The Officials that participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Olympio Borja in 1973

Wednesday, March 11, 2026, /// DYCA PIO

Yap FM - This past Thursday, March 5th, the Republic of the Marshall Islands newspaper (RiMajolOnline) posted an article about some of the founding fathers of the Federated States of Micronesia who participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Olympio Borja in 1973. 

The swearing-in ceremony of Olympio Borja in 1973 was part of the official inauguration of the new Congress building and the new chambers of the House of Representatives. This event was significant as it marked the establishment of a new legislative body that would govern the Northern Mariana Islands, which were then part of the United States Pacific Territories. The ceremony was a formal recognition of the new government and its commitment to the people of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The founding fathers who were sworn in were Senators Bailey Olter, Tosiwo Nakayama, John Mangefel, and Wilfred Kendall in 1973. (Left to Right)

Bailey Olter (March 27, 1932 – February 16, 1999) was a Micronesian political figure. He was elected to the Senate of Micronesian Congress from the Ponape district. He served as Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia from 1983 to 1987, and as the third president of the Federated States of Micronesia from 1991 to 1996. He was re-elected president in the March 1995 presidential election. He suffered a stroke in July 1996, ending his capacity to carry out his office; his Vice President, Jacob Nena, served the last year of his term.

Tosiwo Nakayama (Nakayama Toshio; November 23, 1931 – March 29, 2007) was the first President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). He served two terms from 1979 until 1987. His health began to fail in 1992 when he had his first stroke, from which he recovered well. In 1998, he had quintuple bypass surgery. Sometime later, he had laser surgery on one of his eyes, which left him partially blind. In the summer of 2005, he underwent surgery for a pacemaker to stimulate his weak heart. Three days after that surgery, he had an additional stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak, though he was completely cognizant. The 14th Congress of the FSM passed a bill in July 2006 that allocated money to help the family with mounting medical bills. In February 2007, he was admitted to the hospital in Honolulu, Hawaii. He subsequently died on 29 March.

John Mangefel (May 10, 1932 – April 11, 2007) was a Micronesian politician who played an important role during the first days of Micronesian independence and in the Trust Territory period that preceded them. Mangefel was the first college graduate from Yap, with a major in English literature from the University of Hawaii. He was elected to the Senate of Micronesian Congress from the Yap district. He served as the first Governor of Yap from January 8, 1979, to January 12, 1987. In addition, he was a senator during the Trust Territory period, served as the Micronesian National Planner, Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, and as the Disaster Coordinator.

Senator Wilfred Kendall has been a significant figure in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) since his election. He has been involved in various legislative activities and has been a prominent voice in the political landscape of the FSM. Kendall's contributions to the FSM's governance and development have been recognized, and he continues to be a respected figure in the nation's political community. 

(For more information, please contact the Department of Youth and Civic Affairs at 350-DYCA)