Peter Onedera: Ti malago' yu bai hu li'e' i finatai i Fino' Chamoru

Ti malago' yu' bai hu li'e' i finatai i fino' Chamoru
by Peter Onedera
Pacific Daily News
June 2, 2015

Annai ma empleha yu' para direktot prugråma gi i Kumision I Fino' CHamoru, hu pega na unu este na petsonåt milågru para guåhu. Gi tinituhon ayu na tiempo, hu eyak dinuebu i fino' CHamoru ni' hagas hu honño gi maloffan na såkkan siha. Ayu i hagas tiningo' siha ha na'baya' yu' gotpe ya måtto di ha na' apurao siñente-ku.

Sigun ginen i kumisina siha para ayu na ahensia, taiguihi as Doktora Bernadita Camacho-Dungca, si Rosa Salas Palomo, si Josefina Perez Barcinas, si Sister Bernadette Quintanilla, si Juanita Toves Peredo, si Bill Paulino, si Tan Ana Borja Garcia, si Frank San Nicolas yan i difunto as Doktot Jeff D. Tainatongo, ma baba nuebu na mundo para guåhu ya hu tutuhon kinahulo'-hu para bai hu gacha' nuebu na tiningo' siha put i lengguahi-hu.

Ma tåla' yu' ni' i hestorian i fino' CHamoru ya gi magåhet sentåya' tiningo'-hu put ayu ni' håfafa ha'. Ma sangåni yu' put i rilasion-ña yan otro lengguåhi siha gi i uriya ya pumoddong gi i familian Austronesian. Ti hu tungo' put utugrafiha ya hu espiha este na palåbra gi i deksenårion Webster's put para bai hu tungo' håfa kumeke'ilekña. Sumaonao ha' lokkue' i atfabeton CHamoru ya ha yåma atension-hu sa' put i ma fa'nåna'gue esta gi i sesteman eskuelan pupbleko.

Put mås, ayu gof takhilo' na hinekkå-ku na magåhet na lengguåhi i fino' CHamoru. Enfin eraki håfa hu hongge ni' kulan parehu yan noskuåntos taotao siha, ti påtte gi i fino' Españot i fino' CHamoru sa' put i finedda' palåbra siha ginen ayu na lengguåhi. Hu eyak nuebu na finiho', Chamorrocization ni' ineksplikåyi as difunto Doktot Donald Topping gi i tinige'-ña lepblo Spoken Chamorro.

Kumeke'ilekña este na i inadåpta yan inayao palåbra siha ginen otro na lengguåhi. Ma fa'nå'gue yu' na i manaotao tåno' manma fuetsa para u faneyak pumalu lengguåhi taiguihi i fino' CHapanes gi i tiempon gera, yan lokkue' enfin, kontodu fino' Españot ni' dinira kåsi nomås di tres siklo na tiempo.
Pues måtto i fino' Engles Amerikånu ya, lokkue', nuebu na areklo, na u ma chomma' i tinaotao na u famfino' CHamoru putmås espesiåt gi lugåt pupbleko yan eskuela siha. Ma månda este ni' i Estådos Militåt Navy, ya este na aksion inekstendi yan chumenglong dekådu na tiempo siha ya ha afekta lameggai na hinirasion CHamoru.

Ya estague' tumutuhon estao pineddong ni' mumåtka i tiempo. Na'triste lokkue', i ma chomma' uson lengguåhi ni' tumåddong gi kurason yan titanos Mañamoru, espesiåtmente, mañaina ni' ma siente na dañuyan fumino' CHamoru sa' ti u maolek mo'na hinanao-ñiha i famagu'on-ñiha. Måtto di ha sohyo' este na siñente gi sanhalom mañaina ya ha afekta hinirasion siha na famagu'on sa' siempre ti ma fakcha'i i guinifen Amerikånu para lina'la' ni' kabåles kollat åpaka' gi uriyan guma', minaolek lina'la', yan ginesa yan minalago' nuebu yan takhilo' na estao ni' chumilong siempre. Este lokkue' tumutuhon tumunok-ña i hinasso put minantienen lengguåhi.

Bula, kontåtki todu, na taotao Guåhan humokka este na hinasso ya ti åpmam na ha palala'i i mayuriha na familia este na siñente. Estague' tumutuhon i finakpo' asunto. På'go, na'dañu estao-ña i lengguahi-ta ni' nina'i ginen mismo as Yu'os ya gaige gi iya kadenan Mari'ånas gi, sigun ginen rekot siha, nomåsdi kuåtro mit na såkkan siha.

Bula malingu-ta put este. Yanggen hu atan tåtte i lina'lå'-hu ni' hu na'chetton siñenten minamåhlao put håyi yu' sa' put i eksperensiå-hu ni' ti maolek ya ha dirihi despues i aksion-hu siha, isao yu'. Ti hu tungo' lamaolek ya hu diseha na siña ha' mohon hu pañot ha' enlugåt di hu ketulaikan-maisa yu' put para bai hu maolek gi i lengguåhi ni' ti iyo-ku put fin. Mistet, hu fokos yu' kulan dipendiente yu' sigun put lina'lå'-hu na dinirecho.

Hu hasso na hu eyak i tiningo' manå'paka', put kuentos, na hu hongge este sigun ginen tinaitai-hu put sichu'asion Amerikånon Natibu osino Manmo'nan Tinaotao Estådos Unidos. Mumaolek yu' ya kulan prubecho-ku pues menos på'go i isao hu kåkatga. På'go sa' åmko' yu', hu dirihi yu' mo'na para i fino'-hu put rason na bai hu fangontrebuyi gi i inadahi-ña. Satisfecho yu' na hu giha i lina'lå'-hu gi este na direksion.

Hu chalåni todu gi i nina'siñå-hu. Hu li'e' inengkebukao sinhostisia gi i lengguahi-hu ya hu pañot lokkue' i insutto put i kinalamten inadahi-ña yan gine'te-ña piot ginen i mismo CHamoru siha. Hu sungon ma faisen-hu put håyi yu' noskuåntos biåhi piot yanggen sesso di ma sangåni' yu' na sentåya' CHamoru esta på'go na tiempo, fino' yan tinaotao parehu. Hu kåtga yan hu pañot i piniti-hu ginen pumalu siha, piot ginen kumetsiånte yan inetnon sibit gi iya Guåhan, ni' manma pega tapbleru gi i sagan humotnat ya ma månda na para fino' Engles ha' u ma na'setbe entre manemplehao.

Tinakka' dekådu siha para bai hu fångge' fino' CHamoru gi lucha gi iya PDN ya ha senhongang yu' si David Crisostomo annai ha fåna' yu' ya ha faisen yu' bai hu tutuhon. Ti siguru yu' kao ha tungo' si David, na iya PDN, gi tåtte na tiempo gi otro na påpblisha, sumaonao iya PDN mamega tapbleru lokkue' ya ha månda i nina'setben fino' Engles. Sumaonao yu' gi ayu na prinotesta kontra siha ya put fin ma håtsa i minanda. Annai guaha un editot siudåt ni' hagan CNMI ya maskeseha nå'an åpaka' apeyidu-ña lao annok na guaha hagå-ña CHamoru ya ha dulalak yu' huyong ginen ufisinå-ña ya ha botleha yu' ni' sinangånña, "mumanengheng Sasalåguan yanggen u annok i fino' CHamoru gi i pappet di'årion PDN…" ya atan ha' på'go na guaha alos uttemo, humålom yu' håfa mohon?

En fin, ha guaife gotpe i titanos-hu ya hu habao i chansa maskeseha guaha presiu ni' debidi bai hu apåsi. Yanggen mångge' yu' debidi u saonao i pinilå'-ña gi fino' Engles ya ma sangåni yu' na para u annok i fino' Engles gi iyon-ñiha uepsait ya i fino' CHamoru gi i pappet di'åriu. Ti hu kuestiona este na opottunidåt ni' mandådakdak guihi na mumento ya ti malago' yu' na bai hu chånda.

Guaha ta'lo.

Imel Peter R. Onedera giya peteronedera@gmail.com

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

Chamorro Language is "Sort of Disappearing"

Chamorro is 'sort of disappearing'
By Oyaol Ngirairikl
Pacific Daily News
September 21, 2010

About one of every two Chamorro people on Guam can understand Chamorro "very well."

However, only one in four can speak it "very well." These are just some of the results of a six-month survey of the Chamorro language on Guam revealed during a press conference last night at the Barrigada Mayor's Office.

The Chamorro Language Assessment Survey talked to more than 6,500 Chamorro people living throughout the island. It was conducted by local Chamorro culture group Pa'a Taotao Tano', which means "way of life of the people of the land" in Chamorro. The survey was conducted using a $98,000 grant awarded in October 2009 by the Administration for Native Americans, which falls under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families.

Nicole Calvo, the survey's project director under Pa'a Taotao Tano', said she wasn't surprised by the results.

"The survey shows that while a lot of people still do speak Chamorro, that it's the manamko', or the elders, who actually use the language more often, and that for our younger population, or the younger you go, the less people speak or understand," Calvo said. "I think it's kind of sad when you think of how our language, which is in my opinion the core of any culture, is sort of disappearing."

Despite the somber results, Calvo said there is hope that the language can and will survive.

"We have Chamorro culture and history being taught in public and even some private schools," she said. "But we also have programs like Hurao (Culture Camp) that does a really good job in teaching children the language, the culture and the values of the Chamorro people."

Calvo said the survey results are being sent to Guam DOE, University of Guam, Guam Community College, the Mayors' Council of Guam and various local, nonprofit cultural organizations.

"Pa'a Taotao Tano's mission is to preserve, promote and perpetuate the Chamorro culture through song, dance and chants," she said. "We're not a language education program and we're not going to start classes, but my hope is that through this survey, educational groups on island will be able to strengthen their programs in a way that helps the youth of our island a real chance at getting to know their culture."

Calvo said she's proud of how well "the Chamorro language and culture has survived over 4,000 years of colonization and oppression."

"We're still here after all this time," she said. "And, hopefully, our efforts at Pa'a Taotao Tano', when added to the efforts of other groups and individuals, will help perpetuate our language and culture so that years from now, even with the military buildup, our people can still stand proud of their culture and heritage."
Survey

The group tapped UOG professor Ron McNinch to help build the questions and evaluate the survey results.

The survey included 10 questions that asked how well Chamorros spoke, understood, read and wrote Chamorro, as well as where they hear or use the language most often.

McNinch said the 6,542 survey participants represent a little more than 10 percent of the island's Chamorro population.

"Home (and) family is what the data tells us is the key to preserving the Chamorro language," McNinch said. "What we know is that the Chamorro language is being used a lot, that's what the study verifies."

McNinch later said the determination and commitment of Pa'a Taotao Tano' to ensuring the language and the culture are strengthened is admirable.

Rose Aquiningoc, a member of Pa'a Taotao Tano' since 1999, said the group has helped her improve her knowledge of Chamorro culture, but also her comprehension of the Chamorro language.

"Since joining the group, I'm better able to understand Chamorro and I can speak a little bit more than before," she said. "I'm not surprised that the results came back with so few people speaking the language -- because I'm one of them -- but I think the project also shows that people care and people want to make sure that the language is carried on to future generations."