Rota Coconut Festival Celebrating the fruit of the islands
Going viral
Saipan YouTuber earns Silver Creator Award
Healthy pets for a happy island Top healthcare tips for pets
SEPTEMBER 2019
Learn about top healthcare tips for pets. — Page 18 Photo courtesy of D&R Visuals
ABOUT THE COVER Saipan Cares for Animals cares for pets until they are adopted. Photo courtesy of D&R Visuals
2 Calendar
September events
5-6 Artist
Saipan YouTuber earns Silver Creator Award
8-9 On Saipan Speaking NMI
11-12 Featured Event Rota Coconut Festival
14-15 Fashion
Pet accessories
17 Recipe
Vegan Coconut Ice cream
18-21 Cover Feature/Health Top healthcare tips for pets
23-24 On the Road
Event photos and special messages
We’re Online! www.brmsaipan.com
beachroadmagazine
Glimpses Media include: Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, Guam Business Magazine, Real Estate Journal, Buenas, Beach Road Magazine, Drive Guam, Pocket Deals
PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita BUSINESS EDITOR Meghan Hickey ASSISTANT EDITOR Jackie Cahill REPORTER Wayne Chargualaf CREATIVE CONTENT MANAGER Vikki Fong DESIGN & PRODUCTION Conrad Calma Jr. Luisa Joy Castro Sean Davis Angelica Eleno MEDIA SALES Marlon Regaton DIRECTOR Ken Duenas MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong Beach Road Magazine, September 2019. Entire contents copyrighted 2019 by Glimpses of Saipan Inc. Beach Road Magazine is published monthly by Glimpses of Saipan Inc. P.O. Box 502080, Saipan, MP 96950 • 2/F Transpac Business Center Gualo Rai, Saipan • Tel: (670) 235-7645 • Fax: (670) 234-1801 • E-mail: saipan@ glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.
Glimpses of Guam Inc. Mission Statement: To connect people with information.
SEPTEMBER EVENTS Rota Coconut Festival When: Sept. 13 to Sept. 14 Time: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Rota Cost: Free with food and other vendors Enjoy all things coconut at the Rota Coconut Festival. There will be educational displays and demonstrations related to the coconut, entertainment, games, a Coconut Scavenger Hunt and a variety of live cooking competitions. Contact: Call the Rota Mayor’s Office at 532-9451 or MVA Field Supervisor Sandra Atalig at 532-0327 or email satalig@mymarianas.com.
MINA Green Gala When: Sept. 13 Time: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: The Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan Cost: $75 per person The Green Gala is the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance’s largest fundraiser of the year with proceeds supporting MINA’s ongoing projects that strive to conserve the national resources of the Northern Mariana Islands. The highlight of the Green Gala will be the Green Awards, recognizing an individual, business and school group for extraordinary commitment and leadership in conservation. There will also be numerous door prizes, a grand raffle prize, a variety of special packages for the silent auction, bottle service and entertainment. Contact: Call 233-7333 or email minaoutreach@gmail.com.
Eagle Ray Pau Pau to Managaha Swim When: Sept. 14 Time: 5:45 a.m. registration; 6:30 a.m. swim time Where: Pau Pau Beach Cost: $10 for Dolphin Club Saipan members; $20 for non-members
Get ready for the biggest swim in the 550 Sails – Dolphin Club Saipan’s Summer Fun – Open Water Series. This 7.25k swim will start at Pau Pau Beach and end at Managaha. Swimmers are required to be accompanied by an approved kayaker as a safety escort. Contact: Email 500 Sails at info@500sails.org, call 2854268 or visit @500sails on Facebook. Konqer Enduro OCR Championship When: Sept. 14 Time: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Where: Rota Cost: Invitation required to participate; spectators are free Konquer debuts its first-ever OCR championship event in Rota. This race is an “invitational” with 20 slots open for the solo division and 20 slots open for a 3-person relay division. The objective is simple — first to cross the finish line, wins. The race will consist of a 16k off-road run, 3.8k open ocean swim and 10 crushing obstacles for both solo and relay participants. Top Enduro Solo finisher will receive $1,000 while the top Enduro Relay Team will receive $3,000. Contact: Register at konqersports.com or email support at konqersports.com for more info.
5th Annual International Festival of Cultures When: Sept. 20 to Sept. 21 Time: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Where: Paseo de Marianas Cost: Free Come out for the 5th Annual International Festival of Cultures. A celebration of the cultural diversity of the Mariana Islands, with special emphasis on the indigenous cultures of Micronesia. There will be an ethnic parade on Friday evening with performances, food sales, demonstrations and arts and crafts vendors. Contact: Call the Marianas Visitors Authority at 664-3200 or check online at mymarianas.com.
SEPTEMBER
ARTIST
Photos courtesy of Sheryll Sabino
By Wayne Chargualaf Bernice Sabino was five years old when she knew she loved performing. “We were at an event and I saw people singing and dancing on stage,” she says. “I said ‘I want to sing on stage,’ so I asked someone if I could and they said yes.” Not content with showing off her talent and hard work on a single stage, Sabino started singing on her own YouTube channel at a young age. Many of the early videos on Sabino’s channel consisted of live performances with the occasional video of her singing directly into the camera. Over the past three years or so, however, she’s transitioned into full YouTuber mode. Now most videos are of her singing and speaking directly into the camera with high quality sound equipment and an occasional live performance mixed in. Today Sabino is 12 years old and is the first YouTuber
from the Northern Mariana Islands to earn the Silver Creator Award for reaching 100,000 subscribers. “When my dad handed it to me, I was like, ‘Is this real?’” she says. “And when I checked, it had the note and everything. So it was a surprise.” Although she was surprised the moment her father handed her the Silver Creator Award, it was far from unexpected. “We saw that if you get a certain amount of subscribers you can get a silver button [another term for the Silver Creator Award] so we were researching how to get it,” Sabino says. “We were just doing it for fun, and when we started getting likes, views and subscribers, we thought, ‘Let’s just set a goal and do this.’” Although Sabino’s efforts earned her a Silver Creator Award, they also caused her mother to lose a phone. “We won a phone in a raffle,” Sabino’s mother, Sheryll, says. “As a joke I said, ‘If this next video of yours gets 1,000
SEPTEMBER 2019
5
ARTIST
views, I’ll give you this phone.’ It was a Samsung S5, which was a good phone at the time. In a few days, her video got 1,000 views, so I had to give her the phone.” Although Sabino's mother always believed in her talent, she was surprised at the growth of her online presence. “It was hard to believe that her videos could go viral, because we’re from such a small island,” her mother says. The cornerstone of Sabino’s campaign to grow her following was to record videos of her singing newly released, popular songs. Since a lot of people would naturally search for new, popular songs on YouTube, her videos would show up in their search results. Of course, simply appearing in someone’s search results doesn’t guarantee the coveted “like and subscribe.” People have to like what they’re seeing and hearing. Along with her singing voice, Sabino knew she had to connect with a song for her performance to be complete. “If it matches me, we’ll record the song,” she says. Another boost to her popularity on YouTube was when singer Jessie J noticed Sabino singing along to a video of her song “Flashlight.” The video was done in the style of a sing-along, so Jessie J will sing one line and pause so other singers can sing the next line. She even gives words of encouragement as if she is singing live with another person. “People can take videos of themselves singing along and pretend they’re talking to Jessie J,” Sabino says. “Jessie J saw my video — she thought I was from Indonesia — and said ‘Who was that girl?’” Jessie J’s attention subsequently caused Sabino’s video to go viral. Although Sabino’s YouTube presence hasn’t quite made her a household name yet, she’s already beginning to get attention when she’s out and about. “Sometimes people stop me and ask me, ‘Are you a YouTuber?’” she says. “One time I was out at McDonald’s and a little girl kept looking at me, so I said ‘Hi’ and when her mom told her it’s time to go, she ran up to me and so I hugged her. Then she ran back to her mom and told her, ‘She hugged me, she hugged me.’ It turned out she knew me from my videos.” During a trip to the Philippines, a group of people recognized her when she sang on a mall karaoke machine and even asked to take pictures with her. At school, however, she’s still treated as just one of the girls. “It's just a normal thing for them, I'm like one of their normal classmates,” she says. “It’s not a big thing.”
6
SEPTEMBER 2019
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Sabino’s goal when she grows up is to be a singer. “I want to be a famous singer,” she says. “I want to meet my favorite singers and be a famous YouTuber.” Some of her favorite singers are Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift and Demi Lovato. “I like pop singers,” she says. “I like how you can dance to their songs while you’re singing them; they just have a really good feel.” Even though she’s a newly minted Silver Creator Award recipient, Sabino says she plans to continue growing her following and is grateful to all of the subscribers who helped her meet her goal. “I would just like to say thank you, because I know without them, I wouldn't have the silver play button right now,” she says. “Thank you for all the support and the people who give me advice on how to improve my voice because they really help a lot.”
ON SAIPAN
SPEAKING NMI what’s up bat?
Oba! Wetz...
By Wayne Chargualaf The Northern Mariana Islands sit at a major crossroads in the Pacific Ocean. Because of that, the islands have been exposed to a variety of cultures throughout history. One of the most interesting things about a culturally diverse community is the way language tends to change and evolve, especially since the NMI has three official languages — Chamorro, Refaluwasch and English. Along with the official languages, the strong presence of people from other parts of the Asia-Pacific region means that there are a healthy number of people who speak other languages, such as
8
SEPTEMBER 2019
Tagalog and Chinese. In this type of linguistic stew, it’s not surprising that some interesting turns of phrase will appear, and perhaps the most fertile ground for a language’s evolution is the expressions and slang spoken every day by regular people. Thanks to some special assistance from NMI born-andraised Simei Charfauros, customer service associate with Grainger Guam LLC, we were able to learn a little more about how the cool kids in the NMI speak. Thanks, bat! Do you use the words and phrases below? What others do you think should be included? Hit us up @BeachRoadMagazine on Facebook and let us know!
ON SAIPAN
BAT Used to address a friend. Can be used as a substitute for “bro.”
what's the bida tonight?
“What's up bat? How was your weekend?"
TRAGIC Used to describe bad luck or an unfortunate event. Friend 1: "I forgot to do my homework!" Friend 2: "That's tragic man."
NEI Essentially a different pronunciation of the word “nai” as used on Guam, “nei” is similarly used to emphasize a point, like an exclamation point. Grandson: "Grandma, I misplaced my lunchbox at school." Grandma: "I told you boy to put it inside your bag when you're finished with it nei! Too much playing!"
NOT ASHAME Pretty straight forward — it means you have no shame, especially when taking or receiving items with little or no gratitude. "You took so much food! You're so not ashame!"
WETZ Used as an expression of disbelief or disappointment. It’s usually dragged out when spoken. Friend 1:"Bat, the power went out. The rice didn't cook." Friend 2: "Wetz…"
BIDA A plan or agenda made for the day or occasion. “Hey bat, what's the bida tonight?"
FAN An auxiliary word that’s used to make instructions more like a demand.
Bat, the rice didn’t cook!
"Neni, fan bring me two of the big Tupperware."
Wetz...
OBA Used to describe something that is amazing or aweinspiring. "The Burj Khalifa is oba tall, bat!"
SEPTEMBER 2019
9
FEATURED EVENT
Photos courtesy of the Marianas Visitors Authority
COCONUTS HERE, COCONUTS THERE, COCONUTS EVERYWHERE Celebrating the fruit of the islands By Meghan Hickey Fruiting from the palm cocos nucifera, coconuts are known by some to be the “Swiss Army knife” of plants. For ages the coconut has been used for food, potable water, spinning its fiber into rope, floatation and even as clothing. In the Northern Mariana Islands, there’s no denying its significance in daily life — whether found sprinkled on chicken kaleguen, used to boil breadfruit for golfan apai lemmai, grilled for apigige’, marinated for kadon pika or simply made into coconut candy, coconut is a staple in many traditional dishes across the islands. “The coconut tree, they see it as the tree of life here — you can pretty much eat everything on the coconut tree. You can eat the fruit and weave baskets with the [fibers]. So, the coconut tree is close to our culture,” says David Atalig, field technician II at the Marianas Visitors Authority’s Rota office. “It also has medicinal purposes for coconut oil … For the local people, it does hold a lot of value for them.” To celebrate the significance of the coconut’s history and uses, the Marianas Visitors Authority has partnered with the Rota Mayor’s Office for the fifth year to present the Rota Coconut Festival and provide visitors with the chance to taste and experience the many wonders of the coconut. Scheduled to take place for two full days from Sept. 13 to Sept. 14, starting at 8:30 a.m. with a coconut gallery and running until about 10 p.m. each evening, this year, the festival will focus on the theme “Coconuts here, coconuts there, coconuts everywhere.” “This year we put a lot more money towards [the event], so it should be good. And it’s going to coincide with Konqer, so hopefully those guests who participate in Konqer will also participate and have fun,” Atalig says. The event will feature a “coconut factory” of vendors
with educational displays about Rhino beetles and demonstrations related to the coconut, entertainment, dancers, games, a Coconut Scavenger Hunt, and a variety of live restaurant and cooking competitions on site making goods such as the manha titiyas, or tortillas made with young coconut, ahu, a soup made with young coconut and bunelos manha, doughnuts made with young coconut. There will be husking and grinding demonstrations, as well as a coconut fashion show. “It’s open to the public so members of the community will try to make an outfit out of parts of the coconut tree. There will be judges and the best costume will win,” Atalig says. “[There are] a lot of things going on, a lot of entertainment. … This year should be a big event.” Those interested in learning more about the festival can contact the Rota Mayor’s Office at 532-9451 or Sandra Atalig, field office supervisor for MVA, at 532-0327 or satalig@mymarianas.com.
SEPTEMBER 2019 11
FASHION
pet accessorieS
YOU NEVER KNEW YOU NEEDED
Our fur babies love us unconditionally, so what better way to reciprocate that love than gifting them the best pet accessories the market has to offer? Below are Beach Road’s top picks for accessories to keep your pets happy and stylish.
FASHIONABLE COLLARS Collars are a simple way to add some style to your pet’s getup, and there are so many selections for owners to choose from. At Beach Road we love bow tie collars — available for cats, dogs and even reptiles — perfect for any formal event. For some added functionality, try an LED collar to keep your furry friend visible on evening walks and sunset playdates.
COOLING VEST With the island heat, pet clothing doesn’t typically fit the Saipan lifestyle … until now. Cooling vests for dogs help to keep puppies comfortable while playing in the island sun. Have a breed that originates from a colder climate like a husky? They’ll love you all the more once you dress them in this bad boy!
SELF-CLEANING LITTERBOX We know you love your kitties, but litterbox cleanup is nobody’s favorite chore. Robotic selfcleaning litterboxes do the dirty work for you, and your cats will be grateful to always have a purrfectly clean spot to do their business.
14 SEPTEMBER 2019
FASHION
INTERACTIVE FEEDER Interactive feeders and snuffle mats allow pets to play with their food and slow down while eating. These feeders are an ideal solution for those pets who eat food too quickly and offer pets an exciting new challenge. Play treat hide-and-seek with snuffle mats for a game your pets are sure to love!
RUNNING WATER FOUNTAIN Animals love drinking running water, especially cats. A water fountain gives pets refreshing hydration all day long, while encouraging them to drink more frequently. Pet water fountains come in a variety of shapes and sizes for animals large and small.
WHERE TO BUY PET ACCESSORIES ON SAIPAN JOETEN STORES
Garapan, Susupe, Dandan Open daily; hours vary
I LOVE SAIPAN
Star Sands Plaza Open daily; 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
DOLPHIN WHOLESALE Oleai Open daily; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 2019 15
RECIPE
VEGAN VANILLA COCONUT ICE CREAM Nothing says ‘Saipan’ more than a treat made with the flavors of the islands. And who doesn’t love ice cream? Try this recipe for an irresistible make-ahead dessert or anytime treat. This dairy-free recipe is one that your vegan friends can also enjoy.
PREP TIME: 50 minutes, including 30 minutes to chill the ice cream
INSTRUCTIONS 1. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized pot and heat over medium-low heat until sugar has completely dissolved (do not bring to a boil). 2. Put the pot in your fridge to cool. 3. Once the mixture is completely cold:
a.) process it according to your ice cream maker's directions, or
b.) pour the ice cream into a shallow pan and
put it in the freezer. Every half an hour
take the pan out of the freezer and use a fork
to scrape and mix the ice cream. Do this at
creamier the ice cream; low-fat coconut milk will result in
least three to four times.
an icy texture.)
4. Either serve immediately or store in the freezer.
INGREDIENTS • 3 15-ounce cans of coconut milk (The higher the fat, the
• 1 cup coconut sugar
Allow the ice cream to sit for 10 minutes at room
• 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
temperature before serving.
• Optional: flaked or shredded coconut, to serve (try it toasted)
This recipe makes six generous cups.
Adapted from theendlessmeal.com
SEPTEMBER 2019 17
COVER FEATURE/HEALTH
18 SEPTEMBER 2019
COVER FEATURE/HEALTH
By Jackie Cahill Have you ever noticed being around animals can instantly make you feel better? There’s something about playing with a puppy, petting a purring cat or listening to a bird sing that can instantly Yumi Brundidge and bring a smile to your Elizabeth Pliscou face and melt stress away. Science has confirmed that owning a pet has measurable benefits for human health. According to WebMD, “Spending quality time with a dog, cat or other animal can have a positive impact on your mood and your health.” Benefits include Chloe Steffen a healthier heart, decreased anxiety, better social interactions and improved overall mood. But pet ownership isn’t just another box to tick on your health regimen. Pets are living creatures who need care and affection, and it’s equally important for owners to take care of their pet’s health needs. Saipan Cares for Animals is a dedicated group of volunteers that helps care for the health of all furry friends on the island. The organization was founded in 2015 by Jason Hudy to help pets become adopted from the mayor’s shelter. Today, SCA has a permanent home with a clinic in As Gonno and is led by Elizabeth Pliscou, president and director of the board, and Yumi Brundidge, vice president of the board. The center takes in and cares for stray animals, providing them with medical care and socialization until they are adopted. Additionally, SCA provides low-cost medical care for pet owners. Medical services include
vaccinations, de-worming, ear and nail examination, light grooming, flea and ticket management, spaying/ neutering and more. “It’s a community outreach center, so we’re trying to take care of animals and improve the overall quality of life for animals on the island,” says Chloe Steffen, volunteer and assistant at SCA. Steffen says they have about five regular volunteers, with two to five people working at the center every day. “Several of our staff are vet techs, so they’re the ones who handle the medication and stuff that doesn’t need to be handled by a vet. For the spay/neuters and the surgeries, we have volunteer vets visit us about once a month for a week or so, and we schedule everyone and we get them all done in a week,” she says. Volunteer vets come from all over the world, Steffen says, including places such as Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and the U.S. mainland. Since Yutu, SCA has been working extra hard to help animals on Saipan. “It’s been really difficult after
Photos by D&R Visuals
SEPTEMBER 2019 19
COVER FEATURE/HEALTH
Yutu. We’ve definitely been taking in a lot more than we’ve been adopting out because people are leaving the island. We’ve had a lot of dogs come in because their owners moved out and then just left them there,” Steffan says. Since Yutu, the center has almost doubled the number of animals they care for. Additionally, the typhoon stirred up many viruses that live in the dirt, such as parvo and distemper, Steffen says. The volunteers at SCA have been working hard to treat animals and vaccinate against these diseases. Steffen says it’s important for pet owners to stay on top of their pet’s healthcare to prevent viruses such as these and other illnesses. Here are her top healthcare tips for pets.
Strong flea and tick medication “Get a good and reliable flea and tick medicine. The ticks here are crazy, they’re like mutant ticks. They will infest the dogs so fast. You have to get a really powerful flea and tick medicine to keep them off. We’ve found that all that really works is a really powerful Frontline or Bravecto, which is an oral medication, but flea and tick collars don’t work. … That’s a big one because there’s a really common blood born illness here that’s transferred through the ticks.”
Vaccines “You really want to get the dogs [and cats] here vaccinated, especially after Yutu, because a lot of the things that we vaccinate against, the viruses are kept in the ground, they’re in the dirt, and because of Yutu all the dirt got stirred up. So, we’re seeing a lot of parvo virus, which is a really nasty virus. We’re seeing a lot of distemper, which we had actually never seen before Yutu, and now we’re seeing it every once and a while and that’s a really bad one.”
De-worming “Deworm them every month… because heartworm is also a problem here. It’s tropical, there are mosquitos out all year.” Photos by D&R Visuals
20 SEPTEMBER 2019
COVER FEATURE/HEALTH
How you can help The Saipan Cares for Animals website says, “Saving one animal won't change the world, but the world will change for that one animal!” There are many ways you can help SCA continue making a difference for animals in our community. Adopt: With so many animals in the center’s care post Yutu, taking in an animal is one of the best ways you can help. Adoption is an easy process. For animals that are already fixed, it is just $30, and for those that are not fixed, the fee is $75 which covers sterilization surgery. Adult dogs are typically harder to find homes for, so Steffen says they are always looking for families to take them in. “They’re all really great dogs,” she says. Volunteer: “We always, always need volunteers,” Steffen says. With many animals in their care, having people can make all the difference. There is always a need to help with feeding, care, and, of course, socialization and play. Donate supplies: “We always need dog food and cat food, and cleaning supplies,” Steffen says.
Sterilization “You want to get them fixed. Cats reproduce at an astonishingly fast rate. … That’s also important with dogs, to get them fixed. Not only because you don’t want them to have babies [but also because female dogs can develop uterine infections if they are not fixed]. … There is also an STD here that’s a sexually transmitted cancer … Some people think with a male dog [sterilization is not necessary if] they tie him up, but no, because the dogs will come to him.”
Make a contribution: You can send a monetary contribution to Saipan Cares for Animals at gofundme.com/SCACommunityCenter.
Socialization, grooming and exams “A big thing here is you want to make sure you can handle the dog in a way that people can examine them. So, especially when they’re puppies, you want to play with their mouth and their paws so that it’s easy to look at them and examine them and groom them. … You want to feel their feet, maybe even cut their nails when they’re really young, so they know it’s not going to be a huge deal, and just make sure that they’re well socialized.”
Photos by D&R Visuals
SEPTEMBER 2019 21
Photos by D&R Visuals
The 4th Annual NMTI Gala with a Fire & Ice theme was held at the Hyatt Regency Saipan on July 26.
Photos by Marlon Regaton
Farmers and community came together at the 36th Agricultural Fair at Garapan Central Park on July 27.
22 AUGUST 2019
ON THE ROAD
Photos by D&R Visuals
The 24th Annual Governor’s Tournament of Champions was held on Aug. 10 and Aug. 11 at the LaoLao Bay Golf & Resort.
Photo courtesy of Rosavelt Marie “Belle” Bamba Mafnas
Family and friends celebrated on July 13 with a Welcome Home Dinner at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan.
Photos courtesy of Mildred Pabilando
Fun was had by all at the Pacific Island Club’s 2019 Summer Fest on Aug. 17.
For more On The Road photos, visit BRM's Facebook page. Submit your photos, with a caption, to assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com.
AUGUST 2019 23
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