COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT
NOT EVERY HERO WEARS A CAPE BY MORGAN LEGEL
As the COVID-19 virus continues on its course of infections, citizens of U.S. island territories are hunkering down to stay at home — whether that means being furloughed or laid-off, working from home or spending time as a new teacher to kids. While Saipan was one of the last islands for the Cornavirus to reach, its residents are following suit in having residents stay home if possible. Some people, like Ric Cruz, guest relations manager at Kanoa Resort Saipan: Kanoa Resort Saipan, cannot shrug off their duties or continue them from home. Kanoa is one of the hotels on the island that are being used for the 14-day quarantine of incoming people to the Northern Mariana Islands. Martin Jambor, general manager of Kanoa, says that Cruz is a hero, especially during this pandemic. “The reason why is not only how quickly he responded to COVID-19 situation at Kanoa Resort when we became the quarantine facility, but also for the reason that he has always been a front liner in any island crisis — whether it comes to storms, typhoons or any other local community support,” says Jambor Cruz began his career with Kanoa in 2015, and has moved up from there. In 2019, he was appointed to a management position. Jambor says he finds Cruz to always be “consistently pleasant, tackling all assignments with dedication and a smile,” and that his interpersonal skills are “exemplary and appreciated by everyone who works with him.” Cruz says since Kanoa was named a quarantine facility, his job has changed dramatically. “We’re so used to having contact with customers and being able to gauge what they expect as guests of the hotel,” Cruz says. “Now, it’s all over the phone and it’s a lot more challenging now. “We empathize with the
“I’m no hero; there are front-liners — doctors, nurses and other people out there — that are trying to help the community and people that are quarantined. Thank you to all the front-line workers for your sacrifice and dedication to help our community. I am asking everyone to please follow recommendations made by our medical professionals to help stop the spread of [this virus]. We are resilient people and we will get through this. Stay safe.” -Ric Cruz guests, they’re confused and afraid. We try to give them some comfort knowing that we are going to do the best that we can for them,” he says. Cruz says while he continues his work schedule, so do the rest of the employees. “The rest of the Kanoa team that’s still working — this was an option. It was not forced upon us, it wasn’t mandatory. Other people made the decision to stay and help too. I’m here helping out, I’m here doing my part. I wanted to give back to the community and help other people the best way that I could do it,” Cruz says. “I’m so fortunate to be a part of the team here,” he says. “We have had some challenges come our way, and we were always able to bounce back. Not only that, but we step up, and that’s how it is here. We help each other, and we can get through anything together. It makes me so proud to be a part of.”
APRIL 2020
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