Monday, October 29, 2007

Camp Susupe and Camp Churo

(Photo from the American Memorial Museum website)

Do you know someone who remembers their experiences at Camp Susupe or Camp Churo during and after WWII?

If so, we need your participation. We are collecting memories for a book of these first-hand accounts of life at the camps. Talk with your teacher or principal to find out how you can be a part of this exciting project, or contact Katharyn Tuten-Puckett at 235-4849 or e-mail tutenpuckett@yahoo.com for more information.

Deadline for submissions is on January 31st, 2008.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Coming Soon: Saipan Consumer Guide

For inquiries, call Dennis Bognot or Nanette Cabrera at 288-2677.

Elite Printing Saipan turns 15

This month, the island's leading printing company is celebrating its 15 years in the business. Having started from scratch on island, Elite Printing is now a name to be reckoned with when it comes to printing.

Given an uphill struggle with market forces and the onslaught of competition, Elite Printing banked on its hardworking staff, astute management decisions, and reliable printing setup to coast through.

For 15 years, Elite Printing invested heavily not only on human resources but it risked huge capital on equipment and printing machines that will keep it at the forefront of the printing industry in the region.

It cannot be denied that Elite Printing has already achieved that status—frontrunner of the industry. With its state-of-the-art machines coupled with the management’s business acumen, Elite Printing remains strong as ever.

Fifteen years into the business, Elite Printing never entertained the thought of slowing down. Its expansion activities on island had its rippling effect on its other branches as well.

As satisfying its customers has been its priority from the very beginning, the company never ceases to look for ways to raise the quality of the services it offers.

Recently, with the combined use of its Heidelberg Speed master 4-color and 5-color machines, Elite Printing has the unmatched capability to provide whatever printing needs of the customers.

Beefing up its printing capability from time to time, Elite Printing continues to raise the bar. Just as it added more machines and other printing equipment on island, it also did so in its other branches in order to meet its customers’ varying needs. In 2006, two Heidlberg-Sork machines as well as an image-setter were also added to the huge inventory of printing machines of the branch.

And Elite Printing is no longer just a printing company. It has now expanded into other allied businesses as well.

In 2004, LJR1 Enterprises was established with the objective of diversifying the products and services that it offers.

Now that it has become the leading printing company on island, Elite Printing does not see itself alone at the top. It wants to help the other printing companies by providing them printing supplies so they can lower costs and help each other survive the crisis currently crippling the economy.

Not only does Elite try to keep a symbiotic relationship with the other printing companies on island, it also dared to make a difference in the island community by publishing a noteworthy cultural and lifestyle magazine that showcases the best and the positive things about island life. With an engaging layout and interesting articles, the magazine dares to provide readers with a free magazine that not only informs but also encourages readers to be better members of the community.

Although Island Locator has been in circulation for more than a decade, it was only this year that the company decided to change the format to accommodate articles that make readers appreciate the interplay of varied cultures on island. In a way, Elite Printing’s IL Mag serves as a vehicle by which the company can give something in return to the island community that has been nurturing it for the past 15 years.

Along with the expansion of the branches, addition of machines, and introduction of new products and services come the beefing up of its workforce. From a lean team that put up the branch in 1992, Elite Printing-Saipan has now grown into a company of 60 people.

Despite the economic crisis compounded by the uncertainty of the proposed federalization of labor and immigration, Elite Printing is still standing, resiliently facing the challenges that lie ahead.

Although Elite has reached an enviable status in the industry, it does not see itself as satisfied with its achievements. Elite Printing will continue to work hard and slake its customers’ thirst for quality printing.

For Elite, its best isn’t good enough as it endeavors to keep getting better and bigger in the years to come.

Paul Jacoulet's Vision of Micronesia

Art collectors and aficionados will be able to view more than 200 block prints—52 of his original prints and 150 digital reproductions—of Paul Jacoulet including the Rainbow Series (Seven Women of the South Seas) drawn in the colors comprising a rainbow.

The exhibit that runs until November 24 at the University of Guam’s Isla Center is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday and from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturdays.

Those planning to hold group tours are advised to contact the Isla Center at 735-2965/6.

Readers who are interested to get a copy of Island Locator - August Issue that features Paul Jacoulet may send their requests to islandlocator@yahoo.com or aleksea@yahoo.com.

For those who need a copy of the article (3,030 words, 15,762 characters) may also send their request to the above-mentioned email address.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Jacoulet Exhibit Ongoing


An exhibit of French-born painter Paul Jacoulet's paintings is still ongoing at the University of Guam's Isla Center. Art aficionados and collectors have until November 24 to see some of the rare Jacoulet collections and even perhaps help identify some of Jacoulet's subjects.

For those who are planning to visit the exhibit and are interested to know more about the artist may check our blog entry on Jacoulet. In IL Mag's August Issue, Dr. Don Rubinstein of the Micronesia Research Center at the University of Guam discussed Jacoulet's travels to the islands as well as his life as a French-born artist in Japan.

Recently, Island Locator has received requests from readers off island for copies of the magazine. We have readers as far as Seattle, Washington and as close as Guam who requested for copies of IL Magazine.

We welcome such requests and we encourage you our readers to also let us know what you think about the magazine. You may also send in your comments or suggestions via email.

For inquiries or requests, you may email us at islandlocator@yahoo.com. Alternatively, emails may also be sent to aleksea@yahoo.com.

If you, our readers, have articles about and photos of the Marianas that you would like us to publish, please do not hesitate to contact us. We will gladly allocate enough room for you in the magazine.

Together, let us make IL Magazine a vehicle for us to promote what is good and beautiful about our islands.

October Issue - Now Available

Solar water heaters

Pet Lovers


Monday, October 15, 2007

Women's Corner: Healthy Meal

WWII Remembrance Calendar Now Available





WWII remembrance calendar now available

A CALENDAR that chronicles the significant battles in the Pacific during World War II is finally available.

Jerry Facey, co-chair of the commemoration committee of the 60th Anniversary of the Battles of Saipan and Tinian said, “We were just excited to have this available for the people of Saipan. This is a good education tool.”

According to Facey, the calendar contains a wealth of information not only about the battles fought on Saipan and Tinian but it also includes detailed description of other conflicts in the Pacific.

He said the calendar is well documented containing detailed description of the significant conflicts of the Pacific war beginning with the commemoration of the so-called Great Marianas Turkey Shoot in June 1944 and ends with the signing of the peace treaty in September 1945.

A project of one of the 11 subcommittees of the commemoration committee, the education subcommittee headed by Martin Gerbens of the Northern Marianas College undertook the project.

Facey said, “They put together a draft calendar which we wanted to market in Hawaii in the Arizona Memorial Museum.”

The draft that Gerbens and his team put together was initially sent to the Arizona Memorial Museum in Hawaii for comments. But it was not approved for sale in the beginning.

Since then, the calendar underwent seven revisions, Facey said.

According to Facey, since they resurrected the project in 2006, “it dragged on for another nine months.”

The project took several years as they had to revise the text and change the photographs several times.

Facey said they really wanted to use pictures that are “eye-catching.”

As for acquiring the photos they needed, Facey said they worked with the Arizona Memorial Museum Association in Honolulu, Saipan’s Historic Preservation Office, Micronesian Seminar in Pohnpei, Northern Marianas College, Don Farrell, among others.

Facey also acknowledged the assistance of Randy Harper with whom he worked on the text revisions.

The remembrance calendar in its final form contains more than 300 text entries, synopses of the significant events that transpired between 1944 to 1945.

Facey said, “We had some great photos in the calendar beginning with the invasion of 1944, all these notes on the battles of Tinian and Saipan as well as notes on other battles in the Pacific.”

He also said they added to it (calendar) a lot color and graphics, showing some of the landing craft, flags, a well-known invasion beach photo, medallions, street signs warning people not to go off the road because of explosives, never-before-seen Northfield picture, Navajo Code Talkers, USS Arizona burning, attack on Pearl Harbor, and a lot more.

Dedicated to the “greatest generation,” the calendar is available for $13.95 at the American Memorial Park bookstore on Saipan and War in the Pacific National Historical Park bookstore. The Arizona Memorial Museum Association in Hawaii has also agreed to take on consignment through its website.

With 2,000 copies available, the calendar was financed and supported by 60th Anniversary Commemoration of the World War II Battles of Saipan and Tinian Committee, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands government, Department of Interior, National Park Service, and the Arizona Memorial Museum Association.

“We think it will make a great gift for the holiday season,” added Facey.





A paragon to the young NMI generation




The PSS Institute 2007 lectures




History Institute 2007

The Humanities Council, in cooperation with the Northern Marianas College and the Public School System, recently held their month-long history institute at the PSS Headquarters on Capital Hill.

The annual program kicked off on August 18th and ended its run on September 22nd. It featured both international and local scholars: Dr. Brian Butler, Dr. Dirk Spennemann, Dr. Augusto de Viana, Carlos Madrid, local historian and artist Noel Quitugua, Lino Olopai, Brenda Tenorio, Don Farrell, and Humanities Council program officer Scott Russell.

A total of 32 teachers participated in the program from across the three islands— Saipan, Tinian, and Rota—through the video teleconference facility of the PSS.

The institute provides teachers not only with the rare opportunity to interact with the experts in NMI history and culture but it also affords them the chance to get to know the islands and its people better.

Listening to the scholars' lectures on NMI history and culture is an experience to be reckoned with. In just one month, one gets to learn NMI history in a nutshell.

Dr. Brian Butler delved into the pottery culture as well as the techniques that archeologists like him employ out in the field. Dr. de Viana and Carlos Madrid provided engaging lectures on the Spanish period.

From Australia, German-born Dirk Spennemann talked about the German period in rich details. As someone who can read and speak German, Spennemann worked on the voluminous piles of documents on the period.

Local historians and artist Noel Quitugua and Lino Olopai shared with the teachers their knowledge of local arts and traditions, something teachers cannot get from textbooks.

Scott Russell, on the other hand, provided a clear picture of the Japanese administration of the islands. He delved into the interests of the Japanese and other world powers in the South Seas prior to 1914. His discussion of the Nanyo-cho was made even more interesting by an oral account by Tun Juan Blanco himself.

A well-known author and teacher Don Farrell from Tinian discussed World War II in the Marianas. He also discussed some details about the Manhattan Project.

For the period after WWII leading up to the making of the NMI Constitution, it was Howard Willens and Deane Simmer who provided the teachers with the insider's view of the issues as well as the history of the commonwealth.

And capping the month-long series of lectures was Brenda Tenorio's presentation and discussion of the contemporary issues facing the commonwealth.

With an excellent lineup of speakers/lecturers every year, the history institute is one of the best programs of the Humanities Council— it equips teachers with the necessary tool they need in teaching history in their classrooms.

Island Locator Magazine highly recommends teachers to take this crash course in NMI history every year. History aficionados on island will also find this history institute as something they should not miss.

Cover Story: Dr. Mark Robertson's nature photography







October Issue


Beauty as they say is in the eye of the beholder. What is beautiful to one may not be beautiful to the other.

In this issue, IL Magazine will not be tackling standards of beauty, but more so this issue deals with appreciation of things beautiful and good.

For our cover story, IL Magazine shares with the public an eye doctor’s eye for details and beauty as he talks about his nature photography and his profession. Both dealing with the sense of sight, his profession and photography never confused Marianas Eye Institute’s Dr. Mark Robertson in electing which one to solely pursue. Early on, Dr. Robertson knew photography is something he would love to do in his leisure and optometry is his unrivalled bread and butter.

As one international beauty pageant touts, beauty has a purpose. For our very own “Little Miss Sunshine” Kayla Sablan Borja, her purpose is to serve the community and joining Little Miss Marianas is a means to her end. It is good and comforting to have children on island like Kayla who at a young age knows her responsibilities to the community and how she can help make our islands a better place in her own little ways. It is also good that we have a non-profit organization like Stellar Marianas that serves as impetus in spreading positive thing about our culture and our society.

Spend time reading and sharing with family and friends our other features.

Everywhere around us we see things beautiful and good. Let us appreciate what we have in the islands. Let’s count our blessings.

Enjoy reading.

Monday, October 8, 2007

Coming Soon : Eye to Eye with Dr. Mark Robertson






For our October issue which will come out this week, Island Locator features an eye doctor whose fondness for taking photos stretches as far back as his high school days when he would be invited to take wedding pictures. Although photography has been his passion, Marianas Eye Institute's Dr. Mark Robertson wanted it to remain just that—his recreation. (Find out why he decided to make photography as just his recreation with the release of Island Locator's newest issue.)

As a preview to our latest issue of the magazine, here are are samples of Mark Robertson's work.

Special Feature: Ken Kramer












Special Feature: Paul Jacoulet







Jacoulet Exhibit at UOG's Isla Center

Paul Jacoulet, a French-born painter who lived in Japan, traveled to the islands in the 1930s and did sketches and painted the islanders. Now more than 70 years after immortalizing the people of the South Seas in his prints, Jacoulet's art work continues to pique the interest of art lovers and historians.

Readers who are interested to get to know more about Jacoulet and his work, you may visit the Isla Center on Guam where some of his paintings are on exhibit. A project of Dr. Don Rubinstein of the Micronesian Area Research Center, the exhibit runs from October 11 up to November 24.

For readers who have not had the chance to get a copy of our issue on Jacoulet, we are uploading the article for you.






September Issue - Cover Story