Felicidad Ogumoro

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Felicidad Ogumoro
Headshot of Felicidad Ogumoro taken at the start of the 17th CNMI Legislature
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

(1949-09-01)1 September 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 (September 1, 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 September 1, 1949.[1] She 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.[2] She then attended the University of Saint Mary in Kansas and earned a B.A. in sociology.[3] She married Francisco Uludong in 1976 and they remained married until his death in 1991. She and Francisco had four children.[2] She was very involved in the United Carolinians Association and participated in its reestablishment in 2020.[4]

First legislative terms[edit]

Ogumoro was elected to serve in the 1st Legislature of the Northern Mariana Islands.[2] She was the first woman to serve in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[5] 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.[6] In the 1981 general election, Ogumoro, again the Democratic candidate, was swept out in a Republican wave election.[7]

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.[3] In the 1990s, she led a small nationalist group called Inetnon Taotao Tano which opposed foreign development in the CNMI.[8] 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.[9]

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.[10][11] Governor Juan Babauta nominated Ogumoro to the Commonwealth Ports Authority board of directors in 2005.[12]

Second legislative terms[edit]

In the 2009 general election, Ogumoro was elected to the House for a second tenure.[13]

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

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.[18] Among her areas of interest while in the House was a desire to create a Northern Marianas Cultural Center.[19]

Originally elected as a member of the Covenant Party, Ogumoro chose to follow Governor Benigno Fitial to the Republican Party.[20] 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.[21] After leaving the Legislature, Ogumoro was appointed to the advisory board of the Department of Public Lands.[22]

Death[edit]

Ogumoro died in January 2024, at the age of 74.[23]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Inauguration of the Seventeenth Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature" (PDF). Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Legislature. January 11, 2010. p. 25. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "United Carolinians Association revived". Marianas Variety. December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "First Women to Serve in State and Territorial Legislatures". National Conference of State Legislatures. March 6, 2019. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  6. ^ "Senate, House Leaders Hope for Harmony" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. January 17, 1980. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "GOP Scores Landslide Election Win" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 10, no. 34. November 6, 1981. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  8. ^ "Japanese Are Retaking Micronesia With Money". San Francisco Chronicle. January 17, 1991. p. B7 – via NewsBank.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Dandan, Zaldy (April 12, 1999). "New Party organized" (PDF). Mariana's Variety. Vol. 26, no. 9. p. 3. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Dass, Jojo (June 17, 1999). "Island-wide Election for House Reps Proposed" (PDF). Marianas Variety. Vol. 26, no. 70. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "Senate to vote on vacancies certified by governor today". Saipan Tribune. December 13, 2005. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "First Day" (PDF). Legislative Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). CNMI House of Representatives. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ Deposa, Moneth (June 15, 2012). "Retirees reject Fund emergency". Saipan Tribune. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  17. ^ "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.
  18. ^ "Janet Maratita is sworn into office - Saipan News, Headlines, Events, Ads - Saipan Tribune". www.saipantribune.com. 19 July 2011. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  19. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Rep. Felicidad Ogumoro wants to establish NMI cultural center". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  20. ^ "Vice speaker will be joining Fitial in the Republican Party". Saipan Tribune. January 9, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  21. ^ Perez, Jon (January 9, 2017). "19th Legislature closes out session". Saipan Tribune. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  22. ^ Variety, Marianas. "Saipan municipal council OKs Felicidad Ogumoro's appointment to DPL advisory board". Marianas Variety. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  23. ^ Manglona, Thomas (4 January 2024). "NMI pioneer Felicidad Ogumoro passes away at 74". KUAM News. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Felicidad_Ogumoro&oldid=1223585980"