We cancelled our Saturday evening practice group this week because Jay and I were hosting a language workshop at the 2025 PISA conference. So here is a song that our Saturday evening practice group transcribed a while back, which is the legend of Fu’una and Puntan and the creation of the Mariana Islands, sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. If you enjoy Chamorro legends and Chamorro music, you will also want to check out the songs Trongkon Niyok and Åchu’ Natibu. In this post, you’ll find the Chamorro lyrics and an English translation of the song Puntan Yan Fu’una by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!
Continue reading “Kåntan Chamoru: Puntan Yan Fu’una”Year: 2025
PISACON 2025
Jay and I cancelled our Saturday practice groups this weekend because we will be teaching a workshop at this year’s PISACON (Pacific Islander Student Alliance Conference). Our workshop is about learning and reclaiming our languages, based on our own “on the ground” experiences of learning and teaching the Chamorro language. For anyone who cannot attend the conference or our workshop, you can access our presentation slides and accompanying booklet at the links below:
We are very excited to present at this conference, because it is specifically for Pacific Islander college students. Although Jay and I completed all of our higher education in the PNW, we have never been to an event like this one. So un dångkulu na si Yu’us ma’åse to the people putting on this conference, and for making a better today and tomorrow for Pacific Islander college students here on the West Coast.
Fanékungok yan si Dabit: I Tinituhon
My friend Dabit Taitingfong just launched a new podcast, Fanékungok yan si Dabit, where he chats with different guests entirely in Chamorro. He created this podcast to make more Chamorro conversations accessible online, and in the first few episodes, he speaks with second-language learners. To support this podcast, consider visiting his online tip jar!
This post includes a Chamorro transcription of the first episode, I Tinituhon, which was done by our friend Alicia Aguigui Dart. She was the one who started our original Saturday evening study groups at the end of 2020, and for years, when I had to pause my own learning, she kept the online space thriving—keeping my learning going too. Whenever she can, she’ll be transcribing episodes and has generously allowed me to share them here on the blog. To support her amazing work, please visit her online tip jar!
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First Encounter With Magellan
The history of our islands and people have been framed so often from the Western, colonial gaze that it can be easy to forget the indigenous perspective. March 6th marks the anniversary of when the Chamorro people first encountered – and generously aided – Magellan and his starving crew. Yet it is how Magellan chose to label the cultural misunderstandings between our people and the Spaniards which has so often defined the larger historical narrative. So in this story, written by Brigida D.L. Guerrero, we get to read a rare piece of historical fiction in the Chamorro language that tells of this encounter from the Chamorro perspective. I found this story in the UH Manoa Pacific Languages Collection, and hope you enjoy it! This post includes the Chamorro text and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le.
The English Translation is forthcoming! I have not posted the translation yet because we I underestimated how long it would take to do and haven’t finished it yet.
Kåntan Chamoru: Mangginen Manu
Last week, our Saturday evening practice group transcribed this song Mangginen Manu by Daniel De Leon Guerrero, where he sings about contemporary problems facing the island of Guam at the time of the song’s release. It’s an excellent example of how Chamorro music is much deeper than simply creating “good island vibes.” While creating nice, feel-good tunes is definitely part of Chamorro songwriting, being able to speak to the current moment with wit, rhythm, and rhyme is also significant. In this song we get a sampling of some sharp social commentary and criticism of the institutions and behaviors that are responsible for the welfare of the island and its people. This post includes Chamorro lyrics and an English translation for Mangginen Manu sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Happy listening!
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Lengguahi-ta 