Felicidad Taman Ogumoro was born September 1, 1949.[1] She was born into a poor Carolinian family on Saipan, the daughter of Daniel Rogolifoi Ogumoro and Estefania Taman; she is the eldest of eight children. During her childhood, she trained to become a member of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy and attended Mt. Carmel High School, a parochial school in Saipan.[2] She then attended the University of Saint MaryinKansas and earned a B.A.insociology.[3] She married Francisco Uludong in 1976 and they remained married until his death in 1991. She and Francisco had four children.[2] She was very involved in the United Carolinians Association and participated in its reestablishment in 2020.[4]
Ogumoro was elected to serve in the 1st Legislature of the Northern Mariana Islands.[2] She was the first woman to serve in the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives.[5] She was reelected in 1979 as a Democrat. During the 1st and 2nd legislatures, she served as the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Health, Education, and Welfare.[6] In the 1981 general election, Ogumoro, again the Democratic candidate, was swept out in a Republican wave election.[7]
After her first tenure in the legislature, she organized Western Pacific Associates, Micronesia's first locally owned public relations and business consulting firm.[3] In the 1990s, she led a small nationalist group called Inetnon Taotao Tano which opposed foreign development in the CNMI.[8] In 1991, she ran for the House from Precinct IV on a platform to establish a trust fund for future generations, fund housing development on homesteads and private property, improve education, and promote entrepreneurship.[9]
In the 17th Commonwealth Legislature, Ogumoro was chosen to serve as the Vice Speaker of the House.[14] She succeeded Joseph Pinaula Deleon Guerrero who served in the position during the 16th Commonwealth Legislature.[15] In her capacity as Vice Speaker, she served as Acting Speaker when Speaker Froilan Tenorio was off island.[16]Francisco Santos Dela Cruz took over as Vice Speaker for the 18th Commonwealth Legislature.[17]
Ogumoro was a member of the House of Representatives when Janet Maratita was sworn into office in 2011; the two women, alongside Teresita Santos, were the first three to serve simultaneously in the House.[18] Among her areas of interest while in the House was a desire to create a Northern Marianas Cultural Center.[19]
Originally elected as a member of the Covenant Party, Ogumoro chose to follow Governor Benigno Fitial to the Republican Party.[20] Ogumoro was reelected in 2012 and 2014. Ogumoro opted not to run for reelection in the 2016 general election and retired after the 19th Commonwealth Legislature.[21] After leaving the Legislature, Ogumoro was appointed to the advisory board of the Department of Public Lands.[22]
^ abcOgumoro, Felicidad (February 12, 1997). "Felicidad T. Ogumoro"(PDF). Oral Histories (Interview). Interviewed by Deanne C. Siemer; Howard P. Willens. Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: Northern Marianas Humanities Council. Archived from the original(PDF) on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
^"First Day"(PDF). Legislative Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). CNMI House of Representatives. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
^"Election of Vice-Speaker"(PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 17 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 7. January 11, 2010. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
^"Election of Vice-Speaker"(PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 16 (1). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 5. January 14, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
^"Second Reading of Bills"(PDF). Journal of the Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives. 18 (2). Northern Mariana Islands House of Representatives: 6. January 22, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
