Jessica “Numie” Acker

General Manager

From: Yap

We are proud to announce that Numie will be our new General Manager! Numie has served as our Hotel Manager and HR person for the past 10 years. It is only natural that she is our new General Manager with our “keeping it in the family” model.

Darlene Giley

Hotel Manager

From: Yap

Village: Ngof, Kanifay

Darlene has always been a part of the Manta Ray family since the early 2000’s when she started as a front desk clerk, before moving on to do a short stint in the department of health services as the head of their finance department. She decided to return to the private sector and to the Manta Ray family in 2015, where she took the position of reservations manager for the resort. Darlene has always been a people person, which made it easy for management to promote her to her new position as the Hotel Manager. She will most likely be the first person you get to know when you first start doing your booking for Yap and she along with her team will be the first you meet at the airport upon your arrival onto our beautiful island.

Favorite quote: “It is not always as bad as it seems.”

Carmen “The Money Lady” Dugwen

Corporate Controller

From: Yap

Born in Yap on the 11th of October 1970. Graduated from Xavier High School and graduated from Guam Community College. Attended the University of Guam for 2 years before returning to Yap. Began working at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel & Yap Divers in April of 1996 and am known throughout the organization as one of our very best employees.

Key Words: Cool, suave, and sophisticated with a disarming smile sum up Carmen pretty well. She will know your name once you have been here for a few hours and she will help you with anything during your stay with us.

Richard Falow

Concierge

From: Yap

Born in Yap on the 10th of October 1978 and graduated from Yap High School in 1996. Attended the Japanese Agricultural School in Palau and graduated in 1998 with an Associate Degree. After school, Richard moved to Japan to continue his Agricultural schooling at the main campus. Upon returning to Yap in 2000, Richard found a job in the hospitality industry and worked with Trader’s Ridge & O’Keefe’s Bar. In 2004, he moved up to the Manta Ray Bay and has worked as a Concierge since then. Fluent in English, Japanese, and of course Yapese, Richard is an invaluable part of our team and one of the first people you will meet when you get off the plane in Yap.

Favorite saying: “I especially like the tour guide part of my job because I enjoy meeting people and I really take pride in my island and our culture which I am very happy to share with each of my guests.”

Jude Pedrosa

IT Manager, Communications Specialist and Pool Engineer

From: loilo, Philippines

Jude, son of Teolu, brother of Louisa, and husband of Leslie, was born on the 21st of April 1979 in Iloilo, Philippines, and graduated from CAIC High School. After high school, Jude went to Our Lady of Fatima University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. After college, Jude began working at Montana Crystals (bottled water) as Operations Manager and from there he moved across the Philippine Sea to Yap and the Manta Ray Bay Resort in September of 2004. His wife and young son MJ joined him in 2007.

Favorite Saying: “There is no such thing as hard work as long as you enjoy what you are doing.”

Leslie Pedrosa

Gift Shop Clerk, Pedicurist/Manicurist

From: Iloilo, Philippines

Leslie is a native to Iloilo, Philippines, and is married to our IT Manager, Jude Pedrosa, She was born on September 8, 1980. After moving to Yap in 2007 to be with her husband, Leslie wanted to occupy her time while their son MJ is attending school, and we needed a clerk for our Manta Ray Boutique, and solo and behold a deal was struck.

She is more than happy to help you find the best souvenir to take back home or enhancing your Yap experience with a pedicure or manicure at our Taro Leaf Spa.

Michael “Mike” Ranganbay

Food & Beverage Manager

From: Yap

Village: Balebat, Rull

Born in Yap September 1971, Mike started with the Manta Ray family back in November of 2000 after returning from Guam, where he was expanding his educational career. Mike graduated from Yap High School in 1985. He started as a concierge with the resort before transferring to the dive shop where he was trained to be a dive guide, which led to him being trained as our dive equipment technician. Mike started diving with us in 2009 and has over 3000 dives. When the pandemic hit in 2020 and Yap was closed off to the world, Mike had the time to re-think his career path and what he wanted to do once things returned to normal, and after a few cold ones with Bill, he admitted that cooking has always been a passion of his. This gave Bill a ‘light bulb eureka’ moment and asked Mike if he wanted to take his passion to a whole new level by becoming the new Mnuw manager, to which he said a resounding ‘YES’! So as of November of 2022, our Manta Ray family said a heartfelt goodbye to Detlef Trux as he began his retirement journey from being our Mnuw manager and a big hello to Mike as the new head of Yap’s floating restaurant, the S/V Mnuw.

Favorite quote: “Work hard, party harder!”

Favorite Dive: M’il Channel because of the size of the area and diversity of marine life.

Jacinta Gilmar

Head Cook

From: Yap

Village: Kanif, Dalipebinaw

Jacinta started her career with the Manta Ray family in February of 2012 as a cook’s assistant, under then the Head Chef Arisana Waayan from Indonesia. She worked her way up to being a sous chef and eventually became the head cook in 2017. During the pandemic, Jacinta waited for the resort to resume business while helping her niece with her coffee shop. Since November of 2022, Jacinta has returned to the Manta Ray family and is Mike’s right hand (wo)man, working together to bring life back to the Mnuw.

Favorite quote: “When life gives you lemons, make lemon butter fish.”

Terencia “Erin” Lemanriu

Restaurant Supervisor

From: Satewal

Village: Gitam, Rull

Terencia “Erin” joined the Manta Ray family in August of 2011 as a fresh-faced bus girl on the S/V Mnuw, under the tutelage of Joce. Since then, she worked her way up to a waitress then a bartender and then finally she is currently the Restaurant Supervisor. Erin is married to JP who is part of our Yap Divers team. You will see Erin every evening at happy hour with a ready smile and a cold manta brew waiting for you.

Favorite quote: “Every day is a beautiful and wonderful day.”

Asa Houmweang

Head Housekeeper, Spa Manager

From: Truk “Chuuk”

Village: Donoch, Nimar

Asa became a part of the Manta Ray family in October of 2013, but her older sister, Josephine and her late husband Captain Serphin Single have always been a part of the Acker family. Asa for several years was employed by the ESA Bayview family, until she decided to transition to our family to be closer in distance to her sister. Asa started as a room attendant until she worked her way up to being the head of housekeeping. From there, Patricia Acker, took her under her wings and trained her to be a masseuse and eventually the head of the Taro Leaf Spa. So, Asa is now currently the head of housekeeping as well as the Taro Leaf Spa and she will ensure your stay with us the most comfortable and relaxing visit in Yap.

Favorite quote: “Why worry one time.”