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Taotao Sakman
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
For this week's featured article I dedicate to our Taotao Sakman!
I can hardly begin to convey my feelings when I hear about what our people have done to bring back to life one our past cultural practices that was at one time the epitome of oceanic navigation. I get goose bumps just knowing all the progress that has been made to date of the Sakman Chamorro Project and to learn more about this long lost art and science of our ancestors.
If you were unable to attend the 2nd Marianas History Conference (this past 30-31 August 2013) here's another opportunity to hear about the Sakman history, revival and progress that has taken place.
On September 10, 2013, Master Carver Mario Reyes Borja, Manggåfan Toliok yan Budoki, will deliver his presentation, "Our Sakman Story: A Sentence in History,' at the American Memorial Park Visitors Center Theater in Saipan.
According to the Sakman Chamorro FaceBook page description the following people are a part this historic revival endeavor (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sakman-Chamorro/114071215327788):
Mario Reyes Borja (Master Carver) with Carvers: George Santos (Captain), Ray LG Sablan (Master Lasher), Greg Diaz (Master Procurement), Tony Maguadog (Master Sailmaker), Joey Cepeda (Sheeter), Vince Santos (Carver), Robert Goldkamp (Master Rigger), Tony Borja (Carver), Ben Lizama (Master Musician), Fred Blas (Master Craftsman), Tommy Long (Master Logistics), Phil Santos (Equipment), Jayvin Chargualaf, Jahi Chargualaf, Laurence Goldkamp, (Bailer), Richard Borja, Nathan Borja, Frank Santiago.
Support Team: JoJo Borja, Cutie Diaz, Linda Goldkamp, Janice Waller Bouffiou, Loling Cepeda, Jess Bataik Cruz, Janessa Cruz, Louann Guzman, Tanya Chargualaf Taimanglo, June Hawkins, Gene Roche, Micki Davis, and Research Team: Emma & Pete Perez
Biba Taotao Sakman!
About Mario Reyes Borja...
Mario is currently a member of the National Organization of Chamorro Veterans in America (NOCVA). The following information was extracted from the NOCVA website...
Mario was born in Chalan Kanoa, Saipan. He is one of the twelve children of Joaquin Flores Borja of Palau (Manggåfan Budoki) and Magdalena Sablan Reyes (Manggåfan Toliok) of Saipan. Mario is married to JoJo Ann Perez Aguon (Manggåfan Makaka – Bali Tres) and they have no children.
After retiring from 22 years with the U.S. Air Force, he and his wife began to care for his ailing mother until she passed away some 13 years later.
Following that, Mario began to focus on the Chamorro culture and language. He built the first Chamorro "galaide," a native fishing canoe, east of the Mariana Islands. The canoe serves as ambassador, bringing awareness about who the Chamorro people are.
Mario wrote and choreographed the "Galaide TaoTao Tano" show which tells the story of ancient fishermen confronting their ancestral spirits. As the taotao tano – the people of the land – they strengthen their bravery in preparation for a fishing trip.
Mario is also the first official Chamorro interpreter for the federal court systems. He compiled a list of court-related terms in the Chamorro language and continues to mentor others.
In addition, Mario's Chamorro outreach efforts have enabled him to work tirelessly through CHE'LU Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. He collaborated with the Jacobs Foundation in the design and building of an A-Frame structure called the "Guma Chamorro." This cultural house symbolizes the celebration of Chamorro culture.
Mario's leadership in the Sakman Chamorro Project extends to the art of canoe building, sailing and navigation. In October 2009, Mario and his CHE'LU team spearheaded the "Ininan Sakman Chamorro Summit" at the University of Guam calling on local canoe builders and Chamorro linguists to agree on what to call the various parts of the canoe. This led to another project that consolidated terminologies into a lexicon for Chamorro canoes of yore.
Governor Felix Camacho bestowed Mario the Guahan Award for his leadership. In appreciation, Governor Eddie Calvo appointed Mario and his crew members Ambassadors of Guam. Mario continues to lead the team as they aspire to sail to the Mariana Islands by 2013-2014.
The completion of the Sakman Chamorro Project involves extensive training in the art of sailing and navigation without the use of instruments. Mario continues to focus on this resurrected art of canoe building to transition to future generations of Chamorros.
He mentors elders and youth around the aspects of tooling, carving and fabrication of the canoe, as well as the applications of math and science. He hopes they will in turn mentor their peers thus perpetuating the Chamorro culture and language through the art of canoe building.
Database Update 29 Aug 2013
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The database has been updated and has grown from 299,888 to 300,671 names. We finally broke the 300K mark!
Inetnon Manggåfa: Såkkan 2014 (2014 Family Reunions)
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Now is the time start planning to attend! For those abroad here’s a goal and challenge to attend and be a part of family celebrating with family!
Manggåfan Liberato
When: February 23, 2014, 10am - 5pm
Where: Ipao Beach Park
Contact: Roland Blas (
The Manggåfan Liberato are descendants of their patriarch Jose Liberato Guerrero (1840-?) who married Maria Pangelinan Flores, Manggåfan Kotla (1844-?). Jose Liberato was a Spanish soldier who settled on Guam. Together with Tan Maria, they had nine children.
Manggåfan Tugong
When: March 16, 2014, 10am-5pm
Where: Ipao Beach Park
Contact: Roland Blas (
The Manggåfan Tugong’s patriarch is Mariano Palomo Blas (1844-?) who married Josefa Borja Farfan (1844-?). They had at least five sons and one daughter. According to Roland Blas, his oral family history conveys that Tun Mariano was a great fisherman who was well known. Roland’s grandma described her father Mariano as tall and well built. He was also a canoe builder and when he paddled on the waters he was very fast, this is how he got the nickname Tugong.
By definition Tugong means to charge, attack, or take hold of.
Manggåfan Acfalle
When: July 12, 2014
Where: Malesso Pier/Recreation Center Park
Contact: Melba Soriano Acfalle (
The surname Acfalle (akfåyi) is one of the surviving indigenous Chamorro surnames with a positive meaning. The root word is fåyi, which means wise.
While collaborating with Joseph Maguadog Acfalle and Melba Soriano Acfalle on the Acfalle families, there seem to be five or six main branches of the Acfalle families. The majority originate from Malesso. However, I have noted that at least one Acfalle family resided or farmed in Hågat during the 1800’s. Interestingly, there is an unmarried male by the name of Vicente Acfayi from the village of Hågat that was recorded in the 1727 Census.
Five of the main Acfalle clans that we have been able to identify include the descendants of:
- Jose Santiago Acfalle (abt. 1770-?) married to Rosa Rabago (abt 1770-?).
- Chiquito Acfalle (abt. 1790-?) in 1810 married to Rosa Robago (abt. 1790-?)
- Macedonia Acfalle (abt 1780-?) married to Juan Chargualaf (abt 1780-?)
- Nicolas Acfalle (abt. 1820-?) and Rita Chargualaf (abt.1820-?)
- ? Acfalle (abt, 1840-bef 1897) married to Irene de San Nicolas (1840-?) (this family has records of residency in Hågat)
Know of any other reunions? Share it, munga na ma'malao!
Database Update 17 Aug 2013
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The database has been updated and has grown from 299,033 to 299,888 names.
Håle’ Cruz
- Details
- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Manggåfan Cruz (Some Family Clan Names)
Because the Cruz surname is so widespread, many families are alternately known by their clan names[1]. In my research and observations I have noted that the following clan names are associated with the Cruz surname:
|
Anåco |
Cann |
Jeje (Yeye) |
Robat |
|
Andai |
Chåda |
Koho |
Sato' |
|
Apigige' |
Chåla |
Lala |
Sungot |
|
Båchet |
Chande' |
Lasaro |
Talo |
|
Bana |
Che'le |
Lasso |
Tanåguan |
|
Batolu |
Dando |
Lay |
Tanåyan |
|
Baurik |
Finine' |
Meritdo |
Tankaru |
|
Bayik |
Fungo |
Paite' |
Terao |
|
Beja |
Gaga |
Pakakang |
Tuba |
|
Bete |
Galaide |
Pedang |
|
|
Bila |
Gutgoho |
Pinchang |
|
|
Bisko |
Jai (Yai) |
Pulan |
I Na’an Cruz (Some Background on the Cruz Name)
The surname Cruz is one of the most common surnames throughout the Mariana archipelago. For sure in the 1920 and 1930 Census it was the most common surname. My data sampling from the 1940 Census seems to suggest it remained the same.
In some literature I have read that the Spanish surname Cruz was derived from a place where the original bearer of the name lived or held his land. However, in general I have observed the Cruz surname to be associated with the “cross.”
The Cruz surname is well tied to Spanish origins, but does not necessarily mean that in the history of the Mariana Islands that every Cruz came from Spain. In fact many Spanish soldiers that came to the Mariana Islands came from either New Spain (Mexico) or were born and raised in the Philippines. In addition, during the Spanish occupation, they had a contingent company of Filipino soldiers. Some of these Filipino soldiers and Missionary assistants also had the surname Cruz.
By the late 1600’s, as the Chamorro-Spanish wars were ending, the Missionaries had observed that intermarriages started to take place between the Spanish and Filipinos with the Chamorro women. Also of note during this period and through the 1897 Census, it seems that women in general (regardless of ethnicity) did not assume the husband’s surname upon marriage. Well, at least women's maiden names were how they were recorded. This form of practice does help some fellow genealogists to identify matrilineal lines of ancestry. Unfortunately, there are still huge gaps in detailed census periods.
In the 1727 Census, there were 34 people recorded with the Cruz surname, 92 in the 1758 Census, and then in the 1897 there were 665. When the U.S. took over and beginning in the 1920 Census there were 903 people recorded with the Cruz surname and then 1,231 were recorded in the 1930 Census.
Interestingly, the matriarchs of the two primary Chamorro-Scottish Anderson families in the Mariana Islands are Cruz. Josefa dela Cruz who married John Anderson in 1819, and nearly one hundred years later, Rosa Santos Cruz (Mangåffan Tanåguan) who married Arthur Gifford Anderson around 1911. Amazing, Tan Rosa (below) lived to be 104 years old.
I Manggåfa-hu (My Cruz Family Relations)
Pues, håyi manggåfa-miyu? Fan oppe!
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