The Legends of the White Lady


Recently I visited the Faniyakan Sinipok or the Guam Department of Education Immersion school to hold a storytelling session with the families of the program's students. 

Similar to the families for I Maga'låhen Hurao Charter School, while the children may progress and show great development in the Chamoru language, unless the parents are fluent or are working hard to learn Chamoru on their own, they will fall far behind and not be able to support the learning of their children. 

I've seen it many times in the Hurao school where children begin to develop fluency, but they hit a ceiling because first, the limited amount of peers that they can speak and identify with, and second, because their family can't match their fluency or learning level.

While their families are interested in having them learn Chamoru, the parents themselves are often not fluent or not actively committed to learning, and so their children will quickly hit a ceiling. 

It is for this reason that whenever I'm invited to speak to these parent groups, whether to teach them or just to tell stories, offer tips or guidance on bringing Chamoru into your home and family, I am very happy to do so. 

On my most recent visit to the Faniyakan Sinipok, the theme was Estorian Bubulao since it is the Halloween season. In the past I would visit the students and tell them taotaomo'na stories, but this year I was invited as well to talk to the parents about taotamo'na tales, and encourage them to share some of their own as well. 

One of the tales that I told them connected to the Legend of the White Lady of Ma'ina. I've included below some different versions of the White Lady stories from across the island, most of which are very very different than the dominant story that comes from the bridge in Ma'ina.  

 

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Giya Guåhan på'go, uno na gof matungo' na lihende pat estorian taotaomo'na, put i apå'ka na paloa'an, ni' uma'a'nnok gi tatalo'puengi yan chatangmak gi i saddok giya Ma'ina. 

Lao gi minagåhet, guaha meggai na estoria put famalao'an taiguihi, mamplantasma, ginen difirentes na songsong yan lugåt giya Guåhan. 

Put hemplo, i apå'ka na palao'an ginen i lihende, siña i pusision-ña kulang taotao ha', lao guaha otro estoria na mås kulang bikilo' pat birak i kakko'-ña. 

Siña kulang gå’ga’ pat siña lamita gå’ga’ yan lamita taotao. 

Siña lokkue’ este na palao’an ha tulaika i pusision-ña.

Fihu binalulutan gaputulu este na palao’an desde i ilu-ña asta i patås-ña.

Sesso i ga’ga’ na lamitå-ña kulang ga’lågu.

I apå’ka na palao’an, enao ha’ siña ma li’e’ durånten anai esta homhom asta gefpainge.

Siña este na apå’ka na palao’an dumesnek desde un ora i machom åtdao pues malingu yanggen sinahi i pilan.

Fuera di i tellai giya Ma’ina, guuaha tres otro na lugåt na siña uma’annok este na palao’an, gi Harmon Heights, gi Puntan Dos Amåntes yan i Tellai Españot (giya Hågat).

I apå'ka na palao'an giya Tomhom, taotao ha' i pusision-ña, lao i kustumbre-ña muna'sahnge gui' yan i otro.

 Anggen un li'e' gui' gi i chatangmak mamomokkat gi halomtåno' pat chalan, hålom ha' ensigidas para i iya hamyo.

Anggen lini'e' hao nu i taotaomo'na, gotpe ha tutuhon malålagu yan ume'essalao ya siña finalugu'gu'i hao para i gima'.  

Para este otro klasen apå'ka ya-ña i apå’ka na palao’an na lihende, ti ya-ñiha i plantasma, i famalao’an yan i famagu’on guini giya Guåhan.

Yanggen umasodda’ hamyo ya pinacha hao siempre guaha måtkan agaga’ gi tahtaotao-mu.

Kada minuto siña ha’ un hungok na’ma’å’ñao buruka ginen guiya.

Uno siña umespånta i apå’ka na palao’an, i kilu’os Yu’os.

Lao para i mås matungo' na lihende, i apå'ka na palao'an giya Ma'ina, i hinangai-ña ti put muna'ma'å'ñao pat manespåpanta. 

Sigun håfa matungo' put i estoria-ña, umasagua ya un Kapitan Españot. 

Båba na taotao i asagua-ña ya gi un aksidente måtai este na palao'an gi i saddok Ma'ina. 

Anggen un li'e' este na taotaomo'na, fihu ha nåna'i minagem yan kåtma i kakko'-ña.

Famalao'an ni' manmanespipiha ayudu siña mañodda' minahgong giya guiya yan i gefpågo na sagå-ña gi fi'on i saddok. 

 

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