r&r pacific - may 2015

MAY 2015

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

an icyjourneycollector’s items

Guam-born ballet dancer shares her stateside story

Hobbyists showcase their prized miscellanea

A Guam diver’s Antarctica expedition

TRAVEL Palau ARTisT sPoTLighTA life in ballet

CALENDARguide to May events

EssENCE of guAMCollectors share their interests

PRoCREATE PREsENTsKeys to a beautiful C-section

REsTAuRANTs & fooDBuffets

sTAyCATioNsouthern guam getaways

CoVER fEATuREDiver explores Antarctica

ouT & ABouTEvent photos

sPoRTsWomen’s tackle football

About the cover: (From left) David Ramsay, head of diving, Magmadive, and Toni Brooks, Guam native and diver, went on an expedition to Antarctica in March. They are working on a pho-tograph book to raise awareness for the Antarctica ecosystem. Photo courtesy of David Ramsay (Magmadive/www.magmadive.is).

contents

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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.

Team Legacy and Sindalu face off in the first game of the women’s tackle football.

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PUBLISHER

Maureen N. Maratita

MANAGING EDITOR

Jackie hanson

ASSISTANT EDITOR

Joy White

REPORTERS

Thomas Johnson

Bryce guerrero

PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR

Rosanna Dacanay

SENIOR DESIGNER

Vikki fong

SALES MANAGER

Annie san Nicolas

ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Joedda sanchez

samantha guzman

ADMINISTRATION

Janice Castro, Jessica Leon guerrero

Carmelita McClellan & Bernard (Mr. B) Leonen

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Marcos fong

R&R Pacific/May

R&R Pacific • May 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: [email protected] • All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.

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

2015

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Travel///Palau

The geTaway jusT a sTone’s Throw awaysTory By joy white

Jellyfish Lake in Palau.

When you want to get away from the modern world and just bask in the beauty of nature, visit Palau. The beaches of the island nation are a perfect place to relax. There are plenty of jungle areas, waterfalls and other natural sites to explore. The waters are full of fish and other sea life to admire, with one or two sunken World War II ships for some excitement, making it a diver’s paradise. Above all, the culture of the islands is one thing you won’t easily forget.

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Palau, also known as Belau and the Republic of Palau, is an is-land nation that consists of a chain of islands. The most populated islands include Koror, where about two-thirds of the population lives; Babeldaob, home to the country’s capital, Ngerulmud; Anguar; and Peleliu. Babeldaob, Koror and Peleliu lie within the same barrier reef, while Angaur is several miles to the south. Many of the islands are sparsely populated, seemingly deserted, which is perfect if one wants to relax without any distractions.

In these islands, one won’t find a gaggle of flashy tourist attrac-tions. There are a few restaurants and shops, but for the most part, there’s not much except you and your thoughts.

The thing to do in Palau is get in the water. Swim, snorkel, dive or go out on a boat, though land tours and attractions are also an option. If you get a chance to rent a boat, which can come with a captain, that’s highly recommended, explore the Rock Islands, located between Koror and Peleliu. The Rock Islands are a World Heritage Site, and for good reason. Sprouting from the waves, the collection of some 200 to 300 islands is much like its namesake, rocks, with patches of lush greenery carpeting the surfaces.

Exploring these tiny islands, you’ll find the Milky Way Lagoon and the world famous Jellyfish Lake. The Milky Way Lagoon is known for its white sand, which is said to be good for the skin when applied

as a kind of mud pack. Visiting Jellyfish Lake is a once in a lifetime experience. When the

sun rises, the golden jellyfish swim to the surface and follow the sun during the day. The jellyfish don’t sting, and you can float along with them. Because of the isolation provided by the lake, the golden jelly fish are different from other species living nearby.

Other popular dive and tourist sites in the Rock Islands include, Blue Corner, Blue Hole, German Channel and Dolphin Bay. There are countless vertical drops to jump off of into the water and waterfalls to appreciate.

While in Palau, it is unavoidable to eat delectable seafood. Many of the boats come equipped with a grill, so to say your meals will be fresh is an understatement.

When it comes to planning your trip, book your flight well in ad-vance. The flight is about two hours from Guam, and there are a few other flights from various places in Asia. After leaving the airport in Babeldaob, taxis are available for getting about, but it might be better to arrange transportation with your hotel or for a car rental beforehand.

While many of the islands in Palau are sparsely populated, several ho-tels, resorts and even bungalows to stay in do have modern conveniences.

Be advised that there is a rainy season in June, July and August, which are not ideal times to plan an adventure out to sea.

(Clockwise from top) Bluestripe Snappers on a tropical coral reef off the islands of Palau; Milky Way Lagoon; a limestone island set in the midst of Palau’s scenic Rock Islands.

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The performing arts///Ballet

“The hard part [about ballet] is that it is finite. There is a small window of time to improve your technique,” says Caili Quan, Guam native and professional ballet performer.

Quan was just a little girl when her mother, Clarisa G. Quan, enrolled her in ballet classes under the instruction of John Grens-back and Bettina Sanzotta. Quan’s mother thought it would simply be a nice activity. “She didn’t realize I would fall in love with it,” Quan says.

Finding the resources for ballet instruction on Guam to be limited, Caili convinced her parents at the age of 16 to let her go to New York for training at Ballet Academy East. By that age, she was already behind compared to other dancers trying to make ballet a profession.

The first six months were hard, Quan says. “It was a very rigor-ous program. I was in a lot of pain, and I had to play catch up,” she says. Other dancers were better trained and had more experience.

Despite the challenges, Quan says she was very fortunate to make it into the academy. Her sister helped her by hand-delivering her audition tape. At first, the academy’s director denied her, but Quan’s sister convinced the director otherwise.

Through the next several years and with a lot of hard work and luck, Quan auditioned was able to perform with several companies. In 2007, Quan trained with the Richmond Ballet under scholarship and became an apprentice with the North Carolina Dance Theater two years later. She also spent three seasons with a small classical company in Delaware called the First State Ballet Theatre.

Finally, in January 2013, Quan was accepted into BalletX, a contemporary ballet company in Philadelphia, for which she cur-rently performs. Being with the company is a dream, “coming from an island far away and not having sufficient training,” Quan says.

She realizes her dancing career may not last forever. Her ideal post-dance career is in physical therapy, possibly helping injured dancers. Quan is intimately aware of how an injury can impact a dancer. “Injury reminds us we’re not perfect,” Quan says.

Quan also hopes to give back to the island community. In ear-ly 2015, Quan returned to Guam as a guest instructor for a few classes at Step Up Dance Studio. “Kids here [on Guam] are espe-cially hungry for it. I don’t think anyone here is spoon fed,” Quan says. “I feel it’s not a priority on the island. A lot of the time you have to have a ballet background [to be a professional dancer], and I want kids to have that option.”

However, those plans are far off. “Right now, I’m just trying to enjoy my career,” Quan says.

A life insTory By joy white

A lot of little girls dream about being ballerinas, but not all of them carry that dream into adulthood. Even fewer make the dream a reality.

Caili Quan (pictured far left), a Guam-born ballet dancer now with BalletX in Phila-delphia, performs “Gran Partita,” choreographed by Jorma Elo. Photo by Bill Hebert.

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Mayevents

May 2

Boonie stomp: sella Bay

Time: Meet at Chamorro Village Center Court at 9 a.m.Length: Four hours for two milesLevel: MediumBring: Two quarts water, swimsuit, snorkel gear, gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, lunch and camera. Price: $2 for hikers over 12 years old. More information: Visit facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

May 2

Moonie stomp: anao

Time: Meet at Chamorro Village Center Court at 5 p.m.Length: Four hours for two milesLevel: Difficult Bring: Flashlight, two quarts water, gloves, sturdy boots, snack and camera. Special conditions: Evening event, steep slopes, rough sharp rocks Price: $2 for hikers over 12 years old. More information: Visit facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

May 15 to 17

guam Micronesian Island FairLocation: Gov. Joseph Flores Beach Park (Ypao Beach Park)Time: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 15; Noon to 9 p.m. on May 16 and 17.Free Admission.

May 9

Boonie stomp: nimitz hill Caves

Time: Meet at Chamorro Village Center Court at 9 a.m.Length: Three hours for one mileLevel: Medium Bring: Flashlight, two quarts water, gloves, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: Climbing and crawling in narrow cave passages.Price: $2 for hikers over 12 years old. More information: Visit facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

May 16

Boonie stomp: southwest Coast walkTime: Meet at Chamorro Village Center Court at 9 a.m. Length: Six hours for eight milesLevel: Difficult Bring: Four quarts water, swimsuit, snorkel gear, gloves, insect repellent, sunscreen, sunglasses, lunch, and camera. Special conditions: A long hike in the sun over sand, rocks, mud and water.Price: $2 for hikers over 12 years old. More information: Visit facebook.com/GuamBoonieStompersInc.

May 20 & 24

guam symphony society’s night at the oscarsLocation: Hyatt Regency GuamGala dinner on May 20 at 7 p.m.Concert on May 24 at 3 p.m.Tickets: $100 on May 20; $20 on May 24 More information: Visit www.guamsymphony.com.

May 24

Big Beat guam Dj warsLocation: Club IconDoors open: 8:30 p.m.Price: $15 cover charge

featured event

May 23

Boonie stomp: Canuon river Join the Guam Boonie Stompers on an exploration of Guam’s natural

beauty. On this excursion, visit a tributary of the Tarzan River, hiking

up a deep gorge with rock formations, waterfalls and small swimming

pools. This event is a bit challenging and will involve hiking over rough

rocks, walking in the slippery river and some sword grass. The hike

will take approximately five hours to cover the three-mile course. Be

sure to bring: three quarts water, gloves, a swimsuit, sunscreen, lunch

and a camera.

For More InForMaTIon: Visit facebook.com/guamBooniestompersIncTIMe: Meet at Chamorro Village Center Court at 9 a.m.PrICe: $2 for hikers over 12 years old

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MAY

FEATURED MOVIE

MOVIES Pitch Perfect 2Mad Max: Fury RoadI’ll See You in My Dreams

MOVIES TomorrowlandSpy

MOVIES San AndreasInsidious: Chapter 3Aloha

• Boonie Stomp: Sella Bay• Moonie Stomp: Anao

• Boonie Stomp: Nimitz hill Caves

• Guam Micronesian island fair (thru May 17)

• Guam Micronesian island fair (thru May 17)• Boonie Stomp: southwest Coast Walk

• Boonie Stomp: Gun Beach to Tanguisson

• Boonie Stomp: Canuon River• Guam Micronesian

island fair

• Guam Symphony society’s Night at the oscars• UOG Graduation• DJ Wars

• Guam Symphony society’s Night at the oscars

• Harvest Festival

Mother’s Day

Memorial Day

MOVIES Hot PursuitBefore I Wake

MOVIES Avengers: Age of UltronFar From the Madding Crowd

*Event times and dates may change without notice.

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May 22

Tomorrowland

A shared destiny brings together a former boy-

genius, who has grown into a disillusioned adult,

and a gifted teenager filled with scientific curiosity

to journey to Tomorrowland, a realm that exists

between time and space. In a danger-filled mission

to explore and unearth the realm’s secrets, they

learn their actions affect the world they live in.

Directed by: Brad Bird

Starring: George Clooney, Hugh Laurie and Britt Robertson

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Essence of Guam///Collectors

sTory By joy white

on display

A collection of collectors

Building a collection involves dedication, patience and research. It can be a hobby or satisfy one’s curiosity or search for knowledge. Whatever their motivation or attraction, collectors find a sense of accomplishment, pride and even happiness.

The fan girl Dhelcee Inclano has an unshakeable loyalty to the popular Korean band

Bangtan Sonyeondan, which translates to the “Bulletproof Boys.” Bangtan Sonyeondan, also known as BTS, is a seven-member male music group. The group has released four mini-albums and one full-length album.

Inclano originally stumbled upon the band in 2014 on YouTube. She started being drawn into their music and their personalities when she had been going through a rough part in life. “They make me happy,” Inclano says. “They write their own songs and a lot of what they write is inspirational and has meaning.”

Inclano collects all things BTS including posters, autographed copies of their albums, photo cards, fans, pins and banners. Inclano is also a member of the band’s official fan club and subscribes to the band’s official “fancafe”— a website where the band members post blogs and videos and interact with fans.

Inclano has been to three of BTS’s concerts last year, two in Korea and one in Singapore. She plans to go to another concert this year in July in Melbourne, Australia.

She has stood in line for hours to purchase official BTS collectibles and merchandise and has exchanged some items with other fans, some of them made by fans themselves. “I consider them memorabilia. Some people sell them, and I can’t understand that,” Inclano says.

The part-time archaeologist Roman Duenas has been interested in

fossils since he was a kid. He finds them on Guam’s beaches and in other places he visited. When traveling, he occasionally purchases one or two from gift shops. His collection consists of crab fragments and an assortment of other fossilized materials.

“It’s interesting that my childhood hobby turned into something more meaningful, espe-cially as I understand it better as I get older,” he says.

His most prized finds are two crab fossils of a species that existed more than two million years ago that he found on Guam. He also has a small collection of giant clam shell remains. These are used for the traditional Chamorro sinahi, which hold monetary value.

“You can find a lot of weird things at the beach,” he says. He also finds and collects World War II bullets, old Coke bottles and even sling stones.

Photo by Joy White

Photos courtesy of Roman Duenas

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The bug guy Andrew Gulac’s insect collection began as a class project

at the University of Guam for an entomology class. He start-ed with a small cardboard box, which was required for class. Then he was gifted with a larger display case.

Collecting insects involves not only catching and pre-serving the insects, but identifying the insects’ scientific name and labeling them appropriately. Specimens are placed in the freezer to aid in preservation.

Gulac has close to 20 types of insects in his collection, in-cluding several beetles, a lady bug and a praying mantis. His first catch was a kadid, which is common on Guam.

He captured a few that are in his collection with a net, while others he found already dead. His most prized piece is a monarch butterfly which is rare on Guam.

While collecting the insects, he refers to a guide to help him identify the insects and their scientific names. “The different classes are based on their characteristics,” he says. “A lot of it is based on observation.”

“People are always asking why I don’t have any spiders, but spiders are not insects. They’re arachnids,” Gulac says. He also says people are usually very surprised that he collects insects and find it strange.

The builder“Building a Gundam is a

mixture of engineering and art,” says Raymond Guevara, a Gundam collector and builder. Gundam plastic models, called “Gunpla” for short, depict the vehicles and characters of the Japanese animated show, “Gun-dam.” One starts with build-ing the skeleton of the plastic model and then adds the armor and weapons. The models are designed so that, if assembled properly and balanced, and they can stand on their own.

Gundam plastic model kits are available for different skill levels. “You grow as a builder. It really reflects the amount of work you put in to build them. […] It’s not just building a ro-bot or a figurine; it also offers a different way to express your-self,” Guevara says.

Guevara has built some 20 to 40 models and often gives them to friends to entice them to start building their own.

Photos courtesy of Andrew Gulac

Photos courtesy of Raymond Guevara

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The collector extraordinaire Music is a large part of Maureen Quenga’s life. She

performs in the band Tropic Trio on the weekends, does other gigs as opportunities arise and teaches the ukulele during the weekdays. But there is more than music that keeps Quenga occupied. In addition to a col-lection of ukuleles, she has an impressive collection of toy cars and coins.

Quenga started collecting ukuleles a few years ago in search for an instrument that could be used for her band. After that, she continued to collect others that were unique or just cool-looking, she says.

Quenga has been collecting toy cars, mostly Hot Wheels, since she was a child. “Ever since I was a little kid, I liked [toy] cars,” Quenga says. “I’m not too good with the model of the car, but once I see it I know if I already have it,” she says.

Almost as long as she has been collecting toy cars, Quenga has been collecting coins. However, the collec-tion has not grown as large as her toy car collection. She collects U.S. state quarters, silver coins, half-dollars and dollar coins. She also has a small stash of two-dollar bills and realistic fake bills, such as three-dollar bills and most notably a one-dollar bill with Bob Marley on it.

With all of her collections, Quenga learns all she can about the items. She has learned the difference between mass produced ukuleles and handcrafted ukuleles made from a special wood artisans must get permission to use. Quenga has also done research on which coins are col-lectibles. She learned about the different Hot Wheels lines and that earlier lines were more realistic, made from metal while current lines are made from a mix of plastic and other materials.

Photos by Joy White

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Restaurant & Food///Buffets

sTory anD PhoTos By joy white

Here are some of our favorite buffets, each with its own array of dishes to serve.

Get in l ine

Location: Guam Reef & Olive Spa Resort

Cuisine: International

Hours of operation: Lunch on Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; dinner with show from 6:45 p.m. and dinner without show from 7:15 p.m. Dinner buffet closes at 9:30 p.m.

Price: Lunch $19; dinner $42 for dinner show and $32 for regular dinner daily. Service charge added.

Club Infinity Members get special discounts and offers.

Location: San Vitores Road, Tumon (across from Acanta Mall)

Cuisine: Thai

Hours of operation: Saturday lunch buffet featuring the restaurant’s new Thai Soup Cart from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Phone: 649-2437

Price: $11.95

Reservation not required.

Main Restaurant

Ban Thai Restaurant and Lounge

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Restaurant & Food///Buffets

Location: Fiesta Resort Guam

Cuisine: International

Hours of operation: Dinner served from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily

Contact: 646-5880 ext. 1811

Price: $24.95 Sunday to Thursday; $28.95 on Friday and Saturday; $14.50 for children aged 5 to 11 years.

Service charge added.Reservations recommended.

Location: Lotte Hotel Guam

Cuisine: Euro-Asian Fusion

Phone number: 646-6811

Hours of operation: Breakfast 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.; lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sunday brunch 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Dinner 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Price: Breakfast $25 for adults and $13 for children; Lunch $30 for adults and $15 for children; Sunday brunch $40 for adults and $15 for children; dinner from Sunday to Thursday: $40 for adult and $20 for children; dinner on Friday and Saturday: $50 for adults and $25 for children.

Reservations recommended.

World Café

La Sienne

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Special Feature///Staycations

Many think it’s impossible to disappear on Guam, short of not leaving their house, but the island has several places to stay that are remote, allow guests to appreciate the beauty of the island and offer various activities to keep entertained.

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(Clockwise from top left) The Inarajan Garden House’s rooms are spacious, breezy and pristine; Every room looks out to the resort’s secluded beach; The building’s exterior is covered with imported volcanic rock, giving it a distinct charm; The resort houses offers a bar, restaurant and gift shop among the many attractions on its 4-acre property.

A getaway on the shoreStory and photos by Bryce Guerrero


Located on Guam’s seldom occupied but always appre-ciated Southern shore, Inarajan Garden House whisks visi-tors away to a place where peace and pleasures intertwine. The harmonious coupling is most noticed when guests look out of their bedroom windows. Rooms in the Garden House boast visions across the ocean, as the warm Southern air treats guests to the scents and sounds of the sea.

The resort houses 16 studio deluxe rooms and two suites on its 4-acre property that sits on the raw, mostly untouched land that differs immensely from the heavily occupied prop-erties of Tumon. The two suites have full kitchens. All of the rooms have balconies that overlook the beach.

Originally used as a resort solely for Japanese executives who wanted some rest and relaxation, the Garden House management transitioned last year and underwent exten-sive renovations, while still keeping the charm of the original building that was first constructed in the late 80s. The build-ing’s exterior is composed of volcanic rock that was flown in from Hawaii.

The resort’s in-house gift shop features artwork from Chamorro art expert Judith Flores, who also works for the Garden House as its sales manager.

The Inarajan getaway’s rates start at $125, with a dis-counted rate for locals. Early reservations are encouraged, and a 50% down payment is required for confirmation. For those in sore need of some R&R, the respite the Garden House provides is well worth the price.

Rooms in the Garden House boast visions across the ocean, as the warm Southern air treats guests to the scents and sounds of the sea.

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A hideaway in the hillsStory by Joy White • Photos courtesy of Leo Palace Resort Guam

Located in the Manenggon Hills, Leo Palace Resort Guam is a sanctuary that also provides a variety of activities to do without leaving the property. The resort offers a 360 degree view of the island.

In the resort’s Olympic-grade sports facilities, one can sweat away one’s problems and worries. The resort’s most popular attraction is its 36-hole golf course. And for those who are interested in learning to golf, Leo Palace Resort Guam offers les-sons at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Academy and an indoor golf simulator.

Other forms of entertainment include a series of karaoke rooms, mahjong rooms, a bowling alley and swimming pools and shows. The property is very secure, so going on an early morning or sunset jog, all the while enjoying the view of the surrounding hills, is divine.

There are also plenty of restaurants on the property, including fine European dining at Feeregalo, traditional Japanese fare at Iki, a sampling of cuisine from throughout Asia at Ten, fun at the sports bar, Sana, and a mixture of Japanese and Western foods at the clubhouse restaurant, Gold Club.

The Leo Palace Farm is also growing in popularity. Guests can tour the farm and sample the fresh fruits and vegetables grown on the property, including several types of banana, coconut, eggplant and cucumber, depending on the season.

Accommodations at the Leo Palace Resort Guam include hotel rooms and larger condo-type rooms that allow for multiple occupants and have kitchenettes.

The Leo Palace Resort Guam boasts a 36-hole golf course with a spectacular view of the surrounding Yona hills.

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The property is very secure, so going on an early morning or sunset jog, all the while enjoying the view of the surrounding hills, is divine.

(Left) Bowling lanes provide indoor entertainment. (Right) Rooms of all sizes fit the needs of any guest.

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Cover///Antarctica

For many divers, braving the icy waters at the bottom of the world might seem like a chilling prop-osition. However, local dive enthusiast Toni Brooks has made her dream of diving the waters of Antarc-tica a reality.

Born and raised on Guam, the 37-year-old Brooks took on the Antarctic waters after taking up diving for just a little over a year. “Once I had my certification, I immediately wanted to dive every-where,” Brooks says.

Brooks says that diving on the Antarctic shelf re-quired her to learn how to dry suit dive, for which she had to travel to Japan and Korea to train before conducting her practice dives in Iceland with David Ramsay of Iceland-based diving company Magmad-ive. In order to go on the expedition, Brooks was re-quired to complete 50 dives, including 20 dry suit dives in cold water and advanced open water dives. “I was determined to get those in as quickly as pos-sible,” she says.

Brooks left for Iceland for training on Feb. 12. Then she and Ramsay traveled to South America to meet with the rest of the expedition on Feb. 27.

“We made first landfall in Antarctica on March 2, but we were slightly behind schedule because of the weather. The first dive on March 4 was so scary; I was scared out of my mind. It was very shallow, but also incredibly murky because of biomass from nearby penguin and elephant seal habitats,” Brooks says.

She says that after experiencing the natural un-touched beauty of Antarctica, she wants to use her experience to help spread awareness of the dan-gers that may seriously impact Antarctic ecology. She has begun a campaign for awareness and is collaborating with Ramsay to create a photobook documenting the beauty found in and around the Antarctic shelf.

Deep SouthGuam diver visits the Antarctic shelfsTory By Thomas johnson PhoTos CourTesy oF David ramsay

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“Spreading awareness wasn’t the original intent; I just wanted to go on an expedition and do something crazy,” she says, “but the more I researched, the more I learned about the Antarctic Treaty [an inter-national agreement that establishes Antarctica as a scientific preserve, establishes freedom of scientific investigation and bans military activ-ity on that continent] and that it expires in 2041. There are already or-ganizations starting up and working towards extending the treaty and making it more concrete and enforceable [. . .]. In diving, specifically, I learned about marine health and how our marine environment relates and compares to other marine environments, and I feel that the situa-tion in Antarctica is something that affects us all.“

“I learned about marIne health and how our marIne envIronment relates and compares to other marIne envIronments, and I feel that the sItuatIon In antarctIca Is somethIng that affects us all.”

(Opposite page from top) Travelers navigate between ice floes in Antarctica; Toni Brooks, a Guam-native, traveled to Antarctica to dive and learn about the ecosystem; Travelers board a plane on King George Island, located on the Northern tip of Antarctica, before boarding a ship to further explore the continent. (Clockwise from top) Toni Brooks (second from left) and fellow travelers with Aurora Expeditions on a trip to Antarctica; Brooks on board the ship; An Antarctic fur seal swimming in the waters of Deception Island, a harbor in Antarc-tica; and Brooks explores the underwater landscape.

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Photos by Justin Green

Fairies and wood nymphs ran free during a Midsummer Night’s Dream themed gala hosted by the Guam Hotel and Restaurant Association on March 7 at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

out & aboutouT&aBouT

To suBMIT your PhoTos For ouT & aBouT, eMaIL hIgh-res PhoTos To:[email protected]

PLease InCLuDe: - CaPTIons (naMes, DaTe, eVenT naMe anD LoCaTIon) - your naMe anD VILLage

senD us your PhoTos!

Photos courtesy of the Guam International Marathon

Photos by Vikki Fong

The 2015 Guam International Marathon, organized by the Guam Visitors Bureau, Pacific Islands Club Guam and United Airlines, was held on April 12. Some 3,240 athletes from Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Asia, Palau, Europe and the United States took part. Winners of the event were: Yusuke Inose of Japan and Sung Hwa Ryu of South Korea in the marathon male and female divisions; Derek Mandel and Rhea Macaluso as first local male and female in the marathon; Sho Masumota of Japan and Manami Iijima of Maite in the half-marathon’s male and female divisions; Hiroo Tonegawa of Japan and Yukie Tamura of Japan in the 10K male and female divisions; Yasuhiro Tago of Japan and Jacqui Slack of the United Kingdom, both setting 5k course records.

The 2015 Marianas Open Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament took place on March 28 at the Father Duenas Memorial School Phoenix Center.

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ouT&aBouT

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Sports//Women’s Tackle Football

In a bout of gridiron glory, the Bud Light Guam Women’s Tackle Football League launched its 2015 season on March 28 with a match between Team Legacy and Sindalu at Raider’s Field Tiyan. A total of six teams competed for the title of champion this year: Team Legacy, Steel Blazers, Sindalu, the Falcons, Lady Raiders, the Lady Spartans and Tough Chicks. Sindalu bagged the first win, 12-8.

The Guam Women’s Tackle Football League has grown since its creation about four years ago. Linda Salas, president and founder of the league and a huge fan of football, posed the idea, “If only women could play football...”

From there, the idea blossomed. A scrimmage was

organized to gauge the interest of the public, and to Salas’ surprise about 50 women showed up. Salas and Marge Leon Guerrero formed the league in 2012 with two teams, Island Stunnerz and the Steel Blazers. From two six-woman teams, the league grew to ten 11-woman teams in 2014.

The Guam league is affiliated with the International Women’s Football League. Since the league’s inception, it has been contacted by various countries to compete, but for now, Salas says the group is focusing on building the game on island.

New teams are welcome to join the league. For more information contact, Salas at [email protected].

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(Top left) Linda Salas, president, and Vanessa Longosco, public relations officer, both of the Guam Women’s Tackle Football League. (Top right and bottom left) Team Legacy and Sindalu face off in the first game of the season on March 28.

r&r pacific - may 2015

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