THE family of the late Amalia Muna Deleon Guerrero Diaz (1912-2003), popularly known as Tan Amalian Badu, said they are most grateful to Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and community members for renaming a street in honor of their matriarch.
Apatang, along with the Badu family, House Minority Leader Angel Demapan, Reps. Edwin Propst, Joseph Leepan Guerrero and Joseph Flores last week unveiled the new street sign for Tan Amalian Badu Avenue, which was formerly known as Laiguan St.
It was a special occasion that honored “a wonderful and beautiful individual,” the mayor said, adding that “God gave us the lifetime gift of knowing her.”
Apatang said Tan Amalian Badu dedicated her life to making San Antonio the envy of other villages.
The families in the village and other island residents knew Tan Amalian as a person who always welcomed them into her heart and loving home, the mayor said.
It was her husband, Antonio Arriola Diaz, also known as Tun Antonio Badu, who served as municipal council member for 14 years after World War II and not Tan Amalian as earlier reported.
According to the family, Tun Antonio, as a public servant, continuously donated to the reconstruction of San Antonio parish. After his passing, his wife, Tan Amalian, devoted and committed her life to the San Antonio parish for decades.
At the time, a book was written about Tan Amalian’s devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua and the church by Maria Mafnas, titled, “I Debota.”
Tun Antonio and Tan Amalian had 14 children.
“On behalf of our family of the late Amalia Deleon Guerrero Diaz (Badu) and the late Antonio Arriola Diaz (Badu), we would like to gracefully thank the community and Mayor David M. Apatang along with government officials for making this possible in honor of Tun Antonio Badu and his wife Amalian Badu, ‘I Debota,’” the family said in a statement.
The family added that Tan Amalian adopted the yearly feast of Corpus Christi, organized clergy seatings during the annual San Antonio fiesta, led the church choir (Kantadora) and lent her religious statues, (Mañantos), to anyone who needed them.
Tan Amalian would also cut the hair and massage anyone for free.
Her family has continuously, along with the San Antonio community, served San Antonio Parish, and is proud and honored that Tan Amalian’s well-deserved dedication and services to the village of San Antonio and its parish are recognized by the community.
Addressing the Badu family, Mayor Apatang said, “The memories Tan Amalian left for us live forever in your hearts and ours. Thank you for keeping the memories of devotion alive in our hearts.”
