Two roads near Obyan Beach get new names

Family members of the late justice Ramon G. Villagomez along with Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, Reps. Ed Propst (D-Saipan) and Rep. Joseph Flores (Ind-Saipan), pose under the sign of the renamed street yesterday morning after a street renaming ceremony. (LEIGH GASES)

In a two-part street naming and renaming ceremony, Saipan Mayor and lieutenant governor-elect David M. Apatang unveiled yesterday morning two new street names—Calistro I. Reyes Place and Justice Ramon Villagomez Road—for the roads heading into scenic Obyan Beach.

The new street name in honor of Reyes was previously unnamed and is the dirt road on the left past the Reyes family compound, while the street renamed in honor of Villagomez was previously named Obyan Beach Road.

Besides Apatang and Reyes, others in attendance were Reyes’ and Villagomez’ friends and family, along with Reps. Ed Propst (D-Saipan), Joseph Flores (Ind-Saipan), and Saipan Mayor’s Office Street Renaming and Numbering Division staff.

Apatang, before removing the blue silk veil that covered the new street name in honor of Reyes, said that Reyes—a former CNMI Boy Scouts of America director—is known in the Marianas “as the man who wore the uniform and lived by the rules of the boy scouts. In his lifetime, I know Mr. Reyes has and continues to this day to instill honesty, integrity, loyalty, brevity, thriftiness, cleanliness, and respect in our youth. Your service to the boy scouts program in our islands deserve recognition, for you have been a mentor to many youth to become respectful and caring persons. That is not an easy feat.”

He added that a site not too far from Obyan Beach is a place “we once knew as the boy scout site. It is a place many youth spend time at, to learn survival skills away from the comfort of home, live with nature to appreciate our very fragile environment and that we must care for it, among many other things.”

Reyes said he was surprised by the honor, yet “this is heart-touching for me and my family. The piece of land here was dedicated for boy scouting activities and we have a lot of people involved in this development. One…is former justice Ramon Villagomez, [who] has played a good role in helping in the development. And like I said many, many other people, and so it’s just fitting and appropriate for every one of us to celebrate, and I hope that this…dedication would not just end over here, but to continue in the development of our youth.”

Family members of the late justice Ramon G. Villagomez along with Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, Reps. Ed Propst (D-Saipan) and Rep. Joseph Flores (Ind-Saipan), pose under the sign of the renamed street yesterday morning after a street renaming ceremony. (LEIGH GASES)

Prior to unveiling the renamed Justice Ramon Villagomez Road, Apatang said the late Villagomez was “a son of Saipan, who grew up with his eight siblings and very hardworking parents, living on what our very precious land and ocean could produce, learning farming and fishing, traveling to a faraway place to get his education, and then coming back to serve and help his island progress.”

“There are too many great deeds the late Ramon Garrido Villagomez accomplished in his lifetime. Many saw him that everyone has a chance to grow and become a productive contributing member of our island. His dedicated involvement in many community programs and projects inspired many to follow in his footsteps, and become role models for many youth and young adults, like he was,” said Apatang. He “loved the outdoors, and spent weekends and his free time enjoying one of Saipan’s beautiful beaches that is just minutes from here. Obyan Beach was his favorite spot to spend time with his family, fishing, and camping out.  An avid outdoorsman, his contributions to our island’s Boy Scout program yielded many benefits to our youth,” added Apatang.

Abraham Villagomez, a police sergeant in the Department of Public Safety and one of Villagomez’ sons, said after the unveiling that he was happy “that there’s something to honor him and everybody can see it.” He recalled the many times that they would go down to Obyan Beach after school to fish almost every day.