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House Speaker joins Tandem Skydive
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Posted on Oct 07 1999
It will be an experience of a lifetime for House Speaker Diego T. Benavente who has agreed to skydive from 10,000 feet to raise funds for the U.S. Armed Forces Veterans Association.
The association intends to raise some $3,000 to pay for the fare and lodging of the group’s over 50 members who will be going to Rota for the Veterans Day celebration next month, according to Mac Chargualaf, head of the organizing committee.
Although an acrophobic, Benavente made a commitment to participate in the Tandem Skydive all in the spirit of assisting the association. “I am very afraid of heights but I just want to help the association so I’m doing it. I hope this will really help them raise the money,” he said.
He will board the plane at the airport at around 3:00 pm on Oct. 23, 1999. The drop zone will be at the track and field area of Ada Gym field in Susupe.
Benavente has been asked earlier by Tandem Skydive Saipan Inc. to jump by helping them promote their business but declined in the past, saying he was not ready to do the jump.
Five minutes after he signed the agreement, Rep. Karl T. Reyes gave $75 and another friend of the speaker donated $200.
Originally, the association wanted Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan to do the tandem skydive. But Chargualaf said he changed his mind about approaching the governor, who was also a self-confessed acrophobic. Sablan, on the other hand, was reluctant to make any commitment.
The association has been involved in various fundraising activities such as scholarship and out of school projects, painting bus stops, and giving Christmas gifts to the needy.
Chargualaf said the association also talked to Senate President Paul Manglona since they want another official to accompany Benavente in the event.
“He was also hesitant to say yes, so we are still looking for another person,” Chargualaf said. He said the association is planning to approach one of the CNMI beauty titlists.
The association is willing to accept pledges by telephone at these numbers: 235-0544 or 234-3533.
