(Editor's Note: This is part of a series of stories for Mes Chamoru, or the Month of CHamoru.)
Guests of Part Three of “Telling Mariana Stories: Land and Lineage” also received the premiere of “Promesa,” a 30-minute film by academic, professor and historian Lula Quan Bautista that depicts the cultural connection behind the Chamorro Nubina, or devotional prayer.
“Promesa” is told through interviews with four prayer leaders, called tikas in Chamorro: Rita Pangilinan Nota, Carmen Camacho Rojas, Teresita Concepcion Flores, and Malia “Toni” Ramírez. Interviews take place in comfortable outdoor settings and familiar indoor surroundings.
The audience was amazed as each subject shared background on how the nobina had been part of their upbringing, and laughed and laughed at the parts that were both familiar and funny.
the father. Eric Forbes, who helmed the film and countless previously published Chamorro works, began this week's series on Chamorro customs with a lively discussion, talking about how customs and beliefs are born into a community and how Chamorro are born—whether they realize it or not. No – understanding customs before meaning. Then join the audience to watch the premiere.
“I thought this was one of the best videos and documentaries I had ever seen about Chamorro culture. It was done right,” Forbes said. “(It was) the tone. The tone was very Chamorro. It wasn't pushing anything; it was just sharing the truth of people's devotion, people's faith, people's practices, something they hold dear. It was real. It was 'I'm not trying to push any Something. It was beautiful. It was real from people's hearts. And they just participate. It's not propaganda.”
The series covered many layers of Chamorro culture, said David Tidenko, president of the Guam Museum Foundation, which presents the series in collaboration with the Department of Chamorro Affairs, GIFF, PBS Guam, the University of Guam and Guampedia.
“Our first program featured Ben Mino, and then we had a special feature that showcased our talent for music. (Pianist) Patrick Palomo shared how growing up as a Chamorro band member led him to develop his own style of bringing music to our people. Today it was Custombrene Chamorro, or Chamorro customs “.
Next Saturday will be the final part of the March series entitled “The War That Wasn’t Ours.”
To learn more about the Nubina and its place in Chamorro culture, visit www.guampedia.com for many informational and educational sections.
Pacific Daily News reporter JoJo Santo Tomas covers all the interesting topics, including sports. Email him at jsantotoma@guampdn.com.
