AGP Executive Report

CNMI Grapplers: Saipan’s Trench Tech and Saipan Submissions athletes brought home medals from the Guam Marianas Open, earning podium finishes across multiple divisions. Pacific Film: More than 2,500 people across the region joined the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival, which included free screenings in Saipan and films by Pacific artists. Photography: Saipan photographer Jayson Sablan’s work, “Second Skin,” is featured in a Tokyo-based publication and exhibition showcasing artists from around the world. Student Music: Saipan Community School band students shared their progress in a performance led by director Ruthi Fruit. Saipan’s Enbo Liu was also named to Bob Jones University’s Chorale. Arts Support: A House bill on the agenda would strengthen coordination on cultural tourism while protecting the independence of the CNMI’s arts council and setting standards for artist payments.

Grappling: CNMI athletes from Trench Tech and Saipan Submissions brought home a big medal haul from the Guam Marianas Open, with podium finishes across kids’ and adult divisions. Pacific Film: More than 2,500 people took part in the Pacific Human Rights Film Festival, which included free screenings in Saipan and films spotlighting women and younger generations. Photography: Saipan photographer Jayson Sablan’s work, “Second Skin,” is featured in a Tokyo-based publication and exhibition bringing together 90 artists. Young Performers: Saipan Community School band students showcased their progress in an evening concert. Arts and Culture: A House bill on Monday’s agenda would strengthen cultural tourism coordination while preserving the independence of the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture.

Pacific Film: More than 2,500 people across the region joined the 6th Pacific Human Rights Film Festival, which included free screenings in Saipan. The festival’s films and discussion sessions spotlighted human rights and Pacific voices, with a focus on women and younger generations. Saipan Photography: Jayson Sablan’s portraits are featured in a Tokyo-based photography publication and exhibition. His three-image series, Second Skin, celebrates people embracing their identities. Community Arts: Saipan Community School band students performed last week, sharing what they have learned under director Ruthi Fruit. Saipan’s Enbo Liu was also named to Bob Jones University’s Chorale. Karate: Young martial artists from the CNMI competed at the 16th Carlos Palacios Memorial Karate Tournament, with Isaiah Orr and Tristan Josef Sablan among the local medalists. Arts and Culture: A bill on the House agenda would support coordination between the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture on cultural tourism, while protecting the council’s independence and setting standards for artist payments.

Photography: Saipan photographer Jayson Sablan is among 90 artists featured in Come What May, an international photography publication and exhibition in Tokyo. His three-image series, Second Skin, celebrates people embracing their identities. Youth Arts: Saipan Community School band students shared their musical progress in a recent performance, while Saipan’s Enbo Liu has been named to Bob Jones University’s Chorale. Arts Policy: A bill on Monday’s House agenda would promote cultural tourism and coordination between the Marianas Visitors Authority and the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, while protecting the council’s independence and setting standards for artist payments. Karate: Young martial artists competed in the 16th annual Carlos Palacios Memorial Tournament; Saipan’s Isaiah Orr won two events, and Tristan Josef Sablan took first in boys’ kumite.

Youth Music: Saipan Community School band students performed last week, showcasing what they have learned under director Ruthi Fruit. Saipan on the Stage: Enbo Liu, a Saipan resident studying biochemistry at Bob Jones University, has joined the university’s Chorale, which recently performed in South Carolina. Micronesian Art: “Ocean of Peace,” an exhibition featuring 11 artists exploring Pacific kinship and ancestral traditions, is on view at the East-West Center Gallery in Hawai‘i through March 14. Local Sports: Marianas High School’s Lady Dolphins won a second straight girls’ volleyball title, beating Grace Christian Academy in straight sets. CNMI triathlete Lily Muldoon also reached the top five among Pacific Island women in Oceania’s rankings.

Music: Saipan Community School band students took the stage for an evening showcase of their musical progress, guided by director Ruthi Fruit. Saipan’s Enbo Liu was also named to Bob Jones University’s premier Chorale, which performed Oct. 10 and returns to the stage in April. Sports: Saipan academies sent competitors to the Guam Marianas Open this weekend, while the Marianas High School Lady Dolphins defended their girls’ volleyball title with a straight-sets win over Grace Christian Academy. CNMI triathlete Lily Muldoon also broke into Oceania Triathlon’s top five Pacific Island women. Pacific Arts: “Ocean of Peace,” an exhibition featuring 11 artists exploring Micronesian heritage and connections across the Pacific, runs at the East-West Center Gallery through March 14.

Local Sports: Marianas High School’s Lady Dolphins repeated as PSS-NMIVA girls’ volleyball champions, while Saipan Submissions and Trench Tech sent competitors to the Guam Marianas Open this weekend. Island Talent: Saipan resident Enbo Liu has joined Bob Jones University’s premier Chorale, which recently performed and is scheduled to return to the stage in April. Saipan-raised filmmaker Justin Ocampo also shared how he built a career in media and hopes to help young people explore creative fields. Pacific Arts: “Ocean of Peace,” an exhibition featuring 11 artists and Micronesian perspectives on kinship and shared heritage, is showing at the East-West Center Gallery through March 14.

Local Sports: The Marianas High School Lady Dolphins repeated as PSS-NMIVA girls’ volleyball champions, while this week’s sports roundup tracks CNMI athletes competing at home and off-island. Triathlon: Saipan emergency physician Lily Muldoon broke into Oceania Triathlon’s top five Pacific Island women after winning gold for the CNMI in Palau. Grappling: Saipan Submissions and Trench Tech are sending about 30 athletes to the Guam Marianas Open this weekend. Music: Saipan’s Enbo Liu, a biochemistry student at Bob Jones University, has been named to the university’s premier Chorale. Pacific Arts: A traveling Micronesian art exhibition at the East-West Center in Hawai‘i brings together 11 artists exploring shared heritage and kinship across the Pacific. Film: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo reflects on his career and encourages young people to pursue creative work.

Triathlon: Saipan emergency physician Lily Muldoon has broken into the top five Pacific Island female triathletes after winning gold for the CNMI at a regional cup in Palau. Music: Saipan resident Enbo Liu has been named to Bob Jones University’s Chorale, a university choir with a history of major performances across the U.S. and abroad. Grappling: Saipan’s Submissions Academy and Trench Tech are sending about 30 competitors to this weekend’s Guam Marianas Open. Pacific Arts: “Ocean of Peace,” a Micronesian art exhibition featuring 11 artists, is on view at the East-West Center Gallery in Hawai‘i through March 14, 2027. Film: Saipan-raised filmmaker and photographer Justin Ocampo shared how his education and career led to award-winning work and a role in public communications in Honolulu.

Music: Saipan’s Enbo Liu has been named to Bob Jones University’s Chorale. The biochemistry sophomore will join the choir for its next campus performance on April 3. Martial Arts: Saipan Submissions and Trench Tech are sending about 30 competitors to the Guam Marianas Open, set for Oct. 24–25 at the University of Guam. Micronesian Arts: The “Ocean of Peace” exhibition brings together 11 artists exploring Pacific kinship through ancestral wisdom and traditions; it runs at the East-West Center Gallery through March 14, 2027. Film: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo reflects on his creative career and his commitment to helping young people find pathways into the arts.

Local Competition: About 15 athletes from Saipan’s Trench Tech MMA Academy are set to compete in the Guam Marianas Open Gi & No-Gi championship, including adult and youth grapplers. Micronesian Art: “Ocean of Peace,” an exhibition featuring 11 artists, explores ancestral traditions and connections across the Pacific. It runs at the East-West Center Gallery in Hawai‘i through March 14, 2027. Saipan Filmmaker: Justin Ocampo, a Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer now based in Hawai‘i, says he hopes to help young people find pathways into creative careers. Culture and Tourism: Returning performers draw a distinction between sharing CNMI culture and promoting tourism, underscoring the importance of supporting cultural work on its own terms.

Saipan Sports: About 15 Trench Tech competitors are headed to Guam for the Marianas Open Gi & No-Gi Championship on Oct. 24–25, including youth and adult grapplers. Micronesian Art: “Ocean of Peace,” an exhibition featuring 11 Pacific artists, explores ancestral traditions and ties across the region. It runs at the East-West Center Gallery in Hawai‘i through March 14. Local Creative: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo is sharing his path into the creative industries and hopes to help young people find their own way.

Pacific Arts: The “Ocean of Peace” exhibition at Hawai‘i’s East-West Center brings together 11 artists whose work celebrates Micronesian ties and shared Pacific heritage. It runs through March 14, 2027. Cultural Performance: Returning performers Lourdes and Elmo Sablan say Saipan needs more chances for adults and children to learn Chamorro dance and other Pacific arts. Their call comes as the Marianas Visitors Authority plans an Arts and Culture division; the couple say they’re cautious about shifting the arts council under the agency. Local Filmmaking: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo, whose films have earned regional and international honors, hopes to help young people find pathways into creative careers.

Micronesian Arts: The “Ocean of Peace” exhibition at the East-West Center in Hawai‘i brings together 11 artists whose work celebrates Pacific kinship and ancestral knowledge. It runs through March 14, 2027. Creative Careers: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo reflects on his path into the industry and his commitment to helping young people explore creative careers. Culture on Saipan: Returning performers Lou and Elmo Sablan say community opportunities to learn Chamorro and Pacific arts are limited, and urge more shared programs for adults and youth. They’re watching a proposal to move the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture under the Marianas Visitors Authority. Cultural Heritage: Åtchu’ Latti’ has returned to the Marianas after nearly 70 years.

Creative Careers: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo shares how he built a career in the creative industries and hopes to help young people find their own paths. Arts & Culture: Returning performers Lou and Elmo Sablan want more community opportunities to learn Chamorro culture and dance. They’re cautious about a proposal to move the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture to the Marianas Visitors Authority. Cultural Heritage: A latte stone taken from Rota nearly 70 years ago has returned to the Marianas. It will remain at the NMI Museum in Saipan while its original location is identified.

Creative Careers: Saipan-raised filmmaker and documentary photographer Justin Ocampo, now based in Hawaiʻi, says he hopes to help young people find pathways into creative industries. His award-winning work includes recognition at the Guam and Hawaiʻi international film festivals. Arts and Culture: Returning performers Lou and Elmo Sablan say the CNMI needs more community opportunities for adults and children to learn Chamorro and Pacific arts. They’re cautiously watching a proposal to move the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture under the Marianas Visitors Authority. Cultural Heritage: A latte stone taken from Rota nearly 70 years ago returned to the Marianas in a ceremony at the NMI Museum in Saipan. Students from Marianas High School performed traditional chants as the artifact was welcomed home.