Inacha'igen Fino' Chamoru News
Desde 2013 hu ayuyuda umotganisa este na dinanna'.
Lao gi este na såkkan, ti manayuda ha'.
Hu ayuda gumiha i dinanna' yan un otro na ma'estron Chamoru, si Sinot Joey Franquez.
Magof hu na munhayan, sa' gof makkat yan na'yayas este na cho'cho'.
Lao gaibali lokkue'.
Meggai umeyak gi este na biahi.
Ya bai hu kililili mo'na i leksion-hu siha gi otro sakkan para i otro na Inacha'igen.
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Hundreds Gather at UOG for Charter Day Activities
by Roselle Romanes
3/10/16
Pacific News Center
Charter Day is the largest public event at the University with
nearly 5,000 people visiting the campus throughout the day.
Guam - The University of Guam celebrated their 48th Charter Day
today with the theme of "Triton Spirit: One University, Many Voices".
True to its name, from the many voices of the University, we learned a lot from Charter Day. Since it's Mes Chamorro, we first checked out the CHamoru Language Competition.
UOG Professor Michael Bevacqua says, "It's a really great chance to showcase the beauty of the Chamorro language, all for the youth. Have the youth do the demonstrations, let them sing the songs, recite the poems, write the essays."
UOG Professor Michael Bevacqua explains that more than two dozen schools from around the island are competing against each other on their knowledge of singing, writing and dancing in Chamorro.
Daniel L. Perez Elementary School Teacher Senora Benita Lizama explains how they prepared for their performance today. "A lot of practices. Basically, what I did was I had all the fourth and fifth graders and throughout all the training, I chose the vest voices and you're looking at them right here," she says.
Fifth Grader Jonathan Relativo expresses, "I feel relieved that we did it. I don't feel nervous anymore."
We asked why learning the Chamorro language was important.
True to its name, from the many voices of the University, we learned a lot from Charter Day. Since it's Mes Chamorro, we first checked out the CHamoru Language Competition.
UOG Professor Michael Bevacqua says, "It's a really great chance to showcase the beauty of the Chamorro language, all for the youth. Have the youth do the demonstrations, let them sing the songs, recite the poems, write the essays."
UOG Professor Michael Bevacqua explains that more than two dozen schools from around the island are competing against each other on their knowledge of singing, writing and dancing in Chamorro.
Daniel L. Perez Elementary School Teacher Senora Benita Lizama explains how they prepared for their performance today. "A lot of practices. Basically, what I did was I had all the fourth and fifth graders and throughout all the training, I chose the vest voices and you're looking at them right here," she says.
Fifth Grader Jonathan Relativo expresses, "I feel relieved that we did it. I don't feel nervous anymore."
We asked why learning the Chamorro language was important.
Fifth Grader Joanna Laguana answers, "When we grow up, we can look
back and speak the language if they talk back to us in the future."
We even spoke to the winner of Chamorro Speech. Marianas High
School Luis Cepeda says, "This is my second time. I'm excited now. Last
year was my first time. It's starting to become fun. I won first place
for Speech. I did good."
We then head to the Agriculture building where we learned about
soil erosion. UOG Graduate Student Erica Pangelinan says, "So I'm going
to take this and make waves. We'll see that it's completely eroded and
we see that happening a lot in Talofofo Bay."
We also found out that trees are our friends in preventing erosion.
Pangelinan says, "You see here that it's coming apart. When you hit
this, it's not as much because the trees are holding it together so
that's one solution. Plan trees so we can prevent erosions from
happening."
We then checked out the Water Spa, where they taught students about health and nutrition.
UOG Asst. Professor Dr. Tanisha Aflague says, "We're launching our
Five-Two-One-Almost None campaign. That stands for five fruits and
vegetables, no more than two hours of screen time, one hour of
physical activity and almost none sugar, sweets or beverages."
Lastly, we found out how to catch rhino beetles. UOG Researcher
Donamila Taitaino tells us, "We're doing a live demonstrations of a
rhino beetle at every stage of its life, so that people will be aware of
what they look like, how they look like and what do they do."
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Chamorro language competition held at UOG
Posted: Mar 09, 2016 4:00 PM Updated: Mar 16, 2016 4:00 PM
Hundreds of public and private school
students participated in a two-day Chamorro language competition hosted
by the University of Guam Chamorro Studies Program. The event titled, Inacha'igen Fino' Chamoru, included song, dance, dramatic interpretation, poetry, spelling, storytelling and more.
The program tested student knowledge in speaking, reading, writing and singing in the Chamorro language. It also aimed to promote the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts.
The program tested student knowledge in speaking, reading, writing and singing in the Chamorro language. It also aimed to promote the 2016 Festival of Pacific Arts.
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The Marianas High School POLKSAI Chamorro Club swept the 2016
Inacha’igen Fino Chamorro Language Competition in Guam. It was the
club’s 11th time to compete in this event. It was a great success as the
team garnered the following awards:
-1st – Speech (Luis Cepeda)
-1st – Poetry (Karen Agulto)
-1st -Female Singer (Monica Lizama)
-2nd-Male Singer (Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Proficiency (Kena Muna),
-2nd-Proficiency (Monica Lizama)
-3rd – Proficiency (Jack Nicholas Rabago)
-1st – Song with Dance (Karen Agulto, Monica Lizama, Jeszerre Seman, Ninfa Rabago, Jose Carreon, Luis Cepeda, Christopher Jay Terlaje, Almondo Franco Santos, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Dramatical Interpretation Skit (Joshalyn Flores, Christian Ayuyu, Jimmy Santos, Kierah Lee, Marianna Teregeyo, Jessa Sonoda, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Jenalien Jonathan, Kena Muna, Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Kantan Chamorrita (Kierah Lee, Monica Lizama, Ninfa Rabago, Jose Carreon, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Almondo Franco Santos, Jimmy Santos, Christopher Jay Terlaje, Isa Cabrera, Ciprianna Songao)
Anita Sablan, the club advisor and coach commented, “the 2016 Inacha’igen Chamorro Language Competition was a success as our team garnered seven gold, two silver, and a bronze. The 2016 Inacha’igen Fino Chamorro Theme is I FINO’ CHAMORU: I Guiniahå-ta, Iyo-ta, Ta Fanana’I (The CHamoru Language: Our Abundance and Ours to Share With One Another). All the categories that they competed in focused and emphasized on the theme.”
Since 2003, POLKSAI Chamorro Club has been competing in this annual Chamorro language competition.
Sablan said participation in this annual event requires numerous fundraising and long hours of practice. In the end, the members embraced their experience because it gives them the opportunity to practice their language and perpetuate their culture.
The advisors and coaches would like to thank the participants’ respective families for supporting their child and the community supporters for their monetary contribution: Public School System, Rep. Angel Demapan, Rep. Edmund Villagomez, Rep. BJ Attao, Rep. Anthony Benavente, Rep. Edwin Propst, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Rep. Roman Benavente, Rep. Francis Taimanao, BOMAT, Lucky R Catering, St. Jude Renal Care, Quickprint, Supreme Justices Dinner Performance at PIC, and many others.
“Without your financial support, our club would not have made it to Guam to compete in this event. MHS POLKSAI Chamorro Club would also like to thank Senot Luis John Castro for his support by being the dance instructor for the group. This will be the fourth year in a roll that the team garnered 1st Place for Song with Dance under his direction. They sincerely thank you for your dedication,” said Sablan.
When asked about the meaning and vision of the club, Alvin Sablan, club advisor and coach, first shared the acronym for POLKSAI. He said the acronym stands for Protehi, Onra, Lengguahi, Kutturan Sa’ipan, Ataha Inasan Chamorro. POLKSAI means to protect and honor the language and culture of Saipan and to prevent the disappearance of the Chamorro culture. POLKSAI Chamorro Club was formed in 2002 with the vision of its founder, the late Lumi R. Bermudes, of perpetuating the language and culture of the Marianas indigenous people. MHS POLKSAI will forever keep the vision and purpose of this club and would like to thank Bermudes for inspiring and supporting the club.
Because of their hard work, commitment, and dedication, the MHS POLKSAI was prepared for this competition. Some of the preparation involved the club members writing a song for the Kantan Chamorrita event, writing a skit for the Dramatic Interpretation event, memorizing and reciting a poem provided by the organizing committee, creating a medley using J.J. Concepcion’s songs for a song with dance event, writing, memorizing, and reciting a speech with the help of Bermudes, and practicing selected songs for the male and female singing event. As for the proficiency, students need to understand, read, and speak the Chamorro language.
“Congratulations MHS POLKSAI Chamorro club—continue to speak the language and perpetuate your culture,” said Alvin Sablan.
MHS POLKSAI Chamorro would also like to honor its late founder Bermudes for inspiring them to perpetuate the Chamorro culture and to speak the Chamorro language.
Members also shared their experience during the tilt.
“I got the opportunity to compete in the Dramatic Interpretation (skit) category in which I had to speak Chamorro and sang a Chamorro song as a group for the Kantan Chamorrita event. It was a great experience for me because I learned how to sing a Chamorrita Song, which was popular before our island became conquered. I sacrifice a lot of my time and I feel it was worthwhile because I learned a lot about the Chamorro language and culture,” said Kierah Lee.
Luis Cepeda also stated, “This was my second time competing. I competed last year for the speech and garnered fourth place but this year I won first place. I also competed in the song with dance category, where I placed first. I love dancing. Through dancing, I learned a great deal about the ancient Chamorro and the motivation to continue to perpetuate the Chamorro culture.”
Joshalyn Flores also recounted her experience during the Dramatic Interpretation competition.
“I was the grandma in the skit. Our skit was inspired from Typhoon Soudelor where technology distracted the teenagers from helping around the house and practicing one’s culture. Typhoon took place and with that it brought the family together—learning the culture and survival skills. I enjoyed the many hours of practicing because it let to victory,” she said.
Almondo Franco, for his part, said he will savor the recent completion because it’s his last.
“This is my third year competing and will be last time because I am graduating this year. The first year I joined the club and competed it was a new atmosphere and learning experience of the Chamorro language and culture. We garnered a lot of awards and it continued to this year’s competition. I enjoyed all those years of competing and being a part of the MHS POLKSAI Chamorro Club.”
-1st – Speech (Luis Cepeda)
-1st – Poetry (Karen Agulto)
-1st -Female Singer (Monica Lizama)
-2nd-Male Singer (Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Proficiency (Kena Muna),
-2nd-Proficiency (Monica Lizama)
-3rd – Proficiency (Jack Nicholas Rabago)
-1st – Song with Dance (Karen Agulto, Monica Lizama, Jeszerre Seman, Ninfa Rabago, Jose Carreon, Luis Cepeda, Christopher Jay Terlaje, Almondo Franco Santos, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Dramatical Interpretation Skit (Joshalyn Flores, Christian Ayuyu, Jimmy Santos, Kierah Lee, Marianna Teregeyo, Jessa Sonoda, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Jenalien Jonathan, Kena Muna, Jesse Sablan)
-1st – Kantan Chamorrita (Kierah Lee, Monica Lizama, Ninfa Rabago, Jose Carreon, Jack Nicholas Rabago, Almondo Franco Santos, Jimmy Santos, Christopher Jay Terlaje, Isa Cabrera, Ciprianna Songao)
Anita Sablan, the club advisor and coach commented, “the 2016 Inacha’igen Chamorro Language Competition was a success as our team garnered seven gold, two silver, and a bronze. The 2016 Inacha’igen Fino Chamorro Theme is I FINO’ CHAMORU: I Guiniahå-ta, Iyo-ta, Ta Fanana’I (The CHamoru Language: Our Abundance and Ours to Share With One Another). All the categories that they competed in focused and emphasized on the theme.”
Since 2003, POLKSAI Chamorro Club has been competing in this annual Chamorro language competition.
Sablan said participation in this annual event requires numerous fundraising and long hours of practice. In the end, the members embraced their experience because it gives them the opportunity to practice their language and perpetuate their culture.
The advisors and coaches would like to thank the participants’ respective families for supporting their child and the community supporters for their monetary contribution: Public School System, Rep. Angel Demapan, Rep. Edmund Villagomez, Rep. BJ Attao, Rep. Anthony Benavente, Rep. Edwin Propst, Rep. Ralph Yumul, Rep. Roman Benavente, Rep. Francis Taimanao, BOMAT, Lucky R Catering, St. Jude Renal Care, Quickprint, Supreme Justices Dinner Performance at PIC, and many others.
“Without your financial support, our club would not have made it to Guam to compete in this event. MHS POLKSAI Chamorro Club would also like to thank Senot Luis John Castro for his support by being the dance instructor for the group. This will be the fourth year in a roll that the team garnered 1st Place for Song with Dance under his direction. They sincerely thank you for your dedication,” said Sablan.
When asked about the meaning and vision of the club, Alvin Sablan, club advisor and coach, first shared the acronym for POLKSAI. He said the acronym stands for Protehi, Onra, Lengguahi, Kutturan Sa’ipan, Ataha Inasan Chamorro. POLKSAI means to protect and honor the language and culture of Saipan and to prevent the disappearance of the Chamorro culture. POLKSAI Chamorro Club was formed in 2002 with the vision of its founder, the late Lumi R. Bermudes, of perpetuating the language and culture of the Marianas indigenous people. MHS POLKSAI will forever keep the vision and purpose of this club and would like to thank Bermudes for inspiring and supporting the club.
Because of their hard work, commitment, and dedication, the MHS POLKSAI was prepared for this competition. Some of the preparation involved the club members writing a song for the Kantan Chamorrita event, writing a skit for the Dramatic Interpretation event, memorizing and reciting a poem provided by the organizing committee, creating a medley using J.J. Concepcion’s songs for a song with dance event, writing, memorizing, and reciting a speech with the help of Bermudes, and practicing selected songs for the male and female singing event. As for the proficiency, students need to understand, read, and speak the Chamorro language.
“Congratulations MHS POLKSAI Chamorro club—continue to speak the language and perpetuate your culture,” said Alvin Sablan.
MHS POLKSAI Chamorro would also like to honor its late founder Bermudes for inspiring them to perpetuate the Chamorro culture and to speak the Chamorro language.
Members also shared their experience during the tilt.
“I got the opportunity to compete in the Dramatic Interpretation (skit) category in which I had to speak Chamorro and sang a Chamorro song as a group for the Kantan Chamorrita event. It was a great experience for me because I learned how to sing a Chamorrita Song, which was popular before our island became conquered. I sacrifice a lot of my time and I feel it was worthwhile because I learned a lot about the Chamorro language and culture,” said Kierah Lee.
Luis Cepeda also stated, “This was my second time competing. I competed last year for the speech and garnered fourth place but this year I won first place. I also competed in the song with dance category, where I placed first. I love dancing. Through dancing, I learned a great deal about the ancient Chamorro and the motivation to continue to perpetuate the Chamorro culture.”
Joshalyn Flores also recounted her experience during the Dramatic Interpretation competition.
“I was the grandma in the skit. Our skit was inspired from Typhoon Soudelor where technology distracted the teenagers from helping around the house and practicing one’s culture. Typhoon took place and with that it brought the family together—learning the culture and survival skills. I enjoyed the many hours of practicing because it let to victory,” she said.
Almondo Franco, for his part, said he will savor the recent completion because it’s his last.
“This is my third year competing and will be last time because I am graduating this year. The first year I joined the club and competed it was a new atmosphere and learning experience of the Chamorro language and culture. We garnered a lot of awards and it continued to this year’s competition. I enjoyed all those years of competing and being a part of the MHS POLKSAI Chamorro Club.”
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