SI DOÑAN TERESA

This is an example of the whimsical, nonsense kind of ditty often found in pre-war Guam.  The song is interesting because it shows some residual Spanish influence (Doña) as well as more recent American influence (today/tonight).  Because of the English added to it, the song could have been made up in the 1920s or 30s. 

Don't expect the song to have any meaning whatsoever.  It's meant to be light-hearted fun.

Ginen Espåña si Doñan Teresa

Ginen Sina’ nña si Marian Ramon

Ginen Hagåtña as Teresan Kapapot

Ya as Labucho' et primet bailadot.

Lunes måttes kakaguåtes

Biringhenas yan bakalao

Un boteya na setbesa

Ya un media na meksao

Alapatingting today

Alapalapatingting tonight

Ginen Sina’ nña si Marian Ramon

Ginen Hagåtña as Teresan Kapapot

Ya as Labucho' et primet bailadot.

Doña Teresa is from Spain

Marian Ramon is from Sinajaña

Teresan Kapapot is from Hagåtña

and Labucho' is the number one dancer.

Monday, Tuesday, peanuts

Eggplants and salted dried fish

a bottle of beer

and a half of mixed alcohol.

Alapatingting today

alapalapatingting tonight

Marian Ramon is from Sinajaña

Teresan Kapapot is from Hagåtña

and Labucho' is the number one dancer.

Interesting Words

Doña : A Spanish title of respect for a woman.  Don for a man.  It is always followed by the personal name, never the last name.  Doña Maria, Don Pedro.  Some Chamorros made it more Chamorro by adding the final -n : Doñan Teresa.

Sina' nña : Is really Sinajaña, but in the song it is shortened.  Sinajaña is not really how we would spell it according to the Chamorro sounds.  It would be Sinahånña.  But we're used to the way it was spelled by the Spaniards many years ago. 

Marian Ramon : A woman named Maria, who has some relation to a man named Ramon, probably the spouse; fewer times a father/daughter connection.  We clarify which person we're talking about by connecting them to someone else, like the person's spouse or parent.

Teresan Kapapot : Kapapot would be a nickname given to the woman or her family.

Labucho' : Sometimes some people were known mainly by their nickname.  There wasn't even any need to add the personal name; just saying the nickname was good enough.

Meksao : does not appear in the older dictionaries.  It might be a recently coined term, coming from the English word "mix."