R&R Pacific - December 2015 by R&R Pacific

calendar of events • travel • restaurants & food • tech • recreation • sports • culture & arts • special features • nightlife • coupons & much more

DECEMBER 2015

Well done

Satisfy a searing appetite with steak

PAINTBALL

Ready, aim, fun

In tune with talent

Choirs bring singers together

Aerial view of UNESCO World Natural Heritage islands of Palau with turquoise blue water, Seventy Islands, Micronesia

contents TRAVEL

Weekend getaways

ART

Color Guam

CALENDAR

Guide to December

SPECIAL FEATURE

From North to South: Dining

ESSENCE OF GUAM

Guam choirs

restaurants & food

Steakhouses

Edge Realty

Events around the island

SPECIAL FEATURE Out & About

COVER FEATURE

Paintball

19 20

23 26

PROCREATE PRESENTS

The Orbit 02 — an all-in-one stroller 17 for babies and parents on the go

R&R Pacific is a lifestyle magazine that features the people, culture and activities that collectively make up Guam. We provide our readers a window into the different facets of Guam’s diverse community through vibrant photography and engaging articles.

www.facebook.com/rrpacificguam On the cover: The X-Sports Paintball facility in Tiyan offers a place for the paintball community to play and practice. Photo by Joe Cruz. (See story on page 26).

2015

R&R Pacific/December

PUBLISHER

SENIOR DESIGNER

Maureen N. Maratita

Vikki Fong

MANAGING EDITOR

SALES MANAGER

Jackie Hanson

Annie San Nicolas

ASSISTANT EDITOR

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Joy White

Joedda Sanchez

REPORTERS

ADMINISTRATION

Thomas Johnson

Janice Castro, Jessica Quintanilla

Shaina Marie Santos

Carmelita McClellan and Vincent Leon Guerrero

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Rosanna Dacanay

Marcos Fong

Glimpses of Guam Inc. Mission Statement: To be a renowned communications company that connects people with information through creative, engaging and effective products.

Glimpses Publications include: Marianas Business Journal • Guam Business Magazine • R&R Pacific • Beach Road Magazine

R&R Pacific • December 2015 • Entire contents copyrighted 2015 by Glimpses of Guam, Inc. R&R Pacific is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam, Inc., 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, GU 96913. Telephone: (671) 649-0883, Fax: (671) 649-8883, Email: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com • All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

Keep vacationing simple with a

Weekend ` Getaway STORY BY JOY WHITE

Taking a vacation does not always need to mean months of planning, one or more layovers or making time for a three-week hiatus from work, school or responsibilities. An excursion over a weekend, with minimal planning, can offer enough relaxation until a longer trip can be taken.

Travel///Weekend Getaways

(Opposite page, clockwise from top left): Japan Shibazakura Festival with the field of pink moss of Sakura or cherry blossom with Mountain Fuji Yamanashi; aerial view of Unesco World Natural Heritage islands of Palau with turquoise blue water, Seventy Islands, Micronesia; Giant Buddha/Po Lin Monastery in Hong Kong, Lantau Island; Hinged bridge over the River Loboc in Bohol, Philippines. (On this page): Lake crater at Taal volcano, Tagaytay City, Philippines.

When it comes to planning a weekend getaway, the key is to keep it simple. If it’s a spur of the moment trip or a slightly more thought-out breather from daily life, spending days occupied with detailed and complicated logistics and itineraries may distract from what should be a short, but sweet, jaunt abroad. For a weekend getaway, planning is restricted for a two or three-day span. Here are some things to consider: • Choose a destination that is just a short flight away. • Choose a destination that does not require a Visa or other lengthy processes to visit. • Pack light, as checking in luggage will take some time. • Have a goal in mind or a list of things you would like to do. • Research is important for all trips, but keep it flexible. Hong Kong offers plenty of dining and entertainment and is only five hours from Guam. It makes an ideal weekend getaway because the efficient transportation system helps one get from place to place easily. While in

Hong Kong, one could spend a day exploring Ngong Ping on Lantau Island and its main attraction, the Tian Tan Buddha, or the Big Buddha, as it is known; ride a cable car to the top of Victoria Peak; or take advantage of the shopping and dining.

Hong Kong

Flight time: 5 hours Currency: Hong Kong dollar Must do: Visit the Big Buddha

If five hours or more on a plane seems too long for a weekend excursion, there are other destinations closer to Guam. Tokyo is three hours from Guam and other cities in

Tokyo, Japan Flight time: 5 hours Currency: Japanese yen Must do: Visit a specialty café

Japan are also less than five hours away. Tokyo is a great place for dining, shopping and experiencing new things, such as visiting an onsen — a hot spring — or specialty café. Furthermore, Mount Fuji is a train ride away.

Taal Lake, Philippines

Flight time: 3 hours to Manila then a short drive Currency: Peso Must do: Trek on horseback to the peak of Volcano Island

Manila is also three hours away, and other popular destinations in the Philippines are easily reached from the capital city via bus, car or a short flight. Manila is famous for its shopping and dining and has several historical sites to explore. Taal Lake is just 37 miles from Manila. The freshwater lake fills the Taal Caldera. Sitting in the middle of the lake is Volcano Island, which offers an outstanding view of the lake and its surroundings from its peak. Other sites to visit that are a short flight or bus ride away are

the Chocolate Hills of Bohol or the beautiful beaches of Boracay. A quick trip to one of the Micronesian islands or to the Northern Mariana Islands also offers time away to relax and get to know our neighbors. Just a two-hour flight from Guam, Palau and its beautiful waters are home to many popular dive sites, such as Jellyfish Lake. In addition, fresh fish and produce is in abundance in the island. It is the perfect spot for relaxation. If funding a trip is not an option, an old-fashioned staycation getaway does just as well. Try something new, such as a hike, a new restaurant or camping; or rediscover some favorite spots that haven’t been visited in a while and act as if you have never been to Guam before.

Palau

Flight time: 2 hours Currency: U.S. dollar Must do: Dive in Jellyfish Lake

Art///Color Guam

Color Guam

A tangible lesson in Guam’s history STORY AND PHOTOS BY Joy White

Local artist Taliea Guerrero-Strohmeyer has turned her art into a tool to teach Chamorro language and history through her educational coloring book, Color Guam. Local artist Taliea Guerrero-Strohmeyer has turned her art into a tool to teach Chamorro language and history through her educational coloring book, Color Guam. “My kids inspired me,” she says. The idea for the Color Guam sprung from a visit with her children to the Plaza de Espana. Her daughter was in awe of the architecture of the historical site and asked questions about the buildings. From there, she thought of different ways she could help teach the culture and language to her children in a fun way, and eventually developed the idea for a coloring book.

She did research with Guampedia and Historian Anthony Ramirez and launched Color Guam in March 2015. The coloring book features descriptions and illustrations of Guam’s historical landmarks in Chamorro, with translations in either English or Japanese. Each book includes QR Codes that can be scanned using a free QR Code scanner application on any smart phone. The code provides a link to an online audio bank where readers can hear accurate pronunciations of popular Chamorro phrases. The book includes visitor information, a map, touring and hiking tips and other trivia.

The audio aspect of the project was very important, Strohmeyer says. “[It’s important] for us to really keep the language alive and to share it. I feel that it’s the responsibility of Guamanians to share the language with our kids, friends and visitors,” she says. Strohmeyer did all the illustrations herself, with her daughter and son providing feedback and even making cameos throughout the book. Color Guam is available at the GUMA Gallery, T Galleria by DFS, the Navy Exchange, select Pay-Less Supermarkets, Playport, Faith Book Store, School Essentials, National Office Supply and A&L Crafts. It will soon be available at the Two Lovers’ Point gift shop. Strohmeyer’s interest in art began with a high school art class.She admits she thought the class would be easy, but the class began with wood blocking. It was harder than she expected, but she ended up loving it. From there, she became interested in art history, eventually attending the Art Institute of Seattle. She obtained a degree in graphic arts and has worked in the field for several years. Her passion for art also took her to Italy to study the masters of art and to Bali, where she learned new techniques. “The more you learn about art, the more it opens you up,” she says. Strohmeyer is working on a second book about native plants and animals.

DECEMBER events

Dec. 5

KPRG 12th Annual Postcard Art Silent Auction Time: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Location: Guma Tasa Coffee Shop

featured event

Dec. 5

Guam Boonie Stomp: Inarajan Falls Level: Difficult Duration: Four hours Length: Five miles Bring: Three quarts water, swimsuit, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: Long walking in sun, climbing a steep slope with a rope and some mud. Time: Meet at 9 a.m. at Chamorro Village Center Court. Price: $2 for hikers over 12. For more information visit www.facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc. Dec. 12

Xterra Progressive Relay – Bike Location: Joint Region Marianas Dec. 12

Guam Boonie Stomp: Agfayan Falls

Dec. 4

Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities exhibit: 9 Views of Guam The Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities’ Dec. 4 exhibit, “9 Views of Guam,” is to feature artwork of residents’ favorite spots on Guam. Residents were asked to submit photos of their most sentimental or favorite places on Guam, along with an explanation of what makes the place special via social media with the hash tag #9viewsofguam. Photos selected were recaptured in artwork by artists Taliea Guerrero Strohmeyer, Amber Word and Jessie Snyder.

Level: Medium Duration: Four hours Length: Three miles Bring: Three quarts water, get-wet shoes, swimsuit, gloves, sunscreen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: Sword grass and walking in water Time: Meet at 9 a.m. at Chamorro Village Center Court Price: $2 for hikers over 12. For more information visit www.facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

Dec. 19

Dec. 13

Guam Boonie Stomp: Talofofo Caves

Guam Symphony Society: 2015 Seaside Concert Time: 3 p.m. Location: Gov. Joseph Flores Park beach amphitheater Free admission. Dec. 13

Holiday Craft Fair Time: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Location: Jeff’s Pirate’s Cove For more information visit www.creativeindeed.net

Location: Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities Council art gallery, Hagåtña TIME: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Level: Medium Duration: Three hours Length: One mile Bring: Flashlights, two quarts water, hiking boots, gloves, sunscreen, insect repellant, lunch, camera and a flashlight. Special condition: Crawling in caves. Time: Meet at 9 a.m. at Chamorro Village Center Court Price: $2 for hikers over 12. For more information visit www.facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

EVENTSCALENDAR

december sun

mon

tue 1

wed 2

thu 3

fri 4 MOVIES Krampus Macbeth Life

sat 5 • KPRG 12th Annual Postcard Art Silent Auction • Guam Boonie Stomp: Inarajan Falls

• Guam Council of the Arts and Humanities exhibit: 9 Views of Guam

11 MOVIES

In the Heart of the Sea The Lady in the Van

18 MOVIES

• Guam Symphony Society 2015 Seaside Concert • Holiday Craft Fair

Sisters Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day

12 • Xterra Progressive Relay – Bike • Guam Boonie Stomp: Agfayan Falls

19 • Guam Boonie Stomp: Talofofo Caves

26 • Guam Boonie Stomp Fintasa and Laolao Falls

MOVIES

31 New Year’s Eve

The Hateful Eight Joy Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Road Chip Daddy’s Home Concussion Point Break The Revenant

FEATURED MOVIE Dec. 11

In the Heart of the Sea Directed by Ron Howard Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Benjamin Walker, Tom Hollander, Cillian Murphy, Ben Whishaw and Brendan Gleeson

In the winter of 1820, the crew of the New England whaling ship Essex experiences the wrath of a whale of incredible size and a human-like will and sense of vengeance. The crew comes face-to-face with storms, starvation, panic, despair and inner turmoil as they question the value of the lives and the morality of their trade, while the ship’s first mate seeks to bring the great whale down. *Event times and dates may change without notice.

Avenue Lobster & Grill in the Plaza Shopping Center in Tumon offers an elegant setting for any occasion.

From the North to the South

Dining experiences abound

The combination of great food and a beautiful setting makes dining out an unforgettable experience. Avenue Steak & Lobster in Tumon and Marina Grill in Agat offer everything that makes a unique dining experience. Perched above Pleasure Island, Avenue Steak & Lobster in the The Plaza Shopping Center is special, in every sense of the word. From the classic hardwood floors to the elegant table settings, Avenue offers a setting ideal for a romantic anniversary dinner or for celebrating in style.

“Everyone goes around the island and they like to go someplace and eat... Agat is a famous spot.” ~ Thomas Kallingal MARINA GRILL and AVENUE STEAK & LOBSTER

Avenue is the perfect place to sit down with a glass of wine, dig into quality steak or seafood and enjoy true fine dining. The window seats offer an amazing vantage point over San Vitores Road. Thomas and Magi Kallingal took over the restaurant in 2014. The takeover included the creation of an all-new menu with an emphasis on quality ingredients, such as certified Angus beef. The menu was created with the help of Chef Lingo Quichocho. Avenue is quickly becoming known for its quality and style. Reservations are recommended. Further south, located on the Agat Marina in the former Jan Z’s restaurant location, the space has been completely renovated and redecorated and Marina Grill opened for diners to enjoy good food and drink. The Kallinga’s have invested in new equipment, furniture, décor and other improvements to add their own flavor to the building.

Special Feature///Marine Grill | Avenue Steak & Lobster

Thomas and Magi Kallingal are the proprietors of the Marina Grill restaurant in Agat, which boasts a view of the Agat Marina.

The Marina Grill has a dining area and a bar and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and the menu offers international cuisine, including an array of popular dishes such as burgers, pasta and even local dishes – all of which can be enjoyed while watching the waves of the ocean and the boats on the dock. The restaurant is perfect for family gatherings and as a stopover during a spontaneous tour of the island. “Everyone goes around the island and they like to go someplace and eat,” Thomas Kallingal says. “Agat is a famous spot,” Thomas Kallingal says. He had always wanted to open a business by the ocean. The Marina Grill features a combined bar and seating area where the gift shop used to be, while the left side of the building holds more seating. The Agat location seats 80 guests. Thomas Kallingal’s experience in the food and beverage industry spans about 40 years and includes positions at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa, the Guam Reef & Olive Hotel and the Pacific Islands Club. Thomas and Magi Kallingal, opened and operated restaurants in Guam and Saipan, including the Eatery in the

Agana Shopping Center, K Steakhouse, the Red Carpet at the Cliff Hotel, the Taste of India and K Seafood House. He also helped establish the hospitality program at Guam Community College and taught at the college for several years. Magi Kallingal joined her husband in the restaurant business after several years as an educator. “Everything I do is coming from my heart, and you can see it in my food,” Thomas Kallingal says.

“Everything I do is coming from my heart, and you can see it in my food.” ~ Thomas Kallingal MARINA GRILL and AVENUE STEAK & LOBSTER

Essence of Guam///Choirs

Choirs create a sense of community and opportunity for local singers

Cantate Community Choir is a non-profit organization and has performed non-competitively in Australia, the United States, Europe and Asia.

STORY BY JOY WHITE

Singing is a passion and choirs help bring people with the same passion together. “It’s a lot of work … and it’s an opportunity to bring together singers and share the love of singing, the love of music and working hard to achieve a moment of synchronicity,” says Karl Cepeda, founding member, president of the board of directors and resident conductor of Cantate Community Choir. Cantate is a non-profit organization and Guam’s only community choir. The group’s requirements for joining are: 1) having a love for singing and 2) being able to commit to rehearsals and practices. The choir performs a wide range of music: classical, rock, jazz and pop, and a lot of the music is performed a capella. The choir was started in 1999 by students in the University of Guam Chorale. Students from the chorale wanted to do more challenging works. Cantate officially became a community organization in 2000. Also involved in the forming of Cantate was Lisa Lutter,

who taught the UOG Singers and Chorale at the time. Lutter is the group’s artistic director. Before it became a non-profit organization, Cantate won the gold medal in the Australian International Music Festival in Sydney in 2000, and since then, has performed noncompetitively at other events internationally to showcase its singers’ talents. Since its inception, the group has performed in China, Australia, the D.C. area, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Russia and Estonia. The group has had as many as 100 members at its biggest event, the Pacific Summer Music Festival. Cantate puts on at least four major performances: the annual season kick-off fundraiser in October, two free Christmas concerts in December and the Pacific Summer Music Festival. The choir often works with local talent, such as orchestras and bands, and sometimes is accompanied by visiting musicians. The choir was once accompanied by KIA, a string quartet from Japan.

Essence of Guam///Choirs

The University of Guam Latte Tones choir brings together singers of all talents and experience.

Cantate’s Pacific Summer Music Festival is the largest educational opportunity for local singers and Cepeda says the group would like for more people to take advantage of the opportunity. Clinicians for the festival in June 2016 include Jerry McCoy, Andrew Last and Western Noble. “Bringing clinicians here for our students - it’s the reason I keep doing this,” Cepeda says. “It’s a labor of love. It’s not been easy. There were several times we thought we wouldn’t make it. But at the end of every big event where we worked so hard, seeing the faces of the singers, the audience and students who benefit makes it all worth it.” Cantate will perform a Christmas concerts Christmas at the Cathedral, which is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 15, and Lessons and Carols, on Dec. 19, at St. John’s School. Next year, Cantate is scheduled to perform Misa Criolla on Feb. 27 to 28 and host the Pacific Summer Music Festival from June 12 to 18. Cantate can be contacted at cantateguam@gmail.com or through executive director Deanna Palmer at 688-2855. More than just a class While the members of the University Singers, known as the Latte Tones, do get college credit for being in the group, the choir is more than just a class. “We put in a lot of work. Compared to actual studying, paper writing – it’s a lot of practice time,” says Kayla Del Rosario, a member of the choir. The group primarily performs a capella pop and jazz pieces. Every semester the choir participates in a festival off-island. Last semester, the choir competed in the Czech Republic, placing gold in its division. The next festival will take place in June, but the destination has not yet been determined. Within a choir there are different parts, with usually six to eight parts based on voice ranges and styles. Choral Director Randall Johnson’s job is to help blend the singers’ voices together, taking into ac-

count skills and ability. He also makes song selection based on the students’ interests and abilities. The group is composed of singers of a variety of skill levels and experiences. Some don’t have experience performing, while some have been in the choir their whole college career, some don’t read musical notes very well, and some have performed outside of the group. “The group tends to be all friends,” Johnson says. “And that’s an important aspect of the whole thing.” As a group of outgoing personalities, the members get along well. They are friends inside and outside of the music room. They practice on their own time individually or in groups, and help each other learn the music, he says. Members who have served on the choir for eight consecutive semesters are recognized with the UOG Perpetual Chorale Award and are lifetime members. They are often asked to participate in campusrelated events. A major part of the performance is flexibility and spontaneity. While the music is practiced and rehearsed, other aspects of the performance, such as minor acting parts, are kept fluid. “Part of the audition process is you have to have an outgoing personality because you have to go on stage. You can teach people to sing, but can’t overcome phobia in a short amount of time,” Randall says. The act is constantly being improved and changed to the point where the Latte Tones never have the same show twice in a row. “The fun that we have as a group radiates to other people. You can see it in our shows. We have a lot of fun on stage, and that energy is there for everyone to watch and observe and it’s great,” choir member Aaron Tydingco says. Some of the names now well-known in the local music scene were once members of the University Singers, including Max Ronquillo Jr., Ernest Ochoco and Michele Cruz.

Restaurant & Food///Steakhouses

Well done

Island’s steakhouse offerings are robust

BY SHAINA MARIE SANTOS

Guam’s steakhouses are offering a robust selection of dishes seared to perfection, from the classic seared certified Angus beef to a satisfying sirloin. A sit-down with a good cut of meat is perfect for a romantic date, celebration or to fulfill a craving.

Avenue Steak & Lobster Phone: 648-1188 Lunch: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Location: Mezzanine Floor, Outrigger Guam Beach Resort,Tumon “All our steaks are certified Angus beef. The cook has more than 20 years of experience in cooking steaks. We also have seafood: lobster, jumbo prawns, scallops, crab legs. We have all different types of steak: filet mignon, tenderloin, porterhouse and rib eye,” says manager Magi Kallingal.

Lone Star Steakhouse Phone: 646-6061 Daily: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Christmas Location: 615 S. Marine Corps Dr., Tamuning “We are a stateside brand with a local flair. We dance at least twice nightly. We do a lot of local specials. We still try to keep that Texas theme going; everything is big,” says Jimmy Untalan, general manager.

Delmonico Kitchen & Bar Phone: 647-4411 Lunch: 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dinner: 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Location: 1475 Pale San Vitores Rd., Tumon “We have 13 sauces to choose from and we carry rib eye, porterhouse, flank steak, and New York. We use black mountain aged Angus beef. It keeps more of the flavor in. We cut the steaks straight from the slabs so it keeps all the juices. We usually let the meat speak for itself,” says Ace Alisasis, acting manager.

Special Feature///Edge Realty

Introducing: Edge Realty, one of the most renowned real estate companies in Guam, and Alfredo Bustamante CONTRIBUTED BY EDGE REALTY

“The Edge Realty family will treat you like one of their own,” is the slogan of Edge Realty, a Guam real estate firm that specializes in military and executive relocations. Edge Realty provides a diverse variety of services in real estate including selling and purchasing residential and commercial real estate and property management. As Alfredo Bustamante, principal broker and CEO of Edge Realty, indicates, “No one understands the military members and their families more than a veteran that has served in the military, such as myself, because I know what a military member and his family are looking for.” Bustamante believes that a real estate agent must be loyal to his clients, and be willing to fight for them, literally. Bustamante has about five to seven referrals per month due to the fact that he goes above and beyond for his clients. He indicates that a real estate agent is the professional and must guide and provide sound advice to the customer by focusing on his or her needs instead of the compensation or commission of the real estate transaction. The money will always follow the transaction if the real estate agent does a good job. The customers will turn into repeat clients and they will recommend friends and family back to the real estate agent because they know the real estate agent cares, Bustamante says. In 2012 and 2013, Edge Realty has been the first and only Guam real estate company that has traveled to Russia in order to introduce Guam real estate abroad. Bustamante indicates that he is not afraid to fail in anything that he does because he has always been hungry for success in anything that he has done in his life and his career; furthermore, Bustamante indicates that he is willing to fail in order to succeed. Bustamante opened Edge Realty in Guam in 2006 after relocating from Naperville in Chicago. He and his wife, Monica — whom he adores — have been living in Guam for about nine years and have raised their children — Dominic ,3; Giacomo, seven years old; Francesca, 9; and Sebastian, 11 — here in Guam. As Bustamante says “Guam is home for us.” Monica Bustamante is also Edge Realty’s general manager. Bustamante has a passion for raising pit bulls. He owns six of them and raises them with lots of love and care. Bus-

(Clockwise from top left) This two-story home in Piti features a three-car garage; Blue Lagoon Condominiums featur and the 180-degree view from the available Piti home can be enjoyed from the poolside.

res a full bath with a magnificent view of Tumon Bay; The Bustamantes; the Edge Realty office, located in Hagåtña;

Special Feature///Edge Realty

tamante says that any dog will become aggressive if you abuse or neglect them but if you nurture and love them they will show you love and gratitude in mesmerizing ways Bustamante has achieved several real estate certifications, including designations as an Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR), a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) and a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) in Asia Pacific and international real estate. He is also a Certified Commercial Investment member and a member of the Guam Association of Realtors and is certified with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulations and e-PRO. Bustamante is working on his master’s and is 18 semester hours away from obtaining his degree. Bustamante holds a bachelor’s in health science with a minor in business administration from Campbell University, which he attended during his military carrier at Fort Bragg North Carolina. Bustamante is a combat-disabled U.S Army veteran. Bustamante resides in Tamuning, where he owns a gorgeous home in a very exclusive community. “How can you be a real estate professional or realtor that provides financial guidance through real estate to customers and clients if you don’t own your home or your own business,” he says. “Everything is a reflection that comes down to you.” Bustamante indicates that you have to believe in yourself and not pay attention to the people that tell you “you cannot do this” or “you cannot do that” because at the end of the day you cannot climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets. Edge Realty manages 41 homes; 31 of those homes are owned by military families residing overseas and 10 homes are owned by executives. Bustamante, with the help of his wife, has been able to grow his business very quickly and capture a portion of the Guam real estate market among the existent real estate franchises. Edge Realty has two real estate agents, Ranjna Dewan and Alice Wu, who have been trained and selected by Bustamante. Both of them are successful business owners and real estate agents. It’s not easy to be a realtor with Edge Realty because Bustamante’s expectations are very high, and he demands integrity and hard work. Bustamante’s long-term goal is to build a subdivision that will be military-friendly and will exceed all military housing standards based on high-quality infrastructure and design, where the military members and their families will not need to do anything other than move in and enjoy the house free of stress because all details were well thought out. Bustamante and his family attend Harvest Baptist church. Bustamante says that he and his family can do all things through Christ who strengthens them. Furthermore, Bustamante thanks God for his wife, his kids and everything else. If you are in the market to purchase or rent a property or want to sell or rent your property, visit EdgeRealtyGuam.com or you can call (671) 646-3343 or (671) 649-3343.

OUT&ABOUT

out & about

Photos by Julius Cantara

Japanese culture fanatics and video gamers gathered at the Otaku Recon held on Nov. 14 and 15 at the Holiday Resort & Spa Guam. This year, the Otaku Reconâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special guest was world renowned cosplayer Linda Le, also known as Vampy Bit Me.

Photos by Joy White

SandCastle introduced one of the newest members of its performing team, Takara, a white Bengal tiger on Nov. 5. Takara, along with magicians Chris and Ryan Zubrick and an orange Bengal tiger named Caesar, will perform in the new magic show, Zubrick, that will be launched on April 1. SandCastle is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

SEND US YOUR PHOTOS! TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS FOR OUT & ABOUT, EMAIL HIGH-RES PHOTOs to: rrpacificguam@gmail.com

PLEASE INCLUDE: - CAPTIONS (NAMES, DATE, EVENT NAME AND LOCATION) - YOUR NAME AND VILLAGE

OUT&ABOUT

Photos by Jackie Hanson

Thousands of runners participated in the Ko’ko Half Marathon and Ekiden Relay on Nov. 7.

Photo by Jennifer M. Stocker

Photos by Joy White

Mixed martial arts athlete and UFC Hall of Famer Royce Gracie was a special guest at the Kids Jiu Jitsu Open held on Nov. 14 at the Agana Shopping Center.

The Annual Luna Festival was held on Oct. 25 at Jeff ’s Pirate’s Cove.

Cover Feature///Paintball

Paintball offers fun for beginners, opportunity for avid players STORY BY Joy white PHOTOS by joe cruz

Paintball is more than a sport; it’s a community. X-Sports Paintball began in 2001 with a passion for the sport. Rich Paulino, operator and founder of the business, was an “addict” since his first game. Paulino has competed with and against talented athletes and teams from Guam and around the world in tournaments locally and internationally. When local retail stores could not satisfy his passion with enough paintballs, he decided to open the first paintball proshop in Guam as a young entrepreneur. Starting the business was an exciting time for Paulino. The sport was exploding on Guam and in the Asian region, and the need for a tournament facility grew. Paulino opened a tournament field on the Navy base and then the current filed in Tiyan. X-Sports Paintball offers quality paintball supplies and gear, including apparel, guns, gun parts and supplies, as well as equipment rentals and an outdoor facility to do paintball. “The field in Tiyan was a dream come true for myself and the paintball community,” Paulino says. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself when standing in the middle of a crowded paintball field listening to all the excitement from our customers.” The people who repeatedly visit the field are more than just customers, they are part of a paintball community, Paulino says. The sport gets the adrenaline pumping, as players dodge paintballs and strive to fire off a few of their own in return. “Sometimes when you get hit, it feels like the end of the world. So you restart another game hoping to stay alive,” Paulino says.

Paintball is the safest shooting sport in the world and environmentally safe, he says. “It’s the only sport where you shoot and mark your opponents with no repercussions and still remain friends and family at the end of the game,” he says. You don’t need to be an athlete to play on a team and that’s one of the beauties of this game.” X-Sports Paintball hosts events at the Tiyan field ranging from tournament play to corporate team building to church groups. Birthday paintball parties are a big hit, Paulino says. Paulino is also active in promoting a local league and Guam’s first international paintball tournament. X-Sports Paintball’s latest project is to form the Guam All Stars Paintball team and send the best players to represent Guam in the Paintball Asia League Series in Asia. X-Sports Paintball also provides lessons and a safety briefing for new players. Players are encouraged to be fair, honest and competitive. Referees are on hand to help coach and assist. For those that have their own equipment, it is $10 for the filed/ air fee of four hours at X-Sports Paintball in Tiyan. A minimum of 10 players is required. Parties and themed event groups packages start at $375 for 10 guns, goggles and 2,000 paintballs for four hours. There’s no charge to come out and watch some games being played. “Talk to other people who play the sport, watch paintball videos on the net. Rent a gun before purchasing and investing hundreds of dollars. Invite as many friends as you can find to experience the sport together. Learn the culture of paintball and its interesting history,” Paulino says.

Cover Feature///Paintball

For paintball first timers: Equipment Paintball gun Air tank Goggles Paintballs Attire Running shoes Knee pads Other Paper towels Water and snacks Lots of great friends