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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

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Mariano Roy Cruz Leon Guerrero

Guaifi Kulo’: Meet retired Command Sergeant Major Mariano Roy Cruz Leon Guerrero; a living legend of Chamorro descent and of the Chamorro diaspora.

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 1st and 2nd Ranger Battalion, 75th Infantry, and retiring as the Regimental Command Sergeant Major of the 75th 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. 75th Ranger Regiment Association, Inc, Vol. 21, Issue I. Retrieved February 20, 2016 from: http://www.75thrra.com/patrolling/su2006.pdf


 

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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]

Fan appåtte ini! Please share this announcement and don’t forget to LIKE our page!

Si Yu’os Ma’åse.

 

Below is my Abstract that was accepted.

 


Abstract: Chamorro Diaspora Seminar

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To date, one of the oldest Bayinero (Chamorro Whaler) I have been able to find a record on is a gentleman by the name (allegedly) Benjamin Coring. It’s actually quite difficult to really make out and determine exactly what the enumerator recorded for his last name and Ancestry.com’s transcription.

 

But I do concur with the transcription that Benjamin was married, died on 10 May, 1869, at the age of 70 (making his estimated year of birth 1799). The cause of death was listed as “Consumption,” which I have recently learned was a term back in the 1800’s that was usually referred to Tuberculosis. Benjamin was a resident of New Bedford, Massachusetts and his occupation was listed as a Seaman.

Ancestry’s transcription recorded his place of birth as “Guam, London Islds,” but based on the original handwritten entry it should have read at least “Guam, Ladrone Isles.” Also, there was a column in the record to list his parents’ name but was left blank; however, their birth place was recorded as Guam.

Wish me luck on trying to find his family that may have survived him.

 

Bibliography

Ancestry.com. Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

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Call for Chamorro Diaspora Stories

Help us help you and your family remember YOUR NAMES and honor YOUR stories!

We are still collecting stories from Chamorro's living abroad to incorporate into the Chamorro Diaspora seminar that I will facilitate during the Festival of Pacific Arts (FestPac) May 22, 2016 - June 4, 2016.

Here are some ideas we suggest to help you put together your story :
• Name and family name (clan name if known too)
• Which village and island the person/family originates
• Accomplishments while at home
• When did the person/family emigrate?
• What was the impetus for leaving?
• Accomplishments while away from home?
• How many generations/descendants since the person/family’s arrival?
• Name, phone number and email of person submitting the biographical information
• Include family photos

Please email your story and photos to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Please send as soon as possible to ensure we incorporate and memorialize your story! Si Yu'os Ma'ase.

...or let us help you write your story with any of our Chamorro Diaspora Project Team members:
Bernard Punzalan
Mario Borja
Trish Shook
Vince Diaz

Here's a simple sample two-page story:

Story Sample

  1. FoCHA: Chamorro Roots Genealogy Workshop
  2. Guaifi Kulo': CNMI Governor Eloy Songao Inos
  3. 2015: Felis Påsgua
  4. Dates & Anniversaries Screenshot

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