Local Family Launches ‘Learn Chamorro’ Program

TUESDAY, 01 NOVEMBER 2011 01:24 BY JANELA BUHAIN CARRERA | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

Troy Aguon spent 13 years in Las Vegas, Nev., not knowing how to speak Chamorro, the language of his home island.

Troy Aguon talks about the “Learn Chamorro” program during his address to the Rotary Club of Northern Guam yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. Photo by David Castro

Stumped by this, he set out to learn the “dying language” to revive it and pass it on to his children. He then moved back to Guam about 13 years ago and began his endeavor.

He visited the University of Guam and local bookstores, searching high and low to find every available kid-friendly tutorial for his children to learn Chamorro, but to no avail.

“There was none; it didn’t exist,” Aguon told Rotary Club of Northern Guam members during a meeting yesterday at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

“They had other books, but they were too in-depth and too formal.”

Because of this, Aguon, along with his wife and a few friends, has decided to embark on a journey to introduce educational materials that will encourage children and the general public to learn Guam’s native language.

Aguon is on a mission to get every single word in the dictionary translated into Chamorro within three years. He has launched a website, learnchamorro.com, which aims to teach Chamorro to anyone wishing to learn in a fun and friendly environment.

He has also produced an educational DVD with similar content as the website for $20. The price for the DVD, which is a “kid’s edition,” he said, is to cover the cost of producing the DVD, among other expenses. He also noted that any excess funds from DVD sales will go directly back to his cause. While the website is free of charge, Aguon said the DVDs can be purchased as a gift or for collection.

“It breaks my heart to know that you have to pay for something that’s dying right now,” he said. “So I’m going to do it myself and I’m going to challenge everyone on Guam.”

The DVDs can be purchased at Bestseller Bookstores, Nunu Tree at the Agana Shopping Center, The Piazza Restaurant, the USO headquarters, Che’lu Store at Chamorro Village, Cost-U-Less in Tamuning, and Island Fresh in Ordot/Chalan Pågo.

Aguon has also partnered with the Marianas Variety to introduce a section today that will feature Chamorro words/phrases and their English translations.

University of Guam Launches ‘Buy Local’ Movement

THURSDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2011 00:55 BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

SEVERAL island dignitaries and community stakeholders gathered at Bernardo’s Dragonfruit Farm in Chalan Pågo yesterday to celebrate

the launch of the University of Guam’s “Buy Local” movement.

In an effort to generate a local Guam products movement, the UOG’s Pacific Center for Economic Initiatives (PCEI) launched its new marketing campaign to “Think, Support, and Buy Local,” an economic development strategy aimed at promoting awareness of the benefits of supporting Guam-based businesses and the hiring of local workers.

“It’s a decision to spend your money in a way that grows and strengthens our economy by keeping it in the community,” said Dr. Anita Borja Enriquez, PCEI director, of the initiative. “You make the decision to ‘Buy Local’ when you buy products that are sold locally instead of ordering them 100 percent from off-island; by hiring Guam residents first before off-island hires; and by using Guam-based businesses instead of ‘outsourcing work’ off-island. When you do this, you keep cash recycling within our economy and grow our tax base to support public health, education, roads and water infrastructure, parks, and others, instead of inadvertently losing (leaking) dollars off-island.”

The campaign was funded through initial support from the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Insular Affairs. Present at the launch ceremony was DOI’s Assistant Secretary for Insular Affairs Tony Babauta; and Delegate Madeleine Bordallo, who, along with the rest of the dignitaries, echoed the importance of supporting the “Buy Local” movement.

Green Revolution

Bordallo delivered a few remarks, commending the movement and recalling a similar “Green Revolution,” which her husband, former Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo, initiated. According to Bordallo, the “Green Revolution” urged all markets to purchase from local farmers.

Bordallo also encouraged everyone to promote the local culture by buying local.

UOG hopes this particular effort will create a shift of at least 10 percent of combined consumer and organizational spending on Guam to locally-supplied goods and services.

According to PCEI Marketing Coordinator Odyssa San Nicolas, the “Buy Local” movement has been going on for quite some time, but it wasn’t until UOG received support and funding from DOI that they were able to finally launch their marketing campaign.

“Overall I think the event went really well,” San Nicolas said. “We got a really good response from the Legislature, Tony Babauta, Congresswoman Bordallo, the Farmer’s Co-op, Fisherman’s Co-op, Guam Economic Development Authority, numerous small, private businesses, and just overall support from the community.”

Following the launch, San Nicolas said UOG will be working on numerous events and activities – including the launch of a media marketing campaign – to engage and educate the community on buying and hiring locally.

San Nicolas hopes the community will encourage the “Buy Local” movement and keep it going.

“Let’s keep our economy growing,” she said.

Forum Tackles Militarization

FRIDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2011 04:25 BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

PRESENTATIONS and a public forum were held Wednesday evening at the University of Guam CLASS Lecture Hall, where experts discussed the impact of militarization as well as the current and intended acquisition of military land on Guam.

The forum, entitled “Islands of Shame: Base Displacement from Diego Garcia and Guåhan,” discussed the Pågat lawsuit and the impact military bases have on the island communities of Diego Garcia and Guam.

The speakers were Attorney Leevin Camacho, member of We Are Guåhan, and Dr. David Vine, assistant professor of Anthropology at American University in Washington D.C. Introducing the speakers and moderating the following forum was Dr. Michael Lujan Bevacqua.

“People tend to view the military bases through the more positive symbols of military service, of what the military does for the world, its mission,” said Bevacqua as he introduced the presentations. “But for every military base that you see, there's always some lesser ... aspects to it. There's always high levels of disease, there's always a sort of displacement, dispossession. And so throughout the world, the U.S military has worked on a thousand facilities and so almost all of those facilities – Guam, Diego Garcia, Okinawa, South Korea included – all of them have a shameful history, a history where people were dispossessed, displaced.”

Camacho's presentation detailed the Department of Defense's current footprint on the island; the expansion of DOD lands; and updates on the lawsuit to save Pågat village.

“There are 36,000 acres that DOD officially has control over – that's about 26 percent of Guam,” said Camacho, showcasing maps of Guam that manifest areas throughout the island belonging to DOD or are areas desired for acquisition.

According to Camacho, with DOD's current footprint, Andersen Air Force Base takes up 17,430 acres, while Naval Magazine takes up 8,600 acres; they are the third and seventh largest land areas, respectively.

Meanwhile, Vine spoke about research from his book, “Island of Shame: The Secret History of the U.S. Military Base on Diego Garcia,” drawing parallels between the history of Diego Garcia and that of Guam's. Diego Garcia is a small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean whose indigenous people were displaced during the development of a U.S. military base.

“Part of the reason I'm here is because I'm working on a new book about the whole network of U.S. military bases overseas,” said Vine. “It's taken me to Europe, Asia, Latin America, and now I'm lucky enough to visit Guam and continue that research.”

Vine's research for his new book explores the impacts – on cultural, health, environmental and sovereign representation – military bases have in areas outside of the U.S.

Vine noted similarities between Diego Garcia and Guam, with regard to the impacts of island militarization.

“One is the military use of strategic islands; second, displacement and dispossession; third, racism; [and] fourth, the struggle of people against the military.”

University of Guam Tuition Fee Increase Averted

TUESDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2011 00:47 BY THERESE HART | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

ANSWERING the pleas from University of Guam students who protested against a 5 percent tuition rate hike during a public hearing held at the Mangilao campus, lawmakers quickly passed emergency Bill 308 during the last day of session yesterday, waiving the requirement of a public hearing and appropriating $1.36 million from the Supplemental Appropriations Revenue Fund.

The bill’s sponsor, appropriations chairman Senator Ben Pangelinan, yesterday said the funds should avert a tuition fee increase. The Board of Regents will meet next Thursday, Sept. 29 to decide on the tuition increase proposal.

UOG officials said a tuition increase was necessary because although they requested $29 million for Fiscal Year 2012, Governor Eddie Baza Calvo only identified $26 million. UOG current funding level is $27 million. Some of the shortfall, said UOG officials, needed to be captured, hence the proposed 5 percent tuition increase. Calvo’s funding cut to the university would not have been able to operate at its current funding level next year. Although the $1.36 million would stave off a tuition increase, UOG would still need to cut $1.9 million and is working toward financial belt-tightening measures.

The bill also identifies $1.5 million to pay for tax year 2010 A-status returns. A-status returns are income tax returns certified by the Department of Revenue and Taxation as ready for payment.

The $2.8 million will come from anticipated additional Section 30 funds requested from Gov. Calvo for Fiscal Year 2012, which, Pangelinan said, his office discovered only after sending a Freedom Of Information Act request to the Bureau of Budget and Management Research. Pangelinan’s request was made Sept. 6. Director John Rios responded to the FOIA request on Sept. 16.

Pangelinan blasted Calvo, saying he was less than transparent when he submitted the budget bill which included $50 million in Section 30 funds to lawmakers, not disclosing to lawmakers the additional $3 million. These funds are part of the revenue stream and included in the General Fund.

The actual Section 30 advance request amount Calvo requested from the Department of Interior was $53 million, according to a Sept. 1 letter from Calvo to Assistant Secretary of the Interior Tony Babauta.

Public Law 30-219 mandates that no later than 15 days after the end of the third quarter of each fiscal year, the governor must provide the Speaker and the Office of Finance and Budget a report of all correspondence with the United States Treasury, Department of Interior, Office of Insular Affairs and other entities of the U.S. government related to prior and future fiscal year estimates and reconciliation of duties, fees, and taxes (referred to as Section 30 funds), remitted prior to the beginning of the next fiscal year.

During session, Pangelinan said in spite of the law, Governor Calvo continues to circumvent it by not submitting information to the Legislature.

Students protest against UOG tuition hike

WEDNESDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2011 04:49 BY GERALDINE CASTILLO | VARIETY NEWS STAFF

EMOTIONS ran high for students yesterday as they diplomatically voiced their opposition against the University of Guam's proposed tuition rate increase.

A public hearing organized by UOG President Robert Underwood and the Board of Regent's Budget, Finance, Investments and Audit Committee and the Student Affairs, Scholarship, Alumni Relations and Honorary Degree Committee was held yesterday at the School of Business and Public Administration Building.

Nearly 100 students filled the room to support one another as some took the opportunity to present their views and arguments before the board.

Proposed changes to the university's tuition rates include a 10 percent increase to resident undergraduate and graduate students beginning Spring 2012, with a 5 percent increase in Fall 2012, and another 5 percent again in Fall 2013.

The current resident undergraduate tuition rate per credit hour is $190. With the proposed 10 percent increase for Spring 2012, the new cost would amount to $209; by Fall 2012, $220; and in Fall 2013, $231.

For non-residents, the rates would decrease in Spring 2012 and then increase 5 percent in each of the next two academic years.

Since Fall 2009 to current, tuition for non-resident undergraduates cost $565. By implementing the new rates by Spring 2012, tuition would drop to $435, then increase to $457 by Fall 2012, and again to $480 by Fall 2013.

Shortage

The tuition changes stem from a shortage in the amount the government appropriated for the university's budget for next fiscal year.

According to Vice President of Administration and Finance David O'Brien, UOG had requested a $29.9 million appropriation for FY2012 general operations. The Legislature, in turn, came up with Substitute Bill 145-31, which appropriates only $26.7 million. This leaves the university short $3.2 million.

In order to meet the budget cut, O'Brien said the university estimated $1.9 million to come from cost-reduction and energy-conservation measures. They also are contemplating salary cuts.

To fill in the remaining $1.3 million gap, UOG proposed the tuition increase. According to the UOG Proposal for Tuition Rate Changes and Economic Impact Statement, the increase in tuition is to also accommodate the growth in student enrollment.

“Revenue generated by the proposed tuition increase will benefit academic quality and support student learning,” the proposal and EIS stated.

Protest

Minutes before the public hearing, dozens of students rallied together with posters. Organized by FITE Club – Fellows for Inquiry Towards Enlightenment – the student activist group wanted to make clear that despite their struggles, they were willing to compromise.

“We hope to find solutions to mitigate our financial situation,” said FITE Club President Kenneth Gofigan Kuper. The 20-year-old senior majoring in Psychology insisted, “We're willing to compromise ... we're not necessarily here to say no to everything.”

The students then began their march, hoping to later echo their rhetoric during the public hearing.

“We are here to listen to your opinion ... we're not only asking for your understanding but your assistance,” said President Underwood to the students.

Earlier, Underwood stated that in order to avoid a tuition increase, the university needs to secure additional support from the government of Guam either through legislative appropriation or reprogramming by the government.

“I'm so glad that you're here today, in helping make the case and the university's case ... not only in your name, but in the name of educational opportunity for incoming students,” Underwood told the students.

Over a dozen students each voiced their concerns with passion and conviction.

“I'm not a math major, but I know we're short,” said 20-year-old student and junior Jesse Quenga. “And because we're short, that's why we're seeing that the $1.3 million is gonna come out of somewhere, but why does it have to come out of our pockets?”

Quenga, who is also president of the 60th Student Government Association, spoke matter-of-factly on behalf of all the students.

“We're just one demographic ... we're just one student who's probably a single parent, who's probably working three jobs, who's probably trying their best to prove to their parents ... that this is the best decision for now,” he said. “What they need to remember is that this is an investment – an investment that we're going to see later on in the future.”

Not only did the students highlight the reality of their economic or personal struggles, they also proposed suggestions and solutions in hopes to find compromise. Among those suggestions was the idea of utilizing e-books or making textbooks available online instead of purchasing expensive textbooks. Another suggestion was influencing a more sustainable culture at the campus, and finding more ways to be more efficient.

“If education is so vital, if education is such a staple to success, then allow us to absorb that success,” Kuper urged the board. “Provide us that opportunity to pave the road to success. ... Let us know that you are doing your part as well.”

UOG gets materials for engineering school

By Lannie Walker from KUAM.com

Guam - The University of Guam received $250,000 in materials for the construction of its School of Engineering Annex. Hawaiian Rock Products made the donation of materials including ready-mix concrete, installed asphalt pavement, concrete blocks and concrete pipes.

UOG president Dr. Robert Underwood says the donation will help the university successfully launch the engineering program.

Underwood says he can't endorse candidates

by Sabrina Salas Matanane from KUAM.com

Guam - University of Guam president Dr. Robert Underwood wants to clear the record. While his speech given during former president Bill Clinton's visit to Guam 12 years ago has been used in political advertisements, he says he cannot and does not endorse any candidate for governor or senator.

In a statement issued today, Dr. Underwood said, "The recent unauthorized use of my voice and words in a political television advertisement and e-mail letter taken from an event held 12 years ago...is not appropriate." He has asked the Democratic gubernatorial of Carl Gutierrez/Frank Aguon to remove his voice and words from their commercials.

As part of his contract with the university and as a Government of Guam employee, Underwood is unable to participate in political activities.

University of Guam President Underwood Expresses Willingness to Partner with DoD on Research for Island Sustainability

Written by Jeff Marchesseault, Guam News Watch Anchor
Monday, September 20, 2010

GUAM - It's a delicate balance between the viable defense of a "free Pacific" and the quality of life rite here at home. As with anything worth having, there are trade-offs. Something's always got to give. As they say, freedom isn't free.

To balance the high cost of that freedom, local leverage and say-so are priceless tools for helping Guam's community get what it needs out of the buildup – namely affordable and sustainable supplies of energy, water, and land.

Perhaps that's one reason University of Guam (UOG) president Robert Underwood is pushing so hard to establish UOG as a Research and Development resource thru the university's center for island sustainability.

Underwood addressed Rotary Club of Northern Guam at the Hyatt Regency today, telling Rotarians that UOG aims to ensure we're able to use our resources today in ways that don't keep future generations from using those same resources.

"So, as we go through this process of creating the Center for Island Sustainability, we're reaching out to the broader community and we're creating a series of advisory councils. And we're inviting members of the business community, members of the activist community, just village mayors, anybody who's interested to become members of these advisory councils. So that as we set up our research and our educational, and our outreach activities, we get good faith participation from all of the sectors of the island and that it would have the desired effect."

"The University of Guam is willing to be a partner in the research. And I think it would really behoove the Department of Defense to engage us in a partner because when you have researchers who are from here, and researchers who are committed to a life here, then I think they'll do the very best by both the island and give the military honest research. And so our point in setting up the Center for Island Sustainability is to provide a venue for that."

Underwood told Guam News Watch that local officials' concerns over the potential radioactive contamination of Apra harbor is a case in point. That if qualified Guam-based authorities are concerned that dredging Apra could disturb suspected radioactive waste left over from nuclear testing in the Marshalls in the 1940's, then they could help the university solve the dilemma, through the Center for Island Sustainability.

UOG's Chamorro Language Program, We Are Guahan, Peace Coalition host gubernatorial, senatorial forums

UOG's Chamorro Language Program, We Are Guahan, Peace Coalition host gubernatorial, senatorial forums

from PACIFIC DAILY NEWS • NEWS@GUAMPDN.COM • SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

The University of Guam Chamoru Language program, We are Guahan, and the Guahan Coalition for Peace and Justice will co-sponsor a series of Chamorro language senatorial forums on Oct. 19-21 and a gubernatorial Chamorro language forum featuring Sens. Eddie Baza Calvo and Ray Tenorio, discussing issues with former Gov. Carl T. C. Gutierrez and Sen. Frank Blas Aguon Jr. on Oct. 25.

All forums begin at 7p.m. and will be held in the University of Guam’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Lecture Hall.

The October 19 forum features:
• Sen. Judith Won Pat
• Sen. Tom Ada
• Sen. Benjamin Cruz
• Sen. Adolpho Palacios
• Steve Dierking
• Sen. Frank Blas Jr.,
• Chris Duenas
• Ray Cruz Haddock
• William Q. Sarmiento
• Vic Gaza

The Oct. 20 forum features:
• Sen. Tina R. Muna Barnes
• Corinna Gutierrez-Ludwig
• Joe S. San Agustin
• Trini Torres
• Sen. Tony Ada
• Mana Silva Taijeron
• Douglas Moylan
• Steve Guerrero
• William U. Taitague

The Oct. 21 forum features:
• Jonathan Diaz,
• Sarah Thomas-Nededog,
• Dennis Rodriguez Jr.
• Sen. Rory Respicio
• Sen. Judith Guthertz
• Sen. Telo Taitague
• Aline Yamashita
• John Benavente
• Shirley “Sam” Mabini
• Velma Harper

Chamoru Language Students enrolled in the fall semester classes at the University of Guam helped organize the event. Emcees for the forums are Ronald T. Laguana, Hope Alvarez Cristobal, Jose Q. Cruz, Miget Bevacqua, Ann Marie Arceo, Rufina Mendiola, Anthony “Malia” Ramirez, Irene Santos Quidachay, and Teresita Flores.

At the end of each forum, the audience will vote for their favorite candidates. All the candidates are being encouraged to have their supporters, family, friends, and party leaders in attendance as well as to post party banners in the lobby of the lecture hall.

Questions from the general public are being solicited and will be asked during the forums. All questions will be translated into Chamorro. Candidates are encouraged to speak in Chamorro, but will be allowed an interpreter/translator for the evening. “

To submit questions, e-mail ponedera53@yahoo.com.