Guzman returns as FILATA president

Former Filipino-American Tennis Association president Elmer Guzman was elected to his old post during the tennis club’s general membership meeting and election of officers held last Saturday at Jade Restaurant.

Also elected were Jorge Olanda as vice president, Sally Cacdac as treasurer and board members Father Ryan Jimenez, Chuck Sayon, Dr. Bert Ventura, Hector Benitez, and Edgar Casing. Erstwhile FILATA secretary Joy Cecilia Minor was reelected to her post.

“To the people who voted for me and gave me this trust again, I really appreciate your vote and I ask for your help once more to allow this association to move on. Let’s work together so we can go on reaching our goals this year,” said Guzman.

Guzman takes over from FILATA pioneer and many time president Eli Buenaventura. Under his leadership, FILATA was able to forge new partnerships with the three other tennis clubs in the CNMI—the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association, Saipan Tennis Association, and Tinian Tennis Association.

Buenaventura in his president’s report also outlined the other achievements of his administration foremost of which was the staging of two tournaments—the Century Insurance Co. Tennis Classic and the Shell-Telesource Tennis Tournament.

He also said that under his leadership, FILATA was also able to return from the red with the better management of its finances and accounting books.

“As you all know at the beginning of our administration, we didn’t get any financial report, bank statement could not be found, checks were stolen, receipts of payment couldn’t be located, now our financial records are very much in good shape. I hope the incoming leadership would be able to maintain our records properly and neatly,” he said.

Buenaventura congratulated Guzman, Olanda and the rest of the new set of officers and offered his help in future endeavors of FILATA.

“We look forward to seeing the new officers of FILATA perform their responsibilities well this coming year. I will also always be on their beck and call as again part of the Council of Past Presidents for FILATA,” he said.

STA president Roy Pangelinan served as special guest of the general membership meeting and election and dispensed the usual congratulatory remarks for the winners of the elections.

“In behalf of the STA, I would like to congratulate the newly elected officers of FILATA—president Elmer Guzman, vice president Jorge Olanda, and the rest of the officers. To my good friend, Eli [Buenaventura], we would like thank you for all the work that you’ve done for the islands’ tennis community.”

He also extended STA’s help to Guzman and FILATA for the betterment of the tennis-playing community in the CNMI.

“If there’s anything STA could do to help out FILATA, so we could both work together, let us know. We two could work hand in hand to improve the tennis community in the Commonwealth. We have to remember that we all live in the CNMI. If we both work together, I know we could do better things.”