13 new citizens naturalized in observance of Covenant Day

The U.S. District Court for the NMI swore in 13 new U.S. citizens in a special Covenant Day naturalization ceremony yesterday.

The newly naturalized citizens are Ignacio Quilang Achas, Roderick Ramos Capili, Daryll Mojica de Luna, Emily Jaramillo Faustino, Lourdes Pajarillo Garcia, Armando Cula Garote, Remedios Montuerto Garote, Daisylyn Reyes Ogo, Monica Recto Pangilinan, Piocardo Laureano Pangilinan, Carmelita Bulatao Sandig, Rodel Tanedo Villaluna, and Virginia Grajo Villaluna.

In observance of Covenant Day, yesterday’s naturalized citizens heard a special speech from one of the CNMI’s founding fathers, Covenant negotiator Pedro “Pete” Tenorio, who shared his own personal journey to becoming a naturalized citizen.

“Like you, I am a naturalized citizen by virtue of our Covenant with the United States. As a child growing up after the war, I picked through the wreckage of World War Il, accompanied by adults who scrounged for materials to rebuild our lives flattened by bombs, armament, and fires. In the aftermath I attended elementary school in Chalan Kanoa village, and intermediate school near San Antonio. With the full support of family and friends, I left Saipan at a young age of 16 to attend high schools abroad, and eventually I attended the University of Hawaii where I graduated with a bachelor and two master’s degrees. I was a Covenant negotiator and a founding father of the CNMI Commonwealth with the United States. [I] also managed to be elected lieutenant governor and Washington resident representative for a total of eight years to each elected office. Many of you will have had or will have similar experiences. The United States offers opportunity no matter who you are or where you are from,” he said.

Tenorio touched on the importance of the Covenant and its significance in shaping the Commonwealth as we know it today.

“The reason you are being sworn in as U.S. citizens here today is the result of our negotiations on a document known as the Covenant, a political status agreement that established a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America,” he said.

Tenorio said the Covenant essentially provided the people of the Commonwealth the opportunity to become naturalized U.S citizens.

“Our Covenant is one of a kind. It took several years to negotiate terms and conditions with the United States. It was put to a vote in a plebiscite after being scrutinized and debated by our people. After a supermajority approval of 78.8% by our people, it was referred to the U.S. Congress for enactment into U.S. public law, which was historically signed by U.S. President Gerald Ford on March 24, 1976, almost 50 years ago. The Covenant provided our people with the opportunity to be naturalized U.S. citizens,” he said.

“We are a melting pot or a mixed salad of backgrounds from over 190 countries, many religions, cultures, and beliefs, but we come to live in a country committed to strive for equality, justice, and the protection of essential rights for all its peoples. This is the promise of an American citizenship. It is more than ease of travel with a blue passport or federal subsidies. It is the ticket to live your life to the fullest of your potential, and to grasp opportunity with confidence the institutions will hold for you,” Tenorio added.