Galvin Deleon Guerrero files candidacy for delegate at CEC. Thomas Mangloña II reports.

In celebration of World Ocean Day, the Division of Coastal Resources Management hosted Waves of Recovery—a special community outreach event held in lieu of this year's annual Saipan Ocean Fair. MP contributor Leo Tsukagoshi reports.

Independent gubernatorial candidates Lawrence F. Camacho and Edith Deleon Guerrero officially opened their campaign headquarters last Monday evening, July 27, saying the office will serve as an accessible gathering place for residents while outlining a people-centered platform and, later in the program, what Camacho described as a "paradigm shift" in how the CNMI government operates. Camacho said establishing a headquarters—located north of Quartermaster Road near the Japanese Tank Memorial at the intersection with Beach Road—was among the campaign committee's early priorities because it would give volunteers a place to organize while providing the public with direct access to the candidates.

The Joeten-Kiyu Public Library wrapped up its Summer Reading Program with a health and wellness portion at the Marianas Batting Alley over three days from Wednesday, July 22 to Friday, July 24. Hear from JKPL's Library Assistant 1 Caitlyn Crisostomo and Program Coordinator Sina Palacios-Attao on their final day of their program that ran from June 15 to July 24.

The Talaya Club continues to pass down the art of the talåya to the next generation through a talåya workshop held on Friday, July 24, at the American Memorial Park/Micro Beach. Club instructors taught participants from Koblerville Elementary School, Da'ok Academy, and other youth in the community about the cultural significance of the talåya, how to properly prepare and handle the net, and the correct throwing techniques through hands-on practice.

On this episode of Asia's Wellness Corner, we learn about a tool that could help you during a panic attack. This segment is presented by Pacifica Insurance.

We formed Audutsphere and AudutCon to solve a real operational gap. Too many organizations have good ideas but lack the secure systems and delivery structure to turn those ideas into reliable action. The problem was fragmentation. We saw that software, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and execution were often handled separately, when they really need to work together. Cybersecurity is central to everything we build. If a system is going to support critical operations, it has to be protected, disciplined, and designed with security in mind from the start. Visit www.audutsphere.com and www.audutcon.com to learn more.

Ten factory-built BoxHouse homes donated through ReadyPod will soon provide ready-to-occupy homes for families displaced by Typhoon Sinlaku, including five veteran households, with Gov. David M. Apatang last July 24 welcoming the initiative as a timely boost to the CNMI’s ongoing recovery efforts. Apatang toured one of the ReadyPod Dual Primary homes on a vacant lot near the Port of Saipan last July 24 before the units are delivered to selected families. "This is an opportune time for this contribution for our veterans, those who are actually in need of a house," Apatang said. "I hope we have more of this coming to the Commonwealth for a lot of our veterans here who really need this house." A veteran himself, the governor thanked the donors for remembering the CNMI's former service members. "On behalf of our people from the Commonwealth, I want to thank BoxHouse for their contribution and thinking about our veterans here from the bottom of our heart," he said.

Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho formally filed his petition for candidacy at the Commonwealth Election Commission in Susupe on July 24, seeking what he said would be his final four-year term as mayor while pledging to complete unfinished projects, strengthen public safety, and continue building safer villages across the island. Running once again as an independent, Camacho said the decision followed discussions with his family and reflected his belief that there is still more work to accomplish. “I decided, you know, with the consultation with my wife, my children, you know, that I'm still interested, you know, to run again for the second term because the mayor is only a maximum of two terms,” Camacho said. Reflecting on his first term, Camacho described it as demanding but rewarding.

For a restaurant that first opened on Saipan during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pho Tam has accomplished what few CNMI businesses have—expanding into the U.S. mainland and becoming among the rare homegrown Commonwealth restaurant brands to establish a location in the continental United States. Owner and chef Richer Ta said the idea behind Pho Tam Cali in Lake Forest, California, grew naturally after the success of the Saipan restaurant and his family's ties to Southern California. Ta was interviewed while vacationing on Saipan during the lull between super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi. "We opened up here in 2021," Ta said. "After the pandemic, this opened up about a year after." The California branch opened in early 2023 in Lake Forest, Orange County, where Ta and his immediate family now reside. "That's where I currently live," he said, explaining why the expansion made sense. "That's where I fly back and forth, just to help out here in the business." Ta said Pho Tam Cali has since been recognized by a local newspaper as the top-rated Vietnamese restaurant in its area. "We're rated No. 1... just for that area," he said. "I think there's about 10 other Vietnamese restaurants out there."

Welcome to this week's Docomo Pacific News Download—here is what made headlines over the past week.

Hafa Adai and Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases with this week’s Sports Leigh-Out brought to you by Joeten Motors! THIS WEEK: -NMI Wrestling expands with new Olympic-sized mats -Masuki defends title, Park strikes gold twice -NMI Men’s Tennis team in Sri Lanka for Davis Cup -Profound Bandits host workshop for South Korea dance trip -NMISAxDYS Summer T-Ball League underway -BASA League continues -Pacifica Insurance supports Pickleball Fed #cnmi #marianas #sports #leighout #recap #highlights #sportsleighout

Gov. David M. Apatang reflected on the first death anniversary of his predecessor, the late governor Arnold I. Palacios, saying the Commonwealth continues to mourn the loss of his former running mate as he also looked back on his own first year in office, the government's recovery from back-to-back Category 5 super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, and a proposed federal bill that would end birthright citizenship in the U.S. territories. Apatang made the remarks during an interview with Marianas Press this morning, July 24, following a tour of donated ReadyPod Dual Primary homes on a vacant lot near the Saipan Port. The homes were showcased during a donation event for veterans and other residents displaced by the recent typhoons. Looking back on the July 23 first death anniversary of Palacios, Apatang said he attended the memorial rosary and remembered his former political partner with sadness. "The late governor and I, we ran together for the governor and the lieutenant governor. But [we’re] just so sad that he left us early. It's unforeseen circumstances," Apatang said. He added, "I was in attendance yesterday for the ... first year anniversary. And, you know, we just pray for him and continue to rest in peace." Asked to assess his first year as governor, Apatang said he inherited significant challenges, particularly completing long-overdue financial audits required for continued federal assistance. "I'm happy that I'm the governor, but not really because governor Palacios was my partner," he said. "But it's been a long struggle for me. When I took over as governor, there's a lot of issues that have been challenged by the federal government. Especially the audit, to complete an audit from 2022 back, you know, in order for us to get assistance from the federal government." He said the administration hopes to complete the audit by September and present it to the U.S. inspector general so the Commonwealth can continue moving forward. Apatang also described the unprecedented challenge posed by two Category 5 typhoons striking the Commonwealth within just a few months. "That's the first time I've seen something like this, you know, two typhoons back-to-back," he said. Praising the response from federal agencies and volunteer organizations, Apatang added, "I'm happy with all the assistance that we're getting from the federal government and all the NGOs that were providing us assistance." "So right now, actually, we're concentrating on trying to help our family in Rota, trying to recover. Especially the power situation down there in Rota." Asked about the proposed federal legislation that would deny automatic birthright citizenship to people born in U.S. territories beginning in 2027, Apatang said Congress should respect existing law and the Covenant. "Well, actually, you know, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision on that already. That should be it. I don't understand why the U.S. Congress is still trying to pursue to change that situation," he said. "But, you know, we have a Covenant agreement with the United States, so they need to abide with that covenant agreement," Apatang added.

Project OLEAI Youth Summer Camp, which focuses on sports, community service and engagement, cultural activities, leadership, and drug prevention education for children ages 6 to 17, wrapped up its sports week today, Friday, July 24, at the Agape Christian School Gymnasium. Week 1 focused on community service and engagement, while cultural activities are scheduled for next week. The camp runs from July 14 to 31 at the Gualo Rai Youth Center. Listen to camp participants Leland Ogumoro-Kintol, Elijah Igitol Benjamin, and Trent Iguel, along with camp counselor Dereck Rangamar, during one of their sports days at the Agape Christian School Gymnasium.

MP's Thomas Manglona speaks with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they help the islands recover after Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi. In addition to temporary power restoration and debris removal, they are also helping build more resilient classrooms at the Northern Marianas College. Watch to learn more.