THE Senate on Thursday unanimously adopted a commemorative resolution commending David Mangarero Sablan “for his notable accomplishments, tireless service, and remarkable contributions to the [CNMI] and the people.”
S.C.R. 22-2, authored by Sen. Edith Deleon Guerrero, recognizes and commends Sablan, known affectionately as “Uncle Dave,” for his noble dedication and countless remarkable contributions to the CNMI.
Sablan was born on April 2, 1932 to the late Elias Parong Sablan and the late Carmen Ilo Mangarero Sablan.
He was married to the late Guadalupe Perez. They have four children: David Jr., Victoria, Patricia, and Stephen.
He is currently married to Rita Castro. They have a daughter, Deanna.
Sablan began his business career with Atkins Kroll in Guam, where he worked as a steamship traffic clerk in 1952.
He was soon transferred to the automotive division of AK to work as the sales manager of the General Motors distributorship in 1952, a position he held until 1961.
He subsequently joined the Bank of Hawaii – Guam branch where he initially started as a loan officer in 1961.
Through hard work and perseverance, he was eventually promoted to assistant manager of the branch.
He returned to AK in 1965 and was influential in establishing the Saipan branch office for which he served as the company’s first general manager.
He continued to serve the Saipan branch when it was incorporated as Microl Corporation in 1968, and he further played a great role in the establishment of the Toyota distributorship in Saipan, Guam, Palau, Chuuk, Pohnpei, and the Marshall Islands.
Sablan was promoted to president in 1974, and to board chair in 1985.
He retired in 1987.
In 1990, he accepted an offer to join Gov. Lorenzo I. Deleon Guerrero’s administration as special assistant for planning and budgeting.
Sablan resigned from government service in 1993 to join Tan Holdings Corp. where he served in multiple roles, including as president of Micro Pacific Inc.; executive vice president of Consolidated Transportation Services Inc.; vice president of Asia Pacific Airlines; and president of Century Insurance Company, Inc.
After 24 years of service, he retired on Dec. 31, 2017.
Sablan is one of the islands’ tourism industry pioneers. It was in 1968 when he established and became president of the Pacific Micronesia Corporation which built Saipan’s first 200-room hotel, the Saipan Beach Inter-Continental Hotel. Hotel operations began in 1976.
He later sold his share of hotel interests to Japan Travel Bureau, Inc. in 1985.
With the bureau, he organized Tasi Tours and Transportation Inc. and served as its president for nine years.
He was elected chair of the 3rd Annual Micronesian Business Council in 1996 and served on the Pacific Asia Travel Association board in the early 2000s.
Sablan was also a member of the CNMI negotiation team on labor and immigration to address matters affecting guest workers from the Philippines.
His extensive community service involvements included appointments by former Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio in 1998 to boards and task forces such as the Marianas Visitors Authority, the Governor’s Economic Advisory Council, the CNMI Aviation Task Force, and the Strategic Development Advisory Council.
He was also involved in establishing the Saipan Rotary Club in 1968 and served as its honorary, double past president, and senior active member.
He is a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and was Rotary Club Citizen of the Year in 2005.
Sablan is also an honorary member and triple past president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and has served as chairman of the fundraising committee for the construction of Kristo Rai Church; a board member of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Guam and the CNMI; and a board member of TakeCare.
He was named the Executive of the Year by the Saipan Chamber of Commerce, and Guam Business Executive, and Guam Business Magazine.
He was appointed to the Commission on Federal Laws by former President Ronald Reagan, and appointed by former U.S. Secretary of Defense Casper Weinberger as state chair for Employer Support for the National Guard and Reserve.
Sablan wrote an autobiography titled “A Degree of Success Through Curiosity,” which is his personal account of growing up during World War II on Saipan, as well as the social, political, and economic history of the era.
For his autobiography, he received the 2015 Governor’s Humanities Award for the preservation of CNMI history.
The Senate commemorative resolution states that through his countless years of experience, Sablan represents the true definition of service in every possible aspect, such as the private sector, public sector, community volunteerism and historic preservation.
“Sablan’s illustrious life story, being a simple boy who endured the trials and misfortune of World War II, is one that inspires people of all ages and serves as an example that anything can be achieved through hard work, dedication, and discipline,” the commemorative resolution stated.
“On behalf of the [CNMI], it is with great honor that this august body, representing the people of this grateful Commonwealth, conveys our profound gratitude to this outstanding and admirable individual who passionately contributed to the CNMI’s economic development and enhancement for the benefit of current and future generations.”
Dave M. Sablan
