About This Calendar This 2014 Fanha‘aniyan Pulan CHamoru (Chamorro Lunar Calendar) features the contributions and advice of the Guam Chamorro Lunar Calendar Committee, which was initiated by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council. The calendar highlights traditional fishing and conservation practices of the Chamorro people of the Mariana Islands (Guam and CNMI) and aims to raise public awareness about ecosystem-based natural resource management as well as climate change. The tide charts with the moon rise and set times in Chamorro time for Hagåtña, Guam, were provided by OceanFun Publishing, NZ. The seasonal fishing predictions were provided by the fishermen in the committee and consolidated by committee member Jesse Rosario. This calendar features some of the winning entries from an art contest held on Guam in 2013 on the theme Tinilaikan Klema yan Inirensian Lugat: Direcho yan Opbligasion (Climate Change and Traditional Places: Rights and Responsibilities). Teachers were encouraged to include this contest in their lesson plans. This theme encourages discussion on how climate change impacts Chamorro culture and traditional places. It is also one of the subthemes of the 2014 First Stewards Symposium to be held July 2123 in Washington, DC. The first place 6th to 8th grade poster, which graces the cover of this calendar, will be displayed during the Symposium. The lunar movement directs the life cycles of the flora and fauna of the land and ocean and is central to life in the islands. The people of the Marianas have been resilient due to their cultural practices, which ensured the availability of food through sound traditional management of natural resources. Traditional knowledge and cultural practices promote sustainable use of natural resources through rights and responsibilities as mandated by Chamorro values. Holistically, Chamoru spiritually believe that the entire Island and its surrounding environment is sacred, filled with the spirits of our ancestors. That is why our ancestors show their respect by asking permission to the ancestors before they do any activity around the home, jungle and ocean. Our ancestors would say “Guela yan Guelo kao siña yu …” [Ancient elders, may I please …] or “O Saina asi’i yu’” [O Ancestor, please forgive me for any offensive act I committed in the area or location] and so forth. For example, our grandparents would not dare litter the roads, jungle, beaches, river and ocean because of the subconscious belief that they would anger the ancestors. Today, however, this belief is slowly eroding in some Chamoru families, and … foreigners … don’t understand our beliefs, and this is evident as you go around the island and see how much litter and trash defaces our homeland. It’s apparent that we must re-instill our old belief that every twig, pebble, rock, tree, plant, water, endemic species, etc. is sacred, the belief that the spirit of our ancestors is in every element. —Ed and Jill Benavente
Below are a few of the traditional sayings used to show respect to the ancestors: Guela yan Guelo, kao siña yu’ maloffan gi tano’-miyu. Ancient elders, may I please pass through your property. Guela yan Guelo, kao siña yu’ hu na’setbe i tano’-miyu put para bai hu tinane’. Ancient elders, may I please use your property for my personal business. Guela yan Guelo, kao siña yu’ manhokka niyok gi tano’-miyu. Ancient elders, may I pick coconuts on your property. In this calendar, each month highlights a Chamorro cultural value, as well as provides guidance on the types of fish and fishing available during the month. Art Contest Winners Tinilaikan Klema yan Inirensian Lugat: Direcho yan Opbligasion (Climate Change and Traditional Places: Rights and Responsibilities) Grades K–2 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Honorable Mention Honorable Mention
Sebastian Binuya, Santa Barbara Catholic School Shannah J. Solamillos, Santa Barbara Catholic School Amber Pineda, Santa Barbara Catholic School Alexandra Gomez, Santa Barbara Catholic School Samantha Lauren C. Pascua, Santa Barbara Catholic School
Grades 3–5 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
Athaliah Gonzalez, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Elijah Cruz, Mount Carmel Catholic School Kristen Concepcion, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School
Grades 6–8 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention
Akihisa Matsunaga, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Regine Balatbat, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Robert Balatbat, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Michelle Prendain, Vicente S.A. Benavente Middle School Marla Rosario, Inarajan Middle School Inina Yatar, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School Yvonne Perez, Bishop Baumgartner Memorial Catholic School
Grades 9–12 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention Honorable Mention
Maria Procalla, George Washington High School Marvin Marcello, George Washington High School Annalyn Tenorio, George Washington High School Charito Cruz, George Washington High School Diane Lubas, George Washington High School Ferdinand Rondilla, George Washington High School Alanna Ulloa, George Washington High School Patricia Wolfley, George Washington High School