calendar of events • travel • tech • recreation • health & fitness • restaurants • culture & arts • special features • nightlife • coupons & much more
MAY 2014
Essence of Guam Visit the island’s ranches
Go to town in London So much to see and do in England’s capital
The local harvest Favorite Guam grown fruits and veggies
The Royal Albert Hall, Opera musical theater, in London.
contents TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT
London
HEALTH & FITNESS
Gift of fitness for Mother’s Day
CALENDAR
May events
ESSENCE OF GUAM
Guam ranches
FOREMOST® RECIPE CLUB
Simple chicken omelet
Island focus
Favorite local produce
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OUT & ABOUT
Readers and event photos
SPORTS
Guam’s basketball Mount Rushmore
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R&R Pacific is a lifestyle magazine that features the people, culture, and activities that collectively make up Guam. We provide our readers a window into the different facets of Guam’s diverse community through vibrant photography and engaging articles.
www.facebook.com/rrpacificguam On the Cover: Chris Santos, 16, helps his grandmother on her ranch in Talofofo. See story page 10. Photo by David De Leon.
2014
R&R Pacific/May
PUBLISHER
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Maureen N. Maratita
Rosanna Dacanay
MANAGING EDITOR
SENIOR DESIGNER
Jackie Hanson
Vikki Fong
ASSISTANT EDITOR
SALES MANAGER
Joy White
Annie San Nicolas
REPORTER
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Thomas Johnson
Colin Leon Guerrero
CONTRIBUTORS
ADMINISTRATION
Joe Cruz
Janice Castro, Jessica Leon Guerrero
David De Leon
Carmelita McClellan & Bernard (Mr. B) Leonen
Carmen Rojas
MANAGING DIRECTOR
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Marcos Fong
Taliea J. Strohmeyer
Glimpses Publications include: Marianas Business Journal • Guam Business Magazine • R&R Pacific • Beach Road Magazine
R&R Pacific • May 2014 • Entire contents copyrighted 2014 by Glimpses of Guam, Inc. R&R Pacific is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam, Inc., 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, GU 96913. Telephone: (671) 649-0883, Fax: (671) 649-8883, Email: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com • All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.
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Feature///Travel Spotlight
Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, London, UK.
Go to town in London STORY BY Joy White
There is a bit of everything for visitors to England’s capital, from museums and theaters to historical monuments and modern wonders. It is home to historical sites that have weathered the passage of time, such as Big Ben, Somerset House, and Buckingham Palace. There are so many museums to get lost in, including the British Museum, the Science Museum, the London Transport Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Natural History Museum, to name a few. For families, there is the London Zoo and the Sealife Aquarium. There is an abundance of theaters featuring plays, and entertainment centers – some featuring specific content such , the Globe Theater with a
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Shakespearean focus, and the Royal Opera House, so it is a must to book a show to experience the artistic talents the city has to offer. There are also endless restaurants and pubs throughout the city and along the River Thames. There are so many important icons of London it’s impossible to be bored, there is Piccadilly Circus, Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, just to name a few. Tours on the iconic red London Buses can be arranged to visit as many of the sites as possible. There are various districts of London, each with its own attractions and personality. Camden Town, for example, is well known for its street markets. Its markets sell goods ranging from fashion items to
books to antiques. Often called simply Camden, the district is located in inner London on the northwest side of the city. Other districts of the city include Chelsea, Islington, Notting Hill and Greenwich. To get an idea of the scope of England’s capital city, you may want to see it as a whole from the London Eye. Some 135 meters tall, the London Eye is one of the world’s tallest observation wheels. Take a 30 minute ride and you will be treated to a panoramic view of up to 40 kilometers on a clear day of the view of the city. Each capsule is equipped with touch screens that allow you to explore the capital’s famous landmarks. The London Eye is located in Southbank in central London,
Clockwise from top: Camden Market (Bikeworldtravel/shutterstock.com); main court of British Museum (Kiev.Victor/shutterstock.com); changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace; Trafalgar Square.
adjacent to the River Thames. While in London, one must not miss the city’s royal attractions. The top of the list is, of course, Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s official London residence. The palace is said to have 775 rooms and is one of the few working royal palaces in the world. Visitors can tour the State Rooms; the Royal Mews where the royal collection of historic coaches and carriages, as well as the cars used for state occasions, are kept; and the Queen’s Gallery, where the gems of the Royal Collection are put on display. The changing of the palace guards is also a sight to see. The Tower of London is an especially intriguing royal attraction. Over its long history, the tower had been a palace, a prison, arsenal,
jewel house, and zoo. Other royal attractions include Kensington Palace, Kew Palace, and Hampton Court Palace. A trip to the royal attractions would not be complete without visiting Westminster Abbey, where every king and queen has been crowned since the 11th century. Romanticized on the silver screen and often associated with London are Trafalgar Square and St. Paul’s Church, located in Convent Garden, on the eastern fringes of West End. Trafalgar Square is often referred to as the center of London. There are often free outdoor events held during the summer and holidays, highlighting the best of London’s multicultural music and dance scene. Trafalgar Square is home to Nelson’s
Column, iconic stone lions, fountains, the famous Fourth Plinth, and flocks of pigeons. Also in Convent Garden, St. Paul’s Cathedral sits on the highest point of London, and is one of the most famous and recognizable sights of the city, with its dome and spires and clock tower. The interior of the cathedral is decorated with paintings, sculptures, and memorials. Convent Garden is also home to Convent Garden square and Convent Garden market. London promises an action-packed visit, where you are bound to learn a little bit, do a good amount of things, and see a lot.
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Feature///Health & Fitness
MOMS, GIVE YOURSELVES THE GIFT OF FITNESS FOR MOTHER’S DAY By Carmen Rojas
Since May is the month for moms, I decided to write this article about the fitness needs of moms as they mature. Let’s talk about the fitness needs of new moms, moms with school age children, and empty nest moms. As women, we always care about our appearances, and our health is often not an issue until it’s a major issue.
We understand how fitness helps us, but we have a hard time finding the time and schedule space to exercise. Here are a few tips for three stages of our lives as moms that will allow even the busiest mom to fit in fitness! For new moms, the common primary goal is to get back to your pre-baby body. For some women this is easy and for others it will be a struggle for years to come. In my experience one of the biggest predictors of a new mom’s ability to regain her pre-baby body is the condition of her body prior to becoming a mother. Generally speaking the better shape you are in before you become a mother the easier it will be to regain her body after the baby. Also compounding the problem is lack of sleep and the changing hormones. The answers are typically to incorporate exercise into the routine in small doses, try to get more sleep when you can, and nursing. Go for walks with the baby, or attend a “Mommy and Me” class. Sleep is a premium and the more you exercise, the more tired you are likely to be. Naps are priceless. Try to sneak in sleep when you can. Finally, nursing helps to regulate the change of hormones and has a fat burning affect. Statistically women that nurse loose the baby weight faster than those that do not. With school age children the challenge is usually fighting aging and the weight gain that can occur at this stage of life. Juggling the schedules of one or more children, a career, and other personal ambitions can cause a woman to downgrade the priority of health and fitness out of pure necessity. My suggestion is to exercise when the kids exercise. If they have baseball practice, walk the perimeter. If they have karate practice, see if there is a stationary bike you can ride. Developing a routine and a schedule for fitness is the key to succeeding at this stage. Once the children leave the nest the challenge becomes aging. Often when the kids are out of the way our attention can turn toward travel, fixing up the house, or other personal pursuits that are often pushed aside while the children are young. Baby weight is just plain weight at this point, but as we age it can become more dangerous. So the key to fitness at this age is to find what you like and do it. If you like dancing, try that salsa or ballroom dancing class you have been putting off. If you like to swim, get a flattering swimsuit and jump in. At this age you can be the focus of your life. Make the fitness you like the focus of your fitness routine. As we moms go through the stages of our lives our needs change. As quickly as our children grow, our goals and priori-
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ties shift and fitness does not always follow closely behind. No matter which stage you are in you can incorporate fitness into your lifestyle and make the most of the time you have. As your children grow and mature your fitness activities can grow and mature as well. Make it a goal to lead other moms by example and add regular fitness to your daily routine, today.
Advertise with us! Call Minda Castro at 235-7645 ext. 357 or email: sales5@glimpsesofguam.com
may
R&R is... family fun.
events May 1, 2, and 3
May 10
University Theater presents “Pagat”– an original play
Judiciary 5k
Time: 7 p.m. Location: UOG Fine Arts Theater Tickets will be sold at the door May 2, 3, and 4
Fiestan Inalåhan Coconut Festival May 3
Gof Magof 2 “A Night of Chamoru Music and Stars” Time: 6 p.m. Location: Guam Plaza Hotel Tickets: $35 in advance; $40 at the door. Can be purchased at any Jamaican Gril Location May 3
Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Location: Chamorro Village May 12 to 19
Guam International Tennis Federation Junior Championship May 14
Guam Symphony Society – A Night at the Opera Gala performance Time: 7 p.m. Location: Sand Castle
MAY 23-24
May 16
Relay For Life is an overnight community celebration where individuals and teams camp out, barbecue, and walk or run around the GWHS track “relay” style to fight cancer in support of the American Cancer Society’s goal to create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. The goal of the relay is to celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer; remember loved ones lost to the disease; and to fight back. Funds raised through the event support cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services in the community.
Guam Symphony Society – Chamber Music Series 3
Pacific Islands University 5k
Time: 7 p.m. Location: UOG Fine Arts Theater
Time: 6 p.m. Location: Pacific Islands University campus, Mangilao
May 17
May 4
Adacao 5k Run Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Location: Chamorro Village May 8, 9, and 10
University Music and Singers concert and jazz ensemble of music of “Frozen” Time: 7:30 p.m. Location: UOG Fine Arts Theater Tickets will be sold at the door
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featured event
Run to Remember Guam 5k/Obstacles Fun Run Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Location: Ypao Beach Park May 18
Guam Symphony Society – A Night at the Opera Matinee performance Time: 3 p.m. Location: Sand Castle
Relay for Life Guam
LOCATION: George Washington High School track and field TIME: 7:00PM Friday, May 23 to 7:00AM Saturday, May 24 REGISTRATION AND INFORMATION: www.relayforlife.org/guamgu May 19 to 22
May 24
USDA University of Guam/Guam Community College Sustainable Agriculture Conference
Guam Running Club Pre-Memorial 13.8 mi Run
Time: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Location: Bldng. 400, GCC Campus May 24
Electric Island Festival Location: the Globe
Time: 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Location: Front Gate of AAFB, Yigo May 31
Agat 5k Run Time: 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Location: Agat Mayor’s Office
EVENTSCALENDAR
MAY sun
mon
tue
wed
thu 1 • University Theater presents “Pagat”– an original play (through May 3)
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• Fiestan Inalahan Coconut Festival • Adacao 5k Run
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11 Mother’s Day On this day in 1976, the campaign “Coke adds life to...” was launched on TV in the U.S.
• Guam International Tennis Federation Junior Championship (through May 19)
Easter • Guam Symphony Society – A Night at the Opera Matinee performance
On this day in 2007, “Coca-Cola” acquires glacéau, maker of vitaminwater®
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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Belle premiere at Regal Cinemas
• Fiestan Inalahan Coconut Festival • Pacific Islands University 5k • Gof Magof 2 “A Night of Chamoru Music and Stars”
MOVIES
• Fiestan Inalahan Coconut Festival (through May 4)
“Coca-Cola” is first introduced at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, GA on this day in 1886. It’s also the company’s 125th anniversary. • University Music and Singers concert and jazz ensemble of music of “Frozen” (through May 9 and 10)
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MOVIES
Neighbors Chef premieres at Regal Cinemas
MOVIES Godzilla Million Dollar Arm premiere at Regal Cinemas
• Guam Symphony Society – A Night at the Opera Gala performance
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Memorial Day • Lacoste GVB Futures (through June 1)
23 MOVIES X-Men: Days of Future Past Blended premiere at Regal Cinemas
• USDA University of Guam/Guam Community College Sustainable Agriculture Conference (through May 22)
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sat
10 • Judiciary 5k • University Music and Singers concert and jazz ensemble of music of “Frozen” (through May 9 and 10)
17 • Run to Remember Guam 5k/Obstacles Fun Run
• Guam Symphony Society – Chamber Music Series 3
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fri
• Relay for Life Guam
27 The Coca-Cola Company’s first automatic fountain dispenser debuts at the Century of Progress Expo in Chicago on this day in 1933.
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29 The first “Coca-Cola” newspaper ad appeared in the Atlanta Daily Journal on this day in 1886.
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MOVIES Maleficent A Million Ways to Die in the West premiere at Regal Cinemas
24 • Relay for Life Guam • Electric Island Festival • Guam Running Club PreMemorial 13.8 mi Run • Ko’ko Guam Junior Tennis Tournament
31 • Agat 5k Run
In May 1963, The Coca-Cola Company’s first diet soft drink,TaB was introduced.
SPONSORED BY: In May 1886, the month of the drink’s introduction, the first “Coca-Cola” advertisement was an oil cloth sign at a drug store awning with “Drink Coca-Cola.”
For showtimes: Call 649-1111 or visit www.regmovies.com Proudly serves refreshing
*Event times and dates may change without notice “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company.
beverages.
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Cover Feature///Essence of Guam
STORY BY Joy White PHOTOS BY Joe Cruz, Joy White and David De Leon
To many of the Western world, a ranch encompasses great stretches of land and is used to raise livestock such as sheep or cattle. On Guam, the idea of the ranch is a tad bit different. As with many things, the people of Guam have added their own special meaning to the concept of the “ranch.” The Chamorro word for “ranch” is låncho, and a “rancher” is a lancheru, and for many on Guam is property owned by the family used to grow fruits and vegetables, with maybe a few chickens. A ranch does not have to be particularly large to be a ranch. Some live on their ranches, others maintain their property and visit occasionally but live elsewhere. Magdanela Atoigue keeps a few pigs at her Talofofo Ranch.
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Cover Feature///Essence of Guam
Rock and Rail Ranch in Yigo is a horse ranch. Clockwise from top: Oreo, the dog, races around the dressage arena; Capricious gulps down water before going for a trot; and Charlene Tenorio, center, poses with her students and horses.
Charlene Tenorio owns what is close to what the outside world thinks of as a ranch. She raises and breeds horses on her two and a half acre property. She has a dog too, and the occasional chicken wanders onto the property. She brought foals with her to the island 37 years ago, and has been caring for her horses and giving lessons since. Tenorio currently looks after eight horses, but has buried 15 horses on the property since it was first opened. “I have a passion for horses,” Tenorio says. The idea came to her after she and her three daughters visited her sister in California, who had a horse. Afterwards, her daughters told her they wanted to learn to ride, so she bought some horses and the rest was history. Tenorio’s ranch, called “Rock and Rail
Ranch,” is located in Yigo, just off Route 15. It consists of a simple structure where the horses are stabled, an enclosed arena, and a little obstacle course for riders to practice jumps. The open space is surrounded by palm trees, typical of the island life. Tenorio maintains the ranch with the help of volunteers, other horse lovers such as herself. They have all had past experience with horses and are comfortable around the animals. Her volunteers and students help each other, too, by giving each other pointers and encouragement. There is also a good measure of playful teasing. Riders learn show jumps and dressage. The ranch hosts both local and off-island visitors. Visitors can take lessons, or they can come to simply ride.
On the other side of the island, the Fejeran-Undo ranch in Agat illustrates the islander idea of a ranch. The ranch sits at the foot of Mount Lamlam and is home to various fruits and vegetables, including ginger, betel nut, and bananas. Although there is a structure on the property, no one lives on the land. One of the owners, Nina Fejeran, says the family might live on the land if there was electricity or running water. However, since the property does not offer modern conveniences, the family instead satisfies themselves with maintaining the property by cutting the grass and tending to the banana trees, which need special care to flourish. The property belonged to her grandfather, Fejeran says. Her property is flanked on either side by other relatives’ ranches.
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Clockwise from top: Charlene Tenorio, owner of Rock and Rail Ranch in Yigo, shares a moment with her pet Oreo; Magdalena Atoigue and her grandchildren and great-grandchildren at her Talofofo ranch; Pineapples are one of the many fruits Atoigue grows on her Talofofo ranch.
The soil on her land is very rich, and is unlike the soil found on any other part of the island, Fejeran says. A nearby stream helps keep the soil fertile. Her grandparents cultivated the land, so not much has to be done other than the standard maintenance. The family lives in another part of the island and only visits their ranch once or twice a month to check on it. “It’s everybody’s,” Fejeran says. Any family member who happens to pass by the property will check on it and take care of anything that needs to be fixed. Oftentimes, the family does not benefit from the crops on the ranch. Passersby pick the bananas and other vegetables on the property before they get the chance. However, for Fejeran
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owning the property is not only about the rewards it can provide. “It’s a respect for the land and our history and our elders,” she says. “Even if we don’t benefit from it, it’s useful to somebody. If they took it, they probably really needed it.” Fejeran sees the land as an important part of her Chamorro heritage and for future generations. She admits she worries about who will look after the land in the future, as her children seem to be more interested in video games, than caring for the ranch. However, she recalls her own youth, when she did not want to help out on the ranch either. “As I grew older, I realized its importance. And I hope it’s the same for them,” she says. Even if she is not making much use of the land, she wants to
“IT’S A RESPECT FOR THE LAND AND OUR HISTORY AND OUR ELDERS...EVEN IF WE DON’T BENEFIT FROM IT, IT’S USEFUL TO SOMEBODY.” ~ NINA FEJERAN
Clockwise from top: Family and friends alike enjoy nuts grown on Atoigue’s Talofofo ranch; Atoigue checks if her the bananas on her ranch are ripe; Chickens also call Atoigue’s ranch home.
preserve the land her children, their children, and so on. Magdalena Atoigue and her family live on their ranch in Talofofo. Atoigue’s father was a farmer, and her husband was a farmer. She lived on the 3 acre ranch with her husband for more than 40 years. Her farming stalled for a bit while her husband was sick. After his passing in 2013, Atoigue returned to the land. “I love to come out here and just walk around and see the beauty of the plants,” Atoigue says. “It’s just for my own enjoyment.” An abundance of fruits and vegetables grow on the ranch, including peppers, breadfruit, nuts, mangoes, bananas, betel nuts, avocado, taro, and even pineapples, to name a few. She also keeps a few pigs,
ducks, and chickens. She is helped by her son and her grandchildren. In the past, the family would sell their produce, but Atoigue is more than willing to give some as gifts. The ranch at one point had about 20 coconut trees, but they have to be cut down due to Rhinoceros Beetle infestation. Atoigue and her son must now cut down the trees and properly dispose of them. Even with the challenges, Atoigue still enjoys her planting and maintaining the land. “It’s fun to plant, and when it’s time to harvest, you’re happy,” she says. Atoigue is teaching her grand children and her great grand children to work the land.
“I LOVE TO COME OUT HERE AND JUST walk AROUND AND SEE THE BEAUTY OF THE PLANTS. IT’S NOT JUST FOR MY OWN ENJOYMENT.” ~ MAGDALENA ATOIGUE
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Feature///Island Focus
Local produce
is starting to grow on Guam BY Thomas Johnson
Many of us have had the privilege of enjoying the island’s natural bounty at some point in our lives, especially when local staples like donne’ and coconut milk are practically synonymous with Chamorro food. But as global awareness of GMO-related products and foods continues to grow, the demand for fresh-grown local produce is steadily growing along with it. And local farmers, now faced with a rabid new market, are expanding and diversifying to meet that demand. Old local favorites like papaya, bananas, eggplant, and bittermelon are now being joined by hydroponic lettuce, fresh-grown kale, and a variety of other fruits and vegetables as local tastes as lifestyles shift towards a cleaner, more organic lifestyle.
“I love locally-grown kale,” says Bryan Gregory, 31, of Tamuning. “It tastes amazing steamed or when it’s washed and put into a salad. Kale is just something really different from what we usually have here, and it always goes well with mahi-mahi, or steamed salmon.” Gregory says that he usually gets his kale from the GrowGuam farm, a local hydroponic farm known for its kale, lettuce, arugula, and tomatoes.
Nathaniel Entilla
Bryan Gregory
Unlike many stateside farms, most local farmers make the most of the limited space they have by maintaining a healthy relationship with the land. To that end, they prefer to use organic fertilizers, natural pesticides, and – in many cases – their own seed stock. The crops that result from these natural methods can sometimes look quite different from the genetically-modified stateside produce many of us are used to, but they’re also generally much tastier and healthier.
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Sumika San Nicolas
Sumika San Nicolas, 25, of Yigo, is also a huge fan of GrowGuam’s kale, preferring them in smoothies, but she says that her absolute favorite local produce are cucumbers. “I like them because they’re refreshing and can be found and grown year-round,” she says. “I can also make a bunch a things with
them – salads, pickles, fresh juice – and they’re one of my favorite sandwich fillings. But my favorite way to make it comes with no preparation at all. I just slice it up and dip it in hummus.” San Nicolas usually gets her cucumbers from Harmon vegetable stands and the Harmon flea market. “If not there, I get them from Payless, but I always make sure that they’re local.” As demand for local produce has grown, availability has become an issue for many local consumers and many, like San Nicolas, are turning to Pay-Less, which has become a fairly reliable distributor of local produce in recent years. “Lately, Pay-less has been much better about getting new shipments of local produce in and marketing them as locally-grown,” says Nathaniel Entilla, 28, of Agana Heights. “I’m a big fan of local
Feature///Island Focus
cucumbers and eggplant. My family used to get them all the time at the Harmon flea market, but they’ve become kind of scarce lately.” Of course, there are still those who enjoy some of Guam’s more traditional staples. “I love bitter melon and papaya, “ says Nina Peck, 24, of Tamuning. “They’re delicious, and they almost never ship them in from
other places. I prefer my bitter melon either raw in salad or stir-fried, and I like my papaya ripe and mixed with lime juice.” Like
“I LOVE BITTER MELON AND PAPAYA. THEY’RE DELICIOUS AND THEY ALMOST NEVER SHIP THEM IN FROM OTHER PLACES.”
absolute favorites are avocado, eggplant, and breadfruit, which I usually get from vegetable stands, the Mangilao night market, or Pay-less.” DeLeon says that she likes her avocado prepared with milk and sugar or with finadene, and that she likes her eggplant and breadfruit prepared with coconut milk.
— Jerry crisostomo clinic administrator and chief executive officer
Nina Peck
many others, Peck gets her produce from either Pay-less or produce stands, but also gets them from friends who grow them. Natalie DeLeon, 33, of Mangilao, is also a big fan of more traditional fare. “I love all kinds of local produce,” she says, “but my
Natalie DeLeon
OUT&ABOUT
out & about
R&R is... DIVERSITY.
Photos by Justin Green
The Guam Women’s Club held its 60th anniversary Mardi Gras fundraiser on March 2 at the Hilton Guam Resort & Spa.
Submitted photo
Junior Achievement of Guam successfully completed its first JA Job Shadow Program with Junior Achievement Japan. JA Japan brought ten high school students and 2 chaperone’s to Guam to participate in the program. Students from Notre Dame High, Guam High, St. Thomas Aquinas High, Father Duenas Memorial High, Harvest Christian Academy and Southern High made up the Guam contingent. The program was sponsored by FedEx Asia Pacific, IT&E Guam and KUAM Pacific Telestations. TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS FOR OUT & ABOUT, EMAIL HIGH-RES PHOTOs to: rrpacificguam@gmail.com
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PLEASE INCLUDE: - CAPTIONS (NAMES, DATE, EVENT NAME AND LOCATION) - YOUR NAME AND VILLAGE
OUT&ABOUT
Photos by Joy White
The Guam Environmental Protection Agency celebrated Earth day with various events and outreaches around the island on April 5 and 6
Photos by Norman M. Taruc/671mma.com
The 2014 Marianas Open on March 15 at the Phoenix Center, Mangilao.
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Feature///Sports
Guam’s Basketball Mount Rushmore By Patrick Lujan
Mount Rushmore in South Dakota has been a symbol of presidential greatness since the carving completion in 1941. The symbolic site has been used in sports circles to relate to and identify greatness in respective sports. Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and many other NBA superstars shared their “Mount Rushmore” of NBA legends recently, provoking us to come up with our GSPN Mount Rushmore for Guam’s basketball legends. For those of us who’ve been around the game for a while put in their own list of legends and accumulatively we present the Mount Rushmore of Guam Basketball. TONY SUSUICO (1960’s-1970’s) Tony ‘The Helicopter’ Susuico had some serious hang-time during his legendary years/ Nicknamed ‘The Helicopter’ because he ‘floated higher and longer than most’, Susuico was the first name that popped up for most voters – whether they actually watched him play or not. It could be the legendary 113-point game in 1973. Some may relate Susuico with Wilt Chamberlain for the interior dominance and hitting the century mark, but local hoops historians compare his game to Dominique Wilkins and George ‘Iceman’ Gervin – two human highlight reels in the NBA. Susuico was the rock of the 1975 and 1979 gold medal teams that didn’t lose a game in the South Pacific Games – the last time Guam has struck gold in men’s basketball. He was the leading scorer and rebounder in those two teams. He was also named the Guam National Olympic Committee’s Athlete of the Millennium in 2000, an awesome recognition. “It’s a great honor to be recognized for being one of the greats in Guam basketball history. It has been an honor to be one of the founding fathers of Guam basketball and I look forward to the progress being made by the Guam National Basketball Program,” Susuico says. JOE TAITANO (1970’s-1990’s) Five SPGs as the starting point guard and co-captain, Joe Taitano is an all-time great. Arguably the best athlete ever from Guam, Joe Taitano made his mark on the hard courts before his running and coaching legacies began. Taitano’s name usually followed Susuico’s with voters, in part because he was the point guard in those two golden teams in ’75 and ’79.He was the starting point guard
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and co-captain for five consecutive SPG teams from 1971-1987. His speed and relentlessness, his fearless approach to the game – and to the basket – resembled the likes of Pistol Pete Maravich and Isaiah Thomas. Like his running style, his motor never stopped and cardio was never a problem. As the floor general, he led the Guam offense and drove the lane with ease while quickly turning to defense in the era that established Guam basketball as a defensive powerhouse still known today. Generations of recent time know him as the most successful high school basketball and cross country/track coach with over 30 championships combined – mostly with the JFK Islanders. Add all his running accomplishments and you have a true Guam sports legend! “I’m ecstatic, flabbergasted and appreciative (of this honor). This is above and beyond my expectation. Si Yuus Ma’ase.” Taitano says. JOEY GOGUE (1980’s-2000’s) ‘The Pretzel’ was a scoring machine and a mean defender as well – ala His Airness. He is the Michael Jordan of Guam. Like MJ, Gogue had the killer instinct at both sides of the floor. He always wanted the ball in his hands and when he was hot, he was sizzling hot. His range from outside was like no other and was a 90%-plus free throw shooter and as he aged, he transformed his game just like His Airness with a post-up game. ‘The Pretzel’ made the GCC Tradesmen relevant in the mid 1980s, winning the Far East MVP award from the 4th-placed GCC team in 1983. On the defensive side, Gogue always wanted the best player to defend on the other team and his high intensity usually put fear into his opponent. His work ethic and desire was contagious amongst his teammates, even during practice. He practiced hard and played hard. He is one of only a few players who can single-handedly win games. Outside of ‘The Helicopter’, ‘The Pretzel’ lit up the scoreboard like no other.
Feature///Sports
Athletes honored as legends in the Mount Rushmore of Guam Basketball get together at Pika’s Café on March 28. (From left) Tony Susuico; Joe Taitano; Patrick Lujan, executive manager, GSPN; Joey Gogue; and Chris Fernandez
Unfortunately, injury prohibited him to make a mark in the 1987 SPG during his peak years. A late coaching change in the 1991 SPG affected the team that still managed to claim silver. Back spasms affected his game once again in 1995 and a lingering injury prohibited what was his last attempt at SPG Gold in 1999. “I am truly humbled and grateful to be mentioned with these other legends in this sport…I thank God for the gift to play and be an instrument to others,” Gogue says. CHRIS FERNANDEZ (1990’s-2000’s) Chris Fernandez is the youngest player on the Mountain, and the least offensive-minded of the Big Four. The thing is, he didn’t need to score for his team to win. Considered tall for a Guam point guard, the quiet floor director had a basketball IQ so evident he can envision a play before it even happens. He’s Guam’s version of Magic Johnson.
There was a sense of calm when Fernandez had the ball in his hands. Sure he could score when he wanted, but he’d prefer to get his teammates in a rhythm with crisp passes. And like his predecessors, he was a lock-down defender on the opposing point guard. Like Magic, Fernandez wasn’t afraid to bang with the big boys to get the rebound, only to start a well-sensored fast break that was fun to watch. The 1996 high school MVP out of Father Duenas led Guam to three silver medals in the South Pacific Games. “I am not sure if I truly deserve being put on this list but I am thankful to those who appreciate my game. I have to say that I was blessed playing with really good teammates and under excellent coaches. If you look at all the teams that I was on, I am not sure if my game could have flourished the way it did because I was a passfirst point guard. That is really how I feel and why I feel like many of my peers could have filled this fourth spot,” Fernandez says.
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