Hafa Adai and Tirow sports fans, this is Leigh Gases with this week’s Sports Leigh-Out brought to you by Joeten Motors! Let’s take a closer look at what our athletes have been up to in off-island competitions and on their home turf—whether it’s on the pitch, mat, courts, fields, track, pools, or the beautiful ocean. THIS WEEK: -NMI Badminton in New Zealand for Open and U17 tourney -Jinnosuke makes waves at Coast Guard Academy -Villacrusis, Muldoon top Chagi Norf Duathlon -Brown belt Sam Tisdale hosts 3-day BJJ seminar at Trench Tech gym -SupHub hosts 2nd Mini Tourney -CNMI gridiron fans show out for Super Bowl LX -FIBA Oceania selects Mikki Kautz for Women Leaders’ Program Be sure to watch until the end to see what’s coming up in our local sports scene, and don’t forget to get out there and cheer on our athletes! Read the full story on our website and stay tuned for the latest news and headlines in the region. #cnmi #marianas #sports #leighout #recap #highlights #sportsleighout

Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Marianas Press shares the 20-year love story of Chad and Angela Taflinger, who, bonded by sports, have seamlessly woven an active lifestyle into their marriage and their parenting. Listen in on their story that began with love at first sight, along with their advice for a healthy and lasting relationship. For Chad and Angela Taflinger, sports aren’t just hobbies—they’re the glue of their marriage, their parenting, and their everyday life on Saipan. Married for 20 years this year, the couple have three children—Landen, Addalee, and Kaylen. Angela said, “If you’re on island, you know us as Taflingers, the running family. Most of us run—you’ve seen our kids in cross country and track and other sports as well, Chad and I both have done soccer here on island and we loved it. We are a family that loves to be outside, be busy, we love to play games, compete with one another. But yes, we’re very active.” The couple’s love story first bloomed, what Angela described as “love at first sight,” when they met in college at Anderson University in Indiana. They were both late to their first dinner together because Angela was on the track team and Chad was on the golf team at the time. From there, the rest was history. After starting their family, they moved to Tennessee before relocating to Saipan primarily for ministry, and have now lived here for almost four years. Chad is a teacher and coach at Marianas High School, while Angela is a teacher and coach at Saipan International School. Together, they also lead the Saipan Church of the Nazarene. The couple loves being outdoors and taking advantage of Saipan’s tropical weather and scenic views. Their favorite place to run is the CPA Airport Road loop—where they also did their interview. They also run along the Beach Road Pathway, at American Memorial Park, and at Peace Park. They take part in Run Saipan races and other events as well including the Rota and Saipan Marathon and the NMA Christmas Relay. If they’re not out running, they are cheering on their kids—who are also athletes—at the pitch, on the track, or on the courts, or coaching their respective school teams. Chad shared he is actually not a huge fan of running, but that his kids are what pushes him to run. “I love the competitiveness of it and my kids really push me to stay active and stay up with them so that I don’t get too far behind,” he said. Their advice for a lasting relationship? Communication and finding things to do together—and for them, that means being outdoors, staying physically active, and serving in their church. “Communication is really important. And then also, the other thing that I think is important is finding something that you both enjoy to do together, and that you make that a priority. So whether that means, go and taking a walk, or do something outside, or watching a favorite movie, finding something on TV—but finding something to do together to keep that communication and that excitement I guess you would say, is important. Especially when you get kids, and it gets busy, and activities go left and right and all over the place, finding some common ground to kind of bring you back together as a couple is really important,” said Angela. Read the full feature by Leigh Gases on our website.

SupHub hosts 2nd Mini Pickleball Tourney The second Saipan Ultimate Pickleball Hub (SupHub) Mini Tournament in a series of monthly tournaments planned for this year was held over the weekend of Saturday, Feb. 7 and Sunday, Feb. 8 at the SupHub location in Tanapag. It saw dozens of pickleball players gather for matches across multiple categories including 3.0 and 3.5 mixed, men’s, women’s, and double trouble. On Sunday, in the 3.5 Mixed Doubles division, Elisha Chelsea Henzon and Richard Asuncion finished first with a score of 12-10 over second place Marivic Dunlop and Donn Dunlop. Llyanna Jairah Libut and Michael Jornal placed third after a close matchup against the Dunlops. Henzon and Asuncion, who both also won SupHub’s January Mini Tournament, have been playing together for about three years now and are confident with their game. Asuncion said of their finals against the Dunlops, “our game was intense. We went 6-10, and went up until 12-10.” Henzon said, “It was a really close game, thank you to our opponents, they’re really good.” She added that their strategy was to coordinate with each other and communicate. With their win again in as many tournaments, Henzon said that it felt really good because she was nervous. Both players also mentioned they are training to compete in a Guam tournament in April. “Just getting a lot of tournaments in, a lot of practice, so we can really show Guam what’s up,” said Henzon. Read the full story by Leigh Gases on our website.

Their love story didn’t begin with a swipe, a like, or a late-night video call. It began with a photograph mailed from the Philippines in 1977—and letters that took nearly a month round-trip. That was before social media. Before cheap international calls and before even reliable long-distance connections. “It’s like old school,” Malou Mendoza said. “During that time, there’s no Facebook or anything, so it’s just through letters. You have to wait. Imagine, two to three weeks before the letter arrives. Then you reply, then you wait again. So it’s really patience.” Lito Mendoza was already in the Marianas then. He first went to Guam in 1972 before moving to Saipan in 1975. Malou was in the Philippines, staying in Caloocan but doing rural nursing practice in Iloilo. “The girlfriend of my brother sent my picture to him, and then he started writing,” Malou said. “Some sort of penpal during the time.” “Penpal during the time,” Lito echoed. Phone calls were a luxury. “The telephone is too expensive,” Malou said. “Maybe once in two months like that. Because it’s $40 a month. During that time, $40 is already big money. So mostly letters. No telegram, no anything like that. Just letters.” The long-distance courtship lasted about a year and a half before Lito finally flew home to meet her in person. “That’s the first time we met,” he said. It wasn’t instant sparks. “Actually, it’s not,” Lito said when asked if it was love at first sight. “It’s love at second sight now.” “It was developed,” Malou said. “Not instant. I think it’s better when it’s developed. Because you get to know the person first. Not just because you see and then that’s it. Ours is really through letters first, so you know the character.” They were married on Dec. 31, 1978.

Concerns about the growing impact of social media on student mental health dominated discussion when Public School System officials addressed the Rotary Club of Saipan last Feb. 10, highlighting both the challenges facing students and the district’s broader efforts to support them. During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, Rotarian Donna Krum asked whether PSS is seeing a worsening trend tied to social media use. PSS Mental Health Program coordinator Walter Mendez responded candidly. “Social media is a big issue,” he said. “Social media and access to information are a double-edged sword.” Mendez explained that while students today have unprecedented access to information, the constant connectivity also carries risks. “It allows for our students to have access to so much information, information that we've never had that much access to in the past. However, it also poses lots of risks and what we're seeing is that risk,” he said. From the district’s mental health perspective, he added, the effects often manifest as overstimulation. “I'd say from the mental health program yes we are seeing some of those challenges,” Mendez said, citing “sensory overload” and “information overload.” He added, “To validate your answer is yes we are seeing this.” The exchange underscored the central theme of PSS’ presentation to the Rotary Club—that schools today are addressing far more than academics.

Philippine Airlines’ return to Saipan next month is being pitched not just as a resumption of flights, but as a test of whether the CNMI is ready to fix the policy and market gaps that forced carriers out in the first place. Speaking before the Saipan Chamber of Commerce last Feb. 4 at Saipan World Resort, PAL regional head for Japan, Korea, and Oceania Bryan Sansolis made it clear that March 29 is only the beginning. The real issue, he said, is whether the community—from government to private sector—will help make the Manila-Saipan route viable long term. “So about our future flights, as you may have known, Philippine Airlines will be resuming again our flights here in Saipan starting March 29,” Sansolis said, outlining the twice-weekly schedule: Wednesday and Sunday departures from Manila, Thursday and Monday from Saipan. He emphasized the 2am Saipan departure arriving in Manila at 5am, calling it “a really good schedule” that connects to domestic Philippine routes and regional Asian destinations such as Vietnam and Bangkok. But beyond connectivity, Sansolis framed PAL’s return as a response to what he described as a post-pandemic “gap in connectivity to CNMI.”

Brown belt Sam Tisdale hosts 3-day BJJ seminar at Trench Tech gym Dozens of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels gathered at Trench Tech Purebred Saipan Gym for a free three-day seminar led by Taiwan-based brown belt Sam Tisdale from Sunday, Feb. 8, to Tuesday, Feb. 10. A brown belt is just one rank below black belt and Tisdale brought more than a decade of experience to the mats of Saipan. Tisdale has been living and training in Taiwan for the past eight years and trains under professor (black belt) Makoto Ogasawara. The 32-year-old, who’s from Wisconsin where he grew up wrestling, then began training in Jiu-Jitsu at 19 and has since built an extensive competitive resume across Asia and the Pacific. The first day of the seminar focused on leg locks, while days two and three shifted to guard passing and pressure-based passing techniques, with students drilling after he demonstrated the moves alongside local Jiu-Jitsu athlete and good friend of his, Evert Van Der Maas. Tisdale’s visit comes off a strong 2025 season where he compiled an 18-4 record and collected multiple medals in major tournaments. At the IBJJF Asian Open held last June 19-22 in Chiba, Japan, he won gold in the brown belt super heavyweight division and bronze in the brown belt open (absolute) division. He also secured double gold at the ADCC Okinawa Open last March 30 in Okinawa, Japan, taking first in the +99kg division and the open class. Read the full story by Leigh Gases on our website.

MJ Sikebert, owner of @heyflowergirl_, is teaming up with the CNMI Women’s Association for their first collaboration of the year. They will be hosting a workshop called “Infused with Intentions,” where flowers, vision, and intention meet. Interested participants can register at https://bit.ly/4tBS2zh MP sits down with her to learn more about the event taking place tomorrow.

DPS provides updates on the auto-pedestrian crash that occurred yesterday along Chalan Pale Arnold Road by the Shell Gas Station. Livestream brought to you by Docomo Pacific

The CNMI Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services responded to 2,399 emergency calls in 2025, up slightly from 1,825 total responses in 2024, according to the department’s Citizen-Centric Reports. The bulk of activity included fire suppression, medical emergencies, and special operations. In fire-specific responses, DFEMS reported 18 structure fires and nine automotive fires in 2025, compared with 10 structure fires and 10 automotive fires in 2024. Wildland fires saw a notable drop to 28 incidents from 115 the previous year, while suppression-assisted medic calls rose to 300 from 200, and rescue unit-assisted medic calls increased to 289 from 155. Search-and-rescue missions and hazardous material responses remained low, at 6 and 4 incidents respectively in 2025, compared with 12 and 3 in 2024. DFEMS also conducted 821 inspections in 2025, issuing 75 passes, 12 fails, 24 warnings, and 30 conditional notices. Permit activity included 179 new applicants, 642 renewals, and 95 operational permits. Emergency medical services continued to form a substantial part of the department’s workload. While detailed ambulance responses for 2025 were not fully broken out in the CCR, the 2024 report recorded 6,220 ambulance responses, 244 motor vehicle crash transports, and 4,670 total transports to hospitals, including 120 immediate Code-1 emergencies and 3,780 moderate Code-3 transports.

The Rota Republican Party is inviting individuals interested in running for office in the 2026 general elections to seek candidacy under the local GOP banner. The submission period for candidates opened Feb. 10, 2026, and will close on April 13, 2026. “The Rota Republican Party is committed to advancing the principles of good governance, accountability, economic opportunity, respect for individual freedoms, and strong families and communities. As we prepare for the upcoming election, we are seeking dedicated, capable individuals willing to step forward and serve our island with integrity, leadership, and a commitment to Rota Republican values,” said Rota Republican Party president Steve K. Mesngon in a media release. Mesngon said running for public office is a meaningful way to contribute to the CNMI’s future and encouraged prospective candidates to do so under the Republican Party. “As a Republican candidate, you will have the opportunity to help shape public policy, advocate for responsible leadership, and represent the voices of your community. The Rota Republican Party stands ready to provide guidance, resources, and organizational support throughout the candidacy and campaign process.” Mesngon encouraged interested individuals to reach out to the Rota GOP for additional information regarding candidate requirements, filing deadlines, and party support. “Your willingness to serve can make a lasting difference for our island and future generations. We invite interested individuals to submit their letter of intention to seek public office,” he said. Those interested in running under the GOP are asked to submit their letter of intention no later than 4:30pm on April 13 to skmesngon@yahoo.com (president) and p.quitugua28@gmail.com (secretary). As part of the candidacy process, potential candidates are also encouraged to present and submit their platform by April 30, 2026. “Thank you for your continued interest in public service and civic engagement. We look forward to hearing from you and working together to strengthen our Commonwealth,” Mesngon said.

Welcome to another episode of Asia’s Wellness Corner, brought to you by Pacifica Insurance. In the month of love, it's easy to slip into saying “I’m lonely.” But I want to offer you a small shift that makes a huge difference. There’s a big difference between feeling alone and calling yourself lonely.

Garapan Revitalization Project Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at Paseo De Marianas. Livestream brought to you by Docomo Pacific.

It’s the month of love and Valentine’s Day is almost here—if you’re still looking for the perfect gift, sweet treats, or something fun to celebrate, Joeten has you covered. #advertisement

CNMI Gov. David Apatang will be in Washington, D.C., later this month for the highly anticipated 902 talks, among other federal meetings. Marianas Press asked him what he hopes to achieve while in the States amid harsh economic times.