This was what former Lt. Gov. Benjamin Taisacan Manglona had to say after receiving from the House of Representatives yesterday a copy of a resolution honoring him as a statesman of the Northern Marianas.
Surrounded by his family members in the House chamber, Manglona, who was celebrating his 73rd birthday, listened as Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, read House Resolution 17-45.
Authored by Rep. Teresita A. Santos, Ind.-Rota, H.R. 17-45 listed Manglona’s numerous contributions to the islands and congratulated him for his exemplary accomplishments during his time in public service.
In an interview after the presentation of the resolution, Manglona said: “I’m very thankful for this occasion.”
“It is very touching to the heart,” he added, as he thanked the members of the Senate and House of Representatives “for taking time to pass this resolution.”
“And to all the people of the NMI, I thank you,” he added.
A former Senate president, Manglona said he was very glad to be back again on Capital Hill where he had an office for many years as legislator and lt. governor.
The Legislature, he said, had been his “inspiration.”
“I loved to be here. I loved to be in this area of the world,” he added.
An engineer by profession, Manglona started his political career when he was elected member of the Marianas District Legislature in 1963. He served as the NMI’s representative to the Congress of Micronesia during the Trust Territory years.
He was appointed in 1975, then elected in 1976, as member of the Mariana Islands District Legislature.
He was elected as senator representing Rota in the First CNMI Legislature during which he became the floor leader and chairman of fiscal affairs and executive appointments and government investigations committees. He continued to serve as senator up to the Sixth Legislature when he was elected by his colleagues as Senate president.
In 1989, he was the running mate of Republican gubernatorial candidate Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero who won the election.
Manglona later served as a two-term mayor of Rota from 1998 to 2006 before retiring from public service.
