Ginen i Hila' i Maga'taotao Siha Association: Saina Destilådu Snapshots

GINEN MEETING

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING:

July 9, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m.

Location: CAHA Gallery, 2nd Floor, DNA Building

July 9, 2025 Agenda:

I. Introductions and Call to Order.

II. Singing of the Ginen I Hila’ Song.

III. Kántan CHamorita (lyrics will be given separately below. The audience will sing first with the gentlemen, followed in response by the ladies).

IV. Guest speakers: 1. Dr. Laura Torres Souder; topic: World War II stories of the CHamoru on Guam, 2. Louie Gombar: Days of His Youth and what Liberation means to him, 3.⁠ ⁠⁠Barbara Dungca: What significance is there about Fanohge CHamoru to her.

V. Nominations and Election of New Officers in the following order:

A. Historian

B. Sergeant-At-Arms

C. Secretary

D. Treasurer

E. Vice-President

F. President

VI. Announcements

VII. Adjournment

*Photo session immediately after adjournment.

**Refreshment follows

Sainan Minenhalom E’estoria

Håfa Adai Ginen I Hila’ Members: Based on today’s PDN coverage about the Master’s Program, it appears that this might be the year when nominations will happen for the Sainan Minenhalom E’estoria and the possible selection and bestowing of honors to nominees who deserve recognition of this significant honor. There are definitely a number of you who merit a nomination and I’d like to encourage you to start preparing for this possibility but know, too, that the nominations will be open to the general public so bear this in mind when you think someone deserves recognition for nomination. Please look at the ginenihila.blogspot.com on the specifics of the criteria for the Master of Storytelling honors. As the criteria indicates, put together a portfolio (a binder) of warranted and proven storytelling events, programs, certificates, awards and, most especially forms, photos, videos of your involvement. You may also forward this email message to other non-members of Ginen i Hila’ from the community and storytellers who definitely must BE CHamoru. Good luck and please proceed with getting your portfolios done so that you’ll be the first of submissions when the formal CAHA announcements become public. Privately, Email me back at tinige.765@gmail.com to let me know if you have intentions and I’ll help you in every way I can. I’ll take the lead in affixing my signature for your nomination. My only caution is that I won’t be able to write you a letter of recommendation but, like I said, I’ll sign the nomination for your inclusion of consideration. I hope to see an expansion of a cadre of honored and recognized storytellers. Your nomination will be kept in the strictest of confidence and will not be disclosed until masters are declared publicly.

Congratulations, Peter Robert Onedera, former Ginen/PIBBA International President, on being recognized as Sainan Minenhalom Sinangan Ginen I Hila’, or Master Storyteller, and the publication of your sixth book titled, “Tinige’ Hinasso."

Pictured L-R: Joseph Artero-Cameron, Department of Chamorro Affairs President; Onedera; Vincent Leon Guerrero, Chief Education Officer to Gov. Eddie Calvo; Senator BJ Cruz, Vice Speaker of the 33rd Guam Legislature; and Monica Okada Guzman, CAHA Board Chair.

Pictured L-R: Jacqueline Balbas, CAHA Program Coordinator; Onedera; and Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, FestPac Literary Arts-Publications Co-Chair & PIBBA/Ginen i Hila i Maga'taotao Siha Association Webmaster.

CAHA/PREL Talk Story Workshop

CAHA/PREL Talk Story Workshop

The Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency (CAHA) and the Pacific Resources for Education and Learning (PREL) in collaboration with the Literary Arts Group of the 12th Festival of Pacific Arts Festival and the Guam Preservation Trust invite writers, storytellers and educators to a Talk Story Workshop. The theme for the workshop is the FestPac theme: “" What We Own, What We Have, What We Share, United Voices of the Pacific - Hafa Iyo-ta, Hafa Guinaha-ta, Hafa Ta Patte, Dinanna' Sunidu Siha Giya Pasifiku".

Presenters and topics for the workshop include Terrie Perez – Timeline/Storyline Process; Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera – Historical Value of the Stories to be written; PK Harmon – Publication Matters; Leiana Naholowaa – Developing Program Topic of Stories; Dr. Monique Carriveau Storie – Techniques; Louie Gombar – Oral Presentation; and Antonia Masga Salas – Storytelling. Some stories resulting from this project will be featured in a PREL publication.

The workshop is FREE and scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 3 & 10, 2014 at AV#1, RFK Library, University of Guam in Mangilao. Interested parties may register with CAHA by submitting their name and contact information via telephone at 300-1204 to 300-1208 or via email at kaha1@guam.net. For further information contact Jackie Balbas, CAHA Program Coordinator at the numbers and email previously indicated.

FRIDAY, THE 13TH ZOMBIE WALK

"FRIDAY THE 13TH ZOMBIE WALK" SUCCESSFUL

In celebration of our 10th Anniversary, Ginen i Hila’ i Maga’taotao Siha Association hosted its first FRIDAY THE 13TH ZOMBIE WALK on September 13, 2013. The event took place at the Paseo de Susana from 5 to 7:30 p.m. This event was free to the public, but donations were being accepted to benefit Rainbows for All Children - Guam.
Ginen i Hila'i Maga'taotao Siha Association was founded by Peter R. Onedera in 2003 and has been the literary arts delegation to the Festival of the Pacific Arts (FestPac) in Palau (2004); American Samoa (2008); and in the Solomon Islands (2012). The group is also preparing for its participation in Guam’s hosting of FestPac in 2016.

Thank you once again to all who joined us in this special event. For more information, please contact Peter R. Onedera at peteronedera@gmail.com or at 486-3210.

ABOUT US

This was the first group designated in an official capacity to represent the island as previous festivals normally consisted of visual artists, weavers, carvers, cultural singers and dancers. At the urging of J. Lawrence Cruz, former president of the Department of Chamorro Affairs and overall chairperson of Guam’s official delegation, Peter R. Onedera was contacted to form a group comprised of storytellers.  

Thus, the following comprised the original members of the group:  

Kevin James Camacho

+Peter John "Makahna" Duenas

David "Dave" De Leon Flores, Jr.

Leonila "Lila" Torres Gombar

Louis "Louie" Gombar

+Dorothea Zita "Doring" Jesus

+David Joseph "Dave" Lujan

Theodore Joseph "Ted" Tenorio Nededog

*Peter Robert Onedera, President

Rosa Salas Palomo

Theresa "Ewy" Gumataotao Taitano

Upon its return from Palau, a majority of the members decided to continue the group and has done so to the present. Others who have, at one time, been a member of the group as well as new ones are listed here:  

Anthony J.P. Ada

Bernadita "Bennett" Lujan Aguon

Severina Atalig

Gloriette "Gena" Babauta

Felix Benavente

Lourdes Benavente

*Francisca Camacho Blanco, Vice President

Frank Lee Borja

*Anthony Lloyd Calvo

*Antonia Masga Calvo, President

Beverly Ann Borja Acfalle Cssas

Julius Cesar Sotomayor Cena

Grace Christman

Elisa Beam Cruz

Elizabeth Terlaje Cruz

+Dr. Jose Quinene Cruz

*Dr. Arlene Salas Diaz

Maria Borja Dooley

Jeff Emmanuel

Maria Esteves

Nickolas "Nick" Fegurgur

Terrie C. Flores

Julie T. Garcia

+David "Dave" Tedtaotao Gofigan

*Lois Taitano Gumataotao, Historian

Marianna Guzman

Mae Imaizumi

Peter Judicpa

Ronald Tenorio Laguana

Joseph David Leon Guerrero

Benita M. Lizama

John M. Lizama

Dawn Maka

Charissa Lynn Aguon Manibusan

+Cira T. McMillan

*Mae Cruz Mendiola, Secretary

Nikita Mendiola

Rufina Mendiola

Selina Onedera-Salas

Anna Maria Palacios

*Simeon Manibusan Palomo

Daniel J. Pangelinan

Jay Baza Pascua

*Juanita T. Peredo

*Annie Margarita Babauta Pineda

*Patricia Ann "Patti" Quichocho, Treasurer

Therese Ponteras Quichocho

+Rosa Mafnas Quidachay

*Toni "Malia" Ramirez

Elizabeth Reyes

Ju'ne Sablan-Hawkins

Carmen D. San Nicolas

Joseph T. San Nicolas

Joseph "Poping" Santos

Emily Sablan

Frances Sablan

Patria "Patti" Sablan

Dallas Taijeron

Maria Ana "Ann" Tenorio Rivera

*Dr. Matilda Naputi Rivera, Webmaster

Dr. Marilyn "Mern" C. Salas

Vincent John "Vinnie" Salas

Steven Santos

Julia Henderson Shore

Sandy Marie Stilwell

Jovita Taimanao

Jerome Tomagan

+Victor Tuquero

*CURRENT MEMBERS

+MEMORIAM