Good friends, good life
Manila—I'm writing this column while in Manila on a Pacific Island Friendship Tour to reconnect with old friends on Guam and meet new friends in person whom I've known virtually in the Pacific region since moving back to the mainland.
The world would be a dreary place without friendships. Travel, food, and great life experiences would not be as meaningful without friends to share them with. Fame and fortune versus friends? Give me friends anytime.
It had been almost 10 years since I last set foot in the West Pacific, and so I planned stops in Guam, Palau and Manila before heading back to the mainland.
One other factor entered into the planning for this trip. The Pacific Island Times is celebrating its 10th year of service to the people of Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and the rest of the Pacific island region with journalism that is fearless, fair and focused. Mar-Vic Cagurangan started this monthly publication in 2016, and it has become a valuable asset for Pacific Islanders.
Having some idea of what it takes to run a business and as a novice writer myself, I have developed great respect for what has been accomplished with the PIT. Nothing but hard work, keen insight, exceptional talent and phenomenal connections have contributed to the success of the PIT at a time when there are significant declines and closures in the publishing industry.
As I watched from the other side of the world—in my home in Michigan—I decided there needed to be some recognition of the PIT’s 10th anniversary.
ADVERTISEMENT
So I planned a scenario in which I would give a speech at my old Tumon Bay Rotary Club during my Friendship Tour, and then surprise Mar-Vic at the end of the speech with recognition and a plaque as a tangible memento of her great accomplishment.
Not living in Guam, I contacted my good friend Meilou to help me get the plaque produced on Guam. Meilou was committed to the project and to my request for secrecy to ensure it was a surprise for Mar-Vic. Alas, Meilou was in Manila and could not return to Guam within the required timeframe. So she contacted her daughter Tessa Mae to assist with the plan.
Tessa Mae and I had never met, but because of my friendship with her mother, we became friends. She sprang into action, producing a finished product that was just perfect. How typical of what friendships can accomplish.
On Sept. 8, the project culminated successfully at the Tumon Bay Rotary Club, where the special presentation to Mar-Vic came as a complete surprise.
Friends do make the world a better place.
During my few days on Guam, I had a chance to reconnect with several friends from my years living on the island and to meet in person several new friends I had previously known only online. Having developed friendships through email, Facebook and writing for the PIT has been one of my greatest experiences in life.
Sometimes, not everyone you consider a friend really is one, because true friends are not ashamed to be seen in public with you.
I lamented that I was unable to reconnect with several other friends on Guam because of limited time.
After my brief visit to Guam, I flew to Palau to celebrate the wonderful friendships I've made with Palauans back in Michigan. After three days in Palau, I took my seat on United flight UA193 to Manila.
As the steady stream of boarding passengers continued past me, I heard someone say, "Well, hello, Ted." It was my old friend Roy Salvador.
What an absolute surprise! Roy is the chief operating officer and administrator of Guam Radiology Clinic. We became close friends after I left GMH abruptly. He, along with Dr. Nathan Berg, graciously invited me to hang out at their shop. Not only did I enjoy free internet and coffee, but I also gained insights from observing Roy's expertise in recruiting health care workers from the Philippines.
After deplaning in Manila and clearing immigration and customs, Roy and I had a brief moment before we parted. He was heading off to Bangkok for a conference, while my driver was waiting to take me to my hotel.
As I settled into the back seat of the Toyota transporting me to the Makati Dusit Thani, I couldn't help but reflect on how friends certainly do make the world a better place.
Theodore Lewis is the former CEO of Guam Memorial Hospital and has a health care consulting business in Bridgman, MI. He is collecting stories about lessons learned in life and can be reached at theodorelewis@yahoo.com.
Subscribe to
our digital
monthly issue
