As the Lenten season draws to a close, we’re featuring a story rooted in the intersection of Chamorro cultural traditions and Catholicism – the tale of the Lenten Boar. This fearsome and gigantic jungle creature was traditionally used by elders to teach children respect for the sacredness of Lent, warning them to follow the season’s rules or risk encountering the Babuen Kuaresma (the Lenten Boar). Consequences would include being bitten by the Babuen Kuaresma, or else being swallowed whole. Ray Barcinas, who grew up hearing tales of the Babuen Kuaresma, also said that his elders warned that if you were swallowed by the boar, you would not die, but you would be forced to witness your family’s life – without you in it. In this story I Babuen Kuaresma written by Ray Barcinas, Jesus Lujan and Velma Santos, we get to read about this distinctly Chamorro creature. It is easy to imagine oneself as a young Chamorro child while reading this piece, sitting and listening to the elders’ warnings about the Babuen Kuaresma.
This post includes the Chamorro text, a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le and Schyuler Lujan, an English translation, and translation notes provided by Jesus Lujan. We will also be receiving more translation notes from Ray Barcinas after Easter. Please note that the English translation focuses on giving the meaning and does not preserve the internal and external rhyme schemes found in the original Chamorro. Happy reading!
I Babuen Kuaresma
Tinige’ as Ray Barcinas, Jesus Lujan, yan Velma Santos
Shhh…
Åhe’ maolek ha’
Famatkilu
Guse’ tåya’ guaha
Hoi, umbre påkaka’
Åhe’ guåña1 éssalao
Un tungo’ ha’ na ya-mu
Ia’ ia’ énnaogue’ na’-mu2
Ia’ ia’ ola3 toka
Guåhu mayåhu4 i babuen kuaresma
Si Jesukristo gi masapet-ña
na kumpliåños måtto yu’ esta
Shhh…
Åhe’ maolek ha’
Famatkilu
Guse’ tåya’ guaha
Hoi, umbre påkaka’
Åhe’ guåña éssalao
Un tungo’ ha’ na ya-mu
Ia’ ia’ énnaogue’ na’-mu
Ia’ ia’ ola toka
I patgon ha baba i a’gang pachot-ña
Disatento, åguaguat ti ha cho’gue i matago’-ña
Táirespetu tåya’ nai måsga5
Ennao na dåggan ya-hu umåkka’
Para håfa mannangga, Loria6 pat Påsgua
Bai konne’ bai atok
Bai tucho’ ya båsta.
Shhh…
Åhe’ maolek ha’
Famatkilu
Guse’ tåya’ guaha
Hoi, umbre påkaka’
Åhe’ guåña éssalao
Un tungo’ ha’ na ya-mu
Ia’ ia’ énnaogue’ na’-mu
Ia’ ia’ ola toka
Fehman7 na puengi i tano’ humomhom
Si saina-ta Jesukristo masaolak, mafongfong
I kalaguak-ña i lansa sumongsong
I tasi malinao, i tano’ sa’ mongmong
Ti åpmam yu’ guatu magåhet si nåna
Hagas mohon hao mañotsot
Hagas mohon hao pumåra
Mantika na sensen kalåktos na nifen
Luhan na påtgon lago’-ña mumisen8
Hålom gi gima’ kandålu hao gi kuatto
Gi me’nan i såntos fanaitai un råtu
Na puedi ha’ mohon
I kastigu-mu ti måtto
Mungnga yu’ pachang
Éssalao a’gang
Maolek ha’ kumuentos
Månnge’ ha’ ya un chagi
I mås meggai fino’-ña
Mås meggai mandagi
Maolek, maolek osge si nåna
Ékungok si tåta
Mesngon mannangga sa’ båli ha’ nåya
Ini na acháfuhu9 i mali’e’ i manåmko’10 nai monhan manhinatme nu i hinenggen i sånta iglesia de la katólika11. I mafa’mánsangan12 nu i håfa malóloffan gi fehman yan fátkilon ha’ånen kuaresma siha. Ha tátancho’ huyong yan ha såsala‘13 i tiempo direchu sulemne14. Ha achufúfuni15 i guinaguat famagu’on16 na u fampåkaka’ måhgong yan tunas, sinó ke i manåguaguat u miresi sa’ ha gåggao na u mayoggua gi addet na kastigu. I babuen kuaresma guiya i fina’nu’en chátineppok17 yan táilayi18 na tentasión siha. Guiya lokkue’ mahadahi19 kulan mohon i piligru yan ná’ma’a’ñao na ninangga20 para i ingråtu yan sala’ na babarias21.
Note About Gender in English Translation: While Chamorro pronouns are not gendered, English pronouns are. For ease of reading in the English translation, I have chosen the pronoun “he” when referring to the child.
The Lenten Boar
Written by Ray Barcinas, Jesus Lujan and Velma Santos
Shhh…
No, it’s alright
Be quiet
Come on, it doesn’t matter
Hey, dude keep silent
No really, shout
You already know that you want to
Uh-oh, uh-oh that’s what you get
Uh-oh, uh-oh, look what you did, now you’re going to get in trouble
I am the one who answers to the name of the Lenten Boar
On the anniversary of Jesus’s suffering, I have arrived
Shhh…
No, it’s alright
Be quiet
Come on, it doesn’t matter
Hey, dude keep silent
No really, shout
You already know that you want to
Uh-oh, uh-oh that’s what you get
Uh-oh, uh-oh, look what you did, now you’re going to get in trouble
The child opened his loud mouth
Disrespectful, naughty he did not do what he was told
Disrespectful, he never learned his lesson
That’s the kind of buttocks I like to bite
Why bother to wait, Holy Saturday or Easter
I will take him, I will hide him
I will devour him, and it will be done
Shhh…
No, it’s alright
Be quiet
Come on, it doesn’t matter
Hey, dude keep silent
No really, shout
You already know that you want to
Uh-oh, uh-oh that’s what you get
Uh-oh, uh-oh, look what you did, now you’re going to get in trouble
The land became dark on (this) grave day
Our Lord Jesus Christ was whipped, was beaten
It was a lance that pierced his side
The sea was calm, but the land rumbled
I will be there soon, the mother was right
You should have repented long ago
You should have stopped a long time ago
Fatty flesh, sharp teeth
The frightened child’s eyes filled with tears
Go into the house, lock yourself in the room
Before the saint, pray for a moment
So that hopefully
Your punishment will not arrive
I don’t want to be sensitive
Yell loudly
It’s okay to talk
It will be delightful if you try it
The one who speaks the most
Lies the most
Good, good, obey mother
Listen to father
Endure waiting because it’s worthwhile yet
This synonym is the story of the elders who have already taken in the belief of the holy Catholic church. It was made into what was habitually said of what happens during the intense and silent days of lent. It points out and makes serious the time of solemnity. It forces the obstinate children to hush, quickly and justly, otherwise the disobedient ones will deserve (it) because they are asking to be punished in a severe way. The Lenten Boar is the manifestation of incitement to evil temptations. It is also looked out for as the dangerous and frightening consequence of irreverent and severe misbehavior.
Notes
1 åhe’ guåña: No, really. (back to text)
2 énnaogue’ na’-mu: This is a phrase that literally translates to “there is your food” but it is also a Chamorro expression referring to the result of your actions. The English equivalent would be, “That’s what you get.” (back to text)
3 ola: This is said before you are about to get in trouble. An English equivalent is “Look what you did. Now you’re gonna get it.” This differs from toka, which is usually said after you get in trouble. (back to text)
4 mayåhu: This comes from yåhu, which has different meanings. In this context, it means “To answer to a name.” (back to text)
5 måsga: To learn one’s lesson, to change for the better, to repent. (back to text)
6 Loria: Holy Saturday (back to text)
7 fehman: Serious, profound (back to text)
8 lago’-ña mumisen: His eyes filled with tears. The word mumisen comes from misen which is often understood as “full of liquid” or “abundant liquid.” So this phrase can be literally translated as “his tears became full of liquid.” But there’s a Christmas song Linangitan Niño actually uses the phrase Misen i lago’-mo pinedongguan hao which is understood as “Many tears fell from your eyes.” So taking the lead from this lyric, we might interpret this as talking about his eyes filling with tears. (back to text)
9 acháfuho: Synonym (back to text)
10 i mali’e’ i manåmko’: Literally this means “what the elders saw” but it is understood to mean “the story of the elders.” (back to text)
11 sånta iglesia de la katólika: the holy Catholic church (back to text)
12 mafa’mánsangan: Was made into what was habitually said or talked about. (back to text)
13 såla’ / sala’: Serious or severe. (back to text)
14 i tiempo direchu sulemne: The time of solemnity or the solemn time. This may also be referring to high feast days in the Catholic religion, which are referred to as solemnities. (back to text)
15 achufuni: To force (back to text)
16 guinaguat famagu’on: Obstinate children (back to text)
17 chátineppok: Incitement to wrong-doing. (back to text)
18 táilayi: Cruel, unkind. This term is also used in religious texts when talking about evil. (back to text)
19 mahadahi: Looked out for. (back to text)
20 ninangga: This is literally translated as “what is waiting.” In the context of the sentence this is used in, what is waiting for those who break the rules of Lent are the consequences of breaking those rules. Therefore, ninangga is understood as the “consequence.” (back to text)
21 sala’ na babarias: A severe, indecent or offensive act. (back to text)
Original PDF
Here is a PDF of the text in its original layout.
Lengguahi-ta 