Beach Road Magazine - August 2018

Hand crafted

Carving history one sculpture at a time

Sunday funday

The best brunches on island

Study abroad

What to expect attending college off-island

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The finished product is a beautifully intricate sculpture depicting history.

See story on page 4.

ABOUT THE COVER Local carver Michael Finey demonstrates his craft by using a chisel to create one of his many works of art.

Photo by Sylvan Tudela

3 Calendar August events

4-7 Cover Feature Carving

Glimpses Publications include Guam Business Magazine, Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, Beach Road Magazine and Buenas

8-10 Students What to expect moving stateside for college

13 Cruise Control 2016 Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF)

16 Dining Sunday brunchin' on Saipan

19-20 Sports The Mariana islands basketball federation

24 On the Road Event photos and special messages

We’re Online! www.brmsaipan.com

beachroadmagazine

PUBLISHER Maureen N. Maratita BUSINESS EDITOR Meghan Hickey LIFESTYLE EDITORS Lara O. Neuman Jesse C. Babauta REPORTERS John I. Borja Wayne Chargualaf EDITORIAL INTERN Lee Ann Jastillana CREATIVE DEPARTMENT SUPERVISOR Vikki Fong DESIGN & PRODUCTION Conrad Calma Jr. Keisha Marie Gozum Louisa Joy Castro GENERAL SALES MANAGER Ken Duenas MANAGING DIRECTOR Marcos W. Fong Beach Road Magazine, August 2018. Entire contents copyrighted 2018 by Glimpses of Saipan, Inc. Beach Road Magazine is published monthly by Glimpses of Saipan, Inc. P.O. Box 502080, Saipan, MP 96950 • 2/F Transpac Business Center Gualo Rai, Saipan • Tel: (670) 235-7645 • Fax: (670) 234-1801 • E-mail: saipan@ glimpsesofguam.com. All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

Glimpses of Guam Inc. Mission Statement: To connect people with information.

AUGUST EVENTS Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 Garapan Street Market Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Garapan Fishing Base

Aug. 5, 12, 19 and 26 Sabalu Farmers Market Time: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Location: Civic Center in Susupe

Aug. 3 ESports Micronesia Tekken Championship Qualifier Six Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Joe’s Bar Steakhouse Registration fee: $15 for participants and $5 for spectators Contact: For more information, call ESports Micronesia at 287-9293 or email at 5paddles.entertainment@gmail.com.

Aug. 15 PSS First Day of School

Aug. 4 Saipan Agricultural Fair Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Location: Civic Center in Susupe Contact: For more information, call Joshua Santos at 256-3319, Juan Taman at 234-6169 or Lorenza Aldan at 237-6876.

Aug. 17 ESports Micronesia Tekken Championship Qualifier Seven Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Joe’s Bar Steakhouse Registration fee: $15 for participants and $5 for spectators Contact: For more information, call ESports Micronesia at 287-9293 or email at 5paddles.entertainment@gmail.com.

Aug. 31 ESports Micronesia Tekken Championship Qualifier Eight Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Joe’s Bar Steakhouse

Registration fee: $15 for participants and $5 for spectators Contact: For more information, call ESports Micronesia at 287-9293 or email at 5paddles.entertainment@gmail.com.

Looking ahead...

Sept. 1 2018 Island Summer Autofest Time: 3 p.m. to 9 p.m Location: TBD Contact: For information and updates, call James Fleming at 483-5304 or email at 2015saipanisaf@gmail.com.

Sept. 8, 15, 22 and 29 4th Annual International Festival of Cultures Time: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location: Garapan Fishing Base Contact: Call the Marianas Visitors Authority at 664-3200 or 664-3201 for more information.

COVER FEATURE

CARVING MICRONESIAN CULTURE AND HISTORY

By John I. Borja While some artists draw inspiration from nature to create their work, Yapese carver Michael K. Finey literally makes art with nature.

A chunk of wood, preferably scraps, and some carving tools are all Finey needs to manifest what he visualizes in his mind. This could be a small souvenir for tourists, a latte stone with an island depiction or a storyboard that reveals a bit of history in Micronesia.

Finey, 48, has been a resident of Saipan for 15 years and the island has been an opportune place for him to showcase his work. He moved from Yap with his family in 2003 in pursuit of exposure and further honing his skill in the craft.

“I’ve been doing this since I was maybe 7 years old,” he says. “I always watched my dad work on his carvings. I remember ruining his first carving and I got in big trouble for that. But the talent came easy for me.”

Finey’s early years in Saipan found him carving little trinkets for tourism businesses, making about 15 carvings a day. More people began to recognize his work when he started using a method he calls shadow carving, which 4

AUGUST 2018

Photos by Sylvan Tudela

involves scraping and sanding the wood to make a silhouette effect. This was best done on smaller pieces, which was perfect for visitors, he says.

“It turned out to be a really big hit. I Love Saipan (store) contacted me and I got to carve in the store with them.

Tourists came to watch me,” he says.

He also appeared in publications and on local television and later earned an invitation from the International Wood Culture Society. From then on he participated in festivals and exhibitions in Saipan, Nepal and the United States. One of his pieces — a small-scale canoe in front of the flags of the Micronesian islands — was presented as a gift from Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres to Gov. Edward B. Calvo during the 23rd Micronesian Islands Forum in April.

Carving is a cultural experience for Finey. He chisels history into wood so that it may serve to tell the story of his ancestors. One of his favorite pieces, “Secrets of a Mispil,” depicts a grim account in Yapese history of a young woman being kidnapped by bachelors from another village to teach them how to treat and court women. The woman must then marry and live out the rest of her days with one of the men and is sworn to secrecy on those accounts.

“I push myself to dig deeper into our cultural arts and history. Some people only tell the good part of the culture and they don’t want to admit there are darker parts of history. I want to tell the whole story.”

COVER FEATURE

Mahogany tends to be the type of wood Finey uses, but he says he’d much rather avoid cutting down trees. It’s his way of being respectful of nature. He makes sure to use every bit of the tree for his art so that nothing goes to waste.

“I look around for driftwood or scraps of trees. When I see people clearing their lands for gardens or houses, I ask if I can take the trees. About 90% of the time, I don’t cut down trees,” Finey says.

As a full-time carver, Finey can work at his own pace. A lot of patience is needed to make sure that a carving comes out nicely, he says.

One thing to take into consideration when carving is the grain of the wood. The flow and shape of the grain has to match the picture, he says. He uses an ocean wave as an example: if the wave follows the grain, it will make a big difference in the picture.

His keen attention to detail is precisely the reason why he likes to work alone. He can’t imagine working on a single carving with another person because the other person is not able to see what he envisions. Even the sanding has to be at his touch.

“If you sand it wrong, it’s going to affect the work you put in,” he says.

Finey says he is more than willing to teach people how to carve like him, though. He had a shop in Yap where he sold some of his work and trained apprentices so that they may be like him in the future. Saipan doesn’t have a carving class, but Finey says he hopes one of the local agencies can provide an opportunity to do so.

AUGUST 2018

5

STUDENTS

THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE WHAT TO EXPECT MOVING STATESIDE FOR COLLEGE

By Lee Ann Jastillana Every year, dozens of high school graduates from Saipan journey to the U.S. mainland to pursue their college education.

BRM talked to Maria Dizon, a senior health sciences major at Portland State University; Edna Nisola, a senior marketing major at Grand Canyon University; and Yuuki Nishida, a sophomore computer science and journalism major at Northeastern University about their experiences adjusting to college life in the United States. Though moving to the mainland may seem exciting, for students from Saipan like Dizon, Nisola and Nishida, the potential for culture shock is a huge factor.

Contributed photos

Q: What came as the biggest cultural shock to you?

Dizon: The biggest cultural shock to me was simply feeling and being out of my element. On Saipan, we grow up in a very close-knit community where you don’t even have to be biologically related to feel like family. Being out here, it’s a very individualistic mentality, almost like it’s an “every man for himself” type of vibe. Losing that sense of community was a huge wake-up call, making me appreciate Saipan so much more.

Nisola: The food! I took Filipino food for granted when I was home, and all I really wanted after two weeks of eating burgers and fries was some good bulalo and rice. Also, I had no idea that it was a Filipino thing to eat everything with a spoon and a fork. My roommates thought it was weird, but I showed them how much faster you can eat with both, rather than with just a fork.

Nishida: The biggest cultural shock for me was the financial disparity between me and my peers in college, whether it be the amount they pay for tuition or the total of their families’ incomes. I am fortunately able to attend my 8

AUGUST 2018

school thanks to the amount of financial aid I receive through FAFSA. I’ve received some remarks that I am lucky to be receiving the amount of aid that helps me afford my college education.

Q: What has been the hardest struggle you’ve had to face being a student from Saipan?

Dizon: Simply adjusting to a new life beyond our island’s shores has been the hardest struggle. I’ve traveled before and felt out of place but was always comforted by the fact that I would go home eventually. Now, as I start to build my career in health and scientific research, I am unsure if that will happen anytime soon.

Nisola: Trying to take on a leadership role. It was difficult to have to introduce myself in groups, say that I’m from a small island in the Pacific and have them subconsciously deduce that I am incapable of leading them or even performing at their skill levels. There were numerous situations where I wanted to take on a leadership role, but the role was passed over because a 6-foot-tall guy from California had a more commanding demeanor.

STUDENTS

Nishida: Ignorance. I’ve received many comments about where I’m from that were flat-out ignorant or on the verge of subtle racism, whether it be questions on whether the people from the islands had internet connection or hunted for foods Q: How do you deal with homesickness?

Dizon: I have no perfect answer but I just fill my schedule up. I’m a real busy bee, so I try to occupy my time effectively by doing things I enjoy. I call and video chat with my loved ones regularly to ease the homesickness. When I’m not in the lab, I’m in class. When I’m not in either, I’m usually working out at the gym, trotting around downtown for a new place to eat or reading a good book.

Nisola: I used to call my mom every single day and tell her how badly I wanted to go home. She would always tell me, “Konting kembot nalang, anak,” literally meaning “Just shake your hips a little bit more, kid,” and it would always make me laugh. I just kept thinking, just a little bit more of the assignments, papers, exams and all-nighters, and I’ll be home. It also helped when I printed a bunch of pictures of my friends and family and put it up right by my bed.

Nishida: Message your parents. Talking to your friends who are in the same situation as you are really helps too, because it helps to know that you’re all in the same boat.

Q: How were you able to adjust socially and academically?

How long did it take you to adjust?

Dizon: Coming into this new environment with so many faces, I was very guarded and paranoid at first. Socially and academically, I was very afraid of what people think of me and was afraid of “looking dumb.” I saw that holding myself back from new friendships and stimulating class discussions made me incredibly unhappy. So, I had to find a way to combat that. I do this trick where I count down from five in my head and then just do the thing despite fear of being rejected or being wrong. It took me about half a year to adjust.

Nisola: Academically, it didn’t take me long because of how fast-paced my classes were. I knew I had to adapt quickly or else I’d fail. I was blunt with myself because the reality is that I am a long way from home and my parents have sacrificed a lot for me to be here, so I need to work hard and excel. Socially, I was not too worried about it, so that came a little later than my academic adjustments.

AUGUST 2018

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STUDENTS

Nishida: It was fairly easy to adjust socially and academically in college. It took me about a month or two to get a full sense of my surroundings and to adjust accordingly.

Q: What items from home do you wish you’d brought over?

Dizon: I wish I could bring all my favorite Filipino foods and snacks because I miss them all so much.

Nisola: I wish I brought over more pancit canton! They were my budget’s life savers, plus they cook quickly and taste really good. I also wish I brought a rice cooker. I learned my lesson the first year and came back the next school year with a rice cooker and three dozen pancit canton packages in my luggage.

Nishida: My parents to do my laundry. Jokes aside, I wish I brought food from back home that’s definitely not available in the mainland United States.

Q: What’s the biggest piece of advice you’d give to students moving to the states this upcoming school year?

Dizon: Never forget where you came from and why you’re pursuing your dreams in the first place. With everything going on in our lives, it’s easy to get stuck or feel unclear about where you are right now and where you’re heading in the future. That’s normal. There is so much love, richness and uniqueness in our cultural upbringing, so don’t ever feel ashamed of that, even if you are vastly outnumbered in your classrooms. Remember that your home needs you more than ever and you are in a position to bring forth positive change.

Nisola: I have three, the first being to pray. I don’t know how I would have survived without the grace of God. College is a humbling experience, and you will learn that sometimes your abilities are not enough. Second, keep in touch with friends and family because they will keep your feet on the ground and comfort you (even virtually) when it gets rough — and trust me, it will. Lastly, study hard and make your mama proud.

Nishida: Remember that there are many people out there in the United States who are in the same shoes as you. The transition from the islands to the U.S. mainland can be rough but, never forget the amount of work you put in to get to this point.

10 AUGUST 2018

CRUISE CONTROL

Sponsored by

2016 Harley Davidson V-Rod Muscle (VRSCF) Affiliation: Young Gunz Marianas, Exotic Minis Owner: Mark Borja aka “IBO or BIZZO” Engine: Engine Liquid-Cooled, Revolution, 60° V-Twin, Bore 4.13 in., Stroke 2.835 in., Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI) Engine: Front Black, 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum, Rear Black, 5-Spoke Cast Aluminum Brakes: Caliper Type 4-Piston Front and Rear Tires: Front 120/70ZR-19 60W, Rear 240/40R-18 79V Upgrades: V&H Competition Series, Satin Chrome, Dual Side Exhaust System, Taildragger Air Ride Suspension by Xotic Customs, Harley Performance Air Filter, DYNOJET Power Commander, Air/Fuel Ratios, Spark Control, and Cylinder Temperatures., Multi-Color LED Underglow Lights

Shoutout: To my better half Vicenta Rosario (Tenta) for all the support and believing in my passion and accomplishments in the auto scene.

“Just owning a motorcycle is love! It is the best therapy out there for when you just need to forget about everything around you and just think about how amazing this ride feels right now. I also love the fact that my better half and I use it often as a bonding experience — that one on one time — since we have a 4-year-old that is always hungry for our attention at home and our jobs that keep us busy during our everyday lives.”

AUGUST 2018 13

DINING

Photos courtesy of Costa Restaurant at Aqua Resort Club

SUNDAY BRUNCHIN’ ON SAIPAN

By Lee Ann Jastillana Sundays are always better with brunch. Here are five Sunday brunch buffets on island that’ll leave you stuffed.

1. Giovanni’s at Hyatt Regency Saipan Sunday brunch begins at 10:30 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

Cuisine: A wide variety of cuisine including Italian-style dishes, live sushi and tempura stations, a whole suckling pig, prime rib, a dessert station and more.

Free flowing drinks: Red and white wine, champagne, beer, juice, tea and coffee.

Price: $53 for adults and $26.50 for children ages 6 to 12 For reservations, call 234-1234, ext. 26 or 31.

2. Loria at Kensington Hotel Sunday brunch begins at 11:30 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

Cuisine: International cuisine including Asian and Italian dishes, lobster and steak.

Free flowing drinks: Red and white wine, draft beer, slushies, juice and tea Price (local rate): $43.20 for adults and $21.60 for children ages 4 to 11 For reservations, call 237-4513 or 237-4584.

3. Costa Restaurant at Aqua Resort Club Sunday brunch begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

Photos courtesy of Giovanni’s at Hyatt Regency Saipan

Cuisine: International cuisine including Angus Beef prime rib, caesar salad, roasted whole piglet and a variety of seafood.

Free flowing drinks: Champagne, beer, soda, water, tea and coffee Price (local rate): $34 for adults and $17 for children ages 5 to 10 For reservations, contact 322-1234 and ask to speak with the food and beverage department.

4. 12th Night Restaurant at Marianas Resort & Spa Sunday brunch begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

Cuisine: Offering an array of international food,. The Sunday brunch menu changes every week and is prepared Saturday nights. Interested patrons can call the night before for full menu details.

Free flowing drinks: Juice, iced water, soda and beer Price (local rate): $17 for adults and $7 for children ages 4 to 11 For reservations, call Marianas Resort & Spa at 322-0770.

Double Eagle Restaurant at Coral Ocean Golf Resort Sunday brunch begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m.

Cuisine: International cuisine including several kinds of dessert, fruits, sashimi, sushi and roasted pig. The menu for hot dishes is created the day before. Interested patrons can call the night before for full menu details.

Free flowing drinks: Champagne, Busch beer, soda, tea and coffee For reservations, call 234-700, ext. 612.

Price: $28 for adults and $14 for children ages 4 to 11.

AUGUST 2018 17

SPORTS

CHAMPIONS FOR THE SPORT:

THE MARIANA ISLANDS BASKETBALL FEDERATION

By Wayne Chargualaf From government leagues to youth leagues and national teams, if it’s in the Northern Mariana Islands and there’s a basketball involved, the Mariana Islands Basketball Federation has been there.

“Our federation does run a recreational league, but we help with the others as well,” Elias Rangamar, Marianas Islands Basketball Federation general secretary and coach says. “We kind of help run everything.”

Formerly the Basketball Association of the Northern Mariana Islands, Rangamar says that two years ago, the previous board members — some who had served for more than 25 years — decided to step down, so he started recruiting for fresh faces.

“It was a changing of the guard,” he says. “The new group decided to change the name and start fresh.”

The organization — which is based in the Ada Gym in Susupe — helps to develop new players, coaches and referees. With roughly 400 players on more than 30 teams and a small staff, keeping the Ada Gym-based organization going can be a challenge, Rangamar says. But even with the challenges the federation faces — including sending a team to compete in the 2018 Micro Games — one of the biggest goals of the organization is to partner with the local government to get village basketball courts fixed up and improve village basketball programs.

“We want to get back into the villages,” Rangamar says.

“Our youth are the biggest beneficiaries of the federation, and after school, [Ada Gym] is like a safe-haven.”

The federation wants to extend that safe-haven to the village basketball courts, but Rangamar says that even though kids love basketball, they need the structure and challenge provided by a coach. Because the organization

AUGUST 2018 19

SPORTS

is all-volunteer and lacking staff, finding and developing coaches can be a challenge.

“They need coaches to teach them not only basketball skills but life skills as well, to challenge them and help them grow,” he says. “Otherwise they get bored and a lot will eventually stop playing.”

Among its many programs, one of the most successful has been Lunch Hoops, where workers play four-on-four halfcourt games during lunch breaks.

“We started it last year, and now it’s one of our most popular programs,” Rangamar says. “We’ve got maybe 40 or 50 players participating, so now we’re thinking of starting a two-week Lunch Hoops tournament.”

Eventually, Rangamar hopes the federation can join forces with the business community to elevate the sport in the region.

20 AUGUST 2018

“I’m working with a company to make a semi-pro league where companies sponsor a team and we do drafts and eventually develop a national championship that involves the entire Mariana Islands — a Marianas Cup,” he says. “I think it will make things a little more credible, attract young players and keep them involved in something positive for their whole lives.”

Over the course of a coaching career that spans more than 35 years, Rangamar says the best part of coaching is the challenge of trying to develop the program and working with kids.

“It’s not about championships, it’s about seeing these kids come back and thank me and call me coach,” he says.

“That’s what drives me to keep coming back.”

Photos courtesy of Marianas Islands Baskettball Federation

Contributed photos

A fundraising dinner was held for Karidat Social Services in celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Good Shepherd Sisters on June 29 at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Ballroom.

Contributed photos

A fundraising concert was held June 30 for Erica Tubera, Lawrence Tubera dn Cire Durano for their trip to Los Angeles for the 22nd World Championships of Performing Arts. The Tuberas competed in the solo and duet categories, and Durano competed in the solo dance competition.

For more On the Road photos, visit BRM’s Facebook page. Submit your photos, with a caption, to lifestyleedtiro@glimpsesofguam.com.

24 AUGUST 2018