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Maga’lahi Taga and His Apparition
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Quite often when people hear the historical name of Taga, many might likely associate this chief's name with the House of Taga in Tinian; a place where the biggest latte stone pillars throughout the Mariana Islands are located. GuamPedia (https://www.guampedia.com/taga/) seems to have some descriptions of the House of Taga, which includes some folklore; therefore, I will not elaborate that here.
But what do some of our history and scholarly writings say about Maga'låhi Taga? Well...like other parts of Chamorro history not everything seems clear and some information is not consistent. However, it seems that part of folklore and bits of history seem to indicate that Taga was at one time from and the village Chief of Sunharon, Rota. He then later moved and became the village Chief of Chelu, Tinian (sometimes spelled Chiro or Chelo in historical manuscripts).
Taga was recorded by the Jesuits to have had an apparition. Taga's alleged apparition consisted of a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary guiding him to save the passengers and crews of any shipwrecked Spanish galleon. Therefore it was further written that Taga was responsible for saving and assisting the survivors of the Nuestra Senora de Concepcion Spanish galleon that was shipwrecked off the coast of Saipan September 20, 1638.
Sometime after the shipwreck Taga was baptized by Marcos Fernandez, one of the shipwreck survivors, who gave Taga the family name of Corcuera. Taga's fully baptized name was Sebastian Hurtado de la Cocuera in honor of then Governor of the Philippines.
Taga, also as a result of his apparition, sent his brother with other Spaniards (from the Concepcion shipwreck) to the Philippines so that he may bring back someone to preach the gospel.
Notes:
1. De Viana (2005) addresses Taga as Chief Jose Taga.
2. House of Taga photo from Wikipedia
3. Taotao Taga photo from Heathcote 2006
References:
Lawrence Cunningham. 1992. Ancient Chamorro Society. Honolulu, Hawaii: Best Press
Francisco Garcia. 2004. The Life and Martyrdom of the Venerable Father Diego Luis de San Vitores , S.J . Translated by Margaret M. Higgins, Felicia Plaza and Juan M.H. Ledesma. Edited by James A. McDonough. MARC Monograph Series 3. Guam: University of Guam
Gary M. Heathcote. 2006. Taotao Tagga’: Glimpses of His Life History Recorded in His Skeleton. Guam: University of Guam
Catherine Lugar. (undated). The History of the Manila Galleon Trade. Pacific Sea Resources.
Carlos Madrid, ' Galleon: Concepción', referenced March 5, 2013, © 2009 Guampedia™, URL: http://guampedia.com/galleon-concepcion/
Alberto Risco, Juan Ledesma & Oscar Calvo. 1970. The Apostle of the Marianas: The Life, Labors and Martrdom of Ven. Diego Luis de San Vitores. Diocese of Agana: Agana, Guam
Augusto V. de Viana. 2005. Pampangos in the Mariana Mission 1668-1684. Micronesian Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 4(1).
Database Update 23 February 2013
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The database has been updated and has grown from 227,656 to 287,927 names. The 60k surge in names is a result of capturing the names from the Chamorro Land Trust application listing and 2008 register voter list published by the Guam Pacific Daily News.
Ipaga's Apparition
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
Ipaga, baptized as Ignacio, was from the village of Sunharon, Tinian. He allegedly had an apparition of the Blessed Virgin on August 17, 1668. His apparition consisted of the Blessed Virgin complaining of the wickedness of Saipan, referring to the wounds that Father Luis de Morales received three days earlier. The form of which the vision appeared entailed the same image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico, which he had seen an oratory in one of the father's residences. Instead of her hands being together as in the image of the Immaculate Concepcion, she held two children as if she were nursing them at her breast. Next to her were eight larger children (referring to children in heaven or being schooled under Christian doctrine), who with a leash of eight strands led a dog to the feet of the Virgin, in spite of its resistance and bark; the barking referring to Choco pitting the Chamorros against the evils of baptism. (Garcia, 2004:194 & Risco, Ledesma, & Calvo, 1970:134)
UPDATE March 11, 2013: Ignatius Ipapa - Father Peter Coomans (2000:31) cites Ignacio as Ignatius and indicates his family name was "Ipapa."
2nd Marianas History Conference: Call for Papers
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The 2nd Marianas History Conference
One Archipelago, Many Stories: Integrating our Histories
August 30-31, 2013
University of Guam Campus
Call for Papers
The University of Guam, Guam Preservation Trust, Guampedia, and the Northern Mariana Humanities Council are pleased to announce a call for papers for the 2nd Marianas History Conference. It will be held on the UOG Campus in Mangilao, Guam, from August 30-31 with a welcoming reception on August 29, 2013.
The conference will cover a full range of topics associated with the Archipelago's history, and 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.
In addition to papers, organizers are also accepting posters that address the conference theme and/or topics. Posters will be exhibited through the 2nd day of the conference. The organizers also encourage student presentations.
Paper and poster abstracts with a maximum of 150 words may be submitted here: Marianas History Conference 2013 Presentation Application. Please submit your bio in this same form.
The deadline for abstracts is 3 April 2013. Conference presenters will be allotted 20 minutes to present with an additional 10 minutes for questions and discussion.
There will be a $25 fee for early registrants. Those who register at the event will be charged $40. Students will be charged a $10 fee. You will be able to pay on-line at Guampedia.com Gift Shop shortly, so please check periodically for when it becomes available.
Database Update 29 January 2013
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The database has been updated and has grown from 226,932 to 227,656 names
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