The Guam Daily Post

27/11/2025

It was a festive evening in Tumon as the Korean Women’s Association of Guam commemorated its 50th anniversary on Nov. 18 with a Christmas Charity Gala that brought together community leaders, cultural performers and longtime supporters for a night of celebration and recognition at the Dusit Thani Guam Resort’s Grand Ballroom.

The milestone event highlighted the association’s half-century of service, philanthropy and cultural exchange, honoring its role in strengthening ties between Guam and the island’s Korean community. The evening also included the presentation of Certificate No. 243-38 (COR) by Vice Speaker Tony Ada of the 38th Guam Legislature, formally recognizing the association’s decades of dedication, compassion and community partnership.

During the program, Young Nim Choi, president of the Korean Women’s Association of Guam, presented recognition and appreciation awards to several key community members and supporters who have contributed to the association’s mission.

Guests, including local leaders, members of Guam’s Korean community and supporters from various organizations, filled the ballroom in festive attire, with many wearing traditional Korean hanbok, adding a vibrant cultural touch to the celebration and reflecting the evening’s spirit of unity and appreciation.

As the gala drew to a close, Choi expressed gratitude to the officers, members and supporters who have shaped the association’s journey over the past five decades. She shared optimism for the years ahead, emphasizing a continued commitment to service and cultural exchange.

📷 Frank San Nicolas | The Guam Daily Post

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It was a festive evening in Tumon as the Korean Women’s Association of Guam commemorated its 50th anniversary on Nov. 18 with a Christmas Charity Gala that brought together community

27/11/2025

Legislation to address a brewing staffing crisis at the Guam Department of Education Division of Special Education. Bill 226-38 was quickly introduced by Committee on Education, Libraries, and Public Broadcasting Chair Sen. Vincent Borja, which provides up to 10% in pay incentives to address the critical shortage of disability aides.

The measure follows a recent oversight hearing in which GDOE Assistant Superintendent of Special Education Tom Babauta described the situation as a "supply and demand crisis," in recruiting and retaining aides. "Positions have been identified by school teams, but it is an unfunded mandate," Babauta said.

According to Babauta, GDOE is currently short over 120 aides for students with disabilities alone, "a gap that makes it harder for the department to meet federal requirements and provide the level of support our students deserve."

Borja said his bill would establish a specialty certification incentive pay program designed to encourage current GDOE employees to earn and use specialized certifications in areas where the need is greatest.

✏️ Nestor Licanto | The Guam Daily Post

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Legislation to address a brewing staffing crisis at the Guam Department of Education Division of Special Education. Bill 226-38 was quickly introduced by Committee on Education, Libraries, and Public Broadcasting

27/11/2025

Gametime, Inc. presents the third H.O.P.E. Camp football skills camp and college showcase from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 28-30 at George Washington High School.

“Gametime, Inc. is committed to giving the island's youth a new hope, combining sports and mental health awareness,” a representative from Gametime, Inc. said in a press release. “With Guam leading the nation in su***de rates per capita, H.O.P.E. Camp is designed as a football skills and college showcase camp teaching the youth su***de coping skills.”

The camp is designed to help develop stronger football athletes on Guam, with a significant focus on supporting young men and women in gaining opportunities to play at the collegiate level. Beyond athletics, the camp’s greater mission is to equip participants with tools that can help effectively combat su***de within the island community.

“Our goal is to help lower su***de rates and reshape the mindset surrounding mental health and su***de on Guam. By fostering resilience, connection, and hope, we aim to make a lasting difference both on and off the field.”

To register, visit gametimeguam.org

📷 Matt Weiss | The Guam Daily Post

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Gametime, Inc. presents the third H.O.P.E. Camp football skills camp and college showcase from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 28-30 at George Washington High School.

26/11/2025

The Korean Guam Travel Association Inc. believes that taking care of the island is a shared responsibility, one they are calling on the community to support by joining an upcoming cleanup initiative at culturally significant sites in Hagåtña, including Plaza de España, the Guam Museum surroundings and Latte Stone Park, on Sunday, Nov. 30.

KGTA’s executive board told The Guam Daily Post that the cleanup event, the first initiative under the new executive committee, is inspired by feedback from the community and travelers. KGTA said it was a deliberate process.

KGTA chose Hagåtña’s historic and cultural sites because “Tumon naturally receives a lot of attention both from visitors and local initiatives.”

“So, we felt it was important to shift the spotlight to Hagåtña. These sites hold tremendous historical and cultural value, yet they often go unnoticed despite being part of many city tour routes. By focusing here, we hope to honor Guam’s heritage while supporting areas that deserve more visibility and care,” KGTA said.

“We hope it sparks ongoing attention and encourages more groups to adopt or support historic spaces. If this event demonstrates the impact of even a few hours of dedicated effort, then it can inspire long-term partnerships, future cleanups and broader community engagement in preservation,” KGTA said.

KGTA officials plan to make cleanup initiatives a consistent part of their term as board members.

✏️ Jolene Toves | The Guam Daily Post
📷 David Castro | The Guam Daily Post

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The Korean Guam Travel Association Inc. believes that taking care of the island is a shared responsibility, one they are calling on the community to support by joining an upcoming

26/11/2025

The Guam Education Board made it official Tuesday night, approving a $210,000 annual salary for incoming superintendent Judith Won Pat and watching her sign the contract that will make her the next leader of the island's public school system.

Won Pat, who was selected as superintendent of the Guam Department of Education earlier this month, will officially take over Jan. 1, 2026, replacing outgoing GDOE Superintendent Kenneth Erik Swanson, who requested $170,000 when he was hired in 2023.

The salary decision came after board member and certified human resources professional Ron McNinch analyzed national superintendent compensation data. His report examined median salaries for school systems serving 10,000 to 24,999 students, landing on a range of $204,000 to $278,800 for districts comparable to Guam's 23,000-student system.

Won Pat was selected as superintendent during a special board meeting earlier this month, securing six votes after board member Ada changed his vote in the second round. She previously served as acting GDOE superintendent before Swanson's arrival and most recently worked as the governor's education liaison.

Acting Gov. Josh Tenorio praised the selection shortly after Won Pat's appointment.

✏️📷 Walter Ulloa | The Guam Daily Post

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The Guam Education Board made it official Tuesday night, approving a $210,000 annual salary for incoming superintendent Judith Won Pat and watching her sign the contract that will make her

26/11/2025

26/11/2025

The Leon Guerrero administration is working to address persistent questions about transparency and community input as Guam's military buildup accelerates, with officials defending their coordination efforts while legislators and residents continue pressing for more direct communication from defense leaders.

Vera Topasna, executive director of the Community Defense Liaison Office, told The Guam Daily Post that the administration takes community concerns seriously and that agency heads maintain direct communication with military and federal counterparts on infrastructure needs without waiting for formal meetings.

The comments come after the Nov. 14 Civil-Military Coordination Council meeting at the Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor's Complex, where Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Rear Adm. Brett Mietus, commander of Joint Region Marianas, co-chaired discussions between U.S. military officials and Government of Guam agency representatives.

The meeting addressed military mission growth, solutions to H-2B labor demands for both military and private sector construction, and Defense of Guam initiatives.

✏️ Walter Ulloa | The Guam Daily Post

Get the full story at postguam.com

The Leon Guerrero administration is working to address persistent questions about transparency and community input as Guam's military buildup accelerates, with officials defending their coordination efforts while legislators and residents

26/11/2025

The Legislature on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to reject a bill by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero that would have authorized the installation of power and water infrastructure improvements in Mangilao at the site of her planned new medical campus.

Only Sens. William Parkinson and Tina Muna Barnes voted in favor of the measure.

It was a court ruling on Friday by Judge Elyze Iriarte that may have swayed or reinforced the vote against the bill. Iriarte ruled that there was no evidence that justified the condemnation of land abutting the campus, and that apparently raised red flags among a number of senators.

Speaker Frank Blas Jr. referenced the ruling and said the administration "put the cart before the horse. They used the justification to be able to get the land so that they could put (in) a housing project. ... There was never a housing project when they started."

He said that raises questions about whether the administration will be able to put in the infrastructure and whether they will have to pay back the money that will be spent on it.

✏️ Nestor Licanto | The Guam Daily Post
📷 Frank San Nicolas | The Guam Daily Post

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The Legislature on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to reject a bill by Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero that would have authorized the installation of power and water infrastructure improvements in Mangilao at

26/11/2025

On Saturday, the Okkodo High School campus transformed into a melting pot of cultures celebrating the "exceptional talents and rich cultural diversity of Guam's youth" at the 2025 Sen Guaiya Hao Guahan Youth Arts Fest, the first of its kind for the Guam Department of Education, according to Deputy Superintendent Joseph Sanchez.

The school buzzed with students from public, charter and private schools and organizations dressed in traditional cultural clothing from their respective homelands. Among them was Veronique Pong of the University of Guam's Yap Student Organization.

Deputy Superintendent Sanchez told the Post that the goal of the event was to engage students along "two dimensions."

"One is their culture, their ethnic culture, where they're from. If they're CHamoru, or they're Filipino, if they're from the other Micronesia islands. Plus, their art, how does the arts bring all of us together? So, we have three rooms running simultaneously. We have different performers from all of the different high schools. We even have Harvest Christian Academy that joined us as one of the private schools. And some of the other charter schools have joined. So really, it's bringing all of our high school students together to share their cultures and to share their arts," Sanchez said.

✏️📷 Jolene Toves | The Guam Daily Post

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On Saturday, the Okkodo High School campus transformed into a melting pot of cultures celebrating the "exceptional talents and rich cultural diversity of Guam's youth" at the 2025 Sen Guaiya

26/11/2025

A resolution seeking congressional help for a solution to Guam's housing crisis was introduced on Tuesday by Sen. William Parkinson.

Parkinson is urging Congress and specifically the Department of Defense to transition Guam to the Basic Allowance for Housing, or BAH, system, which applies to the states, instead of the current Overseas Housing Allowance, or OHA.

Parkinson blames the OHA system for putting housing costs beyond the reach of many working families on Guam. But his Resolution 117-38 states that under BAH, service members would receive a flat housing allowance based on local rental rates and would keep any leftover funds if they find more affordable housing.

"That encourages real bargaining and helps keep landlords honest," Parkinson said.

✏️ Nestor Licanto | The Guam Daily Post

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A resolution seeking congressional help for a solution to Guam's housing crisis was introduced on Tuesday by Sen. William Parkinson.

26/11/2025

When Celia Anderson picked up the mantle to run Bonita Baby after her mom's death in 2022, she tapped into her grief to fulfill a promise she made to her mother, Bonita Baby founder, the late Jessica Leon Guerrero Stout, to keep the business alive. Now under Anderson's leadership the CHamoru-inspired children's brand celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

Anderson described her transition into running the family business as "challenging" and filled with responsibility.

"It was really challenging. She was diagnosed with aggressive cancer in May 2020 and right after, the next month, it was COVID, so we had to close our doors for a several months, we weren't making any money. We weren't getting paid. Grants really helped us from the Guam Economic Development Authority and Small Business Administrations, that really got us through, we were late on bills she had to deal with that until she passed" Anderson said. "I came in just as we were getting out of COVID."

By that time, Baby Bonita had to find new suppliers. "We had lost a lot of our suppliers; she didn't leave any instructions in how to run the business. So, I was literally picking up the pieces and digging through emails, archive files about how to run this business."

But while others in that situation may fold, Anderson excelled.

✏️ Jolene Toves | The Guam Daily Post

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When Celia Anderson picked up the mantle to run Bonita Baby after her mom's death in 2022, she tapped into her grief to fulfill a promise she made to her

26/11/2025

The Guam Regional Medical City continues its mission to bridge gaps in access to care through its outreach initiatives, this time with a focus on "your gut," according to a press release from GRMC.

The Your Gut, Our Focus event will cover an array of topics ranging from digestive issues to advanced diagnostics with presentations and a question-and-answer forum featuring gastroenterologist Dr. Supannee "Jill" Rassameehiran on Saturday, Dec. 13.

Participants who attend the event can meet representatives from GRMC's gastroenterology department, patient education, patient experience, and referral management departments. Representatives from Philippine Airlines and The Medical City Referral Office will also be present.

The event is free and open to the public. GRMC will be offering blood pressure and blood sugar screenings and a chance to win raffle prizes to participants.

The event will take place at the Micronesia Mall center court from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13

✏️ Jolene Toves | The Guam Daily Post
📷 David Castro | The Guam Daily Post

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The Guam Regional Medical City continues its mission to bridge gaps in access to care through its outreach initiatives, this time with a focus on "your gut," according to a