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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/10/2026

#TBT: Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz, activated October 1, 2020, is the first new Marine Corps base since 1952. Located in Guam, it is named after Brigadier General Vicente "Ben" Blaz—the highest-ranking CHamoru ever and Guam's delegate to Congress from 1985 to 1993.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 24/09/2026

#TBT: Following the initial uprising in the town of Lares on September 23, revolutionaries officially proclaimed the independent Republic of Puerto Rico on September 24, 1868. Francisco Ramírez was named president of the new republic before Spanish forces suppressed the rebellion later that day.

Francisco Ramírez Medina one of the leaders of "El Grito de Lares."

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 17/09/2026

#TBT: Typhoon Choi-wan seen on September 17, 2009, after it tore through the Northern Mariana Islands with 160 mph winds. Though no casualties were reported, it devastated Alamagan, destroying nearly every building and forcing the entire island to evacuate to Saipan.

Though Super Typhoon Choi-wan was gradually weakening, it maintained its tight circular shape and well-defined eye on September 17, 2009, when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite captured this true-color image

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 10/09/2026

#TBT: On September 10, 1993, the National Park Service finalized a 50-year lease with local Samoan village councils, officially resolving land use and paving the way for the operational management of the National Park of American Samoa.

Pola Islands, just off the coast of Tutuila Island, in the National Park of American Samoa.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 03/09/2026

#TBT: St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands resident Andy Evans holds her dog Roxanne while speaking with her father, Gary Evans, on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront, surrounded by debris thrown ashore by the winds of Hurricane Earl in this picture from August 31, 2010.

Andy Evans holds her dog Roxanne while speaking with her father, Gary Evans, on the Charlotte Amalie waterfront in the US Virgin Islands.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 27/08/2026

#TBT: The Tokai Maru was a Japanese passenger-cargo freighter torpedoed by the US submarine USS Snapper on August 27, 1943. It sank and came to rest leaning against the Cormoran wreck in Apra Harbor, Guam. It is the only dive site in the world where shipwrecks from two different world wars touch.

Tokai Maru lies at the top of this National Park Service illustration. The drive shaft of Cormoran lies closest to the bottom of the Tokai. The buoy used by recreational scuba divers is marked.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 20/08/2026

#TBT: Two men wear homemade face coverings during a protest on August 20, 1978, against the politically motivated entrapment and execution of two pro-independence activists, Carlos Enrique Soto Arriví and Arnaldo Darío Rosado Torres, by the Puerto Rican Police in July of 1978.

Two men wear homemade face coverings during a protest against the politically motivated entrapment and execution of two university students by the Puerto Rican Police in July of 1978.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 14/08/2026

#TBT: The Saipan Beacon was a daily military newspaper published by the United States Army Saipan Island command in the Northern Mariana Islands, providing military operations of the Allied campaign in the Pacific Theater and worldwide news during World War II, as seen in this August 13, 1945 issue.

Monday, August 13, 1945 edition of the Saipan Beacon.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 06/08/2026

#TBT: On August 8, 1844, missionary Archibald Wright Murray wrote that Tutuilans planned to cede Pago Pago Harbor, in what is now American Samoa, to the French in exchange for a pledge protecting Tutuila's independence—recognizing the harbor as their greatest lure for European powers.

Map of Pago Pago Harbor on the island of Tutuila in American Samoa from 1839.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 02/08/2026

#2026Elections Result: Janelle Sarauw will be the Democratic nominee for congressional delegate of the US Virgin Islands.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 02/08/2026

#2026Elections Result: Stacey Plaskett and Milton Potter are poised to win the Democratic nomination for governor and lieutenant governor of the US Virgin Islands.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/08/2026

#2026Elections Result: James Moylan advances to the general election as the Republican nominee for congressional delegate in Guam.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/08/2026

#2026Elections Result: Tony Ada and Edward “E.J.” Calvo advance to the general election as the Republican nominees for governor and lieutenant governor in Guam.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/08/2026

#2026Elections Result: Therese Terlaje and Sabina Perez advance to the general election as the Democratic nominees for governor and lieutenant governor in Guam.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 31/07/2026

#TBT: Lawrence W. Cramer, newly appointed governor of the Virgin Islands, appeared before the Senate Territories Committee for questioning on his fitness for office in Washington, DC, on July 30, 1935.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 23/07/2026

#TBT: The Second Battle of Guam occurred from July 21 to August 10, 1944. By July 23, United States forces had successfully pushed inland from their Assan and Agat beachheads and began capturing vital heights, including Mount Alifan, while encountering fierce Japanese resistance and banzai charges.

The US Army’s 77th Infantry Division wades ashore over coral reefs to reach Hågat beach on July 23, 1944. The 77th Infantry Division served as reserved troops during the Battle of Guam.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 16/07/2026

#TBT: Born April 16, 1866, José de Diego y Martínez was a Puerto Rican statesman, journalist, poet, lawyer, and advocate for Puerto Rico's political autonomy in union with Spain and later for independence from the United States. He passed away on July 16, 1918.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 09/07/2026

#TBT: On July 9, 1944, the Battle of Saipan in the Northern Mariana Islands ended, 24 days after the amphibious assault was launched by the United States against Japan during World War II. The capture of Saipan forced the Japanese government to inform its citizens that the war was not going well.

Marines of the 2nd Marine Division advancing north on Tanapag plain in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on July 8 after the gyokusai attack.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 02/07/2026

#TBT: Tui Manuʻa Elisala was the last Tui Manu'a titleholder (paramount chief) in the Manuʻa Islands in present-day American Samoa, which expanded to become the Tui Manuʻa Confederacy. Before he died on July 2, 1909, he expressed the wish that the title die with him.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 25/06/2026

#TBT: On June 25, 2019, the US Virgin Islands passed a law targeting oxybenzone, octocrylene, and octinoxate, three UV-blocking chemicals found in most mainstream commercial sunscreen products in the United States, because studies have shown they harm coral and other marine ecosystems.

Corals picture taken from Brewers Bay on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 18/06/2026

#TBT: Operation Stevedore was the operation for the American recapture of the then Japanese-held island of Guam during World War II, originally scheduled for June 18, 1944. Intense fighting in nearby Saipan caused the landings to be delayed by a month until July 21 of that year.

The first wave of landing craft heads for the Agat beaches. Smoke is from the preinvasion naval shelling and aerial bombardment.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 11/06/2026

#TBT: Among the versions of the origin of Puerto Rico's flag design is that the idea of inverting the colors of the Cuban flag came to Antonio Vélez Alvarado, who wrote: "the colors appeared inverted before my eyes ... on June 11, 1890 or 1891." He was a journalist, politician, and revolutionary.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 04/06/2026

#TBT: A "Satan", an M3 Stuart tank with a Ronson flamethrower, incinerates a Japanese pillbox during the Battle of Saipan in June 1944.

M3 Stuart tank with a Ronson flamethrower, incinerates a Japanese pillbox on Saipan, June 1944.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 28/05/2026

#TBT: On May 28, 2022, the ACLU filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn the 10th Circuit's ruling in Fitisemanu v. United States, which denied birthright citizenship to American Samoans, and to overrule the Insular Cases once and for all. The court declined to hear the case.

ACLU amicus brief before the Supreme Court for Fitisemanu v. United States.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 21/05/2026

#TBT: On May 21, 2020, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. advised US Virgin Islands residents to stay at home and all non-essential businesses to close as the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Governor Albert Bryan Jr. ordering non-essential businesses to close and residents to stay at home as the Administration ramped up its response to COVID-19 in the Territory.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 14/05/2026

#TBT: Typhoon Pamela was a powerful typhoon that struck the U.S. territory of Guam in May 1976, causing about $500 million in damage. The sixth named storm and third typhoon of the 1976 Pacific typhoon season, Pamela, developed on May 14 from a trough in the Federated States of Micronesia.

This weather satellite image of Typhoon Pamela was taken on May 20, 1976.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 09/05/2026

#TBT: On May 7, 1998, NBC aired a Seinfeld episode with the Puerto Rico flag being burned and stomped on. After protests, NBC apologized and pulled it from syndication. Manuel Mirabal of the National Puerto Rican Coalition called the situation unacceptable. The episode resurfaced on Netflix in 2023.

Puerto Rican Protest against NBC and Jerry Seinfeld.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 30/04/2026

#TBT: On April 30, German Consul Max Biermann reported from American Samoa to Leo von Caprivi (the Chancellor of the German Empire) in 1894 that wars among Samoan factions had halted the copra trade, disrupted food production, and forced islanders to rely on German plantations for survival.

Letter from Biermann (the Imperial Consul in Samoa) addressed to Leo von Caprivi (the Chancellor of the German Empire) on April 30, 1894.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 23/04/2026

#TBT: Ahyi seamount, a shallow submarine volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands, began erupting on April 23, 2014. Throughout the 2-week-long eruption, Ahyi produced several thousand underwater explosions.

Ahyi submarine volcano is seen in a bathymetric view looking from the NE with 2x vertical exaggeration.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 16/04/2026

#TBT: Sailors and guests pose for a photo during the grand opening ceremony of the Navy Recruiting Station American Samoa in Pago Pago, American Samoa, on April 16, 2025. The event was during American Samoa Navy Week, one of 15 Navy Weeks during the Navy’s 250th year celebration.

Sailors and guests pose for a photo during the grand opening ceremony of the Navy Recruiting Station American Samoa in Pago Pago, American Samoa, April 16.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 09/04/2026

#TBT: Archibald Alphonso Alexander was an American architect and engineer. He was appointed Governor of the United States Virgin Islands by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on April 9, 1954, being the first Republican governor there since the establishment of the civil government.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 09/04/2026

Today is #LocalNewsDay! Pasquines is a Founding Newsroom—covering Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, so nearly 4 million American citizens are never left out of the conversation. Support us today → pasquines.us/donate-now

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 02/04/2026

#TBT: Pedro Calungsod was a Catholic Filipino-Visayan migrant, sacristan, and missionary catechist who, along with the Spanish Jesuit missionary Diego Luis de San Vitores, proselytized and forcefully converted the indigenous people of Guam, which led to both being martyred on April 2, 1672.

Depiction of The Martyrdom of St. Pedro Calungsod.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 26/03/2026

#TBT: The Intentona de Yauco of 1897 was the second and final revolt against Spanish rule in Puerto Rico. It was staged by the Revolutionary Committee of Puerto Rico. On March 26, a group headed by Jose Nicolas Quiñones Torres and Ramon Torres fought Spanish colonial forces but were overcome.

Image of the first Puerto Rican flag flown in Puerto Rico during the "Intentona de Yauco" of 1897.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 19/03/2026

#TBT: Colonel Leafaina Yahn, commander, 404th Army Field Support Brigade, stands with then American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono on March 19, 2012. Tulafono invited Yahn to speak as part of a Women's History Month ceremony.

Colonel Leafaina Yahn and American Samoa Governor Togiola Tulafono.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 12/03/2026

#TBT: On March 12, 1976, James M. Frey, assistant director for legislative reference of the Office of Management and Budget, asked federal departments for their views on HJ Resolution 549, to approve the covenant for the Northern Mariana Islands, garnering positive responses like this one.

Letter from the United States Department of States expressing their support of the bill H.J. Resolution 549, to approve the "Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America", and for other purposes.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 05/03/2026

#TBT: On March 5, 2024, Jason Palmer got his only win in the Democratic Presidential Primary in American Samoa, receiving more votes than Joe Biden. Both, however, ended up getting 3 delegates.

A phone show the Pasquines Bluesky post announcing Palmer's win in American Samoa.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 27/02/2026

#TBT: The Fifth Constitutional Convention of the US Virgin Islands passed a proposed constitution, sent to President Barack Obama, who submitted it to the US Congress on February 26, 2010. Disagreements over sovereignty, legal advantages, and the bill of rights led to the draft's rejection.

First page of the constitutional draft of the US Virgin Islands Fifth Constitutional Convention.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 19/02/2026

#TBT: The Malaspina Expedition was a five-year maritime scientific exploration commanded by Alejandro Malaspina and José de Bustamante y Guerra, which crossed the Talofofo River, which is the largest and longest river on Guam, on February 19, 1792.

Talofofo River near the mouth at Talofofo Bay.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 12/02/2026

#TBT: An electrical fire at the Monacillos substation in Puerto Rico knocked out power to 400,000 people on February 12, 2018. It resulted in the loss of 400 megawatts of power generation.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 05/02/2026

#TBT: Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa was a powerful tropical cyclone that caused severe damage in Polynesia in February 1990. Cyclone Ofa affected American Samoa between February 3 and 5 with wind gusts of up to 100 mph, which caused widespread and extensive damage to the territory.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Ofa on February 04, 1990.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 29/01/2026

#TBT: On January 29, 2008, the Smithsonian Institution | Global Volcanism Program reported sustained, elevated seismic tremor levels at Anatahan volcano in the Northern Mariana Islands. It is one of the most active volcanoes of the archipelago.

Aerial view of Anatahan Island in the Northern Mariana Islands.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 22/01/2026

#TBT: On January 22, 2021, NOAA announced researchers had identified a new record-size coral colony at Ta’u Island in American Samoa, even larger than the island’s Big Momma colony, one of the largest in the world. More than 80 of these exceptionally large corals are scattered around the island.

The newly identified and measured Porites sp. colony located in Ta’u, American Samoa.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 15/01/2026

#TBT: William Henry Hastie Jr. was a United States Virgin Islands public official and civil rights advocate. On January 15, 1943, he resigned as civilian aide to the US Secretary of War to protest segregation and discrimination. He later became the first African American governor of the USVI.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 08/01/2026

#TBT: William Gilmer was a United States Navy Captain who served as both the 22nd and 24th Naval Governor of Guam. His administration proved controversial because of the control he exercised over the activities of the island. He outlawed alcohol, smoking, and whistling. He died on January 8, 1955.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/01/2026

Manuia le Tausaga Fou! Wishing American Samoa a happy new year as the last United States jurisdiction to welcome 2026.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/01/2026

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! Wishing a joyful start to the new year in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands—where 2026 arrives with resilience, culture, and stories that give our democracy context.

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 01/01/2026

Final hours to make a matched donation. Midnight ends all match opportunities. Thank you for supporting the context of islands → pasquines.us/donate-for-newsmatch

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 31/12/2025

It’s the last day: every matched dollar strengthens our coverage of the islands. Make your final 2025 gift before midnight → pasquines.us/donate-for-newsmatch

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Pasquines @pasquines.us · 31/12/2025

Biba Anu Nuebu! Wishing a happy new year to Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands—where America’s 2026 begins. Here’s to a year of context, community, and stories that start at the edge and shape the whole.

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