By Laila Y. Boyer
Variety General Manager

If the ocean could speak, she would say she has lost one of her great sons today.As the islands’ first local certified dive instructor, Vicente Manglona Concepcion will be laid to rest today after years of serving the community in the tourism industry and creating a legacy many will remember.
For those who can speak, family and friends of Vicente, otherwise known as “Ben,” have shown an outpouring of love and gratitude over the past several days by sending letters to the local newspapers or sending e-mails from all over the world for the man with an “endless smile.”
Ben passed away quietly on January 30th at the age of 56 years old, the day after his 37th wedding anniversary. His wife, Mariana R. “Ki” Concepcion, was the love of his life and business partner.
Together, Ben and Ki started the islands’ first locally-owned dive shop, B.C. Dive Shop in 1972 and after a brief stint as Watersports, Inc., it became Ben & Ki Watersports, Inc.
A Love for the Ocean
At eight years old, Ben was already fishing for his family, a necessary chore that would soon turn into a love for the ocean.
Ben’s parents, Antonio T. and Balbina M. Concepcion, instilled in him the value of hard work and taught him how to appreciate the simple things in life.
“When Ben saw the joy his mother showed every time he would bring home even a small catch for the family to eat, he wanted to become a better fisherman,” said Ki. “That’s when he started to enjoy spear fishing and being in the water.”
As a teenager, Ben became an expert with the spear gun and knew how to free dive beyond the reef.
It was only later after he met his good friend Aki Yamaguchi at the Royal Taga Hotel that he learned about scuba diving.
“Aki was renting out tanks at that time as a part-time business. He told Ben to take a tank and they went diving together,” said Ki. “Ben loved it and never stopped diving after that.”
Ben enrolled in a dive class on island with Juan “Pan” Guerrero, Juan Camacho, Jack Villagomez and others as classmates, but he was the only one who eventually became a certified dive instructor.
“He loved the ocean and everything about it,” said Ki. “I couldn’t understand that—I was scared of the ocean because I didn’t know how to swim. But that didn’t stop him—he wanted me to share his joy and took me to the water with him.”
“He said everyone loves diving and I was missing out on this great experience. So I went with him and on my first dive, I saw an eel. I panicked, but Ben calmed me down. I was so scared, I never went diving after that,” she laughed.
When long-time friends, such as Shigeru Tomita and Rio Ogawa, saw Ben’s natural talent, they insisted he open his own shop. Being one that could not let friends down, he opened his first shop in San Jose.
Ben flew to Hawaii and received his dive instructor certification from the YMCA and CAMAS. Eventually, he was also certified by the U.S. Coat Guard as a boat captain. Ki stood by his side and helped manage the business.
Soon, Ben was busy taking tourists on his two first boats, “Snail” and “Super Snail,” names that carried a snippet of Ben’s humor.
“He was the Will Rogers of the islands, the astute and humorous philosopher in swim trunks and rubber slippers. His witty observations were always delivered with that million dollar smile,” said former TTPI AG and friend Kent Harvey in a letter to Marianas Variety.
After building a new shop block by block in Garapan, Ben and Ki also opened a store and apartment complex.
Ben & Ki Watersports continues to be one of the islands’ successful dive shop operations, with his only son Lawrence becoming a boat captain, which is a goal the family says all nine grandsons aspire to as well.
Lawrence loves the ocean as passionately as his father, walking in his footsteps and learning the trade of marine sports.
“This is my life. Since I was a kid, I knew what I wanted to do, and I am fortunate that my father was there to teach me. My father lived his passion and I will do my best to carry on and live his legacy,” said Lawrence.
Ben’s other children include Tina C. Pangelinan, Bobbie Ann R. Concepcion and Marianne C. Tergeyo.
An Unsung Hero
Ben became a guardian of the ocean, saving those lost at sea as well as helping all he could on land.
“My father was a very compassionate, unselfish and generous man. He never thought twice about helping those in need,” said his eldest daughter Tina . “I feel so blessed for being a part of his life as he is the greatest father and teacher I have ever known.”
When three teenage boys thought they could handle the after storm swells at the beach behind Town House center 16 years ago, they grabbed their surf boards and headed out towards the waves.
Hours later, Sugar Dock in Chalan Kanoa was teeming with officials and family members distraught that their young boys were lost in the darkness and coldness of the sea.
Despite the rough weather, Ben charged up his boat and combed the area, keeping his trained eye on the growing swells.
One of the boys, Banny Younis, who Ben found clinging to a buoy and suffering from hyperthermia, remembers that fateful day.
“While we were lost wondering what was going to happen us, Uncle Ben braved the rough waters to pull us out of the water. I am here today because of his willingness to risk his life to save a group of young men,” said Banny. “Uncle Ben, thank you.”
When brother-in-law Leo Reyes and friend Joe Lizama were lost at sea for three days after engine trouble on their 15-foot boat left them to drift, Ben and his son Lawrence were the first ones out searching the rough seas.
“Even as the days passed, I knew Ben was out there looking for me,” said Leo. “I knew that he would not stop until we were found.”
It took a helicopter to spot the two and soon Boating Safety arrived to pull the men to safety. With Ben’s persistence, the search continued when it would have stopped.
“We lost a sailor on a small Hobie cat who sailed to Tinian and Ben was the first to respond, even though the weather was still kind of rough,” said long-time friend Bill Sakovich in a letter to Marianas Variety. “He knew the waters well and would always give a hand in emergencies.”
Ben was also a man of faith, who went to church regularly with his family, assisted village fiestas by fishing and helping to carry the Nino every Christmas in San Vicente.
“He would go fishing, fill up the ice chest coolers with fresh fish and bring it for the fiestas, or give it to our elderly relatives,” said Tina.
“My father taught us three things, that family is first and foremost, to go to church regularly, because no matter what good deeds you did, it didn’t count if you didn’t go to church,” smiled Lawrence. “Lastly, he always encouraged us to be patient.”
The good-natured boat captain also gave to family and friends in need even when they did not have money to spare.
“We would be on the way to pay for the loan at the bank and if someone stopped us to borrow money, he would give it to them,” said Ki. “I would get upset, saying that we needed that money and he would just tell me it was okay, money comes and goes, but good friendships are hard to find.”
Ben also often volunteered his expertise to the American Red Cross for CPR lessons, assisted in search and rescue missions or filled up dive tanks for free.
When it came to the water, Ben was a serious and devoted professional.
“When I took a dive class with him as an instructor, I thought he would pass me for sure because I am his daughter,” smiled Bobbie. “But, he followed it by the book and I did not pass the test. I had really wanted that dive card. Even so, my fondest memories are going diving with him.”
With his mind rarely on material things, Ben constantly searched for ways to make his family and friends feel good.
His youngest daughter, Marianne, recalled how her father would show up at school still wearing his wet suit or bright orange board shorts just to drop off a snack or to say hello.
“As a little girl, I’d be embarrassed with him showing up like he just came from the beach. But now, I realize that he made time for us no matter how busy he was and I love him for it,” she smiled. “Now, I know he will always be watching over us, our guardian angel.”
In his final moments, Ben was with his family, and with his wife, Ki, whom he lovingly called “Sugar.”
“My father often celebrated the special occasions with us, especially with my mom. He would not forget a Valentine’s Day or a Mother’s Day,” said Tina. “As a family, we loved going to favorite restaurants. We were celebrating my wedding anniversary the day he died. I am so glad I was with him smiling and laughing on his last day.”
“Before he passed away, he told me to take care of my mom, brother and sisters and to make sure we were all happy and at peace,” she softly smiled. “We will miss him so very much.”
On Valentine’s Day, the community says goodbye to a man who knew how to love and how to give, just like the mother of life, the endless ocean of blue.