First governor, lt. governor re-unite with Cabinet

After almost 30 years, the CNMI’s first governor, Carlos S. Camacho, and first lieutenant governor, Frank C. Ada, reunited yesterday with their former Cabinet members at Hafa Adai Hotel’s Hana Restaurant.

“I’m touched!” the teary-eyed 71-year-old Camacho told Saipan Tribune about seeing again some members of his Cabinet.

Ada, 74, was on a wheelchair when he showed up at the gathering.

“I see them all the time, but of course it’s nice to see them again,” said Ada with a big smile.

After having lunch and exchanging discussions about the CNMI’s first administration and other issues, Camacho and Ada posed for pictures with their Cabinet members.

Before photos were taken, Camacho explained what the gathering was all about.

“We wanted to meet to see if we can look at each other again and see who is already older and grayer. And who is getting richer or poorer,” said the first governor, drawing laughter from the audience.

In an interview with Saipan Tribune, Camacho said he called for the gathering because they haven’t met with the staff of the first administration for the last 30 years.

“We want to get together, just look at each other. And they want to reminisce, and that’s okay with us. They want to comment about what we did wrong, what we did well, that’s okay also. Some of us are getting old and getting sick; in fact, some are gone already,” he said.

Camacho expressed hope that they will have many more years to go.

“We are a dying crowd, as you might say. We just wanted to be together,” he said.

Some members of the former Cabinet failed to show up because of other commitments. Four or five members had already passed away.

Camacho and Ada served the CNMI from 1978 to 1981.

Camacho said they could help the present and future administrations with elderly advice—if they are asked to do so.

“We can help them promote the CNMI not only in Washington but also foreign countries,” he said.

With respect to the first administration, Camacho recalled that they took over from the Trust Territory government.

“The Trust Territory government system and the new Commonwealth were totally different. For the first time, we were administering ourselves. We’re no longer being administered by somebody appointed by the president of the U.S. We were voted into office,” he said.

Camacho said they had to set the ground rules and build the foundations of the new government.

“And we based it on being honest, hard working and being compassionate to our people and trying to bring it to a new direction and a better government for the future,” he added.

Coincidentally, yesterday was also supposed to be Commonwealth Day. The holiday had been abolished a few years back.

Sen. Maria Frica T. Pangelinan, who was then the Finance and Accounting director, said it was an appropriate day to reflect and reunite with former key staffs who were part of the first constitutional government.

“Former Gov. Camacho called for this re-union to celebrate Commonwealth Day, and make it also an opportunity to visit with former Lt. Gov. Ada and to let him know that he still plays an important role on this historical day,” Pangelinan said.

Felicitas Abraham, who was then the Personnel director, said that former Lt. Gov. Ada and then Political and Public Affairs director Vicente N. Santos reiterated some of the philosophies of the first administration.

“One of that is discipline. The other one is hard work. But I want to add that we also had civility and decorum. Because during our time, like right now there’s so much diversity, but we were able to handle diversity in the work place. It wasn’t too bad,” Abraham said.

She said they were able to work amicably and respect each other’s opinions.

“But now if you read the newspapers, if you’re not a Chamorro or a Carolinian and put up your own opinion or comment, people attack you and say ‘if you don’t like it get up and leave’… things like that. I feel there’s lack of civility and respect for the opinion of other people,” Abraham said.

Aside from Abraham, Santos, and Senator Pangelinan, former first lady Winnie Camacho and then Public Health director Dr. Isamu J. Abraham also attended the gathering.

The other Cabinet members and staff who showed at the reunion were then chief of administration Joaquin I. Pangelinan, then chief of administration Herman Q. Deleon Guerrero, then Commerce and Labor director Jose C. Ayuyu, and then Immigration director Francisco Castro.