Benjamin Manglona
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Taisacan Manglona (born March 31, 1938) is a politician
and civil engineer
in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). He is currently the CNMI’s longest serving elected official having served as a congressman, senator, and former mayor of Rota
(the third largest island in the CNMI chain). Manglona served as the third Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1990 to 1994 and as Mayor of Rota
from 1998 to 2006.
in Hawaii
and an associates degree in Civil Engineering Technology
from the University of Guam
.
Manglona began his career as a junior engineering aide
, before his promotion to supervisor
. He also worked as an assistant clerk of court and a station manager for Continental Micronesia
, the major airline of Micronesia
.
from 1965 to 1970, as the Northern Mariana Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
at the time.
Manglona became a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission representing Rota in 1972. He served as the first Vice President of the Northern Mariana Islands' First Constitutional Convention of 1976. In that role, Manglona helped draft the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands, which was later ratified by voters and approved by the U.S. President.
Maglona took office as a Senator in the first sitting Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
in 1978. He was re-elected to the Senate in each successive election until the sixth Legislature, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor.
Manglona was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
in the 1989 on the gubernatorial ticket of Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero
. Manglona was sworn into office in January 1990 and served one term until 1994.
He was elected Mayor of Rota
in 1998 and served for two-consecutive terms in office. Manglona was succeeded as Mayor by Joseph Songao Inos in January 11, 2006.
In March 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
adopted House Resolution 17-45, which honored Benjamin Manglona for "his distinguished career in public office and his exemplary contributions to the CNMI." The house resolution, which was authored by Rep. Teresita A. Santos (Independent-Rota), was presented to Manglona on March 29, 2011.
On April 6, 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
, where Manglona once served, passed a bill which would rename Rota International Airport
as "Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport" in recognition of his public service. The bill would become law if it passes the House and is signed by Governor Benigno Fitial.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and civil engineer
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). He is currently the CNMI’s longest serving elected official having served as a congressman, senator, and former mayor of Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
(the third largest island in the CNMI chain). Manglona served as the third Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has a self governing government consisting of a locally elected governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Eloy Inos, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created when...
of the Northern Mariana Islands from 1990 to 1994 and as Mayor of Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
from 1998 to 2006.
Early life
Manglona was born on March 31, 1938. He earned a degree in Engineering Technology from Honolulu Community CollegeHonolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College is a public, co-educational commuter college in Honolulu, Hawaii.The campus is located at 874 Dillingham Bloulevard, north of downtown Honolulu between Honolulu harbor and the neighborhood of Kapālama, at ....
in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
and an associates degree in Civil Engineering Technology
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
from the University of Guam
University of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
.
Manglona began his career as a junior engineering aide
Aide
Aide may refer to:* A person who assists another; an assistant. In military contexts; an officer who acts as assistant to a more senior one; an aide-de-camp.* Aide , a purported Basque deity....
, before his promotion to supervisor
Supervisor
A supervisor, foreperson, team leader, overseer, cell coach, facilitator, or area coordinator is a manager in a position of trust in business...
. He also worked as an assistant clerk of court and a station manager for Continental Micronesia
Continental Micronesia
Continental Micronesia, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Continental Airlines. It operated daily flights to Honolulu, Hawaii, as well as international services to Asia, Micronesia and Australia from its base of operations at Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport on Guam, a U.S. territory in...
, the major airline of Micronesia
Micronesia
Micronesia is a subregion of Oceania, comprising thousands of small islands in the western Pacific Ocean. It is distinct from Melanesia to the south, and Polynesia to the east. The Philippines lie to the west, and Indonesia to the southwest....
.
Political career
In 1963, Manglona launched his political career when he was elected to the Marianas District Legislature, serving from 1963 to 1965. He then became a representative in the Congress of MicronesiaCongress of Micronesia
The Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia has 14 non-partisan members, 10 members elected for a two year term in single-seat constituencies and 4 members elected for a four year term by proportional representation.-Speakers of the Congress:...
from 1965 to 1970, as the Northern Mariana Islands were part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
The Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands was a United Nations trust territory in Micronesia administered by the United States from 1947 to 1986.-History:...
at the time.
Manglona became a member of the Marianas Political Status Commission representing Rota in 1972. He served as the first Vice President of the Northern Mariana Islands' First Constitutional Convention of 1976. In that role, Manglona helped draft the Constitution of the Northern Mariana Islands, which was later ratified by voters and approved by the U.S. President.
Maglona took office as a Senator in the first sitting Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature
The Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature is the territorial legislature of the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The legislative branch of the territory is bicameral, consisting of a 20-member lower House of Representatives, and an upper house Senate with nine...
in 1978. He was re-elected to the Senate in each successive election until the sixth Legislature, when he was elected Lieutenant Governor.
Manglona was elected Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
Lieutenant Governor of the Northern Mariana Islands
The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has a self governing government consisting of a locally elected governor, Lieutenant Governor and the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Eloy Inos, who was appointed to fill the vacancy created when...
in the 1989 on the gubernatorial ticket of Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero
Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero
Lorenzo I. De Leon Guerrero was the third elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Biography:...
. Manglona was sworn into office in January 1990 and served one term until 1994.
He was elected Mayor of Rota
Rota (island)
Rota also known as the "peaceful island", is the southernmost island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the second southernmost of the Marianas Archipelago. It lies approximately 40 miles north-northeast of the United States territory of Guam...
in 1998 and served for two-consecutive terms in office. Manglona was succeeded as Mayor by Joseph Songao Inos in January 11, 2006.
In March 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
The Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives is the lower house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature.In the 2007 election cycle, the CNMI House membership was increased from 18 to 20...
adopted House Resolution 17-45, which honored Benjamin Manglona for "his distinguished career in public office and his exemplary contributions to the CNMI." The house resolution, which was authored by Rep. Teresita A. Santos (Independent-Rota), was presented to Manglona on March 29, 2011.
On April 6, 2011, the Northern Mariana Islands Senate
Northern Mariana Islands Senate
The Northern Mariana Islands Senate is the upper house of the Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. The Senate consists of nine senators representing three senatorial districts , each a multi-member constituency with three senators.In the November 2007 elections, the three senators up...
, where Manglona once served, passed a bill which would rename Rota International Airport
Rota International Airport
Rota International Airport is a public airport located on Rota Island in the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , near the village of Sinapalo. The airport is owned by the Commonwealth Ports Authority.Although most U.S...
as "Benjamin Taisacan Manglona International Airport" in recognition of his public service. The bill would become law if it passes the House and is signed by Governor Benigno Fitial.