[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1382]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


       HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF ANTONIO MANIBUSAN PALOMO

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2013

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and memorialize 
the life and achievements of Antonio Manibusan Palomo, who passed away 
on February 3, 2013. Antonio, best known as Tony, was an accomplished 
journalist and author, as well as a fervent public servant, and a 
dedicated community leader.
   Tony was born on June 13, 1931 to Vicente Gogo Palomo and Delores 
Mendiola Manibusan. As a boy, Tony attended the Padre Palomo and Agana 
Elementary Schools. At the young age of 10, Tony's education was 
interrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Surviving the invasion and 
occupation of Guam by the Japanese Imperial Army, Tony continued his 
schooling at George Washington High School, Belmont Abbey Preparatory 
School in Belmont, North Carolina, and Marquette University, Milwaukee 
Wisconsin, where he studied Journalism. While continuing his education 
at Marquette, Tony worked as an editorial aide for the Milwaukee 
Sentinel, sharpening his journalistic skills. Tony graduated from 
Marquette University in 1954.
   After graduation, Tony returned to Guam to work for the Guam Daily 
News, then as publisher/editor of the Pacific Profile, as editor of the 
Pacific Journal, and as editor/publisher of the The Pacifican. During 
this time, Tony gathered as much information as he could interviewing 
and speaking to survivors of the Second World War. In 1984, Tony's 
book, An Island in Agony, was published. Tony never hesitated to share 
his vast knowledge and love of Guam history with many people, speaking 
on many occasions at different venues, and teaching at the University 
of Guam.
   Tony's ever-expanding knowledge of Guam and its government and his 
public speaking skills led him into public service in the political 
arena. Recruited by the Republican Party of Guam, Tony was elected into 
the 12th, 14th, and 15th Guam Legislatures where he chaired the 
Committee on Rules. He chaired the 15th Guam Legislature's Committee on 
Federal-Territorial Relations and was also a member of the Commission 
on Self-Determination. Always interested in federal-territorial 
relations, Tony was elected as president of Guam's First Constitutional 
Convention, tasked with the development of a constitution for Guam, 
which would also strengthen the island's relations with the Federal 
government. With all of this experience, Tony was well qualified to 
serve as the U.S. Department of the Interior's Guam Field 
Representative until his retirement in 1994.
   I am deeply saddened by Tony's death and know that many people on 
Guam and throughout the Pacific are mourning the loss of this 
statesman, diplomat, and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with his 
wife Margarita Balajadia Palomo, their ten children, Antonio Rafael, 
Viviana Margarita (deceased), Victoria Maria, Roman Vicente, Juan 
Pedro, Simeon Francisco, Jose Geraldo, Verona Dolores, Eloy Benigno, 
and Nicholas Sylvestre; 16 grandchildren; one great grandchild; and one 
great grandchild on the way, family, and friends. Tony will be missed 
by all who knew him and his legacy will live on through his family, his 
work, and his cultural contributions to our community.

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