On Guam alone, there are hundreds of women that experience drug addictions, poverty, rape, and disabilities.

For these individuals, there are organizations like Oasis Empowerment Center. The Center’s mission is to help individuals overcome these adversities through trainings, housing and counseling.

The Oasis Empowerment Center was founded in 2004 as a faith based outreach of Elim Pacific Ministries and has been operating in East Agana.

The Oasis Empowerment Center is the only one of its kind and has seven different programs that target specific needs of women on Guam as well as the spiritual needs. Two of these programs are the Drug Rehabilitation and the Dream Project.

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The Drug Rehabilitation program is for women who suffer from drug or alcohol addiction who seek help for themselves or who are appointed by the court to seek treatment. This three month program provides residential and outpatient counseling and treatments to help these individuals overcome these addictions and pursue a healthier lifestyle.

These women are often given the help needed to break free from these negative lifestyles. This program also provides spiritual counseling for women who are seeking guidance in their spiritual health.

Another program in Oasis Empowerment Center is the Dream Project, which is funded by the federal government through a grant. This program was designed to help women who have little to no income and have little knowledge of basic business and craft skill to develop micro enterprises and sustainable living abilities.

Pamela Flores, who was a case manager for the Dream Project said, “The intent of the grant is to help these women by giving them a temporary home for nine months.” “Many of these women were learning basic skills like how to balance a household budget, even how to turn on a computer,” Flores said. “Even communicating, we taught them what it would require to develop their own business through new healthy habits,”

The Oasis Empowerment Center is always looking for help from the public. Pauline Sablan who is one of the many active volunteers for the center states that working with the program has been a life changing experience. Sablan has been an active volunteer for the center for the past three years.

“It’s been an amazing experience volunteering here at the center. I am able to talk and pray with women who are in need,” Sablan said.

“There are so many ways to help other around you, all you have to do is get up and do it.” Sablan said.

The Oasis Empowerment Center also receives support through the donations as well as the profits made from the Hidden Treasure Thrift Store located at the Center. All items are given by donations and go towards funding the different programs in the center. “Whether it be your old clothes or even a small amount of your time, there are always ways to help these women in need,” Sablan said.

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This signature GVB event featured runners from all over the island, as well as runners from other countries such as Japan, India, Philippines and China.

It was a morning that many people have been waiting for ever since sign ups opened up earlier this year. An estimated 1,500 people participated in this years race.

Run Guam Elite members took home first place for both male and female division of the ekiden relay. Japan runners took many of the top spots in the half marathon. The first place winner for men’s division was Japan’s Taisuke Ueda with a time of 1:13:25, first place for females was Asuka Takagi with a time of 1:24:26.

Local runners like Ryan Matienzo, anticipate this race every year.

Matienzo is an active member of Run Guam. “I took leave from work a week prior to the run just to prepare my body for the run. It took a lot of training and proper dieting to make sure that I could perform my best,” Matienzo said.

Matienzo has been running in the Ko’ko’ half marathon races for the past few years and he plans to continue participating in future races.

“I always look forward to this run, it’s usually a lot of fun and we get people from around the world so I get to see the competition and improve my standing every year,” Matienzo said.

People of all ages were invited to participate in this GVB event which included a children’s run, a ekiden relay, a 10k run/walk and a half marathon.

Runners were able to dress in costumes and outfits which brought in a festive spirit. People had a good time as they participated in the run dressed up as superheros, villians, animals and other characters.

“It’s nice to see how people can come together and do what they love as well as support a good cause.” Matienzo said.

Even in the fun of it all, many of these runners spent lots of time and effort preparing for the races since sign ups opened earlier this year. For runners like Matienzo, that hard work paid off.

The Ko’ko’ was was initially started to bring awareness about a major issue regarding the extinction of the Ko’ko’ bird.

This endemic was caused by the growing number of brown tree snakes which have killed off a majority of the flightless bird population.

The proceeds made from the Ko’ko’ run are meant to help the local authorities preserve the existence of this bird. The hope is that the Ko’ko’ run will continue to grow and more efforts can be made to save the Ko’ko’ bird. It was through all the sponsors spirit of the community that this event was a success.

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Flores has been serving as a chaplain for the Guam Army Reserves for over eight years. He has been a source of guidance and encouragement for servicemen who seek his religious counsel.

It may be easy to think that a man like Flores had an easy-going journey. However, Flores’s story is of a long and strenuous, filled with disappointment and trials.

Born and raised on Guam, Flores always saw himself in the law enforcement field. For as long as he could remember, he believed that law enforcement was his calling in life. After joining the military at 17, Flores immediately signed up for the Air Force Security Forces and spent eight years of his life pursuing law enforcement.

“When I was in the Air Force, my passion was S.W.A.T., special weapons and tactics, so I pursued every opportunity that dealt with S.W.A.T.” Flores said. It was his goal that after the military, he would pursue S.W.A.T outside of the military. Flores went on to explain how he participated in different intense military schoolings in order to gain experience and make it in the S.W.A.T field.

After leaving the military, Flores immediately applied for every government law enforcement agency that was available. He was rejected for every job he applied for.

“I applied for the Superior Court Marshals three times and nobody hired me,” Flores said. After three years of applying, Flores finally realized that law enforcement doors were closing for him. “It was during the downward spiral when God started to call me into ministry,” Flores said.

It was at that point in his life when Flores began his new chapter of ministry. This chapter would lead to years of schooling to become a  minister and eventually rejoining the military where he now serves as a chaplain.

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