This may be a part of the riddle to understanding Guam. During the Spanish period, Guam and the Philippines were linked very closely and shared many common aspects of culture, governance and social systems. Following the Spanish American War, this mutual path continued and U.S. systems were adapted by both areas under the U.S. flag.
But along the way, these two paths began to diverge. The Philippines were made a commonwealth of the United States in 1935 and there was a 10-year independence plan. Guam remained administered by the Department of the Navy and attempted a few times to receive U.S. citizenship. When World War II broke out, similarities emerged again.
Both places were occupied by Japan and civilians had to suffer the burdens of war. In the movie “Back to Bataan,” there is a scene where a public official is lynched for not taking down the U.S. flag after being ordered to.
There is a similar story on Guam.
On the morning of the Japanese invasion, Angel Flores and Vicente Chargualaf were killed defending the U.S. flag at the Plaza de España. Our modern technology and views may make this point difficult to see, but flags are very important. Protecting and defending flags was the most common reason the Congressional Medal of Honor was awarded in the Civil War. Attachments to flags are an attachment to honor and sense of self. This point is so important, several congressmen have suggested amending the U.S. Constitution to protect the flag. On Guam, there are many stories about heroism during the occupation. Listening to these stories and understanding them is important.
On Guam and in the Philippines, both societies share a common value for what liberation really means. It is hard to really understand today how many people felt when they were liberated. These feelings are one of the hidden sides of liberation. Guam celebrates liberation to remember how easy it is to forget.
Following the end of the war, Guam and the Philippines diverged. The Philippines earned independence in 1946 and Guam earned U.S. citizenship and an Organic Act in 1950. Guam further developed to have a delegate to congress, an elected governor and a Supreme Court. Options to have a Guam Constitution or commonwealth have stalled or strayed.
But there is a lot that Guam and the Philippines still have in common. Filipinos are Guam’s second largest ethnic group and there is a balanced mutual respect here between Chamorros and Filipinos. Many people on Guam marry people of other races and cultures, and our interracial marriage rate is about 42 percent — one of the highest in the U.S. The U.S. average is about 5 to 15 percent, depending on a number of factors. Guam’s racial tolerance is also a form of liberation.
RON McNINCH
Mangilao, Guam
