Alfred Flores
Encyclopedia
Alfred San Nicolas Flores (died February 6, 2009) was a Guamanian
politician
, lancheru and survivor of the Japanese occupation of Guam
during World War II
. He was one of the original founders of the Democratic Party
of Guam
. He served for six terms in the Guam Legislature.
approximately eight hundred head of cattle
and carabao
on several acres on his ranch
in Inarajan early in his life. He also founded Flores Poultry Farm, which would later grow to include more than 75,000 chickens at a time. Flores also cultivated vegetables and fruit on his farm.
in 1941 during World War II. He began to cultivate rice
, all of which was used to feed the Japanese troops during the occupation. His livestock was also confiscated at times during the war in order to feed Japanese forces on the island.
During the war, Flores provided assistance to Father Jesus Baza Duenas
, a Chamorro Roman Catholic priest
and an outspoken critic of the Japanese. Duena would later be captured and executed by the Japanese military.
Flores' wife, Ester Duenas Flores, was seven months pregnant with the couple's first child when Guam was liberated by the Americans in 1944.
, as well as an Inarajan assemblyman. He also held posts on various boards and committees.
Flores served six terms as a senator beginning in the fourth Guam Legislature.
His often fiery, often passionate speeches earned him the nickname of "Davy Crockett
" in Guamanian politics. Flores always ended his campaign speeches with the Chamorro language
slogan
, "Bai hu puno' i toro," which translates to "I will kill the bull" in English
, an allusion to his early life as a lancheru.
, Guam, on February 6, 2009 at the age of 92. He was survived by his wife of 69 years, Ester Duenas Flores. The couple would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on February 18, 2009.
Flores was also survived by his three children - Lucille, May and Fred - ten grandchildren, and thirteen 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...
, lancheru and survivor of the Japanese occupation of Guam
Japanese occupation of Guam
Japanese Occupation of Guam was the period in the history of Guam between 1941 and 1944 when Japanese forces occupied Guam during World War II. The island was renamed Omiya Jima .-Overview of Guam:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was one of the original founders 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....
of 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...
. He served for six terms in the Guam Legislature.
Early life
Flores, a lancheru as ranchers are known in Guam, began grazingGrazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
approximately eight hundred head of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
and carabao
Carabao
The carabao or Bubalus bubalis carabanesis is a subspecies of the domesticated water buffalo found in the Philippines, Guam, Indonesia, Malaysia, and various parts of Southeast Asia...
on several acres on his ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
in Inarajan early in his life. He also founded Flores Poultry Farm, which would later grow to include more than 75,000 chickens at a time. Flores also cultivated vegetables and fruit on his farm.
World War II
Flores was just 25 years old at the time of the Japanese invasion of GuamJapanese occupation of Guam
Japanese Occupation of Guam was the period in the history of Guam between 1941 and 1944 when Japanese forces occupied Guam during World War II. The island was renamed Omiya Jima .-Overview of Guam:...
in 1941 during World War II. He began to cultivate rice
Rice
Rice is the seed of the monocot plants Oryza sativa or Oryza glaberrima . As a cereal grain, it is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and the West Indies...
, all of which was used to feed the Japanese troops during the occupation. His livestock was also confiscated at times during the war in order to feed Japanese forces on the island.
During the war, Flores provided assistance to Father Jesus Baza Duenas
Jesus Baza Duenas
Father Jesus Baza Dueñas was a Catholic priest and local leader on Guam during World War II. Dueñas studied for the priesthood in Manila, and became the second Chamorro Catholic priest when he was ordained in 1938...
, a Chamorro Roman Catholic priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
and an outspoken critic of the Japanese. Duena would later be captured and executed by the Japanese military.
Flores' wife, Ester Duenas Flores, was seven months pregnant with the couple's first child when Guam was liberated by the Americans in 1944.
Politics
Flores held many local political offices throughout his long career on Guam. He originally served as a Inarajan commissionerCommissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
, as well as an Inarajan assemblyman. He also held posts on various boards and committees.
Flores served six terms as a senator beginning in the fourth Guam Legislature.
His often fiery, often passionate speeches earned him the nickname of "Davy Crockett
Davy Crockett
David "Davy" Crockett was a celebrated 19th century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier and politician. He is commonly referred to in popular culture by the epithet "King of the Wild Frontier". He represented Tennessee in the U.S...
" in Guamanian politics. Flores always ended his campaign speeches with the Chamorro language
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...
slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
, "Bai hu puno' i toro," which translates to "I will kill the bull" in 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...
, an allusion to his early life as a lancheru.
Death
Alfred Flores died in his sleep at his home in MalojlojMalojloj
Malojloj is a community located within the larger municipality of Inarajan, Guam. It is specifically located within the hills north of the central Inarajan.- See also :* Villages of Guam...
, Guam, on February 6, 2009 at the age of 92. He was survived by his wife of 69 years, Ester Duenas Flores. The couple would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on February 18, 2009.
Flores was also survived by his three children - Lucille, May and Fred - ten grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren.