Rasa family thanks Legislature for honor

Pat Rasa, the wife of former House speaker Oscar C. Rasa, second left, listens as Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan) remembers the former lawmaker. (Jon Perez)

The family of the late House speaker Oscar C. Rasa thanked the members of the 20th CNMI Legislature for giving separate honors to the former lawmaker on his contributions and years of serving the Commonwealth. The House and the Senate presented the family with separate resolutions last month.

Floyd Masga, one of Rasa’s nephews, spoke on behalf of the family. “On behalf of our family and friends, thank you for all the love that you’ve shown for my late uncle. We are very honored and appreciate on what you’ve done.”

Rasa, the House speaker of the inaugural CNMI Legislature and a member of the Constitutional Convention, died last Nov. 11 and was buried a week after. He was also a senator of the 5th Marianas District Legislature in the Congress of Micronesia and a member of the Congress of Micronesia Joint Committee on Future Political Status.

“So, we are very honored and we appreciate all the support and the love that the Legislature had shown, as well as our governor. We are indebted and once again we thank you for all of you,” added Masga.

He said that Rasa, to those who personally know him, was an individual that would not just sit down and do nothing. “He is someone that would call you as early as 5am, wake you up, and say, ‘what’s going on?’”

“He would find out what’s going on and would meticulously look at the current events then analyze them. From then, you know it would be a long meeting. He shares his experiences from past to present. He is an individual who wanted to help.”

Senate President Arnold I. Palacios (R-Saipan), who led the presentation of Senate Joint Resolution 20-38 during their session last Dec. 31, said they are just recognizing Rasa’s valuable contribution to the CNMI.

“I know this is still an emotional time for you and your family; all of us here knew him and I grew up knowing him. We can’t say that he mentored all of us, but in a way, he works as if he’s done that to us,” said Palacios.

He added that he had the chance to be with Rasa during his final days. “He would call me up at 6am and ask me if I could visit him. He would talk to me about life, our people, and my commitment and what would I be committed to. We can only emulate some of the things that he was able to do.”

“He was eloquent when he speaks and he knows what’s he talking about. Was he controversial? Yes, he was one of the most controversial political figures. But that did not stop him from telling the public what he thinks. Indeed, the CNMI lost an iconic political figure, with his passing.”