Guamanian v. Chamorro

Chamorro versus Guamanian:
Terminology in Calvo speech draws criticism

Written by Brett Kelman
Pacific Daily News
March 16, 2011


Gov. Eddie Calvo apologized yesterday to any Chamorros who were offended by his word choice in his State of the Island speech, but he didn't apologize for his extensive use of "Guamanian."

During an interview yesterday, Calvo explained that he used the word Guamanian to include all residents of Guam -- regardless of their ethnicities. The term includes Chamorros, but not solely Chamorros, he said.

"We have Asian Guamanians, we have Filipino Guamanians and a host of people from other cultures," Calvo said yesterday. "These are people who are not Chamorro by birth, but they live here. They have made a home on Guam ..."

'Back of the bus'

During his 70-minute speech on Monday, Calvo used the word "Guamanian" six times as often as the word "Chamorro." After the speech, Democratic Sen. Ben Pangelinan said the Chamorro people were missing from the speech.

" ... It's sad we're relegated in our own homeland by our own governor to the back of the bus," Pangelinan told Pacific News Center in an interview after the speech.

Yesterday morning, Calvo took a call from a K-57 radio talk show on Pangelinan's comment. Calvo said on the show he apologized if anyone was offended by his speech.

"As a person, I don't like to offend people, so I feel bad about it," Calvo told the Pacific Daily News yesterday. "But I'm comfortable with what I said."

So what did he actually say?

According to a copy of the speech released by the governor's office, Calvo used the word "Guamanian" 26 times, but used only "Chamorro" four times.

All four uses of the word Chamorro were referencing ancient Chamorro communities, and one of those is a quote from the late Gov. Ricardo Bordallo.

Here is an example, where Calvo discussed the ancient village of Hila'an, which was recently returned to Guam's civilian communities by the federal government:

"The latte stones at Hila'an are remnants of what used to be," Calvo said in the speech. "Bring to life the illustration of those latte. They stood together on our western shores, with homes filled with Chamorros, prosperous and innovative."

In contrast, Calvo's statements using the word "Guamanian" are general references to the island's modern community as a whole, regardless of ethnicity. He also used the term "my fellow Guamanians" or "the Guamanian Dream."

For example, Calvo said: "The people of Guam want their tax refunds now. ... Paying the refunds in full, right now, will, without a doubt, solve the financial troubles of thousands of Guamanians."

Calvo also said he wanted to welcome Marines from Okinawa with "Hafa Adai, my fellow Guamanians."

Yesterday, when questioned more about his criticism, Pangelinan said he was troubled by the speech because Calvo spoke about Chamorros when he looked to the past, but spoke about Guamanians when he looked to the future.

Pangelinan said the perseverance of the Chamorro culture should have had a larger presence in the speech.

"In being all inclusive, to me it felt Chamorros were being excluded. That
really is how I felt. It's a gut reaction," Pangelinan said. "I really felt sad for the Chamorros. We just weren't relevant."

When referring to a common desire for tax refunds, it would have been more
appropriate to use "people of Guam," Pangelinan said.

The senator wasn't alone in his frustration.

Peter Onedera, a University of Guam Chamorro language professor, said he
listened to Calvo's speech on the radio, cringing every time the governor said "Guamanian."

Eventually, Onedera said he just turned the speech off, disgusted.

"In essence, the word Chamorros encompasses our indigenous roots," Onedera said. "To me the term Guamanians -- and Saipanese, Tinianese and Rotanese -- is a term that was given to us. And I would think it happened without our permission in the first place."

Not just indigenous

UOG political science professor Michael Stoil said yesterday that Calvo had no choice but to use Guamanian. Calvo governs all of Guam, not just the indigenous people, Stoil said.

"For him to replace the term and talk about the benefits of governments for Chamorros, or the need of governments to be responsive to Chamorros, that would be no different than a governor in the mainland saying that his government should be responsive to whites," Stoil said.

Hiniyong i Kompetasion Fino' Chamoru

Estague i mangganna' siha gi i Mina'ocho na Kompetasion Fino' Chamoru ni' masusedi March 08, 2011 giya i Unibetsedat Guahan.


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Spelling – Kindergarten through Second Grade

1. Gold:  Jeremiah Hofschneider, Tinian Elementary School, Tinian
2. Silver:  Pedro Cruz, Mount Carmel Catholic School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Alisa Gatharngeg, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan

Drawing – Kindergarten through Second Grade

1. Gold:  Heidi N. Tang, Saint Anthony Catholic School, Guam
2. Silver:  Janine F. Miller, Saint Anthony Catholic School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Elijah J. Lizama, St. Anthony School, Guam

Children’s Choir – Kindergarten through Second Grade

1. Gold:  Mount Carmel Catholic School, Guam
2. Silver:  Inarajan Elementary School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Saint Anthony Catholic School, Guam

Spelling – Third Grade through Fifth Grade

1. Gold:  Thomas William DLC Benavente, Kagman Elementary School, Saipan
2. Silver:  Darlene Ferrer, Maria A. Ulloa Elementary School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Josiah Quitugua, BP Carbullido Elementary School, Guam

Drawing – Third Grade through Fifth Grade

1. Gold:  Dana Dalmacio, Saint Anthony Catholic School, Guam
2. Silver:  Mikaela Bumagat, Saint Anthony Catholic School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Jennifer Muna, Saintt Anthony School, Guam

Storytelling – Third Grade through Fifth Grade

1. Gold:  Keilani Barcinas, Sinapalo Elementary School, Rota
2. Silver:  Breanna Camacho, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan
3. Bronze:  Keith Gerard M. Villagomez, Kagman Elementary School, Saipan

Children’s Choir – Third Grade through Fifth Grade

1. Gold:  BP Carbullido Elementary School, Guam
2. Silver:  JQ San Miguel Elementary School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Tinian Elementary School, Guam

MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Oratorical

1. Gold:  Kimberly Camacho, Chacha Oceanview Junior High School, Saipan
2. Silver:  Pamela Barcinas, Grace Christian Academy, Tinian
3. Bronze:  Jezreelyn Bulaklak, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan

Poetry Recitation

1. Gold:  Jeremiah Cruz, Tinian Elementary School, Tinian
2. Silver:  Cecilia Fitial, Grace Christian Academy, Tinian
3. Bronze: Charita Quitaro, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan

Essay

1. Gold:  Jezreelyn Bulaklak, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan
2. Silver:  Robert Marmito, Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Saipan
3. Bronze:  Cecilia Evangelista, Mount Carmel Catholic School, Guam

Choral Reading

1. Gold:  Grace Christian Academy, Tinian
2. Silver:  Tinian Elementary School, Tinian
3. Bronze:  Mount Carmel Catholic School, Guam

Chant

1. Gold:  Saint Francis Catholic School, Guam
2. Silver:  Oceanview Middle School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Mount Carmel Catholic School, Guam


HIGH SCHOOLS


Oratorical

1. Gold:    Megan Cruz, Tinian High School, Tinian
2. Silver:  Ramon Barcinas, John F. Kennedy High School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Brandee Faith Mendiola, Rota High School, Rota

Proficiency

1. Gold:  Ramon Barcinas, John F. Kennedy High School, Guam
2. Silver:  Blaine Mesngon, Rota High School, Rota
3. Bronze:  Realynn C. Palacios, Tinian High School, Tinian

Poetry Recitation

1. Gold:  Maisie Mesngon, Rota High School, Rota
2. Silver:  Brianna Torres, Southern High School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Mary M. Hocog, Tinian High School

Male Singer

1. Gold:  Christopher Cruz, Southern High School, Guam
2. Silver:  Shiabe Pangelinan, Simon Sanchez High School, Guam
3. Bronze:  Byron Mafnas, George Washington High School, Guam

Female Singer

1. Gold:  Cloe Hofschneider, Tinian High School, Tinian
2. Silver:  Javil Manglona, Rota High School, Rota
3. Bronze:  Caroline Hidalgo, George Washington High School, Guam

Song With Dance

1. Tinian High School, Tinian
2. John F. Kennedy High School, Guam
3. Southern High School, Guam


Dramatic Cultural Interpretation

1. Gold:  Tinian High School, Tinian

Un Nuebu na Inatan

Hafa adai,

As part of its continued efforts to engage and educate the community on the impacts of the proposed buildup, We Are Guåhan has organized its second set of Heritage Hikes: Un Nuebu na Inatan.

The hike schedule is as follows:

March 12, 2011 – Tumon Bay (Difficulty: Easy. Duration: 1 -2 hours)
Meet at Ypao Beach (near the Main Pavillion).
March 19, 2011 – Pågat Village (Difficulty: Medium. Duration: 2 – 3 hours)
Meet at Pågat trailhead along The Back Road.
March 26, 2011 – Cetti / Sella Bay (Difficulty: Hard. Duration: 4 – 5 hours)
Meet at Cetti Bay parking lot.
WHEN: The show-time for all hikes is 8:45a.m. with a go-time 9:00 a.m.

WHAT TO BRING: All participants must bring LOTS OF WATER. Participants are encouraged to bring sun block, bug repellant and light snacks or lunches.

WHAT TO WEAR: With the exception of the Tumon Bay hike, all participants should BRING GLOVES. There will be sword-grass and or jagged rocks on some areas of the hikes. Participants hiking to Pågat should wear tennis / hiking shoes, shorts and a comfortable shirt. Participants are encouraged to wear long pants, tennis shoes / hiking shoes and long-sleeved shirts for the Cetti / Sella Bay Hike. Swimming is an option at all sites, so come prepared with appropriate clothes and towels if you’d like to swim.

HIKE DESCRIPTIONS:
On the first hike, Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua will provide a fresh historical overview of an area that many Guam residents are familiar with: Tumon Bay. Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the ancient history of Tumon, it’s destruction during the Spanish-Chamorro War, and how its beauty nearly led to it being “acquired” by DoD after World War II.

The second hike will be to the area where DoD is planning on building a firing complex: Pågat Village. Dr. Bevacqua will discuss the cultural and historic significance of the area, as well as DoD’s proposed plans to build a firing range complex there.

The third and final hike will be to Cetti Bay and Sella Bay. In addition to the cultural significance of the area, Sella Bay is a site that DoD planned on “acquiring” for military purposes during the Vietnam War. Dr. Bevacqua will talk about the efforts of the community, the Guam Legislature, and the lawsuit that eventually stopped DoD from turning the historic site into an ammunition wharf.

If you have questions about the Heritage Hikes, please contact leevin@weareguahan.com

Si Yu'us Ma'ase,

We Are Guåhan