Beautify CNMI Mailing List

Are you on the Beautify CNMI mailing list?

Every Monday morning I send out a summary of the weekend's activites. On Thursdays I send out the upcoming weekend's activities. If there is a meeting on a particular day, I send out a meeting reminder.

If you are not on the list and you would like to be, please email Angelo at angelovillagomez at gmail dot com.

Here is my update from this morning:

Good Monday Morning,

We had several successful events over the weekend.

On Friday, we announced the winners of the Photo Contest to raise awareness of the Micronesia Challenge and over 30 people participated in a public forum discussing Marine Protected Areas and Coral Reefs. On Saturday, the members of the Student Action for a Viable Environment clubs cleaned up the beach in Chalan Kanoa and one of the pocket beaches in Dandan. On Sunday, Friends of the Mariana Islands cleaned up Dandan Road. The Lion's Club was also out this weekend cleaning up their adopted spot along Beach Road (sorry, I forgot if that was Saturday or Sunday).

There will be a Parks & Trails meeting this Thursday at 1 PM. The meeting is in the USDA Conference Room, on the first floor of the DY Buidling in Garapan on Beach Road. If you have questions, please contact Ken Kramer, RC&D Coordinator, at 236-0893.

This Saturday we should be planting the last of our Flame Trees...I just don't know where yet.

This Sunday we will be in the Garapan Tourist District. Our cleanup meets at the AMP Parking lot and begins at 8 AM.

Have a great week!

Angelo

New FMI Member

Joan at Ashier
Welcome to FMI Ms. Joan Santos. Maraming salamat saiyong pagsama at pagpasyang sumali sa aming grupo, naway madama mo ang init ng aming pagtanggap at pagmamahal saiyo bilang kapatid at kasamahan sa grupo. Ganoon din saiyong kapatid na si Mrs. Malou Bansil at sa kanyang anak na si Ashier, maraming salamat.

Rain or Shine FMI are on the go for cleanup

Kuha ito ni Mr. Angelo habang kami'y nakasunod sa Pick Up at FMI volunteers.

FMI are on the go for helping hands this morning!

Kuha Ito ng masayang grupo ng FMI pagkatapos ng cleanup kaninang umaga, kasama si Mr. Angelo Villagomez.

Ang FMI ay naglinis sa may Airport road hanggang sa may Dandan Elem. School. Ito ang larawan ng mga kasamahan ko habang naghahandang magsimula sa aming paglilinis. Ang lugar na ito ay adop ng Chora Talo group, pero dahil sa hinde nila pagdating kaninang umaga, kami'y nagpatuloy sa aming paglilinis sa kanilang lugar na inadop. Ang Chora Talo Group ay aming mga kasamahan din sa FMI kaya kami'y kasama nila sa ano mang oras na kailangan nila. Maraming salamat kay Angelo Villagomez (MINA Executive Director)sa kanyang pagdating at pagtulong sa amin kaninang umaga. Maraming salamat sa RC&D Coordinator Mr. Ken Kramer sa mga T-Shirts na kanilang ibinigay para sa aming grupo, Sympre hinde namen nakamit itong mga T-Shirts na ito kung hinde dahil sa aming patuloy na pagvovolunteers. Patuloy na nagsusumikap ang aming grupo para kami'y lalo pang makita at sana'y tularan ng ibang grupo sa aming pagvovolunteers. Si Angelo ang aming naging tulay para sa aming matagumpay na grupo. kami'y nakilala dahil sa aming tiaga at patuloy na pagmamalasakit sa Isla ng Saipan.
Kahit umuulan kanina hinde ito naging hadlang upang matigil ang aming pamumulot ng basura at talagang napabilib si Angelo sa grupo. Masaya at sadyang tunay na magkakapatid ang turingan ng bawat isa, kaya naman kami'y lubos na nagpapasalamat sa ating puong may kapal sa mga biyayang ipinagkaloob niya sa aming lahat sa grupong ito. Pagkatapos naming naglinis kanina, kami'y sama-samang nagsipagluto sa aming tahanan at salu-salung kumain ng tanghalian. Mayron kaming Bible Study kaninang hapon at aming spiritual advisor na si Mrs. Rose Adams ang siyang nag lead sa amin kanina. Napakaligaya at kaayaayang pagmasdan ang ganitong grupo, kahit anong problema pa siguro pag ganitong maganda ang samahan ang lahat ng problema ay mawawala

Missy and Connor

Missy and Connor are the members of Beautify CNMI!

FMI schedules

Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI)
Schedules for the month of September 2007

1st Sunday of the month -------- September 2, 2007
Garapan Tourist District.
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am
Meeting place Memorial Park at the Parking lot

2nd Sunday of the month ------- September 9, 2007
ISA Drive; From NMC to Botanical Garden
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am
Meeting place at the front of San Vicente Elem. School

3rd Sunday of the month ------- September 16, 2007
Lau-Lau Beach
Time: 8:00am to 10:00am
Metting place at the Bus Stop along the road ISA Drive.

Anyone that interested to help for the Beatification of the Island please come and join us every sunday.

FMI Members

Wing Beach Cleanup

A group picture for FMI, MINA, RC&D, A Proud Prtners of Beautify CNMI
Ito ang aming larawan kaninang umaga pagkatapos ng aming cleanup sa Wing Beach.

Deputy Assistand Secretary for Insular Affairs David Cohen meet with FMI President Marites A. Castillo and two other people

Isang inbitasyon na hinde ko inasahan ang aking natanggap kahapon at ito'y ang makipagkita at makipagpulong kay Deputy Assistant Secretary David Cohen. Napakalaking pasalamat ko na sa pagkakataong ito muli akong nagkaruon ng pakikipag-usap sa kanya ng personal at nakita ko sa kanya ang senseridad sa kanyang trabaho na inatas sa kanya ng US. Napaganda ang naging takbo ng aming meeting. Tinanong ako ni david tungkol sa aking blog at sympre pati itong FMI blog, nakakatuwa dahil pamilyar ako sa kanya, pati ang mga blogs na ginawa ko, pati mga comments ko sa aking kaibigan na si Angelo ay alam din niya. Kaya maraming salamat sa aking kaibigan na si Angelo Villagomez dahil sa aking blog na patuloy na sinusubaybayan ni David nakilala niya ako ng husto. Malaking bagay talaga ang ganitong may blog!

Pagpintura sa school

Nita Mateo
Hemmmm! look really easy for you ah, pero mahirap ang ginagawa mo. Thank you sa iyong pagvolunteer. Ang Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) ay tumulong sa pagpintura sa classroom ni Mr. Jeff Turbitt noong Saturday afternoon, at masaya kami na nakatulong muli.

A group of friendly and happy people

BEAUTIFY CNMI!!!
Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) did the cleanup @ ISA Drive this morning (from San Vicente Elem. School to Botanical Garden Papago) together with the Staffs of Represintative Cinta Kaipat, Dennis Cabrera and Kyle Kaipat, Ms. Juanita Fajardo, Adam Sablan, Beverly, and Chora Talo group. From the bottom of our hearts thank you everyone for helping us today on our cleanup.

FMI V-President

Ito ang aming mabait at masipag na V-President na si Diomedes Duculan, kasama ang isa pa naming FMI member.

Garapan Tourist District Cleanup

Ang Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) ay naglinis noong linggo sa dating monthly schedule. Ang nasa larawan ay sina Precy at Zeny parehong members ng FMI.

Carnival of the Blue III

A post on my personal blog was included in Carnival of the Blue III, hosted on Rick MacPherson's blog Malaria, Bedbugs, Sea Lice, and Sunsets. Carnival of the Blue is a roundup of a month's worth of the best ocean blogging on the Internet.

The Saipan Blog will host Carnival of the Blue IV on September 3. I am currently looking for contributors. Please publish your post and email me the link at angelovillagomez at g mail dot com. Once I publish the carnival, all you have to do in return is to add a link to it in a post on your blog. It is a great way to build traffic and connect with other bloggers interested in ocean issues.

Obyan Baeach Cleanup

Group Photo
Kaninang umaga naglinis ang Beautify CNMI members, pinangunahan nila Rep. Cinta Kaipat at Angelo Villagomez, Chura Talo group, NMC Students, HPO, at Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI). nandoon din ang dating boss the HPO na si Mr. Epe Cabrera, Missy and family. Nagsimula kami ng alas otso, natapos kami ng alas onsi ng tanghali. Napakasarap ng pakiramdam pagkatapos na maglinis. 12 years na ako sa Saipan pero kanina ko lang narating ang Obyan Beach, napagandang lugar very peaceful.

My answer to Mr. Maicle

I am again responding to the Article in today's issue of MAHARLIKA. Current MOVER Inc. President Mr. Ernesto Maicle, said - he is surprised that as a former President of MOVER Inc. is raising the issue. "what is the point to all of this?" Mr. Maicle asked.

Well, my answer to this issue is, Miles Fernandez publicly mention my name and not only that, she accusing me of things that i didn't do. I have the right to answer that issue. If MOVER Inc. really exists I don't think I would be able stop their existence, beside I have no time for MOVER Inc. nonsense, specially to those people that also nonsense. I do understand what is right and what is wrong and I am very proud that I have done what is best for me. I have really seen all the problems of MOVER Inc. since 2004 and I know all the answer to all the problems that are cause every year. I am not really surprised that they keep mentioning all the awards of MOVER Inc. It is all about the awards they really after though the people that actually did the work did receive the awards so only those that were not active now wants the awards that others worked for. If you really respect the people who had formed MOVER Inc. and if you want the Filipino Guest Workers of the CNMI to be united, why did all of you not attempt to continue the environmental work that we had done as members of MOVER? Instead you "rested" (though you never worked in the first place) while the active environmentalist continued to work as members of FMI.

If some people in Mover Inc. have a problem with me, they are welcome anytime to speak with me. Please, theirs no need to put our names or the names of our Organization in the media. Thank you for your cooperation.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

JUST A SIMPLE CLARIFICATION

I must respond to the Article in the July 28, 2007 MAHARLIKA edition regarding MOVER Inc. As President of MOVER Inc. during 2006-2007 (the time frame that MOVER Inc. won the most prestigious environmental awards), I can not help but inform the community that those members of MOVER Inc. during that time frame who worked on cleanup projects were all given personal awards from the USDA and that none of the current MOVER members, including the President, V-Presidents, or Chairman of the Board receive any of those awards. However, all the members of the FRIENDS OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS (FMI) who were in MOVER Inc. during 2006-2007 received the awards. This means that those who worked all became members of FRIENDS OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS (FMI) while those who did not work remained in MOVER. It is interesting that those that did not work needed a rest, while those that did work continue to do so under FRIENDS OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS (FMI) and continue to receive awards in 2007, Including GOVERNOR'S BEAUTIFY CNMI ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARD AWARD.

It also should be known by the community that the formal reason that the majority of the members of MOVER Inc. voted in March 2007 to dissolved MOVER Inc. was caused by the actions of the then Chairwoman of the Board Miles Fernandez. As chairwoman of the board in 2006 she did nothing but to create problem in MOVER Inc. and she took actions against the wishes of the majority of MOVER Inc. members and in violation of the By-Laws of the Organization. Her actions resulted in a vote to remove her as chairwoman and to dissolved MOVER Inc. as a corporation. In fact, unless there has been a change in the last couple of weeks, MOVER Inc. does not officially exist as an Organization with a current Business Licence. One more thing, in the By-Laws of MOVER Inc. (article IV; section 2) you must be 6 consecutive months active members of the Corporation and have a good moral character. I ask you, does an officer who violates the wishes of the majority of the members and violates the By-Laws have a good moral character? Who among of the current MOVER Inc. officers, board of the directors, or members have six consecutive month's active members? Not even one! the majority of the members with six consecutive months of active service in MOVER Inc. 2006-2007 are those who formed the FRIENDS OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS (FMI). Put that on the records.

Miles Fernandez by publicly naming me and accusing me for forming the FRIENDS OF THE MARIANA ISLANDS (FMI), you will be responsible for what you have said and done. I have a positive public name, unlike you! If you want publicity don't use me or my name because I have DIGNITY ang INTEGRITY. I don't like people who are users like you. I became what i am, not because of the other people, but because of my accomplishments.


Marites Aquino Castillo
FMI President
A Proud Partner of Beautify CNMI!

New look of the drainage

"Directors: Roben Bachicha and Camilo Laoeng"
This is a new pictures of the Drainage, at the Corner MSGR. Martinez Street and MSGR. Guerrero Street which Friends of the Mariana Islands (FMI) did the cleanup two months ago. It's really great to see this drainage that is free from all kinds of trash after the cleanup. The intersection of this area now seems safe specially during the rainy season. There's no more trash on the road! Can't really believe it! The people who just move in to the house that was abondone for a long time help the drainage by placing cement to the edge of there property which was part of the drainage problem in the area everytime there's a heavy rain. We thank you very much Mobil for the financial support without which the drainage would still be a major problem at that intersection.