Former Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta, second right, hands the miniature statute of U.S. Congressman Phil Burton to Northern Marianas College President Dr. Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, second left, while CNMI Archivist Ray Muna, left, and former Rep. Juan S. Reyes look on at the NMC Archives on Tuesday.
On behalf of Northern Marianas College, its President Dr. Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero, left, receives the documents and books donated by former Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta.
FORMER Gov. Juan Nekai Babauta on Tuesday donated to Northern Marianas College key documents — including correspondence, speeches, records — and other literature of significant importance for the study of the CNMI.
These include the report to the 102nd U.S. Congress Committee on Budget and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, pertaining to the multi-million funding agreement between the CNMI and the federal government; the minutes of a hearing conducted by the U.S. House Subcommittee on Territorial and Insular Affairs to approve the Covenant on July 14, 1975; the 1991 recommendations pursuant to Sections 504 and 902 of the Covenant; the CNMI garment industry oversight hearing conducted by the U.S. House; the 1999 CNMI Fiscal Impact Report on the impact of non-residents on the CNMI’s economy and public infrastructure; the $40 million general obligation bonds that will be due on Oct. 1, 2033; and many more.
Babauta also handed to NMC President Dr. Galvin S. Deleon Guerrero and CNMI Archivist Ray Muna a miniature statute of the “Father of the Covenant,” U.S. Congressman Phil Burton.
Babauta likewise provided a copy of the State of the Commonwealth Address by CNMI’s first governor, Carlos S. Camacho; a joint statement from then-Gov. Froilan C. Tenorio and Babauta himself, when he was Washington representative, on the Impact of the Contract with America on the Territories; and the statements of then-Gov. Lorenzo Deleon Guerrero and then-Lt. Gov. Benjamin T. Manglona on the Territorial Sea and Contiguous Zone Extension and Enforcement Act of 1991.
In addition, Babauta donated original manuscripts and copies of local history books that he authored, such as “In Retrospect,” and “NMI History Timeline on Submerged Lands, Territorial Waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.”
Babauta said in the interest of future generations, he donated these documents that he had acquired as CNMI senator, Washington representative, and governor.
He said that when he was doing research for the first book he wrote, he discovered that the collection at the NMC Archives was lacking. He said he had to resort to other resources outside the CNMI. He had to travel to Washington D.C., Hawaii and Guam to complete his research.
“And that was very unfortunate when we could be having access to resources like these here at NMC. So in the interest of future generations, I’m donating a lot of these documents that I had…for the use of the future generations,” Babauta said.
Deleon Guerrero said he was very grateful that Babauta devoted his life to public service, and is now “pivoting to a life of scholarship and research.”
He said he has read Babauta’s books because, “like you said, you can never stop learning. And that is really what we are all about here at NMC, and I really thank you for this,” he told the former governor.
He said Babauta is a living manifestation of what Isaac Newton once said: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
Deleon Guerrero said Babauta is constantly pointing to who those giants are, “and whose shoulders we stand on,” referring to Congressman Burton and the CNMI’s founding fathers.
“But I would be remiss if I don’t point out that you yourself are the giant on whose shoulders we stand. You’ve influenced so many people, especially me,” said Deleon Guerrero, who served as then-Governor Babauta’s special assistant for special projects.
For his part, Muna said he felt honored and humbled that the former governor was donating historical documents to the college. “Not too many people in the CNMI have them,” Muna added. Thanks to Babauta, they are now available to students and other members of the public, he said.
