Bungi, Don Tomas.
Bungi was described by Father Francisco Garcia (2004:191) as a noble from Agadna (Hågatña, Guahan). Upon his baptism he was given the name Tomas and thereafter was known as Don Tomas Bungi.
Two days after Bungi’s baptism and late in the evening, he called upon Father Diego San Vitores to his house to baptize his two-month old son who was very ill and near the point of death. Bungi’s wife was influenced by Choco’s[1] words that the baptismal water may harm the child and was therefore reluctant to bring their child to the church. However, when Bungi insisted their son be baptized, she let Father San Vitores baptize her son. That same evening their baby son died.
The next morning, Bungi informed San Vitores of his son’s death. According to Garcia, Bungi was sad of his son’s death but accepted the will of God after San Vitores told him about his child now being in heaven. After Bungi returned home, he brought his eight year old son to San Vitores inquiring where his son might better learn the religion and so that he may teach it to others. (Garcia, 2004:191)
It is interesting to note that later, San Vitores sent a letter dated July 5, 1671 to Father Francisco Solano, and identified Bungi as their friend. The letter requests that Bungi be paid either “half of a large (iron) hoop or a whole small hoop.”[2] San Vitores also tells Solano that Bungi was asking for a tortoise shell[3], but he can only be given one instead of the hoop, if he promises to go to Tinian. San Vitores also tells Solano that they may have to give one to “all the chiefs of Agadna, keeping some for those who deserve them.” (Levesque 1995c:150 in Amesbury & Hunter-Anderson, 2003:95)
Judith R. Amesbury & Rosalind L. Hunter-Anderson. 2003. Review of Archaeological and Historical Data Concerning Reef Fishing in the U.S. Flag Islands of Micronesia: Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands (Final Report). Western Pacific Fishery Management Council.
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
Rodrigue Levesque. 1995. History of Micronesia, A Collection of Source Documents, Volume 5 – Focus on the Mariana Mission, 1670-1678. Levesque Publications: Quebec, Canada
[1] Choco was a Chinese man who married a Chamorro woman from Saipan. They lived in the ancient village of Pa’a, Guahan. Choco and his wife are believed to be the ancestors of the Chaco family.
[2] The "hoops" were made of iron and used by the Chamorro people to make adze blades, fish hooks and other instruments. (See Frank Quimby, ' The Matao Iron Trade Part 3: Appropriation and Entanglement', referenced September 21, 2012, © 2009 Guampedia™, URL: http://guampedia.com/the-matao-iron-trade-part-3-appropriation-and-entanglement/)
