24 June 2016 - Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara visited Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) on June 10 to 12 as guest of honor during the celebration of the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence in Saipan.
Senator Angara arrived in Saipan in the early morning of June 10, upon the invitation of Mr. Jerry Tan of the Tan Holdings Co., primarily to be the keynote speaker during the 118th Independence Day Vin d’ Honneur and reception hosted by Philippine Honorary Consul to the CNMI Glicerio “Eli” Arago, who is also Vice President for Finance of Tan Holdings Co., at the Hibiscus Ballroom of Fiesta Resort Hotel.
The Philippine senator was welcomed by Honorary Consul Arago and representatives of the Filipino community in Saipan upon his arrival at Saipan international airport and then later by Mr. Jerry Tan and Consul Edgar Tomas Q. Auxilian at the Fiesta Hotel.
Senator Angara, accompanied by Consul Auxilian, Honorary Consul Arago, Mr. Bong Malasarte, President of the United Filipino Organizations (UFO) in Saipan, and his wife as well as other Filipino community representatives, paid a courtesy call on Lt. Governor Victor Hocog, who was then the Acting Governor of the CNMI. Senator Angara thanked Lt. Governor Hocog for the CNMI’s good accommodation and treatment of the Filipinos residing and working in the CNMI.
After the call on the Lt. Governor, Mr. Jerry Tan hosted a lunch in honor of Senator Angara at his residence.
In the evening, Senator Angara attended the Vin d’ Honneur and reception in commemoration of the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence hosted by Honorary Consul Arago at the Hibiscus Ballroom of the Fiesta Hotel. The event was attended by the CNMI government officials led by Lt. Gov. Hocog and members of the CNMI Senate and House of Representatives, representatives from the private/business sector and officers of the various Filipino organizations in Saipan, Tinian and Rota islands.
The event’s main highlights were the reading of the Independence Day message of President Benigno S. Aquino III by Consul Auxilian, followed by the keynote message of Senator Angara, the ceremonial toast led by Honorary Consul Eli Arago and CNMI Lt. Governor Victor Hocog, and messages from Mr. Jerry Tan of Tan Holdings Co. and Secretary Edith De leon Guerrero of the CNMI Department of Labor.
Consul Auxilian attended the said event as representative of the Philippine Consulate General in Guam which has supervisory jurisdiction over the Honorary Consul for the CNMI.
Senator Angara also graced the benefit show event organized by the United Filipino Organizations (UFO) at the World Resort Hotel in the evening of June 11 as well as the flag-raising ceremony in commemoration of the 118th Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence held at the Kanoa Resort Hotel in the morning of June 12.
After his visit to Saipan, Senator Angara also made a stop-over in Guam and visited the Philippine Consulate on June 13. Consul General Marciano R. de Borja welcomed Senator Angara and gave him a tour of the expanded premises of the Consulate General. He also presented the Philippine senator a copy of his book entitled “The State Department Boys.”
Consul General de Borja then hosted a luncheon for Senator Angara at the La Cascata of Sheraton Laguna Resort Hotel sponsored by Honorary Consul Glicerio Arago, who also accompanied the Senator to Guam from Saipan, before proceeding to the airport for his onward flight to Manila. END
