guampedia.com
guampediashop.com
guampediashop.com
guampediashop.com
Click to know! Guampedia is a non-profit affiliate of the University of Guam with operations funded by the Government of Guam's Tourism Attraction Fund.
Celebrating women pioneers of Guam Editor’s note: For Mes CHamoru and Women’s History Month, we’re featuring profiles of some notable people of Guam.
TIP: To learn more, click on the photos!
Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba First CHamoru Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba woman to testify Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba before Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba the US Cecilia Cruz Bamba Cecilia Cruz Bamba
Congress
Cecilia Cruz Bamba (1934-1986) was a community organizer, senator, businesswoman and mother of ten whose legacy is manifested in her involvement in numerous civic organizations that remain active today. She is remembered most notably for championing the cause of war reparations for the CHamoru people, becoming the first CHamoru woman to testify before Congress and argue for recognition of Japanese wartime atrocities. Bamba worked tirelessly to obtain just compensation for lands taken from the CHamoru people after the war. As a result of her efforts, an additional $37 million was awarded to people who lost their land.
This month in history On March 7, 1931, the first election for members of the advisory Guam Congress was called by Naval Governor Root to replace the old appointed Congress with a bicameral body. Election was held March 7. However, in the election of 1933, only about half of the 1931 electorate bothered to register. Twelve of the congressional seats were not contested and had to be filled by appointment.
Rosa Aguigui Reyes Rosa Aguigui Reyes Rosa Aguigui Reyes First CHamoru Rosa Aguigui Reyes Rosa Aguigui Reyes woman elected to Rosa Aguigui Reyes the Guam Rosa Aguigui Reyes Congress Rosa Aguigui Reyes Rosa Aguigui Rosa Aguigui Reyes Reyes Rosa Aguigui Reyes (1915-2007) is Rosa Aguigui Reyes distinguished as being the first woman elected to the Guam Congress, in 1946. The Guam Congress largely was a formal advisory body that didn’t have any specific powers under the island’s military government administered by the United States Navy. Until Reyes’ election, though, all the members of the Guam Congress were men. Her election made her a pioneer in Guam’s political scene and opened the door for other women to become engaged in positions of political leadership. After serving one term she became one of the first students at the newly opened College of Guam, and in 1954 received an associate’s degree in education at the college, being part of its first graduating class.
continued on Page 2
On March 6, 1521, Ferdinand Magellan, who was circumnavigating the world under the auspices of the Crown of Spain, made the first recorded visit to Guam by a European. Magellan began his voyage with five ships and about 270 crewmen representing nine nationalities. The ships were the Concepcion, the Victoria, the Trinidad, the San Antonio, and the Santiago. Only the Concepcion, the Victoria, and the Trinidad reached Guam. Only the Victoria completed the circumnavigation of the earth. The Santiago and the San Antonio were lost along the coast of South America, the Concepcion was burned and the Trinidad was lost at sea.
Guampedia Newsletter, March 2020 | Page 2
Women pioneers First president of the Women’s Democratic Party of Guam
Elizabeth Pangelinan Perez Arriola (1928-2002) was a six-term Guam senator. She opposed the legalization of Elizabeth Pangelinan casino gambling Perez Arriola Elizabeth and abortion Pangelinan Perez Arriola and championed Elizabeth Pangelinan legislation on a wide range of Perez Arriola Elizabeth issues affecting Pangelinan Perez Arriola Guam and its Elizabeth Pangelinan culture, focusing Perez Arriola Elizabeth special concern Pangelinan Perez Arriola on women, Elizabeth Pangelinan youth and senior citizens. Due to Perez Arriola Elizabeth her exceptional Pangelinan Perez Arriola skills as a policy Elizabeth Pangelinan maker, Arriola was elected as the first president of the Women’s Democratic Party of Guam. In addition, Arriola had the honor and privilege of being the first female lector at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome during the Beatification of Padre Luis Diego de San Vitores in October 1986.
Elena Cruz Benavente (1905-2005) was a master folk artist, recognized for her skill in weaving natural materials such as coconut palm and pandanus leaves. While others gave up the practice of weaving due to changing times, Benavente kept up the practice and eventually passed it onto the next generation. She cultivated her own plants, harvested the leaves and used traditional drying and storing techniques to prepare the leaves before weaving. Benavente perfected her craft of pandanus weaving as well as coconut leaf plaiting throughout her lifetime and was renowned for her skills in creating art from these traditionally utilitarian objects. Traditional weaving evolved from a skill of necessity to an art form, over the course of Benavente’s 99 years of life on Guam. She died a few months shy of her 100th birthday, in 2005, leaving a legacy of dozens of weavers and a greater appreciation among the Guam community for her talent, generosity, and her contributions to the preservation of CHamoru culture.
continued on Page 3
Check out Guampedia’s Judy Selk Flores collection
Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection Judy Selk Flores collection
To access Guampedia’s extensive online photo collections, click here. To go directly to three collections by CHamoru women, click on the photos in this box.
photo collections! Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection
Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection Anne Perez Hattori collection
Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente Elena Cruz Benavente
Craftswoman, artist, teacher
Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection Kerri Ann Borja collection
Guampedia Newsletter, March 2020 | Page 3
Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould
Women pioneers Storyteller, teacher, advocate
Clotilde “Ding” Castro Gould (1930-2002) was a beloved storyteller, educator and advocate for CHamoru language and culture. When the Government of Guam enacted the Chamorro Language and Culture Program with federal funding, Gould became the project’s first director. She helped develop the CHamoru language curriculum for elementary schools and trained teachers in using it. Her work with OPI-R and PARA led to a demonstration that prompted the Pacific Daily News to formulate a liberal language
policy. This joint effort between the PDN and the CHamoru Studies Division of DOE, of which Gould was the director, resulted in Fino’ Chamorro, a short daily language lesson, and Juan Malimanga, a CHamoru language comic strip, to be published. Through her sense of humor and gift for weaving stories and songs together about CHamorus and life on Guam, Gould helped create and shape CHamoru language resources and programs on Guam, as well as advanced cultural awareness of the Marianas in the larger Pacific region.
Many women have contributed to the richness of Guam Throughout history, women have played key roles in shaping Guam’s culture and society. But, for generations, writers of history have often overlooked women’s contributions. To shed more light on the important historical contributions of women on our island, Guampedia is compiling their biographies – 28 so far – as part of the Women in Guam History project. Click here to learn more!
Guampedia Newsletter, March 2020 | Page 4
Community leaders fought for social justice Senator, activist, icon
Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel “We be passive or silent whenAngel human Santoscannot Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel suffering Santos Angel Angel Santos Santos Angel beings endure orSantos humiliation. WeAngel must Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos step forward and take sides. We must assist Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel immediately.” -Angel Santos Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos Angel Santos
Angel Anthony “Anghet” Leon Guerrero Santos III was a United States Air Force veteran, a former senator of the Guam Legislature, and an icon of CHamoru activism. Santos was elected as a Democratic senator in the 23rd, 24th and 26th Guam Legislatures where he fought for the implementation of the Chamorro Land Trust Act and the return of excess federal lands. In 1991, Santos became president of the newly formed United Chamorro Chelus for Independence and helped found the Nasion Chamoru (Chamorro Nation) where he served as the group’s first spokesperson. With his fellow members, Santos worked to increase awareness of CHamoru rights and engaged in several memorable protests, including sit-ins and marches at the Governor’s Complex in Adelup, and a hunger strike in 1995 over land rights. Santos was an advocate of social justice that epitomized the social and political activism in Guam’s recent history.
Learn more with books from Guampedia :)
CHamoru activist
• Famalao’an Guåhan: Eddie Leon Guerrero Benavente was a lifetime CHamoru activist Women in Guam History. Fam leader, public servant, and educator. In the 1990s, Benavente became a This book features alao founding member of Nasion Chamoru or Chamorro Nation with the profiles of 28 Fam ’ alao an Guåh organization’s first spokesperson, Angel Leon Guerrero Santos. From amazing Fam ’an G a n 1995-2003 Benavente served as Maga’låhi of Nasion Chamoru where women who a Fam lao’an G uåhan have made their he led the organization a in advocating to enact Fam lao’an G uåhan mark or had alao u the Chamorro Land an impact on å h Fam ’ Trust Act, as well as to alao an Guåh an Guam history. ’an G an • 101 Amazing Facts ama establish the Guam u l Ancestral Land ama ao’an G åhan About Guam presents uåha lao’a Commission and n fun, interesting facts n Gu mala Commission on å about the indigenous mala o’an Gu han Decolonization. In åh o’ people of the Marianas, 2003, Governor Felix alao an Guåh an P. Camacho appointed ’an G highlighting their ancient an uåha Benavente to be culture and society. n Executive Director of the Guam Ancestral Lands Commission and the 101 A Commission on 101 mazing A F (To find out Decolonization where he 101 mazing acts Ama Fact more about deeded hundreds of acres of 101 zing s A F each book, ancestral land back to their 101 mazing acts Ama Fact just click 101 zing s original landowners. Benavente A F on its 101 mazing acts also served as a teacher at John F. A F cover 101 mazing acts Kennedy High School where he A F image.) 101 mazing acts taught CHamoru language classes, as A F 101 mazing acts well as an adjunct faculty member A F 101 mazing acts teaching at the University of Guam and Ama F zing acts the Guam Community College where he Fact s taught Guam History courses.
