KNIGHTS DONATE TO SAIPAN
Members of the Agat Knights of Columbus contribute to BankPacific’s Typhoon Soudelor Relief Drive yesterday morning. Photo shows BankPacific’s Agat Branch accepting the donation. From left, Darren Dela Paz, BankPacific Agat manager M.J. Cruz, Gerard Terlaje, Darrel Dela Paz, John Mantanona, and Kevin Susuico. (Contributed Photo)
RELIEF DRIVE Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig, along with the 15th Rota Municipal Council chair George O. Hocog, Rota Legislative Delegation chair Rep. Glenn L. Maratita, and the people of Rota pose with their donation of 100 cases of bottled water to be shipped to Saipan as part of their disaster relief assistance effort. The Rota Leadership Team and the people of Rota plan to continue to send at least 100 cases of bottled water on a daily basis. Also in picture is MOR SAA chief of staff David M. Santos, MOR staff Manuel Hocog, CPA manager Martin Mendiola and Rubin Dive Shop owner Mr. Yamamoto. (Contributed Photo)
SAIPAN HARBOR, Saipan—Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, commander of Joint Region Marianas, speaks with the commanding officer of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48), Cmdr. Daniel P. Duhan, while onboard to thank the ship’s crew for their work during Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts on Saipan. Ashland is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group and is on patrol in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. NAVY/MC3 DAVID A. COX)
CAPITAL HILL, Saipan—Stephen Deblasio, federal coordinating officer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, addresses dignitaries during a meeting to discuss Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts in Saipan’s Emergency Operations Center. Marines and sailors assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group arrived on Saipan on Aug. 8 to assist. (U.S. NAVY/MC3 DAVID A. COX)
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Saipan—Lt. Gov. Ralph Torres poses with Sgt. D.J. Camacho, a native of Saipan serving in the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit assisting in Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts on the island. Torres took an aerial tour of Saipan on Sunday in an MV-22 Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265. (U.S. NAVY/MC3 DAVID A. COX)
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Saipan—Lt. Gov. Ralph Torres, left, and Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, commander Joint Region Marianas, right, talk to Sgt. D.J. Camacho, a native of Saipan assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, assisting in Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts. Torres and Bolivar took an aerial tour of the island Sunday in an MV-22 Osprey from the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (Reinforced). (U.S. NAVY/MC3 DAVID A. COX)
SAIPAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Saipan—An MV-22 Osprey tilt rotor aircraft assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 (Reinforced) prepares to take off at Saipan International Airport for a tour of the affected areas with military and civilian officials. VMM 265 is assigned to the Bonhomme Richard Expeditionary Strike Group on patrol in the Navy’s 7th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. NAVY/MC3 DAVID A. COX)
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Eric Malinowski, the commanding officer of Combat Logistics Battalion 31, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, speaks with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Marianas, and Ralph Torres, the acting governor of Saipan, about typhoon relief efforts on Saipan, Aug. 9, 2015. (LANCE CPL. BRIAN BEKKALA)
KNIGHTS DONATE TO SAIPAN
Members of the Agat Knights of Columbus contribute to BankPacific’s Typhoon Soudelor Relief Drive yesterday morning. Photo shows BankPacific’s Agat Branch accepting the donation. From left, Darren Dela Paz, BankPacific Agat manager M.J. Cruz, Gerard Terlaje, Darrel Dela Paz, John Mantanona, and Kevin Susuico. (Contributed Photo)
MVA AT WORK
Staff of the Marianas Visitors Authority and Korea Tour Association of Saipan clear debris at the Last Command Post in Marpi on Aug. 12, 2015. The MVA is detailing staff to aid recovery efforts at tourist sites to minimize the impact of Typhoon Soudelor on tourism, the CNMI’s primary economic driver. (MVA)
MVA AT WORK
Staff of the Marianas Visitors Authority clear debris at the Last Command Post in Marpi on Aug. 12, 2015. From left are MVA staffers James Sakamoto, Ed Diaz, and Laura Hsiao. (MVA)
MVA AT WORK
Northern Marianas Diving Operators Association and Marianas Visitors Authority cleared debris to open the boat ramp at Garapan Fishing Base on Aug. 7, 2015, for dive boats and fishing vessels. (MVA)
MVA AT WORK
In the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor, Northern Marianas Diving Operators Association helped clear debris to reopen popular dive site Laulau Beach in August 2015. (MVA)
YOUNG VOLUNTEER
Ten-year-old Easton dela Cruz, a Hopwood Junior High School student, beams with pride while volunteering to help with packing the goods donated by Best Sunshine Int’l Ltd. The son of one of Karidat’s frontliners, Elaine dela Cruz, says: “It’s a good feeling to help people in need. I want to always be there for the good of the community.” (Contributed Photo)
COMING TOGETHER
Knowing the limited space of the Karidat office, the Joeten Kiyu Public Library has offered its space and staff to help with repacking relief goods—rice, soba noodles, different kinds of canned food, as well as cans of butane and toiletries such as body wash, shampoo, baby wipes, and sanitizers—that were donated by Best Sunshine Int’l, Ltd. Judy Pangelinan of Karidat said, “In the midst of our difficulties, we’re fortunate to facilitate the distribution of these donations to those in dire need.” (Contributed Photo)
FIESTA DONATION
Fiesta Resort & Spa makes their weekly donation of prepared food and ice to the Salvation Army in San Antonio on Aug. 19, 2015, to help provide free meals offered during Typhoon Soudelor recovery. The donation was delivered by Fiesta’s management team to the Salvation Army staff and volunteers. (Contributed Photo)
