Known for his worldwide travels to seek the truth behind legends such as the Chupacabra to the Burmuda Triangle, Josh Gates and his crew arrived on Guam last week to meet with locals and document their experiences with the taotaomona, the spirits of ancient people that arrived in the Marianas about 5,000 years ago.
The crew includes Bobby Pura, co-producer and investigator; Erin Ryder, co-producer, researcher; Mike Morrell, audio engineer; Vanessa Joy Smith, tech manager; Rex Williams, medic; and camera operators Gabriel Copeland and Evan B. Stone.
Now on its fourth season, Destination Truth features supernatural occurrences in different cultures around the world.
“Micronesia, I think, is a place that I don’t think gets featured enough in film and TV. So we really wanted to come to Guam to experience the culture,” Gates said.
The research began Saturday with the investigation into the practice of traditional healing.
The crew’s first stop was at the home of Bernie and George Nelson in Dededo, where they sat down and talked to Emilio Aldan Ayuyu, a 58-year-old suruhano.
Originally from Saipan, but residing in Dededo, Ayuyu was asked to make a special type of oil mixed with secret ingredients from the Nelsons’ medicinal garden. It is believed that the organic solution would protect the crew from “chalan maipe” or curse from the spirits.
