AT 35, David A. Indalecio was the oldest high school graduate in his class in 1972 and probably in the history of the Northern Marianas.
Not surprisingly, his motto in their annual yearbook was, “It’s never too late to learn.”
His is a fascinating story of someone who struggled for more than 10 years to get a high school diploma despite personal odds and the difficulties of the post-war era—a far cry from today’s time when students drop out because they just want to.
This is something that Indalecio finds difficult to understand. “I cannot believe that they don’t want to go to school. Education is very important,” he added.
The oldest among 10 children, Indalecio said he couldn’t go to school regularly because of poverty.
“I’m the oldest so every time my dad got sick, I was the one who had to take over his job so that there would be food on our table. After that, I went back to school but then I had already missed a lot of my classes,” said Indalecio, who is now 65 years old and vice chairman of the Saipan Municipal Council.
Indalecio’s father collected scrap metals sold to mainland Americans.
In 1960, Indalecio got married. He was 23. He fathered six children during the decade.
In 1965, Indalecio was hired as a property custodian at the Civic Center where the Trust Territory government offices were located.
Indalecio later asked his boss, Frank Ada, the CNMI’s future first lt. governor who was then the Marianas District administrator, if he could finish high school while working.
“I thought if I finish high school maybe I could improve myself,” Indalecio said.
“I am very grateful to Mr. Frank Ada because he allowed me to attend school in the morning and work in the afternoon,” he added.
Indalecio said he wanted to improve his communication skills. However, he had to endure the ridicule of his peers and the difficulties of raising a family while working and going to school.
“I would go to school in the morning and work all afternoon. I would clean the bus, everything,” he said.
On June 9, 1972, Indalecio, along with 200 students of Marianas High School, graduated.
“I felt very happy. It was as if my feet weren’t touching the ground. I was very proud,” Indalecio said.
His batch included Presiding Judge Edward Manibusan, former Senate President John Demapan, Sen. Thomas Villagomez, Republican Party Chairman Joe Reyes, Doris Chong, Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos, a senator from the Marshall Islands and CNMI Archivist Herbert Del Rosario.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta also attended MHS at that time but left for the states during his sophomore year, according to Carmen Taimanao, chairwoman of Marianas High School’s Batch 1972 alumni homecoming, which will be held this June at Pacific Islands Club.
