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People and Places

Profiles, villages, and island life

Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Our Heritage, People, People and Places

Juan Cepeda

As a child, Juan Cepeda was exposed to traditional healing methods as he assisted his mother Francisca Quitano Cepeda, a suruhåna with the picking of medicinal herbs and other chores required in the preparation of medicines. An everyday occurrence, patients visited their home seeking help from Tan Francisca, providing Juan a means of learning to identify the different plants and their medicinal purposes. However, it would be many years later before Juan actually practiced the art of traditional healing.

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Chamorro Culture, Contemporary Guam: Health, Health and Medicine, Our Heritage, People, People and Places

Genaro Saralu

As a child growing up in Saipan, it was a common sight for young Genaro Saralu, to see his mother, a local healer treating her patients. Genaro’s great-grandfather, grandfather, and mother were all healers. Genaro’s mother and grandfather taught him the proper methods and techniques of gathering the plants used to prepare medicine for various ailments, as well as various methods of massage. Genaro also learned to call upon the strength of his ancestors to heal his patients.

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Civic Society, Guamanian Era, Guamanian Era: Politics, Historic Eras of Guam, Justice, Modern Guam Rises, People, People and Places, Politics and Government

Speaker Joaquin C. Arriola

Postwar leader. Joaquin “Kin” C. Arriola (1925 – 2022) was a prominent figure at the forefront of Guam’s legal history. Arriola was one of Guam’s leaders who took part in making the island what it is today. Guam’s current form of limited self-government took decades of vision, calls for justice, and tenacity by local leaders such as Arriola.

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Civic Society, Contemporary Guam Era, Contemporary Guam: Politics, Guamanian Era, Guamanian Era: Politics, Historic Eras of Guam, Modern Guam Rises, People, People and Places, Politics and Government

Speaker Joe T. San Agustin

Public servant for more than six decades. Speaker Joe Taitano San Agustin (1930 – 2021) was the epitome of a public servant and a leader in Guam for more than six decades. He was born to Candido Sanchez and Maria Taitano San Agustin of Hagåtña. San Agustin married Carmen Shimizu San Agustin. They had four children, Ann, Mary, Joe, and John.

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Contemporary Guam: Politics, Guam's Villages, Guamanian Era: Politics, Heritage Sites, Modern Guam Rises, People and Places, Politics and Government, Post WWII Era: Politics, Villages, Heritage Sites and Island Life

The Fight to Keep Tumon Public

Tumon Bay has a lengthy history and special significance for the CHamoru people whose ancestors lived and thrived in Tomhom (Tumon) area for millennia, establishing sizable villages, such as Ipao, Tomhom, Naton, Gokña, and Fafå’i. The richness of their lives there are attested by the imprints of pole and thatch structures and numerous other artifacts from the Pre-Latte era (3,500-4,000 years ago to AD 800-900) as well as abundant archeological evidence from the later Latte era (AD 800-900 to 1700s), including numerous sets of latte pillars, pottery shards, fish hooks, lusong mortars, and slingstones.

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