Guam Women in Art
This speech was presented at Guampedia’s Chamorro Heritage Series, 5 December 2012, Latte of Freedom Hall of Governors, Ricardo J. Bordallo Governor’s Complex, Adelup.
Interpretive Essays
Catholic, Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Religion, Spanish Era
Transmission of Christianity into CHamoru Culture
There is little doubt that CHamorus today live very different lives than Chamorros/CHamorus did 400 years ago, and have different ideas about what is and isn’t CHamoru culture. We would be hard pressed however, to find any culture which didn’t change drastically in some ways, over such a long period of time.
Transmission of Christianity into CHamoru Culture Read Post »
Health and Medicine, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Spanish Era, Spanish Era: Health
Spanish Response to CHamoru Depopulation
An important part of Guam’s Spanish-era history is the dramatic decline of the CHamoru population, particularly in the context of the Father Diego Luís de San Vitores’ watershed mission that began in 1668, and the nearly thirty years of subsequent resistance of the CHamorus, the indigenous peoples of Guam and the Marianas.
Spanish Response to CHamoru Depopulation Read Post »
Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Modern Guam Rises, Politics and Government
Guam’s Strategic Value
The strategic significance of Guam is due to the enduring importance of its location and its topography to major maritime nations in the Pacific Ocean. Guam, some 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, is the largest of the Mariana Islands, an archipelago of high volcanic islands in Micronesia, a huge expanse of small islands scattered across the western Pacific.
Guam’s Strategic Value Read Post »
Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Politics and Government, US Naval Era, US Naval Era: Politics
Partition of the Marianas
A diplomatic history 1898-1919. The Marianas archipelago was first inhabited some 3,500 years ago by people who originally came from Island Southeast Asia. Today the indigenous inhabitants are known as CHamorus/Chamorros.
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Ancient Guam Era, Ancient Guam: Religion, Chamorro Culture, Chamorro Folktales, Civic Society, Gender Roles, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Oral Histories, Our Heritage, Religion, Voices of Our Elders
Folktale: Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation
Puntan and Fu’una are the Chamorro/CHamoru creation gods. Puntan, a male, and Fu’una, a female, are brother and sister. The account of their creation of the world constitutes one of the most important oral histories of the CHamoru people.
Folktale: Puntan and Fu’una: Gods of Creation Read Post »
Ancient Guam Era, Featured, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays
Proa and Navigation
Regardless of where islands are situated throughout the vast Pacific, the physical environment—varying wind speed and direction, ocean currents, the visibility of stars, availability of birds, phosphorescence, seaweed, and other indicators of land—has played a central role in the ability of early voyagers to reach and settle thousands of islands in Oceania.
Proa and Navigation Read Post »
Ancient Guam Era, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Language
Origin of Guam’s Indigenous People
The origin of Guam’s indigenous people has been a matter of considerable speculation for more than a century. Scholars have developed theories about CHamoru origins based on various evidence: physical (pottery shards, DNA, etc.), ocean movement and language.
Origin of Guam’s Indigenous People Read Post »
Civic Society, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Modern Guam Rises, Politics and Government, Post WWII Era, Spanish Era, Spanish Era: Politics, US Naval Era
History of Democracy in Guam
A common political fallacy is that democracy was a babe born in Guam during the mid-20th century under American rule. The fact is that democracy had its beginning in Guam almost two centuries ago when benevolent Spanish authorities allowed the local electorates to choose their gobernadorcillos (mayors).
History of Democracy in Guam Read Post »
CHamoru Quest for Self-Determination, Civic Society, Contemporary Guam Era, Guamanian Era, Historic Eras of Guam, Interpretive Essays, Modern Guam Rises, Politics and Government, Post WWII Era, US Naval Era, WWII/Japanese Era
Guam’s Political Status
Since the claim by Spain over the Mariana Islands in 1565 and the settlement of Jesuit missionaries and conquest of the CHamoru people in the 17th century, the control and ultimate political fate of Guam has been the subject of war and political controversy.
Guam’s Political Status Read Post »