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...

Chamorro Hao...Na Metgot Hao...Fino Figo

Chamorro painting done by Noel B. Quitugua

Spondylus donated by Joe Guzman.

Under-belly of the same spondylus.

Sinahi after being bound and beaded with orange spondylus shells.

Same Kalang at a different angle.

Full frontal of the Sinahi/Kalang...notice the galaide at the lower left hand corner.

Saina Ma'ase ginen as FIGO

Sinahi Artifact

This artifact sinahi image was obtained on-line.

FIGO