one of the groups that i was able to connect with while visiting home is “Filipinos for Guahan”. it was founded by six scholarly intellectuals who have made it their life’s work and continued purpose - to advocate for the shared interests of the native Chamorus using a uniquely-Filipino voice, inspiring reflections i have dwelled on all my life.
i have a deep connection to Guahan even if native chamoru blood does not run through my veins. my ancestry along with thousands of other Filipinos are an undeniable part of the fiber of Guahan’s history and will continue as such. by examining empirical data and sharing stories, i have uncovered many remarkable commonalities: one shared the land that my grandfather built; another lives adjacent to our current primary residence; another’s dad worked in the same manufacturing plant as my dad did in the 70’s; others had uncles that enlisted in the military at the same time as my mom’s brothers; another person’s grandfather arrived the same year as my grandfather in 1949; another shared the same eagerness i once had to marry into a chamoru family.
these shared bonds are profound and distinct from the immigrant experience of Filipino Americans that came through the mainland. as a non-minority group in the population, being Filipino from Guahan is complexly-intertwined and rich. the outsider and colonized mentality have become a means for fostering bonds as well as escalating tensions for many lifetimes. as settlers alongside the natives, the greater good is at stake.
this is ever more personal for me as i navigate raising my Filipino son born from Guam and my Chamoru daughter born from California.
in my ongoing written memoir i hope to do my ancestry justice by elaborating on these shared discoveries.
