By Emmanuel T. Erediano

Copyright mvariety

THE Marianas Powerhouse Zumba group and their guests filled Garapan Central Park’s roundhouse with energy and music on Saturday as they celebrated the group’s first anniversary.

Joining the celebration were fellow Zumba dancers from M2 Fitness, Gold’s Gym’s Zumba team, the Infinity Wellness Z Squad and several other local Zumba organizations.

Marianas Powerhouse President Mark Taisacan recalled that it was on Sept. 2, 2024 when he and his wife, Judith, launched the group with a single Zumba session.

Taisacan said he had been attending Zumba sessions for nearly two and a half years before deciding to form his own group. His goal was to get more locals involved in this fitness activity, which he has found highly effective for weight loss. From 210 pounds, he said, his weight dropped to 155 pounds through Zumba — and he has managed to keep it there.

But more than weight loss, Taisacan said what motivated him to start Marianas Powerhouse was his desire to help people lead healthier lives. He recalled a trip to Guam with his family more than a year ago when he noticed many island residents at the airport traveling off-island for medical referrals. “Looking at them, I asked myself, ‘What can I do to at least help?’” he said.

Taisacan observed that many locals were hesitant to join Zumba. “As you notice, most of those doing Zumba here are not locals,” he said. “A lot of people are just shy or not really involved in this kind of health and fitness activity.” That was when he decided to take the lead in getting more of his fellow residents engaged.

For Taisacan, Zumba also became personal. When his father passed away after years of battling diabetes, he said it was a wake-up call. “A lot of my family members are diabetic, and I don’t see myself being like that,” he said. Aware of being overweight, he started running daily on Beach Road and training in mixed martial arts. Later, he “fell in love with Zumba, which is proven to burn fat faster.”

From having about 30 members, including his wife, the Marianas Powerhouse has grown to more than 100 members since it started one year ago. The group holds Zumba sessions every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Garapan Central Park’s roundhouse, and every Thursday and Friday at the Minatchom Atdao Pavilion on Beach Road at the same time.

The other Marianas Powerhouse officers are vice president John Gimeno, treasurer Judith B. Taisacan, and secretary Gerald Padrid. Taisacan thanked them for their support throughout the group’s journey. “We’ve had ups and downs and faced challenges along the way, yet here we are marking our first year,” he said.

“For me, I want to reach out to the community, especially the local people,” Taisacan added. “I am very thankful to all our members and to the community for supporting us.”