NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORRO

I get asked questions about Guam History all the time.  Almost every day I give an interview to someone who is doing a paper about Guam or Chamoru history, whether it be for middle school, high school or college.  Or it may be someone doing research for a documentary, a TV show, a newspaper or a book.  It could be just someone wanting to know more about their roots.  Or just someone visiting with questions that are bothering them about the contemporary or historical landscape of their temporary home or tourist visit.  Normally I know the answers, or I know where the answers are. Or I know that we don't know the answers. But there are some questions which I'm not quite sure how to answer. It may be because of how they are phrased, often times because whoever is asking the question may be assuming something that isn't in history or in reality, or isn't connected to what is in the facts or the historical data, and so sometimes I can be at a loss as to how to make a...

  In June of last year, the Marianas lost one of its most influential musical pioneers with the passing of Tun Candido “Candy” Babauta Taman. Over the years, I had the honor and privilege of working with Tun Candy on several projects, conduct interviews of him and sometimes just sit and chat and listen to him tell stories. Each year, I usually got a call from him in late November or December, checking in with me and letting me know how he is doing. If he had some of his music or CDs to sell, he would also let me know that they would make great Christmas gifts. When he called in late 2022, I eagerly bought a copy of everything he was selling and gave them as gifts to different friends. Tun Candy was born to a CHamoru mother from Sumay, Guam and a Carolinian father from Saipan with roots in Chuuk. Across his life he worked to promote and develop a Marianas musical sound as well as cultural consciousness. Because of the way his roots, his heritage represented ...