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Copyright © 2015 Pacific Daily News 02/20/2015 February 19, 2015 6:58 pm / Powered by TECNAVIA
21OPINION
The Pacific Daily News invites readers tojoin us in discussing some of the hot top-ics in the news.
Sunday: Should the Guam PoliceDepartment act with more urgency torepair the crime lab?If you have some insight on this topic orwant to join the discussion, we want tohear from you.
Make contact Call: 479-0415 Email: [email protected]
SUBMIT A LETTERWe welcome your comments on editori-als, columns and other topics in the Pa-cific Daily News about subjects importantto you.
Only submissions that include name,address, village of residence and contactnumbers, and that are verified by the Pa-cific Daily News, will be considered forpublication.
Letters with facts or statements thatcan’t be substantiated won’t be pub-lished. The burden of substantiation willbe on the letter writer.
Letters must be previously unpub-lished, including on the Internet.
Letters to the editor of 300 or fewerwords, and opinion/editorial columns of550 or fewer words have the best chanceof being published. Limited to one pub-lished letter a month.
All submissions may be edited forlength, accuracy and clarity, and may bepublished or distributed in print, electronicor other forms.
Email letters to [email protected] mail to Voice of the People, Box DN,Hagåtña, Guam 96932.
Opinions expressed by letter writersand columnists are their own and do notnecessarily reflect those of the PacificDaily News.
For more information, call Duane M.George at 479-0415.
Thought of the Day“Foolishness is bound in the heart ofa child; but the rod of correction shalldrive it far from him.”
Proverbs 22:15
Parents are responsible to give theirchildren loving discipline.
Harvest Baptist Bible College
READER INFORMATIONThe Pacific Daily News, a member of theGannett group of newspapers, is pub-lished daily at 244 Archbishop F.L. FloresSt., Hagåtña, Territory of Guam, USA,P.O. Box DN, Hagåtña, Guam 96932. En-tered as Periodicals Postage Paid at theU.S. Post Office, Hagåtña, Guam, underAct of Congress of March 3, 1979. POST-MASTER: Send address changes to:The Pacific Daily News, P.O. Box DN,Hagåtña, Guam 96932. USPS 230-980.
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Prickly City
Awaken pride in Chamorro MonthBy Monica Okada Guzman
How exciting it was to hear Gov.Eddie Baza Calvo mention the12th Festival of Pacific Arts during
his State of the Island Address on Mondayevening? The recognitionand acknowledgementfrom the top that hostingFestPac in Guam is reallya big deal underscored thehard work that the manysubcommittees have beendoing over the past twoyears in preparation forthis once-in-a-lifetimeevent.
The revitalization and restoration ofHagåtña in preparation for the festival willbring a real focus to our capitol and its cul-tural and historical significance.
As our island gears up for Guam Historyand Chamorro Heritage Month in March, ourcultural practitioners will be participating ina host of activities to celebrate the Chamorroculture. It is heartening to see both the pri-vate and public sectors involved, with officesdecorating their lobbies and reception areaswith locally woven baskets, local flora andother indigenous displays. It’s all aboutbringing a real emphasis to the hafa adaispirit and celebrating our unique history, her-itage and culture.
The Department of Chamorro Affairs andthe Chamorro Studies Division of the GuamDepartment of Education have taken the leadin planning the public sector activities forMarch, with other agencies participating.With the newly enacted holiday introducedby Sen. Tommy Morrison and signed intolaw by Gov. Calvo, we now celebrate GuamHistory and Chamorro Heritage Day on thefirst Monday in March.
To kick off the festivities, there will be aproclamation signing at the governor’s officeat 10 a.m. Feb. 27.
This year’s theme is, “Fakmåta. … Fan-hasso. … Nihi ta abånsa mo’na I taotao-ta,”
or “Wake up. … Think. … Let us advanceour people for the better.”
Many events plannedThe schedule of events for this special
month includes storytelling, workshops, clin-ics, exhibits, fashion shows and even somechallenges like a Kassen NankannoChamorro (Chamorro food cook-off). TheChamorro Village will feature the first everArts and Crafts and Garden Fair on March 1and 2.
Down in Humatak, the Guam History andChamorro Heritage Festival activities willrun through the weekends of Feb. 27, March1, and March 6-8. On your way down toUmatac, do stop in at the George Flores Mu-seum in Inalahan for some fresh bread bakedin a real hotnu, the way our grandparents andgreat grandparents did it. But be forewarned— you better get there early, before they runout!
There is something for everyone through-out the entire month, from paddling compe-titions to discussions on Chamorroself-determination, coral reef protection, tra-ditional agriculture and environmental sus-tainability, not to mention the displays of ourtraditional arts with a Mes Chamorro Exhibitat the CAHA gallery opening on March 4.
Every Thursday at 3 p.m. throughout themonth you can watch the GovGuamChamorro Knowledge Bowl Challenge onPBS. And let’s not forget Charter Day at theUniversity of GUam on March 10!
Mes Chamorro is a great opportunity toconnect with our history, traditional arts, ourlanguage and our culture as we prepare tohost the Festival of the Pacific Arts — chagiyan eyak I kustombren Chammoro!
Prepare personallyIt’s also a great time to kick off your own
personal preparations for the 2016 FestPac!Talk to your family friends, neighbors andco-workers about how you can use ChamorroMonth to celebrate our culture and heritagein your homes, neighborhoods or work-places. Plan Chamorro dishes into yourweekly menus or have lunch at a restaurantthat serves Chamorro food. Learn how toweave coconut leaves or make kelaguen.Look up our history on the Internet or visitone of our many natural or historical sites.Learn a Chamorro legend or custom. Thereare so many ways you can personalize yourparticipation and rekindle your hafa adaispirit!
Fakmåta. ... Fanhasso.Wake up. … Think!March is Guam History and Chamorro
Heritage month. Let’s all awaken our localpride and think about how we can individu-ally and collectively further our understand-ing of our heritage and articulate the proudjourney of the Chamorro people to ourfriends, family and the many visitors we willwelcome in 2016 and beyond.
We are only 456 days — 65 weeks — tillthe opening ceremonies of the 12th Festivalof Pacific Arts and Culture. Fakmåta …Fan-hasso … Nihi ta abånsa mo’na I taotao-ta.Wake up. … Think. …Let us advance ourpeople for the better. Biba Mes Chamoro!Biba FestPac!
Monica Okada Guzman chairs the GuamCouncil on the Arts and Humanities.
Guzman
GMH volunteers lookfor new members
Last month, the Pacific Daily News alongwith the Rotary Club, organized a VolunteerFair at the Micronesia Mall. I applaud the or-ganizers for shining the light on the impor-tance of instilling a spirit of volunteerism inour youth.
The Guam Memorial Hospital VolunteersAssociation, or GMHVA, which is celebrat-ing its 50th year of serving our island com-munity this year, participated in the volunteerfair and enlisted a number of volunteers. Weare thankful for this opportunity.
GMHVA, a nonprofit organization estab-lished in April 1965, has a membership of
160 volunteers who willingly donate theirtime, talent and expertise to supplement theservices provided by the Guam MemorialHospital’s professional staff in caring for thepatients and giving comfort to their families:from reading books to children and patients,to running a convenience gift shop in the hos-pital, to raising funds to purchase much-needed medical equipment and/or refurbishpatient rooms.
I encourage your readers, particularlythose adults who may be looking for wayswhere they can, in their own way, effect pos-itive change in our community, to sign upwith the GMHVA. All funds we raise go to-ward improving the hospital. Our volunteersdo not receive monetary remuneration; they
reap, instead, the joy of seeing their effortslift up the spirits of those who may be in theshadow of life: the sick, the needy and thedisabled. At some point or another in our life,chances are we have or will find ourselves inthe hospital.
James Cash Penney once asked: “How canwe expect our children to know and experi-ence the joy of giving unless we teach themthat the greater pleasure in life lies in the artof giving rather than receiving?” How in-deed? Here’s one way: Join the Guam Me-morial Hospital Volunteers Association andgive our children a role model by which tolive.
JENNY G. CRUZpresident, GMH Volunteers Association
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
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, Friday, February 20, 2015
J oey J erome Q uichocho Of Tai-Mangilao was called home by our heavenly father at the age of 27.
He will be greeted at the gates of heaven by his Grandparents: Charles Arnaiz and Julie Arnaiz Coles
Joey’s love and memories will be remembered and cherished forever in the hearts of his
Father: Joey Santos Arnaiz; Mother: Charlene Duenas Quichocho Stepfather: Joseph B. Mesa
Brothers & Sisters: Charmaine and Mark Aquino, Jerry Arnaiz and Gail Sanchez, Joaquin, Jessie-Jo, Jose, Charisse;
Step-Siblings: Joseph Jr. and Kimberly Gumabon, Yvette Great Grandmother: Lucia B. Duenas;
Grandparents: Jose and Vivian Quichocho, Chrisanto Coles and Patricia Hernandez;
Maternal Aunts & Uncles: Joseph Quichocho & Antoinette Menor (Glenn, Nicholas, Kaylani, Konesha, Elyssa, Maria, Josyah, Jovaughn) , Gina and Vince Bamba (Vince Jr. & Jaylene, Vinny, Vance, Vaghn, Varen) ,
Jermaine Quichocho and Brian Perez; Paternal Aunts & Uncles: Charles and Angie Arnaiz
(Charles II, Charrica) , Jessie Arnaiz, Joanne A. & Jose Lopez (Charlotte, Josette, Jonan, Juliana, April, Cassandra, Jose), Jolene Arnaiz (Corky, Georgy, Naveah) , JulieAnn
Arnaiz (Kayla) , Jason & Lynn (Angelo, Xavier, Jason), JuneMarie Arnaiz & Paul Owen (Jayton, Stephen,
Luke, Chase, Charlie, Paige) , Jenny A. and Juan Cruz, Jeanna A. & Duane Untalan (Dylan, Alahna,
Reef, Daesha, Sire); Godparents: †Michael Keala Wright, Janice Techaira, Frankie Cepeda,
Joanne A. Lopez, Frank Sablan
Numerous additional aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, Godchildren,
and friends will also miss him.
Last Respects for Joey will be held on Tuesday, February 24th from 8am-12:30pm
at the residence of Jose and Vivian Quichocho at 140 Father Duenas Dr. in Mangilao.
Mass for a Christian burial will be offered at 1:00 pm at Santa Teresita Church in
Mangilao. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Peace,
Windward Hills.
Jerry’s Funeral Service 747-5373
December 03, 1987-February 10, 2015 “Baby Joey” Familian “Belok/Siboyas/Baleto/Sarasa”
IN LOVING MEMORY
She is predeceased by her Paternal Grandparents: Vicente Aguon Flores (Cabesa) and Eduviges Espinosa Torres (Ko’tes); Maternal Grandparents: Juan Bautista (Sarasa) and Dolores Santos Bautista (Belok); Father: Manuel Torres Flores; Mother: Maria Santos Bautista Flores; Siblings and Spouses: Vicente Flores, Manuel Flores, Jose and Vicenta Flores, Dolores Flores, Josephine Hong, Maria Mathis, Juan Flores, John Robbins, and Teresita Naputi; Son: William Michael Flores; Grandson: David Flores
She will forever be remembered in the hearts of her Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren: Bertha Flores [Shaun and Ginarae Flores (Jordan), (Andrea), Tricia Flores and Fred Templo (Tristan, Sidney, Sage, Ocean, Xavier, Aiden, Leland), Darrel and Christina Flores (Damien, Julia), Brian and Annie Flores (Adrian, Zeiden, Valerie), Angel Flores (Andrew), and Christina Flores.], James and Diana Flores [James and Carmen Flores (Mila), Sandra Liana and John Kinsella, Tasha and Robert Howard (Robert, Maleah, Darin, Braylon), and Tanya and Tiana Roberts.], Eleanor and Keith Wright [Matthew Flores, Selena Wright], Robert and Miyako Carlos [Stephanie Hirayama, Renee Hiraoka, Seira Katayama], Rafael Carlos and Katherine Flores [Victoria Wilson, Kalani and Jay Rio (Maximus), Kristina, Katelyn, Mark, and Kelsey Flores], Patrick and Hope Egrubay [Eliana, Patricia, Zechariah, and Judah Egrubay]; Step-Children and Spouses: Luis and Teresita Carlos [Frederick, Maricel] and Linda Carlos [Alex]; Brother and Sister-in-Law: Luis and Rosalinda Flores, AZ; Sister: Pacita Robbins, Sister-in-Law: Jesusa Flores, VA; Brother-in-Law: Isidro Naputi
She is additionally survived by numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends. Last respects can be paid at St. Paul Assembly of God Church on Saturday, February 21, 2015 from 9:00 a.m . – 11:30 a.m.. Funeral services will be held from 12:00 p.m. –1:00 p.m., followed by interment at Guam Memorial Park.
I N L OVING M EMORY
O LIVA F LORES E GRUBAY “Olie/Liba” of Yigo was called home by our
Heavenly Father on Thursday, February 12, 2015 at the age of 76 years.
Island Funeral Home
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The Legislature and Gov. Eddie Calvo need toensure the government of Guam adequatelyfunds needed, court-mandated improvements atthe island’s prison.
The government of Guam’s performance inrunning the island’s correctional system has beendismal, and often shameful. The prison currentlyholds almost twice as many prisoners and de-tainees as it was built to house. It’s been under afederal consent decree for more than twodecades and still has yet to make improvementsto provide basic and adequate services, and thusbasic human rights, to inmates.
On Jan. 16, Senior District Judge Alex Mun-son issued an order that gave GovGuam 270days to make improvements at the Departmentof Corrections, broken down into a list of 35items. All but one address medical issues. Theother item calls for an upgrade to the prison’selectrical locking mechanisms.
A bill introduced by Vice Speaker BenjaminCruz would allow Calvo to use money from anaccount with $6.1 million earmarked for publicsafety agencies to fill vacant positions. The fundscould be used only to fill open jobs or complywith the federal court order.
Wherever the money comes from, the bottomline is elected officials must work together onfunding these long overdue improvements at theprison. Their failure to ensure these fixes overthe years is shameful and embarrassing.
In a statement issued Wednesday, Calvo said:“We have a federal court that started out helpingus, but is now dictating our actions and deter-mining how we spend our money.” While hewas referring to the landfill, the same could besaid of the prison issues. But the sad truth isGovGuam wouldn’t have done the right thingand made necessary fixes without the federalcourt ordering it to do so.
It’s shameful it took the power of the federalcourt system to get the Ordot dump closed, anew landfill opened, and longstanding problemsat the prison fixed. Let’s not forget that’s alsowhat was required to fix gross deficiencies inadult mental health care in Guam.
Calvo needs to stop whining about beingforced to do the right thing, and work with sena-tors to ensure the right thing gets done. And thatmeans securing a funding source to fix the list ofproblems at the prison.
Our View
Fund itElected officials mustensure money to fixthe prison’s problems
OPINIONCommunity Editor
Duane M. George, [email protected]
Assistant Community Editor Hannah Cho Iriarte, 479-0439
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishmentof religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or
abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or theright of the people peaceably to assemble, and to peti-tion the Government for a redress of grievances.”
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Published daily at 244 Archbishop F.L. Flores St. Hagåtña, Guam USA 96910
Mailing Address P.O. Box DNHagåtña, Guam 96932
RINDRATY CELES LIMTIACO / PublisherDAVID V. CRISOSTOMO / Managing EditorDUANE M. GEORGE / Community Editor
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Training concerns, senators’ gamesBy Frank Ishizaki
Let’s extend our condolences tothe family of Police OfficerSiegfred “Dove” Mortera of the
Guam Police Department. He passedaway following a heart attack which oc-curred while undergoing SWAT training.His premature passing was shocking anddevastating. Three other law enforce-ment trainees developed serious cases ofdehydration and renal damage.
I remember Dove as a professionalwho took his job seriously, while main-taining a kind and compassionate de-meanor. His parents did a great job ofraising him. He took his physical fitnessvery seriously and worked hard to main-tain it. Dove was well-liked and re-spected by his peers.
SWAT is a vital law enforcement com-ponent. SWAT professionals provide en-hanced enforcement capabilities, whichare needed for high-risk arrest and searchoperations. You want the best officers inSWAT and only a special breed of copscan qualify. Their training is physicallygrueling and psychologically exhaustingbecause they need to perform under themost difficult conditions. They must winagainst criminal adversaries every singletime.
Expressed concernsMy cop friends have expressed appre-
hension about the training that Dove andothers underwent last week. They haveserious concerns for the health and safetyof SWAT trainees.
They told me what concerns themmost is the duration and intensity of thephysical training in our hot and humidenvironment. They worry about trainingstandards, selection processes, medicalcertification and lack of a medical emer-gency plan during punishing training ses-sions.
The concerned officers are glad that
Chief Fred Bordallo has ordered an in-vestigation concerning Dove’s untimelydeath and serious injury of the otherthree officers.
SWAT training has to be demanding.However, when four trainees fall during“routine” training, questions must beasked. Did the trainers push too hard ortoo long?
For now let’s keep the three survivingofficers in our prayers and wish themspeedy recoveries.
9 senators playing gamesHere we go again. Nine members of
our Legislature must think that the peo-ple of Guam are stupid, as evidenced bytheir cute but greedy moves to preservetheir exorbitant pay raises. They were atit again this week, trying to kill Bill 4,which was introduced by Sen. Mike SanNicolas to repeal the fat pay raises thatthe Legislature passed just days after theGeneral Election.
Kudos to Vice Speaker B.J. Cruz andSens. Tom Ada, Frank Aguon Jr., NerissaUnderwood and San Nicolas for under-standing the fiscal problems that contin-ues to plague our government. Theyopposed the silly game to gut the bill butdidn’t have the necessary votes to nullifythe unethical, self-serving pay raise.
Nine senators played their games or
quietly ignored the impact and costs ofthe pay raises. They gutted and killed thebill during this week’s session. Theytried to fool us with imagined impact and“unintended consequences” of Bill 4.Their actions just prove that they careonly for themselves and not the greatergood.
For their self-serving greed, they needto be recalled.
If you recall, the sneaky bill waspassed in November without the requiredpublic hearing. Lt. Gov. Ray Tenoriocalled for special session just days afterthe General Election and our good sena-tors voted themselves the fat pay raisesand the fat retroactive pay without bat-ting an eye.
Our leaders don’t seem to care that weare still financially strapped. They don’tseem to care that our schools are failing,the crime lab is in a state of emergencyand police cars are in need of repairs.Yes, visitor numbers have grown and themilitary buildup is likely to help our fis-cal crisis. However, we owe millions instructured debt and the monthly pay-ments are very high.
To help with the borrowing limits, ourleaders have raised our property taxes. Iwon’t be surprised if they plan to in-crease taxes and raise fees just to pay fortheir greed.
Let’s remember who voted for the payraises and played games to kill any initia-tive to cancel the fatcat pay raises. Theymay think that we will forget about theirshenanigans — after all, the next electionis almost 21 months away. They proba-bly believe that we are forgetful and stu-pid.
I welcome your comments.
Frank Ishizaki is a retired FBI spe-cial agent, chief of police, HomelandSecurity adviser, director of Correc-
tions, senator and CSI. He can be con-tacted at [email protected].
Frank Ishizaki
THE F.I. REPORTMy cop friendshave expressedapprehension
about the trainingthat Dove andothers under-
went last week.
