Benjamin Manglona facts for kids

Benjamin Taisacan Manglona (in the Chamorro language: Manglo'ña) was an important leader and engineer from the Northern Mariana Islands. He was born on March 31, 1938, and passed away on April 24, 2016, at the age of 78. Benjamin Manglona served his community for a very long time. He was a congressman, a senator, and even the mayor of Rota, which is the third largest island in the Northern Mariana Islands. He also served as the third lieutenant governor of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1990 to 1994. Later, he was the Mayor of Rota from 1998 to 2006.

Benjamin Manglona's Life Story

Growing Up and Education

Benjamin Manglona was born in 1938. He loved to learn and studied engineering. He earned a degree in engineering from Honolulu Community College in Hawaii. He also got another degree in civil engineering from the University of Guam. Civil engineering is about designing and building things like roads, bridges, and buildings.

Benjamin Manglona started his career helping engineers. He then became a supervisor, which means he led a team. He also worked as an assistant in a court and managed a station for Continental Airlines, a big airline in the area.

A Career in Politics

Benjamin Manglona began his political journey in 1963. He was elected to the Marianas District Legislature, where he served for two years. After that, he became a representative in the Congress of Micronesia from 1965 to 1970. At that time, the Northern Mariana Islands were part of this larger territory.

In 1972, Benjamin Manglona joined the Marianas Political Status Commission. He represented his home island of Rota. This group helped decide the future of the Northern Mariana Islands. In 1976, he played a key role in the First Constitutional Convention. Here, he helped write the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands. This important document set up the rules for how the government of the Northern Mariana Islands would work. The people voted for it, and the U.S. President approved it.

In 1978, Benjamin Manglona became a Senator in the first ever Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. He was re-elected many times. He served as a senator until he was chosen for an even higher position.

In 1989, Benjamin Manglona was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands. He ran alongside Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero, who became the Governor. Benjamin Manglona took office in January 1990 and served one term until 1994.

Later, in 1997, he ran for Mayor of Rota and won! He served two terms as Mayor, from 1998 to 2006. After his time as Mayor, Joseph Songao Inos took over the role.

Honors and Legacy

Benjamin Manglona was highly respected for his many years of service. In March 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives honored him. They passed a special resolution, which is like a formal thank you, for his amazing work in public service. This resolution was given to him on March 29, 2011.

Just a few days later, on April 6, 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate also honored him. They passed a bill to rename the Rota International Airport to "Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport." This was to recognize his dedication to the public. The bill became law after the House passed it and the Governor signed it.

Benjamin Manglona passed away on April 24, 2016, in Rota, after having a stroke. He was 78 years old. People in the Northern Mariana Islands will always remember Benjamin Manglona for his strong commitment to serving his community and making their lives better.