By Johanna Salinas
“Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Conversations with Madeleine Bordallo” by Påle’ Eric Forbes is a CHamoru twist on the “glass ceiling.”
“I can’t use that glass ceiling,” Bordallo said in an interview with the Pacific Island Times after her biography’s launch last month. “We have a lot of bamboos on Guam— the CHamoru version of glass.”
Bordallo’s career in public service and politics spanned more than five decades. She served as a senator, Guam’s first lady, lieutenant governor and congresswoman.
She served as Guam's delegate in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2019. She is currently the governor’s representative to Washington, D.C.
Bordallo’s life and work are narrated in Forbes’ book, officially released on July 22.
“When I first approached Påle’ Eric, I told him, ‘You write the truth,’” said the widow of the late governor, Ricardo J. Bordallo.
The book begins with her birth in Minnesota and her arrival on Guam when she was just 14.
“I lived a wonderful life on Guam," Bordallo said. “I came off that ship, the only way to get to Guam. My father was the director of education at that time. My mother really pushed my father to accept the position. I always thanked my parents for bringing me to Guam, otherwise I’d be in Minnesota on a farm.”
The book follows her journey learning CHamoru culture, being a wife and a Guam leader. She expressed gratitude to the CHamoru people for trusting her to serve the island.
“It’s hard in Congress. You have to be stubborn and you can’t give up. That’s me,” Bordallo said. “I fought very hard in Congress. I was on the defense committee for 16 years. I told them, ‘We’re the only U.S. territory in the vast Pacific. We got neighbors who aren’t very friendly—Big China and North Korea. Keep us safe.’”
Forbes said he was honored to help her write her story and admired Bordallo’s attitude and humor.
“I learned to always focus on the positive,” he said. “Being in politics for so many years, there’s always going to be competition, rivalry, perhaps some misunderstandings. Madeleine always focuses on going beyond that and not making enemies and trying to be on good terms, even with your competitors or rivals. So, she’s lived that.”
Forbes said Bordallo’s life “is intertwined with the history of the island. So, to know her life is to know a good chunk of the island’s history.”
He said he made sure to respect Bordallo’s legacy by having deep, honest conversations with her. “She’s very forthcoming, she’s very willing to share and pass on the wealth of knowledge she’s gained,” said the biographer. “This book is an easy read, as easy as it was talking to Madeleine and getting the stories from her.”
Bordallo became Guam’s first lady when Ricardo Bordallo served as governor from 1974 to 1982. He took his own life on Jan. 31, 1990, following his conviction of federal corruption charges.
"Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling" was prepared for publication by the Creative and Editorial teams at Glimpses Media.
“Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling” is available at Bestseller Guam. Proceeds will benefit the RJ Bordallo Foundation, a nonprofit entity that offers student scholarships. The foundation also funds the maintenance of the Latte of Freedom Monument at the chief executive office building, which is officially named the Ricardo J Bordallo Governor’s Complex.
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