He said his current job as program manager for the Public School System has taught him patience, perseverance and good parenting skills — values his mother appreciated and epitomized.
His mother, a teacher at Garapan Elementary School, cared about giving her students the very best education possible.
“When I was young and would wake up in the wee hours of the night, I would see my mother next to a pile of papers that covered the dining room table,” he said.
Following the footsteps of his mother, Ed, as he is popularly known in the community, is now passing the torch to his children and to the islands’ new generation.
He said his mother’s love and dedication to her family and students are the reasons why he chose a career in education.
“One of the things both my parents have taught me is that true success is not measured by how many dollars you earn, but by how much love you have for others,” he said.
His mother’s role as a teacher, Ed said, was no different from her role as a mother.
“She was there with us — from when we had the flu to when we had our recitals, to when we graduated from kindergarten to college.”
Born in Tafuna, American Samoa on Feb. 14, 1971, Ed is a product of Marianas High School and Northern Marianas College. He finished his bachelor’s degree in communications at the University of Hawaii at Manoa,
He said teaching in high school was truly rewarding, but very challenging.
He was also a busboy at a restaurant.
“You don’t even have time to blink. You are clearing one table, and then before you get a chance to catch your breath, you are clearing another table while waiters are calling for you to clear another table at the same time customers nearby are asking for more water, or their check, or for another fork,” he said.
He loved to take pictures as a young boy and when he grew up he became a professional photographer.
He now dreams of taking a long vacation and taking photos in all of the Micronesian islands.
This year, Ed is planning to work on his master’s degree, build their house and convince his wife, Daisy Manglona, to have one more child.
They already have three: Kiana Lei, 5; Devin 3; and Kaden, 4 months old.
“I aspire to be a better person because I have learned that true change comes from within,” he said.
Ed thinks that all talents are works in progress because there is always room for improvement.
“I think photography is more of a passion than a true talent,” he said.
He learned photography in college at the University of Hawaii, where he bought his first SLR camera.
He also took a correspondence course with the New York Institute of Photography.
“My advice to any aspiring photographer is to shoot first and ask questions later. Look at your pictures and develop a sense of what separates good pictures from great pictures. Don’t be afraid to go against the grain.”
He said there are a lot of photography Web sites that can help those interested in photography.
Asked about his writing skills, Ed attributed it to his insatiable appetite for reading — and procrastinating.
“When it comes to writing, my greatest influence is not a famed author — it is my father. I consider him the Zen master of writing and editing. So far he has yet to send me a bill!” he said, smiling.
