A most legitimate and appropriate question at this point in time. Most everyone has heard of Roque Mantanona, but very few really know him. Most people remember Roque the Boxer, Roque the vicious prize fighter, Roque the violent and aggressive slugger. They remember, of course, the Roque of yesteryears. The Roque of today is the complete opposite of he whom they remember. He is a dedicated, hard-working, responsible family man; a compassionate husband and a loving father of ten. He has become a music lover appreciative of the world around him, the beauty of nature, man and his environment. As a writer, he employs empathy indiscriminately for as he has learned only then he is able to explore and understand the true feelings and aspirations of others. 

Roque Mantanona is a self-taught, self-made Chamorro song writer. He is endowed with poetic qualities very rarely found in any one man. He has authored many songs and poems both in English and in the vernacular. He has written plays for school and village functions and all his works have been enjoyed and loved by all. His ability to write is an inspirational fruit from a very fruitful and unselfish tree of long ago. The tree was in the form of a very dear uncle, Romeo P. Mantanona, who in 1946 inspired Roque to learn reading and writing the chamorro language. Roque remembers the many long lessons he had with uncle Romeo and now admist he would not have made it if were not for those instructional sessions.

Roque has been writing for Joe “Crutch” Duenas for many years now. He has also written for personalities such as Johnny Sablan, Flora Baza, Terry Rojas, Sally Duenas and more. The first song he ever wrote for publication was “Puti Tai Nobio” and Flora Baza sang it in Johnny Sablan’s Casamiento. “Puti Tai Nobio” is a classic example of Roque’s ballad-type work. Ballad is his bag and life in general is his favorite subject. 

Roque’s masterpiece is “Y Asaguaho Na Palaoan” which appears in this album. He dedicates this song to his wife, the former Antonia Duenas Francisco of Mangilao because it was she that inspired its creation. Here Roque writes from the heart, what he sees in and feels for his ever loving and caring wife. Here he reminisces the hardships and good times, the sorrow and the happiness they bravely faced together to survive. Who is Roque Mantanona? Yes, this is he.