[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               RETIREMENT OF JUDGE JOAQUIN V.E. MANIBUSAN

                                 ______


                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 8, 1995
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this occasion to 
commend and congratulate a distinguished public servant, Judge Joaquin 
V.E. Manibusan, who is retiring from the superior court of Guam. Judge 
Manibusan is a loyal citizen who has dedicated over 50 years of service 
to the government, the island, and the people of Guam.
  Judge Manibusan was born on March 23, 1921, in the city of Agana. He 
is the son of the late Judge and Mrs. Jose C. Manibusan. After his 
graduation from George Washington High School in 1940, he pursued legal 
studies through correspondence. This established his foothold on Guam's 
judicial institution.
  His distinguished government career dates back to the days prior to 
World War II. He began working for the civil affairs department in the 
machine shop at the naval air station on February 1941. He stayed there 
until the outbreak of the war the following December. Japanese 
occupation of the island put things on hold for him until 1944 when he 
was again hired by the civil affairs department to work at the Anigua 
refugee camp.
  Currently Guam's senior judge on the bench, his affiliation with the 
island's court system can be traced back to February 1945 when he was 
hired as a clerk typist for the island court. He was promoted to senior 
clerk in 1948 and, later that year, he was appointed as deputy clerk of 
the island court by Governor C.A. Pownhall. The Honorable Joaquin C. 
Perez, chief judge of the island court of Guam, reaffirmed this 
appointment in February 1952 and, in December 1963, appointed him to 
the post of clerk of the island court.
  Gov. Manuel F.L. Guerrero, on June 24, 1969, submitted Judge 
Manibusan's appointment to the Guam Legislature for confirmation as 
judge of the police court of Guam. When the superior court of Guam was 
created, Judge Manibusan was sworn in as a judge in the court assigned 
exclusively to the traffic division. The following year, he was 
reappointed by Gov. Ricardo J. Bordallo as a judge in the superior 
court of Guam's traffic division. The people of Guam expressed their 
approval when he went before the voters and was retained as a judge of 
the superior court back in 1982.
  Outside the courtroom, the good judge has played an active role in 
community organizations. This is something that he has done throughout 
his career. Judge Manibusan's participation as a delegate to the Guam 
Constitutional Convention of 1969 and his chairmanship of the grand 
opening of the Guam Judicial Center in 1991 are great indications of 
his civic mindedness. He has also been a member of the Holy Name 
Society as well as a charter member of the Sinajana Civic Improvement 
Club. This is all in addition to his participation in Christmas Seal 
drives and active involvement in Guam's sports, particularly in 
baseball.
  The more than 50 years of service dedicated by Judge Joaquin 
Manibusan to the island of Guam and its people has truly earned him a 
place in our hearts. The judge's wife, Alejandrina, and his children, 
Marilyn, a former senator, Joaquin, Thomas, and Geraldine certainly 
have every right to celebrate and be proud of the man who has always 
been a father to the island. On behalf of the people of Guam, I say Si 
Yu'os Ma'ase to a distinguished public servant and community leader in 
the Territory of Guam.


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