Leon Guerrero is elected Speaker

Alana May Leon Guerrero had been chosen as Speaker of the 11th CNMI Youth Congress during the organizational session held yesterday. The 23 youth senators were officially inducted into office before top government officials, their parents, family members, friends’ and other visitors at the House of Representatives chamber on Capital Hill.

Chief Justice Miguel Demapan administered the oath of office for the new youth leaders.

Amid a heavy downpour outside the Jesus P. Mafnas Building, the young leaders took over the session hall for over an hour and flawlessly delivered their part, based on the script for the special occasion.

Leon Guerrero, the lone incumbent representing Precinct 3 for the past three years, immediately presided the organizational meeting after her election by acclamation.

Two others, Adeleyah Charlotte Mojica and John Atalig Ayuyu, were elected by acclamation as Vice Speaker and Floor Leader, respectively.

Ayuyu, who was the Floor Leader Pro Tempore before the election of the presiding officers, nominated both Leon Guerrero and Mojica to their posts.

Leon Guerrero vowed to work with her colleagues for the betterment of the youth in the CNMI. She said the special occasion is just the beginning of a new chapter for the youth in the CNMI.

“We must not stay away from being the eyes, ears, and mouth of the youth,” she said as she and the other Youth Congress members gave thanks to those who supported them during the campaign period. They also thanked government officials for giving them this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to serve the community in their own way.

Leon Guerrero also gave a special shout-out to her nephews for pushing her, kidding: “I made it.”

Mojica, who represents Precinct 2, borrowed the words of Gen. George Patton to articulate the current financial crisis that the CNMI, the United States and the whole world is experiencing. “Success is how high you bounce once you hit bottom,” Mojica said.

She said the CNMI is close to hitting the bottom, but with the youth’s own way of helping the country get back to its feet, CNMI can surely bounce back and be successful.

Ayuyu, who represents Precinct 6, urged his colleagues to make the 11th Youth Congress be the best. His vision is to provide more opportunities that would motivate the youth to become better citizens.

Maria Grace Madeline B. Alvarez, who represents Saipan Southern High School, was also elected by acclamation as Legislative Secretary.

The other elected youth senators are Charlyn S. Techur (Northern Marianas College), Andrew Camacho Benavente (Precinct 1), Binaca Kabua Blanco (Precinct 1), Annie Cotero Camacho (Saipan International School), Leilani Sablan Cepeda (Marianas High School), Donnie Rodriguez Dosalua (Tinian Sr. High School), Min Kyung Kim (Mount Carmel School), Kimberly Babauta Hofschneider (Grace Christian Academy), Seong Bin Lee (Marianas Baptist Academy), You Mi Lee (Precinct 3), Quina Marie Palacios Mendiola (Precinct 5), Jessel Manglona Mesa (Kagman High School), Maegan Taitano Norita (Precinct 4), Johora Atalig Paeda (Rota Sr. High School), Min Seon Park (NMC), Thomas Rios Rabauliman (Precinct 3), Aesha De-Brum Sablan (NMC), Jessamin C. Sablan (Precinct 1) and Sunny Frank Lifoifoi Aldan (Northern Marianas Academy).

Leon Guerrero immediately appointed chairs and vice chairs of the different committees. They were Blanco and Mi Lee for Ways and Means; Hofschneider and Dosalua for Natural Resources; Norita and Paeda for Health and Welfare; Benavente and Aldan for Education; Kim and Bin Lee for Judiciary and Governmental Operations; Techur and Park for Arts and Humanities; Manglona and Camacho for Commerce and Tourism; Cepeda and Palacios for Public Utilities, Transportation and Communication; and Santos and Rabauliman for Youth, Sports and Recreation.