Profiles, villages, and island life
Concepcion “Connie” or “Chong” Balajadia Duenas (1934-2018) was a Mayor of Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon and was one first policewomen in Guam.
Concepcion Balajadia Duenas Read Post »
Ignacio “Buck” Cruz (1927-2017) was a public servant, World War II survivor and a long time Malesso’/erizo Mayor. Cruz served as commissioner and mayor of Malesso’ for 21 years before stepping down in 2000.
Ignacio “Buck” Cruz Read Post »
Betel nut use. Areca (Betel) nut is the seed of the palm known scientifically as Areca catechu. Betel nut is the fourth most widely used psychoactive substance in the world, following only caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco. These substances act upon the central nervous system to alter brain function, resulting in temporary changes in perception, mood, consciousness and behavior. Over 600 million people chew betel nut worldwide, including Indians, Asians, and Pacific Islanders. In the Mariana Islands, betel nut, or pugua, chewing is a social pastime that extends friendship.
When the Guam Museum opened at the Garden House, Plaza de España in 1954, members of the Guam Women’s Club and Guam Historical Club volunteered their time to staff it. A year later the government hired Thelma Glenn, one of the Guam Women’s Club members, to be a museum attendant.
Guam Teachers’ Association called for collections to begin for a Guam Museum. In 1925 a group of CHamoru teachers in Guam, led by Ramon M. Sablan, formed the Guam Teachers’ Association.
Guam Teachers’ Association Read Post »
Joey San Agustin was a curator of the Guam Museum from 1994 until his passing in 2001. Initially hired in 1990, San Agustin created many Guam Museum presentations, booklets and exhibits on historical and cultural legacies of Guam and presented them at local public schools.
Anthony J. Ramirez was the curator of the Guam Museum from 1995 to 2012. In 2008, he created a booklet entitled, I Hinanoa-ta: A Pictorial Journey Through Time, which tells the story of the CHamoru people through the Museum’s collections of objects, photographs, prints and maps.
Anthony “Tony” Ramirez Read Post »
Rita Franquez had a short but fruitful role with the Guam Museum. The former teacher was the assistant director of the Guam Public Library in 1991 when Governor Joseph F. Ada signed Executive Order 91-17 which the created a Cultural and Historical Working Committee under the direction of Tony Mariano, the director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
William Hernandez was trained and certified in museum work at the National Museum of the Philippines and the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, and then served as the Guam Museum Curator from 1985 until 1993.
William L. Hernandez Read Post »
For 30 years, from 1960 to 1990, the Guam Museum was under the administration of the Guam Public Library. During most of those years Magdalena S. Taitano was the island’s territorial librarian. Taitano was also the first CHamoru to earn a Master’s degree in library sciences.
