Biba Ha’anen Man Nana❣️

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible mothers everywhere! Your strength, love, and sacrifices never go unnoticed. Today, I want to honor my Amazing Mom with a special poem I wrote for her❣️

Hu Guaiya Hao, Mom

Mom –

If I haven’t said it enough,

if the words ever felt too small

or came too late –

hear me now.

Hu guaiya hao.

I love you.

I always have.

I always will.

You are more than one role –

You are the heart of our home,

the strength of our family,

the quiet force of inafa’maolek –

bringing harmony, holding us together

even when life tries to pull us apart.

Like the steady stone of the latte,

You stand firm –

rooted in faith,

grounded in love,

carrying generations before you

and lifting those who come after.

You are a healer and guide,

teacher and protector,

a driver of dreams down long island roads,

a keeper of memories beneath the sun

and the sound of the ocean’s embrace.

Through every sacrifice –

seen and unseen –

You gave pieces of yourself

so I could become whole.

Even when I didn’t say thank you,

even when my actions fell short,

your love never wavered.

It stayed.

It held.

It believed in me

when I didn’t believe in myself.

So today, and always, I say it with my whole heart –

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’, Mom.

For your love, your strength, your endless giving.

And if I forget to say it,

if life moves too fast and I get lost in it –

please remember this truth:

I carry you in everything I am.

Your strength is my strength.

Your love is my foundation.

Because of you, I know what it means

to care deeply,

to give freely,

to love without condition.

Mom –

Hu guaiya hao.

Now and always,

You are my home.

© Matilda Naputi Rivera

We Rise Still: Guam’s Unbroken Spirit After Sinlaku

When Typhoon Sinlaku came,

it did not knock —

It roared.

It tore through April skies,

April 14 etched in memory,

as light vanished,

voices fell silent,

and the hum of life

was swallowed by the wind.

Darkness settled in our homes,

phones went quiet,

yet water —

gentle, stubborn water —

still flowed,

a quiet blessing

through weakened veins.

This storm lingered —

uninvited, unyielding —

circling our island

as if it would never let go.

It screamed in the night,

howled through the trees,

its breath shaking walls,

its fury crashing in waves

against our shores.

And when it passed,

it left behind

a silence

too heavy to ignore —

a kingdom of broken things,

where devastation

stood tall.

But even then —

even there —

something stronger rose.

In the quiet,

in the waiting,

in the candlelit prayers

and shared meals,

in hands reaching for hands —

We remembered

who we are.

We are still here.

We are still standing.

We are still breathing.

No storm can carry away

the strength of a people

rooted in faith,

bound in community,

anchored in love.

So we gather the pieces,

We lift one another,

We rebuild not just homes —

but hope.

One day at a time.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’

to every heart that answered the call,

to every hand that gave,

to every soul that stayed.

And as the winds fade

into memory —

WE RISE.

(c) Matilda Naputi Rivera 

Join us for the D204 Lions Clubs Mother's Day Saturday Story Time - May 2, 2026

Join us for the D204 Lions Clubs Mother's Day Saturday Story Time on May 2, 2026, via Zoom or in person at the Hagatna Public Library.  Register at https://bit.ly/lionsclubreading.  This special story time is lovingly dedicated to the cherished memory of our dearly beloved Lion Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Charter Treasurer of the Guahan Isan Famagu'on Lions Club, whose legacy continues to inspire us. We look forward to seeing you there! 🦁📚🚤 🌺❤️😃

Resilience After the Storm: Guam Rising in the Wake of Typhoon Sinlaku

When Typhoon Sinlaku hit Guam on April 14, 2026, we were left without power and lost our telecommunications services. Thank God we still had water, although the pressure was low. It was one typhoon that did not want to leave the island — it just kept lingering. To this day, many of us still do not have power, but thank God, we are alive.

Sadly, Sinlaku unleashed its rage with deafening roars and violent gusts, while strong waves slammed into the island. In its wake, devastation seemed to rule; however, despite the chaos, strength emerged, as our people are resilient. Together, we will overcome the destruction and rebuild our lives, one day at a time.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ to all those who have come to the aid of our island and its people! God bless you all for everything you do to make a difference. 🙏

In Loving Memory of Lion Lois Taitano Gumataotao

With heavy hearts, we say adios to my beloved Mali, Lion Lois Taitano Gumataotao. You were more than a nina to my children – you were family, a guiding light, and a constant source of love and strength in our lives. Your presence and unwavering support will forever be cherished. 

I am deeply grateful for the many years we shared together as ESL teachers/coordinators at LBJ Elementary School. Those moments were filled with purpose, laughter, and a shared passion for helping others – memories I will always hold close to my heart. You were not only a colleague but one of my best friends. Together, we conducted countless educational presentations, joined organizations, attended conferences, and volunteered in the community, always striving to make a difference. We proudly served alongside one another in organizations such as PIBBA, IRA (now ILA), the UOG-SOE Alumni Association, Ginen i Hila i Maga’taotao Siha Association, Guahan Isan Fama’guon Lions Club, Guam Interagency Coordinating Council, and so many more. 

Mali, you touched so many lives, and your legacy of love and service will continue to live on through all of us who were blessed to know you. Hu guaiya hao, Mali. You are now in a better place, in heaven above. 

Rest in peace. You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten. We love you always. 🙏🙏🙏😭❤️

Biba Kumpleaños, neni Glenn!

Biba Kumpleaños to our precious first grandson, neni Glenn! 🎉 You have filled our hearts with so much love and joy from the very beginning, and we are so proud to watch you grow. May your life always be blessed with happiness, laughter, and endless adventures. Sen guaiya hao❣️💙🎂🎉🎈🥰

Celebrating Literacy, Community, and the Spirit of Easter! 📚🐣🦁

Wishing you all a joyful, hope-filled, and blessed Easter weekend! 🙏🐣

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ to our incredible D204 Lions International Featured Readers — Ronin Tapao, Reanna Sulla, and Rose Byrne — for sharing their meaningful Read Alouds and inspiring a love of reading in our community. A heartfelt thank you as well to the Guåhan Isan Famagu’on Leos for leading such fun, creative, and festive Easter arts and crafts activities on April 4, 2026.

We are truly grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the day so special! 🐰🐣

May you continue to nurture the joy of reading, stay safe on the water, and carry the spirit of Easter — hope, renewal, and joy — throughout the season. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Easter!  🦁🙏🐣📚🚤🤗🎉

Families join in the D204 Lions International Easter Saturday Story Time on April 4, 2026.

Empowering Voices, Inspiring Futures: Reflections from the D204 Women’s Summit 2026

I am deeply honored to have served as a presenter at the Lions International District 204 Women’s Summit 2026. Sharing my professional journey with such an inspiring community of leaders was both meaningful and humbling. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a space that empowers, uplifts, and encourages the women of today and tomorrow to lead with purpose, resilience, and heart.