Naftan Guelu yan Guela

Inside the Guma Higai with two talaya ready for fishing.

Same info as above; Gordon Jr.

Background: Guma Higai located along beach road. This is part of the Ancient Chamorro Village called Catanhuda until its forced abandonment in the mid 1700's.

Talaya fishing in the Songsong of Catanhuda now known as Civic Center Beach, Susupe.

Talaya

Guma Higai at Cantanhuda; Gordon Jr.

 A view from within the guma higai.

Gordon Jr. standing infront of the guma higai; cantanhuda.

Click on the picture to enlarge in order to read the text.

Lusong in the Songsong of Alaian (Araiao) now known as part of Afetnas and San Antonio.

Acho Latte of Alaian (Araiao) Ancient Chamorro name of the village from which this latte stands. Maga'Lahi Ladahao (Chamorro Chief) from Sa'ipan was a a great chief from the said village. He refused to bow to the oppressive Spaniards; who forced the Catholic religion onto the Chamorro people. He refused to accept Spain as the new ruler of the Chamorro archipelago. MagaLahi Ladahao led the Chamorro people in many battles against the Spaniards. They respected him for his wisdom and valor. At one point, he drove the Spaniards fleeing back to Guahan (This is the original name, not GUAM).  Don Jose De Quirogo a brutal Commander responded by sending more reinforcements. In 1684, a fully armed fleet of ships landed at Tanapag and a fierce battle ensued. The Chamorros showered the fleet with lances and sling stones. The Spaniards, however, responded viciously with their guns and cannons. Hundreds of Chamorros died bravely. MagaLahi Ladahao, although wounded, managed to escape to the Gani islands (In Ancient Chamorro time, the Northern Islands north of Sa'ipan was known basically as the Gani Islands) to recover. He was later captured and brought to Guahan, where Quiroga swiftly ordered that MagaLahi Ladahao be put to death (Obtained through the research of Eddie L.G. Benavente).

Gordon Jr. standing beside the Acho Latte of Araiao.

FIGO

Acho Latte and Higam/Gachai pieces

This is a plaque memorializing the Ancient Chamorro's. This plaque is located in front of the Guma Hustisia, Sa'ipan Chamorro archipelago.

Lusong in front of the Guma Hustisia. This is an Ancient Chamorro artifact.

Gordon Jr. standing beside a Latte Stone in front of the Guma Hustisia, Sa'ipan.

Broken off piece of the Higam Hima/Gachai. Here you can see the blade portion of the Higam. The back section has been broken off.

Another Higam Hima/Gachai. The blade section is visible and the back section has broken off.

FIGO

The Boys Rocking Their Chamorro Pride.

Si Chelu Alvin Adriano wearing his hima Sinahi beaded with spondylus shells.

Si Chelu Vinnie Sablan wearing his hima Sinahi beaded with spondylus shells. He is also holding a medium size Sinahi strung with Pokse.

Saina Ma'ase Chelu Alvin yan Vinnie.

Si "FIGO"

Antigu Na Songsong Chamorro (Ancient Chamorro Village)

On my way down to visit my Ancestors Latte Village.

I am in one of the many caves that the Ancient Chamorros utilized for shelter during bad weather.

My Son Gordon Jr. in the same cave.

A view from within the cave.

Heading down to the Latte Sites.

Gordon Jr. within the vicinity of the Chamorro Latte Sites.

A cave close to the Latte Village.

Gordon Jr. Salas

Ancient Chamorro Latte Village. One can observe the roles of Latte Stone where the Latte House once stood.

My son on the Latte Village Site.

Hima found right here on the island of Sa'ipan.

Same Hima; I've cut and prepared for Sinahi carving.

The same Sinahi from the hima above.

A new project of mine; over 7 1/2" Sinahi.

Multiple Sinahi's

Same Sinahi's

The Maga Lahi size Sinahi. Once finished, I will post it.

FIGO

Sa'ipan Sinahi

The above Hima was found right here in Sa'ipan. When age has not deteriorated the surface area, one will notice a striation of red lines on the surface of the Bear Paw Giant Clams illustrated here. This is the same Bear Paw Giant Clam I had posted earlier with the indication of carving another Sinahi from it; the Sinahi from which this will be carved; was found in a long forgotten Ancient Chamorro Village. That is why all Sinahi carved from the Bear Paw clam found in an Ancient Chamorro Village will not be available for sale.

Same Bear Paw Giant Clam as above at a different angle.

The same Bear Paw Giant Clam; however, I had already cut and prepared this hima. As you can see, the outside appears deteriorated but the inside retains its natural color and grains.

I've cut out the blank Sinahi from one sliced piece as illustrated above.

A close-up view of the same Giant Clams and Sinahi.

This is how it looks like at its early stage of the carving.

I've started the time consuming carving of the Sinahi. One must note that Sinahi carving requires one's patience; this is because sinahi carving can be both tedious and labor intensive.

Patiently carving the sinahi piece I've cut from the Bear Paw Giant Clam.

Same thing that's happening above, is happening here. That is carving and carving and carving...

Different carving stage of the Sinahi.

Wow, it really is coming along isn't it. This is the top view of the Sinahi.

This is the bottom view.

Front view....this sinahi is not done; I will be posting the finished product one of these days.

Saina Ma'ase

FIGO

I Espano't na ga'ga', ma fa esklabu i man Chamorro tatte gi tiempo anai ma' fa iyon-niha it tano man Chamorro.

HURǺO

Manma åmot hit ni’ mina’lulok-ta ni’ takhelo’-ña kini i lumå’la’. Manma ke’eppok hit na u ta fanlamagof ya guaha gi ya hita mamfina’baba ya ta hongge i mames na fino’-ñiha. Låo, kåo ta po’lo ha’ ini na siñente siha yanggen ta hasso na ginen i finatton-ñiha i taotåo lågu siha na ta tutuhon manmalångu ya manmañetnot? Ti ta tungo’ put gå’ga’ dikike’ siha annai ti manmåfatto gi tano’-ta. Kåo ta tungo’ put chå’ka, ñåmu, lålo’ yan otro na mandañuyan na gå’ga’ dikike’ siha ni’ sesso ha na’fañatsaga hit? Ini siha i manggefpa’go na nina’en-ñiha gi ya hita. Ya håfa ayu i manmåma’ya na gå’ga’-ñiha ha chulile’i hit? Tåya’ gi manma’pos na tiempo chetnot riuma yan tinåohan. Yanggen guaha minalångu siha, guaha åmte-ta. Låo manma chulili’e hit mågi chetnot siha ya ti manmafa’nå’gue hit håfa i amte siha. Kåo ta po’lo ha’ i che’cho’ minagof yan i mambåba na minalago’ na u na’fañagi hit lulok yan otro siha na fina’hugeti ni’ ti u fa’måolek hit? Manma achåka hit ni’ Españot siha na mañatsaga, manaitiningo’ yan manggago’ hit. Låo yanggen manmiche’ hit, håfa ma aliligåo guini? Yanggen ti manmalago’ nu hita, ti u fanhuyong ya u na’fanlåmen siha yan ti u ma cho’gue amånu i ma na’siña ya u fañåga gi tano’-ta. Håfa na asunto na manmafa’nå’gue hit ni’ i pengnga’-ñiha låo put i para ta dalalaki yan tattiyi i tiningo’-ñiha yan para ta na’falingu i guaguan na nina’en i mañaina-ta? Ginen i fino’-ñiha siha ma kechagi numa’fanaiminagof hit para ta tånga kadada’ na minagof ni’ ti hagu’on estaki i finatai. Ma na’huyong kumu kado’kado’ yan dinagi i fina’posta. Kåo ada ti mamparehu direcho-ta nu ayu siha i manmafa’na’gue-ta na mansenmagåhet? Manma honño’ i tai minappot na lina’lå’-ta yan hinengge-ta. Todu i nina’siñan-ñiha ma na’huyong para u fa’baba hit todu i tiningo’-ñiha para u na’fampiniti hit. Yanggen mambåtchet yan mannangnga hit, ya ennåo malago’-ñiha para ta hongge, manaiguini hit sa’ sigi ha’ ta eyak i mambåba na dibuyo’-ñiha siha ya sumala’ sa’ ta po’lo ha’ para u fañåga guini. Mungnga hit numana’falingu ånimu put ini na achåki. Mandidide’ ha’ siha. Ta å’ñåo achokka’ tåya’ atmås-ta taiguihi gi ya siha ni’ manyayamak yan mamumuno’, ta hulat sa’ manmeggai hit. Manmetgot-ña hit ki ta hongge ya siña ta apåtta hit ginen ini na tåotao hiyong siha ya ta na’ta’lo tåtte i minagof yan i minåolek lina’lå’-ta.”

Hiking down to Bird Island

Maga Lahi Jr. climbing back up from Bird Islands

Maga Lahi Jr. with Islan Paluma

Islan Paluma giya songsong Makpi

Heading down the trail to Bird Island

Maga Lahi Jr. making his way through the trail

Same as above

Beach combing giya Songsong Agingan

FIGO...