“Estoria-Hu,” or “My Story,” is a collection of Tun Juan’s writings — stories, songs, poems and prayers about culture, history and language and is published in the Chamorro language.
Checheng Sanchez, the eldest of Tun Juan’s six children, told the Variety that it took some time before they were able to gather all the materials and the writings of his father.
“This is a great honor for me and my other siblings — Jose, Ando, Tilang, Zita and Jess — to see our father’s book in print. If only he were alive to see this, he would have been very happy,” Checheng Sanchez said.
Jay Sanchez, grandson of Tun Juan, said that it is very heartwarming to see people support his grandfather’s works.
“We could not thank everybody enough who had been behind the printing of the book,” Jay Sanchez said.
He remembers his grandfather as a man with charisma and strong character.
“There was not a single moment in his life that he was not trying to teach us something,” Jay Sanchez said.
Jose Sanchez remembers that his father used to wake up at 3:30 in the morning and write until 6 a.m.
He said “Estoria-Hu” covers his father’s writings from the 1960s up to his death on Nov. 12, 1988.
Jose Sanchez said his father was planning to become a priest but all that was set aside when he met their mother who was a choir member at the church.
NMI Council for the Humanities program director Scott Russell said it took about two years to complete the collection of the materials and their publication.
“Tun Juan did not use the modern way of writing so the editorial committee decided to print the book the way it was originally written,” Russell said.
Russell added that Tun Juan wrote on a wide variety of topics involving indigenous language, culture and history.
Included in “Estoria-Hu” is Tun Juan’s eulogy to John F. Kennedy which he wrote shortly after the president was assassinated in Nov. 1963.
The NMI Humanities Council started promoting the publication of works of indigenous Micronesian writers in 2004 by establishing the Micronesian Authors Initiative.
“Estoria-Hu” is the third title the council has published, and the first in the series to be written in the Chamorro language.
Earlier titles included “Microchild” by the late Valentine Sengebau and “The Rope of Tradition” by Lino M. Olopai.
Chamorro language expert Carmen Taimanao gave the audience an overview of the life, writings and works of Tun Juan.
Students from different schools also read excerpts from the book.
The book launching was attended by Gov. Benigno Fitial, Saipan Mayor Juan B. Tudela, attorney Robert T. Torres, Commissioner of Education Rita A. Sablan, lawmakers and other dignitaries.
“Estoria-Hu” is being sold at $15 each.
Copies are available at the NMI Humanities Council office, Northern Marianas College, and the University of Guam.
For more information, call 235-4785 or visit www.nmihumanities.org.
