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FestPac Ready!

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 01 May 2016

What we have, what we own, and what we will share....

The journey to FestPac included the first ever Festival of Chamorro Arts (FoCHA) in San Diego, CA sponsored by the Chamorro Hands in Education Links Unity (CHELU) back on January 16, 2016. FoCHA was the introductory event for the Guam Delegates selected from the diaspora (those residing away from our Islands).

During the morning part of FoCHA I presented an on-stage 15 minute overview of the Chamorro Diaspora. Later that afternoon, I conducted a 45 minute Chamorro Roots Genealogy Project workshop.

FestPac & System Updates

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 24 March 2016

Håfa Adei Everyone,

First, I want to apologize for not being able to give more time to updating the database. The bulk of my current focus and effort is with preparing for FestPac (Festival of Pacific Arts). I am part of the Diaspora Planning Committee, serve as the Training Coordinator and am also a Guam Delegate that will be conducting a Chamorro Diaspora Seminar and “Memorializing Our Family Roots,” workshop.

While it may not seem like it, I have been putting in quite a bit of hours as well with system upgrades and coding. This has been a challenging task, because my coding skills are rusty, and I suppose with age my tolerance levels are lower than what it use to be. Anyways, I have found and am working on some temporary solutions that will allow me to update the database using another method. The database is quite big in file size, and would time-out frequently as I perform the database update procedure. This took me more time and effort to try and resolve, but again just found the temporary solution (forced me back to manually coding a fix). The other challenge with me providing a manual coding fix is that when the system needs some system upgrades, I have to verify that my manual coding does not need to be changed; which so far has forced me to write and re-write codes as I come across system errors when updates are applied.

Also, I have been working with the “Headstone” feature of the project. So there are now about 300 photos or so of them uploaded on a few cemeteries on Guam. I still need to work on the other cemeteries, which should be a couple thousand more data and photo entries. That will take more time, because I need to get back to updating the database. But, at least I know the Headstone feature works and have documented the procedure for that.

Appreciate everyone’s patience with their suggestions and photo submissions. It’s a lot of geek talk and work going on right now, but hey, I’m just glad the system is still up and running! :)

Happy Easter!

Bernard

Mariano Roy Cruz Leon Guerrero

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 22 February 2016

It is quite an honor to know and have my picture taken with CSM (R) Mariano Roy Cruz Leon Guerrero, manggåfan Dicta. He is one of several living legends of Chamorro descent currently residing in Washington State.

This distinguished gentleman is currently the Vice President of the National Organization of Chamorro Veterans, Washington State Chapter and also serves as a Board Member for The Pointe Du Hoc Foundation.

In 1991, Leon Guerrero was recognized and inducted as as distinguished member of the 75th Ranger Regiment. Later in 1997, he was inducted in the U.S. Army Ranger Hall of Fame.

Leon Guerrero is a highly decorated soldier with more than 26 years of US Army service that included combat tours from Vietnam through Desert Storm. He held the prestigious Command Sergeant Major positions for the 1^st and 2^nd Ranger Battalion, 75^th Infantry, and retiring as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major of the 75^th Ranger Regiment in 1993.

After his distinguished military career, he became a teacher of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) and Social Studies at the Governor John R. Rogers High School, Puyallup, WA from 1994-2000, and then serving in his current capacity as a School Counselor for Emerald Ridge High School, Puyallup, WA from 2001 to present.

If any of you have ever served with him or know of him please share with us your stories. Indeed, he is a very humble man and a living legend of Chamorro descent residing in Washington State. Guaifi kulo’!

Bibliography

____. The History of Rogers Junior ROTC. Retrieved February 20, 2016 from: http://www.reocities.com/pentagon/quarters/1630/history.html

____. Point Du Hoc Foundation, retrieved February 20, 2016 from: http://pointeduhocfoundation.com/lg.html

____. Ranger Hall of Fame, retrieved February 20, 2016 from: http://www.rangerhalloffame.com/inductees.html

Adams, B. 2014. Jungle Man LG Served and Led in Vietnam. Retrieved from: http://erhsjagwire.com/1273/showcase/jungle-man-lg-served-and-led-in-vietnam/

Bhamanyar, M. 2005. Shadow Warriors: A History of US Army Rangers. Osprey Publishing. New York, NY.

Hecht, R. 2006. Patrolling. 75^th Ranger Regiment Association, Inc, Vol. 21, Issue I. Retrieved February 20, 2016 from: http://www.75thrra.com/patrolling/su2006.pdf

A Call for Introductory Videos

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 16 February 2016

Please spread the word that we are now accepting 5 to 7 introductory video clips from Chamorro people living abroad. In addition to written stories, these video clips will be compiled and presented during my Chamorro Diaspora Project seminar that I will be facilitating at FestPac. You can submit your videos or the video link (please make sure we are able to access and can download it) to:

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
[festpac (dot) project (at) gmail (dot) com]