Here we have a short, humorous story about a village and its priest by Påle’ Eric Forbes from his book Estoriaye Yo’. This post includes the Chamorro text, the English translation, and a Chamorro audio narration by Jay Che’le. Happy reading!
Category: Chamorro Stories
Chamorro Pumpkin Recipes
Chamorro pumpkin recipes were rare in my home growing up, despite the abudance of pumpkins here in the Pacific Northwest during the Fall season. I do remember the one time my grandmother made påstit (turnovers) with pumpkin filling, and that was a real treat. In this post we will read through some Chamorro pumpkin recipes from the final chapter of the book Manmannge’ Na Nengkanno’ I Manchamorro Yan Taimanu Manmafa’tinas-niha written by Carmen C. Blas. Our Saturday morning practice group has been reading through this book since January of this year, so it’s exciting to finally finish it! As always, this post includes the Chamorro text, an English translation, a Chamorro audio narration by Jorell Meno, and a link to the original source document in the UOG Digital Archives Collection. Happy reading!
The Lenten Boar
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!
Chamorro Yam Recipes
Last Saturday, our group wrapped up Håyi Mansakke’?, a historical fiction piece we read and translated as part of this year’s Mes Chamoru celebration. This week, we’re continuing with a read-through of a Chamorro recipe book by Carmen C. Blas, which I found on the UOG Digital Archives and Exhibitions website. In this post, we’re diving into some traditional Chamorro yam recipes.
Do you recognize any of these dishes? Or are there any you’d like to try for the first time? I’ve had the boñelus dågu and gollai åpan before, but the kåddun o’o’ was completely new to me! This post includes a Chamorro audio narration by Jorell Meno, the Chamorro text, and an English translation. Happy reading!
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.
Lengguahi-ta 