Publications

253 Lifestyle Magazine • April 1 2021

25 Years of Community Service | Asia Pacific Cultural Center

(Photos by Betty Rose Cortes, pg 32-35) Asia Pacific Culture Center was founded in 1996 from the vision of a small group of citizens representing three generations of Americans from Asian & Pacific Islanders heritage.

Tinybeans • May 29 2018

A New Coworking Space with Childcare Options Is Now Open

Have you ever tried to speak to someone over the phone with your toddler screaming in the background? Or tried to make that elusive deadline, but can’t focus on your work without being interrupted twenty times in an hour…by your child? Well, say hello to The Inc. Coworking + Playschool in West Seattle. It’s the newest answer to your wish of needing uninterrupted (quiet) time to work and a place for your sidekick to play. Read on for the scoop!

The Concept Behind This Brilliant Idea

The Women

Breastfeeding World • January 24 2018

See Darling photos of the Breastfeeding people of Guahan (Guam)

Sharing resources as a community is the goal

Breastfeeding World’s Guåhan shoot gave the perfect opportunity to share these resources with attending guests. While some moms knew about local breastfeeding groups (like IBCLCs Kirsten Robert and Barbara Mafnas’ Guam Mama’s Breastfeeding Support, or the La Leche League of Guam), others did not. While online and physical support systems are in place on island, like other communities, awareness of these resources is limited to just a small portion of

Westside Seattle | Robinson Press • November 26 2013

She was homesick, so he opened a store | Westside Seattle

By Betty Rose Cortes


Tulpe Edwin was homesick. She missed her friends. She missed her family. And she missed the type of special foods she could get at home, things like canned mackerel, rice crackers, corned beef in a can and breadfruit.

She told Johnston, her husband, she wanted to go home.

In 2010, they had saved enough money for a

Breastfeeding World • January 24 2017

Moms storm Womens March with breasts, pumps and kids in tow

In what was recorded as the largest single day protest in history, an estimated 4 million people gathered to march in cities across the globe in support of basic human rights.

Whether marchers had supported one side or the other in the United State’s 45th Presidential election last November. participants in the 2017 Women’s March on Washington marched for far more than the results of the polls. Women, men, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, gathered and marched in their respective cities for

The Guam Daily Post • April 2 2017

Stidham wins two medals at 2017 IBJJF Pan Ams

At her second International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Pan American tournament, former Dededo resident Jocelyn Mason Stidham this month claimed two bronze medals in California.

The Guam Daily Post • May 7 2017

UW’s Micronesian Islands Club to celebrate 20th Micronesia Night

SEATTLE, Washington – The University of Washington’s Micronesian Islands Club is celebrating its 20th Micronesia Night on May 13.

“Micronesia Night 2017: Woven by the Sea” will signify decades of tradition and culture, according to MIC President Desiree Gross.

Gross, who is originally from Palau, is studying sociocultural anthropology with a minor in diversity at UW.

“These past recent years, we have brought back segments from the island of Palau and the Marshall Islands,” she said, “We have

Westside Seattle | Robinson Press • March 3 2014

“Every patient is my patient” | Westside Seattle

Highline Medical Center volunteers encourage members of the community to give their time caring for patients. Pictured from left to right: Annette Ventoza, Judy Beste and Sam Fenner.

By Betty Rose Cortes


You don’t have to be a physician to care for those who need it most at Highline Medical Center. In fact, you don’t need any medical experience at all. If you have the desire to care for others and have the time to do so, you can join the devoted team of helping hands as one of Highline’s fi

The Guam Daily Post • October 26 2016

Rooted in culture, bähäkke brand keeps it island style

Seattle, Wash. – In the world of exclusive clothing lines and preserving one's culture through fashion, no brand off island may be more rooted in Chamorro culture than bähäkke brand.

#MomLife | The Guam Daily Post • January 1 2018

Gingerbread creations | CHamoru chef leads Seattle team to help raise diabetes awareness

SEATTLE – Executive Pastry Chef Joleen Anderson of the Sheraton Seattle Hotel is celebrating the 25th Annual Gingerbread Village with larger-than-life gingerbread and candy sculptures with her team.

The Guam Daily Post • June 7 2017

Micronesian students organize Micronesia Day in Seattle

"It is important that our Micronesian students know that we can exist in higher education."

—Rachael Gurwan Tamngin, chairwoman, University of Washington Micronesian Islands Club

Westside Seattle | Robinson Press • March 27 2014

She opens doors for foster children, will you? | Westside Seattle

“Every day there is a need to put a child into a home,” social worker Duane Ott said, “we need to find more foster parents to take in these children needing immediate placement.

The Guam Daily Post • February 12 2017

Olivia Naputi Ogo Turner: Culture-conscious stylist & designer

As the business world is gaining its share of women entrepreneurs, Pacific Islander women are joining the tides of owning and operating their own local businesses to keep island cultures flourishing and local economies thriving.

The Guam Daily Post • December 25 2016

DJ Ohjmarie prepares for 2017 Vegas show and album drop

TACOMA, WASH. – Former Chalan Pago resident Jasmyn Smith, better known to music fans as DJ Ohjmarie, is preparing for the biggest step of her career in 2017.

The Guam Daily Post • March 19 2017

New series of Pacific island children’s books to hit Bestseller, Faith Book stores

The Gerard Aflague Collection’s newest series of Pacific island language children’s books will hit Bestseller and Faith Book stores by mid-April.

Many families with young readers will enjoy the books as the series is written languages commonly spoken throughout Micronesia and other Pacific islands.

Aflague’s "My First Chamorro 200 Picture Word Book" highlights 200 words in the Chamorro language with English translations. The words are pictured with images that children can easily identify.

Th

The Guam Daily Post • November 21 2014

Chamorro food truck stirring up a buzz in Port Orchard

PORT ORCHARD, Wa. – Papa's Place, the Chamorro food truck in Port Orchard, Washington, has been stirring up a lot of buzz around the Puget Sound.

The Guam Daily Post • March 26 2017

Stateside day care center integrates Chamorro culture in learning

RENTON, Washington – Circle Time Child Care Center in Renton, Washington, is helping parents Christiana Williams and Edwin Sugawara pass on the Chamorro culture to their one year-old daughter Hailey by integrating Chamorro learning in the day care center’s curriculum.

The Guam Daily Post • February 2 2017

Former Guam resident prepares to reign in Pan-Am and World Pro BJJ competitions

Jocelyn Mason Stidham had a sweet year of victories in 2016, and in her start of her third career year of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, she has already taken home double gold at a national level.

The Guam Daily Post • November 6 2016

UPRISE empowers Pacific Islander students to excel in education

The Annual UPRISE Educational Summit completed its second and final event on October 29 at Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, Washington.

The event was the first summit held in Pierce County and proved successful with over 500 participants showing support for Pacific Islander achievement in education and the community.

The Guam Daily Post • October 23 2016

Guam’s first treatment massage clinic arrives

Located in Hagȧtña, Island Touch is the first establishment on island to offer patients customized massage therapy for those experiencing chronic pain, recovering from injuries, or requiring muscle tension relaxation.

The Guam Daily Post • March 12 2017

The artist known as P.O. Boxx plans Guam show

SEATTLE, Washington – Po “P.O. Boxx” Leapi is no stranger to Guam’s music airwaves, and he’s hoping to be a familiar voice again with a planned tour to the island later this year.

Westside Seattle | Robinson Press • August 20 2014

You’ve heard of Jared. Now meet the Queen of Weight Loss | Westside Seattle

By Betty Rose Cortes


Do you remember the story of Jared, the “Subway Guy” and his weight loss success achieved by eating only Subway sandwiches? Now, there’s a new woman in town - meet Elvina Downs.

The Burien resident was crowned Queen of Washington state for her weight loss success of shedding the most pounds among all state female members of “TOPS”, an international non-profit organization that helps members to “Take Off the Pounds Sensibly”.

Downs has lost an incredible 129 pounds to a

Westside Seattle | Robinson Press • February 10 2014

WABI Burien makes Top 10 of “Ten Great Things Happening in Washington State” | Westside Seattle

By Betty Rose Cortes


The town of Burien is getting local and national recognition with the help of WABI Burien, the city’s resident organized Walk Bike (WABI) community group.

Last we

The Guam Daily Post • February 23 2017

'Biba, Guam!' – Tacoma celebrates Chamorro culture

TACOMA, Washington – At Washington State’s Asian Pacific Cultural Center’s 19th Annual New Year Celebration, organizers of the Guam steering committee put on a performance of Chamorro culture that can only be summed up as “excellent.”