Attitude of gratitude from an amazing journey

Guåho si John Oliver Delos Reyes Gonzales, 1 Bolis, i lahen miyo, i che’lon miyo.

Ni ngai’an bai hu maleffa na påtgon popbli yo’ ya hu tungo’ håfa mina’så’pet ya hu sienti kabålis i pinadesi yan chinaflek miyo.

Kinsi (15) åños esta desdi ki hu tutuhon muna’oppan gi “TV” na prisisu ta dekka’, ta ina, yan ta diskuti i asunto yan i prupbleman i tano’ta siha.

Bihu hu si difunto Tomas POP Palacios Sablan yan Bihå hu si difunta Lucian BOLIS Pangelinan Delos Reyes.

Mañainahu si difunta Maria Bolis Pangelinan Delos Reyes yan Alfredo Gonzales.

Påtgon popbli yo’ gi Chalan Kanoa Distritu 3 ya ma pogsai biha yo’. Mafanå’gue yo’ na ta onra si Yu’us, tana’ tatkilo’ i rispetu, ta fan honesto, yan ta fanafamåolek.

Hu tungo’ minaså’pet yan chinatsagan pinepbli. Hu ekkungok i mañainahu ya hu na’e animu umeskuela kosa ki siña yo’ mås hu ayuda i mañe’luhu yan mañainahu kumu guåho mås åmko’ na patgon.

Enkuenta i asaguåhu, i famagu’on måmi, i mañainan måmi, hu nånå’e hamyo tåddung na agradesimento yan ayu’os pot i maggim korason yan fino’ miyo nu guåho yan i botun miyo todo.

Ti anåkko’ i dos åños na tiempo ya siempre man hita ta’lo. Hu sen hongge na ta miresi mås måolek, disenti, gåsgas, honesto, kapås, yan taimancha na reprisentasion giya Amerika para mo’na.

Si Yu’us u bendisi hamyo yan hita todo. Biba Ginasgas! Biba Marianas![/I]

Dear people of our Commonwealth:

It has been an amazing journey indeed. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the issues that matter to you in your homes, in our villages, and in our community. Thank you for the privilege and honor to listen to and speak with you. You have made me a better, informed person and you are all the reason why I am blessed to be a fellow citizen of this great island community we call home, God’s country, our beloved Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

You all expressed your concerns, while I listened. You all needed someone to listen, while I became more patient. We all learned and became strong in the process. It has been an amazing journey indeed.

Our islands and our people are at a critical juncture in our lives and relationship with our motherland, the US of A. We must be honest with ourselves and learn from the lessons of the past. We must be responsible so we can deliver the promises of our Covenant for the benefit of all who call the CNMI home, not just for the few politically connected with politics as usual.

This historic Delegate election was about who we can trust with the integrity, character, and competence to protect and defend the interests of all our people pursuant to our Covenant. Our Delegate must restore lasting trust and respect in our enduring relationship with the United States. But, our Delegate must be one with impeccable character, integrity, and honesty.

Our failed politics as usual practices of the past and the few politically connected families who have enriched themselves while the rest of us continue to suffer must stop now. The incompetence, greed, manipulative, and selfish practices and special interests of the few must no longer be tolerated. Enough is enough.

I continue to believe that, now more than ever, we need young and dynamic leadership with integrity and long term vision forward. We need leaders who can best articulate our issues and needs clearly in our Legislature and in Congress based on trust, respect, and good faith representation for our most vulnerable members of our community.

We campaigned for NEW ERA, a NEW VISION, and a NEW DIRECTION of H.O.P.E.—Hope, Opportunity, and Progress for Everyone!

But, we will not look back and regret where we were for the promise of tomorrow is stronger than the despair of today. Your enduring words of encouragement and support for H.O.P.E. are more the reason we must stand up to the challenge that an uncertain future holds. With God’s divine intervention, we will CONTINUE to campaign for a new movement with enduring H.O.P.E. for us and for those who truly need help.

On behalf of my wife, Charlene, our three sons, our parents, and our families, I take this opportunity to thank all of you for the privilege and honor to have listened to you and for opening your hearts to us. Thank you to all who have helped make me a better person as a result. It has been an amazing journey indeed!

I especially want to thank my Committee to Elect for their valued trust and guidance—Chairman Judge Ed Manibusan, Vice Chair Lumi R. Bermudes, Treasurer Zenie P. Mafnas, Secretary Carol P. Hosono, Strategy Chairman Atty. Robert T. Torres, Logistics Chairman Willie Brundidge, Jack Bwiibw Sablan, Aunty Marcy C. Santos, Primo Ben P. yan Prima Charlene S. Cruz, Uncle Ton Cruz and Kusina Crew, Chef Uncle Kin ‘Doi’ Bolis, Bolis Family, My Palacios and Sablan Families from Pop Tomas, Polling Tent Volunteers, Barrie M. Toves and Frank M. Norita and supporters in ROP, Jose P. Cruz and Janet King and our supporters in TIQ, and to the thousands of supporters who helped voted for me and contributed financially and in-kind to our movement for H.O.P.E. God bless you!

The great days of hope and opportunity for our people and our Commonwealth are ahead of us. Hope is on the horizon. God bless our Commonwealth. In God we trust !!!