calendar of events • travel • tech • recreation • health & fitness • restaurants • culture & arts • special features • nightlife • coupons & much more
june 2013
The art of teaching photography
Join Ageline Sahagun on her afternoon getaway
A tropical change of scenery
Section///Spotlight
contents TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT
Cairns
HEALTH & FITNESS
Take 2 push ups and call me in the morning
calendar
June events
10 THINGS Father’s Day
TECH THIS OUT
June picks
SPORTS
Billy Navarrete - Ninja Warrior
spotlight
A day in the life of Brandon Cruz
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on the cover
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RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT
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OUT & ABOUT
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
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ISLAND FOCUS
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RETAIL SPOTLIGHT
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Ageline Sahagun Pho Thanh Xuan
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Readers and events photos
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Manny Librodo
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The Latte Stone
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CarQuest
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www.facebook.com/rrpacificguam Cover photo by Lewis Santos of Frozen Moments Photography. Special thanks to SM Store, Essence Hair Artistry, Joe Cruz, Outrigger Guam Resort and the village of Tumon.
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R&R Pacific/June
2013
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
PUBLISHER
Rosanna Dacanay
Maureen N. Maratita
SENIOR DESIGNER
MANAGING EDITOR Bruce Lloyd
Vikki Fong
ASSISTANT EDITOR
SALES MANAGER Annie San Nicolas
Jacqueline Guzman
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
REPORTERS
Yvonne Matanane & Larry Siguenza
Paul Moroni & Tom Johnson
ADMINISTRATION
CONTRIBUTORS
Janice Castro, Jessica Leon Guerrero
Lewis Santos
Carmelita McClellan & Bernard (Mr. B) Leonen
Patrick Lujan
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Carmen Rojas CREATIVE & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Marcos Fong
Taliea J. Strohmeyer
Glimpses Publications include: Marianas Business Journal • Guam Business Magazine • R&R Pacific • Beach Road Magazine
R&R Pacific • June 2013 • Entire contents copyrighted 2013 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.
R&R is rest and relaxation.
Main Feature///Travel Spotlight
Port Douglas, Australia.
BY Maureen N. Maratita
Cairns — to the North of the Australian state of Queensland, is an ideal getaway for a short vacation. It offers the attractions and facilities of a city that caters to a population of about 153,000, plus some unique outdoor options. Firmly on the itinerary for travelers who are on expanded tours of this diverse and large land mass, you can expect to cross paths with international visitors and Australians exploring their own country. The Cairns Tourist Information Centre is a wealth of information, as are most tour agents in the visitor-friendly city. Whether you research online, or arrive wanting some on-the-spot guidance, take advantage and plan the visitor trips that meet your needs. Expect some natural curiosity at the tour center and from tour agents, and help to promote Guam, which has a high profile in Cairns due to direct flights from the island. The Northern Australian climate is tropical, making for easy adjustment to the weather, and simple packing requirements for visitors from Guam and the region. A variety of accommodations abound from luxury hotels that offer all facilities, to self catering apartments at the high and low end. Middle level chain accommodations also offer kitchenette facilities, which are highly convenient for a quick breakfast or a take-out after a long day of sightseeing on the tourist trail. Take-out can be delivered, making for an even easier option for families, or others who
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want to round out the day winding down on the balcony, or catching some Australian sport offerings on television. A number of hotels line the Esplanade in Cairns, which sits on reclaimed land and is designed for casual strolls on its boardwalk and more organized attractions along its length, as well as making for picturesque views and photo opportunities. Perhaps the most contrasting attraction for visitors from Guam is a trip to the tropical rain forests, a World Heritage site. There are a variety of options, depending on your appetite for adventure, and your stamina. Investigate the scenic railway to Kuranda. This 100-year old rail line takes you on a meander alongside waterfalls and a scenic gorge, with stops, allowing you to travel at your own pace. The recorded tour guide commentary also offers some history of the region and local knowledge. Kuranda features a central square and lunch options. You can also combine the railway ride with the sky line one way, so that the experience is different on one journey to or from Kuranda. Cable car trips are also possible through the rain forest, taking you skimming in the tree tops, as is a zip line. You can also take a horse ride through the rainforests or a walking tour. No trip to Australia would be complete without an up-close-andpersonal meeting with the country’s Wildlife Ambassadors. One of Kuranda’s newest attractions is its Koala Gardens, and Cairns also has
From top left (clockwise): Kuranda scenic train; an aboriginal man with digeridoo (NZGMW / Shutterstock.com); Australian koala bears; waterfront of Cairns.
a tropical zoo if cuddling a Koala in town fits better with your plans. Rivaling the rain forests for many visitors is the Great Barrier Reef. Tours include glass bottomed boat options, semi-submersibles, and aqua planes that will deliver you to the perfect snorkeling site. Scuba diving is also an option If you are spending one of your days in the city, or are interested in some background and culture to Cairns, the city has museums – including the Cairns Historical Museum, a fishing museum and the Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park (also featuring the Boomerang Restaurant), which allows for some understanding of Australia’s indigenous population. A day enjoying the water offerings could take you to the Seafront Water Park or the Esplanade Lagoon, or on a harbor cruise or a visit to Michaelmas Cay. Cairns definitely has attractions for golfers missing the courses back home. Half Moon Bay has a course, and the Cairns Golf Club is just a mere ten minute ride from the city. It has a relatively new pro shop, and golfers can expect a cooler and ice prepared for their cart. At a very reasonable $35 a round, the experience is unlikely to break the budget. Distractions on the course can include bird life and the occasional kangeroo. Cairns Golf Club has facilities for chipping and
driving, and a bar and restaurant for post-game relaxation. Other attractions include the Botanic Gardens, trail biking, and the ocean road to Port Douglas. Port Douglas is an hour’s drive to the North of Cairns, and can be incorporated in a variety of trips if you are not game to drive on “the wrong side” of the road. Nightlife options in Cairns feature the Reef Casino (where the dress code is casual), a variety of restaurants and pubs for dining – or lunch for that matter. Don’t forget to try the famous Australian meat pie, though a variety of Asian and other cuisines offer plenty of choice in Cairns. The Arts Centre and Civic Centre also have various events throughout the year (don’t let the names deter you from checking out the events). The Australian dollar is strong against its American counterpart, but even for the most budget conscious traveler, interesting souvenirs and gifts are available. Check out miniature and surprisingly lifelike Koalas available here, there and everywhere (who can resist?), leather Aussie bush hats, Opal and Malachite jewelry, sheepskin and lambskin products from rugs to stroller liners to gifts, and boots (both hardwearing for rugged use and fashion style).
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Feature///Health & Fitness
TAKE 2 PUSH-UPS AND CALL ME IN THE MORNING By Carmen Rojas
What if there were a treatment plan that could effectively treat and prevent many common diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and more?
R&R is living on Guam.
If the treatment plan could reduce the symptoms of arthritis, chronic pain, depression and other debilitating conditions, would you take it? Well, your prescription is ready. Physical activity has been proven in numerous studies to do all the things mentioned above and more. The American College of Sports Medicine reports that regular physical activity can: • Reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%. • Lower the risk of colon cancer by over 60%. • Reduce the risk of developing of Alzheimer’s disease by approximately 40%. • Reduce the incidence of heart disease and high blood pressure by approximately 40%. • Lower the risk of stroke by 27%. • Lower the risk of developing type II diabetes by 58%. • Be twice as effective in treating type II diabetes than the standard insulin prescription and can save $2250 per person per year when compared to the cost of standard drug treatment. • Can decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioral therapy. If that was great news, this ought to be fantastic! It does not take extreme levels of fitness to reap the benefits of physical activity. You don’t have to train for a marathon, become a body builder, or become a vegetarian. The Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Report from 2008 states “Most health benefits occur with at least 150 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes) a week of moderate intensity physical ac-
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tivity, such as brisk walking. Additional benefits occur with more physical activity.” That breaks down to 30 minutes a day Monday – Friday. Try this for starters, walk 15 minutes away from your house or office and turn around and come back. Add in a few in place squats, a few push-ups for resistance training and you have taken your fitness to the next level! Doing this kind of low intensity activity will improve your health, reduce your risk of premature death, and improve your quality of life. If reducing your risk of disease is not enough of a reason to add physical activity into your daily routine, how about $330? A study in 2008 shows that physical inactivity costs the US Health Care System $330 per person each year, which equals more than $102 billion dollars annually. Ask any diabetic how expensive managing their disease is, and it will become clear that preventing disease is far cheaper than treating disease. Healthier people miss fewer work days, and are more productive at work. If you were more productive and working more often, your annual review with your boss would be quite different. There is a global initiative called “Exercise Is Medicine” and it can help anyone safely add physical activity to their current treatment plan and can assist you in talking to your doctor about what kind of exercise is safe and recommended for you. For more information visit www.exerciseismedicine.org.
Spinach with coconut milk INGREDIENTS: 2 large cans spinach 2 cans coconut milk 2 tablespoons tumeric 1 onion - sliced 1 tsp lemon powder 2 tablespoons oil salt to taste crushed hot peppers to taste
Directions: 1. Strain spinach to remove as much liquid as possible, set aside. 2. Saute onions in oil, add tumeric and coconut milk. 3. Once it starts to boil, turn off heat, add spinach, salt, peppers and lemon powder. 4. Gently stir to mix. 5. Adjust salt, lemon powder and hot pepper to your taste. Photo by: Carolyn Merfalen
Join R&R Pacific’s recipe club!
We are seeking out your best recipes for our collection. Share your most prized recipes with our readers! Email your favorite recipes and a clear, high-resolution photo along with your name and village to rrpacificguam@gmail.com for a chance to see your recipe featured in R&R Pacific Magazine. Recipes can be of any origin. We look forward to your contributions!
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JUNE
Section///Spotlight
events 2013 Futures Tennis Tournament The event will attract touring professional tennis players from around the world. The Guam National Tennis Federation will coordinate an island-wide tennis clinic to be conducted by professional tennis players at the conclusion of the tournament. Start Date: June 1, 2013 End Date: June 9, 2013 Location: Hilton Guam Resort & Spa tennis courts June 1
Guam Filipino Artists On the Spot Painting Contest TIME: 10:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Location: Agana Shopping Center, 1st floor, next to Gino’s June 1
BOONIE STOMP: Fintasa and Laolao Falls
Special conditions: Some walking in water and climbing with a rope. LEVEL: Difficult DURATION: 3 hours for 1.6 miles June 8
28th Most Beautiful Run 5M Show time: 5:15 a.m. Go time: 6 a.m. Location: Fort Soledad, Umatac Registration: Hornet Sporting Goods June 8
BOONIE STOMP: Ipan Beach Enjoy the beautiful scenery along the southeast coast north of Jeff’s Pirates Cove. Bring: 2 quarts water, hiking boots, gloves, sun screen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and camera. LEVEL: Easy DURATION: 2 miles for 2 hours June 15
Guam Dad of the Year Short Essay Contest
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JUNE 29 - BOONIE STOMP
LIBUGON RADIO STATION TO FONTE SWIM HOLE
Visit the ruins of the historic site U.S. Navy radio station. Then hike to the 1910 dam and explore the valley downstream and cool off in the pools. Bring: 2 quarts water, hiking boots, water shoes, gloves, swim suit, sun screen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: Swordgrass, and steep slopes. LEVEL: Medium DURATION: 3 miles for 2 hours
LEVEL: Easy DURATION: 3 hours for 2 miles
TIME: 1p.m. Awarding at 2 p.m. Location: Agana Shopping Center, 1st floor, next to Gino’s
June 16
June 15
June 22
BOONIE STOMP: Tumon Bay
Journey to two cooling waterfalls in southeastern Guam. Bring: 2 quarts water, hiking boots, swimsuit, gloves, sun screen, sunglasses, insect repellent, lunch and camera.
featured event
Hike from one end to the other pointing out the unique features of the bay including Japanese fortifications and the Devil’s Punchbowl. Bring: 2 quarts water, hiking boots, swimsuit, water shoes, sunglasses, sun screen, lunch and camera.
Tamuning Fiesta Location: Tamuning, Guam
BOONIE STOMP: Southeast Coast (Talofofo to Inarajan) Hike along this remote Asiga coastline with a few stops to cool off in the water. Bring: 4 quarts water, hiking boots, water shoes, swim suit, gloves, insect repellent, sun screen, sun-
glasses, lunch and camera. Special conditions: Long stretches of walking in water, over rough rocks, no shade and possible hazardous surf. LEVEL: Difficult DURATION: 5 miles for 6 hours
Photos by Sofia Oropesa
June 1
EVENTSCALENDAR
JUNE sun
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2013 Future Tennis Tournament Boonie Stomp: Fintasa and Laolao Falls Guam Filipino Artists On the Spot Painting Contest
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28th Most Beautiful Run 5M Boonie Stomp: Ipan Beach University of Guam 61st Anniversary Founders Day Gala
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MOVIES
Boonie Stomp: Tumon Bay Guam Dad of the Year Short Essay Contest
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MOVIES Monsters University World War Z premiere at Hollywood Theaters
Boonie Stomp: Southeast Coast (Talofofo to Inarajan) Road to Electric Island Vol. 2
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MOVIES The Heat White House Down Byzantium premiere at Hollywood Theaters
Boonie Stomp: Libugon Radio Station to Fonte Swim Hole
Father’s Day
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MOVIES Much Ado About Nothing The Internship premiere at Hollywood Theaters
“Have a Coke and a smile” campaign was unveiled at the bottlers’ convention on this day in 1979.
Tamuning Fiesta
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Man of Steel This Is the End The Bling Ring premiere at Hollywood Theaters
30 On June 1, 1904, the first magazine ads for Coca-Cola appeared in national consumer publications.
SPONSORED BY:
For showtimes: Call 649-1111 or visit www.gohollywood.com Proudly serves refreshing
beverages.
The abbreviation “Coke” was used for the first time in magazine ads for Coca-Cola on June 1, 1941.
*Event times and dates may change without notice “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-ColaCompany.
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10 Things///Father’s Day
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TO DO FOR DAD ON FATHER’S DAY
THINGS
2. 1. Take Dad out for Happy Hour at Wild Bills.
R&R is family fun.
3. Take dad out for dinner
Give dad the gift of home entertainment from Micropac.
at Tumon Bay Lobster & Grill.
SOMJAI’S
6.
Wild Guam Bill’s II
4. Give dad a gift to strike
Make sure Dad protects his eyes from harmful UV by always wearing the coolest protection from sunglasses etc. and etcetera.
5. Satisfy dad’s
it rich! Get him a metal detector wand from Code 1.
sweet tooth at Shinny’s.
9. Dress dad up at SM store for Fathers Day.
7. Give dad the gift of the ocean from Fa’nu’i.
10. Hook Dad up 8.
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Make your dad last longer! Add years to his life with fitness at International Sports Center!
with a Samsung Galaxy S4 from DOCOMO PACIFIC.
Tech This Out///June Picks
TECH THIS OUT! Effortlessly hear calls, even as noise level change By Alfred Calinagan Needing a great companion piece for your everyday mobile calls? Not wanting to get a minimum $100 citation ticket for driving while talking on your phone? Look no further. Now you can effortlessly hear your calls, and let your callers more easily hear you with the Bose® Bluetooth® headset Series 2. It is engineered with proprietary Tri-Port® acoustic structure and Adaptive Audio Adjustment, which automatically reacts as noise levels change to let you better hear your calls. Plus, an exclusive noise-rejecting microphone system combines with digital signal processing to help your callers hear you above the distractions around you, including wind and noise. A well-balanced design and soft StayHear® silicone tip keep the headset comfortably in place for hours. It delivers up to 4.5 hours of talk time and the intuitive controls make it easy to use. This headset is also engineered and tested for lasting quality and durability on the go. And when you’re not on a call, you can enjoy a rich audio experience while streaming mobile media content through A2DP. Choose between right- and left-side versions to ensure the best possible fit and comfort. Compare it to any other mobile headset you may have used, and discover the difference for yourself. Visit Micropac, Inc. during its 45th Anniversary sale event in June 2013 at either of its two locations nearest to you, hear a demo, and pick up yours.
Bose® Bluetooth® headset Series 2
An exclusive noise-rejecting microphone system combines with digital signal processing to help your callers hear you above the distractions around you, including wind and noise. www.micropacinc.com
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Feature///Sports
billy navarrete
Guam’s Hopeful Ninja Warrior BY: Patrick Lujan
Billy Navarrete sent in an audition video and was accepted to the qualifier of Season 5 of the American Ninja Warrior. He always
dreamed of being a Ninja Warrior. Since the first broadcast of the Japanese hit Sasuke (Ninja Warrior) in 2006, the 23-year-old Upi Elementary school teacher has been hooked.
Always one to jump on couches, cars, trees and whatever else he can turn into a playground as a child, Navarrete made an audition video that he sent in to the producers of American Ninja Warriors Season 5 in March. In a couple of weeks, he got an acceptance call. “It was around April Fool’s [when they called] and I thought someone was playing a joke. It was crazy, I couldn’t believe it,” Navarrete says from Miami, where he was preparing for the qualifier. “Now that I’m actually here, I’m so speechless right now. When you have a dream for a really long time, and then when you’re here, it’s like ‘Is it actually happening?’ I’m nervous right now.” Navarrete’s Parkour background will help him in his quest to be a Ninja Warrior. His primary form of training is Parkour – the practice of run-
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ning, climbing, swinging, vaulting, spinning, jumping, rolling through different obstacles. “I use my environment as my obstacle course,” he says. In preparation for the qualifier in Miami, Navarrete added much to his regimen. He practiced TRX suspension training, weight training at International Sports Center, gymnastics at Island Twister, the obstacle course at Pacific Islands Club, he taught Zumba, danced with Urban Individuals and even built his own salmon ladder. Navarrete will need to make it past the Miami qualifier in order to move on to the big show in Las Vegas in June.
www.guamsportsnetwork.com
Spotlight///A Day in the Life
STORY BY Jacqueline Guzman PHOTOS BY Yvonne Matanane
Brandon Lee Cruz is a 24-year-old banker, graduate student and Chamorro culture enthusiast. He says it is a challenge to balance work and his social life. “I don’t really see the need to socialize that much in my time away from work. My social life revolves around family and a few close friends and those I find like-minded,” he says. He spends his spare time with his family, volunteering, reading and gaining further knowledge in Chamorro history and culture. “My desire to be proactive and contribute to our community is great. I feel that during my spare time, I should be creating positive changes within our island community,”
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says Cruz. “Any positive change is significant. No matter how big or small, even if you stand alone, I encourage members of our community to do something.” Cruz recently adopted a bus stop in Yoña with his family. “We’ve done several other projects as a family this year because we feel the need to do our part in this collective effort amongst other families and organizations/businesses that set an example,” he says. Cruz also enjoys reading articles on Guampedia. com, books on I Manåotao Håya history and culture, the Chamorro-English Dictionary and chanting with I Fanlalai’an Oral History Project. For Cruz, a typical day
starts off by sharing cultural and historical information on Facebook and Instagram. “I use Facebook as an outlet to share knowledge I have acquired such as Håfa Adai Fino’Håya Word of the Day, or important information not known to the general public,” says Cruz. His day usually ends with more sharing of cultural knowledge. “About 90% of conversations that I have usually involve anything and everything that deals with I Manåotao Håya (The Native People) of our island,” he says. “I also work out at the gym to ensure a clear mind for acquiring more knowledge.”
“Any positive change is significant. No matter how big or small, even if you stand alone, I encourage members of our community to do something.” BRANDON LEE CRUZ
Feature///On the cover
Tumon is Guam’s hotel row and tourist destination area, chock full of places to shop, dine and entertain us. But the sparkling village has a daunting past. During the Spanish colonization era on Guam in the 17th century, a Jesuit priest, Padre Diego San Vitores, lived in Tumon along with members of his congregation of missionaries. Padre Diego San Vitores had baptized a young Chamorro girl who was the daughter of the village chief before he was granted permission. In retaliation, Chief Mata’pang of Tumon village, decapitated Padre San Vitores. Today the road that goes along hotel row in Tumon is named after the Spanish priest as well as a park and the Blessed Diego San Vitores Church.
Ageline Sahagun is a 19-year-old lab technician and beauty who aspires to be a medical research scientist and businesswoman. She has a passion for the theater. She believes modeling is a lot like acting. “I feel with modeling, I could still be any character I want to be, and portray any emotion I want to portray,” she says. When she is not in the lab, she is on the stage, acting and singing her heart out. When she is not memorizing notes and lines, she is probably growing bacteria, or something, she says. She says she enjoys modeling and will gain more experience in it. “It was never something I thought I would do,” Sahagun says.
Cover photo by Lewis Santos of Frozen Moments Photography. Special thanks to SM Store, Essence Hair Artistry, Joe Cruz, Outrigger Guam Resort and the village of Tumon.
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Spotlight///Restaurant
BY Thomas Johnson PHOTOS BY Vikki Fong
If you’re on the hunt for a place to find fresh traditional Vietnamese cuisine, Pho Thanh Xuan may be just what you’re looking for. The restaurant, located in the Fountain Plaza in Tumon, was opened in April 26, 2012, by Susan and Thai Nguyen, and is open every weekday from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. On the weekends, they remain open until midnight. According to the Nguyens’ daughter Quynh Hua, Susan opened Pho Thanh Xuan because she noticed Guam was lacking a traditional Vietnamese
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restaurant and wanted to give the island a taste of real Vietnamese cooking. “We only use the traditional Vietnamese style here, and pho is our specialty,” Hua says, “my mother will cook the beef for the soup for eight to ten hours before she even starts to make the pho. We only use fresh ingredients in everything we cook.” And their hard work seems to be paying off, as the Pho Tai Nam Gau, or beef noodle soup, is the top-selling item on their menu, boasting generous portions of round steak, well-done
beef flank, and beef brisket. In fact, the popularity of the soup is matched only by that of the Com Dac Biet, a dish of steamed rice topped off with a combination of marinated grilled porkchop, chicken and beef. But Hua says that there are also several items served at Pho Thanh Xuan that can’t be found at other Vietnamese establishments. “As far as I know, we’re the only ones that serve Banh Mi, the Vietnamese sandwiches. We’re also the only ones that serve the Vietnamese coffee.” In addition to these and other
unique items, the restaurant also serves a wide assortment of spring rolls, pho, rice vermicelli noodle soup and dishes, steamed rice dishes, glass noodle or egg noodle soups and traditional Vietnamese desserts for reasonable prices. If their success continues, Hua says, the family is thinking of expanding and adding more traditional items to their menu, including Banh Xeo, a Vietnamese fried rice flour pancake that is stuffed with vegetables and meats and dipped in a fish sauce.
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OUT&ABOUT
out & about
Photos by Patrick Camacho, Manny Rona and Lewis Santos
Manny Librodo workshop on Apr. 20 and 21 at the Pacific Islands Club and Leo Palace Resort.
Photos submitted by Montesar Martin
MTX won Best Car Group at Auto Fiesta 2013 on Apr. 13 at the Guam International Raceway park in Yigo.
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OUT&ABOUT
Photo submitted by Amy Thompson
Fellow boonie stompers in front of a shipwreck during a hike from Ritidian to Falcona.
Photos submitted by Brandon Cruz
Volunteers Brandon Lee Cruz, Gabrielle Fejeran, Ashley Faith Cruz, Alysha Nicole Cruz, Tasha Wade, Destiny Wade and Fejera Louise Cruz painted a bustop in Yona, on April 13, as part of the Adopt-a-Bus-Stop Project.
Photos from Etcetera
Etcetera Go Green Spring Fashion Show with the UOG Green team
Photos by John Balbin
Smokin’ Wheels from April 12-14 at Yigo Raceway Park.
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
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Spotlight///Arts & Artists
The Art of Instruction R&R SPEAKS TO MANNY LIBRODO BY Paul Moroni PHOTOS BY Manny Librodo Jr.
Renowned photographer and photography instructor Manuel Libres “Manny” Librodo Jr. returned to Guam in April. Scores turned out for his two days of workshops at Leo Palace Resort and Pacific Islands Club. For the better part of a decade, Librodo has been touring the globe, sharing what he calls his “unique vision and passion for the medium.” Amateur and professional photographers alike show up en-masse to his workshops to share in that vision, talk story and trade technical insights. While Librodo says his true passion is nature photography, his workshops take attendees on an other-worldly tour into the avant-garde of female modeling shoots. As the photographers and professional models paraded across the grounds of Leo Palace on the first day of Librodo’s visit, the scene resembled not so much a professional workshop but a paparazzi outfit wandering after a Lady Gaga impersonator. The intricate body paints, the exotic outfits and striking use of light and color in Librodo’s modeling scenes make not only for unique shoots, but for unique photos as well. Librodo served as a high school teacher in Bangkok, Thailand for 22 years, prior to turning his attention to photography full-time 10 years ago. “I got into this field because I have a passion for nature,” he says, sitting at the bar at Proa’s
Hagåtña location just a couple hours after arriving on island to prepare for the workshop. “But, I was a teacher most of my life, and sharing my love of photography was probably inevitable.” As Librodo readily admits, he’s not the most technically savvy photographer out their doing workshops. “I know enough to get by and to teach,” he says. “But, I would have never become a photographer in the pre-digital era,” he says. “All the technical stuff can take away from what should be the real focus, taking pictures.” During the workshop, Librodo seemed to let the participants learn by doing. “I don’t like to do a lot of lecturing during my workshops, it interrupts people’s focus,” he says. “Mostly, I just don’t have anything much worth saying.” Affable and unassuming, my impression of Librodo was that he lets the photos do the talking. And people have been listening. He has been featured in Asia Geographic and given talks at conferences hosted by the organization. “I had an interest in Asia Geographic for a long time,” he says. “When I was starting out, I sent them my work but never heard back.” Then, a few years ago, he got a call asking if he would like to be the keynote speaker at an Asia Geographic event. “I was shocked,” he says. “I asked them, ‘Do you know I have been sending you my work for two years without response?’
‘We didn’t realize that was you,’ they said.” Librodo also regularly licenses his scenes of children to the United Nations Children’s Fund for use in its fundraising campaigns. Librodo’s impressive career began rather humbly with his personal photo blog at pbase.com, which continues to this day as the main portal into his world. Most of Librodo’s time is spent touring Asia and giving workshops. “I have to set aside
time to shoot, otherwise I will end up doing workshop all year round,” he says. Many of his workshops are held in the Philippines, where he is originally from and where he has become something of a celebrity in the photography world. “I still maintain my residence in Bangkok,” he says. “Being away from the Philippines in between workshops turns me into a scarce commodity, it helps drive the demand for another workshop.”
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Island Focus///Latte Stones
The Latte Stone BY Thomas Johnson PHOTOS BY Thomas Johnson and Vikki Fong
In Micronesia and abroad, the latte stone has come to be one of the defining symbols of
Chamorro culture, making its way onto jewelry, business logos, license plates, and even official government documents. But how much do we really know about this iconic representation of Chamorro heritage?
The latte stone as we know it today is actually made up of two separate pieces. The supporting pillars, or haligi, were usually crafted from coral limestone in a quarry and then carried several miles to their placement sites, while the capstone known as a tasa, or cup, was crafted from naturally occurring coral heads that were collected from the reef. The tasa is naturally hemispheric in design, and was placed on top of the haligi with the curved side facing down. In larger latte stones, the pieces were usually both carved from limestone or basalt, and when combined, could range from three to 16 feet in height. The finished latte stones were used as supports for ancient Chamorro buildings, particularly the Guma’Uritao, or Bachelor House, the houses of the Ma’tao and Acha’ot, or Chamorro noble classes, and shelters to keep canoes safe from the elements. Each building site was supported by by two parallel rows of latte stones arranged in a rectangular shape, a pattern which has never been used by any other culture except the Chamorros. Historians theorize that this unique pattern may have been important, as it meant the stones may also have served another, more spiritual function. Some ancient Chamorros — usually the Ma’tao and Acha’ot, who lived near the ocean — would bury their dead beneath their homes between the latte stones, along with any jewelry or other possessions that may have belonged to the deceased. Scholars believe that this
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allowed the deceased to become a literal and metaphorical part of the building’s foundation, passing their knowledge, oral history, legends, and navigational skill on to the next generation living in the house. This is in keeping with the legend that Guam and its people were originally formed from a human body, and that when human remains are returned to the soil, they become part of that body again. The latte stones have been the literal and metaphorical pillars that keep Chamorro culture alive, and continue to do so to this day. For many, the enduring nature of the stone structure and their ability to withstand decay and natural disasters has given rise to an association with strength, endurance, and cultural pride. In modern times, the latte stone now serves as a cultural icon for Guam and the Chamorro people, and continues to be seen in the construction and architecture of almost every major government structure and historical location to date, including the A.B. Won Pat International Airport, Guam, the governor’s residence, and the University of Guam. One of the most prominent uses of the symbol in architectural use is the Latte of Freedom, a concrete viewing tower in the shape of an 80 foot tall latte stone that stands adjacent to the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex.
Island Focus///Latte Stones
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Spotlight///Retail
CarQuest Turns 2 CarQuest celebrates its second anniversary
BY Paul Moroni PHOTOS BY Thomas Johnson
CarQuest Guam is celebrating its two year anniversary in June. For an auto-parts store, they sure know how to party. The festivities include ongoing in-store sales and specials and mutual discount promos with McDonalds of Guam. Throughout June, buy $25 worth of gear from CarQuest, get a free cheese burger at McDonalds; buy $150 worth of gear, you’ve earned yourself your very own Big Mac Extra Value Meal. You can even receive a 15% discount coupon for CarQuest, when you purchase select items at McDonalds of Guam.
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CarQuest Guam is also hosting a birthday party, featuring a live remote with Hit Radio 100. They’re partying like its 2011, rolling back oil changes and filters to the long ago prices of 2011. Do-it-yourself promos will be running throughout June; customers can come in for an oil change and filter from just $12.99. CarQuest Guam opened in June 2011. It is an independently owned franchise of CarQuest Auto Parts, an auto-supply chain with more than 3,000 locations and 18,000 associates across the United States.
Seeing unmet demand in the local market, Hawaii based Hawthorne Cat brought the retailer to Guam to serve professional auto-repair shops and home enthusiasts. Today, it offers all the essentials and the hard to find parts and accessories for: air conditioning, alternators, batteries, belts, brakes, car care, cooling system, drive train, electrical, engine, filters, fleet/heavy duty, hoses, light bulbs, oil and fluids, safety gear, starters, steering, suspension, tools and wiper blades. CarQuest Guam is located in the Dynasty Building in
Upper Tumon, just north of the intersection of airport road and Marine Corps Drive. CarQuest Guam is co-located with HFP Industrial Products, which carries Bosch and DeWalt, Campbell and Crosby, Delta and Jet, Fill-Rite, MaruyamaShindaiwa-Echo, Multiquip, Price-Wilden, Racor and other professional names in industrial tools. All their equipment comes with a five year “iron” warranty and on-site servicing. Get the best at CarQuest Guam, where you’ll find great people, great products and great prices!