Home
Introduction to the Hawaiian Translation Project
- Details
- Written by: Dietrix Jon Ulukoa Duhaylonsod
Protestant missionaries from New England came to Hawai‘i in 1820, and they were the ones who introduced the English language to Hawaiians. Evidence strongly suggests that within a decade, around 90% of the native population could read and write using the English alphabet. By the turn of the century there were numerous Hawaiian language newspapers in Hawai‘i.
As part of the Chamorro Roots Genealogy Project, the Hawaiian language newspaper archives are being searched for articles which mention Guahan, the Marianas, and the CHamoru people. As they are discovered, we will be introducing these Hawaiian language articles, published in Hawai‘i from the mid-1800s to the early 1900s. The transcription and translation of these historical articles are primarily being led by Dietrix Jon Ulukoa Duhaylonsod, manggåfan Bitut (Balajadia/Manibusan).
While the focus is on our CHamoru people, heritage, and history, it is important to keep in mind our participation in the larger Pacific picture. The Marianas and the CHamoru people are but one important part of a very interconnected Oceanic history, not confined by the later-imposed, foreign-fabricated boundaries called Micronesia, Polynesia, and Melanesia. As the whaling ships and trading ships came to the Marianas, so did they go to other Pacific ports. As CHamorus went off to become sailors, so did natives from other Pacific Islands. As CHamorus jumped ship and settled in other lands, so did other islanders jump ship in a similar fashion. Typical discussions regarding the era of early contact always focus on the interaction between White foreigners and Native islanders. But what about the interactions of the various Pacific Island peoples, encountering each other while collectively navigating around the Western intrusions? What was the nature of these intra-Pacific indigenous interactions?
Beyond the books about CHamoru history in our libraries, there are other sources of information that might support what we believe; or might add more details to what we already know; or these other sources might open new doors of understanding that we have not yet considered.
May Santa Marian Kamalen, Santo Niñu, and our ancestors sound the kulo’ in our consciousness to always guide our understandings in the right direction.
Biba Taotao Latte! Si Yu’us fan binendisi todu-hit.
List of Nurses Residing in Agat from 1920 Census
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Earlier today on FaceBook was a request if anyone knew the names of midwives that resided in Agat between 1930 and 1940. I was able to extract this list from the 1920 Census with those who were listed with an occupation of Nurse, but could not find anyone listed with that occupation in the 1930 Census for the village of Agat. The transcription of the 1940 Census is still ongoing so I don't have those details just yet; however, I do know that several Chamorro Nurses were recorded in the 1940 Census at Naval Hospital.
System Upgrades & Challenges
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
As you can see the front page of the site has changed. Many system upgrades to keep up with coding technology have been applied and are still being worked. There are a few things that may not work, which leaves us with two possibilities: 1) I am still making changes and troubleshooting the new upgrades; or 2) You may need to clear your cache on your internet browser. Either way, you may need to come back later to try and access the features.
Appreciate everyone's patience, as I continue to work on the upgrades and tweaking. I needed to implement this as soon as possible because, many things on the previous system did not allow for system upgrades, which caused several technical issues and challenges.
I'm not the young nerdy coder I use to be with a lot of patience. What use to take me no more than a week now seems to take six months to a year or two! LOL
Anyways....Merry Christmas!
Procopio Novera, a "deportado" & the Jai Family
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
A 1920 church census of Guam snapshot with “deportado” (deportee) information.
During the Spanish occupation of the Mariana Islands and early U.S. occupation of Guam, there were instances of Filipinos being deported to the Mariana Islands for criminal or political reasons.
As with the case of “Procopio N”, a Filipino gentleman, who was a deported to Guam for political reasons (related to the 1896 Philippine Revolution against Spain). It took some additional time and research to discover that his full name was Procopio Peña Novera.
After translating the church census text on Google Translate, it revealed that Procopio and Ana Ignacio Cruz, my maternal Great Grandfather Jai's sister, had one daughter, who they also named Ana (married Juan Pangelinan Santos, manggåfan Bonik).
When all the Filipino political deportees on Guam were allowed to return back to their country Procopio eventually chose repatriation and to reunite back with his wife in the Philippines. However, in De Viana (2004), he indicates that Procopio opted to stay on Guam; but never mentioned that he in fact returned back to the Philippines. Procopio was still on Guam by 1902, based on a land record court case where he made a statement to the court that he purchased a house on Pizarro Street in Hagåtña from Jose Ignacio.
Later after Procopio had left Guam, Tan Anan Jai married Juan “Iko” Pangelinan Guerrero (manggåfan Kotla yan Liberato) as reflected in this church census snapshot.
Bibliography
United States Government. 1902. Civil Case No. 245, Procopio Novera y Peña. Court of First Instance, Guam.
Father Roman Maria de Vera. 1921. Censo Oficial de 1920 (copia). Aragon-Cantabria, Burlada, Spain.
Augusto V. De Viana. 2004. In the Far Islands: the Role of Natives from the Philippines in the Conquest, Colonization and Repopulation of the Mariana Islands. University of Santo Tomas: Manila, Philippines.
Manggåfan Jai: 1920 Church Census of Guam
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
This image is a snapshot of my Jai (pronounced Yai) , Pa’eng and Ma’fongfong family roots recorded in the 1920 Census of Guam conducted by the Catholic Church. Notice how the names were still being recorded by the Church using the Spanish convention (first name, paternal surname, and maternal surname). Also, the Church and Spaniards did not record the married woman's husband's surname; they left the woman's maiden name completely in tact.
This Church census was conducted independently and separately from the 1920 U.S. Federal Census of Guam.
Page 28 of 79