GOVERNOR GILMER'S MARRIAGE LAW



One of the most controversial American Naval Governors of Guam, William Wirt Gilmer left the Navy when he ended his position as governor in 1920.  He was infamous for banning whistling and for giving island residents the option of either bringing in the heads of five dead rats or paying a fine.  His antics were reported in the New York Times among many other American newspapers.

One of his most controversial laws was to prohibit Americans from marrying Chamorro women.  
This he did in September of 1919, issuing Executive General Order Number 326.

Starting on October 1, no white person on Guam could marry a Chamorro or Filipino, whether the person was fully Chamorro or only partly Chamorro. The same went for the Filipino.  And if you married the Chamorro or Filipino somewhere else in order to escape this law, you wouldn't be able to move to Guam.

Many of these American-Chamorro marriages happened when an American service man was discharged from military service. The discharged man would remain on Guam and marry a Chamorro. So, Gilmer ordered that anyone about to be discharged from the service had to do so outside of Guam.

It was his belief that the two races were incompatible.

Gilmer's Marriage Prohibition

James Holland Underwood, originally from North Carolina, didn't agree.  Underwood was married to one Ana Martinez, Chamorro, and sister of Pedro Martinez, a prominent businessman.  Underwood himself was U.S. Postmaster of Guam.  Backed by Spanish Bishop Joaquin Olaiz, who opposed Gilmer's law, Underwood worked his connections in the States.

One such stateside figure was the former Naval Governor of Guam, Robert Coontz, who was governor from 1912-1913.  In 1919 he was Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, DC.  He, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy, the future President Franklin D. Roosevelt, exerted pressure to have the law rescinded.  It was.

One Spanish Capuchin, Pale' Roman, quietly approved of Gilmer's law, not in the interest of the American party, but of the Chamorro.  Unlike Bishop Olaiz, Pale' Roman believed that, Underwood and a few other exceptions notwithstanding, many Chamorro women were getting the short end of the stick.  Pale' Roman claimed that not a few American husbands packed their bags and left island, leaving their Chamorro wives and children bereft of support.

PRINTED BY ROWLEY!

The funny thing about Gilmer's law was that it was printed by the Navy printer, a man named William Rowley, a white American, who was married to none other than a Chamorro lady, the former Milagros Martínez Cruz! Rowley printed a law that would have made it impossible to marry his own wife!

THE LATTE STONE

Perhaps nothing best symbolizes, in a unique way, our Mariana Islands as the Latte Stone.  While any tropical island can boast of palm trees and sandy beaches, the Latte Stone can only be found in the Marianas. 

You can read more about them at

http://ns.gov.gu/latte.html  or

http://guampedia.com/latte/ or

http://www.bisitaguam.com/episodes/06/

But I wanted to share this photo of some of the smallest latte stones I have ever seen with my own eyes.  This latte stone is just one of several at my uncle's property at Urunao.  The stones there are slender slabs, no more than three feet high.  Although they could still conceivably have been used to support floorings or roofing for canoe sheds and other small structures, these small lattes may have had more to do with the burial sites often found wherever lattes are found on the shoreline.

With the passage of time, the tåsa (capstone) fell from the haligi (post) as you can see.  I wonder if "tasa" comes from the Spanish word for "cup."  It does resemble one, no?

TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : MÅ'HO

asbians.blogspot.com

MÅ'HO : thirsty

Må'ho yo'.  I am thirsty.

Kao må'ho hao?   Are you thirsty?

Ha na' må'ho yo' i minaipe.  The heat has made me thirsty.

Mina'ho.  Thirst.  Can be applied figuratively, as in a "thirst for justice."  Mina'ho para i tininas.

Scripture : "Yanggen ñålang i enemigu-mo, na' chocho gue'; yanggen må'ho, na' gimen gue'." (Romano 12:20)

"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if thirsty, give him to drink."

CHAMORRO RELIGIOUS POETRY : I Estasion - #4 and #5

4. Si Jesus yan si Maria,  man pinite gi chalan;

atan siha yanggen siña, sa' sen didok mahålang.

(Jesus and Mary suffer on the road;

look at them, if you can, for their pain is deep.)

5. Yåfai i Nana'libre-ta, inimåye as Simon;

adda' tåya' giya hita, håye u ga'chong-ñaihon?

(Our Savior is exhausted, Simon helps him carry;

is there no one among us who can accompany them?)

A HIDDEN GEM IN HAGÅTÑA

Precious little in Hagåtña survived the massive American bombardment of the city in 1944.  But tucked away in the back streets of town, near the cliff line, is a private, family cemetery that did survive the war.  It was owned by the Torres-Leon Guerrero family, with connections to Padre Palomo (who was a Torres, and whose sister married a Leon Guerrero) and to the Martinez family (María LG Torres married Pedro Pangelinan Martínez).

The remains of Padre Palomo, the first Chamorro Catholic priest, are interred here.  Don Pedro and Tan María Martínez rest here as well, and many of their children. 

How old is this cemetery?  I'll have to ask family members, but there is a headstone (called lápida in Spanish/Chamorro) kept here that dates to 1910.  It seems to be the headstone of one Caridad Leon Guerrero, who was married to a Suarez.  Here is the headstone, written in Spanish back when Spanish was still the language of the educated and upper classes of the Marianas :

It reads, in Spanish, "Aquí yaces Caridad / pues la parca te segó / mas tu espíritu voló / al seno de la Deidad."

It means, "Here you lie Caridad / for death has felled you / but your spirit flew / to the bosom of the divinity."

This was poetic, not elementary, Spanish and indicates the high level of Spanish spoken by some on Guam at the time.

The stone is dated March 18, 1910.

The D.O.M. at the top is the abbreviation for "Deo Optimo Maximo," a Latin phrase meaning "to God, the Best and the Greatest."  It was the custom to write this abbreviation on many public buildings and monuments all over Catholic Europe.

TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : BÅBA

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BÅBA : Bad

Did you ever think you'd see Michael Jackson in a Chamorro language word list?  My bad.

Båba is one of those words that makes me thankful the å was added to our Chamorro spelling.  Prior to that, there was no way to immediately distinguish baba as in "bad" from baba as in "open," as neither word needs the glota ( ' ) either.

Baba i bentåna.  "Open the window?"  Or, "The window is bad."  Thanks for the å.

Båba = bad.    Baba = open.

Båba ma sångan i taotao gi tatten-ña.  It's bad to talk about someone behind his/her back.

Yute' i babå-mo!  Literally : Throw away your badness.  But more : get rid of your vice or defect.

Babå-mo!  Literally : Your badness.  But more : You fool! 

Depending on your relationship with the speaker, "Babå-mo!" can mean something a whole lot lighter, like "You're crazy," in response to a joke or something silly.

Kao båbåba ilu-mo?  Literally : Is your head bad?  But more : Are you crazy?

Mama'baba.  To work or act improperly.

Mama'bababa i computer.  The computer is acting up.

Lalålålo' i saina sa' mama'bababa i patgon-ña.  The parent is angry because his/her child is acting up.

Båsta mama'baba!  Stop acting up!  Behave!

ARE YOU ALL USING THE CHAMORRO WORD OF THE DAY?

BÅSTA MAMA'BABA POT FABOT!

CHAMORRO RELIGIOUS POETRY : I Estasion - #3

3. Poddong si Jesus gi tano', mahgef nu i katgå-ña;

pinitiye kilisyåno nu i chinatsagå-ña.

(Jesus falls to the earth, weakened by his burden;

pity, O Christian, His hardship.)

FILIPINO PRIEST EXILES IN SPANISH GUAM

Statue of Fr. Pedro Dandan at Parañaque Cathedral.
The little girl is his great-great grand niece



The late 1800s were a volatile time in the Philippines, when the movement for independence from Spain gained momentum.  Some in the clergy supported independence and a few priests, along with the others, were deported to the Marianas by the Spaniards for their political views.

One of them was Father Pedro Dandan y Masangkay.  He was exiled to Guam in 1872 along with nine other priests, sailing on the Flores de María.  It is not certain how long he stayed on Guam but it seems those sentenced with him in 1872 were pardoned in 1874, so he conceivably returned to the Philippines around that time.  However, one of the other priests exiled with him, Father Miguel de Lasa, stayed on Guam for a while and served as priest in Guam and Saipan, so who knows about Father Dandan?

We know that Father Dandan was back in the Philippines by the 1880s where he continued to be involved in independence efforts until his mysterious death in 1897 while the country was in the midst of revolution and Father Dandan was a wanted man in the eyes of the Spanish government.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Señot Peter Onedera

Professor Peter Onedera at UOG wrote an article in today's PDN echoing his own personal recollections of a "Chamorro" Lent in his childhood, inspired by a letter I wrote about Lent as practiced on Guam before the war.  He was kind in mentioning this in his article, which you can read here :

http://www.guampdn.com/article/20110405/OPINION02/104050321/Tiempon-Kuaresma-annai-p-tgon-yu-?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Frontpage|s

Over at Hurao Academy, Anna Marie Arceo, founder of that Academy and Chamorro language teacher and promoter, wrote me the following about this blog :

"Para bai hu na'tungo' hå' håo na in gef supotte iyo-mu 'blog'.  In na'tutungo' todu i estudiånte yan mañainan Huråo para u ma usa para u fanestudia mås put Chamoru."

("I wanted to let you know that we really support your blog.  We let the students and parents at Hurao know to use the blog to study Chamorro more.")

Anna Marie, ti hu sodda' i litratu-mo guine gi internet!  Dispensa!

Also....from California....a good friend and blog fan wrote me saying, "I'm finding my Stateside born husband is venturing more and more into our language using words learned from your site. We really enjoy the Chamorro lessons."

Si Yu'us ma åse' Peter, Anna Marie yan todos hamyo ni tumataitai i blog pot i suppottasion-miyo!

I BABUEN KUARESMA

It might be a unique element in Chamorro culture. At least we don't see it in any well-known cultures around the world, not even in close-by Philippines where we do share many cultural similarities.

In Chamorro folk belief, there exists a very scary and dangerous wild boar who attacks naughty children when they break any of the rules of Lent. He is called the BABUEN KUARESMA, or "Lenten Boar" in English.

The Babuen Kuaresma is larger than the usual jungle boar; some say even ten times bigger. It has razor sharp tusks (in Chamorro, kotniyos) and can swallow a small child in one gulp. Some say its skin is full of thorns, so you better not touch.

Somehow these Babuen Kuaresma have a great respect for the rules of Lent and will punish any child or teenager who breaks them. Some of the rules are not to eat meat on Fridays; not the mix meat and fish in the same meal all of Lent; not to swim or play games; not to make noise, especially during Holy Week (Semåna Sånta).

Parents, grandparents and elders in general warned children that, if they broke any of these rules, the Babuen Kuaresma would emerge from the jungle and bite them or worse.

WILD PIGS

We don't know how or when this folk belief started, but naturally it came about during Catholic times so after 1668 and it came about when pigs finally came to Guam, which happened around the same time the Spanish missionaries came. Before that, the Marianas had no swine.

The Spanish, Mexican and Filipino settlers brought them to the Marianas and raised them here. Some pigs escaped into the jungle where they became wild. The Babuen Kuaresma may not exist but the Babuen Hålom Tåno', or the Wild Jungle Pig, does exist and they've recently become a problem on Guam. Being so numerous now they have damaged plants, crops and private property and on occasion have attacked other animals and maybe even humans.

It seems the story of the Babuen Kuaresma is based on the very real wild jungle pig, which is dangerous enough whether it be Lent or not.

PROBABLY UNIQUE TO GUAM

The world is a big place and who knows if there might be some other place where a pig or some other scary animal, or maybe a monster of some sort, enforces Lenten rules.

But it seems the Chamorros of the Marianas are the unique keepers of such a tradition.

It seems very clear that it was a story invented by elders to scare the youngest of children who are very gullible and don't know enough yet about the world to question the idea.

For example, if a boar attacked, bit or ate you, wouldn't that create noise? Noise from the pig and noise from the victim? And yet isn't that exactly what the Babuen Kuaresma is supposed to enforce? Lenten silence?

If the Babuen Kuaresma exists, why hasn't it ever been seen? Or photographed? Why don't we find its skeletons in the jungle? We see wild pigs in the jungle, but never a Babuen Kuaresma.

What does the Babuen Kuaresma do when it's not Lent? Disappear until next Ash Wednesday? Does he still live in the jungle, but cares less about the bad things children do outside of Lent?

So many customs, beliefs, practices and names were invented in the old days that were never documented. At one time, most Chamorros couldn't read or write, and the mentality of those days was not to record everything. Sometimes the story about the thing was passed down, word-of-mouth, to the next generation. But, in the case of the Babuen Kuaresma, we will never know how and when it came about.

But, it's part of our culture and perhaps only ours, even if today we just talk and laugh about it, and don't believe it at all.

CHAMORRO RELIGIOUS POETRY : I Estasion - #2

2. Si Jesus ha apagåye i gos makkat na håyo;

guåho yo' ha kumatgåye, guåho ha' muna' layao.

(Jesus carried the very heavy wood on His shoulder;

I was the one He carried it for, I alone made Him walk.)

TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : MÅNNGE'

cwgordon.tumblr.com

MÅNNGE' : delicious

Pronunciation is key here.  A lot of people say MUNG - EE.  It's MÅN (like the "mon" in Monday) + NGE'. 

We don't say the old lady is nice.  We say MÅNNGE' NA BIHA.  She's a delicious elderly lady.

We don't say the person speaks well.  We say MÅNNGE' AN KUMUENTOS.  S/he is delicious when s/he speaks.

We don't say it's enjoyable whenever we get together.  We say MÅNNGE' KADA MAN DADANÑA' HIT.  It's delicious every time we get together.

Of course we don't mean that literally.  It's just that we're really into the sense of taste.

You couldn't use månnge' for everything that is good.  You wouldn't say "That street is delicious."  "Månnge' ayo na chålan."  You'd say "maolek" to say the street is a good street.

Minannge' : tastiness, succulence

I na minannge'!  It's so tasty!

WHATEVER YOU EAT TODAY, SAY IT'S MÅNNGE'!

CHAMORRO RELIGIOUS POETRY : I Estasion - #1

glanmireparish.ie

The Chamorro hymns that have been around for a hundred years or more are an important source of information about our language.  Many of them are actually forms of poetry.  Since it's kuaresma, let's look at the 14 verses of the hymn "Gi Chalan i Kilu'os-mo,"  one verse each day.  Each verse describes one of the 14 Stations of the Cross.  It's a look at Chamorro in poetic form.

1. Si Pilatos ha na' måtai i tai isao na Jesus;

enao mina' esta måtai pot i taotao si Yu'us.

(Pilate sent Jesus to death;

that is how God died for the people.)

TODAY'S CHAMORRO WORD : HUNGGAN

whg.uk.com

HUNGGAN : Yes

OK so maybe 90% of you know "hunggan."  However....let's have some fun with it.

Sloppy Chamorro drops the "h" and comes out "unggan."  You normally can't say that to an elder.

Even more casual is "hu'u" or "hu'o."  Telling that to an elder results in a patmåda.  What's that?  Red cheeks (hint, hint).

The traditional way to say "yes" to an elder or someone of high status is :

"Si señot", or just plain "señot" to a man;

"Si señora," or just plain "señora" to a woman.

I remember when I was a young priest, 28 years old, having conversations like this in Malesso' or Humåtak :

Påle' : Kao sumåsåga hao Malesso'?
Palao'an : Señot.
Påle' : Kao humohosme hao Misa?
Palao'an : Señot.

Of course you could keep it "hunggan" and still be respectful by adding "asaina" or "saina-ho" to it.  "Asaina" or "Saina" can mean "lord, master, mistress" but it generally means anyone higher in status than you.

But your buddy down at work can be answered with a quick "hu'u!"

Or........."u!"     Or......"mmmmm!"

CHAMORRO CULTURAL FEST : San Diego, CA - May 21

The CHE'LU organization in San Diego is putting on a second Chamorro Cultural Fest there after last year's successful event.  I wasn't able to be there, but from all reports it went very well.  I am familiar with the venue, the Jacobs Center, where I celebrated several Masses for the Chamorro communities in the area.  It's a nice center, and recently constructed.

This year there is a blessing of the sakman that they have been working on for some time now.

I gave three cultural workshops in California last year and know a number of the organizers of this Fest.  My best wishes to them all!   Na' lå'la' i kutturå-ta!