Profiles...

with

Norbert "Sonny" Perez, III

by:  Shannon Dennehy, Daria Jacobs, Laila Tovre

July 5th, 2011

Ms George: Congratulations on your appointment. Shall I call you Sonny?

SONNY:    Thank you Shannon. Yes you may.

Ms George: You are now the Publisher for Pacific Times Magazine, China Democrat Magazine, and Ms. George Magazine. How does it feel to be the Big Man for these publications?

SONNY:   I am still in awe and still learning the system. My dad pinned these titles on me in 2006 but he still ran the show.

Ms George:   I think it's a great move to switch duties with Andrew; you running Pacific Times, Ms George and the other magazines while he takes over the Native Tongue Language Series. What do you think?

SONNY:    It was my Dad's decision to switch. I'm very happy to be a part of the magazines. I'm sure Andrew feels the same way about the Language Company.

Ms George:  Your father is a Great man. He accomplished so much that most people in Guam can only dream about. What do you have to say to that?

SONNY:   My Dad is a wonderful person. He is dedicated and sincere about his cultural beliefs. His mind is constantly at-work and his dreams are always evolving. I'd love to be able to assist him in realizing those dreams..

Ms George:  As the new Publisher, will you be introducing new ideas to the magazines?

SONNY:  Well my dad has everything planned out. I'm just here to work with him, side-by-side.

Ms George:  What do you mean?

SONNY:  As you know, we have plans to purchase several large computer systems dedicated ONLY to the magazines. In the beginning of 2010, all eight magazines will be re-designed amd re-configured as VIRTUAL REALITY NETWORKS.  

Ms George:  Yes. I am privy to those plans and to be honest with you...I am excited.

SONNY:  So am I. When I hear my dad explain how this VIRTUAL REALITY NETWORK works, I get goose-bumps. Our new magazines will become top notch globally. 

Ms George: I know that your sister, Dee will be responsible for Europa Times Magazine, Jolita Amerika Magazine and Kiwi Times (NZ) Magazine. Will your dad be publisher for the Arabia Times Magazine and the Africa Times Magazine? 

SONNY:  Yes. That is the plan, for now. I want to switch a project with my sister though. She wants to be publisher of Ms. George because it is a Woman's Journal and I want to be publisher of the Kiwi Times (NZ) Magazine.

Ms George: I like that idea. And I would like to work with your sister. Have you discussed this with your father?

SONNY:     Not yet. My sister will bring it to his ear after the holidays.

Ms George:  That is Kool. What about Andrew. Will he be participating in these magazines?

SONNY:    For sure. I believe that my dad will pass-on the Arabia Times and Africa Times to him by June of 2010.

    Ms George:  Do you know why 2010?

SONNY:  I believe my dad wants to enjoin himself with the Middle East Peace Process and the Clinton Initiatives in Africa, so he wanted to steer and guide the magazines.

Ms George:  I see. I suspected that. Did you hear this new gravevine news that your dad may run for Mayor of Maui County?

SONNY:    Yes. But I do not believe he will run. I've also heard rumors that he might return to Guam and run for Governor. I don't believe that either.

Ms George:   Why not?  Don't you want him to return to the island and make a bid for the top post?

SONNY:    Absolutely not. I have never seen my dad so happy until he left Guam.  My brother and sister feel the same way. We want him to be healthy and happy. Besides, he does more for the islands from the outside.

Ms George: I see your point and I have to agree. So...what about you. What is in the cards for Sonny Perez?

SONNY:  I am a laid back person so I am just enjoying myself.

Ms George:    Don't you find it amazing to be a powerful person?

SONNY:  I don't see myself as powerful. I am here to help my dad and learn. Like my brother told me....we are doing this for all the right reasons.

Ms George:   I like that phrase. But seriously, what do you want to be when you grow up?

SONNY:    Hey, I am all grown up. I am taller and bigger than my dad. But I understand the question. My dad is leaving us a legacy with all his work. My mission, our mission is to perpetuate his work to the next millenium. 

Ms George: You are married to a Filipina and you have two boys? Do they read the magazines?

SONNY:  Yes! My wife and kids are very cultural. A few years ago, my Dad help us get our boys enrolled in the Hawaiian Emersion School down in Waiakamilo. 

Ms George:  Do you have any new plans for the businesses?

ANDREW:   I'm not telling. I'd like to keep them private, for now.

Ms George:   Do you have any aspirations for Public Office?

SONNY:  Heck No!  Senator? Governor? or any other public office?  Public life does not appeal to me. However, I do believe in serving our people but in some other capacity.

Ms George:    Don't you want to follow in your father's footsteps?

SONNY:  Yes and No. Take the ancient remains issue and the Bishop Museum. My Dad discovered the remains back in the 1990s. It took Ten years to bring our ancestors home. What frustrated my Dad was the fact that it wasn't the Bishop Museum refusing to return the remains, it was the leaders of the Government of Guam and the CNMI not wanting to accept the remains. Yet they flat out lied to our people. Then the Governor of Guam forced the Navy to release excess land in Nimitz Hill to build a memorial for the Korean Victims of the Plane Crash, while our people and our ancestors remain homeless in Hawaii. 

Ms George:  I see what you mean.

SONNY:  There are more and more issues that frustrated my Dad. The issue of land and how the federal government allowed the island bigwigs to steal them from our people.    

Ms George:  Would you like to address those issues in our publication?

SONNY:    I would love to but my Dad advised me to let old wounds lie in peace. The people of Guam do not deserve to be saved. If they allow the island powerhouses to walk all over them, they deserved everything they get.

Ms George:   We hear that you coach a youth basketball team in Hawaii.  Is this true?

SONNY:   I do.  I enjoy working with the youths in my district.  My dad was the same way when I was growing up. He was an umpire for baseball, volleyball and basketball. He enjoyed being an umpire for the Parks & Recreation and he worked with Mayor Ben San Nicholas of Ordot.

Ms George:   Will you be focusing on these activities in our magazine?

SONNY:    I'd like to. I have asked my dad if I could include a sports page in our magazine.

Ms George:   That's a great idea. Maybe we can do a quarterly story on the upcomming stars in the sports world, such as Michelle Wie in golf, right?

SONNY:    Certainly. We have to encourage our young people to shoot for the stars.

Ms George:   I like that. We should collaborate on this soon.

SONNY:  Thank you Shannon.