Gonzalo Santos
Encyclopedia
Gonzalo Q. Santos was an Northern Mariana Islands
teacher
, educator and politician
. Santos served in the cabinets
of two separate Governors as the director of labor and an adviser on indigenous affairs
in the Commonwealth.
Santos worked in the CMNI Public School System as a teacher
and principal for more than 30 years. He served as the director of labor during the administration of Governor Froilan Tenorio
, who held office from 1994 until 1998.
Governor Benigno Fitial appointed Santos as his adviser on indigenous affairs, specifically concerning the islands' Chamorro population. Fitial appointed Santos after he took office in 2006 and Santos remained at the position until his death. Santos was reportedly working on several projects as of 2009, including programs to increase awareness of Chamorro cultural practice
s, a Chamorro
-English
dictionary, and a project to document herbs and other flora
traditionally used by the Chamorro people.
Santos was diagnosed with lung cancer
in 2009 during a check-up at the Commonwealth Health Center in Saipan
. He remained special adviser for indigenous affairs, though the illness and its treatment had forced him to miss work and government functions in the months before his death.
Santos was admitted to Guam Memorial Hospital
on neighboring Guam
on July 17, 2009, for treatment. He died at that hospital on August 4, 2009, at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife, Olympia Santos, and their four children.
Gonzalo Santos' body was flown back to the Northern Mariana Islands for a memorial mass at the Kristo Rai Church in Saipan
. His viewing and funeral were held at the Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Memorial Chapel. He was buried at the Mount Carmel Cemetery
in Saipan.
Northern Mariana Islands
The Northern Mariana Islands, officially the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , is a commonwealth in political union with the United States, occupying a strategic region of the western Pacific Ocean. It consists of 15 islands about three-quarters of the way from Hawaii to the Philippines...
teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, educator and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Santos served in the cabinets
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of two separate Governors as the director of labor and an adviser on indigenous affairs
Indigenous peoples
Indigenous peoples are ethnic groups that are defined as indigenous according to one of the various definitions of the term, there is no universally accepted definition but most of which carry connotations of being the "original inhabitants" of a territory....
in the Commonwealth.
Santos worked in the CMNI Public School System as a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
and principal for more than 30 years. He served as the director of labor during the administration of Governor Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Tenorio
Froilan Cruz Tenorio was the fourth elected Governor of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Elected in 1993, he served one term, leaving office in 1998...
, who held office from 1994 until 1998.
Governor Benigno Fitial appointed Santos as his adviser on indigenous affairs, specifically concerning the islands' Chamorro population. Fitial appointed Santos after he took office in 2006 and Santos remained at the position until his death. Santos was reportedly working on several projects as of 2009, including programs to increase awareness of Chamorro cultural practice
Cultural Practice
Cultural practice generally refers to the manifestation of a culture or sub-culture, especially in regard to the traditional and customary practices of a particular ethnic or other cultural group. In the broadest sense, this term can apply to any person manifesting any aspect of any culture at any...
s, a Chamorro
Chamorro language
Chamorro is a Malayo-Polynesian language, spoken on the Mariana Islands by about 47,000 people Chamorro (Chamorro: Fino' Chamoru or simply Chamoru) is a Malayo-Polynesian (Austronesian) language, spoken on the Mariana Islands (Guam, Rota, Tinian, and Saipan) by about 47,000 people Chamorro...
-English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
dictionary, and a project to document herbs and other flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
traditionally used by the Chamorro people.
Santos was diagnosed with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in 2009 during a check-up at the Commonwealth Health Center in Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. He remained special adviser for indigenous affairs, though the illness and its treatment had forced him to miss work and government functions in the months before his death.
Santos was admitted to Guam Memorial Hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital
Guam Memorial Hospital is located in Tamuning, Guam and is the only civilian hospital serving the community of Guam. The hospital has 158 licensed acute care beds, plus 40 beds at its off-site, long-term care Skilled Nursing Facility....
on neighboring Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
on July 17, 2009, for treatment. He died at that hospital on August 4, 2009, at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife, Olympia Santos, and their four children.
Gonzalo Santos' body was flown back to the Northern Mariana Islands for a memorial mass at the Kristo Rai Church in Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
. His viewing and funeral were held at the Nuestra Senora Dela Paz Memorial Chapel. He was buried at the Mount Carmel Cemetery
Mount Carmel Cemetery
Mount Carmel Cemetery is a popular name for Catholic cemeteries in many areas. A few with this name are:* Mount Carmel Cemetery, Hamden, Connecticut...
in Saipan.