The book, Estoria-Hu (“My Story”), presents a collection of writings by the late Tun Juan Aguon Sanchez.
It is the third title published by the Humanities Council under its Micronesian Authors Initiative and the first in that series written in the Chamorro language.
The Humanities Council established the Initiative in 2004 to promote the publication of works by indigenous Micronesian writers.
Earlier titles published under the Initiative include “Microchild” by the late Valentine Sengebau and “The Rope of Tradition” by Lino M. Olopai.
Tun Juan Sanchez wrote on a wide variety of topics involving indigenous language, cultures and history in both prose and verse.
He is particularly remembered for his eulogy to President John F. Kennedy written shortly after the president’s assassination in 1963.
The book launch ceremony will include an invocation by Bishop Tomas A. Camacho and an overview of the author’s life and writings by Tun Juan’s colleague and fellow Chamorro language expert Carmen Taimanao.
Remarks will also be given by Humanities Council board member Herman T. Guerrero, attorney and former council member Robert T. Torres, Educaton Commissioner Rita A. Sablan, and Tun Juan’s son Jose DLG. Sanchez.
Commissioner Sablan will discuss the school system’s new writing excellence initiative and their decision to name the proposed annual Chamorro Writers Exhibition in honor of Tun Juan A. Sanchez.
The highlight of the ceremony will be the reading of selected excerpts from “Estoria-Hu” by elementary, junior high, high school and college students.
Student readers include Kimberly Camacho of GTC Elementary, Ignacia Sakisat of Hopwood Junior High, Ernest Sablan from Marianas High School, and Franklin Palacios of Northern Mariana College.
A final reading will be performed by Tun Juan’s grandson, Jay Sanchez.
Copies of “Estoria-Hu” will be available for purchase at the launching ceremony.
They will also be available at the Northern Marianas College and University of Guam bookstores.
Interested individuals are invited to contact council staff at 235-4785 or visit the council’s Web site at www.nmihumanities.org for more information about this event.
