Ping Duenas
Encyclopedia
Jose “Ping” Andres Ramirez Duenas (October 17, 1930 - August 31, 2009) was a Guamanian
politician
and public servant. Duenas served as a Senator in the Legislature of Guam
from 1971 to 1978 and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Guam
in 1990.
Duenas was born on October 17, 1930. He resided in Dededo, Guam.
. The GGEFCU has grown substantially in terms of assets since 1962.
Duenas served Guam as a public servant and politician for twenty-eight years. He worked in the Department of Administration as the auditor and chief accountant
. He also served as the chairman of the board
of the Guam Housing Corporation and the vice president
of financial affairs for the University of Guam
.
Duenas, a member of the Democratic Party
, was elected as a Senator in the Guam Legislature, where he served from 1971 until 1978. While in the legislature, he became the minority leader
of the 14th Guam Legislature. During this time, he wrote a series of monthly columns detailing pressing social and political problems facing the island.
Duenas became the chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam for three years during the 1980s. In 1990, Duenas unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor
as the running mate
of Madeleine Bordallo
in the gubernatorial election. He also worked as the campaign treasurer
for Guam Senator Frank Aguon Jr.
for a week in August 2009. A decision was made to transport him to a medical facility in Anaheim, California
, for medical treatment.
Duenas suffered a heart attack approximately an hour before the plane was scheduled to land in Anaheim on the flight from Hawaii
on August 31, 2009. He died on the plane enroute to Anaheim at the age of 78. His wife, Ling Duenas; son, Tommy; and brother, Dr. Vicente Duenas; were with him at the time.
Duenas' family informed the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, Judi Won Pat, that Duenas did not want a state funeral
. His viewing and funeral mass
were held at the Santa Barbara Catholic Church in Dededo. He was buried at the Guam Memorial Park in Leyan, Barrigada.
He was survived by his wife, Rosario "Ling" Perez Duenas; four daughters, Gerardlyn, Carina, Marcella and Julienne; four sons, Joseph, Daniel, Anthony and Thomas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and public servant. Duenas served as a Senator in the Legislature of Guam
Legislature of Guam
The Legislature of Guam is the territorial legislature of Guam. The legislative branch of the unincorporated U.S. territory is unicameral, with a single house consisting of fifteen senators, serving for a two year term...
from 1971 to 1978 and was a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Guam
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
The Guamanian self governing government consists of a locally elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor and a fifteen member Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Ray Tenorio, who has been in office since January 3, 2011....
in 1990.
Duenas was born on October 17, 1930. He resided in Dededo, Guam.
Career
In 1962, Duenas became a founding member of the Guam Employees Federal Credit Union (GGEFCU). That year, Duenas and 18 other Guam government employees deposited a total of $250 USD to establish the new credit unionCredit union
A credit union is a cooperative financial institution that is owned and controlled by its members and operated for the purpose of promoting thrift, providing credit at competitive rates, and providing other financial services to its members...
. The GGEFCU has grown substantially in terms of assets since 1962.
Duenas served Guam as a public servant and politician for twenty-eight years. He worked in the Department of Administration as the auditor and chief accountant
Accountant
An accountant is a practitioner of accountancy or accounting , which is the measurement, disclosure or provision of assurance about financial information that helps managers, investors, tax authorities and others make decisions about allocating resources.The Big Four auditors are the largest...
. He also served as the chairman of the board
Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board is a seat of office in an organization, especially of corporations.Chairman of the Board may also refer to:*Chairman of the Board , a 1998 film*Chairmen of the Board , a 1970s American soul music group...
of the Guam Housing Corporation and the vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
of financial affairs for the University of Guam
University of Guam
University of Guam is a four-year land-grant institution, located in the village of Mangilao on the island of Guam in the Western Pacific Ocean...
.
Duenas, a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Guam)
The Democratic Party is a political party in Guam. It is affiliated to the United States Democratic Party.Its most prominent member is Madeleine Z. Bordallo, Guam's delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives since 2003....
, was elected as a Senator in the Guam Legislature, where he served from 1971 until 1978. While in the legislature, he became the minority leader
Minority leader
In U.S. politics, the minority leader is the floor leader of the second largest caucus in a legislative body. Given the two-party nature of the U.S. system, the minority leader is almost inevitably either a Republican or a Democrat, with their counterpart being of the opposite party. The position...
of the 14th Guam Legislature. During this time, he wrote a series of monthly columns detailing pressing social and political problems facing the island.
Duenas became the chairman of the Democratic Party of Guam for three years during the 1980s. In 1990, Duenas unsuccessfully ran for Lt. Governor
Lieutenant Governor of Guam
The Guamanian self governing government consists of a locally elected Governor, Lieutenant Governor and a fifteen member Legislature. The current Lieutenant Governor is Ray Tenorio, who has been in office since January 3, 2011....
as the running mate
Running mate
A running mate is a person running together with another person on a joint ticket during an election. The term is most often used in reference to the person in the subordinate position but can also properly be used when referring to both candidates, such as "Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen were...
of Madeleine Bordallo
Madeleine Bordallo
Madeleine Mary Zeien Bordallo is the Delegate from Guam to the United States House of Representatives.She was the first woman ever to serve as Guam's Delegate, Guam's first female Lieutenant Governor , Guam's first female candidate for Governor , and the first Democratic woman elected to the...
in the gubernatorial election. He also worked as the campaign treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
for Guam Senator Frank Aguon Jr.
Death
Ping Duenas was hospitalized in Guam Memorial HospitalGuam 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....
for a week in August 2009. A decision was made to transport him to a medical facility in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, for medical treatment.
Duenas suffered a heart attack approximately an hour before the plane was scheduled to land in Anaheim on the flight from Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
on August 31, 2009. He died on the plane enroute to Anaheim at the age of 78. His wife, Ling Duenas; son, Tommy; and brother, Dr. Vicente Duenas; were with him at the time.
Duenas' family informed the Speaker of the Guam Legislature, Judi Won Pat, that Duenas did not want a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
. His viewing and funeral mass
Mass
Mass can be defined as a quantitive measure of the resistance an object has to change in its velocity.In physics, mass commonly refers to any of the following three properties of matter, which have been shown experimentally to be equivalent:...
were held at the Santa Barbara Catholic Church in Dededo. He was buried at the Guam Memorial Park in Leyan, Barrigada.
He was survived by his wife, Rosario "Ling" Perez Duenas; four daughters, Gerardlyn, Carina, Marcella and Julienne; four sons, Joseph, Daniel, Anthony and Thomas; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.