Marianas Variety Sept. 27 edition

Vol. 40 No. 140 © 2012 Marianas Variety

Thursday • September 27, 2012

www.mvariety.com Serving the CNMI for 40 Years

LOCAL

PHILIPPINES/ASIA

NATION

ENTERTAINMENT

Fund trustee ad litem says he has no NMI ‘connections’

Dispute escalates between China and Japan

Court rejects bid to block Arizona ‘show your papers’ immigration provision

Katy Perry named Billboard’s Woman of the Year

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75¢

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NMI soldier passes away Board of Education member Herman T. Guerrero.

The soldier, who left U.S. Army Spc. Robert behind a wife and four Santos Deleon Guerrero children, was the son of passed away on Tuesday former Rep. Florencio T. at the Naval Hospital in Deleon Guerrero.

Nashville, Tennessee.

Assigned to AfghaniHe just turned 36 last stan before he was transAug. 24. ferred to Fort Campbell He had requested that Robert Deleon in Kentucky last March, Guerrero seven of his organs Spc. Deleon Guerrero would be donated “so was transported to the military hosothers could continue to have a Continued on page 22 better life,” according to his uncle,

By Emmanuel T. Erediano emmanuel.erediano@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

Administration scraps geothermal project potential, and not to generate geothermal power right away.

The Commonwealth THE Fitial administration Utilities Corp. has canis not convinced that the recelled the geothermal quest for proposal to build gradient well project for a geothermal power plant the Australian company, will serve the best interest KUTh Energy Ltd. sucof the CNMI, at least for cessfully bid for. now, Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos “We don’t want to get Eloy Inos said yesterday. into the production yet beHe said the government cause we don’t know what can put out an RFP only to drill and Continued on page 22 explore the island for geothermal

By Emmanuel T. Erediano emmanuel.erediano@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE UNBOUGHT. Independent Republicans of Precinct 1 led by House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero, Reps. Janet U. Maratita and Antonio Sablan are joined by party-mates Roman Benavente and Mariano Taitano as they wave at motorists in Dandan yesterday.

Photo by Emmanuel T. Erediano

Feds file embezzlement charge vs retired Rev & Tax official

By Andrew O. De Guzman andrew.deguzman@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE U.S. government has charged a retired manager of the CNMI Division of Revenue and Taxation’s collection branch, Elisa Borja Ada, with one count of embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds.

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The court scheduled Ada’s initial appearance, and arraignment for Oct. 3, 2012.

Attorney Steven P. Pixley will represent Ada. The offense happened beginning in 2007 and continued through Sept. 2008, according to the twopage complaint filed in federal court yesterday.

At that time, the complaint said, Ada, also known as Elisa Ada Aldan or Lisa A. Aldan, was president of the CNMI Association of Families with Disabilities, or CADF, a local government agency that received federal benefits in excess of $10,000 during the calendar years 2007 and 2008.

The federal grant was awarded

by the U.S. Administration on Developmental Disabilities, a division within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The complaint said Ada did knowingly embezzle, steal, obtain by fraud, and convert to her own use without authority, as part of a single ongoing plan, property worth at least $5,000 that was owned

by and under the care, custody and control of CAFD, in that Ada caused CAFD checks to be issued to her, or persons designated by her, and then converted those checks to her own use and benefit, Assistant U.S. Attorney Garth R. Backe filed the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the NMI.

9/26/12 11:55:32 PM

Local

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Wiseman reinstates former juvenile corrections worker plaint on appeal of agency action, for declaratory relief, damages and mandamus.

SUPERIOR Court Judge David Actions against Kapileo and A. Wiseman yesterday stayed the her co-workers were triggered by administrative action and ordered the charges filed by the Attorney CNMI Department of Community General’s Office against Pedro I. and Cultural Affairs Secretary Mel- Sablan for the sexual abuse of a vin O. Faisao to reinstate effective minor child on Aug. 12, 2011. immediately Juvenile Corrections The incidents occurred under Worker 1 Thelma S. KapSablan’s watch while suileo to full status. pervising children at the DCCA suspended, and Division of Youth Serterminated the employvices emergency shelter, ment of Kapileo as an the complaint said. off-shoot of the sexual Wiseman said Kapabuse case inside the ileo is a civil service government center last employee but the CNMI David Wiseman year.

Civil Service CommisWiseman also denied the re- sion “is unavailable to address her spondents’ cross-motion to remand grievances.” because it “is not an appropriate Although “granting a stay pendremedy in this particular case.” ing judicial review is something Kapileo, represented by attorney that is only done in extraordinary Jane Mack, named Faisao in his circumstances where irreparable official capacity, DCCA, Gov. injury is clearly apparent, the court Benigno R. Fitial, in his official believes that petitioner has satisfied capacity, and the CNMI govern- her burden,” Wiseman said. ment as defendants in her com“The court finds [Kapileo] and

By Andrew O. De Guzman andrew.deguzman@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

golds gym

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her family will suffer irreparable injury from her lack of income if a stay is not issued. The court is satisfied with petitioner’s showing of irreparable injury regarding the stress her lack of income has imposed on what was a two-income earning household with a husband and three minor children.

Moreover, petitioner could suffer irreparable injury if the lack of income indeed results in foreclosure of petitioner’s home and other consequences of nonpayment of essentials,” Wiseman said.

The court said Kapileo “has shown a probability of success on the merits because she was not provided with a hearing prior to being terminated, and there was no relief available to her as a civil service employee. Additionally, DCCA’s one-line sentence regarding the charges against her failed to specify if petitioner was even working at the time the incident with [Pedro] Sablan took place and was, in view Continued on page 22

For the third time, Camacho rejects plea deal in robbery case If the case proceeds to trial and Castro is convicted, he faces a maximum of 16 years’ imprisonSUPERIOR Court Judge Joseph ment to be served consecutively.

N. Camacho yesterday rejected for Pursuant to the proposed third the third time the proposed plea plea agreement, Castro would agreement between a defendant plead guilty to robbery in exchange in a robbery case and the Attorney for a sentence of five years’ imprisGeneral’s Office. onment, all suspended but three Benjamin Jones Castro Jr., 24, years, day for day, without the was charged with assault and bat- possibility of parole. tery, robbery and theft of $379 The court would also credit time from the Hollywood Video cash served “which represents a fraction register. The cashier was injured of [Castro’s] potential liability during the incident. should all the charges go to trial,” Camacho noted that Castro Camacho said. placed the victim in a chokehold Chief Public Defender Adam and struck her in the jaw when she Hardwicke served as Castro’s attempted to separate herself from counsel while Assistant Attorthe robber. ney General Chemere McField In rejecting the third represented the governproposed plea agreement ment during yesterday’s between Castro Jr. and the change of plea hearing. prosecution, Camacho Camacho has been said: “For the reasons rejecting plea agreements mentioned in the previor imposing maximum ous two plea rejections, sentences on defendants the court is not persuaded Joseph Camacho brought to his courtthat the interests of justice room. would be served by the acceptance He is also requiring the prosecuof the plea, given the manner of tor, in case of plea agreements, to violence implicated.” submit a declaration in support Camacho said the latest plea of the agreement being filed in agreement proposal “principally court. adds six months incarceration to In his first plea rejection, Cathe previously rejected second macho noted that although Castro plea agreement, and “is otherwise has no prior criminal convictions, unchanged.” “the severity of [his] act warrants The first plea agreement would greater retribution and incarcerahave imposed a two-year jail tion.” term.

“A chokehold represents a lethal Six months were added by the maneuver capable of suffocating second proposed plea agreement and even breaking the victim’s that was also rejected by Cama- neck,” the judge said. cho.

“In the court’s view, such The offense of robbery carries a a maneuver is akin to using a maximum sentence of 10 years and weapon to perpetrate the crime. a fine of not more than $10,000.

The victim risked substantial inCastro is also facing charges jury if she failed to comply with of theft, and two counts of as- the defendant’s demands. Such sault and battery, which are to be conduct amounts to a degree of dismissed if the court accepts the violence that offends the court,” plea agreement.

Camacho added.

By Andrew O. De Guzman andrew.deguzman@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

9/26/12 11:55:33 PM

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Fund trustee ad litem says he has no NMI ‘connections’ out there who could do better than those who were appointed? On what basis was the selection made? Is Mr. THE trustee ad litem appointed Razanno and the law firm in any way by the federal court says he has politically connected or friends of no “connections” with any of the the court? Where did the lawyers stakeholders in the Retirement Fund go to school?” litigation.

Razzano said he did appreciate In an interview on Friday, attorney that Huesman agreed to represent the Joseph C. Razzano of Civille & Tang Fund at the hearing last Friday.

PLLC on Guam said he had no prior “I was happy that he was willing knowledge that he would be named to go to court with me this morning. trustee ad litem.

Otherwise, I was going to court esSome members of the community, sentially unrepresented,” Razzano including retirees who declined to said. be identified, said Civille & Tang Asked if he would retain Hueswas not on District Court for the man’s services, Razzano said: “Yes. NMI designated Judge Frances We need to have a person who is Tydingco-Gatewood’s shortlist of knowledgeable about the cases and possible candidates. about the Fund law. If Carolyn was “There is no question about their staying on, maybe we’ll have a difqualifications,” a retiree said. “We ferent situation.” were just surprised that the court Carolyn Kern’s resignation as chose the firm.”

Fund counsel takes effect on Sept.

Other retirees noted that Raz- 28. She is relocating to New Zeazano, like Fund attorney Braddock land.

J. Huesman and bankruptcy lawyer Razzano said the Fund needs help Jeremy B. Coffey, are all alumni of and “Mr. Huesman has agreed to do the Southern Methodist University that. We’ll just see how it goes.”

School of Law in Dallas, Texas.

Pension cuts Razzano earned his juris doctorate Superior Court Judge Kenneth L. from SMU in 1998 and his LLM in Govendo on early Friday morning taxation in 1999. reiterated that he will not rule on Coffey and Huesman pension cuts as he passed graduated from SMU’s on the responsibility to the Dedman School of Law trustee ad litem. in 2000.

Razzano, in an interAsked if he knew Huesview after the hearing, man, Razzano said on said: “I think the judge Friday: “I had never met was trying to give me him until this morning directions on things that when I met him in the Joseph Razzano have happened in the past parking lot.” or suggestions that have been made Razzano was referring to the in the past. I think he was trying to reparking lot of the judicial complex ally educate me or give his thoughts where they attended the hearing for with respect to where he thinks the the Fund’s collection lawsuit. case might want to go.”

He added, “We did speak on the Asked if he had been advised about telephone last Wednesday and I think the scenarios for pension cuts, he said he was in the U.S. [But] I had never he had spoken with Fund investment met him before.” consultant Maggie Ralbovsky and Asked why he was appointed consulting actuary Dylan Porter. trustee ad litem, Razzano said, “I “We have asked them to educate us have no idea. I can’t tell you. I didn’t about that. But we have not received make the appointment.” the reports as of yet,” he said.

He said he was “called the night As to Govendo’s previous order before. I was asked a few questions. to conduct a survey among retirees I was asked to go to court that Friday regarding pension cuts, Razzano morning.” said, “I had never heard about that The court, he added, can’t com- until this morning.” ment on its own order.

Variety earlier reported that the Commonwealth Retirement As- Fund was finalizing the questionsociation director and retired educa- naire to be sent out to the retirees, tor Sapuro Rayphand said, “I do not but their distribution was stalled by have enough information or personal the pension agency’s Chapter 11 knowledge of the law firm or the bankruptcy petition on April 17. trustee ad litem upon which I could The petition was later dismissed by make an intelligent opinion.” the U.S. bankruptcy court.

He added, “One would assume Razzano said, “I am going to see that pursuant to the Open Govern- what the original [questionnaire] ment Act, the public and the retirees looked like.” whose lives will be affected by the Regarding the Fund’s investtrustee ad litem and his attorneys, ments, Razzano said the amount at bare minimum, should have been was close to $230 million as of end informed of the qualifications and of July. other similar relevant information.

“The money is safe. It is there,” It is a matter of courtesy and civil- he added. ity and so rushing to make such an Razzano said he is still in a “factimportant appointment is out of the finding stage.” ordinary course of common sensibil“We are dealing with lawsuits and ity, in my humble personal opinion. cases that are coming in that we don’t Were there any other equally compe- have information about,” he added. tent or more experienced individuals “We are looking at all options.”

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

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Local / Pacific Islands

Kilili, Inos attend IR, Covenant fundraisers

By Emmanuel T. Erediano emmanuel.erediano@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

U.S. CONGRESSMAN Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos alternately attended the fundraising dinners of the Independent Republicans and Covenant Party candidates last Friday.

The IR fundraiser was at the Pacific Islands Club’s Charley Cabaret while the Covenant Party event was held at the back of the Manhoben Center in Chalan Kanoa.

While Sablan was at the Covenant Party fundraiser early in the evening, Inos was with the IR candidates. Later that night, it was Sablan’s turn to be at the IR’s fundraiser while Inos joined the Covenant event.

Unlike the governor, Inos has remained with the Covenant Party and is supporting Sablan’s re-election.

Sablan’s siblings, Frances, Florence and other members of his family, also attended the Covenant Party event.

According to former Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, the chairman of the committee to elect Rep. Ralph S. Demapan and John Paul Sablan, close to 1,000 people attended the Covenant fundraiser.

Charley’s Cabaret, which can accommodate up to 200 people, was crowded with supporters of the IR candidates led by House Minority Leader Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero and their Saipan senatorial bet, Rep. Ray N. Yumul.

In an interview, Babauta and Covenant Party Precinct 2 chairman, former Rep. Jesus Lizama, said the number of supporters who attended the fundraiser was “overwhelming.” They expressed their “profound gratitude” to members of the community who showed up to express their support.

Demapan, for his part, also thanked those who supported him when he first ran for office three years ago.

U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, second left, with Covenant Party Precinct 2 House candidate, Rep. Ralph S. Demapan, left, supporter Frank Agulto and Covenant Party Precinct 2 chairman former Rep. Jesus Sn. Lizama during a fundraising dinner last Friday in Chalan Kanoa.

U.S. Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan’s sister, Frances, center, is joined by Covenant Party Saipan senatorial candidate Ana S. Teregeyo, third right, House candidates, Rep. Ralph S. Demapan, second left, John Paul Sablan, right, Precinct 2 chairman former Rep. Jesus Sn. Lizama, second right, campaign committee chairman former Speaker Oscar M. Babauta, back row, and two supporters during the fundraising dinner on Friday in Chalan Kanoa.

Photos by Emmanuel T. Erediano

He said he was humbled and honored to see that those who helped him in 2009 are still supporting him.

John Paul Sablan said the size

of the crowd assures another Covenant Party victory in Precinct 2 as he expressed gratitude to family, friends and young voters for supporting the fundraising event.

Deficits at College of Marshall Islands raise red flag for WASC

By Giff Johnson For Variety

MAJURO — Financial deficits over the past four years at the College of the Marshall Islands have raised a red flag for the U.S. Western Association of Schools and Colleges, which said it will be undertaking an in-depth review of CMI’s finances. The college’s president said Friday, however, that the college expects to end the year in the black this year for the first time since 2006, which he believes will resolve any concerns WASC has about the institution’s fiscal situation.

CMI President Carl Hacker was notified by WASC August 31 that it has been identified as a financial risk institution rated as “R” for “referred” to “undergo a more comprehensive analysis of their financial condition.”

Norval Wellsfry, associate vice president of the Californiabased WASC, told Hacker that negative ending balances and inadequate reserve funds were the reason for CMI being red flagged for additional financial analysis. CMI is fully accredited through 2016.

Hacker said the last fiscal year

that the Majuro college had a positive ending balance at the end of the year was in 2006. Every year since then, CMI has ended the year in deficit, with FY2009 reaching a high of nearly $1.2 million. But last year, CMI reduced the deficit to $485,716 and this year — with a few more days left in the fiscal year that ends September 30 — the college is running at a surplus of $3,908.85, Hacker said.

“Tackling this deficit has been one of the priority tasks of the (CMI) Business Office since the fall of 2010,” he said. Based on its current status of having a positive balance, “I am expecting that we will be in good standing with WASC on this issue of deficits,” Hacker said.

9/26/12 11:55:34 PM

Local

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

‘Social Security is not a retirement plan’

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

RELYING on Social Security alone just doesn’t cut it, according to a retirement plan administrator.

As the CNMI transitions to Social Security system, ASC Trust Corp. president and chairman David J. John advises current defined benefit plan members to make an informed decision about their pullout from DB plan and rollover to DC plan.

“Don’t do this until you understand it. If you don’t understand it, don’t do anything yet until you find the answers,” John said.

Social Security is not a retirement plan, he added.

“It’s a safety net. What it is meant to do is to make sure you don’t live in poverty. If you want to have a normal, same standard of living, you will have to have your own savings on top of the Social Security,” he said.

“You need to have a 401(k), a defined benefit plan, an IRA, or something other than Social Security if you are going to retire ‘successfully.’ ” John, along with his staffers on

SUPERIOR Court Judge Joseph N. Camacho has denied a motion for a temporary restraining order on the holding of an election for a seat in the Associated Students of Northern Marianas College on Sept. 25-26.

Lawrence E. Camacho, the plaintiff, however, will have an opportunity to plead his case during the preliminary injunction hearing today, according to Judge Camacho.

Lawrence Camacho said he was

ASC Trust Corp. president David John answers questions from government employees during a public outreach last week at the multi-purpose center in Susupe.

Photo by Alexie Villegas Zotomayor

Saipan, will be going to the agencies to meet with government employees and help explain to them what the pullout from the DB plan and the membership with the DC plan mean for them.

He said government employees will need both Social Security and a retirement account.

The CNMI government, through P.L. 17-79, is attempting to transition its employees and officials to Social Security.

inducted in Oct. 2011 as ASNMC president for a term of one academic year.

In May and June 2012, he said he was informed by the NMC dean of students, and the college president that he was no longer the ASNMC president and board of regents honorary student regent.

Lawrence Camacho believes that his removal came after he informed the NMC dean of students and the NMC president that he was “neither aware of the college’s report Continued on page 23

Funeral service for Hirshbein on Sept. 28 He said some VFW members from Japan are coming to pay their last respects and attend the THE remains of Veterans of For- funeral. eign Wars regional commander On Saipan, the members of Barry Alan Hirshbein the Saipan Post comwere flown to Saipan memorated the former yesterday. government lawyer in a According to his friend non-formal ceremony last and former Press Secretary Saturday.

Pete Callaghan, “A nonHis friend, Joe Race, denominational funeral shared with Variety his service will be held at fond memories of HirshBarry Alan the Saipan Community bein.

Hirshbein Church on Sept. 28 at 9 “He was one of my ima.m.” mediate new friends when I worked Callaghan told Variety that a fu- for the [Attorney General’s Office] neral procession will immediately starting in 2000. While I was the follow and Hirshbein’s remains chief investigator, he introduced will be buried at the CNMI Veterans Cemetery in Marpi.

Continued on page 23

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

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The Revised Gaming Act that established the casino on Tinian provides that the gaming commisFROM $3 million in fiscal year sion, the municipal treasury and the 2012 the Tinian and Aguiguan mayor’s office are the agencies that Legislative Delegation yesterday will be benefitting from the revenue raised its local budget to $3.5 derived from casinos. million.

Treasury is tasked to set aside Derived from casino fees and the funds while the commission’s taxes, the projected revenue is duty is to regulate casino and “conservative” despite the renewed collect the fees and taxes. The interest in the island’s gambling mayor’s office, for its part, is the industry according to the delega- expenditure authority for public tion chairman, Senate Vice programs.

President Jude U. HofschThe Tinian delegation neider, R-Tinian. has yet to provide the He said the local budget public with copies of the is now on its way to the local appropriation bill, municipal council for but Variety learned the concurrence. annual salary of gaming Asked if the change in commission chairman Jude the management of the Hofschneider Ignacio Quichocho and Tinian Dynasty Hotel and board member Bernadita Casino has something to do with Palacios remains $75,000 a year. their optimistic gambling revenue New board member Don Farrel projection, Hofschneider said it was will get $60,000 a year. They also the “renewed interest” in enhancing receive annual benefits that amount the casino industry on Tinian. to some $25,000.

He does not want to comment In a separate interview, Rep. about Tinian Dynasty because, Trenton B. Conner, R-Tinian, he said, the Tinian gaming com- expressed hope that projected revmission is now in the process of enue will materialize “in a way transacting the sale of the casino that would suit the needs of the to the new investor. gaming commission, treasury and Regarding the municipal budget, municipality so their constituents Hofschneider said their revenue can avail themselves of public projection “was done in a conserva- programs.” tive way,” adding that they had to He did not say what will happen cut the Tinian employees’ working if actual collections are less than hours to 72. the projected revenue.

By Emmanuel T. Erediano emmanuel.erediano@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

Court denies student request to stop ASNMC election

By Andrew O. De Guzman andrew.deguzman@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

Tinian local budget is $3.5M for FY’13

John said through Social Security and a defined contribution plan, “we create the safety net.”

“There are people out there who are thinking that now they have Social Security everything’s fine.

That is not the case,” he said.

John explained that in order for someone to get Social Security benefits, one needs to work 40 credits or the equivalent of 10 years.

Continued on page 22

Employers of persons with disabilities to be given special recognition

By Raquel C. Bagnol raquel.bagnol@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE Office of Vocational Rehabilitation this month will recognize employers on Saipan, Tinian and Rota who have hired persons with disabilities.

CNMI-OVR Director Margarita “Maggie” R. Olopai-Taitano yesterday said the recognition ceremony for employers on Tinian will be on Oct. 10; on Rota, Oct. 17; and on Saipan, Oct. 25.

This is an annual event of OVR. Olopai-Taitano said in October, which has been designated as National Disability Employment Awareness Month, they will also conduct training on sensitivity, a person’s first language as well as disability awareness and rights on Oct. 11, 18 and 31.

Olopai-Taitano said the government remains the biggest employer of persons with disabilities in the CNMI. Persons with disabilities, she added, have special skills and talents that can benefit organizations that hire them.

Olopai-Taitano is urging the community to continue to open doors of opportunity “for our people with disabilities and allow them to work in the private and government workplaces.”

The theme for the 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebration is “A Strong Workforce is an Exclusive WorkContinued on page 23

Search is on for public market site year 2010. It would have lapsed on Sept. 30 had DLNR failed to come up with a spending plan.

DEPARTMENT of Lands and The project proposal for the deNatural Resources Secretary Ar- sign and construction of the public nold I. Palacios commended his market was finally submitted by staffers for their “great job” of DLNR on Sept. 10, 2012. securing the $200,000 grant for Asked why it took DLNR until the construction of the Garapan early this month to submit the public market. project proposal, Teregeyo said Palacios, who said he has been there had been complications on “passionately” working on the where the public market should project for eight years now, noted be constructed. that they will have to find a locaShe explained that in able to tion other than the Garapan Fishing build the public market, DLNR Base as originally proshould first own a propposed by local farmers. erty. That is one of In an interview on the requirements, she Tuesday, Palacios said added. he will tell the governor When the idea of buildthat the farmers want the ing a public market was public market at the fishfirst discussed in 2002, ing base. the Garapan Fishing “I am pretty sure that Arnold Palacios Base was still under we will bring up that issue DLNR. But in 2006, to the governor and try to advocate when Gov. Benigno R. Fitial was for it but whether we are going to sworn into office, the authority be successful is another matter,” over the property was transferred to Palacios said. the Department of Public Lands.

Prepared by Palacios, adminisLocal farmers said that since trative manager Manny Pangelinan then, the plan to build a public and special assistant to the secre- market at the fishing base was put tary Marianne Teregeyo, the grant on hold. application was approved last week Pangelinan said there is now by the U.S. Department of Housing a big difference in the design and Urban Development. between the present proposal and U.S. Congressman Gregorio the original plan.

Kilili Camacho Sablan appropriThe construction cost at the ated the $200,000 for the project as a congressional earmark in fiscal Continued on page 23

By Emmanuel T. Erediano emmanuel.erediano@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

9/26/12 11:55:36 PM

Local

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Fund counsel: Trustee ad litem has limited powers

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE trustee ad litem has limited powers that are not as broad as those of a receiver, Retirement Fund legal counsel Carolyn M. Kern told retirees during their general assembly last Friday.

Kern said the trustee ad litem was appointed by the federal court until a hearing is held on whether a receiver should be appointed or not.

Plaintiff Betty Johnson, formerly identified in federal court documents as Roe, is requesting the court to appoint a federal equity receiver to manage the Retirement Fund.

A hearing on the appointment of a receiver is set for Oct. 30 at the District Court for the NMI. The Guam law firm Civille & Tang, PLLC, represented by attorney Joseph C. Razzano, was chosen by the federal court to serve as trustee ad litem on Sept. 14.

All parties were given the opportunity to submit names of those they think could serve as trustee ad litem.

But in the end, Kern said, the district court judge eliminated a lot of the candidates either because they were a beneficiary, related to a beneficiary, they belong the Fund at some point in time, too closely

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related to the government, among to report periodically to the U.S. others.”

District Court, to seek the court’s Kern said as trustee ad litem, Raz- authority to carry out additional zano doesn’t have complete control functions of the Fund board, among over the Fund’s assets. other tasks.

She said the trustee ad litem reThe trustee is held responsible ports to the court and has to ask the solely to the court and no suit can court for permission to perform any be filed against the trustee without additional duties. the court’s consent, stated Tydingco“If he needs to move investments, Gatewood’s order. he needs to go back and ask the The appointment shall be for the court,” said Kern. period necessary to complete the “He doesn’t have quite as exten- litigation, unless trustee recomsive powers as a receiver mends termination of the would. A receiver would order or asks to be relieved have all the powers and of his duties, or the order is control over the assets.” modified by the court.

Kern further explained to Variety was told that the the trustees last week that situation of the Fund has all parties were given the parallels with that of Ordot opportunity to nominate Carolyn Kern Dump on Guam in which who they think should serve Judge Tydingco-Gateas trustee ad litem. wood herself appointed a federal In her Sept. 14 order, designated receiver.

Federal Judge Frances TydingcoBased on her order appointing a Gatewood said “the trustee ad litem receiver, Tydingco-Gatewood relied shall have the authority, powers, on a body of evidence supporting the and duties required and necessary, assignment of a receiver: history of over the ‘person’ of the Fund to act non-compliance, lack of financial on all matters that require Board commitment, lack of cooperation action.” between the executive and legislaAs trustee ad litem, Razzano has tive branches, and lack of tangible the power to sue or be sued in the progress. corporate name and to direct all litiThe receiver on Guam had full gation in which the Fund is a party, power and authority to enforce the to appoint the Fund administrator, terms of the consent decree and

assumes all powers, responsibilities and duties of the solid waste management division of Guam’s Department of Public Works.

The federal receiver had the power to supervise employees, to oversee performance of contracts, to enter into future contracts, to hire consultants, professionals, and contractors, to facilitate financing and/or borrowing of funds, among others.

The receiver was also given full access to all records.

As pointed out by Tydingco-Gatewood in her 2008 order, historically, receivers have been appointed as custodians of property deemed in jeopardy of loss from improper diversion or destruction.

“The most dramatic and controversial receiverships of the late 20th century, the institutional reform cases, exemplify the modern exercise of equitable authority to appoint a receiver to address persistent noncompliance with judicial decrees,” she said.

Citing Rule 70 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, TydingcoGatewood said, “If a party fails to comply with a judgment within the time specified…the court may direct the act to be done at the cost of the disobedient party by some other person appointed by the court.”

Under Article III Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the court is vested with the authority, as a court in equity, to establish a receivership.

In the CNMI, the Retirement Fund has been trying to collect on the 2009 judgment which remains unpaid by the government and has now ballooned to over $300 million.

The pension agency tried but failed to file a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition.

The governor now wants to place the Fund under the Department of Finance through an executive order declaring a state of emergency for the Fund.

But Tydingco-Gatewood issued a temporary restraining order to block the E.O.’s implementation.

“The E.O. is not in effect but it is not knocked out yet,” Kern noted.

The federal court will hear the motions on the preliminary injunction on Oct. 2, she said.

In the local court where the Fund continues to try to collect on the judgment, Judge Kenneth L. Govendo convened the parties last Sept. 21 but they failed to come up with an agreed upon solution.

In his previous order, Govendo said that absent an agreed-upon solution by June 15,2012 he would entertain motions for receivership.

9/26/12 11:55:40 PM

Local

Ayuyu, not Santos, behind Rota gaming tax cut proposal REPRESENTATIVE Teresita A. Santos on Wednesday said the House local bill that will reduce the casino gambling tax rate was drafted by Sen. Juan M. Ayuyu and not her as earlier reported.

“I never proposed a reduction of the gambling tax,” said Santos, Ind.-Rota.

She said the draft local bill was sent to her office by Ayuyu, chairman of the Rota Legislative Delegation.

The measure will amend section 7 (c)(2) of the Rota Casino Act of 2007 to give flexibility to the Rota Casino Gaming Commission in imposing the gambling revenue tax.

In a letter to Rota gaming commission chairwoman Laura I. Manglona, Santos said before the local bill is introduced, “it is only prudent to respectfully request your office for the commission’s comments including the position of each of the commissioners based on the journal or minutes of your session, statistics supporting the un-numbered House local bill and opinions or comments submitted by the general public including investors and developers.”

Santos noted that because of the poor global economic condition and lack of infrastructure on Rota, “it would be difficult to lure investors...regardless of how the commission tries to do so.”

She added, “It is assumed that one way for the commission to attract investors or developers would be to provide incentives to potential investors such as reducing the gambling tax.”

Santos said she has “seen the commission’s hard work, and many aggressive promotions and other advertisements made to entice investors or developers into our island, but there seems to be little or no progress.”

The draft bill will impose a gambling revenue tax rate of between 3 and 10 percent for the first casino license applicants.

But this incentive is limited to the “pioneering investors” that apply for a casino license within the first five years after the effective date of the Rota Casino Act of 2007. After a five-year period, the tax will revert to the original 10 percent rate.

Variety learned that JMSH, LLC, a “pioneering” investor that wants to build a $170 million casino on Rota, is requesting for a lower tax rate.

(Junhan B. Todeno)

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

NMC to host two-day planning summit

By Junhan B. Todeno junhan.todeno@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

NORTHERN Marianas College will host a strategic planning summit next week to discuss NMC’s role in the economic growth of the CNMI. The event will be attended by government and business leaders as well as other stakeholders in the community.

According to the college president, Dr. Sharon Y. Hart, the CNMI’s economic vitality is closely linked to an educated workforce.

“The strategic planning process, which is strongly supported by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, brings our community together to discuss the college’s future, especially in strengthening its role as the engine of economic growth for the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands,” she said.

“Bold steps are needed to boost

Acting Northern Marianas College President Leo Pangelinan, second left, talks with NMC Board of Regents Chairman Juan Lizama during a break from their meeting.

Photo by Junhan B. Todeno

the upward trajectory of the CNMI — these steps must be pursued with the utmost urgency,” she added.

Hart said the strategic planning

sessions will be led by Dennis Jones, president of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems.

The center has received “widespread acclaim for developing practical responses to the strategic issues facing public and private leaders, including higher education institutions across the nation, including Hawaii, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, and Indiana” she said.

She added that Jones is widely recognized for his work in developing public agendas to guide state higher education policymaking; financing, budgeting, and resource allocation methodologies for use at both state and institutional levels; and for linking higher education with states’ workforce and economic development needs.

On the final day of the summit, Jones will lead a planning retreat for college employees.

Funding for this project is provided through a grant that NMC received from the U.S. Department of the Interior-Office of Insular Affairs.

Sister Stella Mangona, Parents Anonymous Inc. facilitator and trainer, second right, poses with Division of Youth Services personnel and parents who attended the training program at the multi-purpose center.

Photo by Junhan B. Todeno

20 complete parent training

By Junhan B. Todeno junhan.todeno@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

OVER 20 parents completed the parent education training session at the multi-purpose center last week.

Sister Stella Mangona, Parents Anonymous Inc. facilitator and trainer, was the main speaker of the whole day event.

“The parents were very interested to learn more about their roles and

responsibilities,” she told Variety.

Mangona, who is also the current in-house counselor at Guma Esperansa, said she discussed appropriate practices that can enhance personal growth and development among parents.

Parents Anonymous Inc. is a support group for parents and is a children’s program, she said.

Its children’s program aims to enhance the emotional growth and social development of children

and youth of all ages by creating an environment where they can achieve their goals.

The training discussed healthy social skills that help parents increase their competencies, build their self-esteem and self-confidence and gain respite from daily life stresses while developing resiliency to face these stresses.

Mangona and Rose Kaipat also discussed parental leadership principles and standards.

The other participating trainers were Charlene Lizama, Mercy Usenuku and Josephine T. Tabaluliman.

The training also discussed standard practices and programs that can help make positive connections between parents and children while allowing parents to collect critical information about their children and adequately responding to the cultural and ethnic diversity of children and families in the CNMI.

Marianas Variety News & Views is circulated by home and office delivery throughout Saipan, Rota, Tinian, Guam and Palau as well as mail delivery to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, South Pacific, Hawaii, Japan and the U.S. Daily coverage also can be read from our Web site via www.mvariety.com.

MV 9-27-12.indd 6

9/26/12 11:55:42 PM

Local

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Housing official attends 3 federal training sessions in Honolulu training discussed the highlights of the Uniform Act or URA and Section 104 (d) requirements THE local housing agency’s cor- relating to HUD programs. porate director attended three U.S. The environmental compliDepartment of Housing ance training, he said, and Urban Development focused on the National training sessions in HoEnvironmental Policy nolulu, Hawaii early this Act and Part 58 or the month. environmental review Northern Marianas procedures for entities Housing Corp. corporate assuming HUD environdirector Jesse Palacios Jesse Palacios mental responsibilities. participated in the reloPalacios said they discation training, environmental cussed the step by step process in compliance training, and the requesting the release of funds and national conference on affordable environmental certifications. housing in high cost areas from At the National Conference on Sept. 6 to 12.

Affordable Housing in High Cost Palacios said the relocation Areas, Palacios had the opportuBy Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

nity to listen to economist Dr. Paul Brewmaker talk about housing market history and trends.

Palacios also attended a session on how to make the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program attractive to allocators and investors.

He sat in sessions on green building, energy efficiency and redevelopment of public housing.

Palacios said he also listened to Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie talk about transit oriented development.

Palacios likewise attended a grantees’ meeting where they discussed cost of housing and true affordability.

SHEFA releases checks to 146 students formed Finance about these new funding requests.

For this fall term semester, THE Saipan Higher Education there are 742 applicants of whom Financial Assistance office has 402 have been approved, Rasa disbursed a total of $294,000 in as- said, adding that 94 applicants sistance to 146 eligible applicants were deemed ineligible due to for the fall term semester, various reasons such as SHEFA administrator failure to meet the CGPA Merissa S. Rasa said. requirements, not meeting She said SHEFA rethe award duration limit leased the checks a day and/or repeating courses after receiving them from that were originally paid the Department of Finance for by SHEFA. on Sept. 4.

Rasa said 246 applicaAccording to Rasa, she Merissa Rasa tion packages have yet extended SHEFA’s apto be reviewed and still preciation to Finance Secretary require supporting documents.

Larissa Larson and Treasurer The deadline for the submisConnie Agulto for prioritizing and sion of supporting documents is expediting the program’s funding Oct. 1. requests.

Rasa said all checks have been The second batch of 236 eligible disbursed in the previous terms applicants will receive a total of and there are no appeals pending $343,7000 while the third batch of from the same period.

12 eligible applicants will require a SHEFA is funded by Saipan’s $17,400 financial allocation. annual poker license fee collecRasa said she has already in- tions.

By Junhan B. Todeno junhan.todeno@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

NMHC to fill mortgage division vacancy

By Alexie Villegas Zotomayor avz@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

WITH its former credit and mortgage division manager assuming the corporate director position, the Northern Marianas Housing Corp. has yet to fill the vacated position.

Former credit and mortgage division manager and now corporate director Jesse Palacios said, “We will issue an announcement soon.”

Back in March, Palacios was appointed acting corporate director by the NMHC board when his predecessor Joshua Sasamoto resigned his post effective March 10.

Since then, Palacios performed the tasks of the two posts.

The board, however, finally chose Palacios to serve as corporate director in August.

In finding his successor to the credit and mortgage division manager position, Palacios said they will announce the vacancy in the newspaper.

He said they will assess each applicant’s education, experience and overall qualifications to run the mortgage and credit division.

The housing agency has 25 employees based on its fiscal year 2013 budget submission.

Aside from the vacant mortgage division manager position, NMHC is also in the process of reviewing applications for the Section 8 program manager which was left vacant when Zerlyn Taimanao resigned last month and moved to Northern Marianas College.

For more information, contact NMHC at 234-6866.

MV 9-27-12.indd 7

9/26/12 11:55:43 PM

Local

2012 Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Fair set for Oct. 20

By Raquel C. Bagnol raquel.bagnol@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

TO help broaden health awareness and promote the well-being of families, Marianas Pacific Distributors, or MarPac, will host a “2012 Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Fair (and daddies too!)” event at the multi-purpose center in Susupe next month.

MarPac is inviting healthcare providers, insurance companies, government agencies, non-profit organizations and childcare development centers to join the health fair on Oct. 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event is free to the community as well as to participating agencies and organizations.

MarPac consumer sales manager Tom Basa said due to the space limitation at the multipurpose center, the deadline to submit vendor/donation registration forms is on Oct. 8.

There will be games and raffle draws throughout the day. The games will include Diaper Derby (fastest diaper changer: mom and dad divisions); and Quick Crawl (fastest baby crawler).

Baby pageant Huggies and Enfamil are partnering with MarPac for the event.

One of its highlights is a baby pageant for all babies still using diapers. Costumes for the pageant must be made of Huggies diapers only.

Members of the public are also encouraged to save all UPC codes from any Huggies merchandise packaging like diaper case boxes, wrappers and Huggies wipes tubs to redeem free Huggies products including baby wipes, t-shirts, bibs and hats during the event.

Basa said this will be an ongoing promotion.

Customers who purchase Huggies products at various stores are eligible to enter the raffle draw.

Participants must be present to win either a one year supply of Enfamil for one winner and/or a one year’s supply of Huggies Diapers and Wipes for two winners.

To participate in the “2012 Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Fair (and daddies too!)” event or to drop donations, drop by the MarPac office in Gualo Rai, email vseman@marpacspn. com or fax 234-2830 for more information.

MV 9-27-12.indd 8

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Domestic violence still one of the most under-reported crimes in NMI

By Raquel C. Bagnol raquel.bagnol@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE Attorney General’s Office received a total of 162 cases of domestic violence in 2011, but this figure did not reflect the actual number of domestic violence victims in the CNMI, according to Northern Marianas Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence executive director Maisie Tenorio.

“Domestic violence still remains as one of the most underreported crimes in the commonwealth,” she said. “We presented this number of cases just to show that some victims are now coming up and speaking out.”

Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos yesterday signed the proclamation declaring October 2012 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Among the activities scheduled for next month are the Walk Against Domestic Violence events in Chalan Kanoa on Oct. 3; at the Kagman Community Center on Oct. 17; and at GTC Elementary School in San Roque on Oct. 24. All events will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

On Oct. 8, the Day of Unity will be observed from 12 noon to 6 p.m. with cultural performances.

On the same day, the Men’s Walk Against Domestic Violence will

Representatives from the Northern Marianas Coalition Against Domestic & Sexual Violence and the Family Violence Task Force join Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos during yesterday’s proclamation signing designating October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Photo by Raquel C. Bagnol

be held from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., to be followed by a candle light vigil from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. The venues for these events will be announced later.

Oct. 14 is the Day of Prayer which will be highlighted by a special Mass at San Antonio Par-

ish at 9 a.m.

There will be village conversations at 5 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the Koblerville Youth Center, and at 5 p.m. on Oct. 23 at Kagman High School.

Information booths will be set up at the Thursday street market at

the Garapan Fishing Base on Oct. 4, 11, 18 and 25.

To cap the month-long series of events, the Domestic Violence Family Task Force will hold a Trunk or Treat at the Joeten Kiyu Public Library from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 31.

October is NMI Energy Action Month

By Raquel C. Bagnol raquel.bagnol@mvariety.com Variety News Staff

THE Energy Division will spear-

head a series of activities to promote energy efficiency awareness in the commonwealth next month which was designated by Lt. Gov.

Eloy S. Inos yesterday as CNMI Energy Action Month.

He also signed proclamations declaring Oct. 2 as Energy Star:

Staffers of the CNMI Energy Division pose with Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos, seated second from left, in the governor’s conference room on Capital Hill yesterday.

Photo by Raquel C. Bagnol

Change a Light Day, and Oct. 30 as Weatherization Day. On Oct. 2, the Energy Division will lead the commonwealth in taking and honoring the Energy Star Pledge as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” campaign.

CNMI residents are urged to help save energy and voluntarily reduce greenhouse gas emissions by taking energy-saving actions in their homes such as switching to Energy Star qualified light bulbs and fixtures, enabling their computers to power down when not in use, installing and using a programmable thermostat correctly with pre-programmed settings as well as choosing products that have earned the Energy Star label.

On Oct. 30, the CNMI will join the nation in observing National Weatherization Day. The Energy Division said the federal weatherization assistance program helps low-income households pay for their energy bills.

The program has helped 556 families in the CNMI save energy, the Energy Division said.

9/26/12 11:55:44 PM

Local / Guam

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Kagman High School progress report on Oct. 3 (KagHS) — Kagman High School will have a half-day schedule on Oct. 3.

All teachers from KagHS and Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School will gather at Kagman Elementary School to distribute first term progress reports from 3 to 5 p.m.

KagHS will distribute progress reports not picked up on Oct.3 at GTC on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This will allow families in the north access to their high school students’ progress report if they cannot make it on Wednesday, Oct. 3 Student leaders from the NHS and JROTC will act as ushers on the Oct. 3 event, and will earn community service hours for their service.

A map will be available for parents and the ushers to use to navigate the locations of the high school teachers and the junior high teachers around campus.

Teachers will be prepared to give out their contact information (email and work phone) at this event so that parents can m a k e appointments to talk more about a c h i l d ’s progress and follow up from this October meeting.

Progress reports are the most critical time for academic interventions to be effective because this is when the student still has a chance to correct any problems they might be having with their performance. After the report card is issued, the grades are final. If parents want to affect change in their child’s performance, the time to do it is at the progress report.

Kagman High School parent involvement percentages fell well below the goal of 30 percent for school year 2011-2012 However, Kagman Elementary School data surpassed that goal with parent involvement at 64 percent.

Parents have voiced concerns annually that progress reporting at all schools is inconvenient when: • The progress reports all fall on the same day at three different campuses. Parents do not have time to get to all campuses.

• Progress reports fall on three different days at three different campuses. Parents do not have the gas to make it to all campuses three different times of the month, in addition to PTSA meetings and other involvement activities.

This plan was created in an effort to address parent concerns and to raise parent involvement at Kagman High School during the progress report period.

MV 9-27-12.indd 9

GovGuam layoffs debated The governor’s fiscal team was represented by Governor’s Office Chief Policy Advisor Arthur Clark, HAGÅTÑA — Clarification of Department of Administration the number of employees eligible Director Benita Manglona, and for early retirement and an im- Bureau of Budget and Manageplied statement to lay off people ment Research Director heated up discussions on John Rios.

Wednesday night as senaSan Agustin said he tors went over the section understands there is a on the Early Retirement management dilemma in Incentive Plan contained the executive branch and in Bill 507-31. that they can’t find enough Paula Blas, Government money to run their operaof Guam Retirement Fund tions.

Joe administrator; Joe T. San San Agustin However, he said GGRF Agustin, GGRF board of opposes any cuts to the trustees chairman; Richard Wright, Retirement Fund. He said the consultant; Gerard Cruz, trustee front office could just resort to the member; Maggie Ralbovsky, usual management practice and managing director for consultant reorganize, adding the governor Wilshire Associates; and Vince Ca- can use his Organic Act authority macho, legal counsel, represented and “revamp the entire government the Retirement Fund. of Guam” or reduce the number of

By Zita Y. Taitano zita@mvguam.com Variety News Staff

employees. people out of work.”

“The proposal is putting a dampFor her part, Wilshire Associates’ er within the Retirement Fund,” Ralbovsky said the proposal in the San Agustin said. He stressed, bill isn’t accurate. however, that they are willing to “I think the calculation of the work with the administration and savings was assuming that the the Legislature on ways to best investment program is going balance the budget, “but to earn as it is earning the bill doesn’t achieve a right now — and that is reasonable balance.” a flawed assertion,” she The very thought of letsaid. “When you pay out ting people go is a matter more than you pay in, Gov. Eddie Calvo would you are drawing down only implement as a last your corporate of investresort. Calvo said he would ments program.”

Maggie Ralbovsky prefer to allow employees She added that based on to voluntarily separate their calculations, there through an early retirement pro- will be an increase of about $1.2 gram. billion in 30 years, which will be “We can’t be heartless about a cost to taxpayers. this,” Calvo said in a news release.

Clark believes the scenarios “The Retirement Fund board lead- presented by the Retirement Fund ership may not care about 3,000 don’t reflect the intentions of the jobs, but I do. I don’t want to put bill.

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9/26/12 11:55:46 PM

10

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

FORUM A Meeting Place For Our Opinions. . .And Yours. . .

OPINION

Must retirees accept the reality of reduced pensions in the future?

A suggested temporary accommodation with the government

By William H. Stewart Economist

SECTION 20 (a) of the NMI Constitution states: “Membership in an employee retirement system of the commonwealth shall constitute a contractual relationship. Accrued benefits of this system shall be neither diminished nor impaired.”

When the Retirement Fund’s invested base has been withdrawn and “cashed out” — possibly in less than two years — just as you can’t “make a dead fish swim” — if you are a defined benefit plan (retiree you can’t expect payment of your pension when the government does not have the money and is unwilling to convert any of its assets into cash through the sale of, for example, publicly owned land, or by the dedication of land lease payments, or a tax increase or other sources of revenue.

To further complicate the matter of payment of pensions, when the “well runs dry,” retirees should keep in mind the separation of powers as an issue in our democratic form of government and the limitations placed on each of the three equal branches of the NMI government.

So far, with respect to the payment to the Fund of the three-year-old Superior Court adjudicated award of $231 million (not including interest) — the amount has not, and cannot, be paid until appropriated by the Legislature as based upon a submitted request by the administration (which has yet to occur). See 1 CMC, Sec. 7207. The court, as the third equal branch of government, has so far been paralyzed and without power to enforce its order for payment.

And so it goes. Of course, the federal court is under no such constraint as imposed by local laws.

As I see it: I doubt there is much disagreement among many that the NMI has not distinguished itself in the timely William Stewart payment of its debts or by the administration of CUC, CHC and the Retirement Fund among its other responsibilities.

It is all about money and there are only two ways to make it other than from income generating investment sources (which are not risk free) or by stealing it — which is the same as not paying one’s debts after a prolonged period.

As true in government as in business — one can make money by maintaining (holding) expense levels and increasing income. This can be illustrated as keeping government employee staffing unchanged and holding the payroll constant while increasing revenue (through taxes and other income generating sources).

Alternately, one can strive to hold income levels when it is not possible to increase revenue and significantly reduce expenses, (cut the payroll) — or a combined mix of the two strategies. Certainly most businesses and people operating under a household budget know the above to be common sense.

How does the above relate to the deteriorating situation occurring with the retirement income at a time when the outlook for improvement in the island’s economy is dismal as projected by this economic observer throughout the foreseeable future?

I see a tax increase unlikely at a time when the economy is on the ropes, the cost of living reaching an all time high, jobs scarce, confiContinued on page 11

Serving the Northern Marianas for 40 years Published Monday to Friday by Younis Art Studio, Inc. Publishers : Abed and Paz Younis Editor: Zaldy Dandan P.O. Box 500231, Saipan MP 96950-0231 Tel. (670) 234-9797/9272 Fax: (670) 234-9271 E-mail: mvariety@pticom.com URL: www.mvariety.com © 2012, Marianas Variety All Rights Reserved

MV 9-27-12.indd 10

Member of The Associated Press (AP) member Since 1985

National NewSpaper Association

• Michael Lujan Bevacqua

When the Moon Waxes Pander Mode 2.0 HAGÅTÑA — Mitt Romney seems like he would be a great father in a suburban family sitcom. His kids would be living modern, multicultural lives and Mitt would play the handsome, charming but cluelessly-out-of-touch dad who doesn’t know how to cope with the world invading his sheltered life. I imagine Romney at the dinner table smiling awkwardly as his kids broach topics such as teen pregnancy, homosexuality and interracial dating. As the laugh track booms around him, he would ho and hum, carp about kids today and grumble about America needs more #Romneystrength. No one would really take him too seriously, but the mixing of his discomfort with his “Leave it to Beaver” stereotypical father figure charm would make him the perfect butt of jokes.

Mitt Romney seems like a nice guy, at least on the surface. But the problem though is that the niceness evaporates very quickly once you start to wonder if perhaps there is only surface to this candidate and nothing more? Mitt Romney does seem to have that salesman aura about him. While he’s trying to sell you something, he’ll tell you how much he loves fishing. The moment you tell him you don’t care for fishing, he tells you how much he hates fishing.

But given the ideological climate for Republicans right now, you can’t really blame Mitt Romney for endlessly recreating himself and being confused over which version of himself he is supposed to be wearing each day. Romney has been transforming himself for years in hopes of rising to the top of the party and being its presidential nominee. The problem, however, is that Romney’s background makes him perfect as a Republican candidate for president, but suspect as a Republican.

As many writers have noted in this election, governors who try to make a bid for national office will talk endlessly about their state and how wonderful things were there and how proud they are of what they accomplished there. They polish their record as governor and make it shine so brightly that you might imagine their state to be located somewhere in Heaven and not in the lower 48. Romney, as the former governor of the “most liberal state in the union,” has to constantly run from his record, to pretend it doesn’t exist and act as if most of what he did as governor was only because he was brainwashed by the Kennedys akin to the plot for the film “The Manchurian Candidate.” The Republican Party has become

so ideologically intolerant this election that they don’t see Romney’s centrist and compromising past as being a bonus, but just something that makes him even more ideologically suspicious. He is not a true believer, just a shady political opportunist.

The Republican primary this past election was an absolute circus all performed at the expense of Mitt Romney. The cavalcade of challengers were all trotted out not because any of them ever had a chance of winning against Obama. They all became conservative darlings and flavors of the week simply because they were not Mitt Romney, and therefore they must be good solid conservatives. People like Donald Trump, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Herman Cain were all plenty of fun to watch, especially when their campaigns were imploding. But they were all flirty flings, where Republicans wanted to have some real fun before they settled down to the long dreary marriage to Mitt.

The problem that Romney faces today is that all the pandering he has been doing in recent years to try to prove that he is a card-carrying Republican conservative does not help him much in the national election. The divisive rhetoric that Romney has had to use in order to appeal to the base of his party eventually came to haunt him recently when comments that he made to a private fundraiser with wealthy supporters were revealed to the public. In a video recording of the meeting, Romney makes several inflammatory statements, most notorious of which is his remark that 47 percent of the country will vote for Obama no matter what you say to them because they are lazy, pay no taxes and will never take responsibility for anything.

The revelation of Romney’s comments in and of itself was hardly Earth-shattering. Most people imagined Romney as a rich Republican would say things like that in the privacy of his ideological peers. But it is still shocking to have something proven in such an unfiltered way. The problem, however, is that Romney isn’t supposed to be associated with this type of rhetoric anymore since it doesn’t apply to enough people to get him elected. Romney would be far better served now by resurrecting himself as the compromising and rational governor of Massachusetts. We’ll see if he’ll try to reinvent himself again in order to reach out to independent and undecided voters, or if RomneyBot 2012 will just cruise to November stuck in Pander Mode 2.0.

9/26/12 11:55:50 PM

Forum

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Unfulfilled promise

By Michael Barone

“THE most important lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t change Washington from the inside,” Barack Obama said in an interview Thursday on the Spanish-language Univision network. “You can only change it from the outside.”

A better way to put it is that Barack Obama has proved he can’t change Washington from the inside.

One case in point is the comprehensive immigration legislation Obama promised to steer to passage in his first term. The Univision interviewers, who asked tougher questions than the president has been getting from David Letterman or various rappers, zeroed in on this issue.

With a 60-vote supermajority in the Senate and a solid Democratic majority in the House in 2009 and 2010, Obama could have pushed for an immigration bill.

Instead, he acquiesced in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision not to bring such a measure to the floor. It would require some of her members to cast tough votes.

But, with Obama’s encouragement, she did bring to the floor and pushed through a cap-and-trade bill that also required some of her members to cast tough and in some cases career-ending votes.

Cap-and-trade was a favorite of gentry liberals, the kind of people Obama regularly has seen at his 200-plus fundraising events. As for the Hispanics who want immigration legislation, he’s now promising that he’ll push it in his second term. Wait in line.

George W. Bush managed to get congressional votes on comprehensive immigration bills. Obama didn’t bother.

Obama’s inability to change Washington from the inside is also on display in Bob Woodward’s latest bestseller, “The Price of Politics.”

He tells how in a meeting of congressional leaders Pelosi muted a speakerphone as Obama droned on lecturing members on the national interest, so the legislators could get some work done.

He shows how Obama blew up the summer 2011 grand bargain negotiations with Speaker John Boehner by suddenly raising his demands.

Boehner had already agreed to increased revenues from high earners through tax reform that would eliminate or limit deductions whose benefits go largely to those with high incomes.

That’s the kind of tax reform recommended by Obama’s Simpson-Bowles Commission, whose report quickly found its way to his round file.

It had the support of congressional Republicans like vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan and Republicans on the supercommittee.

But Obama insisted on higher tax rates for high earners — proposals that tend to bring in less revenue than forecast — and raised the ante on Boehner.

All of which prompts the question: Would the economy be doing better today if the grand bargain had been successful, and if we were not headed toward the fiscal cliff resulting from the sequestration process congressional leaders improvised after Obama spiked the negotiations?

We can’t know the answer for sure. But it’s certainly possible.

Instead, the economy is in such disarray that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has embarked on a third round of quantitative easing.

Obama has spent about half of his career in public office running for other office. A couple of years after his election to the state Senate, he ran for Congress. He lost, and a couple of years later ran for the U.S. Senate.

Two years after taking office, he started running for president. And he’s spent a lot of time this last two years — all those fundraisers!

— running again.

In the meantime, he has skipped more than half of his daily intelligence briefings, including those several days before the attacks on our embassies and consulates that started on Sept. 11, 2012.

Afterward, White House press secretary Jay Carney, Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice and Obama himself (on David Letterman) characterized the attacks as spontaneous responses to a video criticizing Islam.

That story line was punctured when the director of the National Counterterrorism Center stated what seemed to be obvious — that Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed “in the course of a terrorist attack.” The video was a pretext.

The video alibi was obviously politically motivated. One of the premises of the Obama campaign was that his election would make Muslims love America.

What we see in all this is a president who is much more comfortable campaigning than governing.

What we also see is disarray — an economy that is foundering, a world where America is on the defensive and under attack. A president who can’t change Washington and whose election did not magically change the world. (The Washington Examiner) MV 9-27-12.indd 11

✑ Letter to the editor

E-mail your letters to editor@mvariety.com. Letters must carry the full name of the writer, with a telephone number for verification. Letters addressed to other publications or to third parties and those endorsing particular political candidates are discouraged. All letters are subject to editing. The Variety reserves the right to reject any letters. Name withheld and unsigned letters will not be printed.

Guam officers involved in Blue House need to face justice THE Blue House Lounge human trafficking crime here on Guam is tragic and I’m glad that the owner is going to jail. Unfortunately, this human rights issue is far from over after the Guam Police Department has been implicated in this modern day “slavery” operation.

More questions need to be asked, the chief needs to respond and the officers involved need to face justice.

The chief of police vowed he would clean house and change the image of the department during his

Must...

Continued from page 10 dence down and new investment all but dried up.

What remains to at least continue some level of future pension payments?

I found the statements which appeared in the Sept. 25 edition of the Marianas Variety attributable to Superior Court Judge Kenneth Govendo entitled “Govendo says Fund Withdrawal Law Flawed” to be correct in every respect and well reasoned including the need for all retirees to accept a reduction in their pensions.

Those who may be hesitant to accept the reality of the rapid diminishment of the Fund must eventually agree with the urgent need to resolve the pressing issues which will impact all retirees who must be ready to possibly endure compromised “tradeoffs” which translate into reductions in pensions as painful as that may be for some.

In short — it is better to have something rather than nothing — it is just that basic.

How severe such a reduction must be requires further analysis — but the cuts must be undertaken and soon.

Whether the reduction in pensions should be based upon a uniform percentage applied to each individual pension or alternately a “one size fits all ”standard, uniform pension for all annuitants (which I personally do not support) remains to be evaluated, perhaps by the court or the trustee ad litem.

Future pensions linked to economic growth As a 40-year observer of the commonwealth economy, I base my belief for the need for a pension reduction as founded upon my evaluation of the lack of the economy’s growth potential at a level necessary to sustain present pension payment. The NMI’s economy is weak and constrained by many inhibiting growth factors too numerous, interrelated and complex to

confirmation. How is this issue affecting the public’s trust of our men in blue? No pun intended.

Please write on this “Human Rights” issue and ask your team of reporters to investigate. How does the governor feel about this gross violation of human rights under his watch? Why is he turning a blind eye to this critical issue and what can be done to pressure the chief to take action.

The media is the public’s first line of defense against the abuses of government power and police power

against its own citizens. I hope you and the other media outlets will come together on this human rights issue like you did when the KUAM studios were raided several years ago.

I teach my students each day to respect human life and the rule of law. How do I continue the “good fight” if the leaders in our community won’t?

Please help give a voice to justice on Guam.

detail in this forum. A result, in part, of the fact that many forces affecting the economy are beyond the control of island efforts to mitigate.

An island economy based primarily upon tourism is particularly vulnerable to negative outside forces from such ravenous vultures of the air as SARS to foreign currency fluctuations to any number of factors. It always has been — and always will be.

There is no way to insulate the island from such unanticipated attacks on the economy short of sector diversification which is unlikely if the past provides the example.

If, as we are told, the Fund has less than 24 months before its investment base is depleted it should be considered that the government needs time for the tourism sector of the economy to expand which I believe will eventually occur. Meanwhile, it needs time and breathing room to recover.

My thought is that if pensions were to be temporarily reduced — the amount withheld, that is to state, the difference between what retirees would normally have been provided under normal circumstances but with the difference in the amount delayed — that is — the remaining (postponed)

unpaid balance on the retiree’s guaranteed contractual annuity due must eventually be paid by the NMI government and, in the interim, carried as an account payable to the retiree or his or her estate including interest, of course.

In effect the arrangement amounts to a loan by retirees to the government to give the NMI government the much needed breathing room for however long it takes for the economy to strengthen but not exceeding five years or until late 2017. If it hasn’t recovered by then it probably never will but meanwhile retirees will have had the advantage of pension payments, although reduced, for another five years rather than two as things now stand. Admittedly, there is a financial risk involved for retirees.

In summary, it is my judgment that the NMI cannot sustain the current levels of pension payments without a supporting economy and may not for many years in the future, indeed, if ever again.

As difficult as it may be — and equally hard to tough out — the time has come for defined benefit plan retirees to accept the reality of the situation.

I hope the above will be discussed by retirees.

ANDRI BAYNUM Teacher, SSHS Guam

Jane Mack

OPINION

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9/26/12 11:55:51 PM

12

Local

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Joeten donates $5,000 to Red Cross fundraising event

(American Red Cross-NMI chapter) — The Joeten Charitable Foundation, the charitable arm of the Joeten Group of Companies, has generously donated $5,000 to the American Red Cross Annual Club 200 fundraising event to be held on Oct. 6, 2012 at the Fiesta Resort & Spa. The Joeten Charitable Foundation was officially chartered on March 11, 1994 to foster charitable causes that promote the advancement of religion, education, health, and other related efforts which promote the social welfare of the community. The Joeten group of companies along with their affiliated companies, Saipan Shipping Company, Saipan Stevedore Company and Pacifica Insurance Underwriters,will continue fostering charitable causes in the CNMI and elsewhere.

Frances T. Demapan, president of the Joeten Charitable Foundation, asked American Red Cross to seriously consider establishing a blood bank in the CNMI. She said the Joeten Charitable Foundation believes that the American Red Cross could partner with the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. in carrying out this mission for the community.

With this help, the CNMI chapter could further assist in helping or donating part of its annual fundraising funds specifically for blood purchases to help support the CHC. Demapan added that, “it is critical that we all join together to extend a helping hand to our one and only hospital to help

Joeten Charitable Foundation president Frances Demapan, fourth left, presents a check worth $5,000 to American Red Cross-NMI board chairman J.D. Guerrero, third right, Tuesday, in a conference room at Joeten Susupe. From left: Kennedy Benjamin, American Red Cross health and safety manager; Shirley Sablan, Pacific Insurance Underwriters general manager; Darlene Macaranas, Joeten Shopping Center marketing manager; John Hirsh, American Red Cross-NMI chapter executive director; Clarence Tenorio, Joeten Charitable Foundation trustee; and Bob Coldeen, American Red Cross board member.

Contributed photo

them procure blood from the U.S., especially as they struggle in their everyday basic needs at CHC.” “This is one area that American

Red Cross together with its donors that can help in making a difference especially in this critical time,” she said.

“The Joeten Charitable Foundation will continue to support our CNMI community. With this donation, the JCF hopes it can

achieve success in promoting worthy causes geared to the long term interests of all our businesses and the community.”

Korean song contest

Korean Cultural Center teacher Michelle Yim and her son Dani Jeong pose with local community members who joined a Korean song practice session held recently at Korean Community School in Afetnas.

Contributed photo MV 9-27-12.indd 12

(Korean Community School) — The Korean Cultural Center hosted a Korean song practice session at Korean Community School behind the former mayor’s office and the former Winners factory in Afetnas last week.

Those interested in Korean songs and are not fluent in Korean language are invited to the second session that will be held at 3 p.m. this Friday and Saturday, Sep. 28-29.

A Korean song contest will be held at the multi-purpose center in Susupe on Nov. 23 and 24. There will be photo sessions for those in King & Queen costumes and an exhibition for Love Korea movement from Nov. 19 to 24. Cash prizes and gifts will be given out to the winners.

Those who want to participate are asked to send their names and phone number to koreancultureweek@gmail.com. You may also call 285-2221 for more information.

You can visit the Korean Noraebangs, or karaoke room, to practice, especially with Korean friends. For more information, call 235-7726, 234-3188, 235-3175, 235-2351 or 235-8686.

You can find Korean songs on YouTube. youtube.com or other search engines.

9/26/12 11:55:52 PM

Local

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

13

People & Events

Philippine Consul General to Guam Bayani Mangibin and Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian pay a courtesy visit to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial. Also in photo are Press Secretary Angel Demapan and outgoing Philippine Consul General to Saipan Medardo Macaraig.

Philippine Consul General to Guam Bayani Mangibin and Consul Edgar Tomas Auxilian pose with Speaker Eli D. Cabrera and Senate President Paul A. Manglona. Also in photo is Philippine Consul General to Saipan Medardo Macaraig.

Contributed photos

Marianas High School students pose with visiting USS McCambell sailors who conducted a cleanup on campus last Monday.

THANK YOU IP&E! From left, Jeff Boyer, Isla Petroleum &Energy retail manager, John Hirsh, American Red Cross-NMI executive director, and Ron Benavente, IP&E marketing assistant, hold a banner outside the IP&E terminal on Puerto Rico, Wednesday. IP&E is a major sponsor for the NMI chapter’s Club 200 event, its largest fundraiser of the year.

ARC-NMI photo

The Navy volunteers take a lunch break at Marianas High School.

MHS photos

Saipan Southern High School’s Manta Ray Battalion cadets pose after conducting a recent cleanup in Koblerville.

MV 9-27-12.indd 13

Contributed photo 9/26/12 11:55:55 PM

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Philippines / Asia

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Dispute escalates between China and Japan TOKYO/BEIJING (Reuters) — China sent its first aircraft carrier into formal service on Tuesday amid a tense maritime dispute with Japan in a show of force that could worry its neighbors.

China’s Ministry of Defense said the newly named Liaoning aircraft carrier would “raise the overall operational strength of the Chinese navy” and help Beijing to “effectively protect national sovereignty, security and development interests.”

In fact, the aircraft carrier, refitted from a ship bought from Ukraine, will have a limited role, mostly for training and testing ahead of the possible launch of China’s first domestically built carriers after 2015, analysts say.

The Pentagon played down the event, with spokesman George Little telling a briefing that the United States was monitoring China’s development of its military but noted, “This wasn’t a particular surprise.”

China cast the formal handing over of the carrier to its navy — attended by President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao — as a triumphant show of national strength at a time of tensions with Japan over islands claimed by both sides.

“The smooth commissioning of the first aircraft carrier has important and profound meaning for modernizing our navy and for enhancing national defensive power and the country’s overall strength,” Xinhua news agency cited Wen as saying at the commissioning ceremony in the northern port of Dalian.

Sino-Japanese relations deteriorated sharply this month after Japan bought the East China Sea islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, from their private owner, sparking anti-Japan protests across China.

“China will never tolerate any bilateral actions by Japan that harm Chinese territorial sovereignty,” Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun told his Japanese counterpart on Tuesday as the two met in a bid to ease tensions.

“Japan must banish illusions, undertake searching reflection and use concrete actions to amend its errors, returning to the consensus and understandings reached between our two countries’ leaders.”

Japanese diplomats gathered in New York for the U.N. General Assembly said their government’s purchase of the islands from its private owners was designed to contain the controversy.

“The Japanese government has communicated and explained this intention to the PRC. However, we have the current situation,” said Naoki Saiki, deputy press secretary of Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

Saiki did not indicate whether Tuesday’s vice ministerial talks with China made concrete progress, but she said, “The important thing MV 9-27-12.indd 14

A Japan Coast Guard’s patrol boat, third from the top, and a Taiwanese patrol boat, 4th from the top, discharge water at each other near the disputed islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, in the East China Sea, Tuesday.

AP

is that both sides did agree on the continuation of contacts and communications with each other.”

In a sign of the tensions, China has postponed a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the resumption of diplomatic ties with Japan.

But an official at the Japan-China Economic Association said Toyota Motor Corp Chairman Fujio Cho and Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of Japanese business lobby Keidanren, and other representatives of Japan-China friendship groups would attend an event on Thursday in Beijing.

The risks of military confrontation are scant, but political tensions between Asia’s two biggest economies could fester and worries persist about an unintended incident at sea.

“If blood is shed, people would become irrational,” Koichi Kato, an opposition lawmaker who heads the Japan-China Friendship Asso-

ciation and will travel to Beijing, told Reuters.

For the Chinese navy, the addition of carriers has been a priority as it builds a force capable of deploying far from the Chinese mainland.

China this month warned the United States, with President Barack Obama’s “pivot” to Asia, not to get involved in separate territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China and U.S. allies such as the Philippines.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in turn urged China and its Southeast Asian neighbors to resolve disputes “without coercion, without intimidation, without threats and certainly without the use of force.”

Narushige Michishita, a security expert at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, said he thought the timing of the launch was unrelated to the islands dispute.

Rather, experts said it might be associated with China’s efforts to

build up patriotic unity ahead of a Communist Party congress that will install a new generation of top leaders as early as next month.

“China is taking another step to boost its strategic naval capability,” Michishita said. “If they come to have an operational aircraft carrier, for the time being we are not super-concerned about the direct implications for the military balance between the U.S. and Japan on the one hand, and China on the other. This is still not cutting edge.”

The East China Sea tensions with Japan were complicated on Tuesday by the entry of Taiwan, the self-ruled island that Beijing calls an illegitimate breakaway, which also lays claim to the islands.

Japanese Coast Guard vessels fired water cannon to turn away about 40 Taiwan fishing boats and 12 Taiwan Coast Guard vessels. Six Chinese patrol ships were also near the islands but four left, leaving two nearby but not in waters Japan considers its own.

Philippine foreign affairs chief says he’s not resigning MANILA (Philippine Daily Inquirer) — Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario on Tuesday denied speculation that he was resigning following revelations that Sen. Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV, working as a backdoor negotiator for President Benigno Aquino, was harming initiatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs to resolve tensions with China.

“As secretary of foreign affairs, I have sworn to faithfully serve our country. I remain true to that commitment,” Del Rosario said in a terse statement issued from the United States, where he was to attend the U.N. General Assembly, and released during a news briefing at the Malacañang presidential palace.

Del Rosario earlier complained that Trillanes was damaging the DFA’s efforts to ease tensions with China over disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. That same day, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile confronted Trillanes and accused him of working for Chinese interests.

Del Rosario and the DFA have refused to comment on the verbal tussle between Enrile and Trillanes.

Del Rosario told reporters last week that he was under “gag orders” from Albert Malacañang. del Rosario Purportedly on Del Rosario’s recommendation, the president dispatched Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas last week to meet with Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping in Nanning, China, and reiterate the Philippine claim of sovereignty over the shoal.

In the Malacañang briefing Tuesday, Roxas said Trillanes’ backdoor negotiations were not taken up in his meeting with China’s leader-in-waiting on Friday.

“That has nothing to do with our talk,” he said.

Asked about Aquino’s statement on Friday that Trillanes remained the backdoor negotiator, Roxas said: “I think the president is entitled to use such channels as he deems necessary — front, back, side, window — in order to further Philippine national interest. And he is also entitled to employ parallel processes. He is entitled to employ or to balance out which messages or which procedures he deems best necessary. His mandate is to further and protect Philippine interest.”

Statements of support from DFA officials were issued Tuesday for Del Rosario.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, where Del Rosario was previously posted, cited the “principled leadership” of the DFA chief amid challenging times.

9/26/12 11:55:56 PM

Nation

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

15

Brown gives green light to driverless cars in California MOUNTAIN VIEW (Reuters) operator is ready to take control if — California took the fast lane to necessary. the future on Tuesday when Gov. However, it will likely take years Jerry Brown signed a law that lets before a fully self-driving autonoself-driving cars onto public roads. mous vehicle hits the road, industry Brown rode to the signing cer- official say. emony at Google Inc headquarters “I think the self driving car can rein the passenger seat of a vehicle that ally dramatically improve the quality steered itself, a Prius modified by of life,” said Brin, who pointed to Google. Google co-founder Sergey uses ranging from aiding the blind, Brin and State Sen. Alex Padilla, ferrying revelers who drank too who sponsored the bill, were along much, to simply making better use for the ride.An engineer for of commuting time. the technology company, He added that by driving Chris Urmson, sat in the closer together more safely driver’s seat, but the car than human-driven cars, drove itself. self-driven cars might cut “We’re looking at scicongestion. ence fiction becoming But Google has no plans tomorrow’s reality,” Brown Sergey Brin to build its own driverless said just before signing cars. the bill.

“We have had great conversations Google has been working on self- with a variety of automakers,” he driving technology since 2010, in- said. “Anything we do is going to be cluding testing a fleet of self-driving in partnership with the industry.” cars along California roadways.

The technology has been in the Google’s driverless cars rely on works since the 1950s, when General video cameras, radar sensors, lasers Motors showed off “dream cars” and a database of information col- with features such as autopilot. lected from manually driven cars Recently, carmakers have started to help navigation, according to the incorporating into today’s models company. some elements based on the inThe new law goes into effect novations in those early vehicles, next year and establishes safety including adaptive cruise control and performance regulations for or traffic-jam technologies that can testing driverless cars, provided an slow the car automatically.

California Gov. Edmund G Brown Jr., front left, rides in a driverless car to a bill signing at Google headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., Tuesday.

AP

Cynthia Diaz, 17, holds up a sign telling her story of her mom’s deportation last year, as she joins dozens who rally in front of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building, a day after a portion of Arizona’s immigration law took effect on Sept. 19, 2012 in Phoenix.

AP

Court rejects bid to block Arizona ‘show your papers’ immigration provision

PHOENIX (Reuters) — A U.S. federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a bid by a coalition of civil and immigrants rights activists to prevent police from enforcing an Arizona provision that is at the heart of the fierce national debate over illegal immigration.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied an emergency motion for an injunction blocking the “show your papers” provision of SB 1070, the state’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, pending appeal.

The provision requires police to verify the citizenship or immigration status of people arrested, stopped or detained if there is a reasonable suspicion that they are in the country unlawfully.

It went into effect on September 18 after a U.S. district judge lifted an injunction blocking it.

In June the U.S. Supreme

Court confirmed that three other key provisions of SB 1070 were unconstitutional, but declined to block the “show me your papers” provision. Several other parts of SB 1070 are blocked by separate injunctions issued by the district court.

Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer signed the state crackdown on illegal immigrants into law in April 2010, saying that the federal government had failed to secure the state’s border with Mexico.

Brewer is an outspoken foe of Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration on immigration.

In a statement Tuesday, the governor said she was under “no illusion that opponents of SB 1070 will stop their baseless allegations and call off their teams of lawyers.”

“Know this: They will not suc-

ceed. The State of Arizona stands firmly in support of the rule of law, in defense of our citizens and together with our brave men and women in uniform,” she added.

Karen Tumlin, managing attorney with the National Immigration Law Center which was among a coalition that challenged the law, said the group is exploring its legal options.

“We need to continue the fight because of the unconstitutional harm it will unleash in Arizona” Tumlin said. “First and foremost, we are concerned about unlawful detention and individuals who may be profiled based on their manner of speech or the color of their skin.”

Obama challenged Arizona’s law in court two years ago, saying the U.S. Constitution gives the federal government sole authority over immigration policy.

NY state senator loses election after backing gay marriage NEW YORK (Reuters) — A Republican state senator whose vote was crucial to legalizing gay marriage in New York has lost his primary election while a Senate colleague who also broke with the party’s stance against same-sex unions narrowly escaped defeat.

Sens. Roy McDonald and Stephen Saland were among four New York Senate Republicans to cast key votes last year to make New York the most populous U.S. state to allow homosexual marriages. After a count of absentee ballots, McDonald was determined to have lost his race while Saland narrowly won in Sept.

13 primary elections.

Mark Grisanti, another Republican senator who backed the gay marriage measure, which passed New York’s Republican-controlled Senate on a 33-29 vote in June MV 9-27-12.indd 15

2011, won his primary race by a clear margin. A fourth senator who supported the bill was not seeking re-election.

McDonald lost the Republican nomination in the 43rd District to Kathy Marchione, the Saratoga County clerk, in a contest that frequently touched on the issue of gay marriage.

Although the results are yet to be certified, Marchione had a lead of about 110 votes after a final count of absentee ballots, according to her campaign and The Saratogian newspaper. About 50 votes still were awaiting adjudication by a judge.

“Senator McDonald’s vote on marriage was certainly on the minds of voters but they took even greater

issue with the fact that he was telling people he would vote a certain way up to a week prior and then voted differently,” said Ken Girardin, a spokesman for the Marchione campaign.

A McDonald spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.

Saland of Poughkeepsie and Grisanti of Buffalo have retained their party’s support following the primaries.

Saland’s victory was not secured until Monday after a final tally of absentee ballots gave him a lead of a little more than 100 votes.

The New York primary races were being closely watched as a measure of the tolerance Republican voters might have for candidates who devi-

ate from the official party line, which defines marriage as being between “one man and one woman.”

Lawmakers in Rhode Island, Delaware and elsewhere are expected to weigh gay marriage legislation next year and some Republican backing could be needed to pass those measures.

And this November, voters in four states — Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington — will decide ballot initiatives on the issue.

Same-sex marriage has been legalized in seven states and the District of Columbia.

But the outcomes of the New York primaries were close enough that both opponents and supporters of same-sex marriage were able to find encouragement in the results on Tuesday.

Jason McGuire, the executive

director of New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms, an evangelical Christian organization that lobbies against same-sex marriage, said Marchione’s victory and even Saland’s narrow win should be seen as a warning to Republican legislators tempted to “go rogue,” as he put it.

“The fact that she came from behind with so little support shows that no amount of activist dollars can protect you from an angry electorate,” he said of Marchione’s victory.

But Lynn Faria, the interim executive director of Empire State Pride Agenda, which has lobbied in support of same-sex marriage, said Marchione’s narrow win showed many Republicans are willing to back candidates who support gay unions.

9/26/12 11:55:57 PM

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World

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Appeals end for Britain’s most famous extremist

President Obama addresses the 67th session of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, in New York.

AP

Obama at UN calls for end to intolerance, warns Iran

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) — President Obama urged world leaders on Tuesday to put an end to the intolerance and violence that led to the recent killing of the U.S. ambassador in Libya and warned Iran he would do what it takes to prevent Tehran from getting nuclear arms.

In a 30-minute address to the 193-nation U.N. General Assembly, Obama called anew for the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad following an 18-month civil war without saying how to make it happen. He also offered no fresh ideas on solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Beginning and ending his remarks by evoking Christopher Stevens, the U.S. ambassador to Libya who died with three other Americans in a September 11 assault on the

American Consulate in Benghazi, Obama called on nations to fight such violence.

“Today, we must affirm that our future will be determined by people like Chris Stevens, and not by his killers,” said Obama, who seeks re-election on Nov. 6. “Today, we must declare that this violence and intolerance has no place among our United Nations.”

While condemning the violence sparked by a video made in California that depicts the Prophet Mohammad as a womanizer, fool and child abuser, several Muslim leaders called for international action to outlaw acts of blasphemy.

U.S. missions also came under attack in Egypt, Tunisia, Indonesia and other Muslim nations.

Obama — while repeating his condemnations of the video as

The 67th session of the General Assembly at United Nations headquarters listens to the speech of the American president on Tuesday.

AP MV 9-27-12.indd 16

“crude and disgusting” and stressing that the U.S. government had nothing to do with its production — staunchly defended free speech.

“The strongest weapon against hateful speech is not repression, it is more speech — the voices of tolerance that rally against bigotry and blasphemy,” Obama said.

Saying it is necessary to “honestly address the tensions between the West and the Arab world” moving toward democracy, Obama said he did not expect everyone to agree with him.

“However, I do believe that it is the obligation of all leaders in all countries to speak out forcefully against violence and extremism,” he said. “There is no speech that justifies mindless violence.”

“As president of our country and commander-in-chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so,” Obama said, drawing applause and some laughter.

The U.S. view, however, was not embraced by all sides at the General Assembly.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai took aim both at the anti-Islam video and publication of cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammad — the latter occurring most recently in France.

Karzai called the insults to the faith of 1.5 billion Muslims, the “depravity of fanatics,” and added: “Such acts can never be justified as freedom of speech or expression.”

LONDON (AP) — He’s reviled as cheerful satisfaction Tuesday that the one-eyed, hook-handed terror the preacher known for his antisuspect so troublesome that even Western sermons might be sent Queen Elizabeth II reportedly felt away to face the consequences moved to wonder why he remained for his virulent sermons. The Sun at liberty despite his fiery call for tabloid headlined “Off: The Hook. a jihad, or holy war.

Hate-filled Hamza can be deported Britain is now set to extradite to the United States.” The Daily its most recognizable extremist Express said, “Evil Hamza: At last — Mustafa Kamal Mustafa, who we can kick him out.” is better known as Abu Hamza For years, the Egyptian-born al-Masri — to the United States, former nightclub bouncer, who deporting him claimed he lost face terrorism his eye and charges, includhands fighting ing allegedly the Soviets in helping set up a Afghanistan, terrorist training used his base in camp in rural north London’s Oregon.

Finsbury Park “This is a perMosque to person who has been suade a young Mustafa Kamal Mustafa a blight on this congregation to country from take up the cause more than a decade,” said Robin of holy war. The mosque was once Simcox, a research fellow at the attended by both Sept. 11 conspiraHenry Jackson Society, a London- tor Zacarias Moussaoui and “shoe based foreign-affairs think tank. bomber” Richard Reid. A senior “I don’t think there will be many UK terrorism official described people shedding a tear.” the mosque as a “honeypot for It’s been a long time coming: A extremists.”

European court decision Monday After the Sept. 11 terror attacks, cleared the way for his extradi- the cleric declared that, “many tion and that of four other terror people will be happy, jumping up suspects after an eight-year legal and down at this moment.” battle, He could be deported within When authorities raided the weeks. mosque, he simply moved outside, Britain’s tabloid newspapers ran holding his sermons on the street, unflattering photos of the familiar, castigating Britain and calling for gray-bearded cleric and expressed holy war.

Spain prepares more austerity, protesters battle police MADRID (Reuters) — Protesters clashed with police in Spain’s capital on Tuesday as the government prepared a new round of unpopular austerity measures for the 2013 budget to be announced on Thursday.

Thousands gathered in Neptune plaza, a few meters from El Prado museum in central Madrid, where they formed a human chain around parliament, surrounded by barricades, police trucks and more than 1,500 police in riot gear.

Police fired rubber bullets and beat protesters with truncheons, first as protesters were trying to tear down barriers and later to clear the square. The police said at least 22 people had been arrested and at least 32 injured, including four policemen.

As lawmakers started to leave the parliament shortly after 2100 GMT in official cars or by foot, a few hundred people were still demonstrating in front of the building. Most dispersed shortly afterwards.

The protest, promoted over the Internet by different activist groups, was younger and more rowdy than recent marches called by labor unions. Protesters said

they were fed up with cuts to public salaries and health and education.

“My annual salary has dropped by 8,000 euros and if it falls much further I won’t be able to make ends meet,” said Luis Rodriguez, 36, a firefighter who joined the protest. He said he was considering leaving Spain to find a better quality of life.

With this year’s budget deficit target looking untenable, the conservative government is now looking at such things as cuts in inflation-linked pensions, taxes on stock transactions, “green taxes” on emissions or eliminating tax breaks.

The 2013 budget is the second conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has had to pass since he took office in December. Spain must persuade its European partners that it can cut the budget shortfall by more than 60 billion euros by 2014.

Rajoy has already passed spending cuts and tax hikes worth slightly more than that over the next two years, but half-year figures show the 2012 deficit target slipping from view as tax income forecasts will not be hit due to economic contraction.

9/26/12 11:55:59 PM

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Business & Trade

17

Dow drops 100 after Fed official’s warning NEW YORK (AP) — A quiet day on Wall Street turned into the worst sell-off in three months after a Federal Reserve official said he doubted the bank’s effort to boost economic growth would work.

Charles Plosser, president of the Fed’s Philadelphia branch, told an audience Tuesday that the Fed’s effort to support the economy would likely fall short of its goals.

The speech probably startled some investors who had faith in the Fed’s latest plan, said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer Harris Private Bank. The plan includes buying $40 billion in mortgage bonds each month until the economy improves.

“So many investors have bought into the illusion,” he said. “And it was like Plosser pulled up the curtain on the Wizard of Oz.” The Standard & Poor’s 500 index lost 15.30 points, its fourth straight decline, to close at 1,441.59. The 1.05 percent drop was the worst for the S&P since June 25.

The Dow Jones industrial average lost 101.37 points to close at 13,457.55. Caterpillar tugged the Dow down, losing 4 percent. The world’s largest maker of bulldozers and other heavy equipment said late Monday that slower economic growth around the world dampened its earnings forecast. Its stock sank $3.86 to $87.01.

Stocks enjoyed one of their biggest rallies of the year Sept. 6 after Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank, laid out a plan to buy unlimited amounts of government bonds to lower borrowing costs for Europe’s debt-burdened countries.

A week later, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke announced the central

Trader Frederick Reimer works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. World stock markets fell on Monday, weighed down by a host of concerns about the global economy.

AP

bank’s open-ended mortgage bond-buying program and pledged to hold interest rates at super-low levels into 2015.

The S&P soared to a nearly five-year closing high of 1,465 the next day, Sept. 14, but has drifted lower since and fallen back almost to where it was before Bernanke’s announcement.

On Tuesday, three economic reports gave the stock market a nudge in morning trading. House prices rose in major cities for a

third straight month, and a gauge of consumer confidence came in surprisingly high.

More surprising than those two economic reports was the Richmond Federal Reserve’s strong reading on regional manufacturing, a recent trouble spot, said Phil Orlando, chief equity strategist at Federated Investors.

“Look at that. There were three data points on the economy and we crushed them,” said Phil Orlando, chief equity strategist at Federated

Home prices rise for sixth month, a sign of recovery NEW YORK (Reuters) — U.S. home prices rose for a sixth straight month in July in the latest sign of a sustainable housing market recovery, while a jump in consumer confidence this month offered a harbinger that Americans are ready to loosen their spending.

Six years after its collapse, economists believe the housing market has turned a corner.

Two separate reports on Tuesday showed that home prices rose in July, though the gains were not as strong as the previous month.

That follows recent data that home resales and groundbreaking on new properties rose in August, while business sentiment among homebuilders hit a more than sixyear high this month.

The S&P/Case Shiller composite index of 20 metropolitan areas rose 0.4 percent in July on a seasonally adjusted basis. Economists had expected a gain of 0.9 percent, which would have matched June’s MV 9-27-12.indd 17

advance. Case Shiller is one of the most closely watched barometers of the U.S. housing market.

On a non-adjusted basis, prices were up 1.6 percent.

The gain in house prices supports the view that “even with the broader economic recovery struggling to gain traction, the housing recovery is sustainable,” wrote Paul Diggle, property economist at Capital Economics.

Housing has regained its footing at the same time as the broader economic recovery has lost traction. The economy grew at a 1.7 percent annual rate in the second quarter, and economists say it is not likely to fare much better in the current quarter.

Larry Kantor, head of research at Barclays Capital, said housing has the potential to give a stronger boost to the U.S. economy in 2013 as steadily rising prices reassure Americans that the housing crash is past.

“We’d not previously had a

decline in house prices since the 1940s so we don’t know for sure, but six months of price rises may deter people from renting,” he said.

Earlier this month the Federal Reserve unleashed an aggressive stimulus program in which it will buy $40 billion in mortgagebacked securities a month until the job market sees sustained improvement.

The Fed’s announcement pushed mortgage interest rates to new record lows last week, according to data from mortgage finance provider Freddie Mac. Still, housing faces a number of hurdles, including tight lending standards for mortgages, a large number of underwater homeowners, and a large number of foreclosures still in the pipeline.

U.S. stocks were modestly higher in the early afternoon, with housing shares up 0.4 percent. The housing index is up more than 14 percent for September so far.

The day’s data helped drive down prices of Treasuries, a traditional haven from risk, as it reduced worries about slowing global growth.

Investors.

But sagging profits could drag on the stock market in the coming weeks, Orlando said. Caterpillar joined a growing collection of companies that have lowered their earnings forecasts. FedEx, a bellwether of world trade, said Sept. 18 that shipping has sunk to recession-like levels. Railroad giant Norfolk Southern has also warned that falling shipments and sinking coal prices will likely drag down its earnings.

Wall Street analysts now estimate that corporate profits will be lower this quarter than a year earlier.

That would be the first such drop in three years.

The Nasdaq composite index dropped 43.05 points to 3,117.73.

Google’s stock touched an all-time high in early trading, clearing $764, but closed the trading day at $749.16.

Apple, the largest public company in the world, lost $17.25, or 2.5 percent, to close at $673.54. It has lost more than $26 in two days.

Apple is the biggest component in the S&P but is not included in the Dow, helping explain why the S&P suffered a greater percentage decline than the Dow’s 0.8 percent.

The closely watched Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller index of national house prices increased 1.2 percent in July compared with the same month in 2011. Prices rose from the previous month in all 20 major cities tracked by the report for the third month in a row.

The Conference Board said its gauge of consumer confidence shot to a seven-month high of 70.3 in September, up from 61.3 in August and far higher than the 63 analysts were expecting. People surveyed said they were more optimistic about the job market.

The Federal Reserve’s manufacturing index, which surveys companies in the central Atlantic region, increased after shrinking for three months as businesses turned more optimistic. Companies said they anticipate more orders and shipments even as employment dips. The index turned positive in September after a negative reading in August.

Yahoo CEO fleshes out plans, new CFO named SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) ported.Although her speech touched — New Yahoo Inc CEO Marissa on frequently mentioned industry Mayer laid out broad goals for the themes, Mayer’s delivery nonetheInternet giant in her first company- less won spontaneous applause wide address Tuesday, and received from the workforce, according to a an enthusiastic reception from a second person with knowledge of workforce that has faced years the company meeting. of uncertainty and management “It was some of the same types turmoil. of lines that had been said before, Mayer mainly sketched broad vi- but people believe it now,” said the sions rather than concrete person, who declined to details for her turnaround be identified because the strategy, according to sevinformation is private. eral people familiar with After a steady stream of what was said in the tightly occasionally embarrasscontrolled meeting. ing reports, Yahoo in reBut her personal credcent months has clamped ibility as a long-time senior down firmly on leaks to Google Inc executive, Marissa Mayer the press. Attendees at combined with some recent morale- Tuesday’s assembly were instructed boosting moves such as providing to shut their laptops during Mayer’s new iPhones and free food for address. employees, have had a dramatic and Yahoo declined repeated requests positive impact on the “vibe” at the for comment. company, one of the people said.

Mayer first presented her strategy Speaking at Yahoo’s Sunnyvale, to Yahoo’s board in meetings last California headquarters, Mayer week, outlining plans to bring back stressed the importance of person- advertisers and expand the compaalizing Yahoo’s Web services and ny’s user base, said a third source, adapting the company’s products who declined to be identified because to mobile devices, AllThingsD re- the information was not public.

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Lifestyle & Entertainment

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Psy vows topless show if ‘Gangnam-Style’ reaches No. 1 SEOUL (Reuters) — A chubby South Korean singer who has taken the pop world by storm, topping Apple’s iTunes downloads and getting 270 million Youtube views, has vowed to perform his “Gangnam Style” hit topless if it reaches number one.

The rapper who does the footstomping “horse dance” and goes by the name Psy, returned on Tuesday to the upmarket Seoul suburb that he put on the world music map.

“If it ranks number one in the Billboard chart, then I will perform ‘Gangnam Style’ topless in a place where everyone can watch,” Psy told a news conference on his return from the United States.

Gangnam is the most upmarket neighborhood in the South Korean capital. Known as Seoul’s “Beverly Hills,” its streets are lined with designer-brand shops and trendy bars and restaurants.

Psy, who sums up his style as “dress classy, dance cheesy”, has became a surprise hit in the United States where he was feted on chat shows and signed a deal with Island Records.

Psy, whose real name is Park Jai-sang, has always stuck out as an oddity compared with the svelte, well-scrubbed members of Korean girl and boy bands that have swept to fame in Asia and beyond.

After gaining recognition with a 2001 debut album, he landed in hot water several times. He says he was caught smoking marijuana and later had to repeat his mandatory military service after not taking it seriously the first time.

The 34-year-old was raised in Gangnam and went to the Berklee College of Music in the United States. He dropped out of a U.S. business school which his traditional parents hoped would prepare him for taking over the family business.

South Korean rapper Psy, who sings the popular “Gangnam Style” song, dances after his press conference in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday.

AP

Referring to his kitschy image, he said: “Honestly, I like being ‘second class’... I was born ‘B’ class.”

His hit, released in mid-July, was intended to be fun, he said. Doing a bit of his horse-riding dance, Psy declared in English that his aim was to have “fun by music.”

While he hasn’t taken over the family business, his new-found fame seems to have helped it con-

siderably.

The value of his father’s technology company, D I Corp’s, which is listed on the Seoul Stock Exchange, has doubled since July. Its market capitalization has surged to 113.5 billion won ($101.29 million) since he shot to fame.

Psy plans to release a new record in the United States in November.

Katy Perry named Billboard’s Woman Of The Year LOS ANGELES (Reuters) — Pop star Katy Perry was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year on Tuesday, after a whirlwind 12 months in which she split up with her husband and turned their break-up into a hit single and film.

Perry, 27, channeled her split with British comedian Russell Brand in late 2011 into the chart-topping hit “Part Of Me” and a 3D behind-thescenes film “Katy Perry: Part Of Me” that documented her personal and professional ups and downs.

The singer has won over a legion of fans, known as “katycats,” on Twitter and Facebook with her quirky costumes and catchy bubble gum pop songs.

Forbes placed Perry at No. 3 on their highest-earning female musicians list in December 2011, estimating her pre-tax earnings at $44 million.

She has sold 48 million tracks in the United States alone, accordMV 9-27-12.indd 18

ing to Billboard, including the hits “Firework,” “California Gurls,” “E.T.” and “Hot N Cold” from her major-label 2008 debut “One Of The Boys” and 2010 album “Teenage Dream.”

Perry has become a branding

machine, lending her name to her own fragrance, nail polish and false eyelash lines. She is also the face of skin care line Proactiv and Popchips snacks.

Billboard’s editorial director Bill Werde said in a statement that Perry was chosen for her achievements, calling her “one of the most exciting and inspiring artists in the industry.”

“Katy Perry broke into the industry not even five years ago, and has already accomplished more than most artists can hope for in an entire career,” Werde said.

The Billboard Woman of the Year award selects a female artist with trailblazing achievements. Previous recipients include Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie.

Perry will receive the award at the 2012 Billboard Women in Music event in New York on November 30.

• Ask Dr. Brothers

By Dr. Joyce Brothers

Stranger ruins fun for mom of twins Dear Dr. Brothers: The other day I was at the grocery store with my 3-year-old identical twin boys, who people usually love to make a fuss over, and this woman came up to me and asked me how much longer I am going to dress them alike, with the same haircuts and so on. I stammered something about how they like to fool people, and then she actually said I am going to ruin their lives! I haven’t been able to get that out of my mind. Is there anything to this? — C.P. Dear C.P.: I’m sorry a stranger has ruined the fun you are having with your little boys. Twins are special, and even though it’s much less rare these days to encounter them, it’s a sure bet that they are always the center of attention in public. Identicals whose mirror images are played up by dressing them alike and giving them the same haircuts and so forth are always the star of the show — it’s fascinating to see double, and people just can’t keep from commenting. Some people will be kind, and others will be rude. A pleasant smile will do for both.

The important thing here is to understand the nature of identicals and some of the special challenges they face as they mature. These children often have a difficult time developing their own identities, especially if they are encouraged to play up their identical looks and not find their own style. It’s time to put away the matching outfits, give one of them a haircut and start focusing on who each of them is.

This way, they will have a better chance of learning how to separate and become independent throughout the years, with their own interests and talents. Try to start putting being the center of attention behind all of you. It will take a lot of pressure off your children and will free them to be themselves.

Now is a great time to start this new vision of their lives.

***

Do parents’ problems affect kids?

Dear Dr. Brothers: I am a very protective parent who doesn’t want the problems my husband and I have to spill over into the lives of our children. We are trying to save for their education as well as keep our home from being foreclosed, but it’s not easy, and we are stressed. I don’t let the kids know what’s happening, and they seem to be doing OK. My husband isn’t worried about letting them in on our family issues, as he calls them. The kids are in middle school.

Who is right? — K.M. Dear K.M.: Parents are concerned about what will be the best thing for the kids, yet often are clueless about just what that is. One problem is that many people have one of two rather extreme views about children or their ability to handle adversity. One camp sees kids as delicate flowers that can easily be crushed and ruined for life by adversity. Others buy into the argument that children are resilient; toss anything from hurricanes to divorce at them, and they only need a little time to bounce back. There’s no way to generalize about which is correct for any given child. Only knowing our children as individuals can help us find the right path.

A recent national study by the American Psychological Association may shed some light on the value of understanding your kids and how they react to what’s going on around them. The survey showed that tweens and teens were more stressed by their parents’ financial difficulties and school pressures than parents believed they were.

The children reported higher levels of worry and physical symptoms than parents were aware of — which I imagine could be due to a lack of communication within the family. So perhaps the best course would be to stop worrying about who is right or wrong, and get to the work of helping relieve stress for all of you.

(c) 2012 by King Features Syndicate

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Lifestyle & Entertainment

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

19

JOB VACANCY

COOK (1)

Must have (2) yrs. experience in Japanese Cuisine, know how to drive & w/ valid driver license.

Salary $5.05/hr.

Please apply to Emperor Ent. Corp

or call 234-1111 (1pm-7pm)

EMPLOYMENT

Madonna performs at the United Center on Sept. 19, 2012 in Chicago.

AP

Madonna says she was being ‘ironic’ in calling Obama a Muslim

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — Pop star Madonna said on Tuesday she was being deliberately “ironic on stage” when she erroneously referred to President Obama during her concert in the nation’s capital as a “black Muslim.”

A video clip posted on YouTube by audience members at the Verizon Center in downtown Washington captured the 54-year-old singer delivering a rousing, profanity-laced political speech about freedom during her show on Monday.

“Now, it’s so amazing and incredible to think that we have an African-American in the White House ... we have a black Muslim in the White House ... it means there

is hope in this country, and Obama is fighting for gay rights, so support the man,” Madonna said.

Obama, campaigning to be re-elected on November 6, is widely known to be a practicing Christian.

Responding to a media furor unleashed by the YouTube video, Madonna issued a statement on Tuesday through her spokeswoman saying her reference to Obama’s religion was facetious.

“I was being ironic on stage. Yes, I know Obama is not a Muslim — though I know that plenty of people in this country think he is.

And what if he were?

“The point I was making is that

a good man is a good man, no matter who he prays to. I don’t care what religion Obama is — nor should anyone else in America,” she said.

Since Obama’s first presidential run in 2008, fringe groups and a smattering of opponents have espoused rumors that he is secretly a Muslim, similar to persistent but unfounded assertions by some political foes that he was born outside the United States.

Madonna has been outspoken in her support of the president, going so far as to rip off her shirt during recent concerts to reveal the word “OBAMA” inked across her lower back.

LONDON (Reuters) — British actress Helen Mirren will receive a lifetime achievement award from the European Film Academy when it hands out its annual movie prizes in December, the organization said on Tuesday.

The 67-year-old, best known for her Oscar-winning portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in “The Queen,”

will attend the awards ceremony held on December 1 in Malta.

“It was discovering the immense diversity of European film making that gave me an enduring love and respect for the art form,” Mirren said in response to the announcement of the European Achievement in World Cinema honor.

“This award is therefore a very

meaningful honor,” she added in a statement. “I would be proud to be counted as an actor in the European tradition.”

Mirren began her film career in the late 1960s, with titles including Michael Powell’s “Age of Consent,” and established her reputation in 1980 with gangster movie “The Long Good Friday” also starring Bob Hoskins.

She became a well-known figure in Britain for her work on the police television series “Prime Suspect” which also won her a slew of prizes.

In “The Madness of King George” (1994) she played Queen Charlotte, but it was 14 years later, in the part of another queen, Elizabeth II, that she established herself at the very top of her profession.

Her portrayal of the current British monarch won her a best actress Academy Award, and she was nominated for the same award again for “The Last Station.”

Mirren will portray the queen on stage in a play written by the script writer of “The Queen,” Peter Morgan. “The Audience” opens in London in 2013.

Actress Helen Mirren to receive European film award

Helen Mirren MV 9-27-12.indd 19

Tour Guide (1) At least five years job experience. Must speak fluent Mandarin and Cantonese.

Must be able to organize the hotel accommodation, food and activities for tourist and other related duties as tour guide.

Interested applicant please contact Hawaii Corporation at Cell No. 898-5169 or mail to PMB252 Box 10002, Saipan MP96950 GREGORY J. KOEBEL, Esq. O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes Second Floor, Marianas Business Plaza One Nauru Loop P.O Box 501969 Saipan, MP 96950 Phone: (670) 234-5684 Fax: (670) 234-5683 Attorneys for Claimant Wells Fargo Financial

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS IN RE ESTATE OF JOAQUIN SABLAN DELEON GUERRERO, CIVIL ACTION NO. 10 - 0356

SECOND AMENDED NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that, pursuant to the Order To Sell Real Property Securing Mortgage To Satisfy Claim, dated June 10, 2011, issued by the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Decedent Joaquin Sablan Deleon Guerrero’s interests in the Lot known as H-474-6-R1, located in Saipan, CNMI, will be sold at public auction to the highest bidder, on terms and conditions set forth herein below.

Date, Time and Place of Sale. The Sale will be held on Friday, October 5, 2012, at the hour of 10:00 a.m. at the Law Offices of O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes, Second Floor, Marianas Business Plaza, Susupe, Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The sale will be open to the general public.

Inspection of Property. The property is described as H-474-6-R1, (formerly part of H-474-6, which was part of Original H 474), as more particularly described on Drawing/Cadastral Plat No. 2067/02, the original of which was recorded 15 AUG 2002 as Document No. 02-1706 at Commonwealth Recorder’s Saipan.

Failure to inspect the property or any portion thereof will not constitute the basis for any claim, adjustment, or rescission of the auction sale. The approximate size of lot is 2,095 square meters and is improved by a residential structure of approximately 1,431 square feet.

Warranties and Covenants. The property listed for sale in this Notice will be sold in its current condition.

The sale will be held without any warranties or covenants whatsoever, whether express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of title. Neither the undersigned nor the Plaintiff may give any warranty or covenant express or implied for the property listed for sale in this Notice. Neither the undersigned nor the Plaintiff shall be liable for the quality of the property listed for sale in this Notice, or for any fault or defect in the description thereof.

Buyers shall not be entitled to rescission, damages, or any remedy on account thereof.

Conduct of Sale.

A) Rights and Duties of Auctioneer. Consistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands governing auction sales, the undersigned shall have the following rights and duties in conducting the auction sale: 1) to withdraw the property listed for sale in this Notice before sale or before a bid for such property is accepted; 2) to adjourn the sale without notice at any time before the property is struck off, without incurring any liability whatsoever thereby; and 3) to reject any or all bids for any reason.

B) Bids. Bids may be submitted in advance. The highest of such bids will automatically be considered the opening bid. Advance bids may be submitted only in writing, signed by the bidder, and delivered to the office of O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes.

The bidder assumes all risk. Any person, including the Plaintiff, may bid in person at the auction sale, whether or not such person has submitted an advance bid.

C) Payment. The successful bidder shall pay ten percent (10%) of the purchase price to the undersigned immediately after the sale is consummated. The balance must be paid to Plaintiff, in care of the undersigned, within five (5) calendar days of the sale. If the balance is not paid within five (5) calendar days of the sale, Plaintiff will retain the deposit as liquidated damages and the property may be resubmitted for sale, or sold to the next highest bidder, at Plaintiff’s option.

D) Change of Terms and Conditions.

The undersigned and the Plaintiff reserve the right to change any of the terms hereof by announcement, written or oral, made before the auction sale or at the commencement thereof and such change or changes, by virtue of this clause, shall be binding on all bidders by constructive notice.

Dated this 19th of September, 2012.

ANAKS CONDOMINIUM FOR SALE

• Hillside location one mile from downtown in Garapan • 2-Bedroom, 1-Bath, second floor location, vaulted ceilings, private deck, 1,070 ft.

• Swimming pool, tennis court, gated security, stand-by power, r/o filtered water.

• $55,000 Contact: Tim Goodwin Pacific Rim International Tel. 670-483-9351 email: tgoodwin@saipan .com

SubmiSSion DeaDline All advertisements should be submitted 12:00 noon one day prior to publication. Advertisers are encouraged to follow the deadline or ad placement may not granted.

StanDarDS The publishers reserve the right to edit, refuse, reject or cancel any advertisement copy at anytime.

aDvertiSement errorS The newspaper(s) will not be responsible to errors noticed after the first day of publication of any advertisements.Such errors should called to the attention of the Sales/Adver tising Department on the first working day after publication.

Copyright All adver tisement copies designed and created by the YAS graphic artists are the property of Marianas Variety Newspaper.

Advertisers agree that it cannot authorize the production of any such advertising copy, in whole or in part, for use in any other medium without the written consent of the publisher.

/s/ Gregory J. Koebel O’Connor Berman Dotts & Banes, Court-Appointed Auctioneer 9/26/12 11:56:03 PM

20

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Sports

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Local

THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 - MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS

Administration...

Continued from page 1 we are getting into,” Inos said.

In a statement, KUTh Energy said it was told that “specifications” have been revised.

“It has also come to the company’s attention that cancellation notices have been issued to other renewable energy projects that have passed through the request for proposal stage,” KUTh Energy stated.

“As stated in the company’s earlier statement, there is considerable uncertainty in Saipan surrounding recent procurement arrangements and processes for a 25-year sole source power purchase agreement with a private company to construct additional diesel generation in Saipan,” KUTh Energy added, referring to the controversial $190 million power agreement signed by the governor with a mystery firm.

“The effect of the diesel agreement will likely be to limit the governments’ ability to contract with renewable energy producers as promised.

“The latest cancellation notices confirm KUTh’s concerns that renewable energy tenders with ‘Intent to Award Contract’ notices issued by CUC have been affected by recent events.”

KUTh said despite multiple efforts by the company over the last three months to seek clarification from the CUC and the CNMI government, iy received no responses to its inquiries until the receipt of the cancellation notice dated Sept.

NMI...

Continued from page 1 pital in Tennessee last week after he collapsed due to an aneurism.

On Tuesday evening, Tennessee time, doctors continued conducting tests on his brain. But after confirming that the Army specialist was brain dead, BOE member Guerrero said the family decided to honor the soldier’s request that seven of his organs be removed for donation.

21, 2012, “which in itself contained very little information.”

“The company is currently being advised on its rights in this matter,” KUTh Energy added.

But Inos said there is no contract yet, and what they did was to merely cancel the RFP and terminate the negotiation for the contract to drill, explore and produce.

He admitted the KUTh is the leading firm on the shortlist of companies participating in the RFP process.

“They wanted to do the whole thing. For that whole thing they want this exclusive 25-year contract with all kinds of concessions and agreements,” Inos said.

The administration’s immediate response, he said, was: “Wait a minute we don’t want to go that far yet.”

He added, “Just the drilling, see what we got and based on that data, we will put out an RFP for production.”

Inos said during negotiations, it occurred to CUC and the administration that there were “a lot of unknowns” in the proposal.

Inos said CUC will put out an RFP next week for the project that involves only the drilling and exploration for geothermal energy.

He said the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has agreed to help the CNMI with the technical aspect of interpreting the data that will be gathered after the drilling.

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS. Fr. Jesse Reyes of San Jose Parish prays for special blessings for Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos who celebrated his 63rd birthday yesterday. Also in photo is Office of Vocational Rehabilitation staff member John Cabrera.

Photo by Raquel C. Bagnol

With the help of technical experts from NREL and other agencies, data will help CUC develop an RFP for the production

of power, Inos added.

He said the $1.3 million the U.S. Department of the Interior provided to the CNMI for geothermal explo-

ration “is intact.”

He also assured a “level playing field for the folks who can do the job.”

A daily Mass of intention will be held at 6 a.m. and nightly rosary at 7 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Cathedral.

Funeral arrangement will be announced at a later date.

“Kindly remember him in your thoughts and prayers and especially his wife Jennifer Lee, their four children and family,” BOE member Guerrero said.

The Fitial administration is joining the Deleon Guerrero family in mourning the death of Spc. Deleon

Guerrero.

In an email, Press Secretary Angel A. Demapan said Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos issued the following statement: “With great sadness and heavy hearts, we join the people of the commonwealth in mourning the loss of one of our own sons in uniform, U.S. Army Specialist Robert Santos Deleon Guerrero.

“In choosing a career in the U.S. Army, Specialist Deleon Guerrero,

or Bobby, as he was fondly known, demonstrated his willingness and determination to live a life of discipline and personal sacrifice so that all citizens of our country would be able to live in freedom and security.

In choosing this noble path in his life, he exemplified his strength of character and his patriotic courage and fortitude to carry through.

“From his humble beginnings as an island boy, to his service on the international warfront, Specialist

Deleon Guerrero lived his life on the principles of duty, honor, and country.

“In this time of sorrow, we extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to the late Bobby’s wife Jennifer, his parents, former Representative Florencio and Lucy Deleon Guerrero, and his family and friends. Rest assured that his life of service to defend our freedom, our commonwealth, and our country, will not be forgotten.”

the merits.”

Wiseman said another factor the court considered in granting Kapileo’s request was the CNMI “government’s poor record of satisfying its judgments.”

For example, Wiseman explained, if Kapileo were to succeed with her judicial review claim and obtain a judgment against the government, “it would be extremely difficult for her to try to collect an award

for back-pay or money damages in lieu of the number of unpaid judgments that currently exist against the CNMI government.”

“As our Supreme Court has noted, “[t]he government’s inaction in sat-

isfying [its] judgment[s] is a grave injustice that unfortunately only the political process can remedy,” Wiseman said, referring to Marine Revitalization Corp v. Secretary of Land and Natural Resources.

“That is the whole idea when we set up the DC plan,” he said.

John said CNMI government employees in the DC plan are putting away 19 percent of their pay: 10 percent, base; 5 percent, 457 Plan; and 4 percent, CNMI government contribution.

Employees can contribute more than the 10 percent base and this goes to the 457 Plan.

John said the 457 Plan is a savings plan in addition to the DC plan “where you can put additional money in.”

According to John, with Social

Security, the 19 percent going into the DC Plan can be reduced.

“People don’t have to put that extra money in,” he said.

Comparing the CNMI experience with that of Guam’s retirement plan, John said Guam didn’t follow through what i promised to its employees.

“They promised people they would put in 5 percent employee’s share, 5 percent employer’s share and then they would get into the Social Security,” said John adding that Guam never got the employees into Social

Security.

On Guam, he said, “people are only putting away 10 percent a year. They are in big trouble.”

In the CNMI, John said Lt. Gov. Eloy Inos, back when he was still the Finance secretary, “understood what was going to be a problem.”

He said Inos set up the defined contribution plan.

Inos, John added, also wanted a good DC plan coupled with Social Security.

“Now we are getting closer to what we wanted to do,” said John

adding that the CNMI could still be a “few tweaks away” from accomplishing the transition.

As of yesterday, the application for refund continued with 1,537 applicants out of the approximately 2,800 total active members of the DB plan.

“If they take their money and keep it in the DC plan, they should be OK going forward,” said John referring to the employees looking to refund their contributions from the defined benefit plan as mandated by P.L. 17-82.

Wiseman...

Continued from page 2 of the circumstances, a woeful attempt at notifying petitioner of the official charges against her. All of these factors combined tend to show a probability of success on

Social...

Continued from page 4 He said the CNMI government is trying to find out if the employees could buy additional credits so they won’t have to work for 10 years to be eligible to receive SS benefits.

“You want to make sure that people have enough savings plus Social Security so they could live comfortably,” he said.

According to John, in the private sector, employees have Social Security on top of the defined contribution plan.

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Local

MARIANAS VARIETY NEWS AND VIEWS - THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Search...

Continued from page 4 Garapan Fishing Base would have been over a million dollars.

Pangelinan said if they’re going to identify a new location, “we cannot use the same blue print — we have to design a new one to fit the grant money.”

Teregeyo said because the project was titled “Garapan public market” the Northern Marianas Housing Corporation, the local arm of HUD, made it clear to them that the location has to be in Garapan.

“So when the idea of changing the location came up, the project was shut down and we were unable to move. At the time, the

Court...

Continued from page 4 to the [Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges] nor the signature that was supposedly signed by me.”

In his two-page order denying Lawrence Camacho’s application for temporary restraining order, Judge Camacho said the plaintiff’s “motion has not met the requirements” of Rule 65 of the Commonwealth Rules on Civil Procedures.

Lawrence Camacho has “not clearly shown that any immediate and irreparable harm will

Funeral...

Continued from page 4 me to my wife Salve over tacos at the Oleai Beach Club about 10 years ago. Salve and I have been happily together ever since.”

Race and his wife have already moved to Tucson, Arizona.

Race described Hirshbein as a

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fishing base was no longer under DLNR— it was under DPL,” Teregeyo said.

She said the alternative site would have been the old Samoan housing located south of Winchell’s in Garapan. However, there are archeological issues that need to be addressed, and $200,000 may not be enough if the market is built there, she added.

“Without finalizing the second site, which is the Samoan Housing, we could not move forward unless we have another location outside Garapan area,” she said.

Palacios believes there could be other alternative sites outside Garapan.

Congressman Sablan posted on Facebook: “Knowing that Governor Fitial is set against the farmers market being built across from Kristo Rai Church, I have ‘languaged’ the earmark in a way that we could build this market anywhere in the Northern Mariana Islands so long as we name it Garapan Farmers Market.”

Palacios said one of the things that they need to know is what they can do with $200,000.

He said they need to know what type of structure it is going to be.

“Would it be an open space?”

He said they are also looking at other alternative sites, one of which is As Gonno near Koblerville.

“There are not a lot of public lands available in Garapan area other than the fishing base,” Palacios said.

Teregeyo said they are considering different concepts for the market’s design. For example, she added, they can use the tent concept which is similar to what other Pacific islands have.

Palacios said, “If I were to make a decision today, I would build it at the Garapan Fishing Base as I have planned to do since 2002.”

But he said DLNR was “very constrained from the very beginning because of certain issues in our local government, and the amount of the grant itself.”

Palacios also believes that if

they will succeed in convincing the governor to use the Garapan Fishing Base, the project cost will be $400,000.

“This was something that is very dear to me. I worked hard with thenDLNR Secretary Tom Pangelinan and some of my colleagues in the 13th and 14th Legislatures on this project,” the former House speaker said.

Now, he said it would be wise for them to clarify with HUD the issue of using the existing building at the Garapan Fishing Base.

“We still have a lot of things to ask them before we can move forward. I am glad that I have these staffers,” he said.

occur before [the] defendant can be heard in opposition. There is nothing in the motion or exhibits tending to show that the [ASNMC] election will result in any irreparable injury to [the] plaintiff,” Judge Camacho said.

Secondly, the court said Lawrence Camacho has not certified to the court in writing any efforts made to give notice to Northern Marianas College, the defendant, or a statement about why notice should not be required.

Accordingly, Lawrence Camacho has not made an initial showing entitling him to the

extraordinarily relief sought, the court said in denying the motion “at this time.”

Lawrence Camacho wants the court to determine which of the two ASNMC constitutions — the May 8, 2002 or the 2007 versions — is the “effective document.”

The court should define the term “one academic year” based on the NMC catalog and ASNMC term of office, the student said.

He is asking the judge to reinstate him as “interim” ASNMC president until the issues he raised are answered by the court, “and until a new election, with

the court’s guidance, and until a new ASNMC president and other officers have been elected.”

Without the court’s intervention, Lawrence Camacho said he will “continue to be injured by the inconsistencies in the institutional documents being arbitrarily and selectively employed as the standard for the ASNMC — a recognized governing body of the institution.”

The student said without the court’s intervention, he “will continue to be discriminated because of [his ] prior actions as an officer and representative

of the ASNMC student body when [he] raised several issues regarding student fees, students services, and programs; and most recently, the NMC’s status update report to the ACCJC that included a ‘forged’ signature bearing [his] name; including the resignation of the director for institutional effectiveness.”

Lawrence Camacho said if the ASNMC election would push through, the results “shall be null and void; the winners will not be installed and given oath of office; and a new election will be convened.”

“great prosecutor” who got “guilty” verdicts on tough cases.

Hirshbein was a member of the bar in California, Arizona and the CNMI. “He worked closely and professionally with the police and AGO investigators. He also worked at [CNMI Department of] Labor and

Immigration and also tried teaching computer science at William S. Reyes Elementary School. He was bright, spoke his mind, and was witty and adventuresome.”

Race added, “He was a good father, providing love and daily necessities for his daughter Natalie.”

He said Hirshbein was not one to blow his own horn “but he was successful at VFW, holding many positions of leadership.”

Race said his friend also led the Saipan campaign to provide surgery for Filipino kids that suffered from cleft palate. Hirshbein also provided assistance to

the Habitat for Humanity, Race added.

“He was a good man and that was my friend Barry. I miss him daily, especially when it’s time to open my morning email. His last sentence to me several hours before he died was ‘It’s going okay but it’s been a tough ride.’ ”

Employers...

Continued from page 4 force: What can You do?”

The theme highlights the fact that public workers with disabilities “have valuable skills and talents that should be maximized, recognized and appreciated in the workplace.”

The 2012 National Disability Employment Awareness Month proclamation was read yesterday by Elena Sutton in Braille while Ignacio Rasiang used the sign language which was interpreted by OVR counselor Bernice Ravell. John Cabrera, a person with disabilities who is also an OVR staffer, read the last part of the proclamation before it was signed by Lt. Gov. Eloy S. Inos.

Inos called upon employers, schools and community organizations to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities to advance the important message that “AStrong Workforce is an Inclusive Workforce.”

He added, “Please be reminded that the valuable skills, talents and contributions of people with disabilities should be foremost in our hiring practices, and that their struggles and challenges should be recognized and rewarded.”

MV 9-27-12.indd 23

State Rehabilitation Council Chairman Isidro K. Seman holds the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation banner before the proclamation signing in the governor’s conference room on Capital Hill yesterday.

Photo by Raquel C. Bagnol 9/26/12 11:56:05 PM

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THURSDAY- -SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER27, 27,2012 2012 - MARIANAS MARIANASVARIETY VARIETYNEWS NEWS&AND VIEWS THURSDAY VIEWS P.O. Box 500231 Saipan, MP 96950 • Tel. (670) 234-9272 • 9797 • Fax: (670) 234-9271 E-mail: younis@pticom.com • mvariety@pticom.com www.mvariety.com

P.O. Box 6338, Tamuning Guam 96931 • Tel. (671) 649-1924 • 4678 • Fax: (671) 648-2007 E-mail: admin@mvguam.com

Poseidon first Open Individual 8 Ball Tournament

By Demalynn F. Sablan demalynn.sablan@mvariety.com For Variety

Poseidon’s Bar and Grill held its first Open Individual 8 Ball Tournament last Saturday with RJ Mascarinas beating19 players and winning the $110 prize.

Mascarinas defeated Erwin Gomez, Juancho Mendoza, Luis Fajardo, and Joseph Achas to take the twice-to-beat seat.

In the final match, Mascarinas had the break but it was Joseph Achas who had the first shot of the table after the break. Achas missed his first shot giving Mascarinas a chance back at the table. It was not until Mascarinas had only four balls left that he became on fire by sinking in all four balls and being titled as the First Champion of Poseidon’s First Open Individual 8 Ball Tournament.

Achas defeated Rico Montano, Clifford Hamoy, Robert Santiangco but loss to Mascarinas. He won $50.

Rolly Villanueva placed third winning $30. Villanueva lost to Mendoza and work his way from the loser’s bracket by defeating Gomez, Fred Robeigo, Clifford Hamoy, Mike Benavente, Luis Fajardo, Mendoza but took third by losing to Achas in the semifinal match.

Poseidon’s Bar and Grill will

From left, Rolly Villanueva (3rd place), RJ Mascarinas ( 1st place), Jun Lee (Poseidon Representative), and Joseph Achas (2nd place).

be holding Saipan’s First “King of the Hill” 8 ball Championship this coming Saturday with major sponsors supporting the

event. It will be a race to two on the winning side with double elimination format. Saipan top pool shooters are invited to join

Mad Hatter’s Day Ultimate Frisbee Hat Tournament

By Demalynn F. Sablan demalynn.sablan@mvariety.com For Variety

THE inaugural Mad Hatter’s Day Ultimate Frisbee Hat Tournament is set for Oct. 6 at 8:30 a.m. at the baseball field across from the Marianas Resort.

It will be a co-ed ultimate frisbee tournament and those interested are encouraged to participate and learn more about the game and it is an opportunity to play with off-island players.

This is a “hat” tournament. Teams will be picked from several hats.

Players will rank themselves based on experience and athleticism.

Each hat will have players with similar experience/athleticism.

Each team will have several players from each hat or level. This is to encourage evenly matched teams and that everyone from seasoned veterans to newcomers will have a good time. This should be a well-attended tournament. There is a confirmation of several players

coming from Guam. One player has even traveled from Japan for this tournament. These off-island players will be here to play and enrich the level of the games and fun.

Pre-registration will have an entrance fee of $10. Those who sign up on registration day will pay $12.

Amanda Allen and Trey Dunn would like to thank Marianas Resort for the use of the field. For more information you can also contact Dunn at 287-1407.

this Saturday at Poseidon’s Bar. This event will be held every quarter of the year. BCA rules and safety play do apply. Sign up

begins at 8 p.m. and game begins at 8:30 p.m. For reservation, you may contact Poseidon’s Bar at 233-2007

MBFNMI to start 50A Masters Basketball League

By Demalynn F. Sablan demalynn.sablan@mvariety.com For Variety

THE Masters Basketball Federation of the Northern Mariana Islands is inviting interested teams and players for the 50A Division for the upcoming Masters Basketball League on Sept. 30 at

the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium.

Games are to kick off on Sept.

30 9:00 a.m.

Players with no teams can sign up and will be appointed to one.

For any questions, please contact Vice Chairman Joe Pangelinan at 234-8063.

Braves back in playoffs with 4-3 win over Marlins ATLANTA (AP) — This time, the Atlanta Braves held onto their big lead and locked up a playoff trip with plenty of time to spare.

It couldn’t have felt any sweeter for retiring star Chipper Jones.

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning to put Atlanta back in the postseason with a 4-3 victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday night.

Freeman’s dramatic drive off Mike Dunn clinched at least a National League wild-card berth for the Braves, who squandered a big lead in the wild-card race with a huge collapse last September.

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‘’They took the attitude last year Jones said during the soggy clubto try and hang on,’’ Jones said. house celebration. ‘’We knew ‘’This year we took the bull by the that last year was somewhat of a horns. We’re shooting for the stars. fluke.’’

We’re still shooting for the Craig Kimbrel (3-1) division until they close worked a scoreless inning us out.’’ to help the Braves win their Jones, who plans to retire 22nd straight game started at the end of the season, led

by Kris Medlen. The streak off the ninth with a double. is the longest in the majors He moved to third on a wild since the New York Yanpitch by Dunn (0-3) and Freddie Freeman kees won 22 consecutive stood on the bag with his games started by Whitey right fist raised as Freeman’s 22nd Ford in 1950 and ‘53. homer easily cleared the center-field Last year’s September flop was wall. fresh on Medlen’s mind. ‘’There was never any doubt,’’ ‘’You can’t really win consis-

tently until you lose,’’ Medlen said. ‘’Losing’s a big part of being able to win.’’

Returning to the postseason helps wipe away some of last season’s frustration for the Braves, who blew an 8 1/2-game lead in the wild-card standings and finished September 9-18. They missed the playoffs after one of the biggest meltdowns in baseball history.

This year, Atlanta cruised most of the way and wrapped up a postseason spot with more than a week remaining in the regular season. And the Braves still have a chance to catch first-place Washington in the NL

East. They moved within four games of the Nationals, who lost to Philadelphia 6-3, with eight to play. ‘’It makes it all worth it. I’m happier for these guys because they worked hard,’’ Jones said.

While he was being interviewed on television, the 40-year-old slugger was doused with bubbly and beer by teammates in a jubilant clubhouse. ‘’I am so cold right now!’’ he said.

Four of the five NL playoff spots are secured. In addition to Atlanta, Washington, Cincinnati and San Francisco have all punched their tickets to the postseason.

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