Marine Dive Magazine hails CNMI

This news comes from the Trib:

The CNMI has received six diving awards from Marine Dive Magazine, based on votes cast by the magazine's readers, according to the Marianas Visitors Authority yesterday.

First place award went to Managaha Island as the best snorkeling spot.

The CNMI also won three fourth-place awards and two fifth-place awards. The fourth place awards were for Best Beach - Managaha Island, Best Diving Area - Saipan, Tinian and Rota and Best Diving Area Saipan. The two 5th place awards were for Best Beach - Teteto Beach Rota and Best Resort Area - Saipan, Tinian and Rota.

“We are thrilled to receive these prestigious awards,” said MVA managing director Perry Tenorio. “Having our islands featured in Marine Dive Magazine will assist us in promoting the CNMI as a great dive destination.”

Isn't it nice to know that readers of that magazine voted for the Marianas.

The Reveler

Pride Party in the CNMI!

In line with the Pride Month, for the first time in the CNMI, groups here on Saipan will hold a Pride Party on June 21, dubbed "Hairspray" party also in time for the release of the movie in July.

The event will have the best hairdos, costumes galore!!! DJ Ken Loo mixes!!!

Event venue: Saipan Grand Hotel, Club V and Lobby
Date: June 21, 9pm
For the benefit of Napu Life Foundation

The Reveler

Also check this news online:

Hundreds of thousands of gay, lesbian and transvestite people have taken part in a Gay Pride parade in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo.

Organisers said the number of people taking part had exceeded last year's record of 2.5 million marchers.

The parade is said to be the largest of its kind in the world.

Costumes, floats and music are dominating, but activists say they also have a serious message, calling for a world without discrimination.

Paris Hilton and Sarah Silverman on MTV

Ooooh I just saw the MTV Awards (don't care if it's a week late here) and this year's host Sarah Silverman started the show with her wisecracks she normally does in Comedy Central.

She informed the audience that infamous Paris Hilton a week from last week, so that was last week right, well anyway, she said Paris Hilton is going to be incarcerated soon that she's going to have a special treatment in the prison. Sarah Silverman said the prison bars would be shaped into penises. Then the crowd laughed and cameramen showed a wryly smiling Paris in the audience. Yes, she was there. Then Sarah Silverman shushed the crowd and said, "I'm just worried about her teeth!"

The audience roared with laughter and again TV showed Paris Hilton. My, my she was so uncomfortable on her seat.

Poor Paris. Oh, in a figurative sense.

The Reveler

Beachboy dines with Shazam

Did you see the video that Brad made when he fulfilled a date with Brenda of the Shazam family? Yup, it's posted already in case you haven't had the chance to see it.

So it's either Saipan Blogger would be happy about it that his poll was taken seriously but what about the winner. She should have a great sponsored dinner with her hubby. I'm sure Saipan Blogger can pull strings together to get Borego a dinner for two, knowing his extensive clout.

Watjatink?

The Reveler

Stay Stuck!

It's not too late to catch Nahal and the gang for Jessica Goldberg's "Stuck" at the American Memorial Park Visitor Center tonight at 7pm. Last play date will be tomorrow, June 9, Saturday same time, same venue.

Watched it last Sunday and I was impressed with the chemistry between Keisha Paez (Margaritah) and Nahal Navidar (Lula). Both of them are the delight in the play. 'Was looking forward to seeing them together up on stage.

I believe the theme of the play has sort of relevance for some who have been here in the CNMI for a long time now.

Rick Jones (Charlie) did a convincing role as a mature man hitting on Lula. Kelvin Rodeo played a role of an Argentine. Ok, he has no spanish accent whatsoever, his lines would've been funnier when delivered with a spanish accent. Lynda Rowe (Lula's mother) as usual is a spice in the play who holds back Lula from moving on.

Verdict: I enjoyed the play. Terrific script. For a play in the CNMI, this one is at par with the others for great acting, lines and simplicity. Don't let the ending horrify you on your seat.

The Reveler
Photo courtesy of http://fabulousinvalidtheatreco.blogspot.com

Republican Debate

CNN is showing the Republican Debate this time. Also great to see probable presidential candidates such as Giuliani, McCain and...uh...romney? hmmm...and others.

They were asked what could they do to improve current admin's work, they said Bush has problems in communication, healthcare, et. al.

Also asked was about immigration reform and what does it mean to be an American. One "presidentiable" said if one comes to US legally, "welcome" but cut the past....

Rudy G. said if he turned New York around, he could also do the same to Washington DC. I guess he will turn the white house to face north. He said America should be in offense in war with Iraq because Iraqis want to go to the US to kill its people....

One said America is becoming a bilingual country, "And it's not good."

One said America will always be a land of opportunity that treats everyone equally.


The Reveler

How come?

How come we didn't make it to Jeff's Blogging article at Marianas Variety?

Hmmm...I guess we didn't pass the hypercritical taste of Mr. Turbitt. ;-)

Hokei. I rest my case.

The Reveler

"Stray Cats" thank you

For those who took time last night to see the Filipino flick "Stray Cats" a big thanks from RaveSaipan, Saipan Grand Hotel and Napu Life Foundation.

For a Saipan stats, the figures that showed up were significant already, I believe over 70 that showed up was a great turnout considering the subject of the film. The discussion afterwards was so intense despite lack of time.

The discussion went so well that we are now thinking of a group discussion about the issues that surround the LGBT lifestyles every month or once in a while. Anyone interested in the program should shoot us an email and we will notify you about the start of this project.

Also:

In celebration of the premier of John Travolta's flick, Hairspray, the RaveSaipan and Saipan Grand Hotel will hold the first ever pride party at the hotel lobby and Club V. We call the party "Hairspray: a grand pride party." Every one is invited to witness the best Hairspray hairdos to be paraded during the party. Grand Pride Party will be on June 21, Thursday, again at the Saipan Grand Hotel Lobby and the Club V.

The Reveler

"Stray Cats" tonight at Fiesta Resort Hibiscus Hall!

Attention: Movie lovers, gay men and women (and their friends!), Filipinos, islanders who have just had enough of Hollywood! Here’s a chance to see an indie film that has film buffs talking all over the world.

Mga Pusang Gala (Stray Cats) will be shown at Fiesta Resort and Spa's Hibiscus Hall tonight, Monday, June 4, 2007, 7:30pm. A forum on gay rights will follow at 9:30pm. The panel will include director Ellen Ongkeko, actor Ricky Davao, and local community members.

Tickets are at $10 each. Proceeds will go to the Napu Life Foundation.

Here’s a synopsis of the Stray Cats from the UH website:

Director: Ellen Ongkeko

Cast: Irma Adlawan and Ricky Davao

Philippines 2006

118 min.

Tagalog w/English Subtitles

Mga Pusang Gala (Stray Cats) is a daring, innovative comic-romance fantasy, a parody which depicts love, sex, romance and loneliness in a way never before seen in Philippine cinema. It is fantasy incarnate all over: a battle of the sexes where this time around, the sexes are not just two but three.

Mga Pusang Gala tells the story of parallel love lives: that of Marta, a middle-age advertising practioner; and that of her, just as aging, gay friend and landlord Boyet, a romance novelist. Their lives are punctuated by their waiting for the menwho they think will fulfill their dreams. Boyet’s novels are inspired by Marta’s idiosyncratic anxieties for Steve, her non-committal boyfriend. Marta is tacitly envious of Boyet’s gathering of a family by adopting Jojo, a 15-year old pickpocket and Dom, his financially dependent lover. Both are willing to play the stereotypical roles of woman and gay to embrace a hopeful fantasy. But as these hopes turn out to be illusions they decide to take matters into their own hands, in a riveting confrontation. What happens next is inevitable but unsettling.

To date, Stray Cats has been shown in, or invited to, these international film festivals:

• 20th edition Fribourg International Film Festival, Switzerland,March 12-19, 2006
• Panorama Section, Philippines: Digital Cinema from Revolution to Evolution
• Newfest 2006: The 18th New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Film Festival, June 1-11, 2006
• Frameline 30, the San Francisco LGBT Film Festival,USA, June 15-25,2006; Winner, Docker’s Best 1st Feature
• Dallas LBGT Film Festival, Oct. 28, 2006
• Reel Affirmations, Chicago LGBT Film Festival, Nov. 5, 2006; Competition
• Montreal, Qb, Canada. Image Nation Film Festival Nov. 16-26, 2006
• Melbourne Queer Film Festival, March 15-25, 2007
• Mardi Gras Film Festival, Sydney Australia, Feb. 15-March 1, 2007
• TLVFEST 2007, Tel Aviv, June 18-23, 2007
• Films of Desire: Sexuality and the Cinematic Imagination, India, March 6-10, 2007.
  
• Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, April 27-May 6, 2007

For more information, call Oscar Yema at 483-6489 or send an email to ravesaipan@gmail.com.

Democratic Debate

Watching the Democratic Debate on CNN now where nine of the "presidentiables" are babbling it out about what they think of issues facing the nation now. It's interesting to know their insights about gasoline, oil, and the middle east.

Such intelligence overflowing except for one governor who gloats in his own glory being the conservationist. I couldn't help compare these officials and lawmakers to the CNMI candidates during the gubernatorial debate here. Yes, actually there was a debate before the election and personally the current governor didn't shine enough during that debate, as far as I can recall.

Interesting to see Clinton and Obama up on one stage.

The Reveler