies (ICRS) - Richard Aronson

Natural Resources Defense Council - Lisa Suatoni, Senior Scientist, Oceans Program, New York, NY

NAUI Worldwide - Jed Livingstone, Vice President, Riverview, FL

Nova Southeastern University National Coral Reef Institute (NCRI) - Richard E Dodge, Dean, Wendy Wood-Derrer, Assistant Director of Development, Ft. Lauderdale, FL

Ocean Conservation Research - Michael Stocker, Director, Lagunitas

Ocean Defenders Alliance - Kurt Lieber, Founder and President, Scott Sheckman, Acting Executive Director, Huntington Beach, CA

Oceanic Defense - "Educate. Activate" - Samantha Whitcraft, Director, Conservation Biology, Miami, FL

Palm Beach County Reef Rescue - Ed Tichenor, Director, Boynton Beach, FL

Project AWARE Foundation - Jenny Miller Garmendia Director, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

Reef Check Foundation - Gregor Hodgson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Reef Check Foundation, Pacific Palisades, CA

Sailors for the Sea - Dan Pingaro, CEO, Newport, RI

Save Our Seas - Capt. Paul Clark, President, Hanalei, HI

Sea Turtle Conservancy (formerly the Caribbean Conservation Corporation) - David Godfrey, Executive Director, Gainesville, FL

SeaWeb - Dawn M. Martin, President, Silver Spring, MD

Sierra Club - Bruce Hamilton, Conservation Director, San Francisco, CA

South Carolina Coastal Conservation League - Dana Beach, Charleston, SC

Surfrider Foundation - Chad Nelsen, Environmental Director, San Clemente, CA

The Humane Society of the United States / Humane Society International - Teresa M. Telecky, Ph.D., Director of Wildlife, Washington, DC

The Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature - Lewis Regenstein, President, Atlanta, GA

The Ocean Foundation - Mark J. Spalding, Ph.D., President, Washington, DC

The Ocean Project - Bill Mott, Director, Providence, RI

The Snorkel Bob Foundation - Robert Wintner, Executive Director, Kihei, HI

Urban Environment League - Fran Bohnsack, President, Miami, FL

Urban Paradise Guild - Sam Van Leer, Executive Director & Founder, North Miami, FL

WIDECAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network) - Karen Eckert, Ph.D., Executive Director, Beaufort, NC

World Wildlife Fund - Roberta Elias, Senior Program Officer, Marine and Fisheries Policy, Washington, DC

FMI Adopted Beach Area

Friends of the Mariana Islands had been doing the cleanup at South Laolao Beach since 2006 and it's really been 4 years now! We had just signed up for the Coastal Cleanup on September 25, 2010 and we are so proud to say that we are again adopting South Laolao Beach.

Time to start: 8:00am and it will end at 10:00am

We are inviting everyone who's interested to join us on the up coming event please call Marites-FMI President at 285-8980.

Friends of the Mariana Islands will be providing trash bag, gloves, Snacks, and Water, only for the South Laolao Beach volunteers.


Thank you very much and hope to see you all on the 25th of Septemeber 2010.

Contribute to Carnival of the Blue XL: Top of the Food Chain

Next month the Saipan Blog will be the host of Carnival of the Blue 40, or as I prefer to call it, Carnival of the Blue XL. COTB XL promises to be the biggest, baddest COTB EVER. Why? Well, not only is COTB turning 40, but the theme of next month's carnival is going to be Top of the Food Chain.

COTB XL is going to be all about predators, baby.

Please use this online article submission form to submit your contribution to COTB XL. Please try to make your post about predation (¿cómo se dice de tiburón en Inglés?), but if the predation bug doesn't hit you this month, COTB XL will still publish your ocean blog. If you have any questions you can email me at angelovillagomez at gmail dot com.

By the way, this will be the fourth consecutive September the Saipan Blog has hosted Carnival of the Blue. The Saipan Blog has previously hosted Carnival of the Blue IV, Carnival of the Blue XVI and Carnival of the Blue XXVIII.

*A big thanks to underwater photographer and dive instructor Harry Blalock for letting me use his photo. If you ever find yourself on Saipan in need of a dive guide: http://www.axemurderertours.com/

FMI 9th Sunday cleanup for the Mobil project

Friends of the Mariana Islands will be at the Lau-Lau Road to do the cleanup for the Mobil project tomorrow morning,dated July 18, 2010. start at 8:00AM up to 12:PM. Anyone that interested to give their support for this environmental project are always welcome to our group.

Contact person: Ms. Marites A. Castillo/FMI President
Contact Number: 234-9769 or 285-8980

facebook.com/beautifycnmi

Follow Beautify CNMI on Facebook

Our young volunteers

Betty Matson looks really tired picking up trash. Annika and Carlyn are just having fun picking up trash! thanks girls for your effort and hope to see you again for the next cleanup.

FMI-MOBIL 2010 Environmental Project

Ang unang araw nang aming environmental project funded by Mobil Oil Mariana Islands, Inc. Muli na naman po kaming nagpapasalamat sa walang sawang suporta nang MOBIL sa aming grupo.

Our FMI member

Ang aming volunteer Precy Ramboanga ay walang sawang nagbibigay nang kanyang dalawang oras every weekends para sa paglilinis at patuloy na pag aalaga sa ating inang kalikasan. Umula at umaraw ang FMI Group Volunteers makikita sa lansangan para mamulot nang basura sa mga tabi nang daan.

FMI will start the MOBIL Project

This coming Sunday Friends of the Mariana Islands will start the 2010 Mobil Environmental project at Lau-Lau Road down to the beach. All members and volunteers are welcome to arrive and joint at the bus stop (the one at the top of Lau Lua drive) at 8:00 AM (May 16th). We will be needed until about 11:00 AM. The type of volunteer work will be bush cutting (equipment provided) and general clearing/cleaning of the Lua Lua road itself. This cleanup effort is funded by Mobil who we thank for providing equipment, supplies and fuel for the effort. Thank you in advance for your help in the project.

Marites Aquino Castillo
2010-2012 FMI President/Chairwomen
Contact #: 234-9769 or 285-8980
Email Add: castillofmi@gmail.com

2010 NATIONAL PARENT LEADERSHIP MONTH AWARDEES

Ms. Marites Aquino Castillo, 2nd from the right, sharing the Plaque of Recognation 2010 NATIONAL PARENT LEADERSHIP with teacher BEA of Joshua Generation International Academy.
Ms. Marites Aquino Castillo, 2nd from the right, and Mr. Bernadine Marcelo, 3rd from the right, sharing their Plaque's of Recognation with the Teachers and Principal of the Joshua Generation International Academy.

2010 MOBIL Donation to FMI Environmental Project

Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) President/Chairwomen Ms. Marites Aquino Castillo, 3rd from the left, accept $2,000 check from Mobil Oil Mariana Islands, Inc. President and Country Manager, Mr. Gennaro Cioffi, 1st from the right, and Field Operations Manager (CNMI) Mr. Anthony Wenceslao, 1st from the left. Also present was the FMI youngest Environmental Volunteer, Betty Castillo Matson, 2nd from the right, and FMI Treasurer Mrs. Myrna Manzano, The Donation will be use to continue the Environmental Cleanup Project at Lau-Lau Beach and Road.

FMI Schedule for the monthly Cleanup

The Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) will be conducting Beach monthly cleanup on March 14, 2010 at Lau-Lau Beach South. Start at 8:00 AM till 10:00 AM. We are calling for everyone who's interested to give his/her two hours volunteer time for community services. FMI President will provide Water to drink and Snack for the volunteers.

Thank you and hope to see you all on the 14th of March, 2010 at 8:00 AM.

A VERY PROUD PARTNER OF BEAUTIFY CNMI!
Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI)

Contact Person: Ms. Marites A. Castillo - FMI President/Chairwomen
Contact #: (670) 285-8980

FMI PRESIDENT 40TH BIRTHDAY

Congratulations madam!

Happy 40th Birthday and may you have many more birthdays to come. May the LORD GOD BLESS YOU always and may you stay sweet as you are! Stay young and happy as always. We love you very much madam.

It's a very simple birthday celebration together with her husband BILL and close friends MR. GUS and MS. CINTA KAIPAT.

Congratulations to the FMI newly elected officers and BOD

A Group Pictures of the FMI for the 1st time in 2010 get together


2010-2012 Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) Officers and Board of Directors:

Marites Aquino Castillo ------------------ President/Chairwomen
Francisco Flores Jr. ------------------ V-President/V-Chairman
Lynda Perez ------------------ Secretary
Myrna Manzano ------------------ Treasurer
Melecia Marquez ------------------ Bus. Manager
Perlita L. Castillo ------------------ Asst. Bus. Manager
Malou S. Bansil ------------------ Auditor
Roben Bachicha ------------------ Marshall - I
Presila Ramboanga ------------------ Marshall - II

Board of Director Members

Mike Valencia ------------------ BOD Secretary
Roben Bachicha ------------------ BOD Member
Camilo D. Laoeng ------------------ BOD Member

On behalf of my fellow Officers and Directors, from the bottom of my heart, we would like to thank all the members who voted for us! It's always a pleasure to serve each and everyone in our group but most specially to the community of Saipan.

Again, Thank you! (maraming-maraming salamat po).

FMI Election

Ang Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) ay magkakaruon nang election para sa mga bagong Officers at board of directors ngayong February 14, 2010 at San Vicente Village, 2:00pm. We also would like to invite everyone to please come and join our dynamic group. any nationality, as long as you love to give times for the community services, like beach & road cleanup.

Hope to see you all!

2010 FMI schedules for the monthly cleanup

Friends of the Mariana Islands schedules for the 2010 Lau-Lau beach cleanup!


1st Sunday of the month:
February 7, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
March 14, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month
April 11,2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month
May 9, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
June 13,2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
July 11, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
August 8, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month
September 12, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
October 10, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
November 14, 2010
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am

2nd Sunday of the month:
December 12, 2010
Time: 8;00am to 10:00am