As the island celebrates Mes CHamoru, students at Tiyan High School reflect on the meaning of family and hospitality. For them, this month-long event is a reminder to cherish their heritage and pass it on to future generations.
Over the weekend, Tiyan High marked Titan Day at the Agana Shopping Center. This event celebrated the language and culture of the Indigenous people of the Mariånas. The theme for Mes CHamoru 2026 is “I Fino’ CHamoru Muna’Såtton Saina yan Påtgon,” which highlights how the CHamoru language connects parents and children.
Tiyan High senior Brigida Cels shares that the celebration is about enjoying life on Guam and the tight bonds within families. “It really means family and the warmth of our hospitality,” she says.
Cels, along with her classmates, points out the strong sense of community among the CHamoru people. “Everyone knows each other, and we treat each other well,” she explains. “If you see a stranger, you just say hi.”
Mes CHamoru isn’t just for CHamoru families; it brings together diverse communities on the island. Students like Makheart Tokyo emphasize the importance of unity across cultures. “This is my home. We’re one big community,” he says. For Tokyo, it’s a time to respect and appreciate each other’s traditions.
Family connections are a recurring topic among the students. They value close-knit ties and respect for elders, seeing these as vital aspects of their culture. Senior Ronan Labadnoy shares his experience caring for his ailing grandmother, saying, “I like to be with her and help out.”
While elders may be strict, students understand that this discipline stems from love and a desire to guide younger generations. “Their firmness is in care and protection,” Cels explains.
Yet, a pressing concern remains: the preservation of the CHamoru language. Cels notes, “As generations grow, we lose more of our culture.” Labadnoy echoes this, stating it’s become rare to find young people speaking the language fluently. “Knowing our history is essential,” he says.
Recent figures show that only 1% of Guam’s youth speak CHamoru fluently, highlighting the urgency of preserving this vital aspect of their identity. Students realize that it’s their responsibility to keep the language and culture alive.
As the celebrations continue, the students reaffirm their commitment to honoring their past. “As long as we remember where we came from, we’ll be fine,” Cels concludes. Their reflections remind us of the importance of cultural heritage and the role each generation plays in its preservation.
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chamorro people, culture, chamorro language
