Felicidad Ogumoro

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Felicidad Ogumoro
Vice Speaker of the
Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives
In office
January 2010 – January 2013
Preceded byJoseph Deleon Guerrero
Succeeded byFrancisco Dela Cruz
Personal details
Born
Felicidad Taman Ogumoro

(1949-12-01)December 1, 1949
Saipan, Mariana Islands, Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands
DiedJanuary 2024(2024-01-00) (aged 74)
Political partyRepublican (2013–2024)
Covenant (2009–2013)
Reform (2001)
Democratic (1979–2001)
Spouse
Francisco Uludong
​
​
(m. 1976; died 1991)​
Children4
ResidenceSaipan
Alma materUniversity of Saint Mary
ProfessionBusinesswoman
Politician

Felicidad Taman Ogumoro (1 December 1949 – January 2024) was a politician from the Northern Mariana Islands. She served for some years as a member of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.

Early life and career[edit]

Felicidad Taman Ogumoro was born into a poor Carolinian family on Saipan, the daughter of Daniel Rogolifoi Ogumoro and Estefania Taman; she is the eldest of eight children. During her childhood, she trained to become a member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy and attended Mt. Carmel High School, a parochial school in Saipan.[1] She then attended the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and earned a B.A. in sociology.[2] She married Francisco Uludong in 1976 and they remained married until his death in 1991. She and Francisco had four children.[1] She was very involved in the United Carolinians Association and participated in its reestablishment in 2020.[3]

First legislative terms[edit]

Ogumoro was elected to serve in the 1st Legislature of the Northern Mariana Islands.[1] She was the first woman to serve in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[4] She was reelected in 1979 as a Democrat. During the 1st and 2nd legislatures, she served as the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare.[5] In the 1981 general election, Ogumoro, again the Democratic candidate, was swept out in a Republican wave election.[6]

Between legislative terms[edit]

After her first tenure in the legislature, she organized Western Pacific Associates, Micronesia's first locally owned public relations and business consulting firm.[2] In the 1990s, she led a small nationalist group called Inetnon Taotao Tano which opposed foreign development in the CNMI.[7] In 1991, she ran for the House from Precinct IV on a platform to establish a trust fund for future generations, fund housing development on homesteads and private property, improve education, and promote entrepreneurship.[8]

In 2001, she left the Democratic Party and joined former Governor Froilan Tenorio in establishing the Reform Party, an affiliate of the American Reform Party.[9][10] Governor Juan Babauta nominated Ogumoro to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors in 2005.[11]

Second legislative terms[edit]

In the 2009 general election, Ogumoro was elected to the House for a second tenure.[12]

In the 17th Commonwealth Legislature, Ogumoro was chosen to serve as the Vice Speaker of the House.[13] She succeeded Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero who served in the position during the 16th Commonwealth Legislature.[14] In her capacity as Vice Speaker, she served as Acting Speaker when Speaker Froilan Tenorio was off island.[15] Francisco Santos Dela Cruz took over as Vice Speaker for the 18th Commonwealth Legislature.[16]

Ogumoro was a member of the House of Representatives when Janet Maratita was sworn into office in 2011; the two women, alongside Teresita Santos, were the first three to serve simultaneously in the House.[17] Among her areas of interest while in the House was a desire to create a Northern Marianas Cultural Center.[18]

Originally elected as a member of the Covenant Party, Ogumoro chose to follow Governor Benigno Fitial to the Republican Party.[19] Ogumoro was reelected in 2012 and 2014. Ogumoro opted not to run for reelection in the 2016 general election and retired after the 19th Commonwealth Legislature.[20] After leaving the Legislature, Ogumoro was appointed to the advisory board of the Department of Public Lands.[21]

Death[edit]

Ogumoro died in January 2024, at the age of 74.[22]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Ogumoro, Felicidad (February 12, 1997). "Felicidad T. Ogumoro" (PDF). Oral Histories (Interview). Interviewed by Deanne C. Siemer; Howard P. Willens. Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: Northern Marianas Humanities Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Simon-McWilliams, Ethel (1987). Green, Karen Reed (ed.). "Glimpses into Pacific Lives: Some Outstanding Women(Revised)" (PDF). Washington, DC: Education Resources Information Center. pp. 178–180. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  3. ^ "United Carolinians Association revived". Marianas Variety. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "First Women to Serve in State and Territorial Legislatures". National Conference of State Legislatures. March 6, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Senate, House Leaders Hope for Harmony" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. January 17, 1980. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  6. ^ "GOP Scores Landslide Election Win" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 10, no. 34. November 6, 1981. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  7. ^ "Japanese Are Retaking Micronesia With Money". San Francisco Chronicle. January 17, 1991. p. B7 – via NewsBank.
  8. ^ Ogumoro, Felicidad (November 1, 1991). "Felicidad Taman Ogumoro: Democratic Candidate for Precinct IV". Marianas Variety. Vol. 20, no. 66. p. 37. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  9. ^ Dandan, Zaldy (April 12, 1999). "New Party organized" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. Vol. 26, no. 9. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  10. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  11. ^ "Senate to vote on vacancies certified by governor today". Saipan Tribune. December 13, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "First Day" (PDF). Legislative Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). CNMI House of Representatives. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  13. ^ "Election of Vice-Speaker" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 7. January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "Election of Vice-Speaker" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 16 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 5. January 14, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  15. ^ Deposa, Moneth (June 15, 2012). "Retirees reject Fund emergency". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  16. ^ "Second Reading of Bills" (PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 18 (2). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 6. January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  17. ^ "Janet Maratita is sworn into office - Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads - Saipan Tribune". www.saipantribune.com. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  18. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro wants to establish NMI cultural center". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  19. ^ "Vice speaker will be joining Fitial in the Republican Party". Saipan Tribune. January 9, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  20. ^ Perez, Jon (January 9, 2017). "19th Legislature closes out session". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Saipan municipal council OKs Felicidad Ogumoro's appointment to DPL advisory board". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  22. ^ Manglona, Thomas (4 January 2024). "NMI pioneer Felicidad Ogumoro passes away at 74". KUAM News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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