When I was little, this legend was always a favorite of mine and I was very excited on the day I realized I could finally read it in Chamorro. This version in Chamorro is good for beginners because the sentences are short and simple. In this post I’ve transcribed the Chamorro and included the English translation, and the original pdf is also in this post if you prefer to see the illustrations while reading. The narration is done by Jay Che’le. Enjoy!

I Ko’Ko’ Yan I Hilitai

Tinige’ as Lagrimas Untalan
Pinentan as Vid Quitoriano

Eståba un dikike’ na hilitai yan si nanå-ña. I liyang guma-ñiha. Humanao si Hilitai para u fanespiha chåda’ påharu. Gos ya-ña si Hilitai chumocho chåda’. Ha hungok si Hilitai i kantan i påharu siha. Malago’ si Hilitai kumånta.

Sigi si Hilitai di ha chagi kumånta. Ti apmam kumånta si Hilitai. Bunitu kantå-ña. I påharu yan i ga’ga siha yan-ñiha i kantan Hilitai.

Umasodda’ si Hilitai yan si Chichirika.

“Bunitu i bos-mu, Hilitai,” ilek-ña si Chichirika. “Lao guahu mås bunitu pilu-hu gi entre i påharu siha.”

Manhasso si Hilitai. “Hafa taimanu hu na’bunitu yu’? Bai hånao ya bai faisen si Ko’ko.”

Ilek-ña si Hilitai as Ko’ko’, “Hafa adai na gos chatpa’go hao? Ada ya-mu i attilong na pilu-mu? Ada ti sina un tulaika i kulot-mu?”

“Chatpa’go yu’, magåhet. Penta yu’, fan, ya bai penta hao.”

Maolek si Ko’ko’ manhasso. I chadå-na para u fa’pentura. Ha batte i a’paka’ chåda’ gi un nå’yan. Ha batte i agaga’ chåda’ gi otro nå’yan. Ha chule’ i pilu-ña para brochas pentura.

“Hayi u famenta fine’nina?” ilek-ña si Ko’ko’.

Manoppe’ si Hilitai, “Mungnga yu’ mamenta nåya. Gos yayas yu’, adai.”

Pues ha tutuhon si Ko’ko’ pumenta si Hilitai.

Ilek-ña si Ko’ko’, “Esta monhåyan hu penta hao, Hilitai. Maila’ fan på’go ya un penta yu’.”

“Ai adai!” ilek-ña si Hilitai. “Ti måmågong i yayas-hu. Lao, hunggan, bai penta hao på’go.”

Ha supok i Hilitai i brochas gi pentura. Ha sakudi guatu i pentura gi ilon Ko’ko’. “Enague’ i malago’-mu!” ilek-ña si Hilitai. Malågu si Hilitai guatu gi liyang.

Manman si Ko’ko’ ya ilek-ña, “Esta un dagi yu’. Ayu mohon i u dinga’ i hila’-mu.”

Desde ayu na tiempo asta på’go, duminga’ i hila’ Hilitai. Todu i hilitai siha gi tano’ mandinga’ i hila’-ñiha. Ti sina mangånta sa’ gos chatpa’go i bos-ñiha.

The Guam Rail and the Monitor Lizard

There was a small monitor lizard and its mother. Their house was a cave. Monitor Lizard went to look for bird eggs. Monitor Lizard really liked eating eggs. Monitor Lizard heard the song of the birds. Monitor Lizard wanted to sing.

Monitor Lizard kept trying to sing. Soon, Monitor Lizard sang. It’s song was pretty. The birds and the animals liked the song of the Monitor Lizard.

Monitor Lizard and Chichirika met each other.

“Your voice is pretty, Monitor Lizard,” said Chichirika. “But I have the prettiest feathers amongst all of the birds.”

Monitor Lizard thought. “How do I make myself pretty? I will go and I will ask the Guam Rail.”

Monitor Lizard when and found the Guam Rail. Monitor Lizard said to the Guam Rail, “Hey, why are you so ugly? Oh, so you like your black feathers? Oh, you cannot change your color?”

“I am ugly, it is true. Paint me, please, and I will paint you.”

The Guam Rail thought carefully. His egg was to be used for paint. He mixed the white of the egg in one dish. He mixed the red of the egg in the other dish. He took his feather for a paintbrush.

“Who will paint first?” the Guam Rail said.

Monitor Lizard answered, “I don’t want to paint for a while. I am very tired, for goodness sake.”

Then the Guam Rail started to paint Monitor Lizard.

The Guam Rail said, “I am already finished painting you, Monitor Lizard. Come now please and you will paint me.”

“Oh dear!” Monitor Lizard said. “My fatigue is not recovering. But yes, I will paint you now.”

Monitor Lizard submerged the brush in the paint. He whipped the paint there onto the Guam Rail’s head. “There is what you want!” Monitor Lizard said. Monitor Lizard ran to the cave.

The Guam Rail was surprised and said, “You already lied to me. May it be that your tongue will be forked.”

From that time until now, the tongue of the Monitor lizard became forked. All of the monitor lizards in the land have their tongues forked. They cannot sing because their voices are very ugly.