Here is a charming tale of friendship between the canary and the chungi’, which in English is known as the white tern. I’m excited for our Saturday practice group to read this story because it really made me smile, and it reads like a happy folktale telling us how the two birds became friends. This story is from the book Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro, written by Joaquin Flores Borja, Manuel Flores Borja, and Sandra Chung. Physical copies may be scarce, but thankfully we are able to access a digital copy on the Inetnun Kutturan Natibun Marianas website.

This post includes the Chamorro text, a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le, and an English translation. Please also note that this story follows the CNMI orthography. I have also added stress marks to some words, to make it easier for learners to see the stress placement. Happy reading!

Si Kanåriu yan si Chungi’

Tinige’ as Joaquin Flores Borja, Manuel Flores Borja, yan Sandra Chung
Ginen i lebplo “Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro”

Tåddung hålum gi halum tånu’, giya AsTeo, si Kanåriu mama’chéchemchum gi ramas trongkun nunu. Si Kanåriu mampus inalúlula para u funhåyan i chemchom-ña. Esta para talu’åni ya ha sésenti i ñalång-ña. Gi fi’un esti na dångkulun trongkun nunu guaha siha trongkun papåya yan dos na trongkun åtis yan unu na sen lokka’ na trongkun laguaná. Hihut na distånsia, meggágai yan mansen meppa’ i trongkun mansanita. Si Kanåriu ginin esti na båndan halum tånu’ nai mafañågu. Put i meggai yan bula na klåsin trongkun frutas, si Kanåriu ha disidi na para u establisa i nina’lå’-ña guini na påttin hålum tånu’. Guini mismu na diha, gotpi tumohgi si paluman Chungi’. Si Chungi’, guiya lokkui’ mafañågu guini mismu na trongku. Si Chungi’ tåya’ atungo’-ña. Malagu’ para amigu-ña si Kanåriu. Si Chungi’ sigi ha dibina håfa na ti parehu kulot- ñiha i dos. Si Chungi’ ha haguni dos, tres biåhi pues ilek- ña,  “Amiga,  dispensa  yu’,  lao  håfa  na  mampus  hao amariyu?”

Si Kanåriu mampus tinani’ ni para u na’funhåyan i chemchom-ña, ti ha atétendi håfa siha masusésedi gi uriyå- ña. Pues si Chungi’ tuma’yuk yan manggaloppi guatu na direksión para u na’hihut gui’ yan si Kanåriu. Ha ripiti i kuestion-ña ta’lu guatu as Kanåriu. Insigidas muluhan si Kanåriu. Ti kumalamtin putlumenus kuåttru sigundu. Manlåolao un råtútu pues kume’gupu. Si Kanåriu hinasson-ña na manlíli’i’ gui’ birak. Ha chagi ta’lu pumalappa i dos pappan-ña para u suha guihi na mumentu. Si Chungi’ ha tåmpi i ilu-ña ni agapa’ na pappan-ña ya ha saluda si Kanåriu. Ilek-ña, “Put fabót, mungnga muma’å’ñao. Måttu yu’ kun rispetu yan pås mågi guini na trongku anai mafañågu yu’. Hu sodda’ hao guini ya malagu’ yu’ na hågu yan guåhu ta amiga.”

Si Kanåriu mampus binensi nu i finu’ as Chungi’. Kumåtma i bongbung kurason-ña ya ha faisin håfa i kuestion-ña.

Si Chungi’ ha dopbla tåtti i agapa’ na pappan-ña ya ha håtsa hulu’ i ilu-ña ya chumålik dispåsiu ya ilek- ña, “Håfa na mampus amariyu kulot-mu?”

Tumekkun si Kanåriu ya ha oppi i kuestión Chungi’. Ilek-ña taiguini, “Kao un li’i’ atyu guatu na tinekcha’?”

“Hunggan,” manoppi si Chungi’.

“Kao guaha na un chagi kumånnu’ aga’, mångga, pat åbas?”

Ilek-ña si Chungi’, “Åhi’.”

“Ennao siha na klåsin tinekcha’ hu kåkannu’. Manmamis yan manmáñaña’. Kumu ennao lokkui’ un kåkannu’, siempri amariyu kulot-mu.” Si Kanåriu ha na’na’lu i kuestión tåtti guatu as Chungi’. Ha faisin si Chungi’ håfa na sen å’paka gui’.

Si Chungi’ ilek-ña, “Kada diha humåhanao yu’ guatu gi i tasi ya umó’o’mak yu’. I asiga gi halum tåsi ha na’fañuha todu i ápplacha’, måncha, fachi’, yan i pekas gi tátaotåo-hu pues ennao na mampus å’paka yu’. Atan ha’ esti i piku-hu. Kadiduk yan kalåktus. Esti hu na’sésetbi para bai hu lånsa i na’-hu. Gef ya-hu guihan ni mandíkiki’ kumånnu’. Hu papañut gotpi hålum gi guitgueru-hu. Yanggin ti hu cho’gui taiguini, siempri måskara¹ todu yu’.”

Si Kanåriu ha é’e’kunguk todu håfa i ilélek-ña si Chungi’. Ha faisin si Chungi’, “Ti ma’å’ñao hao na un måtmus?”

Si Chungi’ manman ya ilek-ña, “Kumeke’ilek-mu na tåya’ hao ni umo’mak?”

Manoppi si Kanåriu, “Mungnga ennao masångan. Hunggan umó’o’mak yu’. Kada uchan hu na’måmasmai yu’.”

Si Chungi’ ha sangåni si Kanåriu na i ichan ti parehu yan i hanum tåsi. Pues si Chungi’ ha kumbíbida si Kanåriu para u piknik i dos. Kumuntråta na para agupa’ gi alas dossi gi talu’åni.

Si Chungi’ ha esplikåyi si Kanåriu na para u må’ti i tasi gi alas dossi gi talu’åni. Si Kanåriu ti ha kumprendi håfa kumeke’ilek-ña yanggin må’ti i tasi. Pues si Chungi’ ha na’klåru na guaha hafnu’ yan guaha må’ti. Ilek-ña na ya-ña mås malak guatu gi tasi yanggin hafnu’. Lao put i tåya’ na malak guatu si Kanåriu gi tasi, mås såfu’ para si Kanåriu yanggin ha nangga i ma’tin i tasi sa’ ti gef piligru.

Ma’å’ñao si Chungi’ na u måtmus si Kanåriu gi primét finattoñ-ña gi tasi. Anai mås ha kumprendi si Kanåriu i difirensiån-ña i tasi yan i ichan, yan i ma’ti yan i hafnu’, kulan mås ha gofli’i’ i nuebu na amigå-ña as Chungi’.

Si Kanåriu ha ripåra na si Chungi’ gåsgas kurason-ña. Mampus maguf si Kanåriu sa’ para u falak i tasi, lao mås gaigi i minagof-ña gi amigå-ña as Chungi’.

Guihi nai ta’lu anai duråntin pumípiknik i dos, si Chungi’ ha sangåni si Kanåriu para u atan taimanu gui’ umo’mak yan taimanu gui’ pumeska yanggin para u chotchu. Nina’manman si Kanåriu nu i abilidåt-ña si Chungi’ pumeska ya si Chungi’ ha na’fanfila i kinenne’-ña guihan díchiching.

Si Kanåriu ha batbaruyi ya gumupu guatu gi un åtchu’ gi halum tåsi ya ha lupuk gui’. Duru pumalappa ya ha na’fotgun gui’. Ha ripåra na ma’asin i hanum. I asiga gi aga’gå’-ña kulan mampus ma’asin. Pues gumupu ya duru manaligao hånum sinaga. Si Kanåriu ha li’i’ un dångkulun trongkun talisai. Ha sodda’ na guaha hagas na måhluk råmas. Ya guihi ha sodda’ hånum sinaga. Ha gimin i månu siña na chinaddik sa’ i asiga ha ñúñukut gui’.

Si Chungi’ luhan yan sustu sa’ si Kanåriu afagao yan burutåo. Si Chungi’ gumupu guatu anai gaigi si Kanåriu ya ha faisin håfa chetnot-ña.

Manoppi si Kanåriu ya ilek-ña, “Bulåchu yu’.”

“Håfa nai na bulåchu hao? Kao gumimin hao tuba?” mámaisin si Chungi’.

“Ai, put fabót, dulót², ni nungka na bai hu gimin tuba. Si tatå-hu ha chagi ya ha sufa’ trongkun gågu. Si nanå-hu ges nanålu’ ya ha dengkut si tatå-hu asta ki måttu si paluman Såli Bongbung ya ha na’påra. Måsga esta si tatå- hu. Ti ya-hu anai hu li’i’ si tatå-hu bulåchu. Åhi’, ti bulåchu yu’. I asiga gi hanum tåsi muna’afagao yu’ yan kulan ti måolik sinientek-ku”

Ilek-ña si Chungi’, “Kao siña håfa bai hu cho’guiyi hao?”

“Åhi’, esta todu måolik yu’,” ilek-ña si Kanåriu. “Ya månu hao ni sumåsaga?” si Kanåriu ha faisin si Chungi’.

“Oh, yanggin ti un inistotba, malagu’ yu’ na bai hu såga guihi na trongku anai un håhatsa i chemchom-mu.”

“Båsta hit fan. Magåhit hao?”

“Hunggan, magåhit yo’.”

“Ai che’lu, gef maguf yu’ sa’ hunggan hu gofli’i’ hao na amigå-hu.”

Si  Chungi’  yan  si  Kanåriu,  gumef  umafa’maolik.

Umá’ayuda gi nisisidat-ñiha kalan dos chume’lu mohon.

YANGGIN MANLI’I’ HAO KANÅRIU PAT CHUNGI’, RIPÅRA HA’ SA’ GEF NÁ’MAGUF MA’ATAN.

The Canary and The White Tern

Written by Joaquin Flores Borja, Manuel Flores Borja, yan Sandra Chung
From the book “Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro”

Deep within the jungle, in AsTeo, Canary was making a nest on the branch of a banyan tree. Canary was really in a hurry to have her nest finished. It was already going to be midday and she was feeling her hunger. Next to this big banyan tree there were papaya trees, two sugar apple trees, and one very tall soursop tree. At a close distance, there were many fruitful cherry trees. Canary was from this side of the jungle, where she was born. Because it was full of many types of fruit trees, Canary decided to establish her life in this part of the jungle.

On this very day, the Chungi’ bird suddenly stood up. Chungi’ was also born here in this very tree. Chungi’ had no friends. She wanted Canary to be her friend. Chungi’ continued to puzzle over why the colors of the two of them were not the same. Chungi’ breathed two, three times, then she said, “Friend, excuse me, but why are you so yellow?”

Canary was too busy with trying to finish her nest, and she was not paying attention to what was happening around her. So Chungi’ hopped and jumped in that direction to get close to Canary. She repeated her question again to Canary. Instantly, Canary was frightened. She did not move for at least four seconds. She was trembling for a moment, then she was about to fly away. Canary thought she was seeing a ghost. She tried again to flap her two wings to get away from that moment. Chungi’ covered her head with her right wing and greeted Canary. She said, “Please, don’t be afraid. I have come here in respect and peace, to this tree where I was born. I found you here and I want you and me to be friends.”

Canary was really convinced by the words of Chungi’. The beating of her heart calmed down and she asked what her question was.

Chungi’ folded back her right wing and lifted up her head and laughed slowly and said, “Why is your color so yellow?”

Canary came down and answered Chungi’s question. She said it like this, “Did you see that fruit over there?”

“Yes,” Chungi’ answered.

“Have you ever tried to eat banana, mango, or guava?”

Chungi’ said, “No.”

“Those kinds of fruit are what I eat. They are sweet and soft. If that is also what you eat, surely your color will be yellow.” Canary returned the question back to Chungi’. She asked Chungi’ why she was so white.

Chungi’ said, “Every day I go to the ocean, and I bathe. The salt in the ocean removes all of the dirtiness, stains, mud, and the mildew from my body, and so that is why I am so white. Just look at my beak. It is pointy and sharp. This is what I use to spear my food. I really like to eat the fish which are small. I swallow them instantly inside my throat. If I don’t do it like that, then surely my entire face would be a mess.”

Canary was listening to everything Chungi’ was saying. She asked Chungi’, “Are you not afraid that you will drown?”

Chungi’ was surprised and said, “Do you mean that you have never bathed before?”

Canary answered, “Don’t say that. Yes, I bathe. Every time it rains, I drench myself.”

Chungi’ said to Canary that the rain is not the same as the ocean water. Then Chungi’ was inviting Canary for the two of them to go on a picnic. They agreed to tomorrow, at 12:00 in the afternoon.

Chungi’ explained to Canary that the ocean would be at low tide at 12:00 in the afternoon. Canary didn’t understand what that meant, when the ocean is at low tide. So Chungi’ clarified that there is the high tide and there is the low tide. She said that she prefers to go there to the ocean when it is high tide. But because Canary had never gone there to the ocean, it is safest for Canary if they wait for the low tide of the sea, because it is not very dangerous.

Chungi’ was afraid that Canary would drown during her first visit to the ocean. When Canary understood more about the difference between the ocean and the rain, and the low tide and the high tide, she seemed to love her new friend Chungi’ even more.

Canary noticed that Chungi’s heart was pure. Canary was so happy because she would go to the ocean, but her joy was more about her friend Chungi’.

There again, when the two were picknicking, Chungi’ told Canary to look at how she bathes, and how she fishes when she will eat. Canary was amazed by Chungi’s ability to fish, and Chungi’ lined up the very small fish she caught.

Canary was daring, and she flew toward a rock in the ocean and dipped herself inside the water. She kept flapping her wings and she made herself wet. She noticed that the water was salty. The salt in her throatt was too salty. So she flew and kept looking for rainwater. Canary saw a big almond tree. She found that there was a branch that had been broken. And there she found rainwater. She drank from where she could drink quickly, because the salt was choking her.

Chungi was afraid and terrified because Canary was hoarse and noisy. Chungi’ flew to where Canary was and asked her what was wrong with her.

Canary answered and said, “I’m drunk.”

“Why are you drunk? Did you drink tuba?” Chungi’ asked.

“Oh, please, I will never drink tuba. My father tried it and he charged at the ironwood tree. My mother was very angry and she pecked my father until the bird Såli Bongbung arrived and stopped her. My father already regretted it. I didn’t like it when I saw my father drunk. No, I am not drunk. The salt in the ocean made me hoarse, and I don’t feel good.”

Chungi’ said, “Can I do anything for you?”

“No, I’m already all good,” Canary said. “And where are you staying?” Canary asked Chungi’.

“Oh, if it won’t bother you, I want to stay on that tree, where you are building your nest.”

“No way. Are you serious?”

“Yes, I’m serious.”

“Oh sister, I am so happy because yes, I really do love you, my friend.”

Chungi’ and Canary were very good to each other.

They were helping each other with what they needed, and it was as though the two were actually siblings.

If you see a canary or a chungi’, just take notice of them, because they are very enjoyable to look at.

Notes

¹ måskara: This word means “filthy” or “dirty.” In this sentence, when Chungi’ is eating, it has the context having food all over your face. (back to story)

² dulót: One of our aunties in our practice group said she heard this word a lot growing up, but this was her first time seeing it written down. She said in this context it’s used for the sake of rhyming with pot fabót. In English, an equivalent would be the expression “geez louise” to convey exasperation. Also, it’s important to note that Dulót is also a nickname for Dorothy. (back to story)

References

Borja, Joaquin Flores, Manuel Flores Borja, and Sandra Chung. 2006. Istreyas Mariånas: Chamorro. PDF. 1st ed. Estreyas Marianas Publications. https://natibunmarianas.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/istreyas.marianas.pdf.