tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78757252024-03-28T16:18:13.890+10:00NO REST FOR THE AWAKE - MINAGAHET CHAMORROThis blog is dedicated to Chamorro issues, the use and revitalization of the Chamoru language and the decolonization of Guam. This also blog aims to inform people around the world about the history, culture and language and struggles of the Chamorro people, who are the indigenous islanders of Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Luta and Pagan in the Mariana Islands. Pues Haggannaihon ha', ya taitai na'ya, ya Si Yu'us Ma'ase para i finatto-mu.Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.comBlogger2898125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-70605553969315459222024-03-04T10:21:00.002+10:002024-03-04T10:21:31.583+10:00I Sengsong I Taotao-ta Siha<p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCjMb_fujufseUPXAgfLiQg-6l8TFVxj7NfUkesVYeyfa5kdWNMdZc9e17XaSyPVzCTG0MF46fc9uZsvvy9-Dg4Bb0qgNiFnMH4yKMQp3g-z7eEJgM09FtzESZXyivykJHxjEgGutgbb8wABz2zMR5mRnMqhTBiUffSwfHZ3WHBUlstqzjU2l/s4032/saddok%20david%20sablan%20pinenta.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilCjMb_fujufseUPXAgfLiQg-6l8TFVxj7NfUkesVYeyfa5kdWNMdZc9e17XaSyPVzCTG0MF46fc9uZsvvy9-Dg4Bb0qgNiFnMH4yKMQp3g-z7eEJgM09FtzESZXyivykJHxjEgGutgbb8wABz2zMR5mRnMqhTBiUffSwfHZ3WHBUlstqzjU2l/w690-h518/saddok%20david%20sablan%20pinenta.JPG" width="690" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hagagas i sengsong-ta siha, gof prisisisisu para u
ditetmina, para u sinangåni håyi hit. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gi tiempon i manmofo’na na taotao-ta, i sengsong gumo'go'te
i hale' i familia yan parientes siha ya mina'gåsi nu i Maga'låhi yan
Maga'håga'.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tåya’ rai yan rainai guihi na tiempo. Tåya’ emperådot para
todu i taotao-ta. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kada songsong taiguihi un guafak, tinifok todu i familia
siha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guaha na biahi inachaki entre i sengsong siha put asunton
tåno' pat yanggen guaha inale' palao'an.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lao ta tungo’ na achokka’ chaddek manmamu, chaddek lokkue’
manasi’i. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gi duranten i Geran CHamoru yan Españot, guaha na songsong
siha mandanña' para u ma mumuyi i Españot. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gi 1670s Si Maga'låhi Agualin tumachu para u mumu kontra i
Españot, på'go i pumalu taiguihi as Maga'lahi Don Antonio Ayihi tumachuyi i
Españot. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gi duranten i mafa'na'an "Reduccion" manafuetsas i
taotao-ta gi todu i Isla siha para u fanmañaga' gi lugåt ni' inayek ni i
Españot. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Humuyongña gi 1740, sais ha' na songsong tetehnan giya
Guåhan. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I gima'yu'us makåhat gi talo' kada na songsong.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Gi tinituhon, i taotao-ta ti ma aksepta este, lao gi tiempo,
esta manmapayuni. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA-LIWc1xa-f_rANLX8Wb3YG2jTV2fEV8unglzBuRKBMH-a20DdL5vhlq1oAxZdUZiwlHVF0XJCU-nK-EazNerqfn7VRP41xueoRz_TEil3JjnqlqXWjQLOhHVyt1WaQ7WN6YN5poektnEuNZ4z9DkNLvo0WwE3qP9iyFjQxXkF6WjucLelWE/s2326/village%20of%20interajan%20the%20Procession%20nears%20the%20church.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2326" data-original-width="2267" height="705" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFA-LIWc1xa-f_rANLX8Wb3YG2jTV2fEV8unglzBuRKBMH-a20DdL5vhlq1oAxZdUZiwlHVF0XJCU-nK-EazNerqfn7VRP41xueoRz_TEil3JjnqlqXWjQLOhHVyt1WaQ7WN6YN5poektnEuNZ4z9DkNLvo0WwE3qP9iyFjQxXkF6WjucLelWE/w687-h705/village%20of%20interajan%20the%20Procession%20nears%20the%20church.jpg" width="687" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> I maintrodusin mañantos yan fiesta siha numa'i hit anima yan
interes para este nuebu na sengsong-ta. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I fiesta umarekla i fanha’aniyan dinanña', mientras ta
pripapara hit para i finatton i taotao tumåno'.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Despues di Geran Dos, bula ta'lo manmana'fañuñuha gi tano'-ñiha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I sengsong Sumai mumalingu para guatu gi Naval Base Guam. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Dedidu yan Yigu, eståba puru ha' gualo'. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">På'go i dos songsong itmas dångkolo’ ni' masagagåyi.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Desde i Tiempon Españot, todu tiempo guaha taotao ni' muma'gågasi
I sengsong komo atkadi, mayot pat cabeza de baranguy. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Guiya manayuyuda para u guaha pås yan para u fanenfuetsa lai
pat u ayuda i taotao gi todu nisisidåt. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ha na'fanbanidodosu hit ni' sengsong-ta. Ya-ta muna'annok
este na siniente gi i maestablesin finattan songong pat gupot songong taiguihi
i “Agat Mango Festival" pat “Malesso Crab Festival." </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kada henerasion, gi kada siklo siña linemlem put este na
tinilaika, lao manggagaige ha’. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvypjEyq61lAjbNDZtbi4qsjC3mTWQ2Mgs3moE2RBz_dSgfbP63XY6fcsfqbV4B5vvNCOrdyOke9cbhyphenhyphenc7StH-w0csnXJHgBkUzxtcFCGi6yudj-Qmb-Y_kmAhh09a-uZFy9Kv9hnb9u8bei00GqUbQXUnkpaF47aJaqZNmYF8YLxMlGEQbIpD/s3200/636093339191691701-Village-Sign-MANGILAO-02.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1808" data-original-width="3200" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvypjEyq61lAjbNDZtbi4qsjC3mTWQ2Mgs3moE2RBz_dSgfbP63XY6fcsfqbV4B5vvNCOrdyOke9cbhyphenhyphenc7StH-w0csnXJHgBkUzxtcFCGi6yudj-Qmb-Y_kmAhh09a-uZFy9Kv9hnb9u8bei00GqUbQXUnkpaF47aJaqZNmYF8YLxMlGEQbIpD/w628-h355/636093339191691701-Village-Sign-MANGILAO-02.webp" width="628" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-20800869152086290192024-02-11T23:49:00.002+10:002024-02-11T23:49:19.533+10:00Simplified History is Biased History<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpQo0JzxWbvZSSMAx5lr8t6So7bjhtCS-Y3Eb_TGecb5bKTMN_2dOINjoyAuKZexlfL1uX47lyw-h9nekstRrC4Yd0mqY_N84RmiAGhntXxGqwc8Lm7bq4SG7keP4BwyO7oAGGGqGg-2HfgHxtYnmcKmjazqCt_ryXlNyextaqvk6C3QrRb1F/s4032/kepuha%20statue%20mawar.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCpQo0JzxWbvZSSMAx5lr8t6So7bjhtCS-Y3Eb_TGecb5bKTMN_2dOINjoyAuKZexlfL1uX47lyw-h9nekstRrC4Yd0mqY_N84RmiAGhntXxGqwc8Lm7bq4SG7keP4BwyO7oAGGGqGg-2HfgHxtYnmcKmjazqCt_ryXlNyextaqvk6C3QrRb1F/w632-h474/kepuha%20statue%20mawar.HEIC" width="632" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I get asked questions about Guam History all the time. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">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. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Or it may be someone doing research for a documentary, a TV show, a newspaper or a book. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It could be just someone wanting to know more about their roots. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Or just someone visiting with questions that are bothering them about the contemporary or historical landscape of their temporary home or tourist visit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Normally I know the answers, or I know where the answers are.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Or I know that we don't know the answers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But there are some questions which I'm not quite sure how to answer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">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 connection.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But other times, it is just because the terms and words and feelings involved make things so complicated, that while there might be plenty to talk about, simplicity might be tough when answering. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In Guam History terms, one common question and historical figure where this sort of complexity emerges is around Maga'låhi Kepuha. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He remains the best known of all of our ancient ancestors. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He welcomed the Catholic Chamoru and was praised by the colonizers for it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He has his own park and until Typhoon Mawar his own iconic statue. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And the history books for a time celebrated him as the good native who recognized the power of the colonizer and respectfully made way for their inevitable authority. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But more recent scholarship and activism has turned Kepuha into more of a sell-out figure.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Someone who didn't stand up for the national spirit or identity, the freedom and sovereignty of his people, but instead, in the name of his own power and the prestige and protection of his own family, decided to support a new colonial regime, that eventually cost the Chamoru people so much. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For a variety of reasons, unpacking Kepuha is always a little bit trickier. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For someone that we know relatively little about compared to your average politician of today, there are still so many layers in which we put meaning and symbolism into him, and that can be difficult. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For example, I wrote on this blog a few years ago about how a Middle School student had interviewed me for their National History Day project, where they had selected Maga'låhi Kepuha as a model of an important historical figure and a hero from Guam's History. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Everything we know about Kepuha as a historical figure comes from just a handful of historical accounts from the 17th century. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They all tend to portray him in the same light, as a beacon of hope for the new Christian faith in the savage lands, except for a few that come from other voices attached to the colonial mission but who weren't priests. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Those voices complicate the picture of Kepuha as someone who was eager to embrace the church and simply saw the light of religious inevitability and immediately converted. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So when you tilt your head, his texture in history can shift dramatically as a hero, villain, as just a person at the right place, wrong time, or vice versa. Or someone just inundated by historical grey, taking advantage of an opportunity. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There is even the reading of him as someone who was not significant at all, but someone who just stands in to represent those who supported the priests and new religion and that Kepuha himself either didn't exist or wasn't as important as he is made out to be.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Take for instance the issue of land being given to Spanish Jesuit priests for the first church.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If we believe what the priests say about Chamoru culture at the time, then it would not be Kepuha who would make this decision but rather his sister and other women in his clan.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They would make the decisions over the land. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Were the other Spanish accounts over-exaggerating the power of Chamoru women in social-political life?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Or were they simply eliminating them from this exchange because of their own biases and just reducing what was a larger discussion within a clan, to just Kepuha's gesture? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years ago I wrote a column in the Pacific Daily News about this, talking about how simplified history is usually inaccurate. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the case of Kepuha, if he either comes out of your analysis as simply a hero or a villain, then your analysis is probably insufficient or too simple. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Real history is usually complicated and difficult. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm pasting my article below with more details. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">****************************</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Simplified History is Biased History: The Case of Kepuha"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">by Michael Lujan Bevacqua</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Pacific Daily News</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">December 19, 2019</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">History has no ideology. This is true in the sense that the events of the past themselves don’t have any implicit bias.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But
whenever we tell history, a natural bias will emerge. This bias can
take many forms. It doesn’t mean that we can’t understand history in
important ways, but there will always be limitations, based on what we
can know and how we will frame its retelling. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One of the ways
historians, governments and everyday people can bias our understanding
of history is to simplify it. We let ideology enter our understanding of
history when we require it to be simple, when in truth it never is. On a
daily basis we divide it into victors and losers, good and evil.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We lose our ability to understand historical figures and events if we take this too far.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">We
find an excellent case of this in Guam history around the figure of
Maga’låhi Kepuha, who was noted as one of the first maga’låhi in Guam,
who welcomed the mission of Påle’ San Vitores when they first arrived in
1668.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Catholic church and local governments long promoted
Kepuha as the model CHamoru because of his support for the new
colonizers. That contrasted him with others who resisted, such as
Mata’pang or Hurao.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But opinion also swings heavily the other way,
where some see Kepuha as being a sell-out, who traded the future of the
CHamoru people for his own personal or familial gain.</span></p><h2 class="presto-h2"><span style="font-size: medium;">Truth in middle</span></h2><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in the middle.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kepuha
did welcome the Spanish, even to the point where he allowed some of
their group to stay in his home. He was one of the first adults to be
baptized and converted and his family gave land for the first church in
Hagåtña.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Although he accepted the religion, he also regularly
argued with San Vitores in the year that they knew each other. Kepuha
liked the authority the new religion gave his village, but he also
didn’t like how it was weakening their culture and society in other
ways.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kepuha’s death in 1669 was one of the events that helped
trigger larger conflict between CHamorus and the Spanish. San Vitores
wouldn’t allow his family to take their relative’s skull, per the
culture of ancestral worship. His son or nephew, also called Kepuha,
declared emmok (vengeance) and became a rebel leader in the coalition
later formed by Maga’låhi Hurao. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">One account from Kepuha’s initial welcoming of the Spanish really
makes clear the complicated position he might have been in. After
welcoming the Spanish to stay in his home, one of them made clear to the
Maga’låhi that if anything were to happen to the priests, his family
would be killed as a result. Kepuha was so worried about the danger to
his family that he guarded the entrance to his latte house himself.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kepuha
may have initially welcomed the Spanish, but been unable to turn back
on his choice, for fear of what might happen to his family.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Knowing
history can give us answers to life, but it may not always give us the
answers we might want. But its real value is in representing the
complexity of the past.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Life is complicated. If we assume the past was simpler, we may not recognize the complexity around us today.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><em>Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and assistant professor of CHamoru studies at the University of Guam.</em></span></p><p></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-26216306034394437232024-02-09T00:27:00.005+10:002024-02-09T00:27:28.079+10:00Adios Tun Candy<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvUQxx29vSVdRKd8eGDYOAZuDwfEZYQ07wS9SHPZIg1VGviHeEsOb2rOgNkhn0Ms2hX9hb1azUbbwV6SGGhfsodFLKQ36OTH5G66ddQ_p3i3NkGoSwz6kAG0rn0E2nFuzKdYx_WEB7N3oLmMLGkbnszyZYg4ry3kfeenBmhsP7wdKpih16MXD/s4032/IMG_5462%202.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvUQxx29vSVdRKd8eGDYOAZuDwfEZYQ07wS9SHPZIg1VGviHeEsOb2rOgNkhn0Ms2hX9hb1azUbbwV6SGGhfsodFLKQ36OTH5G66ddQ_p3i3NkGoSwz6kAG0rn0E2nFuzKdYx_WEB7N3oLmMLGkbnszyZYg4ry3kfeenBmhsP7wdKpih16MXD/w675-h506/IMG_5462%202.HEIC" width="675" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In June of last year, the <span>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. <br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>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. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>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 connections larger than any single island in the region, he
represented through his advocacy and artistry greater reunification, whether
amongst the peoples of the Marianas or amongst the peoples across Micronesia
with the Marianas.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Growing up in Saipan in the 1950s, Tun
Candy was surrounded by CHamoru music, Carolinian music, Hawaiian music in the
community, as well as American country western and rock music on the radio. In
1965, he heard the Kaskells, a group of high-school age Chamoru kids from Guam,
perform at the hotel in Saipan where he worked as a dishwasher. He was so
inspired by their music and their example that he was fired for leaving his job
that night to go listen. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Two of my partner Desiree’s uncles
were members of the Kaskells, Joe and Tony. Her Uncle Joe welcomed Tun Candy to
come to Guam to learn more about the music scene and performing publicly. He
followed them to Guam and learning to play different instruments and worked as
a roadie for the group, all while sleeping in the garage of Desiree’s family’s
home in To’to.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>After six months, he returned to
Saipan where he began to play music publicly, performing covers of American
country, rock and later disco songs. In 1975, Tun Candy would join another
CHamoru music icon Frank “Bokongo” Pangelinan to form the band Local Breed.
Although they originally played covers of American songs, with more and more
requests for CHamoru language music the group transitioned to become Tropic
Sette the following year. Their album “Palasyon Rico” would blend traditional
CHamoru and Carolinan songs with new genres and sounds coming from the United
States.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>In the 1980s, Tun Candy would also be
a part of another pioneering musical group from the CNMI, Chamolinian. In songs
like the 8-minute long “Mount Pagan” Tun Candy brought the traditional art of
storytelling and poetic recounting of important events which was being lost
across the Marianas, into the chronicling of the eruption of Mount Pagan in
1981 and the people of the island evacuating to safety. Tun Candy would bring
this troubadour ballad style to other historic events from the Marianas, the Pacific,
and the World, including writing songs that honored historic political figures
and current events such as the Gulf War in 1991.<span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Tun Candy would go on to record
countless more CHamoru songs both through collaboration with others as well as
solo. Across the decades he showed himself to be a tireless advocate for the
CHamoru and Carolinian languages and the reunification of the Marianas. In
2014, he was awarded an honorary degree in Micronesian Traditional Knowledge by
the University of Guam, for all his work in helping to preserve CHamoru and
Carolinian language and music. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first heard that Tun Candy
had passed away, I immediately went to YouTube to start listening to some of my
favorite songs from his decades-long career. I ended up listening to songs like
“Galaide sin La’yak” and “Ingrato” multiple times, over and over, reflecting on
how so many of my elders have passed on, and trying my best to remember what
each of them taught me and passed on to me. For someone like Tun Candy, gof
mappot este, this is difficult. He shared so much, and taught so much. From the
importance of humor in learning, to the importance of poetry and song in public
memory and honoring those that have gone before, there is so much in his legacy
to take. I appreciate the time that I was able to share with him. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">U såga gi minahgong yan
minatatnga.</span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-11104301545248411672024-01-28T20:17:00.004+10:002024-01-28T20:17:35.933+10:00Securing the Tip of the Spear<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPotwbInTEVnRhpRUM3YjHJyZ2xX0CM1vZDJYILsy3a2LcY9BrEXfOnB8P1_hKMYGuhSumZl_n3GKAjAsSp0RPFWT1yMJ2c6xyoguZbkXeIAg7xd7VKMt1C5qCTr77IvJWJHXxRjw9pWdAwHzuavT-EuOYAQOHU3LNgRbBRgf5h82Z_u3DJgSr/s3300/spear%20tip-guam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="3300" height="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPotwbInTEVnRhpRUM3YjHJyZ2xX0CM1vZDJYILsy3a2LcY9BrEXfOnB8P1_hKMYGuhSumZl_n3GKAjAsSp0RPFWT1yMJ2c6xyoguZbkXeIAg7xd7VKMt1C5qCTr77IvJWJHXxRjw9pWdAwHzuavT-EuOYAQOHU3LNgRbBRgf5h82Z_u3DJgSr/w681-h526/spear%20tip-guam.jpg" width="681" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />What does it mean to live in a place called the “tip of
America’s spear?” This is something that Guam has been called frequently in
recent decades, whether by politicians, military commanders or think tanks. It
is a nickname defined by the strategic value of Guam to the United States. If
one imagines the US as a warrior facing Asia, there are a long line of bases
that extend west across the Pacific, almost like the shaft of a long weapon.
Guam, as the westernmost US base, is like the tip. Something brandished against
potential threats on the continent. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Because of Guam’s location and its military value, we who
call it home are used to both wars and rumors of wars. In recent years there
has been increasing tension in the region between the United States and its
potential rivals, whether it be Russia, North Korea and China. As such, Guam
appears in news reports, in strategic studies and in the speeches of admirals
as something that the US will use against others or as something that might be
caught in the middle of any conflict. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Given these risks, these dangers, one might assume that
issues such as decolonization, the changing of Guam’s political status to
something more equitable such as statehood, free association or statehood might
be untimely. This is something that the United States has argued in the past
when the issue of Guam’s territorial status or the lack of rights for its
people, the response has at times been that due to threats in the region, it is
not the right time for any change to the political status quo. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Fanohge Coalition, a diverse network of 40 community
groups, non-profits, and small businesses, decided to address this question in
a recent forum called “Caught Between Empires: A Push for Peace and Security in
the Marianas.” The Fanohge Coalition, formed following the Fanohge March for
CHamoru Self-Determination in 2019, exists to educate the island community
about the importance of protecting the rights of the Chamoru people and pushing
for political status change for Guam. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">To lead this conversation around security and peace in our
region, the thinktank Pacific Center for Island Security or PCIS was invited.
On May 12, 2023, more than a 100 people gathered in the gallery at the Hilton
Hotel as PCIS board members Dr. Robert Underwood, Dr. Ken Gofigan Kuper and
Leland Bettis took questions offered by different groups within the Fanohge
Coalition. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">PCIS was formed in 2021 and is an action-orientated research
institute that hopes to anchor island perspectives in the cacophony of
geopolitical posturing in the Western Pacific. In the case of Guam what this
means is discussing things such as security for Guam, not through the mindset
of Guam as a strategic asset or chess piece, a pawn on the board of competing
interests. But rather to center Guam or other islands in the analysis. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Most strategic analysis of the situation in Asia are built
on the notion of “security” as being something whereby Guam is used or lost in
a conflict. This is because the conceptualization presupposes the security in
question as being that of the United States’ or of China’s. But PCIS asks us to
consider what security would look like for Guam, if we focused not on the
diplomatic posturing of either country, but instead looked to the interests of
Guam and those who call it home. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">During the forum, Dr. Underwood responded to the question on
changing Guam’s status given potential conflicts in the region, he argued that
this is actually the perfect moment. Given the different competing powers
around Guam and the military value to the US, there will likely never be a
moment when Guam isn’t being pulled or pushed in one direction or another. Changing
Guam’s political status to something where it is genuinely self-governing is
important to make sure that given the fluid and sometimes contentious reality
around us, it is essential that we have some sort of seat at the tables where
consequential decisions are being made. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Without the element of self-governance Guam will continue to
persist in the same reality dictated by its status as the tip of America’s
spear. Where rather than like other countries in the Pacific who are using
diplomacy and negotiating with countries like China or the US in the name of
their own interests, Guam’s future will be determined primarily by its military
value. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In order to help get us to this point Dr. Kuper offered a
reminder that even though Guam may want to be involved in these diplomatic
talks and negotiations in our region, we may not be ready. He highlighted the
need for Guam to train diplomats and others who can take up the interests of
the island in regional, national and global conversations. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Both Kuper and Underwood pointed out that the developing of
a program to train negotiators or diplomats is something that will pay
dividends regardless of whether Guam becomes independent, freely associated or
a state. All will require that Guam be able to effectively assert its interests
and be ready to contend with opposing parties who will be aggressively
defending their own. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As Guam has been a territory for so long, we aren’t used to
seeing the value or need for training individuals who can fight for Guam’s
needs. As a territory, most in Guam have become accustomed to simply accepting
that whatever is good for America must also be good for Guam. Especially when
it comes to issues of military and security, we may not be used to thinking for
ourselves, but given the escalating dangers in the region around us, it is more
essential than ever that we do. <span> </span> <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-15810441046565391142023-12-02T01:52:00.004+10:002023-12-02T01:52:54.019+10:00Chamoru Love Sayings<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72QlErAwtWrb9mqOqvkOdCBrEFSoy9LKZNQ9W-lecy0xat0rfBImO_Th3_cEXtQCfif9oao0flxLwe8vzChQ2D6PRadAiUDdKt9ZiNQXfkJ0kXLhgO5GRd8srNXhHK6E83bL4MYFoXUOQ4jY645Ewll1OKjATFK7EMS9h8jecIArcC2E_tTeX/s1280/two%20lovers%20point%20tumon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi72QlErAwtWrb9mqOqvkOdCBrEFSoy9LKZNQ9W-lecy0xat0rfBImO_Th3_cEXtQCfif9oao0flxLwe8vzChQ2D6PRadAiUDdKt9ZiNQXfkJ0kXLhgO5GRd8srNXhHK6E83bL4MYFoXUOQ4jY645Ewll1OKjATFK7EMS9h8jecIArcC2E_tTeX/w686-h457/two%20lovers%20point%20tumon.jpg" width="686" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />A student from my Zoom Chamoru classes recently asked me for some suggestions for some Chamoru sayings or words of wisdom that she could use for a speech she had to give for a friend's wedding. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I get this type of request pretty frequently and so over the years I have a number of lists of ways to say "I Love You" in Chamoru.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For years that was one of the my most visited pages on this blog, a simple page that had more than a dozen different ways to say "Hu Guaiya Hao" ranging from the poetic and deep, to the silly and sexy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I looked at many of those lists, I realized that the majority of the ways love was expressed, was indeed written in Chamoru, but not necessarily rooted in Chamoru.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I mean by this, is that alot of the sayings were simply translated from English or variants of ways that love would be expressed in English. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For me, I am definitely in support of these sorts of things, I love having our language adapt and take on new forms, especially when they might be more relevant to newer learners and speakers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I also wanted to challenge myself to find some ways that Chamorus expressed love that was based on the experiences and expressions of our ancestors. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This turned out to be somewhat difficult.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While there were lots of Chamorrita songs, or improvisational verses from our past that expressed clearly deep or flirtatious love, this was not the case in terms of wisdom sayings.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Words spoken from the depth of experiences of an elder or a prior generation. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Most of those sayings, at least the ones that I've collected (and I have collected hundreds), dealt with love in cautionary ways, as in parents warning their kids not to give into the passions of love and instead respect their family or respect the Catholic Church. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This definitely reflects the Chamoru experience under colonization, whereby certain forms of social expression, especially those of public, romantic and sexual love, became restricted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They could be spoken, but either between individuals who were married or only if couched in metaphors and invoked in Chamorrita or poetic form. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was able to come across a few, although most seem to be more recent.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I wanted to share them here, for others who may want to seek ways to express their love for others in Chamoru. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">***************</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An guaha guinaiya, guaha lina’la’ lokkue’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If there is love, there is life. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Achokka’ dos hit, unu ha’ i korason-ta.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even though we are two, we share one heart.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(If talking about two others, you can change the pronouns to
reflect this. For example</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achokka’ dos hamyo, unu ha’ i korason-miyu</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although there are two of you, you share one heart. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Manmafåtto I etdot gi fina’mames</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ants come to that which is sweet (someone who is loving and
kind always has friends and support of others)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Achokka’ ågupa’ ti agupa’-ta, på’go na ha’åni iyo-ta.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if tomorrow isn’t ours. Today is ours.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(If speaking to the bride and groom you can change the last
pronoun to yours. For example)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Achokka’ agupa’ ti agupa’-ta, på’go na ha’åni iyon-miyu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Even if tomorrow isn’t ours. Today is yours</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Mina’ånglo
i flores yanggen apmam ti ta rega</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; font-size: 15.0pt;">Mina’ånglo
i guinaiya, yanggen apmam hit maleffa</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Flowers dry out if they aren’t water for a long time</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Love always dries up If we forget about each other for too
long</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Adobe Garamond Pro"; font-size: 15.0pt;">I
le’lo kulang mangguaiya. Gof mappot ma na’na</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A cough is like being in love. Very difficult to hide. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Todu i bidå-hu gi lina’la’-hu, kalang ha chalalåni yu’
mågi para Hågu yan este na momento.</i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All that I have done in my life, it is as if it has led me
here to you and to this moment.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Changing the pronouns to speaking to the bride and groom
would be as follows)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Todu i bidan-miyu gi lina’la’, kalang ha chalalåni hamyo
mågi para este na momento</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All that you have done in life, has led you both here to
this moment. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 46.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 46.0pt;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 46.0pt;">Guinaiya kulang månglo. Ti siña un
li’e’, lao siña un siente. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 46.0pt;">Love is like the wind. You can’t
see it, but you can feel it.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 46.0pt;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tåya’ åmot para manguaiguaiya fuera di mas guinaiya’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There is no medicine for being in love, except for more
love. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hagu i pilån-hu, i atdao-ku yan i puti’on-hu siha</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You are my moon, my sun and my stars.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Chamorrita verses</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yanggen lulok bai hu hulok,<br />
(If it is iron I will break it,)<br />
<br />
an kadena bai desåse.<br />
(if it is a chain I will undo it.)<br />
<br />
Bai atotga bumusero<br />
(I will dare to be a diver)<br />
<br />
yanggen gaige hao fondon tåse.<br />
(if you're at the bottom of the sea.)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Lalåhi)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bunitåyi, bunitåyi,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">apo’ mågi gi apagå-.‐hu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Beautiful to me, beautiful to me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Lay your head on my shoulder</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(Famalao’an)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Esta bente yu’ fumaisen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hågu mina’bente unu</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hågu uttemo fumaisen</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Neni tåya’ parehu‐mu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Already 20 have asked me</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are the 21<sup>st</sup></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You are the last one to ask</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because baby t<u>here is no one like you</u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yanggen bali manago' ga'ga',</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">si abang tentago'-hu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mina ya-hu si ababang,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">sa' ha osge i malagu-hu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If animals are messengers</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">a butterfly shall be mine</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">(O so attentive to its flower)</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">to carry my love to thine.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Todo i tasi hu laoyague,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Todo i tano' hu liliko'i.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Likidu cheulu- neni,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">tunas yu sin ma fa'nu'i.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I sailed all the sea.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I travelled all the earth.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Fortunately, my sibling baby [lover]</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I came straight without being shown.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">inen mamanu i tronko?</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ginen papapa' gi edda'.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sigi hulo' nai manramas,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">para flores yan tinekcha'.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Behold jungle's sturdy trees . . .</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their roots penetrate the soil</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Their branches reach for the sky</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bearing flowers and fruit in season.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Desde tronkon korason-hu,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">este ottimon saga-mu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ya ni ngai'an un malayu,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">sa' sumen mayahu sombra-mu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So doth love rise from my heart</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To shelter thee, nourish thee forever</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">and within its pleasant shade</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">shalt thou wither? Never. O Never</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Ti sangånon minames-mo yan i mafñot kariñu-mo;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">hu buettåye enteron isla, lao ti hu sodda' parehu-mo.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Your sweetness is unspeakable, nor your intense affection;</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I scoured the entire breadth the island, but I didn't find
anyone equal to you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p><style>@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-76140668635940554692023-11-18T05:20:00.009+10:002023-11-18T05:20:57.310+10:00Right to Democracy and Right to Self-Determine<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAqsrcPEXYQHlbQXjIxVnjD1VMObDL6mLmjUnJfPvhqcz-hRyb2PBgT3wIbNJQ3am1PepCrGIE_7IpeBGsNnRGb7fZKs-yjdj1Bs2ty_5oSV3TRi1WVs2XYzJaCk2dom6RQzdc7MGkBuJEe5SNTTcrpziXUHwobLGNT8NPDe6xCoRV3uhkyFj/s3456/right%20to%20democracy%2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3456" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAqsrcPEXYQHlbQXjIxVnjD1VMObDL6mLmjUnJfPvhqcz-hRyb2PBgT3wIbNJQ3am1PepCrGIE_7IpeBGsNnRGb7fZKs-yjdj1Bs2ty_5oSV3TRi1WVs2XYzJaCk2dom6RQzdc7MGkBuJEe5SNTTcrpziXUHwobLGNT8NPDe6xCoRV3uhkyFj/w684-h455/right%20to%20democracy%2016.jpg" width="684" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w">In my life I have attended a number of
events, whether in person or virtually, where representatives were gathered in
solidarity from each of the current US territories. But in these spaces, there
was usually just a single representative from different territories, owing to
the distances or difficulties in physically bringing together people Guam, the
CNMI, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and American Samoa. </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w">One thing that made the recent Right to
Democracy summit different for me, was the amount of people in attendance representing
each of the territories, and how each community wasn’t reduced to a single
voice, a single soundbite or a short presentation. The experiences of those in
the current US territories was not on the fringes or the margins, which is the
norm, but instead we were all centered. This summit focused on developing a network across the territories, with the aim of helping to dismantle US colonialism, created a lot more possibilities
than usual and that was exciting to be a part of. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2jTRV58eOQZlPNbDEjioAF4Z0FqeFDesRCtkO2y9m7yaB4WWPYQI4F1zDF5lw_JWvir5AsI6mdIRTHwpLQRE98bBeNg6RAJkCndY2cAAtxydOElStbaIDALLLFMror8PuAqWkKhpXSOFCEEhzy1mHL37WennZbCnysODMsRRsV1CU0lTN23z/s3037/right%20to%20democracy%2027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2304" data-original-width="3037" height="521" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf2jTRV58eOQZlPNbDEjioAF4Z0FqeFDesRCtkO2y9m7yaB4WWPYQI4F1zDF5lw_JWvir5AsI6mdIRTHwpLQRE98bBeNg6RAJkCndY2cAAtxydOElStbaIDALLLFMror8PuAqWkKhpXSOFCEEhzy1mHL37WennZbCnysODMsRRsV1CU0lTN23z/w686-h521/right%20to%20democracy%2027.jpg" width="686" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />This is how real, genuine solidarity
can be formed. By creating spaces for us to gather and find our common ground,
but also find ways to respect differences. This is what can make work around
the territories difficult. While there is a common cause of dismantling US
colonialism and empowering the peoples of the territories, each territory is in
a different place in terms of their conversation about their political future,
or what in Guam I call the decolonization conversation. But this brings up an
important point, not all islands use decolonization to discuss their future, and
not all use it the same way. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w">This is why, having that space for real
dialogue that can lead to constructive collaboration is key. One thing that I
highlighted during my conversations at the summit is that the US military plays
a role in each of our territories, but not the same role and not the same
extent. All US territories have high rates of service in the armed forces. Not
all have the same level of US military bases or strategic importance. Right to
Democracy might not be able to take a position or engage on issues of the US
military, in the old “one size fits all” approach. But there are approaches
that can appeal to all territories, things such as the right to consent for use
of land for military purposes. Regardless of where a particular territory is at
in their decolonization conversation, they all deserve to be consented and have
some control over how and if their lands or waters are being used for military
bases or military training. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fYMTsp1tsq6Orokdmxwt71PCXTZ6hAQ4R1aH8jAjt-znP6kbTPdpLZzyhyphenhypheni9Rk8lLmin2lXPds4FmZQMFeJAP8Sn_vJKnheXHPA4UWuhQ42IT5KimrgGUiYH8kTWYbOZo1AbQdfmmapBonc2B9ZQiM15nQxe07cgMCsRwROPZRI54dRfudhN/s5184/right%20to%20democracy%2083-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8fYMTsp1tsq6Orokdmxwt71PCXTZ6hAQ4R1aH8jAjt-znP6kbTPdpLZzyhyphenhypheni9Rk8lLmin2lXPds4FmZQMFeJAP8Sn_vJKnheXHPA4UWuhQ42IT5KimrgGUiYH8kTWYbOZo1AbQdfmmapBonc2B9ZQiM15nQxe07cgMCsRwROPZRI54dRfudhN/w696-h463/right%20to%20democracy%2083-1.jpg" width="696" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Creating solidarity and greater
collaboration amongst the five US island territories is a difficult task, but I
think that the network formed by this summit holds the potential to make a
difference. One thing that is difficult for each of us, is that by colonial
design, each island community is meant to look to the US at the center of our
lives. This means that if we see the lives of our brethren in other island
colonies at all, we see them filtered through the US, so that they appear
farther away from us then they really are. We see and feel that there is less
possibility in connecting to them. </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w">This has to change. The dismantling of
US colonialism requires change at multiple levels and one place that it must
start is in our own communities, across the US insular empire, where we have to
agree that each of us deserve more than what we have now, and together assert
that our rights to self-determination, our rights to determine our own distinct
paths be respected and supported. A group like Right to Democracy can help be
that network to help us each elevate our own understanding of our situations, by
continually looking to other colonized territories of the US. So that we see
our own destiny linked to theirs and vice vera.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w">I look forward to the day when it
becomes natural for people in Guam and the CNMI to wake up in the morning and
wonder what people in Puerto Rico, the USVI and American Samoa are doing that
day. And for those in other time zones, surrounded by other oceans to do the
same for us in the Marianas. This is the foundation of genuine solidarity and
it is also the wisdom of Maga’låhi Hurao, who opposed the Spanish colonization
of our islands in 1671, “metgotña hit ki ta hongge,” we are stronger than we
think. And the more we can come together, the stronger we can potentially be. <span> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w"><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTctPQPj-4dd9WSnvLBZEjjmpR_By31seS4qWLnqliHwESAObla_J4-oZv9jueWJhK0eA4psgST9lThwlg3e6SPtK6G2qIl-zonCw4zlKIxWSQ4AJgmxxZBrNEUZmAStfs1l6wXG23AJP9zmR82RO8L8RCdio9b14Y1cZuL8C84ldWON4r44i/s5184/right%20to%20democracy%2089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="451" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijTctPQPj-4dd9WSnvLBZEjjmpR_By31seS4qWLnqliHwESAObla_J4-oZv9jueWJhK0eA4psgST9lThwlg3e6SPtK6G2qIl-zonCw4zlKIxWSQ4AJgmxxZBrNEUZmAStfs1l6wXG23AJP9zmR82RO8L8RCdio9b14Y1cZuL8C84ldWON4r44i/w678-h451/right%20to%20democracy%2089.jpg" width="678" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p><style><font size="4">@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-81068525792100998982023-10-28T20:13:00.002+10:002023-10-28T20:13:12.568+10:00The First Chamoru Female Navigator<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDrCa9LsRDGbzRI_GD8IhXFFiSZnK9Aj-BYGxlsiQ6DsjoclK-2M5D9O4xFyo4SXHblDKZ-pyFSlWPNdv2l47kaNElM-80SVr5eMypKxt2d_kjbNClYgXeLlfOY6iZDvle6PMX2VTTl4MLDDtGDHJKRQbo1s4Y_WbOsfDbB_KjEmlwLIvKcfl/s1600/melissa%20taitano%20canoe%20guam%20post.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDrCa9LsRDGbzRI_GD8IhXFFiSZnK9Aj-BYGxlsiQ6DsjoclK-2M5D9O4xFyo4SXHblDKZ-pyFSlWPNdv2l47kaNElM-80SVr5eMypKxt2d_kjbNClYgXeLlfOY6iZDvle6PMX2VTTl4MLDDtGDHJKRQbo1s4Y_WbOsfDbB_KjEmlwLIvKcfl/w676-h380/melissa%20taitano%20canoe%20guam%20post.jpg" width="676" /></a></div><br />Every week I host the podcast Fanachu.<p></p><p>In the past my role was something in the background with others such as Manny Cruz, Lawrence "Siguenzama" Lizama or Albert Toves and Hannah Rebadullah taking the lead. </p><p>Since the pandemic, I've been the primary producer and host for Fanachu, and it has been tough at times trying to put out an episode kada simåna, with so many other things constantly going on in my life.</p><p>I've been grateful for a handful of other creators who have come along to help produce content for Fanachu and give me some breathing rooms some weeks. </p><p>Recently Monaeka Flores from Prutehi Litekyan and Independent Guåhan has been great in terms of hosting and helping organize guests related to current protest movements on Guam.</p><p>I'm excited that next year Tori Manley, a young up and coming Chamoru activist with Replenish Earth will be taking on regular episodes. <br /></p><p>One of the most consistent people in the past two years in terms of helping produce content is Annie Fay Camacho, a former student of mine and also my co-chair for the Media and Solidarity Committee for Independent Guåhan. </p><p>She is currently in two different MA programs and so guaha nai biahi gof tinane', but when she is able to produce her own episodes of Fanachu they are usually much nicer looking and more in-depth than my rambling 60 minute zoom call episodes. </p><p>I found her most recent episode to be particularly powerful, as she interviewed Dr. Melissa Taitano, who is the first Chamoru woman in recorded history to be an initiated navigator or a seafarer in the traditional sense in the Pacific. </p><p>Here is the link to where you can watch it on YouTube and below an article on Dr. Taitano from last year's Guam Daily Post. </p><p> </p><p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bsFwVy-bGzs?si=uiy0fT3I0ZhjuQT7" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">********************** <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Canoe's launch, UOG program promotes 'island wisdom' </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Daily Post Staff</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Aug 21, 2022</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Representatives from the University of Guam, Matson
Navigation and others turned out on Friday to celebrate the Hefaifai canoe
launching ceremony in Piti.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">During the Fañomnåkan 2022 semester, UOG established an
inaugural certificate program for traditional navigation. This included
purchasing a 30-foot voyaging canoe that was hand carved following
specifications of Micronesian seafaring vessels to be used in the
seafaring classes. The canoe was assembled by the Reimethau master navigators
and their apprentices.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Melissa Taitano is a UOG assistant professor with the
Micronesian Area Research Center and the first CHamoru woman navigator.
According to Taitano, the canoe was built by master carvers out of Lamotrek,
Yap.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Taitano explained that traditionally, there were 16 schools
of navigation in Micronesia, three of which were the oldest and considered the
most developed and evolved were on Guam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She noted the connection between Guam and Lamotrek spans
thousands of years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“The reason why traditional navigation is still alive today
is because colonial experiences and realities are different for all of our
islands, but we come from the same roots and traditional navigation connects us
and reconnects us and helps us to redefine community," she said. “I’m
actually a navigator out of the school of Weriyeng. I was taken under the
tutelage of Master Traditional Navigator Larry Raigetal about six years ago and
so that’s how I’ve become a part of the community. I’m just really passionate
about the work that’s being done.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Weriyeng is one of the last two schools of traditional
navigation found in the central Caroline Islands in Micronesia. Raigetal is an
assistant professor of traditional navigation.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Taitano, UOG now offers a traditional
navigation certificate program working through the Sea Grant to be able to
bring traditional knowledge into the institution.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think the overall picture is really about UOG and
promoting island wisdom. It’s the idea that the sustainable cultural values
that are enduring and that are important to us and continue to be relevant,
that those are the kind of values that we should promote, cultural values as
island people," she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">According to Taitano, traditional knowledge of canoe
building has been closely held in the past, but with this new program comes the
opportunity for more widespread knowledge of the craft.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I think that’s why we have the traditional navigation
certificate program, and I think that at least what’s been shared with me is
from the grand masters who live in Guam, that they feel it’s the right time,”
she said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Friday’s ceremony was “the beginning of the beginning, the
blessing and naming of a new canoe,” Taitano told The Guam Daily Post.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The event was the first of its kind on Guam.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Taitano noted that she was encouraged by the participation
in today’s event by political leaders and business leaders who are investing in
and supporting this effort to extend traditional knowledge.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are plans to launch the canoe from Guam to Poluwat, a
municipality of Chuuk state in the Federated States of Micronesia in January or
February 2023, she told the Post.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Additionally, there are plans to travel to Saipan for the
Flame Tree Arts Festival in April next year.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">She expressed her appreciation for the support received from
Piti Mayor Jesse Alig, UOG, Matson Navigation, Reimethau Seafaring Community
and “everyone that made this possible and believes this is a good thing.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-73366268873640420732023-10-15T01:06:00.000+10:002023-10-15T01:06:04.420+10:00Adios Siñot Kin<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJK4xbn2LA1VT_KB6cphhjRshUw1yDa2aFdCOa5ReCApQfYI1iD2XEDlFjPMF_azdds8J9W_44y7E4ttQJ6HTrZhod7beFi4TzPdBb_ZKoLY0tTQ9mzDtdkENsUqWskNDQYZleO-0sQb3tV7QXBkyJvIMljei8KS0DXMJSiMG7nabtcxsNt97/s2118/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.10.32%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="2118" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJK4xbn2LA1VT_KB6cphhjRshUw1yDa2aFdCOa5ReCApQfYI1iD2XEDlFjPMF_azdds8J9W_44y7E4ttQJ6HTrZhod7beFi4TzPdBb_ZKoLY0tTQ9mzDtdkENsUqWskNDQYZleO-0sQb3tV7QXBkyJvIMljei8KS0DXMJSiMG7nabtcxsNt97/w686-h439/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.10.32%20PM.png" width="686" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Earlier this month, <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Siñot Kin
"JC" Concepcion, who was an inspirational elder to me, but also a
good friend passed away. I have spent the days since his passing reflecting on his
impact on me and on the wider Chamoru/Guam community over the course of his life. </span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">The first time I
really remember meeting and talking to Siñot Kin "JC" Concepcion was
in 2014 when his family was pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana
on Guam in honor of his son, the singer Savage K. The family had asked if I
could sponsor a film screening at the University of Guam as part of their
community campaign and I was very happy to do so. The love and loss he felt for
his son who had died the year prior was powerful and manifest then and it
remained so in all the time I knew him. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For the next few
years, I would regularly see Siñot Kin at KUAM, where he was sometimes
interviewing me and sometimes producing others. I was thankful for what he was
doing in terms of continuing to promote Chamoru music and Chamoru language. He
was thankful of what I was doing in terms of educating the community about the
language and history of the Chamoru people. He also took every chance he could
to say thank you to me and others who were standing up for the rights of the
Chamoru people. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-faIpNJEiSrYFCrbiEpQclA0HeL5-EjRJm2aqJs64NZ1dKpLFljh1LFpDsPFCvPBhgWQ5P-YQHxHV4qIbrVD_3rBA-RYQtqtyLeAEPjlAnz36u_eKSnuG8SQd2XSBvjrdz2nM_j42W49VEaZC9dU8MKEcaD6zwSNLw6g5IzHKpUdv_cwiVA7m/s2146/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.12.39%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="2146" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-faIpNJEiSrYFCrbiEpQclA0HeL5-EjRJm2aqJs64NZ1dKpLFljh1LFpDsPFCvPBhgWQ5P-YQHxHV4qIbrVD_3rBA-RYQtqtyLeAEPjlAnz36u_eKSnuG8SQd2XSBvjrdz2nM_j42W49VEaZC9dU8MKEcaD6zwSNLw6g5IzHKpUdv_cwiVA7m/w694-h416/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.12.39%20PM.png" width="694" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">During the pandemic
Siñot Kin was let go from KUAM and I invited him to record dikike' na podcast
episodes for the Fanachu podcast under the title of "Kuentos Guåhan."
In all he recorded 46 episodes ranging anywhere from 10 - 25 minutes, where he
would speak in Chamoru about an issue of interest to him, such as elections,
cockfighting, Chamoru language revitalization, even the rising cost of living.
For my language students these dikike' na podcasts have been a helpful tool in
their learning, especially for those in the diaspora who have no living Chamoru
speakers in their families. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When we held the
adult Chamoru language immersion camp earlier this year in July sponsored by
the Guam Museum, several of the cohort members were active listeners to Siñot
Kin's Kuentos Guåhan series, and remembered his News Gi Fino' Chamoru segmets that
he would record for KUAM. He was touched, even to the point of tears to hear
them say "Siñot hågu iyo-ku celebrity para Fino' Chamoru" or
"You are my Chamoru language celebrity." </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In the past three
years, Siñot Kin had helped me collect the oral histories of several dozen
Chamoru musicians through Fanachu, including Danny Orlino, Joe Taimanglo, Tom
Bejado, Bobbie DeGracia, Ike Charfauros and so many more. After so many requests from Fanachu Patrons on Patreon that there be more Chamoru language content, Siñot Kin helped me create a monthly Fino' Chamoru episode, sometimes appearing as guest and other times helping connect me to other guests. I believe at this point he may have been the most frequent guest on the podcast, appearing more than half a dozen times since 2020. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uVmg-3mD0c3jbcmSzJmc47MwtQSpgFAnnq7VHpyaIP-CQ8FUiVLqHm6JVORoJMjQYD1pMShEJyr2Fp0sE4VjrSVMH113IZsPafkMqECE0cWdkmSeTl__yOO_5Bn5f0odAEw1diFPBQQuDxKM9niUMqn77yasdEO87uYpooqK3w_u7YwozeJv/s2128/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.11.21%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="2128" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8uVmg-3mD0c3jbcmSzJmc47MwtQSpgFAnnq7VHpyaIP-CQ8FUiVLqHm6JVORoJMjQYD1pMShEJyr2Fp0sE4VjrSVMH113IZsPafkMqECE0cWdkmSeTl__yOO_5Bn5f0odAEw1diFPBQQuDxKM9niUMqn77yasdEO87uYpooqK3w_u7YwozeJv/w676-h406/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.11.21%20PM.png" width="676" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br /></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Siñot Kin was a
musician for almost six decades, primarily with his group the Radiants. Like
most of his generation he got his start covering English language, popular
American songs. It never occurred to them that you should or could write and
perform in Chamoru. Yet his eyes shone with youthful amazement when he spoke
about the pioneers of Chamoru music. When we spent the day with Ike Charfauro
in his home in Chalan Pågo, where the Charfauros Brothers once had a recording
studio, Siñot Kin spoke in reverent tones about the likes of the Charfauros
Brothers, Johnny Sablan, J.D. Crutch and others who in a time when English was
dominating so much of Chamoru life and consciousness, just said to hell with
it, and recorded and performed in Chamoru. Siñot Kin found inspiration and
strength in our language and in our music, which is why he had such passion for
them both. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">In January, I had
Siñot Kin as guest on the Fanachu podcast to share his own reflections on his
lifetime making music. So much of what he shared has stayed with me, but this
quote more than anything sums up so much about him and his joy for music.
"Este i dåndan, para todudu magåhet. Maseha para un ekungok ha', para un
bailåyi, pat hågu ni danderu para un presenta mo'na ni tiningo'-mu, i mana'i-mu
na klasen talente. Ti siña hu tufong esta, I lost count, ni' kuånto biahi hu
pega i gitåla gi apagå-hu ya dumåndan hu. Ni' ngai'an u fåtto i tiempo na bai
o'sun chumo'gue ayu, para bei na'fanmagof i mane'ekungok ha'."</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Para Guahu, Siñot
Kin exemplified the best in an elder. He advised, he supported based on his
experience, his wisdom. But he also felt inspired by the potential of future
generations. This mix of grounded hopefulness is one many reasons that I
already miss him. Esta gof mahåhalang yu' nu guiya. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">U såga gi minahgong
yan minatatnga.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R7ytOSh6Yqs5Xwet64hlFvjVfbwFYvbw3sK52R9dOsN421OK-v2AZhcX1LY4AZAd7PSulQeokM9IxS2WZRCx1Vvxk6YWmiVrheUMdqZ7Ktb8tZPE4pjg8dXNT7GZiNrsLd2CuUCHm6tkl2nYjK2eJxiTu78qYeZn8kZ7RSUUW3DW9EZDVzhQ/s2128/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.14.00%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1356" data-original-width="2128" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-R7ytOSh6Yqs5Xwet64hlFvjVfbwFYvbw3sK52R9dOsN421OK-v2AZhcX1LY4AZAd7PSulQeokM9IxS2WZRCx1Vvxk6YWmiVrheUMdqZ7Ktb8tZPE4pjg8dXNT7GZiNrsLd2CuUCHm6tkl2nYjK2eJxiTu78qYeZn8kZ7RSUUW3DW9EZDVzhQ/w617-h393/Screenshot%202023-10-14%20at%204.14.00%20PM.png" width="617" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-64014286776311795062023-10-08T01:29:00.003+10:002023-10-08T01:29:27.876+10:00Growing Up in Malesso'<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGHWfdnwCPM6tPKmE4AgfxAJU9vrzDypXqnrlSaubc0uJ0yg6jfp0cTF7k6HeNdujpfcmz-RaMwylFrhzmR_F1-xQu0SmpNTg_9eiNsQ_PqN_QjOYBwpLXjM1A53yAGv89eOYThtPbholEdyR47-kqu177_glzS1xY7769gCF_AfUMkGCuNee/s2842/jose%20mata%20torres%20hongga%20mona%20interview.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1546" data-original-width="2842" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyGHWfdnwCPM6tPKmE4AgfxAJU9vrzDypXqnrlSaubc0uJ0yg6jfp0cTF7k6HeNdujpfcmz-RaMwylFrhzmR_F1-xQu0SmpNTg_9eiNsQ_PqN_QjOYBwpLXjM1A53yAGv89eOYThtPbholEdyR47-kqu177_glzS1xY7769gCF_AfUMkGCuNee/w690-h375/jose%20mata%20torres%20hongga%20mona%20interview.png" width="690" /></a></div><br />When we think of the past in terms of Chamoru history, we tend to simplify and flatten it.<p></p><p>I am not immune from this, even when lecturing or teaching about Chamoru history, I have caught myself doing it as well.</p><p>For instance, when we look at the ancient past we often times ignore references to castes or classes in Chamoru society prior to colonization by Europeans. </p><p>For me, I don't believe that the representations offers by the early Jesuit missionaries are particularly accurate in terms of describing Chamoru power dynamics.</p><p> But there was definitely divisions in society, but it is so tempting to simple ignore them and act as if all were united prior to Magellan. </p><p>A similar phenomena exists in relation to the pre-World War II era. </p><p>It is very tempting to see that time through the lens of nostalgia and simplicity, as an epoch prior to the complicated times of today.</p><p>With so many of our elders telling stories of no crime, unlocked doors, close knit families, everyone having land to work, it is easy to forget that there were still sharp social divisions, especially between those from Hagåtña, the capital and largest village and those from the smaller, farming focused villages. </p><p>This doesn't mean that these divsions were as sharp or even similar to those of the caste system of ancient times, but they existed nonetheless.</p><p>In this interview with the late Jose Mata Torres, he brings out some of these divisions in talking about his life growing up in the village of Malesso' in the 1930s. </p><p>He uses the terms ManggiHagåtña and ManggiMalesso', which are less commonly used today to make the distinction. </p><p>Check out the transcript from part of his interview below. <br /></p><p>****************************<br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Jose Måta
Torres</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Hongga Mo’na</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2015</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I na’ån-hu si
Jose Mata Torres. I nanå-hu si Engracia Manalisay Mata, i tatå-hu si Jose
Duenas Torres. Håfa ta’lo mås,?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Mafañågu yu’
gi Thanksgiving day, 1926, November 25, 1926.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Dumångkolo’
Malesso’ si Tåta and I che’lu-ña palao’an. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Nu
nina’fanmåtto mågi giya Malesso’ sa’ manggiHagåtña enao siha, lao si tata nai,
i nanå-ña as Asencion, guaha che’lu-ña Vicente. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Måtto mågi
Malesso’ ya ha tutuhon nu peskadot, ha tutuhon i guinahå-ña pues alos uttimos,
gumefsåga na taotao. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ya in the
meantime, i guellå-ku nai, my grandmother, esta dos patgon-ña si tåta and i
che’lu-ña as Trudis Barcinas eventually umasagua yan Barcinas. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, annai
mandikike’ ha’ si nana yan tåta nai, si tåta yan i che’lu-ña Trudis nai,
maninagang as Vicente “Maila’ Tan Chong yan såga Malesso’ sa’ hu necessita
ayudu.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues ayu na
måtto i guellå-ku yan i dos na patgon-ña, si tatå-hu yan i che’lu-ña palao’an
as Trudis. Pues este na manmañodda’ asaguan-ñiha yan manasagua yan giMalesso’
ha’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, i
hinasso-ku nai muma’estro si tata ya guiya ha’ nu manggågånna salåpe’ ya ginen
ayu na mamåhan materiåt para guma’ yan mañochocho ham didide’ mås mangge’ na
nengkånno’ sa’ guaha salåpe’ para u finahan nai arina para i tittiyas arina yan
todu siha nai. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Lao måtai gi
trentai siette na såkkan annai onse åños ha’ idåt-hu. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues estague
na estoria nai, si tåta and i che’lu-ña as Trudis, mankinenne’ mågi ni
guellå-ku.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Annai hohoben
ha’ este i dos prohimu ya este giya Malesso’ manmañåga ya giMalesso’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">asaguan-ñiha.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Manhåtsa si
tata and nåna guma’ giya Malesso’.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Guihi na
tiempo un tungo’ ha’ månu matutuhon guihi na sengsong yan un tungo’ ha’ månu na
pumåra i sengsong. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Lao i meggaiña
na taotao ni mangguåguålo’ manhåhånao para i fangguålo’an an på’go manana. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues ma bibira
siha tåtte ya manmaigo’ gi sengsong ha’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, si tata
nai muma’estro yan manggågånna kopble sa’ guihi na tiempo tåya’ nu manggågånna
nu salåpe’, na i ma’estro ha’ yan ma’estra. Kana’ tåyaya’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, gof
håssan lokkue’ mamåmåhan golosina or che’cho’ aproduktin guålo’ sa’ tåya’
salåpe’ Malesso’ åntes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">An pon
fama’kepble, ma’estro hao osino hånao yan faño’so’, un tungo’ håfa i faño’so’,
fama’tinas sine’so’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ayugue fåhna
sa’ guaha iyon-ñiha agent giya Malesso’ i ayu mamåmåhan, mamåmåhan nu sine’so’.
</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, annai
måtai si tata nai, sumåga i tihu-hu as Vicente yan manhami ya guiya kuentåyi si
tata. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues kåda råtu
manhånao ham ya manmaño’so’ ham. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">In, hami ti
siña in save sa’ hoben yu’ trabiha, ti hu ipe’ niyok, lao hu rikokohi niyok ya
guaha na dos sientos, tres sientos na niyok nai. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ya ma ipe’ ayu
ya ma soso’so’ pues ma chule’ ya ma tåla’ asta ki ånglo’ pues manmabende. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ayugue unu ha’
na nu na manera na mama’kekepble i taotao, actually dos, an ma’estro hao yan
anggen maño’so’ hao. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Kana’ tåya’,
tåya’ efektos mambebende guihi åntes gi ayu na tiempo. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">An ti machocho’cho’
hao, ya ti mañoño’so’ hao, tåya’ salåpe’ lao guaha na nu pues guaha ayu</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">manhuyong nai
ya manmamå’tinas sine’so’ para u guaha salåpe’-ñiha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues unu gi gaitenda
Hagåtña si Tomas, Tomas Espinosa Cruz. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Gumaitenda
Hågåtña, uhh guini, ya alos uttimos mamåhan truk flatbed para u chuchule’ mågi
i fektos ginen Hagåtña. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues ha
tutuhon mamåhan, ha tutuhon mañule’ gollai, golosina para kåda såbalu, para u
bende Hagåtña. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues gumuaha
ta’lo ayugue ha’ na gumuaha nu manera na guaha salåpe’ sa’ annai ha tutuhon si</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Tun Tomas nu
umusa i truk-ña para u loffan i golosina yan gollai para i metkao, un biåhi ha’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">na simåna este
un såbalu ha’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, hånao ya
un nå’i si Tun Tomas gi paingen Bietnes ni fektos ni para u bende. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ti ha fåfåhan
ginen hågu, na bebende pues an måtto ayu na sinangåni hao kuånto ha bende na
chotda, pat kuånto ha bende na chandiha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ya estague na
kantidå para u nå’i hao tåtte. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, ayugue
gumuaha, gumuaha chånsa i giMalesso’ na u fanggai salåpe, para u ma fåhan i
magågu, i patten i para u ma u’usa gi gima’, and nengkånno’ arina ni para u</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">fanbuñelos and
all that. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues dos na
okasion nai ya bei ripiti este, si Tun Tomas annai mañule’ truk, ya ha loloffan
pusible u chule’ i produkton i gualo’ ya u bende un biåhi ha’ gi simåna an
såbalu ha’ nai. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ayu unu na nu
manera na siña gumaikepble i taotao, i otro I sine’so’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues antes di
u matutuhon i gera este i dos, anggen ti humotnånåt hao komu ma’estra, nu
gumuåguålo’ hao ya ha fafahan si Tun Tomas ya ha kikili para Hagåtña para u</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">bende yan i
sine’so’. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pues, poble
Malesso’ lao fa’na’an ti mås poble ki otro lugåt.</span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-69811106769391153612023-08-28T16:46:00.002+10:002023-08-28T16:46:11.172+10:00Aye na Påtgon<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwB9l2dPBMQRxermkePpetlch6NeonqYauKhVuYXDa8DYudyqq-oSpNbxmNg9R3Erql6AmJngeCmvKDujlJp9D9NMZnUyH_bwkfBb97CUXMQUbmEArHIldTHo8P7EZZWF1mHNJW2ePXXmNIv7W0UT14vW8gpABQdok8nrbxyogyMNHCbpyNW0j" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwB9l2dPBMQRxermkePpetlch6NeonqYauKhVuYXDa8DYudyqq-oSpNbxmNg9R3Erql6AmJngeCmvKDujlJp9D9NMZnUyH_bwkfBb97CUXMQUbmEArHIldTHo8P7EZZWF1mHNJW2ePXXmNIv7W0UT14vW8gpABQdok8nrbxyogyMNHCbpyNW0j=w650-h488" width="650" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I first listened to this song more than 20 years ago, gi hinasso-ku gof na'chalek, lao ti hu komprende i tinahdong-ña gi kostumbren Chamoru.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I was not aware when I first listened and translated to it, how much deeper the meaning is beyond the silly things described in the lyrics. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> This song "Aye na Påtgon" from Johnny Sablan's album "My Marianas" describes a father taking his son to the ranch to try to teach him some basic life skills. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But for everything that he tells his son to do, his son does something different and sometimes nonsensically, as well as all around gago'. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> For instance he tells his son to boil the papaya and the coconut and instead his son goes to pick berries. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> He tells his son to go collect firewood but he doesn't actually come back until all the cooking is done. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The lyrics are silly and more about sounding fun or funny than actually depicting something real.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But when I was younger I never connected this song to earlier sayings, poems or songs that often use "Juan Malimanga" as its framing device. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Most known of Juan Malimanga today through the comic strip that has been in the <i>Pacific Daily News </i>for decades. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Clotilde Castro Gould created that character, but he was based in part on Juan Malimanga, a sort of community character that prior to World War II people would use to tell jokes. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">In the same way in which Johnny Sablan's song references a boy who is told to do one thing but does another, that was a common refrain for Juan Malimanga.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It would be a way to set up a joke, or just combine words that are funny and sound hysterical in combination with each other. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I first heard of this from my grandmother when I was asking her to help me translate Juan Malimanga comic strips when I was first learning Chamoru. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">She would sometimes remember from her youth silly sayings or stories associated with Juan Malimanga. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the years, I've heard others share their own stories like this. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Below are the lyrics to "Aye na Påtgon" as well as link to a YouTube video for it.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> *****************</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Aye na Påtgon</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Tinige’ as Rick Cruz, Kinata as Johnny Sablan</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ginen I Plåka “My Marianas”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">KORU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ai na påtgon, ai sen agua’gua’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Fihu ha’ di masaolak, sa’ sen agua’gua’</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ti siña makuentusi, kada diha magaluti</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ai na påtgon, ai sen agua’gua’ </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">BETSU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hu konne’ i lahi-hu </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">ya ma’u’dai ham gi karabao </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Humånao ham, pa i lancho </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Bai hu fa’nå’gue, muna’chocho </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">BETSU:</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ilek-hu hånao ya un ngayu</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">ya Guahu bei fangåmyo </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">humånao ha’ lao ti måtto </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Esta ki munhåyan i nina’lågo </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">RIPITI I KORU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">BETSU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ilek-hu sotne i papåya yan i niyok </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lao må’pos ya mamfe’ pi’ot</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anai hu lalåtde ya hu saolak </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lalalo’ ya tumånges, må’pos maigo’ gi hilo’ guafak</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">RIPITI KORU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">BETSU</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Ilek-hu sotne i chetda yan i lemmai </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lao må’pos humugåndo gi inai</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hu chule’ ba’yak ya u galuti </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sa’ ha oppe’ yu’ tåtte anai hu kuentusi </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wD8TRaJx-Mc?si=HyAD6dAosL8X81wX" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-77048616340507575222023-08-09T09:33:00.006+10:002023-08-09T09:33:32.842+10:00Sounds both Old and New<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs xlh3980 xvmahel x1n0sxbx x1lliihq x1s928wv xhkezso x1gmr53x x1cpjm7i x1fgarty x1943h6x xudqn12 x3x7a5m x6prxxf xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u x1yc453h" dir="auto"></span></span></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qqktF6b1eMjns0ne94VVoPLw98l9HgFoDadRGxqIfUEPViVknq50ULn85TZtmmWp5vbKCQNr2g7Xm8lhxcOc_1KfrirFbU4oEa0TimkEk_C_VsX6EB6I3TKbCAfmW4JR8jvhlKDoYHtuIRWK6aA-5iLBy4dCTWeKdJvvZRuPMkvjJ7KxGzU2/s3816/sunidu%20pasifika%20belembaotuyan%20lujan%20house.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2407" data-original-width="3816" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qqktF6b1eMjns0ne94VVoPLw98l9HgFoDadRGxqIfUEPViVknq50ULn85TZtmmWp5vbKCQNr2g7Xm8lhxcOc_1KfrirFbU4oEa0TimkEk_C_VsX6EB6I3TKbCAfmW4JR8jvhlKDoYHtuIRWK6aA-5iLBy4dCTWeKdJvvZRuPMkvjJ7KxGzU2/w667-h421/sunidu%20pasifika%20belembaotuyan%20lujan%20house.heic" width="667" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />Sunidu Pasifika was formed prior to the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts (FESTPAC) held in Guam in 2016 to help teach the making and playing of the belembaotuyan to future generations. The group performed as part of the two-week festivities, including a rendition of “Fanohge CHamoru.” </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sunidu Pasifika was led by Delores Taitano Quinata, who was the last apprentice of Master of CHamoru Culture for the belembaotuyan, Jesus Crisostomo. She was assisted by musicians Ruby Santos and <span></span>Jesse Bais, as well as her husband Joe Quinata from the Guam Preservation Trust. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many of the members of Sunidu Pasifika were CHamoru language and culture teachers in Guam’s public schools, who learned how to make and play the belembaotuyan with the hopes of bringing this knowledge into their classrooms.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I look forward to hearing more of the belembaotuyan around the island, especially in schools. I wish some younger Chamoru musicians would take the sound and auto-tune it or find ways to transform it. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Below is a 2018 Pacific Daily News article on the belembaotuyan and Delores Quinata. <br /></span></div></div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">**************** </span>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Lina'la' Chamoru: An old chamoru instrument the
belembaotuyan </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pacific Daily News<br />
Kevin Tano, Pacific Daily News</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mar 14, 2018</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Long before radio, television and social media became
popular, the Chamoru people found other ways to entertain themselves
while fishing, harvesting crops and socializing. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Music has always been a vital part of the
Chamoru culture. While they danced and sang, at times it was to the
tunes of a one-stringed instrument, the belembaotuyan. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Practitioners like Delores Quinata, belembaotuyan maker,
have passed down the tradition of making and playing the instrument to her
family, preserving a part of Chamoru heritage. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Instrument origins <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Several theories were made as to how the belembaotuyan made
its way to Guam. The instrument may have originated in Africa and was
introduced to Indonesia through the Arab slave trade, according to a history
booklet made by Delores and her husband Joseph Quinata. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Portuguese may have introduced the instrument to the
region while making their way through Malaysia then eventually from Manila to
Guam. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Today, the belembaotuyan is acknowledged as being
a Chamoru musical instrument. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Sharing the tradition</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quinata, said she first became interested in the instrument
out of curiosity. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">"I always liked Chamoru music, and when I learned this
was an instrument of the Chamoru people, I became interested in learning
how to make and play it," Quinata said.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Quinata had the opportunity to learn from the
late belembaotuyan master Jesus Crisostomo. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">"As he played he would tell me all kinds of
stories about how he got started with the instrument. ... Eventually he gave me
the instrument to play," Quinata said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Crafting the instrument</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">"When I make the belembaotuyan, it's not considered
work," Quinata said. "I feel so relaxed and just reflecting and
enjoying the experience." </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like the berimbau and other wooden bow instruments from
Africa, they are made from materials that are locally available. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first layer of the wood is removed with
a planer, shaping the bow of the instrument, then flattened at one side
and sanded down. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">First, håyu or wood is selected from a tree called the
bånalu found near coastal areas around the island. The wood is known for being
lightweight and easy to bend. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A straight branch is preferred. The bark is peeled off and
left out to dry for about a day. From there, it is cut down to about eight feet
in length. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The next part is the tågua or gourd, which acts as a
sound box. Two cuts are made, one across the narrow part of the gourd, and
another near the lowest part of the gourd. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The lowest part of the gourd is used to hold the
sound box in place. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In modern times the alåmil, or wire, is obtained
from old tires by removing the casing with a knife. Ones the wires
are extracted, they are prepped with sandpaper to remove any excess
rubber. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">From there comes the stringing of the instrument. Screws are
attached to both ends of the wood, while two aluminum L-shaped tabs are
placed. The wire is brought over the aluminum tabs, to prevent the wire from
sinking into the wood. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">With one person pushing down on the middle of the wood
forcing it to bend, a second person wraps the wire around the screws, then
releases it once it's fastened. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Too much pressure can cause the wood to snap.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The gourd is placed about halfway on the instrument, and
chegai or shells, are placed at the ends of the flattened wood to raise the
wire. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">"Once you make your instrument, it becomes more
personalized," Quinata said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Belembaotuyan playing</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Belembao translates to vibrating or shaking, and tuyan means
belly. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The gourd rests on the musician's belly, while the
musician holds the neck of the wood in one hand and a 12-inch long bamboo
stick in the other.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The wire is struck by the stick above and below the gourd,
and the forefinger is lifted to produce a different tone.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The belembaotuyan is said to be a relaxing instrument, used
to meditate. Playing is accompanied by chants, Quinata said. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Story continues below)</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q&A with Delores Quinata</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Delores Quinata was the last apprentice of belembaotuyan
master Jesus Crisostomo. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Question: How did you learn the skill?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A: I was able to meet Jesus Crisostomo, the last master
of that time, and was his apprentice for a few months. Every Sunday, I went
down to his place to hear him play, while I watched and listened. It began with
the training of the ear, hearing the individual sounds. Eventually he made me
an instrument and I would sit across from him while he played and
followed along. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q: Why is it important to continue passing the skill on?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A: We try to keep our Chamoru heritage and traditions
alive through the arts, keeping true to the way it was done in the
past. In this modern world, it's important that we perpetuate and practice
the belembaotuyan so that we continue to pass it down through future
generations. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q: What are the modern-world applications for the
skill? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A: Two years prior to FestPac, we got people who were
interested in making and playing the instrument. We brought it up to another
level other than playing it as a single instrument. With about 60, we were able
to form a belembaotuyan ensemble. The instruments were tuned differently to
produce specific chords and played as one orchestra. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Q: What's the hardest part about learning the skill?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">A: The hardest part is the labor. Making the belembaotuyan
requires time and patience, working little by little, to really appreciate the
instrument. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-44129690450241630272023-08-03T00:49:00.002+10:002023-08-03T00:49:20.318+10:00The Sound of Silencing <p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfmWOoEdMghQ2QI8RM4ZNpcyLAKNyHJVKp70lPYMCR-7pWNNGMKHDde7m34wFVaoSmKWdAqDfkJgeu28ZSHKAPRJSQdbEwZU7yvhcNl-9Sco7GhMeDbRbMevSQ9i4id2JPwb9iMQUQiRciirDBURVv1k8cVCVAav9tOG6aqVlsPfYPhivrt00/s1761/58cb6772bfcb2.image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="1761" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfmWOoEdMghQ2QI8RM4ZNpcyLAKNyHJVKp70lPYMCR-7pWNNGMKHDde7m34wFVaoSmKWdAqDfkJgeu28ZSHKAPRJSQdbEwZU7yvhcNl-9Sco7GhMeDbRbMevSQ9i4id2JPwb9iMQUQiRciirDBURVv1k8cVCVAav9tOG6aqVlsPfYPhivrt00/w701-h335/58cb6772bfcb2.image.jpg" width="701" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In the 20th century, the fate of the Chamoru language depended heavily on the development of a contemporary Chamoru music industry. This is something that is scarcely discussed both in historical terms, but sadly even less so in terms of what it may take to revitalize or sustain the language in the future. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> As the Chamoru language was rapidly losing relevance in society following World War II, with the language being used less and less, especially among younger generations, the creation of Chamoru music was essential in creating new and contemporary possibility for the language. It wouldn't be chained to the past, something to just disappear and fade away. It was something tied to the current moment, something that could gain new sounds and new life. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> But with the decline of Chamoru music in the past two decades, as fewer and fewer artists are releasing songs or albums in the Chamoru language, means that this source of vitality has disappeared as well. Compared to the hundreds of Chamoru musicians who recorded and released Chamoru music in the 20th century, today there are only a handful. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have been reflecting on this today, after seeing while searching the internet, this article from 2017 about Matua Sablan, son of music pioneer Johnny Sablan, carrying on his legacy. If more isn't done to support the next generation in terms of writing, recording and releasing music in Chamoru, it could be another sign of the Chamoru language being quieted in our lives. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">********************** <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> Kåntan CHamoru: Guaha sustånsia yanggen kumånta</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Perpetuating the culture through music</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">by Tihu Lujan</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">March 19, 2017</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Guam Daily Post<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Continuing Mes CHamoru, this Sunday the Guam Daily Post sat down with
popular CHamoru cover artist Matua Sablan and several young
contemporary CHamoru dance practitioners to review the vibrance and
continuity of the more well known parts of the island culture.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Matua,
son of CHamoru music legend and pioneer recording artist Johnny Sablan,
released his self-titled album in 2014, featuring several renditions of
his dad’s songs along with some of his own.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I’m very passionate when it comes to my music and my dad’s music,”
Matua said. “Something that my dad said to me that I’ll never forget is
to ‘Keep the culture alive through music,’ so, for the rest of my life,
I’ll continue to sing his songs. I’m always going to have a passion for
it.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Dad’s inspiration</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Growing up on the
island, Matua recalled selling his dad’s CDs to mom-and-pop stores
around the island, but never really had the chance to see his dad
perform his songs on stage.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Matua does remember one event that
still inspires him to this day: his dad performing at the opening
ceremony of the South Pacific Games on Guam in 1999.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I remember
being at the John F. Kennedy field with the lights on and hollow latte
stones around the stage,” Matua said. “My dad appeared in the spotlight
and sang ‘Hafa Adai,’ welcoming all the nations that came here for the
SPG games. That was one of the most memorable moments of my dad
performing. It was a good time.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While his dad promoted the
CHamoru culture and language through a music career that spanned more
than five decades, Matua wouldn’t begin his musical journey until he
attended Father Duenas Memorial School.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He said he became
interested in music throughout middle and high school and started his
first band with some friends during his senior year, covering a range of
popular songs of the time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Performing in Chamoru</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It
was during this time, back in the late 2000s, that Matua said he really
began to think about his culture and how he could contribute to its
perpetuation. Near 18 years of age and with the advice of his dad, Matua
decided that he would start singing in CHamoru by performing his dad’s
songs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“My dad kept telling me that I didn’t need to be an activist on the
front lines and that I could still preserve the culture in other ways,”
Matua said. “My dad told me ‘The way I did it was by making music.’ And
he knew that I was into music too. That’s the whole reason I took an
interest in CHamoru music.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Matua said that he was born and raised in the CHamoru culture, but sought more than to just accept it as his demographic.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I
needed to identify who I was as a person in this world,” he said. “I
wanted to be Chamoru. I was born and raised as an island boy, but what
really is an island boy? I wanted more of an identity and so I became
interested in our culture and our arts.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years after this
realization, the 23-years-old released his freshman album with several
covers of his dad’s most recognizable songs, including “Nobia Nene,” “U
Guiaya Hao” and “Hafa Adai.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Local music scene today</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Just
like in the 1980s and '90s, Guam has recently seen an emergence of
contemporary local artists covering popular songs from the albums of
legendary CHamoru singers.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I think it’s great for those that are
already an artist or aspiring to be one to come out and sing CHamoru,”
Matua said. “That’s the same reason why I started singing my dad’s
music. I’m sure they're still people trying to figure out their
identity, so I encourage it, I praise it, and I’m open to anyone who
wants to sing music in their native tongue.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Iconic CHamoru
artists like J.D. Crutch, Gus and Doll, Alexandro Sablan, The Guam
Sirenas, Frank Magellan Santos, K.C. DeLeon Guerrero, Candy Taman, Frank
"Bokonggo" Pangelinan and many others have paved the way for new
artists visible in online music forums such Acoustic Attack Guam and
several Guam music YouTube channels.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“It’s not a matter of trying to keep up with Joneses, it’s just a
matter of trying to find personal happiness and success,” Matua said.
“When you look at what these artists and other celebrities have
accomplished, you go back to your family and say ‘Mom and dad, I want to
be like them one day.’ Those are just stepping stones for you to
capture that success and to be successful on your own terms.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><strong>Keeping the culture alive</strong></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">For
CHamoru youths or those interested in the island culture, Matua
recommends pursuing cultural interests of any kind and to be proud of
the CHamoru identity.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“All I can say is that for those of us that
are seeking to identify ourselves as a CHamoru race, continue to find
whatever outlet it is – whether it’s music, arts and crafts, weaving,
blacksmithing, or even just being a fisherman. Learning all of these
things that make us a CHamoru race. By all means continue to do it and
do it well, so that we can share it with our kids.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As for the
future of CHamoru music, traditional or contemporary, Matua is one of
the many emerging local artists hoping to perpetuate his culture through
passion.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“Some of us say the languages is dying, but as long as
we learn from our parents’ generation and the ones before them, it’s
always going to be present. And as long as there are people who have an
interest in it, we can forever keep it alive.”</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-44292816879586384002023-06-08T00:07:00.005+10:002023-07-28T00:17:52.004+10:00Typhoon Mawar<p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieiQabC_jWYSAERIA0ad0HQXDT5GKeihcqZBfquGiVjmRMEQpXDNYIXtgoJtvVOsx6cRzMUafOGHwW4srkOjtLLIEhPqa9FrjYkfT8E2DfUYLfv7pMPqsVrxBa_6U5GHZAb72uexRwxW_PHr5oRdf_Qr4LHu56dTLeNl_pcvZhG5pd46Msw6b/s1280/mawar%20guam%20seal%20destruction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieiQabC_jWYSAERIA0ad0HQXDT5GKeihcqZBfquGiVjmRMEQpXDNYIXtgoJtvVOsx6cRzMUafOGHwW4srkOjtLLIEhPqa9FrjYkfT8E2DfUYLfv7pMPqsVrxBa_6U5GHZAb72uexRwxW_PHr5oRdf_Qr4LHu56dTLeNl_pcvZhG5pd46Msw6b/w416-h554/mawar%20guam%20seal%20destruction.jpg" width="416" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;"><br />Typhoon Mawar was
the first major typhoon for all of my children. My two older children who are
in their teens, had experienced Typhoon Mangkhut in 2018 and Typhoon Dolphin in
2015. Both of these typhoons were damaging to Guam, but not in the same way
that Mawar was last month.</span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">For my two smaller
children, Lulai and Makåhna, this was their first typhoon of any type. And what
a first typhoon it was for both of them. Lulai who will be turning 2 in a few
months and Makåhna who wasn’t yet 3 weeks old when the storm hit. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I am grateful that
we weathered the typhoon well, no major injuries other than diaper and heat rashes.
Two weeks later we still didn't have electricity and our cellphone service and
data remains intermittent. But thankfully we had water albeit low at
times, throughout. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My partner Desiree
and I have both been through major typhoons, with catastrophic destruction and
disruption. Mawar was our first as parents. Looking back, it was a dramatically
different experience. I was on island for Typhoon Russ, Yuri, Omar and
Pongsona. I experienced damaging typhoons as a child and also as an adult. I
remember fear, anticipation and I also remember a lot of downtime. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">But for Typhoon
Mawar, with four kids in the house as the storm was approaching, I was
constantly filled with anxiety. I remembered during Pongsona, water starting to
pour into my room through the aircon and eventually the wind reaching such a
peak it broke my window. My room flooded. I was a graduate student in
Micronesian Studies then at UOG and I ended up losing the tape recordings of
several dozen Chamoru elders that I had been interviewing for my masters
thesis.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I held the same
fears this time that I would lose the boxes of research that I’ve accumulated
over the years. Or that my Chamoru record collection might be damaged. I have
hundreds of hard to find Guam books, I hoped they would be ok. But even as
water did end up entering the house at multiple places during Mawar and we
spent hours trying to stop the flooding, the fear of losing those things paled
in comparison to the fear of any of the children being hurt. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When we finally gave
up on trying to stop the water entering the house at different points and all
laid down in the living room to rest, I still found it difficult. My mind was
troubled by the idea of the shutters failing, and how I could get the kids to
safety. Even when finally sleeping, I woke up several times when the winds
reached a peak and the house was shaking instinctively lunging towards the
sleeping children. Desiree had the same thought and we agreed on which baby we
were gonna grab and take to safety if a room became unsafe. <span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">When I was younger
after a storm, being safe wasn’t enough. I would complain about lack of power,
lack of aircon, lack of internet. Life is still tough without those things, but
gratitude for us being safe is something that has sustained me, even two weeks
into this recovery. <span> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Both Sumåhi and
Akli’e’ spent the first week post-Mawar complaining about uncharged devices,
unplayable videos games and the heat and I tell them “båsta enao na klasen
kuentos,” stop that kind of talk. Each time I remind them about how Chamorus
have endured worst than this and we still struggle and survive. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Today Sumåhi
retorted “Ti un siesiente este minaipe?” You don’t feel this heat? </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">My response.
“Hunggan, hu gof siesiente todu en siesiente. Lao i mås dångkolo’ yan impottånte
na sinientete-ku på’go agradesimento yan minagof, sa’ manlå’la’la’ yan
mansåsafo’ hit.” (Yes, I feel everything you are feeling. But the biggest and
most important thing I feel right now is appreciation and happiness that we are
all still alive and safe.”)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Akli’e’ rolled his
eyes and said “tåhdong na mensåhi enao, bai hu like iyo-mu comment gi YouTube,
lao tåya’ elektrisidåt yan tåya’ wifi.” (That is a deep message, I will like
your comment on YouTube, but there’s no power and wifi). </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">Sumåhi was sitting
down on the couch, sweating and barely moving and said “Ti siña hu roll i
atadok-hu sa’ dimasiao maipe yu’ ya todu i fuetså-ku humuhuyong kalang
masahalom.” (I can’t roll my eyes because I am way too hot and all my energy is
coming out as sweat.”)</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt; mso-ligatures: none;">I couldn’t help but
laugh at these two jokesters. We will struggle, but surely we will survive.
Tumaiguini ha’.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-50222493562887823982023-05-05T05:26:00.004+10:002023-05-05T05:26:22.132+10:00History of the Guam Museum Columns<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt1cmvz9bY6GNbuS3p5ahi4CIJK9DOlFzFDYMYs0FqSjynECAq3IFOs-0bHlYQGaisk_zJSdjWA47ey6FiJbOG_JVuUwXhkBxSLCam5MwlCKTB9kUbNre12AuSDxMXHaF8P_EaB1EVTC_Wtf3bbkm7Uq9huQF_e9bFIti-2abMPG5vJB2mw/s2424/elliot%20guam%20museum%20prewar%20latte.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1431" data-original-width="2424" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnt1cmvz9bY6GNbuS3p5ahi4CIJK9DOlFzFDYMYs0FqSjynECAq3IFOs-0bHlYQGaisk_zJSdjWA47ey6FiJbOG_JVuUwXhkBxSLCam5MwlCKTB9kUbNre12AuSDxMXHaF8P_EaB1EVTC_Wtf3bbkm7Uq9huQF_e9bFIti-2abMPG5vJB2mw/w698-h412/elliot%20guam%20museum%20prewar%20latte.png" width="698" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />In 2022 while attending the first ever Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Museum Institute (NHPIMI) in Hawai'i, I began to write a series of columns for the Pacific Daily News that covered some of the 90 year history of the Guam Museum. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> In recent decades the Guam Museum has a fairly complicated history, where at times for years there was no actual museum, just a collection moving from storage space to storage space. Even at times when there has been a physical, dedicated facility for the museum, sometimes there has been insufficient staff or resources. Even legally where the museum falls within the Government of Guam as an agency has changed over the past forty years.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> For these complicating factors, the columns focused on the museum's history from the 1930s to the 1970s. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">******************* <br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Can a Museum Being a Living Institution?”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">July 21, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I am spending the month of July at the East-West Center as
part of the historic first cohort for the Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander
Museum Institute. In all 17 of us are here from different corners of the
Pacific, representing museums, cultural agencies and art centers large and
small. Part of the focus for this institute is “decolonizing” the museum, or
reimagining museums in our communities so that they serve our interests and
meet our needs, and move away from their potentially limiting origins. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This is the case for the Guam Museum, where I currently work
as curator. One of the earliest mentions of the possibility of a Guam Museum
can be found in the pre-World War II newspaper, “The Guam Recorder.” The US
Navy ruled Guam at this time, and Chamorus witnessed it improving the island in
a variety of ways, but also experienced racism and paternalism, most notably
the banning of Chamoru language in public spaces and schools. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the October 1926 issue there is an article “Guam to have
a Museum” which describes how the Guam Teachers’ Association had unanimously
voted to support the creation of a Guam Museum, and would immediately begin to
collect items of cultural and historical significance to the Chamoru people.
Ramon Manalisay Sablan, who would later go on to become the first Chamoru
medical doctor, was at that time a member of the association and was placed in
charge of the collection. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The interest in Guam having a museum was driven by the
feeling of loss amongst the Chamorus of the time. The arrival of the US in 1898
had led to dramatic changes to Guam and in the lives of Chamorus within just a
few decades. Education had been very limited under the Spanish, but now the
majority of children were attending public schools. Radio and motion pictures
were becoming an increasingly common part of Chamoru life. More and more jungle
and areas filled with artifacts of ancient Chamoru life were being disturbed
and destroyed by the US Navy to make way for modern infrastructure. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Young Chamorus growing up in the 1920s for example, were
still living closely to the land and the sea as their parents and grandparents
had before. But now with the island changing around them, that connection was
being disrupted and potentially weakening. Their sense of identity was changing
too, as their frame of reference for the world was increasingly being tied to
the United States, its media and cultural influence. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a worry within the Guam Teachers’ Association that
Chamoru youth at the time would be growing up with little knowledge or
connection to their past. They expressed in their meeting a concern that items
of historical and cultural value were rapidly disappearing around the island,
and that a museum would be a way of stemming that potential loss. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">This motivation in the formation of a museum is a common
one, but it is also potentially limiting. What drove the teachers of that time
was a feeling that the battle to preserve and maintain culture and connection
to the past was already a losing one. And that a museum was a way to mark the
battlefield, to commemorate with relics what was once here. But instead of a
mausoleum, can a museum be a living institution for a community? </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">***********</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The Guam Museum Grows”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">July 28, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Although some of the earliest documented discussions of Guam
having its own museum date back to 1926, it didn’t become a reality until six
years later. In 1932, the American Legion Mid-Pacific Post 1 opened the first
iteration of the Guam Museum. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The American Legion is a non-profit organization that
supports veterans’ issues and engages in community service projects. The
American Legion had only formed in Guam in 1930, and one of its local founders,
Hiram Elliot, was a driving force in starting the museum. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Elliot had come to Guam in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century
in the US Navy, to work at Maria Schroeder Naval Hospital. He married
Concepcion Martinez, a Chamoru woman, and they raised a family of 12. Elliot
worked as a teacher on island and also opened a drug store. Upon opening in
1932, Elliot was named the first director, Joaquin T. Aguon was the first
curator. The museum started off with a small collection of artifacts donated by
the community, including items from the private collection of Påle’ Jose Palomo,
the first ever Chamoru priest, who had died in 1919. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The US Naval Government authorized the use of a building in
the Spanish Governor’s complex for the new museum. The building had a tragic
history. In 1896, while rebellion and revolutions were stirring in the
Philippines against Spanish colonial rule, Filipino political prisoners were
being brought to Guam in the hundreds. Barracks were poorly converted into
prisons and far too many prisoners were crammed into them. One night, while
masses of inmates were shouting and trying to break through the roofs and walls
in the decrepit building, the guards repeatedly fired upon them. In what was
called “The Christmas Eve Massacre” 80 of the prisoners were killed and 45 were
wounded, in the barracks that would later be converted into the Guam Museum.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The maintenance of the Guam Museum by the American Legion
was not sustainable, as funds for everything came out of the pocket of its
members, who were themselves volunteers. At this point, the museum was
primarily focused on providing tours to US military stationed on Guam, as well
as off-island visitors. In 1936, the US Navy would formally take over the Guam
Museum, and for the first time it would have regular, paid staff. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Margaret Higgins, a US Navy wife in Guam, who had a great
interest in Chamoru history became the first curator. Agueda Johnston,
pioneering educator in 20<sup>th</sup> century Guam served on a collections
committee for the museum and helped expand its collection of ancient Chamoru
artifacts. The shift in ownership of the Guam Museum helped facilitate a
greater sense of ownership from the larger Chamoru community as well. Whereas
visits to the museum had in its early days largely been non-Chamorus, by the
late 1930s and early 1940s, Chamorus were now most visitors.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Schools brought their students to the Guam Museum, and would
have them not only tour the space, but also sit and sketch artifacts. On market
days, or when Chamorus living outside of Hagåtña would come to the capital to
sell their crops or livestock, the museum saw increases in attendance. By this
time electricity had become more common on Guam, and the museum even had
evening hours, where not just the building, but also the display cases were
illuminated for guests. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">**********</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“The Reopening of the Guam Museum”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">August 5, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The 32-month Japanese occupation of Guam brought so much
destruction and tragedy to the island and the Chamoru people, and the Guam
Museum was not spared this. In the US effort to retake the island, there was a
concerted bombing campaign and intense fighting. The majority of the buildings
in Hagåtña were lost, including the Guam Museum building were destroyed. But
even prior to its destruction, the Japanese had already pillaged the Guam
Museum, as an unknown number of its artifacts had been stolen from the collection
and taken back to Japan as souvenirs. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In the rubble of the war, the Guam Museum was nonetheless
remembered fondly by some of the US servicemen who had visited it prior to the
war. Marine Corporal William Curry Jr. from Rotan, Texas had been stationed in
Guam in until October 1941, and had been transferred out just a few months
before the Japanese invasion in December. He returned as part of the US
invasion and tried to find what had become of the local museum. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">He found its wreckage and reported back home that
ironically, one of the few things to survive was a plaque presented back in
1932 upon the initial opening of the Guam Museum. That plaque read “Japanese
Garden presented on the opening of the Guam Museum by The Japanese Society of
Guam in appreciation of the cordial relations with Capt. E.S. Root USN,
governor of Guam, June 15, 1932.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some artifacts and historical documents were saved from the
wreckage. A Museums and Monuments Committee was set up in 1949 to discuss the
issue of reopening the museum. There was still a great interest within the
community to having a museum, and the widescale devastation of the war, had
made the need for the preservation of the past even more critical. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The prewar concerns of loss and disconnection that had
driven the community to support the existence of a Guam Museum were even more
pronounced. In the 1920s and 1930s, the worry had been that young Chamorus
would grow up not knowing much about their past, not understanding the
significance of latte and other stone artifacts that were still common in
Guam’s jungles and around villages. But with the US military taking Chamoru
lands and huge parts of the island being bulldozed to literally pave the way
for new bases, there was also a possibility that unless some things were
preserved, Chamorus of the future may not even have the chance to see a latte
or other artifacts with their own eyes. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In Chamoru there is a saying “Cha’-mu angongokko agupa’, sa’
agupa’ ti agupa’-mu. Chumåchalek hao på’go, tumåtanges agupa’.” “Don’t trust
tomorrow, because it is not yours. You are laughing today and crying tomorrow.”
It is a reminder to not rely on tomorrow always being there for you, and that
things which must be done, should be done now, before it is too late. Within
this context, it is a reminder to hold on to what you can, since you may look
down tomorrow and see it has already slipped through your fingers. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In just 50 years, the Chamorus of Guam had seen so much
rapid change in their lives and to their island. A museum was a much-needed
institution to help document their past and ever-evolving present. This is why
within just a decade of the war’s end, in 1954, the Guam Museum would open its
doors again. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">*************</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Postwar Rebuilding of the Guam Museum”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">August 13, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">After being closed for 13 years, on Saturday, May 29<sup>th</sup>,
1954, the Guam Museum opened its doors once again. Although technically still
in existence during the Japanese occupation, the Guam Museum had closed
following the Japanese invasion in 1941. It was then destroyed, along with most
of its collection during the American reinvasion in 1944. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The first postwar Guam Museum would be in the same area as
its prewar incarnation, the Plaza de España, but now it would be in a different
building, a storage shed commonly known as the garden house. This was one of
the few parts of the Governor’s palace to survive the bombing of Hagåtña, and
it can still be seen in the Plaza today. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">According to a Guam Daily News article covering the opening,
the first permanent loan to the Guam Museum came from Jose Daig Camacho. He
donated several items to the museum including an earthenware water jug, a pair
of bronze candlesticks and a bronze coffee pot, all made during the Spanish
period of Guam’s history. Punch was served in the nearby Chocolate House for
those who came to this special event.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">As I discussed last column, there had been an interest in
reopening the museum soon after the end of the Japanese occupation. But it
naturally took a backseat to other rebuilding efforts going on around the
island. A committee was first set up in 1949 to oversee the establishment of
parks on the island and discuss the issue of reopening the Guam Museum. In
1953, the second civilian governor of Guam in the postwar period Ford Elvidge
reinforced this idea and formed the Parks and Monuments and Museum Committee. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Some of the notable names from that committee were Emilie
Johnston, Belle Arriola, Paul and Mariquita Souder, Rosalie Langford Bordallo
and Cynthia Torres. Although the activities that restarted the Guam Museum were
government directed, it was truly a community effort. It would not have been
possible without the support of two civic groups, the Guam Women’s Club and the
Guam Historical Society. Many of the committee members previously mentioned
were key officials and founders of these two groups.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Guam Historical Society, sometimes called the Guam
Historical Club was instrumental in making the museum a reality in several
ways. The group was led by Tan Agueda Johnston and Paul Souder, and was
comprised of people who enjoyed studying Guam’s history. This passion for
learning about the past first manifested in members of the society canvassing
the community for artifacts and other items of historical value that could be
used to rebuild the war-ravaged collection. Members of the club also helped
create the text panels and signage for the museum, and provide tours to the
community. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Guam Women’s Club was also instrumental in this new
beginning for the Guam Museum, in terms of providing volunteers to help staff
the museum. This organization had been important in the early postwar years in
terms of supporting civic projects such as public parks. The Guam Women’s Club
was also known in the 1950s for hosting lectures and public forums. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the Guam Museum first opened in 1954, there were no
paid staff. It was run entirely by volunteers from these two organizations. In
1955, one of the volunteers and member of the Guam Women’s Club Thelma Glenn,
would be hired as the museum’s employee. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">***************</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Thelma Glenn was the Face and Voice of the Guam Museum”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">August 18, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Appointed civilian Governor of Guam Ford Q. Elvidge pushed
for the creation of the Guam Museum during his tenure in the early 1950s
through the formation of a Parks and Monuments and Museum Committee. This
committee would be responsible for establishing Latte Stone Park in Hagåtña,
Ypao Park in Tumon and maintaining Fort Santa Agueda or what most today know as
Fort Apugan.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The 1954 reopening of the Guam Museum was something
community volunteers such as Paul Souder and Tan Agueda Johnston helped make
possible, primarily through support of the groups the Guam Historical Society
and the Guam Women’s Club. Both groups did collection drives in the community
to add more items of historical and cultural significance to the museum’s
offerings. They were also the staff in its first year, opening the museum and
conducting community tours. One of those volunteers Mrs. Thelma Glenn, would in
time become synonymous with the Guam Museum for the next two decades.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs. Glenn first arrived in Guam with her husband Lloyd in
1946, after he had left the US Navy and began working for Civil Service. They
quickly fell in the love with the island after just a year and a half and
decided to stay, her husband opening an electronic and radio repair shop. Mrs.
Glenn was a charter member of the Guam Women’s Club and also one of the first
volunteers helping open the museum each week. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Initially, she had spoken out against the Guam Women’s Club
supporting the Guam Museum, thinking that the group should focus on developing
an animal welfare program instead. But once the decision had been made to
support, her love of library work and love for Guam, overrode any initial
resistance and she eventually became one of the museum’s biggest boosters. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">In 1955, Mrs. Glenn became the first paid employee of the
Guam Museum, working three days a week. In 1957, her and her husband left
island for a few months traveling to Chuuk for contract work that Mr. Lloyd had
picked up. Her absence was felt so strongly, that as soon as she returned, she
was offered a full-time position, working as director of the Guam Museum. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">For 22 years, Mrs. Glenn was the face and voice of the Guam
Museum. She would sweep the floors, wipe down the cases and do whatever she
could to preserve the small, but always growing collection of artifacts under
her care. She would regularly take new items in from local residents, and also reached
out to former Guam residents, such as former Naval Governors of Guam to see if
they could offer anything of educational value to the museum.<span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Many who grew up in Guam during these postwar years remember
visiting the small, but quaint Garden House version of the Guam Museum, and
joining a tour of the space with Mrs. Glenn. Now with a full time, dedicated
employee the museum could take regular field trips, and so tens of thousands of
children attended these tours and storytelling sessions. She loved taking kids
into the museum since their eyes and ears were more open to learning about
history. Adults, she joked seemed more content to complain about the space
being dusty or too small. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Mrs. Glenn would retire from the Guam Museum in 1976.
Reflecting back on her time she said, “It’s been a wonderful experience…I
cannot imagine my life without the museum.” </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">*******************</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">“Garden House to Guam Museum”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">August 25, 2022</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the Guam Museum first opened in 1954 at the Garden
House in the Plaza de España it was considered quaint. It seemed ideal to use a
historic building for a location meant to house historical objects and teach
Guam’s history. Yet it did not take long for the Garden House to feel limiting
and inadequate for a variety of reasons. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Garden House was one of the oldest buildings on island,
first constructed in 1736. The age of the building, combined with the fact that
it wasn’t meant to be a museum or exhibition space, quickly presented problems
that were difficult to ignore. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Longtime employee at the Guam Museum Thelma Glenn recalled
that even the floor itself was a problem. She noted that from the moment the
museum opened, “We had a cement floor, and when you swept it, you’d get dust.
And when you’d wet it to keep the dust down, you got real Spanish mud. One of
the military men got us sawdust I sprinkled it on the floor.”</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">By the late 1970s, a curator had been hired for the Guam
Museum, Fabiola Calkins. In a 1978 Pacific Daily News article she highlighted
the numerous challenges the museum faced both in terms of limited resources and
location that had seen much better days. In the article she bemoaned the
ancient display cases, insect infestations, poor lighting, bad security, and
termites in the roof. Being interviewed just two years after Typhoon Pamela,
Calkins was worried the next typhoon would destroy the facility entirely. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">During her time Glenn had steadily helped increase the
collection of the Guam Museum, going from a few hundred items to several
thousand by the 1970s. Manuel Guerrero, during his time as governor had also
made the Guam Museum the official depository and custodian for Guam’s
historical artifacts. The dramatic increase in the size of the museum’s
collection and its obligation to serve the community, unfortunately did not
come with an increase in resources or new facilities.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Former Speaker of the Guam Legislature Carlos P. Taitano saw
some of the problems the Guam Museum was facing and also imagined a better
future for it. In 1965, he told the community that he hoped to “stir up
interest in the museum.” Taitano described the Guam Museum of that time as
“crowded” and “old-fashioned” and despite its historically significant location
in the Plaza de España, too small to serve the task it would provide in a
rapidly developing postwar Guam. Namely, a chance for tourists and visitors to
learn about Chamoru and Guam history. Taitano lamented that most visitors who
were able to find the museum found it wholly inadequate. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Taitano proposed that a “two-story edifice of Spanish design
should be built. The ground floor may be used for object display and the top
floor to include office space, public rest rooms, and a lecture room with a
stage where film slides and motion pictures can be shown.” His ultimate vision
included rebuilding the Spanish Governor’s palace in its entirety, and then
using the facility as a museum space. This has been a goal for several
administration in recent years, but little has come from it. The dream of a
revamped and expanded museum itself though would eventually become a reality,
although it would take several decades to get there.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-15734534403288020962023-04-07T14:21:00.002+10:002023-04-07T14:21:49.531+10:00Chenchule'<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Chenchule' kumekeilekña nina'i para ayudu gi maseha håfa na
cho'cho' familia pat cho'cho' gi halom i kumunidåt. <br /></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Siña ha' mana'enñaihon salåpe' pat efektos yanggen guaha
gupot nobena, fandanggo, måtai, bautismu, showern nobia pat showern påtgon yan
yanggen guaha makompliåñios.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Gof ayudu på'go na tiempo este i kostumbren Chamoru ni'
chenchule', pi'ot ha' sa' gof guaguan siha i bentan nengkånno' gi tenda. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Yanggen guaha måtai gi familia, meggai na tåya' plånu ya ti
mampriparao i familia para i manadan gåsto. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Mangof guaguan lokkue' i ata’ut yan i para ma'entieru. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Guaha nai kahulo' ha' i gåsto gi tres pat kuatro mit pesos.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Ti opbligao i familia na para u fanna'chocho, lao kostumbren
Chamoru na para ma'agradesi i finatton i taotao gi che'cho'-ñiha. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Guaha lokkue' meggai na familia ginen i chago' para u
fanmanayuda ya nisisario na u mana'fañocho. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">Tenga manmasångan i Chamoru na ga'manggupot, lao gof meggai
na ayudu ginen i familia, atungo' yan i bisinu ya ti gogof meggai gasto-ñiha i
gumugupot.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd378MSFdV2ljDH-aAMmZQbPxjnxSDyQehDDJZhlXK_mf0o2dgiXpsSI2NH2XroL8U2zKUoDKxsU4AqSLWx6ZVrsVZOuE3JD4OQDTc3heMKueRvtA4LeE5d80IngKHBYGqIxjvWTNZpKIda2DMjTF1CDqERj-Wy3qOG_gSKmrbvrhRXCNK6g/s1560/frutas%20gollai%20ancient.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1560" height="397" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd378MSFdV2ljDH-aAMmZQbPxjnxSDyQehDDJZhlXK_mf0o2dgiXpsSI2NH2XroL8U2zKUoDKxsU4AqSLWx6ZVrsVZOuE3JD4OQDTc3heMKueRvtA4LeE5d80IngKHBYGqIxjvWTNZpKIda2DMjTF1CDqERj-Wy3qOG_gSKmrbvrhRXCNK6g/w632-h397/frutas%20gollai%20ancient.jpeg" width="632" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-75082728250572655792023-03-16T21:03:00.000+10:002023-03-16T21:03:05.003+10:00Dalai Nene<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg8jRk14hqF_0yieunqulR_oht9hKAMTvFxMLhYmKyMDLSqndouqUPiucETCzLTWFor3isF7Wqf-V4wA7Qa86SHCtBr_MBnurTVCqcHc4dsZdE0uKRa3-oFUXTn6D5_LWOJOx7Q52WXZcRzuVqTOiwT5P_zJda04r9GwKIx_gB_hoyh7vZw/s2016/276999613_2104372139739292_4406870946857384614_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="502" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTg8jRk14hqF_0yieunqulR_oht9hKAMTvFxMLhYmKyMDLSqndouqUPiucETCzLTWFor3isF7Wqf-V4wA7Qa86SHCtBr_MBnurTVCqcHc4dsZdE0uKRa3-oFUXTn6D5_LWOJOx7Q52WXZcRzuVqTOiwT5P_zJda04r9GwKIx_gB_hoyh7vZw/w669-h502/276999613_2104372139739292_4406870946857384614_n.jpg" width="669" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br />I have for several years now been collecting plåkan Chamoru or Chamoru vinyl albums. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Each week I scour the internet searching for records I haven't seen or heard yet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Every few months I'm able to find a new one to fill in the gaps in my collection. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have over the past few years been able to find four copies of this album "Dalai Nene" released by Johnny Sablan in 1968.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This was the first ever Chamoru language music album and was released when Johnny Sablan was just 20 years old. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I have collected four in all, one for each of my kids (three are already here, one more is a few months out from when I am typing this). </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Each will inherit one of them when I pass away. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This album is historic in so many ways, but one thing for me makes it even more unique and special, namely its use of Chamoru for its text. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">There are hundreds of Chamoru albums that have been released on vinyl, cassette and CDs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And while all used Chamoru as the primary language for their songs, hardly any used Chamoru as the language for their text.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">"Dalai Nene" doesn't just feature Chamoru music but the album text, where it gives credits and the dedication are also written in Chamoru. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The short dedication message that Johnny Sablan included on the back of the album, is even more powerful because it was written in Chamoru. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When the album was rereleased a few years later, the Chamoru text was gone. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It was replaced with English and even the inspirational message that I'm pasting below was gone, replaced by a supportive message from Governor Carlos Camacho. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Here for those interested in the text from the album in Chamoru, with changes in the spelling to match the more common ways of representing Chamoru today:<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> ***********************</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Håfa adai. Para kada kånta guaha estoria; para kada tåno’, guaha
sedulå-ña. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Este na disco hu nå’i hamyo para en kompåti yan Guahu. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Este na disco mafå’tinas para todos na Chamoru ni’ maninteresao ni
i sedulan i tano’-ta. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Siña ha’ ti parehu i instrumentos, sa’ otro na tiempo; </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>lao solamente i palabras ha nå’I hit hinasso ni’ manantigu siha na
ekspirensia.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>Hu måtka este na disco para todos i Chamoru ni’ manmåtai yan
manlå’la’la’, hoben yan åmko’, </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span>sa’ i intension-ñiha para u protetehi i tano’-ta yan i sedulan i
tano’-ta.</span></span></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-5779774047890505972023-02-16T23:52:00.000+10:002023-02-16T23:52:04.103+10:00For Whom Miget Zooms<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Every time I start a new round of my free Chamoru classes, especially since I moved them onto zoom, I always start off by talking to the students about why I offer these classes in the first place. </span></p><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I always tell them that I didn't grow up speaking Chamoru, or that I only knew less than 10 Chamoru words until I was 20 years old (unless you count food words). During the zoom class orientation last month I told the students the six main words I <span></span>learned in Chamoru growing up, and that if I said one of the few words they know, put a "biba" in the chat. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I listed off to many giggle and smiles in the zoom boxes: "dåggan...tåke'...fa'fa'...do'do'...mugo'...susu..."</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When I glanced at the chat after going through a list mainly of body parts and bodily functions, I realized that more than a hundreds bibas had been typed into the chat. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I continue to offer these free Chamoru classes, primarily because I feel compelled to, in order to honor those who helped me learn Chamoru and who helped me connect to this culture, language and people. This is why every series of classes is dedicated to my grandfather Tun Jack Lujan (familian Bittot/Kåtson), but also to my grandmother Tan Elizabeth De Leon Flores Lujan (familian Kabesa/Bådu). </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">2023 will be 10 years since my grandmother passed away and 8 years since my grandfather passed away. I miss them everyday, but whenever I start a new series of classes I miss them more. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This weekend I went through some of the photos that I collected after they died and started to scan some of them. I felt like sharing some of them this morning with everyone. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Among these images you'll find one of my grandmother's parents Tun Guillermo Sablan Flores and Tan Rita Pangelinan De Leon Flores. I also found pictures of the wider Kabesa family, including my grandmother's siblings. There is one of my grandfather with my Auntie Eleanor in 1946, shortly after the end of the Japanese occupation. And finally one of my grandmother in 1941, when she was the Valedictorian of the last George Washington High School class before the outreach of World War II.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx31AGCJS-vAz67XGwqG0btRatEeJj84tPKctyaTSF418rZy9rQJLYiU5uPbXFnduyOBY6ihY0O5NyGbcEVxV68JtXhPgFk6eTlM9yOqb93B9kvFGnMBw4Y86qgKF0N2C_ls7YB0siLwIvUp7DLYa-T4GRy2k1WJrJhJ7z4-GbhfbvlOIHw/s2170/327964046_543471504418546_2545765976432708653_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2170" data-original-width="1064" height="469" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx31AGCJS-vAz67XGwqG0btRatEeJj84tPKctyaTSF418rZy9rQJLYiU5uPbXFnduyOBY6ihY0O5NyGbcEVxV68JtXhPgFk6eTlM9yOqb93B9kvFGnMBw4Y86qgKF0N2C_ls7YB0siLwIvUp7DLYa-T4GRy2k1WJrJhJ7z4-GbhfbvlOIHw/w230-h469/327964046_543471504418546_2545765976432708653_n.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcE39BCGbScl8FBFhKys4US-QhCe9OzW4eQewv6DeCDtMuY41obTjPOGCgTvdyhJRs2zLkQlKeumHLuqMXUIb0wXnisxijePvIk9GVP2nfdBfLXFvTOl_AIXRwlv9d2FFu7L5cACukr-0vWaa0AcDHenPhQCcNiYP5ESikpZqqZpSBPVpiQ/s1961/327986568_509282454648946_4077745197025057052_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1961" data-original-width="1348" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGcE39BCGbScl8FBFhKys4US-QhCe9OzW4eQewv6DeCDtMuY41obTjPOGCgTvdyhJRs2zLkQlKeumHLuqMXUIb0wXnisxijePvIk9GVP2nfdBfLXFvTOl_AIXRwlv9d2FFu7L5cACukr-0vWaa0AcDHenPhQCcNiYP5ESikpZqqZpSBPVpiQ/w312-h454/327986568_509282454648946_4077745197025057052_n.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4tRt8dehw3Fvq0IQ41vAzwW72FY6zISocALXLVQ547eyutjR_VF4_vqaDtMgZVTO7YpvnlR7uTdwXu7k8DMjtQRP9Dtd_1YM8oZmhV7MneuAweFa48-Nyj7fCMMtildB7vJ-iIIlmYp9CK06McrCY06BavDcntJbY3C0KGpZhQ9-kiyrUQ/s921/328091093_1152989268711201_955197210038900689_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="913" data-original-width="921" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4tRt8dehw3Fvq0IQ41vAzwW72FY6zISocALXLVQ547eyutjR_VF4_vqaDtMgZVTO7YpvnlR7uTdwXu7k8DMjtQRP9Dtd_1YM8oZmhV7MneuAweFa48-Nyj7fCMMtildB7vJ-iIIlmYp9CK06McrCY06BavDcntJbY3C0KGpZhQ9-kiyrUQ/w375-h371/328091093_1152989268711201_955197210038900689_n.jpg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qpoC5gjUNy8jbCiv0SPAf-PamTfKy9BPTDY7Hrd0pgSVO4_7RVv5PqdWfDtFasyeNt_Dnzn0pPdEmaq9Mh6A973UqVx6UsbCQSQo1FD7ou7UOu7ur39cgq6o1zVjjgO96BTJDzZ9NWgsCj1L_ZW4mmpWlE5jcZ-gVqtn2W0oKui8495jhQ/s1427/328229075_2979065779068750_4957735906116499931_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1427" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qpoC5gjUNy8jbCiv0SPAf-PamTfKy9BPTDY7Hrd0pgSVO4_7RVv5PqdWfDtFasyeNt_Dnzn0pPdEmaq9Mh6A973UqVx6UsbCQSQo1FD7ou7UOu7ur39cgq6o1zVjjgO96BTJDzZ9NWgsCj1L_ZW4mmpWlE5jcZ-gVqtn2W0oKui8495jhQ/w442-h423/328229075_2979065779068750_4957735906116499931_n.jpg" width="442" /></a></div><br /> </span></div></div>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-6209998030566814522023-02-13T15:21:00.002+10:002023-02-13T15:21:15.640+10:00Kalang Hao Paluma<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ti ya-hu i mubi Operation Christmas Drop.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ti ya-hu i estoria. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ti ya-hu na ha fatta i militåt. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Lao ya-hu na manannok i tano'-ta gi i mubi.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ya guaha taotao-ta lokkue' mana'annok gi mubi.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Ya gof ya-hu na este na kånta mana'saosaonao gi i soundtrack para i mubi.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Kada såkkan, hu usa este gi klas-hu Fino' Chamoru gi zoom.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">*******************<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">PALUMA</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">The Dolls</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">(Operation Christmas Drop Soundtrack)</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kalang hao paluma</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Na ti siña hu go’te</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Måtto hao mambisita</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">An manengheng i puengi</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Pues gumupu hao gi langhet</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">You are like a bird</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">That I can’t hold on to</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">You came for a visit</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When the night was cold</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And then you flew up to the sky</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">An umali’e’ hit ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan parehu i puti’on</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan hu li’e’ i matå-mu</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Para ta aguaiya ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we meet again</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the stars are the same</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And I see your face</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">We will love each other again</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hu hasso i kulot</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I paopao-mu</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kalang i isa</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan i pao-ña i aire</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan i sinienten i korason-hu</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">An un atan yu’</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">I remember the color</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Of your fragrance</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Like the rainbow</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the smell of the aire</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">And the feeling of my heart</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">When you look at me</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">An umali’e’ hit ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan parehu i puti’on</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Yan hu li’e’ i matå-mu</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Para ta aguaiya ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Para ta aguaiya ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Para ta aguaiya ta’lo</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;">Para ta aguaiya ta’lo</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> <br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-25193660644456464632022-12-30T01:23:00.001+10:002023-01-08T01:29:02.121+10:00The Bevacqua Bilen<p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIRvbH4OC1RRaMI4zOC52xCPfHRgT77BjG7bd6PTsJRQvnz6QPTJToIXa_t2XggrzsPJ4enryp7QnFl1qOjEp3ZhDc5hnsXVYqyI4zzKuYlG1TP7IB322vnSuliDNs2mUwtwWZfcq0F1RXGW62_yVHd6W0OBYNhtXCH3iuCdamWmT3IBm2A/s2048/321955245_1170272880263932_6741815246494544431_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAIRvbH4OC1RRaMI4zOC52xCPfHRgT77BjG7bd6PTsJRQvnz6QPTJToIXa_t2XggrzsPJ4enryp7QnFl1qOjEp3ZhDc5hnsXVYqyI4zzKuYlG1TP7IB322vnSuliDNs2mUwtwWZfcq0F1RXGW62_yVHd6W0OBYNhtXCH3iuCdamWmT3IBm2A/w671-h503/321955245_1170272880263932_6741815246494544431_n.jpg" width="671" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /> </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As is the tradition for the Guam Bevacqua family, we put together our family bilen this month. </span></p><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each member of the family gets their own figure in the bilen representing them. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">This year’s bilen is different however, since part of my gifts for everyone was to get Desiree, Sumåhi, Akli’e’ and Chuguangguang (Lulai) each a nesting doll. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Each was made in Ukraine and was purchased to support Ukrainian small businesses and artists. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sumåhi is the <span></span>Pokémon, Akli’e’ is the Star Wars, Desiree is the Dracula and Chuguangguang is the Neni na Yoda. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">I forgot to buy one for myself though, so I chose the cassette tape for the Chamoru album by the DPW Singing Bus Drivers to represent me. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The background for our family bilen is the two disc vinyl album from Johnny Sablan “A Chamorro Christmas.” </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Si Yu’os Ma’åse to Lulai’s nina Isa for the wooden name tags that came with our gifts this year. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">The bilen and many other Chamoru Christmas traditions come into Chamoru culture through Catholicism and so for those who aren’t Catholic, this time of year it can be difficult to find cultural ways to express your identity as a Chamoru. This is one reason why we as a family still practice the bilen, albeit in some very different ways. In the same ways in Chamorus for generations would incorporate local elements into their bilen, by adding in natural materials and sometimes even adding in local animals such as the karabao, we adapt it in our own way. </span></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">Magof nochebuena yan Biba Krismas nu hamyo todos!</span></div></div>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-71293910392094522142022-11-25T10:51:00.002+10:002022-11-25T10:51:55.436+10:00Chamoru Survival Phrases for Thanksgiving<p><span style="font-size: large;"> For my weekly Chamoru language practice group, I offered them this week in honor of Thanksgiving, 10 survival phrases in Chamoru to help get you through the day. The sentences focus on honoring and expressing gratitude, but also on discussing drama and delicate topics. They were more for fun than anything else, and I certainly did enjoy writing them up. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">************************<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>1. Hu agradesi hamyo ni’
fumå’tinas este na mångnge na sena</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate all of you who
made this delicious dinner</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>2. Hu agradesi todu i
mañainå-ta ni’ muna’posipble i guinahå-ta yan bendision-ta siha på’go</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate all of our
elders who made possible the abundance and blessings we have today</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>3. Hu agradesi hao nåna sa’
sen mångnge i korason-mu</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate you mom because
you have such a wonderful heart. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>4. Hu agradesi hao lokkue’
tata sa’ taichi i gineftao-mu</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate you too dad
because your generosity is without limits. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>5. Ti hu agradesi hao tihu
sa’ båba na taotao hao<span> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I don’t appreciate you uncle
because you are a bad person</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>6. Hågu lokkue’ tiha ti hu
agradesi hao sa’ hu tungo’ na un såkke iyon-måmi bushcutter</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>You as well, I don’t appreciate
you auntie, because I know that you stole our bushcutter</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>7. Hu gof agradesi na esta
måkpo’ i botasion, pues tåya’ kuentos put politics gi lamaså-ta på’go</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I really appreciate that the
election is over, so no political talk at our table today</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>8. Hu agradesi todu ayu siha
ni’ manmacho’cho’cho’ kada diha para i tano’-ta yan I kotturå-ta</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate all of those who
are working every day for our island and culture. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>9. Achokka’ ti ya-hu chumocho
påbu, hu agradesi i gineftao i fumå’tinas.</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Although I don’t like to eat
turkey, I appreciate the generosity of the one who made it</span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>10. Hu agradesi este na
oppotunidåt para bai sangåni hamyo ni’ magåhet na hestoria put este na diha
ko’lo’lo’ña para I mannatibu. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I appreciate the opportunity
to tell you the true history of this day, especially for indigenous peoples. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-39108965328157744462022-10-24T14:34:00.003+10:002022-10-24T14:34:21.263+10:00Bokkonggo<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbwEODhIaIF_URn3-GiCjllhwBz_ytVbtHV6HiPAJTRhFcU2YBnDE_SqkL0R656OEyw52FjJLVJhEvbSRT310XRKXdAKTvndsMMzuVHO_JbX2zvpQ7E9pHuxu2Yxmycpbvrc-vBJXIh_hl71BFIFG5G93NjJDRD4rSB66nJqCKw-kiNmmOw/s2945/IMG_4531.heic" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="2925" height="690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtbwEODhIaIF_URn3-GiCjllhwBz_ytVbtHV6HiPAJTRhFcU2YBnDE_SqkL0R656OEyw52FjJLVJhEvbSRT310XRKXdAKTvndsMMzuVHO_JbX2zvpQ7E9pHuxu2Yxmycpbvrc-vBJXIh_hl71BFIFG5G93NjJDRD4rSB66nJqCKw-kiNmmOw/w686-h690/IMG_4531.heic" width="686" /></a></div><br />Ever since I first began learning Chamoru my interest in Chamoru music has continually grown.<p></p><p> I grew up sometimes hearing Chamoru music, but couldn't understand it and didn't really connect with it. </p><p>But from the first time that I sat down with my grandmother at the dining room table and had her help me translate the CD "Chamorro Yu'" from Johnny Sablan, kinenne' yu'. I have been hooked. </p><p>To this end I have been collecting Chamoru music, whether in CD, cassette or vinyl form.</p><p> I've collected whatever I can from newspapers, magazines and scholarly sources related to Chamoru music. </p><p> I have also been fortunate enough to sit down with many musicians and talk to them about their experiences and why in a world where English dominates, they chose to record and release music in Chamoru.</p><p>Last month I was very very luck, gof suettettette, to be able to pick up the album "Ai Saun Diroga" by Chamolinian II while searching for Chamoru music online. </p><p> Frank "Bokonggo" Pangelinan was one of the most iconic and recognizable of all Chamoru musicians in the 20th century, until he passed away in 2008.</p><p>I uploaded a few of his songs from Chamolinian II to Youtube recently and I ended up Googling to see if I could find more info on his life and legcy <br /></p><p>****************** <br /></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">“A Tribute to a Friend”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">By Herbert Del Rosario</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">December 11, 2008</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saipan Tribue</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Frank Pangelinan “Bokonggo will be missed in the CNMI, Guam
and mainland United States by the thousands of Chamorro music fans. His passing
away in Guam last week has saddened and shocked many of his friends on Saipan,
Guam and those who knew Frank as a very aggressive and a dynamic musician. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Frank Bokonggo, as he is known in the CNMI, Guam and other
Chamorro music fans living in the West Coast in the U.S. mainland, is a legend
when it comes to Chamorro music. His song Triste Yu made Frank Pangelinan the
most popular and admired entertainer for some time. Although Frank will be
physically missed, his spirit will live in the hearts of many of us who
remember him as a very popular artist in the CNMI.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Frank Bokonggo’s contribution in promoting and preserving
the local music such as Triste Yu, I Pution, Ingratto, Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi,
Patgon Neni, Down by the Shore of Saipan</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hago I Inan I Langet, and many other popular Chamorro songs,
including the Chamolinian Christmas album that Frank Bokonggo, Candy Taman and
the late Quirino Aquino recorded will long be remembered as part of Frank’s
contribution to the Chamorro cultural heritage. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I remember the good old days when our group, Tropic Settee,
was the island’s most successful and popular group of musicians in the ’70s and
’80s before Frank departed for Guam to share his talent with our fellow
Chamorros there. The Tropic Settee included Frank Bokonggo on lead guitar and
lead vocals, Candy Taman on the rhythm section and vocals, Ron Del Rosario on
the bass guitar, Jun P.P.D. Duenas on keyboards and myself on the drums. Our
group concentrated on promoting the Chamolinian hits of the ’60s, ’70s and
’80s. We performed at the Saipan Grand Hotel. From there we moved on to the
Oleai Room at the Saipan Bowling Center where our group performed for several
years. I must admit the song Patgon Neni was our most popular song, which
brought the whole island to Oleai Room every weekend to listen to this song
which originated from the island of Pohnpei.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tropic Settee’s versatility in entertaining the young, the
middle-aged, and the man’amko was one reason for our success. Let me also
recognize my friend, Candy Taman for his very dynamic and God-given talent that
made our band one of the most successful and respected groups ever assembled in
the CNMI. With the Christmas season is right upon us, we will continue to hear
Frank’s golden voice, together with Candy Taman and the late Quirino Aquino
singing their Chamolinian Christmas collection of songs. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There were several requests during the last five years for a
reunion of our band, Tropic Settee, so that our fans and people will be able to
hear some of our very popular hits back then. However, health and other
concerns prevented our group from coming together.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To my brother Frank Bokonggo, may our prayers guide you in
your journey with the Lord toyour final resting place. God bless you.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Adios,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">***************</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">NMI artists present tribute to musical legend</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Saipan Tribune</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">December 12, 2008</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Performing artists will give a fitting tribute to one of the
CNMI’s legendary musicians, the late Frank Matagolai Pangelinan, during funeral
ceremonies today at the Mt. Carmel Cathedral.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Pangelinan, who is well-known by his moniker “Bokonggo,”
passed away on Dec. 4 in Guam. He was 54.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">His remains arrived yesterday and were escorted to Nuestra
Señora Dela Paz Memorial Chapel at the Cabrera Center.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A Mass will be held today at 11am at the Mt. Carmel
Cathedral, to be followed by the internment services at the Chalan Kanoa Catholic
Cemetery.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On Thursday night, several local performing artists gathered
at the home of one of Bokonggo’s contemporaries, Alexandro “The Colonel”
Sablan, himself a well-known musician. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Former representatives Candy Taman, one of Bokonggo’s long
time partners in the music industry, was also present during the rehearsal for
the tribute that they will be offering in today’s Mass.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more than three decades, Pangelinan wrote numerous songs
and produced many records for many of Guam’s musicians.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sablan said the loss of one of the Marianas’ homegrown
recording star is felt by the entire community.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“[His death] permeates through all the local Chamorro music
fans on our island world. We sadly mourn the loss of a very strong advocate of
the recording world of Chamorro songs with the passing of Frank Pangelinan
“Bokkongo.” He is now resting but his legacy will never die,” said Sablan, who
was a radio announcer for more than 20 years.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sablan said he grew up with Bokonggo, whom he said helped
shape the form of music in the CNMI.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“He always came to my shows,” he said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bokonggo immortalized the song Triste Yu.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sablan recalled that Triste Yu became the all-time hit that
no local artists ever matched and the song was the most requested at all radio
stations.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“That song is both sad and romantic, it takes people’s
breath away. It was really a very powerful song,” Sablan said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In a letter to the editor, John S. DelRosario Jr., one of
Bokonggo’s contemporary with the band Tropicsette, lauded Pangelinan’s talent,
saying: “My buddy could belt anything from Latin rock to traditional songs with
super renditions. Perhaps his best hit was the adaption Triste Yu that was in
the hearts and minds of both young and old for many years now. This song became
an international classic, picked up by other musicians the world over using
their native tongue.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In another letter, Tropicsette band leader Herbert Del
Rosario cited Bokonggo’s contributions to local music such as Triste Yu, I
Pution, Ingratto, Gi Talo Gi Halom Tasi, Patgon Neni, Down by the Shore of
Saipan, Hago I Inan I Langet, and many other popular Chamorro songs, including
the Chamolinian Christmas album that Bokonggo, Candy Taman and the late Quirino
Aquino recorded. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sablan said that Bokonggo’s music will continue to live in
the hearts of the people that he loved. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I will never forget the recording trips, as we would travel
to Manila on separate projects, but with the same recording studios. He was a
very humorous person and was always full of vibrant energy. I asked him once
about doing work other than music, and he said that he has already made up his
mind to live life with his talent. To me, that became a great encouragement,’
Sablan said.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">He said Bokonggo built and operated what at that time was a
state-of-the-art 24-track recording studio in Yigo, Guam, producing beautiful
songs. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">“I managed to secure recording time at his studios and
recorded major commercial productions for major companies like JC Tenorio
Enterprises, Anheuser-Busch, and Continental Air Micronesia,” he said. <br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">“I was still working at KSAI Radio in Susupe when Frank
Pangelinan released the title cut Tristi Yu. As soon as I finished the debut
broadcast of that song, jackpot! It immediately became the number one most
requested song 10 years in a row.”</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"> </p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/__JXOva4r20" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style> <br /></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-50218789206171227252022-10-02T18:09:00.002+10:002022-10-02T18:09:26.854+10:00Adios Tan Agnes<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bqVXbEqcp1WBZXceKZsFQ935tK3a_JWC07LLm_WixmMCvPtOOzTIuglFQCMFkngAPCs2XmaAX3WPyYst-zrvYvIrpwPgo9G6EEVNZc27R98M_X0LV3vovpcbE92431B3AfKkSJJXFCORc5WHsK-vS_k2ya7p5VGPLYO_2olkC2BpD28SKw/s1440/IMG_3495.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="459" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bqVXbEqcp1WBZXceKZsFQ935tK3a_JWC07LLm_WixmMCvPtOOzTIuglFQCMFkngAPCs2XmaAX3WPyYst-zrvYvIrpwPgo9G6EEVNZc27R98M_X0LV3vovpcbE92431B3AfKkSJJXFCORc5WHsK-vS_k2ya7p5VGPLYO_2olkC2BpD28SKw/w459-h459/IMG_3495.JPG" width="459" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The grandmother of my partner Desiree, Tan Agnes Duenas
Perez (familian Pepero) passed away last month at the age of 92. Her youngest
great-grandchild is our daughter Lulai, born just last year. I am so thankful
that they got to meet before her passing. I am also glad that I have was able
to spend some time with her and listen to her stories. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She was just 11 years old when the Japanese invaded Guam. She
was the eldest of her siblings and helped care for them during this traumatic
time. From her auntie Tan Amanda Guzman Shelton, a pioneering Chamoru nurse she
learned some basic skills for helping the sick and the elderly. Soon after the
war she married musician Josephat Mauro Perez and began to raise a large
family. She spent time in those immediate postwar years helping to start the
network of community centers and programs for manåmko’. Her family would become
prominent in the village of To’to’ and well known for their musical talents. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tan Agnes had 12 children, 9 of whom are still living. Some
living here on island but most living in the states. Thankfully all were able
to gather on island to say goodbye to her before she passed. Some of her
grandchildren and great-grandchildren were also able to fly back. Over the past
few weeks seeing Desiree’s family gather and share stories, at masses, at
dinners and the funeral, I have regularly been reminded about some Spanish
descriptions of ancient Chamoru funerals and the spirituality of our ancestors.
</span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As far as we know ancient Chamorus didn't believe in
pantheons of Gods, their religion was instead focused on the veneration of the
spirits of their ancestors, and not just those of long ago, but those who had
died more recently as well. For example, when someone passed away the family
would gather to anoint the body with coconut oil, use flowers to make it smell
fragrant. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They would talk to the deceased and insist that they could
not leave, that they needed to stay with the family. If they were excellent at
fishing, the family would surely starve without them. If they were good at
fighting, the family would never win another battle without them. If they were
the rope that held the family together, in love and peace, then they surely
could not go on without them. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">All of this was designed to encourage the spirit of the
deceased loved one to stay with its living family members. To stay close to
their children, their grandchildren, their lands, their home, to keep their
descendants safe and strong. Just as they had watched over them in life, please
continue to keep the family strong as an ancestral spirit.<span> </span></span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thought the most of this, when in the To'to' church for
the funeral and also at the Pigo Cemetery, the children of Tan Agnes gathered
to sing to her. The song was “Wherever You Go” by Gregory Norbet. It was a song
they had also sung for the funerals of their siblings who had already passed
away. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">It was a beautifully touching moment, and I couldn’t help
but think of the cultural contrast across the centuries. Today, we might sing
to our deceased loved ones saying that we will see them in time and to wait for
us in the afterlife. In ancient times, you would sing to them to ask them to
stay with the family. In both eras, we see families honoring their loved ones
and giving voice to the powerful connection that persists even beyond death. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">U såga gi minahgong.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdgbonRq04a0Zv1csN6byckIFh9e_-kG6cZEFchczGAcz_PhN1BKs3W3MDqwyfIJMXlD4aDT8FmkSTo8KwA0YlaL4NgxyIwT7kuvpYeJwpAJ6ZAQ9OvhNIaoGAsfVZnTYXroP2u8VQUGChEoUwbqGgFHPPP2CWY45Zrcfo2d3eJFUIo-Cfw/s4032/IMG_3460.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdgbonRq04a0Zv1csN6byckIFh9e_-kG6cZEFchczGAcz_PhN1BKs3W3MDqwyfIJMXlD4aDT8FmkSTo8KwA0YlaL4NgxyIwT7kuvpYeJwpAJ6ZAQ9OvhNIaoGAsfVZnTYXroP2u8VQUGChEoUwbqGgFHPPP2CWY45Zrcfo2d3eJFUIo-Cfw/w507-h380/IMG_3460.HEIC" width="507" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span><p></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-44846161635496178662022-10-01T18:52:00.001+10:002022-10-02T19:01:55.945+10:00Beneath the Mango Tree<p>People have been asking us at the Guam Bus for years to make audio books or audio recordings of our bilingual Chamoru-English children’s books. We sadly have never gotten around to it. </p><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">But with the new series “Beneath the Mango Tree” from Nihi Kids, you can listen and follow along to a reading of our first kid’s book “Sumåhi and the Karabao!” You can find both an English and Chamoru version on the Nihi Kids YouTube page. </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></div><div class="l7ghb35v kjdc1dyq kmwttqpk gh25dzvf jikcssrz n3t5jt4f"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Biba Nihi! Konsigi mo’na yan todu este gefpagon bidadå-mu put i kotturan yan lengguahen Chamoru!</div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"> </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;">Here is the link to the <span></span>Chamoru language version: </div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div><div dir="auto" style="text-align: start;"><br /></div></div>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/K08l5q-l3JY" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-17192939433966208212022-09-28T17:58:00.001+10:002022-10-02T18:00:26.284+10:00Early History of the Marianas<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39NBgjOD0tsZRymNmMe6VzjF_I1ilPX4mioqsL2PvMtYmybQkVfUP4KIlLLNJkCPJ5QN6YSMuy6VTEecbYofaZRe4SXKsM9YsrT4QI2oteFBYiOM898Gsa8v7kDAHaT66Mm2-njpZtiFDRcPoxZDUvKq_WSAtLAa2TKp5TppT1EC4Nav0pg/s2223/ancient%20village%20ben%20blaz.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1046" data-original-width="2223" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39NBgjOD0tsZRymNmMe6VzjF_I1ilPX4mioqsL2PvMtYmybQkVfUP4KIlLLNJkCPJ5QN6YSMuy6VTEecbYofaZRe4SXKsM9YsrT4QI2oteFBYiOM898Gsa8v7kDAHaT66Mm2-njpZtiFDRcPoxZDUvKq_WSAtLAa2TKp5TppT1EC4Nav0pg/w601-h284/ancient%20village%20ben%20blaz.jpeg" width="601" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">I islå-ta siha giya Marianas i fine’nana
entre todu i islas Pasifuku ni’ masagåyi. </span></span><p></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">I manmofo’na na mangguelo-ta mantekngo’
put båtko yan i tasi ya maasusuma na manmanaliligao nuebu na lugåt ni’ para u
ma sagåyi anai manmåtto mågi. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">Annai ma tutuhon i mangguelo-ta manmañaga
guini, ma usa todu klåsen rikesa gI isla para u ma få’tinas i ramientan-ñiha
para i gualo’ yan peska, yan lokkue’ ma få’tinas åtmas siha para u maprutehi i
guinahan-ñiha. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">Guihi na tiempo, duru machalapon siha gi
todu isla ya maestablisa songsong siha giya interu Marianas. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">Yanggen guaha ira komu påkyo pat tiempon
fañomak’an guaha na ma dingu i lugåt-ñiha para otro na isla para nengkanno' yan
liheng.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">
Mit años tåtte guaha matulaika gi hagas payon-ta, i hinalom fama’åyan yan i
acho’ latte. </span></span></p><span style="font-size: large;">
</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">Uniku i gima’latte giya Marianas tiot
guihi na tiempo annai guaha dångkolo na tinilaika yan hinanao taotao. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">I latte un simbilon i menhalom-ta. Komo i
haligi para gima’ mangguelo-ta, ha represesenta i latte i minetgot-ta yan
minesngon gi kotturå-ta. </span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Optima;">På’go, este i latte gi minagåhet i petta
para i anten i mangguelo-ta ni’ manmahåfot gi påpa’ yan i riyan i latte.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;">
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{page:WordSection1;}</font></style></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7875725.post-30859045892560467562022-09-09T15:12:00.000+10:002022-09-09T15:12:17.004+10:00Mångge si Levesque?<p><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsunFagtNLEdkbDYFz76HykyqCIlC6IfSnK0t8wtXIAMYIsfBHQ4sfbT6dG7syBGRrF0bLcJJl5CsnS_xD_fHIJSWsBwj-vMUanUC3Oa0LqCHqqsoK6guwXr4rUJFjGmU9qM7enT4_xbUNSr_nf6wccwWTz0qHvAO3dHIK-8s5_zI94INew/s2560/C3-089%20Latte%20Stone%20Ruins%20after%20a%20earthquake,%20Tinian.%201800's.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1570" data-original-width="2560" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsunFagtNLEdkbDYFz76HykyqCIlC6IfSnK0t8wtXIAMYIsfBHQ4sfbT6dG7syBGRrF0bLcJJl5CsnS_xD_fHIJSWsBwj-vMUanUC3Oa0LqCHqqsoK6guwXr4rUJFjGmU9qM7enT4_xbUNSr_nf6wccwWTz0qHvAO3dHIK-8s5_zI94INew/w676-h414/C3-089%20Latte%20Stone%20Ruins%20after%20a%20earthquake,%20Tinian.%201800's.jpg" width="676" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> If anyone knows how I can contact Rodrigue Levesque, please let me know. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He researched, translated and published the History of Micronesia series, which is an amazing set of primary source documents dealing with Micronesia. It is a collection of information that has yet to be fully incorporated into how we tell the history of our islands. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The books, when they were published were gof guaguan, very expensive, at least $100 each. But they were massive. When I was a graduate student at UOG, spending time at the University of Guam Micronesian Area Research Center, I loved reading through the lepblon Levesque siha. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">They featured completely different perspectives from the traditional or canonical history of the Marianas, but using not just the official histories or accounts of events, but also letters by priests, government officials, soldiers and sailors, that he was able to collect in his research. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">A few years ago Levesque finished his History of Micronesia series, with the volumes being split between physical printed copies and digital versions on CD. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But I haven't been able to find information on where I can get his books. A website listed in the article below no longer works. Some of his books were printed by University of Hawai'i Press, but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If anyone knows how to get ahold of Mr. Levesque or how to order a complete set of his books put fåbot ayuda yu', either for myself or even for the Guam Museum's collection.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">************************<br /></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><a href="https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/levesque-completes-sprawling-micronesian-encyclopedia/">Levesque completes sprawling Micronesian Encyclopedia</a><br /><br />By <a href="https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/author/dennischan/">Dennis B. Chan</a> | <br />Posted on <a href="https://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/2014/07/18/">Jul 18 2014</a></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Former Saipan resident Rod Rod Levesque has finished what he calls
his masterpiece: the 48-volume encyclopedia A History of Micronesia: A
Collection of Source Documents.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Levesque, who described himself as a translator, researcher, writer,
and one-time UN consultant, said he was first inspired to tell the story
of Micronesia in the 1980s.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p>
<span style="font-size: medium;"><ins class="adsbygoogle" data-ad-client="ca-pub-5031328045163063" data-ad-format="fluid" data-ad-layout="in-article" data-ad-slot="4854819209" data-ad-status="unfilled" data-adsbygoogle-status="done" style="display: block; height: 0px; text-align: center;"></ins></span></p>
</div><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">He said he was flying over Micronesia to Manila in 1981when he
learned the United States had allowed tourists into Micronesia for the
first time. Levesque, a world-traveling Canadian, saw an opportunity. He
changed his flight plans when he arrived in Honolulu and boarded a
plane to Micronesia, landing on Johnston Island, where he recalls being
told, “No photographs.”</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Levesque, it was this experience of intrigue and mystery
and the lack of history about Micronesia, compared to Polynesia and
even Melanesia, that inspired him to start his decades-long project.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I decided to let the world know about Micronesia and its interesting past,” Levesque said.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Over the years he relentlessly pursued the project, scouring
archives, libraries, and institutions of a dozen countries and languages
to find source material—all of which he photocopied, photographed, or
typed into a few laptops.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Levesque, he translated 10 of the languages himself but
was assisted by other translators for German and Japanese. “My Japanese
translator took 10 years to do the work I gave her to do.”</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Contents of his encyclopedia include canoe routes used by early
Micronesians, the first maps of the Pacific during Columbus’ time,
logbooks and narratives of European sailormen traveling through
Micronesia in the 1800s, legal documents by colonial Spanish
authorities, and personal documents of Catholic officials, like diaries
and even poetry. Other documents cover shipwrecks, typhoons, trade, and
population statistics.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Series 1 of his encyclopedia spans three centuries, from 1521 to 1819, and consists of 28 volumes.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">According to Levesque, each volume of the first series contained more than 700 pages and weighed as much 5 lbs.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Levesque claims he invested over $1 million in printing and
publishing the books, which were made available for distribution by
University of Hawaii Press during the mid-90s. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But because of a lack of funds, Series 2, which would have completed his work, was put on hold.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because of this, Levesque said he decided to publish the final
volumes as seven electronic book or CD-ROMS, as soon as specialized
scanners became available to convert them to pdf files. </span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From 1819 to 1945, Series 2 continues where the first series left off and closes at the end of World War II.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">“I have reproduced facsimiles of documents about Micronesian
languages, and other specialized topics, such as rare Spanish maps and
charts and a couple of entire atlases of the islands of Micronesia,” he
said.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As an international consultant, Levesque has worked for the United
Nations in African countries like Zaire, Ghana, and Somalia, to name a
few. He also served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 17 years and worked
for the Canadian International Development Agency in Latin American
countries.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">His encyclopedia is available for order on <a class="vglnk" href="http://www.levesquepublications.com" rel="nofollow"><span>www</span><span>.</span><span>levesquepublications</span><span>.</span><span>com</span></a> and <a class="vglnk" href="http://www.uhpress.hawaii.edu/p-5734-9780000000000.aspx" rel="nofollow"><span>www</span><span>.</span><span>uhpress</span><span>.</span><span>hawaii</span><span>.</span><span>edu</span><span>/</span><span>p</span><span>-</span><span>5734</span><span>-</span><span>9780000000000</span><span>.</span><span>aspx</span></a></span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The printed volumes for the first series cost $100 to $110. For the final 28 volumes, the e-books cost $500, plus $20 postage.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">
</span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Levesque lived on Saipan part-time between 1984 and 1986, when his
wife Virginia was director of the School of Nursing. He can be contacted
at levesrod@hotmail.com or at Levesque Publications, 189 Dufresne,
Gatineau, Quebec, Canada J8R 3E1.</span></p><p></p>Michael Lujan Bevacquahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13075510205190074738noreply@blogger.com0