QUEEN MARY 2 KEPT FROM LANDING AT CNMI PORT
Inclement weather on seas ruins welcome activities

By Raquel C. Bagnol

SAIPAN, CNMI (Marianas Variety, March 16, 2012) – Only empty streets and vacant parking lots could be seen Thursday morning at Smiling Cove Marina in the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), which was expected to be the drop-off and pick-up point for the passengers and crew members of the Queen Mary 2.

Due to rough weather, which created six to eight feet swells and white caps, weeks of planning and preparing the island for the luxury ship’s arrival were turned to naught.

By 9 a.m. Thursday, vendors had already dismantled their tents, and Smiling Cove Marina, which was supposed to be closed until 5 p.m., was reopened for normal operations.

In a press conference at the Boating Safety Office at the marina, CNMI Homeland Security adviser and task force security leader Marvin K. Seman said the boat captain informed them that the passengers were not going to disembark because of the rough seas.

The 1,132-foot ship arrived in Saipan’s waters at 4:45 a.m.

Seman said a team of government security and health representatives boarded the Cunard ocean liner for "clearing" purposes after a boat ride that took almost two and a half hours.

Seman said they took a quick tour of the ship.

"She’s beautiful," he said. "It’s hard to describe. It was like we were transported to another place, and there was no sign that it was a rough sea out there."

He said the Emergency Management Office issued a small craft advisory Thursday morning.

Seman said that planning for the ship’s arrival started 19 months ago. Over 50 security personnel from the Department of Public Safety and other agencies worked together to ensure that the land and water area would be safe for the passengers.

"This is one of the biggest cruise ships in the world, and it always attracts media attention everywhere it goes," he added. "We were ready for all contingencies, but the rough weather condition was something we had no control over."

Commonwealth Ports Authority ports manager Mary Ann Q. Lizama said "we know everyone was excited because this is the Queen Mary 2, and disappointment cannot be avoided, but we agreed that the safety of the passengers is the main priority."

Cunard ships, she added, are still interested in making another visit to Saipan in the next two or three years.

"We had the Queen Victoria docking here in 2009, and this is not the last time we will hear from the Cunard fleet," Lizama said.

Asked if the lack of tug boats was the real reason for the decision not to ferry passengers to Saipan, Lizama said no.

"The QM2 has a draft of 33 feet, and there is a section at our turning basin that has a shallow draft of 32 feet, 31 feet, and 30 feet. We did not want to risk having her run aground. She has an extensive length that would not have allowed her to make the turn. So it was decided that she would drop anchor in a designated anchorage that had deep water draft," she added.

"Whether or not the tugs [which are owned by a private company] were available or were lacking, we wouldn’t have had the QM2. The captain and navigator of the QM2 would not have come in dock side," she said.

Marianas Visitors Authority Managing Director Perry Tenorio said the disappointment everyone experienced, especially the vendors, was understandable.

"We had a really good turnout of vendors who showed up to sell food items, handicrafts and local products. Everyone was excited but we have to take the safety of the visitors into consideration," Tenorio told the Variety.

Except for one passenger who was transported to the local airport for medical reasons, no other passenger was able to set foot on Saipan soil.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce executive director Richard Pierce said those involved in preparing for the ship’s arrival "feel this is a great loss for the thousands of international travelers who will miss the chance to experience our paradise."

He added, "This is indeed unfortunate for all those that prepared for this rare opportunity, and businesses that looked forward to putting Saipan on the map for future international cruise line visits."

But the rough sea did not prevent images of the Queen Mary 2 from being posted by Saipan residents on Facebook Thursday. The Queen Mary 2 dropped anchor about a mile and a half from Saipan’s shores at 5:15 a.m., and left at 10 a.m.

Its next port of call is Osaka, Japan.

Also published HERE

2012 Businessperson of the Year nominees

FOUR prominent individuals from the community will be vying for the Businessperson of the Year Award for 2012.

The announcement of the winner will be during the installation dinner for the officers and directors of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce in the Hibiscus Hall of Fiesta Resort & Spa on Jan. 21.

Saipan Chamber of Commerce executive director Richard A.  Pierce said the selection will be done by former awardees.

Pierce said the judging will be based on the nominee’s community involvement and contributions, support for the local workforce and active participation in the chamber.

And the nominees are…

James T. Arenovski
President
Delta Management Corp.

Arenovski has lived in the Marianas since 1987.  Originally from Yarmouth, Massachusetts, he holds a Master’s Degree in Administration from Georgia Southern University.

Arenovski started his career with The Inter-Pacifica Group as special projects manager for Pacific Islands Club-Guam and then became the area manager for Domino’s Pizza Group in Guam in 1989.

Initially hired by Shell Guam in 1991 as commercial area manager, he was promoted to the position of Saipan area manager and eventually became regional manager for Shell North Pacific, which included Guam, Saipan, and Palau.

Arenovski formed Delta Management Corporation with his two partners in 1998, a management company, which currently operates eight Shell service stations. This year Delta Management took over the operations of Shell Puerto Rico and Shell Highway from IP&E.

Delta Management also owns Prime Group Inc., which is an authorized distributor of pre-paid telecommunications products.

Delta Management was awarded Master Distributorship for DataDot for Micronesia in October of 2010, a microdot technology that is applied to objects of value for authentication and identification is stolen.

Arenovski is the principal of Island Training Solutions a full service training company which provides OSHA and EEOC compliance, customer service and other staff and management development training programs. He is also managing director for Restaurant 360.

Arenovski founded The Bridge Project Inc. in 2011, a non-profit organization that provides entry level job readiness training as well as works with employers in assisting them increase the number of U.S. eligible workers.

Arenovski has served on the board of NMI Crime Stoppers for 11 years and as its chairman, and sits on the board of directors of Crime Stoppers International, the steering group that sets standards, policy for its 1200 plus member organizations around the world.

Arenovski has chaired the Chamber membership and small business committee, education committee and scholarship committee.  He has been director, secretary, president and vice president.

Arenovski helped create two of the chamber’s annual programs: The Saipan Chamber of Commerce fundraising golf tournament, and “You are Graduating Soon, Now What?”  where Chamber members spend a Saturday teaching juniors and seniors about their options after high school.

Arenovski has been committed to hiring local staff for his business since Delta Management since 1999. He is active in the local sport community, participating in Xterra, Tagaman, The Hell of the Marianas and various distance swimming events and is a supporter of various sports and charitable organizations. Arenovski is the father of two teenage girls and married to Jill M Arenovski.

Michael S. Johnson
Managing Partner
Deloitte & Touche
Saipan/Palau

Michael S. Johnson is a long-time resident of Saipan who held the position of chamber treasurer for three consecutive terms in the early 1990’s. He has been the treasurer of the chamber since 2005.

Johnson came to Saipan in 1982 after earning masters of business administration (emphasis in accounting) and bachelor of arts degrees at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

He is a certified public accountant, a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, a member of the CNMI Society of Certified Public Accountants and current President of the CNMI Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants. Additionally, Johnson was selected by Bishop Camacho to serve on the financial advisory committee of the Diocese of Chalan Kanoa and is a past chairman of the CNMI Board of Accountancy.

Johnson participates in various sports including golf, kayaking, biking and triathlon. Mike is the current treasurer of the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation and the Over the Reef Yacht Club.

Johnson is married to Betty Hamilton Johnson. They have three children: Kathleen, Sarah and Andrew.

James E. Nelson
General Manager,
Docomo-Pacific CNMI

James E. Nelson was appointed to his position on March 2, 2009.  He is responsible for marketing, sales, administration and the day to day operations of Docomo Pacific in the CNMI.

Prior to his appointment at Docomo Pacific, Nelson was manager of Windward Hills Golf Course and managed golf course operations; as senior business development executive for the Royal Orchid Guam Hotel and was responsible for direct sales of rooms and food and beverage functions before he moved to the Windward Hills Golf Course.

In March 2005, Nelson was the director of marketing and sales for JMSH LLC where he was responsible for the marketing and sales efforts of all JMSH LLC properties, which included the Alupang Beach Tower, Holiday Resort Guam, Garden Villa Hotel, Mai’Ana Airport Plaza and Tumon Horizon Condominiums.

Nelson was the general manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau from 1995 to 2003. His responsibilities also include operational and marketing efforts of the bureau’s branch office in Tokyo, Japan, information desk in Osaka, and marketing representative offices in North America, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

From March 1988 to January 1995, Nelson served as the director of marketing and government affairs for Continental Micronesia Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines.

He began his 11-year tenure in 1984 with the airline’s in-flight department as a passenger service representative.  Two years later, he transferred to the marketing and government affairs department as a sales and marketing/OnePass representative.

Nelson also directed the airline’s efforts in maintaining favorable relations with the government of Guam, the CNMI and the emerging nations of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.

Nelson served as president of the Guam Junior Golf League and as a board member for Guam Junior Achievement, Guam Crime Stoppers, Guam Major League, American Red Cross, Guam Chamber of Commerce, and the University of Guam Endowment Foundation.

Nelson served as a member of the board of directors of the Pacific Asia Travel Association or PATA from 1995 to 2000, and as Chairman of the PATA Micronesia Chapter from 1996 to 1999.  He also served as a member of the PATA Environmental Council.

Nelson studied at Fairfield High School (California), Solano Community College (California), and the University of Guam.  He has one daughter, Nicole.

Anthony Pellegrino
Chief Executive Officer
Saipan Sea Ventures, Inc.

Anthony Pellegrino started his business ventures on Saipan in 1984. He currently owns and operates Saipan Sea Ventures Inc, a boat operation in tourism; Saipan Ice and Water Co., Inc., which processes drinking water and ice; Saipan Aquaculture Inc., shrimp farming; and the Northern Marianas Trade Institute, a non-profit trade school.

He is president and shareholder of Arctic Circle Air; Cargo airline, Marianas Meat Processing and slaughterhouse. Pellegrino developed several projects on Saipan. He was instrumental in having the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library built, in developing and building the Horiguchi Building, developing and building Outer Cove Mariana. He was also the construction manager for Aqua Resort Club.

Pellegrino was a member of the CNMI Board of Education, and during his term of four years was instrumental in building 60 classrooms and five schools. He started the Advanced Development Institute for high school student dropouts to obtain their diplomas, started the Northern Marianas Trade Institute — a non-profit school for teaching trades to the local people.

He also built a large 85-foot sailing catamaran in 1984 in Saipan and is operating the first shrimp farm on island.

Pellegrino attended Kutztown State Teachers College, Kutztown,   Penn. He got his master of arts in liberal arts at the Temple University, in Philadelphia, Penn.

Pellegrino was a public school teacher for 12 years — six years teaching in the United States and six years teaching in Japan. He was an instructor at the University of Maryland, Japan for four years at the Department of Writing and Literature, and two years in Yokohama University, at the Economics Department in Yokohama, Japan.

Pellegrino is the former president of the Small Business Association in Hawaii, former chairman and director of the CNMI Board of Education, former president of the chamber of commerce, and former member of the Rotary Club

Pellegrino established, owned and operated three businesses in Japan for 16 years, and established and operated two businesses in Hawaii.

He was voted as Businessman of the Year 2010. Pellegrino is married to Milagros P. Pellegrino.

20,000th Russian guest arrives on Saipan

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A RUSSIAN couple and their 7-year-old son received a big surprise when they were welcomed as the 20,000th guest to arrive on Saipan at the Pacific Islands Club on Jan. 3.

Hotel representatives including Elly Stoilova, PIC marketing manager for web/Russia/CIS said that Anatoly, Irina Nagaytsev and their son Ilya received a variety of gifts and surprises including a nicely decorated room with welcome refreshments, complimentary room nights, discounts, toys and souvenirs for the family, a special event at the Seaside Grill and a tree-planting commemorative ceremony prior to their sunset dinner.

Stoilova said that the 20,000th guest arrival marked another milestone  in 15 years of catering to the Russian emerging market.

She said  the Nagaytsey family from Yakutsk, Russia who are repeater guests to the island will be staying until the end of the month.

“We didn’t know until the very last moment which family would be the lucky ones due to arrival date revisions for many Russian customers as snow storms across Russia have cancelled and delayed flights,” Stoilova said.

She added that they are happy to see Saipan repeater guests were the lucky ones as this is also a great way to thank them for choosing the island as their destination again.

“It allows us another wonderful opportunity to create more unforgettable memories on their Saipan holiday,” Stoilova said.

PIC welcomed its 10,000th Russian visitor in Oct. 2008. Stoilova said it took the hotel only three more years to attract another 10,000 customers from Russia.

She said the celebration of this milestone occurs just two weeks prior to Guam becoming a visa-free destination for Russian tourists.

“We hope the unique qualities that the CNMI has to offer all visitors as a destination will keep attracting valuable Russian guests for the unforeseeable future,” Stoilova said.

PIC thanks all the supporters and establishments that helped to make the Nagaytsey family stay here more memorable.

The Nagaytsevs are invited to enjoy a SandCastle Cocktail show and a “Stars & Stripes” sunset dinner cruise. They will also savor a Sunday Brunch at the Hyatt Regency and a chance to dine at Tony Roma’s, Capricciosa, Truong’s and Restaurant 360.

Hertz Rent a Car donated a Suzuki Grand Vitara for two days so the family can visit their favorite island’s scenic spots. Tasi Tours will also host the family to experience the beauty of Managaha. Pacific Subsea will help them to explore the underwater world of Saipan in the Deepstar submarine.

The Nagaytsevs will be pampered at the Mandi Asia Spa with a massage and they will race the go-carts at the Mariana Resort & Spa.

In addition, Stoilova said DFS has prepared an amazing luxury set and Joeten offered a selection with island souvenirs for the family. Lollipops surprised the Nagaytsev’s son with a set of collectable toy skateboards.

Stoilova said  since 1996, PIC has gone all out in developing the growing Russian tourism market including improving its Russian language website and island guidebook, as well as online social media accounts with current events and promotions with thorough CNMI travel information which provides answers to questions for those seeking a tropical holiday for the family.

PIC is the first hotel to translate into Russian all in-house information and collateral 10 years ago as well as enhance services for the Russian traveler by adding a DVD and book library.

“Today, PIC accommodates the needs of the growing Russian visitors with nine Russian staff,” Stoilova said. PIC, she added, is living the MTEC’s motto, “Tourism is everybody’s business.”

Published HERE

Over $80M worth of advertising exposure for the NMI in 2011

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WORD travels quickly by mouth, and the best way to advertise and entice people to come and experience the CNMI as an island resort is to hear it direct from those who have been here.

From January to December last year, the CNMI through the initiatives of the Marianas Visitors Authority hogged the limelight in several media outlets including newspapers, magazines, and Television shows, resulting in an advertising exposure worth $80 million and more for the year.

TV hosts, writers, photographers all the way from Korea, Japan, Russia and other places had a feast packing as much coverage as they could and dipping into the total island experience from a few days to over a week. The media visitors experienced the island culture, culinary delights, underwater wonders, visited historical sites and everything that the CNMI has to offer.

A look back

In January last year, Happie Nuts Magazine, a popular female fashion magazine held a location shoot and a night club event at the GIG Discotheque. MVA assisted the familiarization, or FAM, tour which was expected to bring over $141,000 in ad exposure value to the CNMI.

In February, showing the movie “Oba: the Last Samurai” which chronicling the story of Sakae Oba, the last member of the Japanese Imperial Army to surrender to U.S. forces more than a year after the Battle of the Marianas ended was expected to receive over $22 million in media exposure.

The CNMI got another $100,000 ad exposure value after it was given full-page feature by The Japan Times in their March 20, 2011 issue, and a four-page article in a luxury magazine published by custom media for their spring edition.

In April 2011, seven daily newspapers from South Korea —Chosun Ilbo, Joongang Ilbo, Kukmin Ilbo, Kyunghyang Shinmum, Naeil Shinmum, Money Today, and The Sports Chosun sent editorial teams on Saipan to introduce this island resort destination to their 11-million readers.   The ad exposure value of the FAM tour coverage was estimated at $200,000.

In May last year, the CNMI received over $6 million in ad exposure arising from FAM tours of different media outlets including a crew from the television travel documentary series Globe Trekker (formerly Lonely Planet), the world’s most watched TV travel show since 1998 arrived on Saipan and worked on a 5-10 minute segment on Saipan and Tinian, a crew of the Korean sitcom “All my Love” to tape episodes of the show on Managaha, San Antonio Beach, Bird Island, and Banzai Cliff for 90 minutes of air time at an estimated ad value of over $4.2 million, and the monthly travel magazine Travie for a 12-page feature in the islands focusing on the culinary culture and local events.

The 3rd Saipan International Open Water Flipper Race Tournament on Managaha in June last year also attracted Jiji.com, one of Japan’s leading news wire agencies which was expected to give the CNMI an estimated ad value exposure of $28,000.

Popular Russian TV host Michael Shirvindt featured the CNMI and its uniqueness in his highly rated show “Hochu Znat” which airs to 250 million viewers in Russian, former Soviet republics, Asia, Australia and the U.S. was expected to bring an estimated $45 million in publicity.

Writers and photographers from Chunichi Shimbun, Gifu Shimbun, lifestyle magazines, CHEEK and SPY GIRL, and Golf Masters participated in a 3-day whirlwind tour of the island in August last year, contributing to provide a total media exposure estimated at almost $400,000.

Far East Russia TV who visited the CNMI in November last year produced an air segment that will be aired over the next six months and brought the island $250,000 worth of advertising exposure.

Last month, Global Travel News, Korea Travel News, Korea Travel Times, and Travel & Leisure — all travel trade newspapers targeting travel agents, while AM7 is a free morning tabloid distributed at Korea’s subways to the general public visited the islands and enjoyed the beauty of the island.

The FAM tour is expected to give the CNMI $30,000 worth of advertising coverage.

Also last month, Korea’s MBC TV’S “Live Today Busan” visited for a location shoot that was expected to bring over $1 million of international exposure value.

All these familiarization tours and exposure are expected to lure more tourists to come and taste the CNMI experience.

New Year to spark more interest in Zumba

WITH more people aiming to lose weight and taking care of their health as part of their New Year’s resolutions, more individuals are expected to take interest in Zumba, a fitness class introduced to Saipan last year.

Elly Stoilova, a licensed Zumba Fitness instructor at Gold’s Gym, said her class  continues to gain popularity since its introduction in April last year.

She said there are five classes weekly and most of the participants are women of different ages and shapes.

“I expect now, with the New Year Resolution season, to see more participants,” Stoilova said.

Zumba is a calorie-burning dance fitness party that is effective, exhilarating, Latin-inspired, and easy-to-follow.

“Zumba achieves the perfect balance of a progressive core workout, full-body cardio and strength training, and a stress-relieving, energy-producing fitness experience,” Stoilova said.

It is common knowledge that a vast majority of New Year’s resolutions are “forgotten” eventually. They are easier made and said than done, but Stoilova  believes that setting realistic goals and rewarding yourself when you overcome a fitness challenge can help a lot in keeping with your resolutions.

Keeping up with your health resolutions is a real challenge for a lot of people. It is easy to fall prey to the hundred and one alibis why you could not join the Zumba Fitness program today.

“My tips for fitness success —don’t quit if you drop the ball. Admit you did it and carry on the plan you have, do not negotiate with yourself for another hour of sleep. Don’t say ‘not this morning.’Love the person you see in the mirror the way he/she is and do everything in her/his best interest,” Stoilova said.

Living the program

Stoilova’s life is the story of how the Zumba program affects one’s life positively.

Weighing 178 pounds, Stoilova resolved to begin her own journey toward a slimmer self as her New Year’s resolution in January last year.

“My goal was to become fit, lose weight and be healthier, which brought me to the Gold’s Gym Challenge. Since the challenge, I have continuously exercised week after week through the entire 2011,” Stoilova said.

She shed 25 pounds mostly because of her dedication and perseverance.

She credits her success to Zumba Fitness and her personal trainer Brett Nelson.

Stoilova said  each time she puts on her workout clothes, she immediately feels the pulse of Latin rhythms in her veins. She said  even as she is dressing up, her heart starts to beat faster and happiness takes the place of stress and worry as she anticipates another enjoyable and exciting session of Zumba.

Stoilova does Zumba five times a week, dreaming of it and enjoying the fun of sweating the calories off and grooving to the bustling Latin sounds.
She supplements her workouts with stretching and pilates.

“I can see my pounds and size melting each week,” she said.

It takes discipline, however, to wake up in the morning and go to the gym.

About the program

Zumba uses an exhilarating cardiovascular approach to torch fat and calories (400 to 900 cal per hour), whittle your middle, and sculpt your hips, butt and thighs.

The program is a contagious blend of Latin and international rhythms that provide a fun and effective workout to a global community and has helped to melt the pounds and inches off 12 million Zumba-enthusiasts in 125 countries.

The workout provides long-term fitness benefits through exhilarating, high calorie-burning fitness classes and its simple Latin and international dance moves increase the fun factor. The routines feature fast and slow rhythms which, when combined, successfully tone and sculpt the body while burning fat.    Music is Zumba’s special motivational ingredient.

Stoilova said the Zumba class members were part of the Saipan Zumba Fitness Flash Mob at the Garapan Street Market just before Christmas.

“I was happy to hear that people who stopped by to watch our performance recognized the Zumba Fitness style. Many people asked where and when they could join us. Zumba Fitness is getting more and more popular on island,” Stoilova said.

For more information, visit Gold’s Gym in Garapan or call 233-4000.

(first published HERE

Hyatt celebrates Chuseok festival

DINERS who crave for Korean cuisine are in for ten days of a mouth-watering feast as Hyatt Regency Saipan celebrates the Chuseok festival at its Kili Café & Terrace.

An assortment of Korean dishes.

To give its diners a taste of authentic Korean cuisine and bring the spirit of “Chuseok”, a Korean thanksgiving celebration here, Hyatt Regency has brought in two chefs from the Hyatt Regency Incheon.

“From Oct. 1 to 10, diners at the Kili Café & Terrace will be treated to a wide selection of authentic Korean buffet prepared by two chefs from Korea,” Hyatt Regency Saipan’s executive chef Gabrielle Colombo said.

Kyoung-Yoon Jeong and Kim Tae Hoon arrived on Saipan on Tuesday and will be staying until Oct. 11.

The two chefs said that the diners can expect a variation of Korean dishes every night.

Colombo said that Hyatt Regency Saipan’s restaurants host various festivals throughout the year, but it has been some years since they brought in chefs from other countries.

“This time, we would like to bring Korea here to make our diners enjoy the true taste of Korean cuisine,” Colombo said.

Joong brings with him six years of experience at the Hyatt Regency Incheon while Kim has been with the hotel for the last four years.

But the two chefs had been assigned in other Hyatt hotels in Thailand, Philippines and other countries before.

Colombo invites the community not to miss dinner times at the Kili Café & Terrace and indulge into the chef’s creations like a spicy Korean Hot Pot, marinated grilled meats and seafood, and traditional dishes like Bulgogi beef stew and Kimchi pancakes.

He said the dining at the Kili Café for the Chuseok festival is a rare experience that cannot be equaled to dining in a Korean restaurant here.

“It’s an eat-all-you-can, drink-all-you-can feast on Korean dishes that you shouldn’t miss, and the food choices are endless,” Colombo said.

Included in the Chuseok festival dinner buffet is a wide selection of appetizers like assorted organic greens with choices of dressing and condiments, Shitake mushrooms muchin, Bulgogi mixed salad, Korean beef tartare, fresh tofu salad, Japchae, glass noodle salad and various kimchi.

The seafood bar carries reef red sashimi, seared bonito tuna, spicy lime dip, green mussel, snow crab, fresh Pusan oyster, fresh river shrimp, lemon wedges, miso bean dip, mignonette, wasaby cocktail sauce and spring onion sauce. The live cooking station offer diners assorted Korean pancakes with dipping sauce and seafood bibimbam rice.

The hot selection bar carries steamed rice with selected beans, braised chicken with spicy vegetables, Angus beef with rib stew with soy sauce, fried squid with chili sauce, and grilled autumn vegetables with marinated garlic. Top off your meal with tempting delights from the dessert bar—a selection of traditional Korean sweets and desserts.

The Chuseok dinner buffet at the Kili Café is open from 6 to 10 p.m. from Oct. 1 to 10 for $35 per person. For reservations and more information, call 234-1234 extension 26.

This article was originally published HERE

Bring home beautiful works of art

STEP inside the doors of the former R&C Tours office in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Saipan in Garapan and you will get a rare treat — a smorgasbord of breathtaking works of art created by the island’s artists.

Allow your senses to roam and feast on the products the artists will be sharing to the public for a whole month. Take a tour and you will be transported from the past to the present through beautiful artwork as seen through the eyes of each artist.

Take home works of art to adorn your favorite spots in the house, made but the island’s traditional artists Martin Castro, Maria Camacho, Mariana Ebilane, Prescilla Pangelinan, Melchy Billy, Ginni Bachani, Rodney Camacho, Edward Terlahe, Priscilla Pangelinan, Vicente Duenas, Lucy Sablan, and Carmen Gaskins.

From stone mortars and pestle, mats and baskets painstakingly hand-woven from leaves, intricate wooden carvings where each piece tells and records interesting stories of the islands, knitted shawls and hanging decorations from indigenous materials, vases and household ornaments made out of recycled materials, and more.

All over the room are simple shells and stones found on the island’s beaches everywhere, but when they came through an artist’s hands, they come out as stunning pieces of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and other ornaments you would be proud to wear anytime.

Framed along the walls of the exhibit area are big and small paintings and photographs of the island’s inland, aerial and underwater attractions captured through the lens by the CNMI’s well-known photographers, and through the brushes of the skillful painters including Greg Elliot, Jack Hardy, Leslie Ware,  Lawrence Lee, Joseph Weaver, Ernie David, Maritess Sablan, and Rosana C. Villaraiz who generously share their talents through inspiring paintings and photos that you would want to bring home to hang on your walls.

These and more are available for viewing and for sale at the ongoing Cultural Heritage and Arts Pacifica Exhibit hosted by the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture. It runs until September 30.

Visit the exhibit area anytime from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday for a real art feast for free.

The whole Arts Council family under its executive director Angel S. Hocog is inviting the public to come and support the local artists, and bring home a piece of these treasures with you.

For more information about the exhibit, call the Arts Council at 322-9982/3.

Bring home beautiful works of art | around-the-island.