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Call for Biographical Stories from the Chamorro Diaspora

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 08 June 2015

Håfa Adei!

For the upcoming 12th Festival of the Pacific Arts in 2016, we have assembled a Chamorro Diaspora Project team to conduct a Chamorro Diaspora Seminar during that event as part of potentially a long-term pilot program to collect, present, and preserve the stories of diasporic Chamorro people and their families residing outside of the Mariana Islands. We are excited to reach out and invite each and every one who may be interested in submitting biographical summaries of people and families of Chamorro descent.

Within a biographical summary, we suggest some of the following information be included if possible/known:

• The person’s 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

The list above is not all inclusive of what may be included. Again, part of the intent is to convey and record stories of the Chamorro diaspora for future generations to come and we would like for you to tell the story in your own words. If you need help, we will be more than happy to assist you in writing the story.

We would also appreciate it if the biographical summaries are accompanied by historical and present day photographs to help depict the story. We anticipate the biographical stories and media received will be publicly published, so please be aware of this prior to submitting any information to this Chamorro Diaspora Project team. Currently, we envision submitting and filing copies of this project with the Micronesian Area Research Center, Guam Department of Chamorro Affairs, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Humanities Council, and the Chamorro Roots Genealogy Project.

Please submit all biographical summaries and photos via email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. from now through December 31, 2015.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse ginen i Chamorro Diaspora Project Team:

Bernard Punzalan

Mario Borja

Patricia “Trish” Shook

Vicente “Vince” Diaz, Ph.D.

Keith Camacho, Ph.D.

Jaynina Smith Prince

Don Jose Castro Duenas & the 1918/1919 Great Flu Epidemic

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 03 June 2015

Jose “Pepe” Castro Duenas was a deputy registrar of land, deeds and titles on Guam. Although not part of his job, during the late 1918 and early 1919 influenza epidemic on Guam where nearly 1,000 people succumbed to death from the virus, he ended up being one of the people being responsible for tallying the number of dead because everyone else was either sick or died.

1958 Ballot for the Guam Legislature

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 26 May 2015

This facsimile of an official ballot for the 5^th Guam Legislature was featured on the front page of the Guam Daily News on November 4, 1958. The competition was composed of those from the Popular Party (appears equivalent to today’s Democratic Party) and those from the Territorial Party (appears to be the equivalent of the Republican Party).

The Legendary Johnny Sablan

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Written by: Bernard Punzalan

Published: 20 May 2015

So much can be said about this pioneering Chamorro recording artist.  In fact, Rita P. Nauta at Guampedia.com does an excellent job summarizing his life, family and accomplishments (see http://www.guampedia.com/johnny-sablan/).

This photo contains part of my Chamorro treasure collection of vinyl albums he has produced.
- In 1968, he released his first Chamorro album and first edition of Dalai Neni;
- 1969, My Marianas;
- 1970, My Chamorrans;
- 1971, his second edition of Dalai Neni labeled as a “Limited Special Edition;”
- 1974, Guam USA; and in,
- 1975, Feliz Navidad, which featured a picture of his daughter Kristina (http://www.kristinasablan.com).

...and yes, Johnny Sablan recorded and produced other Chamorro albums. Can you cite the others???

The image below is a 1961 article from the Billboard Magazine and his first recorded songs on a 7 inch vinyl record (45 rpm) when he was 13 years old. (Hint: click on the image for a more legible copy)