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Del. Madeleine Z. Bordallo

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and service of retired Superior Court of Guam Judge, Ramon Valero Diaz. Judge Diaz passed away on January 15, 2012 at the age of 93.

Judge Diaz was born on October 13, 1918 in Manila, Philippines and is the son of Dr. Vicente Lozada Diaz and Bibiana Valero Diaz. He came to Guam in 1951 to work and make a living for his family. In 1956, he was admitted to the Guam Bar Association, and in 1958, became a naturalized U.S. citizen.

In 1980, Judge Diaz became the first person of Filipino descent to be appointed as a judge for the Superior Court of Guam. After 15 years of government service, he retired as a family court judge.

Judge Diaz graduated from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines. In 1941, in the wake of World War II, he was commissioned as an officer in the Philippine Army and was soon inducted into the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) as an infantry line officer. On April 9, 1942, he was captured by Japanese Forces in the province of Bataan, Philippines, and was held as a prisoner of war in the Capas Concentration Camp. Later that year he was released as a POW and resumed his military duties shortly thereafter. In 1945, he completed studies from the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General School for commissioned officers at University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Upon his return from JAG school, he assumed the role of Chief of Claims Branch under JAG, Philippine Army, where he was responsible for the adjudication of all types of war claims in favor of heirs.

In 1951, Judge Diaz retired from the Philippine Army as Captain. Throughout his distinguished military career, he received various awards, including the United States and Philippine Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Military Merit Medal.

Judge Diaz was involved in many community organizations throughout his life. He was among the first ordained permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Agana and was instrumental in organizing the Knights of Columbus, Guam Council and Assembly. Further, he was a founding member of the Catholic Social Services, and was active in the establishment of St. Dominic's senior care home and the Dominican Catholic schools on Guam.

Judge Diaz was also heavily involved in the founding of the Filipino Community of Guam, where he served as President. He also helped establish the Marianas Audubon Society, the UST Alumni Association of Guam, and the Chapter of Bataan-Corregidor Veterans on Guam.

Judge Diaz was married to Josefina de la Concepcion for 66 years and together they raised 10 children: Marilu Martinez, Carl Diaz (deceased), Mariles Benavente, Marilen Artero, Maribel Chandler, Mariann Carr, Maricar Davis, Tony Diaz, Vicente Diaz, and Ramon Diaz Jr., and have been blessed with 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

I join our community in mourning the loss of Judge Ramon Diaz. His contributions to the Guam Judiciary and our community will be remembered by the many citizens he helped throughout his life. We extend heartfelt condolences to his many family, friends, and loved ones.

God bless Judge Diaz. He will be missed.