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Teno meets cousin — for the first time
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Posted on Oct 11 2000
For Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio, it wasn’t just a welcome ceremony for the visiting veterans. It became a special day for him and one of the visitors who turned out to be a close relative.
After the ceremony, James Martinez approached the governor and introduced himself. Both traced their family lineage, finding out they are first cousins afterall who have never seen each other in their entire lives.
The 74-year old veteran is originally from Guam, but has been residing in San Mateo, CA since leaving the island in 1946 after a short stint as U.S. Navy serviceman.
In discovering his relations with Gov. Tenorio, Mr. Martinez said they are linked through his father and the governor’s mother.
“I was surprised,” he said in an interview. “I didn’t even know until I started looking into it. I found out he is a Pangelinan and is related to the Obo family from Guam. Obo is my father’s half-brother.”
Although he’s been away for the past 50 years, Mr. Martinez said he is certain that he is related to Juan Obo Pangelinan who was a brother of Gov. Tenorio’s mother.
The governor, for his part, expressed surprise also over the discovery, noting that it was Mr. Martinez who pointed out their relations.
“I was so touched and I’m very happy that he has time to visit the island,” he told in a separate interview. “He’s able to meet the family not only on Saipan, but especially on Guam.”
Mr. Martinez, who is a father of twin boys and grandfather to four, said this is his first time ever to visit Saipan as he was not assigned here during the Marianas Campaign in 1944 in the battle to seize control of the islands from the Japanese.
But he stressed he would always cherish his meeting with Gov. Tenorio.
Before he left to join the tour of the island, Mr. Martinez and the governor chatted for a while in the dialect and posed together for pictures.
“I’m pleased not because of my relative,” explained Gov. Tenorio, “but also to see many veterans who are back here to reminisce some of the things they have seen during their younger years.” (BS)
