Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Chairwoman Marian DLG Tudela, Vice Chairwoman Antonia M. Tudela, Council Member/Secretary Carmen Cabrera Pangelinan present a plaque to Candy Taman’s family: Vincent J. Norita Sablan (Candy’s son-in-law), Zenelen W Sablan (Candy’s granddaughter), Jonney E. Sablan (Candy’s daughter) with baby Jozelly W. Sablan, and Ellen Wertz Taman (Candy’s wife).
(Press Release) — Chamolinian music legend Candido Babauta Taman, popularly known as “Candy” or “Candy Man,” returned home to his final resting place in Saipan following a commitment ceremony in Guam’s scenic Marine Drive pristine emerald coastal waters.
In 2004, Candy was honored by the 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council leadership for Taman’s advocacy and advancement of school-aged children, families of school children and the surrounding communities in partnership with schools throughout Saipan in celebration of the National/CNMI Parent Leadership Month in February that year.
Candy Babauta Taman and wife Mary Ellen Wertz Taman were by the 12th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council Chairman Ramon B. Camacho (current Mayor of Saipan), Vice Chairwoman Antonio M. Tudela and Council Secretary Diego Kaipat, Governor Juan N. Babauta and wife Charlene Tudela joined by the Babauta and Taman clan at the Kiosku leadership in honor of Taman on the occasion of being the recipient of the University of Guam Honorary Master Degree in Traditional Knowledge.
For the second time, 10 years later, the 12th council leadership honored the legendary musical genius as the awardee of the University of Guam’s coveted Honorary Master of Micronesian Traditional Knowledge during UOG’s spring 2014 commencement ceremony.
Later that year, the local music legend was presented with Guam’s 2014 Island Music Awards Music Icon plaque.
Candy proudly held up his Music Icon Award in 2014.
Candy passed away on June 21, 2023 at the age of 75. He was laid to rest at the Chalan Kanoa cemetery this month.
At the Chalan Kanoa Kiosku, the 17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council presented the Taman family with a commemorative posthumous In Memoriam plaque.
Following Candy’s passing, the council leadership joined Gov. Arnold I. Palacios and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang in showing respect for the local music icon.
On June 26, 2023, Governor Palacios ordered that the flags of the Commonwealth and the United States of America were to be flown at half-staff at the Juan Atalig Sablan Memorial Building and at all public buildings, instrumentalities, and grounds within the Commonwealth until the sunset of the day of Taman’s interment.
For its part, the local council at the Kiosku flags flew the flags at half-staff 24-7 until Taman’s internment.
