MGT rebrands to Voices of the Marianas under new foundation

With registration currently underway for Season 2 of Marianas Got Talent, the group wants to share with the community that they will be going forward with the show without former counterpart Marianas Performing Arts Competition Corp. and will even be rebranding the show.

Taking on a larger vision, Marianas Got Talent will be rebranded to Voices of the Marianas under new non-profit Save the Music Foundation. In a sit-down conversation with Saipan Tribune, Save the Music Foundation chair Arlene Reyes, executive director Donovan Castro, and sergeant-at-arms Dwayne Castro shared the reason behind the name change and the mission behind their new organization.

Reyes, former treasurer of MPACC, said that she really doesn’t want to be negative toward MGT’s former partner MPACC or its founder Daniel Quitugua, but sees now that they had different methods and priorities which resulted in things not working out between them. She shared that several issues surfaced that caused unhealthy tensions within the group, and shortly after former MPACC vice president Gus Litulumar resigned this past March after their fundraiser gala, she followed suit.

After that, a majority of Season 1 finalists also pulled out of MPACC. Reyes shared that even with all the setbacks, the dream was still there to represent and make known the voices and talents of the NMI.

“We’re normal. We’re humans. And sometimes when we go through challenges, it’s going to get you behind…it’s a setback for a great comeback.”

She shared that she, along with Litulumar, and the contestants banded together to make the dream happen, thus beginning the Save the Music Foundation.

“We are a non-profit giving back to the community. We are not hoping to try to enrich ourselves, actually, it’s a big sacrifice for each of us leading this to manage and hold all of these busking events, meetings, and holding all of these other fundraisers. We worked so hard to get to where we need to be, and if there’s a lack of transparency, if there’s a lack of honesty, we’re not going to get to our goal, which is far greater than the power of having a certain position. With us, we consider each other equal, regardless of what the title is.”

Reyes shared that in order to maintain transparency, the organization has a large group of members in leadership, several of whom were former contestants from Season 1.

“We trust each other. That’s the most important thing in any non-profit or for-profit. Trust is very important. Transparency and honesty are very important. I myself as a person, and my team cannot proceed without being transparent. Honesty is the best key to success in anything you do. Teamwork. Respect. Honesty. Transparency. That’s very, very important. This is a team effort. This is a community effort. We want to give back to the community. We didn’t create this non-profit to try to gain proceeds for ourselves, to enrich us. That’s not what we believe in.” She highlighted that they have learned a lot from past experiences and in their new organization they strive for transparency, and to create a non-toxic, and unified environment for their team and future participants.

Reyes noted that she believes the community needs to know the change and rebrand especially with several cases of misinformation going around. She shared that one person had gone to their now executive director Donovan Castro with a wrong perception of MGT due to misinformation

“Somebody told him, we’re so proud that you’re using the BOOST money for MGT.”

Castro and Reyes shared that they were both surprised. “We never got ‘BOOSTed,’” said Reyes. “Because MGT was not established yet, we didn’t get the license for MPACC until May 2024.” She shared that there were publicly accessible files listing who in MPACC had been “BOOSTed” but it was not MGT itself.

Castro added, “I was confronted by several people saying this. I said no, I didn’t know anything about getting ‘BOOSTed.’ I know for a fact that, at least with MGT, we’re a clean slate,” he said. “You know, there’s a lot of other news networks outside of, you know, the main platforms on island. And it’s just crazy how, like, it created this narrative.”

“But moving forward, we have a different name,” Reyes said. “We have a different new foundation. And our foundation serves a bigger purpose for the entire CNMI. And it’s not just a competition. It really isn’t.”

She shared the overall goal of the Save the Music Foundation is to enhance the music educational experience for the younger generation. She shared that they are hoping to extend their services to the Public School System to create a type of after-school program centered around music.

She said that together with Voices of the Marianas and their community partners, Save the Music Foundation seeks to promote and provide music education in order to protect the CNMI’s musical heritage.

Reyes said that along with providing voice lessons and teaching kids how to play a certain instrument, they hope that in time they can provide high-demand instruments for students.

“They deserve it and the world deserves to hear our talents from the CNMI,” said Reyes. “We’re collaborating with several community partners and agencies, so this is going to be a collaborative effort to ensure that music education is back into the system.”

The team also shared that under Save the Music Foundation, Voices of the Marianas will have a new twist as the team prepares to not only provide a space to share talent but also have former contestants involved to provide mentorship to new contestants.

“For the competition, it’s not just to compete, but you got a stellar group of people that have a skill set like no other to kind of prepare them. I want to say that this is a prerequisite to get them prepared for the bigger stage,” said Donovan Castro.

Dwayne Castro added, “I do feel like the CNMI has potential to get out there on the mainstream. And like what Don was saying earlier, this a prerequisite to get them out there. That’s all we’re doing. It’s a competition in the end. Yeah, we boil it down, but we still work as a family to get you to where you need to be to get on that platform. That’s the main goal.”

Reyes noted that all their social media platforms and website will soon assume the name Voices of the Marianas. She also shared that plans are underway to create a new and separate website focused on highlighting the talents of the Marianas from individuals near and far who call the Marianas home. With currently eight confirmed contestants registered for the Season 2, the opportunity is still open and those interested are encouraged to register.

For more information about the Voices of the Marianas and the Save the Music Foundation, call (670) 285-9211 or email them at savethemusicfoundation.cnmi@gmail.com.