CHILDHOOD IN GUAM:

Chamorro People (other information on the history of Guam, will be highlighted in subsequent blogs)

The descendent of Chamorros are a combination of ethnicities from Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia and Phillippines). Early inhabitants of Guam were known to be members of either the subservient Manachang caste or the higher status Chamori caste. The Manachang caste members were described as being small, dark skinned, and physically less robust than their counterpart of the Chamori. After colonization by the Spanish, the caste system became extinct, and indigenous people were referred to by the Spanish surname of “Chamorro.” The later were described by the Spanish, as being tall and robust in stature, but also amazingly strong and tawny-brown skinned. Both sexes had long black hair, wore down to their waists, but were later tied atop their heads in “one or two topknots” (Chamorro People ; en.m.wikipedia.org).

During the 18th century, life expectancy from birth to death was 44 years. But as colonization by the Spaniards began, life expectancy was curtailed with the decimation of the Chomorro population. The population in 1669 was 50,000 with a decrease, due to warfare to less than 1,000 males in 1720 (Adams, E. Guam History, Culture, Travel Guide and Tourism. Sonit Education Academy). Because of this decline of approximately 49,000 males, interracial marriages between the Chamorro women and other ethnic groups (Spanish, Mexicans, Filipinos, Japanese, etc.) helped in increasing the population. Thus the current population of Asian-Pacific Islander in Guam is 168,775 (2020 census), with an increase of 118,755 since 1669.

Physical Stature of Father and Grandparents

After dad had climbed down the coconut tree, on ground level he appeared “gigantic” in stature, but was only 5”10” in size. Like my grandfather, who was similar in height to my father, with the only difference to the former was his protruding-shaped stomach. My grandmother differed in height (approximately 5’11”) from both my father and grandfather and also leaner in her physic. It was said my grandmother’s parents were of Chinese descent and appears to because her facial appearance. During the day, she periodically braided and then re-braided her thinning hair atop her head in a knot. Grandmother could be seen squatting on the floor, ascribing to the cultural practice of daily betel nut chewing. This chewing attributed to her stamina, alertness and euphoric sense of well-being. Because of this continual chewing of the betel nuts, her teeth were reddish-brown in color and she did not appear self-conscious to the stains. Rather darken stained teeth were highly valued by the ancient Chamorro women, as a beautification practice.

Grandparents Home

When I visited my grandmother in her home, it was situated in a large compound. Other smaller homes within the compound were adjacent to my grandparents. My father was proud of his father stating, he was a carpenter by trade and had built his home “all by himself.” Next to the home was an additional structure, my grandfather built to house a supermarket. When I visit him at the market, he would open the door of a soda dispenser and each of us children were rewarded with a bottle of Coca Cola.

Unlike our home, my grandparent’s home had the modern accommodation of the bathroom with both a toilet and shower. Our toilet and shower at home consisted of outdoor facilities, because we did not have indoor plumbing or electricity. Similar to my grandparent’s home, laundry was outdoors. It was also a communal effort, of people gathering and helping with tasks of cooking and doing laundry. Cooking was in a large dome-shaped adobe oven, similar to the historic Pueblo Indians in California. The ground in the compound was not compacted and the dirt would swirl around our feet; needless to say a bath was deemed necessary. On one occasion at my grandparents, the bath consisted of being dipped into an old washing machine to remove the caked-on dirt.

When we visited indoors, we came upon life-like religious icons, covered with wrappings to prevent discoloration from the humid elements. As a child standing next to those icons, I was struck by their life-like size and facial countenance. Placement of the fans on top of the ceilings, helped in providing a cool breeze to lower the humidity level. In the sitting area of the home, it was interesting to pass the time viewing the lizards that would slowly amble from one wall to another. Contrary to my observing these interesting animals, my mother dislike being in close contact with lizards and would cringe away from them. Dad though, did not skirmish when he came in close contact this or other animals.

Home on the Farm

Dad had a menagerie of farm animals, from cows and goats for milking to chickens (roosters and hens) for laying eggs. He planted various vegetables, ranging from string beans, tomatoes, corn, squash, etc. Because of the size of the family (9 in total), dad was entrepreneurial in selling his harvest to local markets. I remember helping him with my siblings by picking string beans from the vines, tying them in bundles and then taking them to market. Dad would sometimes put the vegetables on his shoulders, as he transported the produce. When I was allowed to carry small bundles, I had difficulty walking because of the weight. After market, the family returned home exhausted from the venture.

Spiritual practice

Before sunrise on Sunday morning, my father would take us to a Catholic church for mass. It was a beautiful sight as I watched the sun rise from the window pane. Though I was small in stature, I was able to tip-toe and reach the top of the pew. Father would sit adjacent to us and I would view the religious statues and stained glass windows, as the priest proceeded in the Liturgies. As that young child many decades ago, I watched the majestic sunrise of light hues of red and yellow change to daylight. At that moment, I experienced an inner peace, wishing it would not end. This was my first moment of awe-inspiring spiritual inner peace.

Later another experience at church was an attempt to model other church members, who proceeded to light candles at a church shrine. Upon lighting the candle, the church members would insert coinage into a slot, before lighting and then kneeing to pray. My sister and I wanted to emulate those actions of candle lighting. We did not have any money to insert, so instead we gathered leaves and sheepishly inserted them into the offering slot. Then after lighting several candles, we would knee down, bowed our heads and pretend to say a brief prayer. Needless to say the side entry to the church which was once opened became locked for our subsequent spiritual, candle-lightening forays.