CNMI-RP Friendship Week proclaimed

The mutual bonds of history, culture, religion, language, and political development have made the friendship among Chamorros, Carolinians, and Filipinos very special.

These bonds led to the annual proclamation of the CNMI-Philippine Friendship Week from June 12 to June 19.

It was signed during the 107th Philippine Independence Day celebrations’ vin d’honneur held yesterday at the Dai-Ichi Saipan Beach Hotel.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta initialed the proclamation together with Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente, Philippine consul general Wilfredo Maximo, and United Filipino Organization president Roland Pamintuan, who read the proclamation statement before the signing.

“Everyday, this bond of friendship is affirmed in the Northern Marianas where some 20,000 Filipinos work and reside,” said the statement.

Pamintuan said the friendship has benefited both the Philippines and the CNMI’s economies in terms of increased trade of goods and services.

The proclamation also stated that the CNMI sends patients to Philippine-based medical facilities for needed treatment and imports volumes of Philippine-made products.

“Filipinos comprise a big chunk of the highly skilled and professional jobs in the Northern Marianas—from engineers to architects, nurses, educators, journalists, accountants, sales and marketing representatives, and hoteliers, as well as house workers, security guards, and maintenance crew,” it further read.

The Northern Marianas relies on the Filipinos’ services to fuel its own tourism-based economy, in the same way as the Philippines relies on the CNMI for jobs for some of its citizens, said the proclamation.

The proclamation also said that both countries understand the importance of maintaining the centuries-old friendship and socio-cultural commonalities. “In recent times, the commonalities included the fight against terrorism.”

The CNMI-Philippine Friendship Week will also recognize the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans on the islands who have collectively or individually showed their concern for the islands’ natural environment through numerous volunteer clean-ups and other community services and events.

Babauta also took the opportunity to commend Maximo’s performance in the CNMI.

“Consul general Maximo is doing a great job, ensuring that Filipinos in our community not only feel welcome but also enjoy the same rights and protection that they would in their homeland,” he said.