Guma’ Mahiga and Acho Marianas Chamorro Slinging Demonstration Umatac Bay. 500 Years

Guma’ Mahiga and Acho Marianas Chamorro Slinging Demonstration Umatac Bay. 500 Years

Fr: Guam PDN
Representatives from Guma’ Mahiga and Acho Marianas have gathered to prepare for an upcoming slingstone demonstration in honor of the CHamoru people and culture that encountered Ferdinand Magellan during his arrival to Guam, at Umatac Bay, Feb. 28, 2021. The cultural groups plan to hold their demonstration for the Spanish Navy tall ship, Juan Sebastián de Elcano, which will stop outside Umatac Bay before its voyage to the Philippines on March 2.

The First Battle. September 11, 1671. Chamorro Spanish War

A History of Guam. By Lawrence J. Cunningham, Janice J. Beaty

The First Battle. September 11, 1671.

The attack came on September 11, 1671. Thirty Spanish and Filipino soldiers stood behind the walls. They fired guns called arquebuses. They also shot crossbows. Two thousand Chamorros surrounded them. Some men rushed toward the stockade. The soldiers drove them back. They shot musket balls and arrows. Pale San Vitores went out to talk with the Chamorros. They answered him with rude words and sling stones.

The attacks went on for eight days and nights. The Chamorros the clingstones so hard that they went right through the thatched roof of the church and houses. Again and again the Spanish drove the Chamorros back with their guns and crossbows.

When the Chamorros saw that they could not drive the Spanish out, they tried something new. They built shields of wood and placed them on moveable platforms. The shields were heart-shaped. Then they pushed these close to the stockade walls. They stood behind the shields and thew spears and sling stones.

The Spanish had the best weapons. But the Chamorros were brave and clever. They didn’t give up easily. They tried every way they knew to defeat the Spanish.

Sometimes Spanish soldiers rushed out of the fort in an attack. The Chamorros needed protection. So they dug trenches and put up walls. The makahnas had them put the skills of their ancestors in the trenches for good luck Then they built a big fire. They dipped their spears in the fire and threw them into the stockade. The thatched roofs of the buildings caught on fire. But a rainstorm put out the fire. This time nature seemed to help the Spanish.

On October 8, a fierce typhoon struck the island. This stopped the battle. The storm blew down the Spanish church and houses. It damaged the stockade. The storm destroyed most of the Chamorro houses in Agana, too.

The Spanish rebuilt the stockade just in time. The Chamorros made another attack. Again the soldiers forced them back. This time the nobles asked for peace. They said they would stop fighting if the Spanish set Chief Hurao free. The Spanish agreed. But this was a trick. The Chamorros attacked again with more men. The battle lasted for twelve more days and nights.

On October 20, the Spanish charged out of the fort. They drove the Chamorros out of their trenches. They tramped on the old skulls and broke them to pieces. They won the battle.

HITA TALKS at the Guam Museum: Guam Slinging

Shortly after a performance at the Tir de Fona Internacionale, members of Acho Marianas Guam engage in The University of Guam’s HITA TALKS  with Carlos Madrid of the Micronesian Area Research Center for a conversation through the past, present, and future of Guam Slinging and its role int he 500 year anniversary and commemoration of Guams first Encounter with European explorers in 1521.

Chamorro Slinging | Acho Atupat

Chamorro Slinging

The sling and sling stone have been a part of Chamorro History between 1500 years to 3500 years depending on who you talk to. As a citizen under the only national flag of the world with a sling stone–I’ve been fascinated with slinging for a really long time now. But like most other locals, was happy enough putting it on a pedestal and out of reach. Because it  was so iconic for our ancestors and for the Biblical David.

Im pursuing the art for different reasons–Chamorro People Honorification, Culture Sharing, and Versus Goliath.

For every aspect of culture and language that I am slacking on-slinging is something that i can help bring to our people’s table

- Roman DLC

Article By Julian Aguon of Guampedia

Signature Chamorro weapon  Åcho’ Atupat

The signature weapon of the ancient Chamorro warrior, slingstones of various sizes were sharpened at both ends and hurled from a sling with deadly force in combative times. These stones, called åcho’ atupat in the indigenous language of Chamorro, were fashioned from either limestone, basalt, or fire-hardened clay and were hung from slings of made of pandanus or coconut fiber, the latter being far better by way of durability.

The most notable aspect of these most oftentimes oval-shaped stones were that ancient Chamorros used them with deadly accuracy as documented in historical texts. Though commonly associated with weaponry of the Latte period, these stones were used in early colonial history as the arms of resistance to Spanish colonization, hurled at the harbingers of that particular destruction. A prized art of warfare, the knowledge of how to fashion and hurl these stones was kept in the men’s domain and was passed down from older to younger males, most likely from father to son, or mother’s oldest brother to son.

Today, the sling-stone shape is part of the design of the official Guam flag and is incorporated into architectural designs. Like the latte the slingstone is a cultural icon used in Guam’s contemporary pop culture (in tattoo and clothing designs) to exhibit Chamorro pride and cultural identity.

By Julian Aguon

Chamorro Slinging Tutorial Capitol F (Acho Atupak)

Guelo Slinging Tutorial Capitol F (Acho Atupak) // The Fokai Shop Agana. How to use a Chamorro sling also known as Acho Atupak.

How to use a sling // fokai // acho atupak

HU NONI HAO GUAHAN: Para i Onra

Stone slinging is an indigenous martial art with the ancestors of the Mariana Islands. Long suffocated with the Spanish colonization almost 500 years ago–Sling-stone artifacts are still found or “received”. Buried in the ground, underwater, or sometimes even in plain sight above surface–Sling-stone gifts have been digested as a calling for stone slinging to once again protect and defend our people.

CHAMORRO….THE ENGLISH WAY

Original Article from Pale Eric

CHAMORRO….THE ENGLISH WAY

Saina: Elders

Original Article Here.

Elders, parents, ancestors

Parents and other elders are important in CHamoru family and culture. CHamorus gain respect and status as they age. Younger relatives and friends show deference and respect to elders by sniffing or kissing the right hand or a cheek while saying ‘ñora or ‘ñot (for señora or señot) when arriving and leaving, or as part of an event. This may elicit the elder’s praise or a blessing. To not do so is considered ill-mannered, though some today are embarrassed to perform it or expect it.

The word, saina or its plural form, mañaina may refer to one’s parents, to all elders or to CHamoru ancestors depending on the context. Mañaina value their independence and they are sources of support, guidance, protection and wisdom for their families. Parents’ reputations hinge on raising families that abide by CHamoru mores of respect, reciprocal responsibilities and obligations including the duty of caring for their parents.

By Kelly G. Marsh, MA

September 11, 1671, 2,000 Warriors Surrounded Hagåtña to free Chief Hurao

Article by: Michael Lujan Bevacqua

September 11, 1671, 2,000 Warriors Surrounded Hagåtña to free Chief Hurao

 
Every September 11th since September 11, 2001 has a surreal quality to it. As if in a world where history repeats and meaning is always muddled, somehow the events of that day achieved a special, extra level of meaning for those that were alive and of age to experience it. At least this is what they say, and how true this seems depends a lot on your relationship to the US and what type of imaginary tissue connects you to it.

9/11 always means another set of memorial or retrospectives. These commemorative acts help us lock in a particular narrative for conceiving what happened that day, what it means, and whether or not we allow any understanding of events that helped led to that attack. At these memorials people recall where they were when they learned of the attacks and reminders of how scared they were, but how America rose again from those ashes.

22 Years for 2020

Although,Fokai first came into light (relatively) in 1991–it was a 7 year conversation that finally got us started. The Fokai OG logo, designed by Fokai co-founder John Calvo made its debut in commerce with Superbrawl 7 on April 25th–22years ago today.

John would go to compete in the main event against the at-the-tim-UFC CHAMPION Dan Severn. 150 toal Tshirts in black, navy blue, and heather grey were printed on Russel Athletic blanks just 2 days prior. distributed through friends during the weighins and press conference then sold under-the-radar out from roving backpacks during the event. Though Fokai was first (and strangely for some still is) misuderstood as a Fight Club.
Despite the negativities associated with misunderstood fighting sport, Guam as a whole seemed to embrace Fokai as their representative in No Holds Barred Fighting.

Though we prayed to reach stars that are still far away.–we never could iamgine the adventures that would aim and are still aiming to lead us there.

All-terrain.Rocky Roads. Hills and Valleys.Scenic Routes.
Sacrifice.Hard work. Service.
Perseverance. Family Values.Resolution. Brotherhood.

Respect. Loyalty. Honor.

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