[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17339]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING PACIFICA INSURANCE UNDERWRITERS ON ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. GREGORIO KILILI CAMACHO SABLAN

                      of northern mariana islands

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, November 18, 2013

  Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, forty years ago, Jose Camacho Tenorio, a 
visionary businessman of the Northern Mariana Islands, saw the need and 
the opportunity for a locally-owned insurance agency in our island 
community. In response, he founded Pacifica Insurance Underwriters.
  1973 was an exciting time in our islands. The Covenant to Establish a 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with 
the United States of America was in the midst of being negotiated. 
Commercial hotels were beginning to rise Japanese tourists and 
investors were just starting to appear on our shores.
  Yet we were still very much in our economic infancy. Insurance 
coverage of any sort was difficult to obtain. Many individuals and many 
developing businesses did not even appreciate the value of insurance. 
Under these circumstances, I took great commitment and some courage to 
make the financial investment necessary to form Pacifica Insurance 
Underwriters.
  The late Mr. Tenorio, affectionately known as ``Joeten,'' took up the 
challenge, and working with the family of a business associate, Pete 
Ada, Jr. of Guam, and with the Tokugoro Kuribayashi family of Japan, 
established Pacifica Insurance Underwriters and installed Joseph 
Screen, a former official of the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands, as the company's first corporate executive.
  Pacifica then teamed up with Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance 
Co., Ltd., a formidable Japanese insurer, and, as that company's 
general agent in the Northern Mariana Islands, began offering property 
and casualty, liability, and automobile insurance to businesses and 
individuals.
  Over the years, Pacifica's business has grown: adding marine and 
workmen's compensation insurance, medical, dental, and vision plans, as 
well as term and whole life policies. Along the way, Pacifica entered 
into other general agency agreements with respected regional insurance 
companies Pacific Guardian Life and Century Insurance.
  Throughout these four decades, Pacifica has lived up to the great 
responsibility of every insurer: Whether addressing a health issue, 
repairing a car, or recovering from natural or manmade disaster, when 
the need arises, they have been there for their customers.
  In addition to writing thousands of policies annually across all 
lines of insurance, Pacifica has honored the legacy of its founders by 
becoming a valued corporate partner in our community. Still owned by 
its founding families and still run by Joeten's descendants, the 
company donates directly to schools, environmental groups, religious 
organizations, and other good causes. Pacifica makes substantial 
charitable donations through the Joeten Charitable Foundation. And its 
owners and employees individually lend their hands to a wide variety of 
community projects and events.
  The Northern Mariana Islands has seen its share of economic highs and 
lows. In recent years, particularly, the insurance market has become 
more challenging, with increased competition, a decline in population, 
and a decreasing number of businesses. Through it all, Pacifica has 
remained consistent in its commitment to its employees, its customers, 
and our community.
  We all feel proud when we witness a homegrown company with humble 
beginnings do well. So, please, join me in congratulating the owners 
and employees of Pacifica Insurance Underwriters on their fortieth 
anniversary, and in wishing them another forty years of success and 
growth.

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