Way before there ever was a Kandit…
There was Glen Hunter.
There was Ben Pangelinan.
There was Tina Sablan.
There was Tim Rohr.
There was Fr. Matthew Blockley.
There was Bob Klitzkie.
There was Fr. Efren Adversario.
There was Ray Gibson.
There was Celina Roberto Babauta.
There was BJ Cruz.
There was Mar-Vic Cagurangan.
There was Edith Deleon Guerrero.
There was Lee Webber.
There was Kilili.
There was Michael San Nicolas.
There was Ed Propst.
There was Haidee Eugenio Gilbert.
There was Lily Aldan.
Years before we ever came along, these people and others stood at the side of roads by themselves to protest corruption. They shouted to the rooftops without any support by their side. They sacrificed their livelihood, and even their friends and their families for the righteous cause.
And then, one by one, each of us growing bolder by their example, we joined them. And then little by little, inspired by their courage, we all began to chip away at the establishments of the governments and the churches of the Mariana Islands.
Speaking truth to power is dangerous, when there’s only a singular voice shouting against the orchestra of corruption. But we must always remember in those moments of fear, that there are more of us than there are of the corrupt.
And except for former Sen. Ben Pangelinan, who went to live with the Lord a few years ago, everyone on that list above is alive and well, and in the fight for justice despite all it has cost them. Kandit is proud to be in that fight with them. We may not all agree on every issue, but we all do subscribe to the truth. To the Light.
#corruption #cnmi #guam #archdioceseofagana #dioceseofchalankanoa #governmentofguam #commonwealthgovernment #media
4 Comments
Glen Hunter
01/04/2023 at 1:42 PM
❤️❤️❤️
You guys are so amazing. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
So many that have done so so so much.
I recall, over a decade ago, Heidi Eugenio who did so much and represented the fourth estate so we’ll (she moved out here and continued her Investigative journalism and exposed the flaws with the church and felt the impacts from that 😔 ) … https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/cnmi-better-year/
I also recall Lily Aldan who at a family garage sale one morning opted to write “honk to impeach” instead of “garage sale” and stood alone road-side at the foot of capital Hill long before the tides had begun to shift…
So many more…
Thank you so much for all who have done so much and continue to do.
Glen
01/04/2023 at 1:43 PM
well*
Mabel Doge Luhan
01/04/2023 at 4:00 PM
Don’t forget old school CNMI OGs Tammy Doty, Wendy Doromal, and Angelo Villagomez, as well as many, many confidential informants.
Russ Mason
01/09/2023 at 9:45 AM
I have followed the politics of the NMI since my arrival in 2008. I remember seeing Gov. Fitial in a parade limo exclaim to the bystanders, “I love you all.” Even the cat threw up.
I remember the passionate Brian Kendall yelling at Angel Demapan (“Lobster Boy”), upbraiding him and Gov. Fitial for a wanton disregard for responsible government. Brian was arrested, but then released. I stood by my friend, and he was grateful because everyone else had abandoned him.
But my favorite moment occurred was when Edith Deleon Guerro said NO to Gov. Ralph Torres. The Chinese IPI workers had picketed for back wages and were loud and insistent. Gov. Ralph instructed Ms. Guerro to fly them al back to China. She essentially told Ralph to Go to Hell, and resigned in disgust. Eventually the workers were paid. That was one of the best acts of righteous defiance I ever saw. God Bless Edith.
There are so many more stories of our White Hats taking on the Entrenched Machine, that I hope a book will be written to acknowledge them, and their beating the odds. Regardless