"Baba I Matan Miyu"

Listen to "Baba I Matan Miyu" by Victoria Leon Guerrero

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• KUAM
• Chamorro
• Poem

[lemanusamoa]

Who were we before we became "Chamoru"?--the identity given to us by the Spanish colonialist. "Chamoru" means shorn heads. Spanish colonialism runs through our blood (see our last names and language) & we are predominantly Catholic--a forced religion upon our ancestors. They stole our land, killed our men, raped our women who gave birth to babies with colonial blood. Not the U.S.A! I hate that I pay tribute to them by identifying myself with the identity they gave us "Chamoru"!

[ramonzambo]

Guam was a province and part of the Philippines before they became a U.S. territory.. does guam ppl knows these? I can say that Guam ppl are Filipino-Americans! not only guamanians!

[MrRoadlesstraveled]

Ai isao i manȧmko’. I famaguon niha pȧgo ku-mȧkatga. Tuguailaye ma sotne i taotao sanhiyung. Talakpapa ha’ sa’ tiunlinaisen nui i fige’-mu.

[gubietno]

I do apologize should my remarks have offended any of you.

However, it wouldn't be fair to hound on me on my opinion - because you wouldn't like it either if I hounded on you should you post your own too.

Si Yu'os Ma'ase ya si Yu'os infanbenendisi hamyo!

[gubietno]

If he stands alone it shows his courage and independence. When he stands with many supporters - it shows that people have trust in him. But when he stands with the few and faithful, it becomes a question of integrity to such a candidate.

If we are going to take a stand - the government becomes the ONE candidate - and WE become the many-strong.

[gubietno]

Dr. Katherine Aguon has made a great point in her statement, "Our history has always been written by an outsider" - how embarrassing is that? But we must also remember that without the outsider we will have no words or knowledge in how to write such history - all because we have been an oral-based culture.

When a potential senatorial candidate stands out to wave to his potential support group, he should either stand alone or stand with many-strong.

[gubietno]

Trust me that I know and understand, because I hate being a Chamorro trapped in the shadows of others, especially in my own home.

But the actions we take and the words we proclaim can NEVER be erased once they have been done and uttered.

Trust that I feel her pain - because I do. I am not an activist but and ADVOCATE...and one day soon enough I will be teaching your children as a Chamorro teacher.

[gubietno]

Without that "step-father-of-an-Uncle-Sam" who knows if this Chamorro race would even exist.

I have no means to or interest to offend anyone, at times we just need to be woken up - in different methods of course, like mine and hers - we need to be woken up from our complacency. We need to understand where we came from, what has become of us, and what WILL become of us.

[gubietno]

It is not the "usual and typical attitude" someone who has no sincerity or understanding. Why do you think I have reacted the way I have? Because I am sincere about this matter - it has become a sensitive topic to say the least. Yes, we are almost prisoner or the step-child of Uncle Sam, who re-occupied us after their liberating us, but we must also remember what has SAVED us - that has allowed us to live as we do today - and to be able to be of lineage of the Chamorro people.

[gubietno]

Grow up? I have my free will to my free opinion. If you can't accept the truth or the opinion - you should grow up.

My "since she's so against ..." was both directed and indirectly toward her. It is rhetoric - it means to THINK before we speak. I am sincere and while I appreciate her efforts, all points of view from all of our Chamorro brothers and sisters should be considered. We cannot just shoot out what we think is best for "us" if what we say does not wholly represent the entire group.