Bordallo's Legacy

 

After researching and critically analyzing our sources on Ricky Bordallo's first term as Governor of Guam, we believe that an individual’s actions and legacies are as effective as:

(1) THE NEED FOR ACTION IN A TIME OF SOCIAL CHANGE

Timing is everything.

On May 21, 1976, Super Typhoon Pamela raged through the island.  “Afterwards Bordallo was successful in securing $367 million for typhoon reconstruction, capital improvement projects, and Government of Guam investments. A new building was secured for Guam Memorial Hospital. Tourism development at Tumon Bay began, including new water and sewer lines, sewage treatment plants and new water reservoirs and wells. Transportation was aided by the addition of twenty new miles of highways and eight replaced bridges” (Guampedia, online). 

If it were not for the grants provided by the federal government, Bordallo would probably not have been able to rebuild the island as quickly as he did.  He effectively used the federal funds to improve Guam’s flailing economy and provide a stronger and more modern infrastructure for the people.  Thus, the damage created by Typhoon Pamela actually benefited Guam because it allowed the island to receive greater federal funding, which Bordallo used to effectively to pursue his ideas for Guam.


(2) SOCIETY'S ACCEPTANCE OF THIS CHANGE


Every successful individual needs support from others. 

“It is incorrect to attribute to Governor Bordallo alone what Guam has become today but it is not wrong to say that he did much to make Guam what it is. His legacies and contributions have had a profound effect on the development of our island.” - Dr. Judith Guthertz (Commemorative Ceremony Ricardo J. Bordallo, 12)

In the same sense, the people of Guam were open to many of Bordallo's efforts to modernize Guam.  He used newsletters and paid advertisements to announce GovGuam's accomplishments after 1976 and helped garner public support. 

His work inspired inspired a whole generation of new leaders of Guam:

“His whole personality, his whole character symbolizes that vigor in a cabayero (a brave and strong gentlemen) of pushing and fighting for what he believes in.  But I do not want to say that his death now is going to somehow capture that.  He had already captured that even when he was alive.  His death did not take that spirit away” – Senator Marilyn Manibusan, 1990 (Bordallo’s Death, Life Contemplated, 10)

“I’m sure he will be very greatly missed.  But his influence will prevail much stronger than ever before.  His ideals, his philosophies will be much stronger.  He’s almost planted a new seed [of more fervent political activity] in his people… You see that people are now asserting their rights.  They’re coming out more openly.” – Legislative Speaker Joe T. San Agustin (Bordallo’s Death, Life Contemplated, 10)

"He’s made his mark.  You’re going to see a lot of people are going to be able to try to pursue some of the things he started.” – Senator Tommy Tanaka, 1990 (Bordallo’s Death, Life Contemplated, 10)

“A lot of people think he is a coward for… committing suicide.  But let me tell you, maybe God made him do that so that he could get his people together.  Because that’s what Ricky wants.  He didn’t care about Republicans or Democrats.  He tried to get the Chamorro people together.” – Agana Heights Mayor Frank Portusach, 1990 (Bordallo’s Death, Life Contemplated, 10)


(3) THE WILLINGNESS OF SOCIETY TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THROUGH AND TRANSFORM AS A RESULT OF THIS NEW CHANGE

One of the major issues in determining the effectiveness of Bordallo’s legacy is looking at how well society continued to follow through in fulfilling his visions of Guam. 

Example 1: Umatac Bridge

“The Umatac Bridge opened in October of 1986.  Bordallo had the $1.5 million bridge redesigned after it was under construction… It was the addition of the bridge’s towers that ‘symbolized the Chamorro-Spanish heritage of Guam and are a tribute to the Guamanian people in God and our island,’ [an] inscription [on the bridge] says.  Today, graffiti is beginning to flourish on the bridge.  Trash and broken glass is present in all four of the bridge’s stairwells.  Portions of the ornate concrete designs on the bridge’s approach have been damaged or are missing.  One of its steel gateways has been torn from its placement” (Bordallo’s Umatac Bridge Neglected, 17).

Example 2: Pagachao Subdivision

Pagachao is one of the sub-divisions and GHURAs that Ricky developed and completed during his administration.  Families that currently reside in them continue to claim that they are proud and happy with Bordallo’s efforts to provide everyone with a place to live.  Most of the original families still reside in Pagachao today.


“It was under the Bordallo administration that a number of Guam’s roadways either were begun or completed.  The start of the Agana Boat Basin renovations, the construction of Sagan Dinana, the Public Market, which was later destroyed by fire, and his influence on the Guam International Airport’s design are among his contributions” (Bordallo’s Umatac Bridge Neglected, 17). 

Admired by many and criticized by some as a dreamer, a visionary, a consummate politician and a master orator, he was proudest of his role as a simple farmer, a planter of fertile seeds. 

Ricky Bordallo left many legacies that can be seen on Guam today.  Whether the buildings he constructed are being maintained, or whether the programs he organized are being continued or not, Bordallo still remains an exemplar leader as a builder of Guam; he modernized its infrastructure while upholding the importance of agriculture and preserving the Chamorro culture.


Timeline of Ricky Bordallo's Life

Date

Event/Action

Significance of Event/Action

1940

Attended George Washington High School


1945-1948

Attended the University of San Francisco

Bordallo aspired to be like his father, BJ Bordallo, who was a Guam politician from the 1930s and 1950s and a successful businessman.

1948

Returned to Guam to take a position at the family company, Bordallo Consolidated

 

1952

Made his first bid for public office but lost

During this period, Guam law required that office holders be at least 25 years old. 

Bordallo, being 24 years old, successfully argued that he would be 25 years old before taking office if he was elected.

1953

Married Madeline Mary Zeien

Madeline was encouraged by her husband to be more active in politics.  She was inspired by Ricky and later served in the Guam legislature.  In 1994, she became the first female lieutenant governor of Guam. 

 In 2002, she was elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives.

1954

Ran for Senator but lost

Bordallo was undeterred by his second loss.  

Determined, he continued to run in later elections and by the time he ended his legislative career he would win re-election seven times, serving in the fourth through tenth Guam Legislatures.

1956

Finally won a Senate seat in the Guam Legislature as a member of the Popular Party (precursor to the Democratic Party) in the 4th Guam Legislature

Bordallo became the first on Guam to campaign using posters with his photos and handouts with his platform and experience.

1958

Became Chairman of the Popular Party

 

1958-1960

Elected and served as Senator in the 5th Guam Legislature

 

1960

Became the first Chairman for the newly formed Democratic Party

The Democratic Party of Guam’s charter was approved at the 1960 Democratic National Convention, the same convention that nominated John F. Kennedy for President.

1960-1962

Elected and served as Senator in the 6th Guam Legislature

 

1962-1964

Elected and served as Senator in the 7th Guam Legislature

 

1964-1966

Elected and served as Senator in the 8th Guam Legislature

 

1966-1968

Elected and served as Senator in the 9th Guam Legislature

 

1968-1970

Elected and served as Senator in the 10th Guam Legislature

Bordallo was involved in the passage of the Elective Governorship Act of 1968.  This allowed Guam residents, for the first time, to elect thier own governor (instead of a governor that was appointed by the United States military).

1970

Ran for governor on the Democratic ticket but lost.  His running mate was Richard (“Dick”) F. Taitano

Bordallo lost because a divided Democratic base left the door open for the Republican ticket of Carlos Camacho-Kurt Moylan to win the election by an 11.6% margin.

1971-1973

His ambitious plan to build a huge resort in Chalan Pago/Yona in partnership with two large Japanese corporations came to a halt when his partners pulled out of the deal and left Bordallo owing millions for land transactions.

This marked the beginning of a financial decline for Bordallo.  Failed real estate deals combined with the Oil Crisis in the early 1970s left him with large debts. 

1974

Ran again for governor on the Democratic ticket and won.  His lieutenant governor was Rudolph Sablan and campaign manager was Richard F. Taitano

Bordallo and Sablon won thegubernatorial election because the Republican Party was split between Camacho/Moylan and Paul Calvo/Tony Palomo

1974-1975

He came into power during a recession, due in large part to the Arab oil embargo of the year before.

 

The early part of Bordallo's governorship was spent dealing with internal problems such as a tourism slump and necessary government budget cuts.

May 21, 1976

Supertyphoon Pamela left the island in tatters: $200 million in damage to the military and $300 million in damage to civilian property.

As governor, Bordallo supervised all territorial government activities during Guam’s reconstruction and secured $367 million for typhoon reconstruction, capital improvement projects, and Government of Guam investments.  

Specifically, he built a new airport, an Agana marina, a sewage plant in Agan, a public market, a home for the elderly, and Sagan Dinana (an open-air meeting hall).

1976-1978

A new building was secured for Guam Memorial Hospital. 

Tourism development at Tumon Bay began, including new water and sewer lines, sewage treatment plants, and new water reservoirs, and wells.

Transportation was aided by the addition of twenty new miles of highways and 8 replaced bridges

He pursued the establishment of the Guam National Guard and the Guam Community College.  

He secured funding to build the Guam International Airport, the US Army Reserve Center, and recreational facilities at each island’s villages.

Assisted in the Flight of Freedom of thousands of Vietnamese refugees in Operation New Life in 1977.

As governor, Bordallo invested heavily in modernizing Guam's infrastructure

1978

Ran for governor with Dr. Pedro Sanchez (educator and historian) but lost to the Republican team of Paul Calvo and Joseph Ada

Bordallo's loss in the 1978 election was attributed to the spike in the Government of Guam deficit.

1982

Ran for governor with Air Force Colonel Edward Diego Reyes and won.

Bordallo's campaign was unique in that it was rooted in his promise to guide Guam out of the recession and push for Commonwealth status.

1983

Addressed Guam’s education problems with his “Blueprint for Excellence” and handled the accreditation status of the University of Guam

 

June 4, 1986

He chaired the Commission for Self-Determination and spearheaded the drafting of the Guam Commonwealth Act. 

 

1982-1986

 Began construction of the Adelup administration facility

People questioned the necessity of spending $1.2 million on Adelup, which he referred to as the "jewel of the Pacific" during tight economic times.  The building is now named in his honor.

September 3, 1986

Summoned by a federal grand jury and indicted on eleven counts of corruption

 

September 5, 1986

Lost the gubernatorial primary election against Carl T.C. Gutierrez

 

February 13, 1987

Bordallo was found guilty on ten of seventeen counts of extortion, bribery or gratuity, conspiracy, and witness tampering

 

August 1988

The 9th Circuit overturned eight of the remaining ten convictions.  Only the convictions on witness tampering and conspiracy to obstruction of justice remained

 

February 1, 1990

He was scheduled to fly to California to face a four-year sentence in a federal minimum-security prison but instead drove to the Chief Quipuha statue at the Paseo Loop.  

He set up handmade placards that lamented the fractured state of Chamorro control of Guam and reaffirmed his love of the island. 

He laid out a Guam flag on the ground in front of him and committed suicide with a .38 caliber pistol.

 


“As we extol the past, let us not lose sight of the vital and ongoing challenges of the FUTURE.  Let us always be ready to meet these challenges with renewed STRENGTH, inspired COMMITMENT, and MORAL CONVICTION.”

– Ricky Bordallo, 1976 (Special Bicentennial/Liberation Issue)