Participants from various Chamorro organizations on Guam, Saipan and Tinian, including teachers and students, are making their way to Luta in time for the conference scheduled to be held from April 28 to 30 at the Round House in Songsong, right next to the Chamorro Village.
According to conference chairman Glenn H. Manglona, “Dr. Sandy Chung from the University of California at Santa Cruz and principal investigator for the Chamorro-English Dictionary Revision Project, is already on Saipan and she will be flying to Rota on Tuesday, April 27, in time for the opening ceremony.”
Manglona said the Kumfirensian Lingguahin Chamorro is a special component of the revision project funded in part by the National Science Foundation, the NMI Humanities Council, the Saipan legislative delegation and supported by government agencies, several organizations, businesses, individuals and community volunteers from Saipan, Tinian and Rota as well as the Chamorro Carolinian Language Commission.
Keynote speakers are: Dr. Sandy Cheung from the University of Santa Cruz; Carmen S. Taimanao, Chamorro language and culture expert; Joseph S. Inos, former mayor of Rota and a recognized speaker of the language; and John Del Rosario, former Department of Public Lands secretary, Chamorro writer and columnist.
Other guest speakers will include Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, Rota Mayor Melchor A. Mendiola, Ignacio Demapan, resident executive director for Indigenous Affairs, Diego M. Songao, chairman of the Rota gaming commission, Prudencio T. Manglona, former mayor of Rota, Herbert Del Rosario, NMC archives director, Commissioner of Education Rita Sablan, William Macaranas from the Chamorro-Carolinian Language Commission, and Peter Onedero, University of Guam Chamorro language professor.
Students from the CNMI and Guam will also be presenting their views and work in Chamorro for each day of the three-day conference.
For more information, contact Manny Borja at 322-0278, Tita Hocog at 532-8333, Thomas D. Mendiola at 532-9451/2 or e-mail [email protected].
