Be the change you want to see in this world

"Winning starts in the mind. Whatever the mind can conceive, it will achieve."
-Joaquin Nangauta Naputi

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Merry Christmas from around the Pacific!

Merry Christmas from around the Pacific!

~Minagof Nochebuena ~ Felis Pasgua (Chamorro)
~Maligayan Pasko (Tagalog)
~Peren en Krismas (Pohnpeian)
~Monono ilo raaneoan Nejin (Marshallese)
~Falang e Baynag (Yapese)
~Tok Tapeng (Kosraean)
~Ungil Kurismas (Palauan)
~Pwapwan Kirisimas (Chuukese)
~Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian)
~Ameseighil ubwutiiwel Layi Luugh me raagh fee (Carolinian)

Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Ginen i Hila Brings Christmas Cheer!

Ginen i Hila i Maga’taotao Siha Association, a culturally-relevant NPO which focuses on literary arts/traditional storytelling, shared the Christmas spirit this Holiday Season! Kudos to the members who volunteered to sing a variety of Christmas songs at the Guam Memorial Hospital on December 22, 2015.

CHRISTMAS CAROLING AT GUAM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 







Sunday, December 20, 2015

Congratulations Fall 2015 Graduates!

The University of Guam celebrated the graduation of its 262 students on December 20, 2015 at the UOG Calvo Field House. The Commencement Ceremonies featured keynote speaker MSNBC and NBC News Anchor Richard Lui. Lui impressed upon the need for the graduates to tell their own stories and look for unique angles, as they write the chapter of their lives. Congratulations Fall 2015 graduates! God Bless, and we wish you the best in your future endeavors!


Lorenzo Naputi Reyes proudly holds his diploma


UOG's Dr. Rivera's 


Pictured L-R:  Jacqueline Naputi Reyes, Lorenzo Naputi Reyes, and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera.


Lorenzo Naputi Reyes (center) is surrounded by family members 

Saturday, December 05, 2015

Birthday Snapshot

I’m so blessed to have a loving family, wonderful friends, and awesome colleagues!  Check out the amazing birthday cake I received from my ESL Team!  Hu guiaya hao!  



Tuesday, December 01, 2015

Ginen Election, Membership Renewal & Recruitment - Dec. 3, 7:00 p.m. @ Foody’s Barrigada Shell Gas Station








Please join us this Thursday, Dec 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm at the Foody's Barrigada Shell Gas Station, as we will be having an election of officers, membership renewals, and recruitment of new members. Kindly spread the word and share this with current, past, and prospective Ginen members. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, November 28, 2015

Project IMAGINE! Team Gathering - Nov. 28

As part of a GED outreach project, a group of Guam educators teamed up to make a difference in what is known as the IMAGINE! Soaring Towards a Diploma. Kudos for all that you do!



Issei Memorial Snapshots at South Pacific Memorial Park - November 28, 2015

The Guam Nikkei Association (GNA) held an Unveiling Ceremony for the Issei Monument erected to pay tribute to the men who started Guam’s first community of Japanese-Chamorro families in the early 1900’s. Many came as copra plantation workers, merchants, farmers, fishermen, and laborers. They came from various prefectures near Tokyo in such areas as Kanagawa, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma. They married Chamorro women, learned the Chamorro language and adopted the Catholic religion as required in order to fully establish domicile. While some returned to Japan, the ones listed on the monument stayed and their legacy continues with generations of families today. All of them have died and the GNA cherishes their contributions to Guam’s rich history that we know today. The Unveiling Ceremony, which brought together many of the Guam Issei descendants, was held on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., South Pacific Memorial Peace Park, Yigo, Guam. Through fundraising efforts and with support from the Consul General of Japan, Sumitomo Construction, Landscape Management Service (LMS), Architects LaguaƱa and the South Pacific Memorial Peace Park, the 5’ granite monument stands on a concrete base and lists the 53 names that the GNA believes are Guam’s Issei. Issei is the Japanese language term used in America to to specify the Japanese people who were first to immigrate.

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The Guam Nikkei Association was chartered in 2012 with the primary purpose of perpetuating the history and lineages of those born from Japanese ancestry who are presently bona fide residents of Guam, educating the community about the impact and contribution of first generation Japanese and their descendants on the social economic fabric of Guam and to inculcating Japanese culture, art, traditions and history to succeeding generations of Japanese-Chamorro-Guamanians.











Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!


Source:  www.happythanksgivingdaypictures.com

FESTPAC Literary Arts Author Reading at Guma Tasa - Nov. 24

Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera starts the night off with her poems Guela Dear and Biba Kumpleanos.

Dr. Monique C. Storie shares her imagery poetry piece.


Lei Naholowaa shares three of her poetry pieces.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Guam Nikkei Association to Unveil Memorial In Tribute to Guam’s 1900 Issei Patriarchs

HAGƅTƑA, GUAM (November 22, 2015) – The Guam Nikkei Association (GNA) is proud to announce the Unveiling Ceremony for the Issei Monument erected to pay tribute to the men who started Guam’s first community of Japanese-Chamorro families in the early 1900’s. Many came as copra plantation workers, merchants, farmers, fishermen, and laborers.  They came from various prefectures near Tokyo in such areas as Kanagawa, Ibaraki, Tochigi, and Gunma.  They married Chamorro women, learned the Chamorro language and adopted the Catholic religion as required in order to fully establish domicile.  While some returned to Japan, the ones listed on the monument stayed and their legacy continues with generations of families today.  All of them have died and the GNA cherish their contributions to Guam’s rich history that we know today. 
The Unveiling Ceremony will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m., South Pacific Memorial Peace Park, Yigo, Guam

Through fundraising efforts and with support from the Consul General of Japan, Sumitomo Construction, Landscape Management Service (LMS), Architects LaguaƱa and the South Pacific Memorial Peace Park, the 5’ granite monument stands on a concrete base and lists the 51 names that the GNA believes are Guam’s Issei. Issei is the Japanese language term used in America to specify the Japanese people who were first to immigrate.
The GNA would like to invite descendants of these Guam Issei to the unveiling.
For more information please contact Monica Okada Guzman at 727-1879.
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The Guam Nikkei Association was chartered in 2012 with the primary purpose of perpetuating the history and lineages of those born from Japanese ancestry who are presently bona fide residents of Guam, educating the community about the impact and contribution of first generation Japanese and their descendants on the social economic fabric of Guam and to inculcating Japanese culture, art, traditions and history to succeeding generations of Japanese-Chamorro-Guamanians.   

Issei Memorial Ceremony - Nov. 28


Monday, November 16, 2015

2015 UOG Distinguished Alumni Winners Awarded

Congratulations to the winners of the 2015 University of Guam Distinguished Alumni Award! They were honored with a special legislative resolution, alumni award & other gifts on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at the Lotte Hotel during the annual UOG Alumni Reunion. The reunion theme of "No Place I'd Rather Be" was a fitting one, as the audience were actively engaged throughout the night. The distinguished alumni include the following:

*Alpha Espina, School of Education
*Carmelita Gogue, School of Business and Public Administration
*Brigadier General Roderick R. Leon Guerrero, Military Award
*Attorney William Pesch, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
*Roy Tsutsui, College of Natural and Applied Sciences
*Zennia Cruz Pecina, School of Nursing and Health Sciences

 We applaud you for making a difference! BIBA UOG! Enjoy the following snapshots!








Friday, November 13, 2015

Triton's Call Celebrates 50 Years!

Congratulations to the University of Guam's Triton's Call for informing our UOG community for 50 years!  It's hard to believe that it's been over two decades since Joanne Guanlao and I served as editorial interns for the Triton's Call.  I recall the countless hours we spent editing stories, preparing layouts, staying up late to make copies of the Micro Call, meeting stressful deadlines, and the list goes on!  Being a journalist is no easy task! We applaud all former TC Editors, Assistant Editors, staff writers, and all who were instrumental in making Triton's Call a success!

Triton's Call celebrates 50 years!

TC Editors celebrate 50 years!  Pictured L-R:  John Mugol (2015); Maureen Maratita (1999-2000); Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera (1993-1994), SOE Alumni Webmaster; and Carlo Carino (1995-1997, 1999).


The oldest and newest TC Editors present at the ceremony received the honor of cutting the Triton's Call legacy cake.  Pictured L-R:  Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera (1993-1994) and John Mugol (2015).


TC Editors through the years!

TC Legacy Ticket


Thursday, November 12, 2015

GINEN I TANO' SUNDAY MARKET STREETFEST - November 15

The historic streets of Inalahan will come alive this Sunday!
Vendors and shoppers are invited to Inalahan's GINEN I TANO' SUNDAY MARKET
STREETFEST this Sunday, November 15, from 9am to 2pm.  Located on San Jose
Avenue in front of the G.Flores Museum and Hotnu Bakery, this month's
event will feature Guam's Traditional Artists who are preparing to
participate in Festpac 2016.  Carving Subcommittee Chair George Francisco
has secured confirmations from 11 traditional artists who will participate
with local carvings and body ornamentation.  During the event, Judy Flores
and volunteers will assist artists fill out the official CAHA application
forms to join the Guam Delegation of Traditional Artists.  Artists may
apply to join as participants with full delegate status and
responsibilities of staying with the Festival delegation; or they may
apply to join as Exhibitors.  Exhibitor status will bestow the status and
responsibilities to demonstrate and exhibit at scheduled times, but do not
allow artists to stay in the delegation lodgings nor provide meals.   This
ruling by the Festpac Organizing Committee allows artists to participate
while attending to home-care responsibilities such as tending to animals,
gardens, and family members.

In addition to Hotnu breads and Pizza, fundraising fiesta plates will be
sold by the Mae Taitague-Laximana families.  Other vendors are welcome to
sell fresh produce and Chamorro food delicacies.  All vendor booths are
free; however, advance registration is encouraged to insure that there is
space available under the canopies.  Space will be reserved for those who
register by calling Bobbie Mantanona at 988-6044 or by email to
bjean@guam.net, or judyflores@guam.net.

New local Consignment items are:
2016 Calendars with photographs by Reuben Olivas
Color Guam Activity Books by Taliea Leon Guerrero Strohmeyer
Acrylic Paintings by Arthur Manglona

New vendor and exhibition booths include:
Richard Mostan's Textured Acrylic Paintings
Local Designed Table Skirts and Aprons by Lola Pinaula
Sakman model exhibit by Sakman CHE'LU member Tony Borja.

Additional vendors will be accepted until all spaces are filled.  Tables
and chairs are limited, so vendors should bring their own.  Vendors are
allowed to set up their own pop-up canopies
along the street. With permission from Mayor Doris Flores Lujan, San Jose
Avenue in front of G.Flores Museum will be closed from 8am to 2:30pm.
One-way traffic will flow from the Obing Flores house on San Jose Avenue
at the ball field intersection towards G.Flores, turning left to flow back
to the Pale' Duenas/coastal roadway in front of Gef Pa'go.  Public parking
is available along the bayside before and after Gef Pa'go and around the
San Jose Church.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Happy Veteran's Day!

To all of those who have served and continue to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces, so that we may have the freedom that we enjoy, we salute you! *HAND SALUTE* God Bless you all, and God Bless the USA! HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!

Monday, November 02, 2015

Julia makes it to Top 3!

Congratulations, Julia, on making it to the Top 3 in Guam Web Radio's Battle of the Voices competition! Your jazz numbers were a hit!



Biba Kumpleanos Faust!

Happy Birthday and God Bless, my oldest son Fausto!  May you be blessed with many years to come!  Hu guaiya hao!