He showed himself at a young age to be adept at catching haggan (turtle). Tun Albert went on to serve the island first as a police officer and later served for more than two decades as the Commissioner/Mayor of Humåtak.

Throughout his life, he continued to maintain a strong connection to the ocean and a love for fishing, going fishing almost every weekend. His favorite fishing spots were in Talo’fo’fo’ and off Anderson Air Force Base. He was well known for sharing his catch with friends and family in the village after returning back to Humåtak.

Haggan was a sacred animal for ancient Chamorus, and its shell was considered to be one of the most valuable items for gifts or for trade. Its meat was considered a delicacy even up until the 20^th century. After bringing home a freshly caught turtle, Tun Albert or his wife Tan Olivia would take the turtle, remove its hard shell and boil the meat until it was tender. Once it reached the desired tenderness, then seasonings would be added, including a variety of spices, mangu (yellow) ginger and lechen niyok (coconut milk).

Haggan is now a protected species and people are no longer able to hunt or consume them. But memories of family gatherings featuring haggan as a dish remain for many of our manåmko’.

Tun Albert passed away in 1991 at the age of 68. He was later honored by the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (Guam CAHA) as a Master of CHamoru Culture for his skill as Peskådot Haggan.