Category: Chamorro Legends

The Amazing Gådao

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Legends, Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

Håfa adai everyone! It has been a quiet 3 weeks here on the blog and in our practice groups, as Jay and I were in Japan for a martial arts training camp with his dojo. Being able to train and sightsee in Japan was an incredible experience, but we are definitely missing the weekly gatherings with our Chamorro learning community. We are finally home and will be starting up our Saturday morning practice group with this Chamorro legend about how Gådao – traditionally from the village of Inalåhan – became the highest of all chiefs on the southern part of Guahan. We found this version in the UOG Digital Archives and Exhibitions collection. This post includes the legend in Chamorro, an English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

(Updated 8-June-2025 with notes from our Saturday morning practice session.)

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Kåntan Chamoru: Puntan Yan Fu’una

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Legends, Chamorro SongsLeave a comment

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!

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Kåntan Chamoru: Trongkon Niyok

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Legends, Chamorro Songs1 Comment

This charming song, Trongkon Niyok, is written and sung by Daniel De Leon Guerrero. Set to the lovely tune of a båtsu (the Chamorro waltz), he sings to us the Chamorro legend of the coconut tree. If you aren’t familiar with the båtsu, it essentially follows the same tempo and step pattern of the Viennese waltz. But what makes it slightly different is that it includes the up and down motion that we find in the “regular” waltz. Our Saturday evening practice group listened to this song a few weeks ago – I’m definitely behind on posting our songs, and I blame the changing weather and migraines! As always, Chamorro lyrics and an English translation are included in this post. Happy listening (and dancing)!

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Estorian Taotaomo’na: The Story of the Fragrant Woman

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Legends, Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

Another taotaomo’na story this week, from the island of Guam. Set in the village of Agat, this story is about a woman who is accompanied by a strong fragrance and a family who desire to know more about her. There seem to be several stories of the “white lady” or “fragrant woman” spread throughout our islands. Have you heard of a woman like this? This post includes the Chamorro text, English translation, and Chamorro narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading! (UPDATED 10/14/2024 with discussion notes from our Saturday morning practice group)

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Estorian Taotaomo’na: Si Tangulu

On By Schyuler LujanIn Chamorro Legends, Chamorro StoriesLeave a comment

Here is a taotaomo’na story from Luta about a taotaomo’na named Tangulu, which literally translates to “skull”. It’s a combination of the words to’lang (which means “bone”) and ulu (which means “head”). Have any of you heard of Tangulu? This story was completely brand new for me, so I’m excited for us to read this in our Saturday morning praktika this week.

This post includes the Chamorro text, English translation, and Chamorro narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!

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