A STRANGE, BUT GOOD, SPANISH GOVERNOR

 

A delightful anecdote about one of the Spanish Governors of the Marianas comes to us from reports from the Freycinet Expedition (1817-1820), a visit to the Marianas of French scientists and scholars.

Felipe de Cerain was Governor of the Marianas for an unusually long time - ten years - from 1776 until 1786. Most Governors served fewer years, sometimes two or three.

Cerain was considered a good man; humane and generous.

But he was bizarre in his habits, perhaps a wild man. He moved according to his whims; nothing went according to routine or schedule. He ate when he felt like it, regardless of the hour of day or night. Because the cook often had no advance warning, Cerain in his impatience would go into the kitchen and eat right out of the pot; sometimes food so hot as to burn the mouth, or food that was still not cooked completely.

It was under Cerain that Atantåno' was developed. Between the years 1784 and 1785, under orders by Cerain, a difficult road was laid linking Piti and Hågat. In the Atantåno' area, Cerain had planted coconut groves for the people's use, and was credited with many other good works.

The Santa Cruz monument at Atantåno' commemorates Cerain's projects in that location.

The upper monument speaks of Governor Cerain and his works.