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TBT: October 9, 1944
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The Chamorro people have a history of having a high rate of military service per capita. According to the Seattle P.I., in 1919 on Guam:
“There [were] 1,000 militiamen, the government supplying guns and ammunition and the regular khaki uniform of the United States army. Seven per cent of Guam’s population is in the militia, at which rate, if we of the mainland kept up with the Chamorros, we should have an army of 7,000,000.”
Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons prior to World War II for the Chamorro people wanting to be a part of the military was to demonstrate their loyalty and patriotism to the United States in order to gain U.S. citizenship under colonization. Hindsight reveals that citizenship would not come until 52 years later that included a global war.
The impact of World War II on the Chamorro people and the Mariana Islands significantly altered much of the United States policy on national interests, strategy and military defense of its possessions. The trauma experienced first-hand by the Chamorro people during the war also altered views and became that much more of a driving force for many to join the U.S. military.
Without a doubt, some saw the U.S. military also as a vehicle of opportunity and adventure, which would likely account for a good portion of today’s Chamorro diaspora.
In addition, those military who integrated and immersed themselves into the Chamorro culture and bonded with the Chamorro people was also a likely cause of influence to join the military.
This 1944 article from the Seattle Daily Times is a photo of Joaquin B. Pangelinan, Marine Warrant Officer Virgil A. Hickle and Thomas A(nderson) Iglesias. (click on the image to view the full article)
When the Bank of Guam was a U.S. Government Entity
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The first Bank of Guam was initially established by the Navy in 1915 and remained open until it was forced to cease operations in 1941 due to the World War II. After the War, the Navy reopened Bank of Guam on March 15, 1945.
Below is a photo taken a little more than a week after the bank reopened. Picture in the bottom photo from left to right are: Jose Perez, two unidentified employees, Alexandrina Atoigue and Maria Camacho.
Sources:
___. 1945. Omaha World Herald: Omaha, Nebraska
Jillette Leon-Guerrero. Banking. Retrieved November 3, 2014 from Guampedia: http://www.guampedia.com/banking/1/
1967 Liberation Queen Candidates for San Diego, CA
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
(Source: San Diego Union, 26 June 1967)
From left to right:
- Arlinda Ducous
- Gloria Cruz
- Rosalyn Quintanilla
- Barbara Fejarang
- Susan Hoover (not shown in picture)
CALL FOR PAPERS: 3rd Marianas History Conference (2015)
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- Written by: Guampedia
CALL FOR PAPERS : 3rd Marianas History Conference One Archipelago, Many Stories: Milestones in Marianas History Dates: September 4-6, 2015 The Northern Marianas Humanities Council, University of Guam, Guam Preservation Trust, and Guampedia are pleased to announce a call for papers for the 3rd Marianas History Conference. It will be held on Saipan from September 4-6, 2015 with a welcoming reception on the evening of September 4th. The conference will cover a full range of topics associated with the Archipelago’s history with a particular focus on the conference’s subtheme “Milestones in Marianas History.” Papers may be submitted under the following general categories: Ancient History; Early Colonial (17th – 18th centuries); Late Colonial (19th – early 20th centuries); World War II; Recent (post-war); and Oral History and Genealogical Research. The organizers also encourage student presentations. Paper abstracts with a maximum of 150 words and the presenter’s bio may be submitted via this link. The deadline for abstracts is 30 April 2015. Conference presenters will be allotted 20 minutes to present with an additional 10 minutes for questions and discussion. There will be a $20 fee for early registration which will begin on 1 July 2015. Those who register at the event will be charged $30.00. Students will be admitted free of charge. You will be able to pay online through Guampedia or at the Northern Marianas Humanities Council Office, Springs Plaza, Gualo Rai. You will be notified once the online payment option is set up and we will be in touch with more information about the conference soon. Please direct conference questions to the Northern Marianas Humanities Council. 3rd Marianas History Conference Planning Committee (Echoed post from Guampedia Currents 671, October 22, 2014) |
Top 30 Common Surnames
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Top 30 Common Surnames: Chamorro Roots Genealogy Project
Out of the 327,683 names in the database below is a list of the top 30 Surnames.
Cruz hands down taking the #1 spot by more than double the Santos surname.
Last year I wrote a little on some of the Cruz family clan names, “Håle’ Cruz.”
1 | Cruz | 17281 | 11 | Duenas | 4360 | 21 | ? | 2500 |
2 | Santos | 7626 | 12 | Flores | 4327 | 22 | Manibusan | 2478 |
3 | Perez | 5876 | 13 | Salas | 4314 | 23 | Quinata | 2279 |
4 | Camacho | 5539 | 14 | Pangelinan | 4169 | 24 | Meno | 2229 |
5 | San Nicolas | 5501 | 15 | Borja | 4127 | 25 | Crisostomo | 2182 |
6 | Aguon | 4908 | 16 | Blas | 3832 | 26 | Mesa | 2165 |
7 | Leon Guerrero | 4792 | 17 | Reyes | 3339 | 27 | Lujan | 2139 |
8 | Sablan | 4788 | 18 | Guerrero | 3067 | 28 | Chargualaf | 2124 |
9 | Castro | 4751 | 19 | Taitano | 2995 | 29 | Babauta | 2113 |
10 | Mendiola | 4619 | 20 | Torres | 2511 | 30 | Toves | 2059 |
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