Joeten Celebrates Golden Anniversary

The late Jose C. Tenorio (Joeten) established a family business 50 years ago today, a business that is now in the hands of his children and grandchildren. Joeten had a humble beginning in entrepreneurship who started with a small mom and pop store and successfully built it into a multi-million dollar enterprise over the past 50 years.

In his younger days, Joeten worked in the sugar cane fields before the war hauling sugar cane bunch onto bull carts or coal-driven train. Since then, he wanted to go into business and even spent time with the Navy commissary on Guam learning the basics in entrepreneurship. He returned home and started a small store in Chalan Kanoa in 1949.

In my view, Joeten is an icon of wealth creation. He believes that in building wealth, one can create wealth for others by way of jobs creation. His proactivity in his entrepreneurial commitment is itself a jewel and hard earned trophy that politicians and bureaucrats must salute and emulate for he’s earned it all with sheer hard work. In other words, the NMI needs more of Joeten’s commitment and proactivity to learn to live in both good and bad times.

This year, through his wife Soledad (Daidai`), the family donated money generated from land and apartment leases to defray the cost of building the Social Hall and Diocese of Chalan Kanoa headquarters adjacent to the Cathedral. How humbling to hear his oldest daughter Annie T. Sablan (on behalf of her mom) explain that it was her father’s commitment that successful businesses must return a portion of its earnings to the local community.

Indeed, Joeten has outlived his own creation–a highly successful family business–and his legacy will shine in the developmental history of these islands for many years to come. I’ve known the late Joeten, a man with a vision and commitment who aspired for nothing less than to making these isles a better place for his people.
He wanted a prosperous Northern Marianas Community capable of standing on its own two feet without hand-outs from Uncle Tom. And such commitment should be the battle cry of leadership in our quest for greater self-government.

Behind a successful man….

Joeten didn’t secure his golden trophy of achievement and success, alone. Right to side stood his loving wife both night and day, who worked by his side as they tend the gradual expansion of the family business. For the money the family built and save through the years, she really doesn’t have to work the extra mile. But she did as both partner and spouse besides the NMI’s most successful businessman.

I remember working as a janitor at Atkins Kroll’s (now Microl Corporation) Susupe office, passing by the warehouses behind the Joeten grocery and hardware stores after my day’s done. I recalled seeing Mrs. Tenorio sewing ripped sacks of rice in the warehouse. I was really puzzled by it all: a wealthy woman working that hard in the warehouse? But the island was hit by a rice shortage and I know that in her heart, even at a reduced price, it’s best that the last sacks of rice get to families who need it.

Finally, Joeten is a legacy of success. He worked long hours daily when most of us have decided to snore and snooze after a heavy dinner. He’s created wealth which translated into jobs creation. This accomplishment, friends, must be the focus of attention by local leadership for we all know that government isn’t in the business of making a profit. It’s simply a custodian of our tax contributions. For Mrs. Tenorio and family, I offer my most profound congratulations as you celebrate Joeten’s Golden Anniversary. Congratulations!