June 28, 2013 @ 7:33 pm
Ep. 151 “Guam Filipinos in Support of Chamorro Self-Determination”
Ep. 151 “Guam Filipinos in Support of Chamorro Self-Determination: The Twenty-Something Halo-Halo Generation
(hosted by Dr. Vivian Dames with production assistance of Joy White) was recorded 6/11/12 and airs 6/14/13.
In commemoration of Philippine Independence Day (June 12), this episode features an interview with two Guam born Filipinos, representing the twenty-something generation, who do not qualify to register for the Guam Decolonization Registry yet support the inalienable right of Chamorros, as a people, to political self-determination. The Guam Decolonization Registry, established by P.L. 25-106, defines ‘native inhabitants’ as those who became U.S. citizens by virtue of the 1950 Organic Act of Guam and their descendants. Both program guests are US citizens by virtue of being born on Guam after the island became a US unincorporated territory in 1950.
Araw ng Kasarinlan (“Day of Freedom”) commemorates the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1898. However, Philippine independence was not recognized either by the United States or by Spain. The Spanish government later ceded the Philippine archipelago, together with Guam, to the United States in the 1898 Treaty of Paris. But the Philippine Revolutionary Government did not recognize the treaty. When the Americans sought to execute the terms of the treaty, a three year conflict, now called the Philippine-American War, ensued. The US finally granted independence to the Philippines on July 4 1946. In 1962, President Macapagal declared June 12 as a national holiday , “in commemoration of our people’s declaration of their inherent and inalienable right to freedom and independence.” This national “Day of Freedom” is also celebrated on Guam with events throughout the month, providing occasions for local Filipinos to take pride in this history and to reflect on their role in relation to the decolonization and self-determination struggle of the Chamorro people.
Program guests are two University of Guam graduates and third generation Guam Filipinos in their 20s:
Tabitha Caser Espina (tabithaespina@gmail.com), a former Miss Teen Philippines-Guam, graduated as the University of Guam Fall 2011 valedictorian with a B.A. Elementary Education. She is now pursuing a Master of Arts in English and writing a thesis on Filipina identity on Guam. In her work, Ms. Espina uses the names for Filipino sweets (ube, sapin-sapin and halo-halo) as metaphors for conceptualizing identity formation across three generations of Filipinas on Guam.
John “Metaforce” Sarmiento (jmetaforce@gmail.com), has a Bachelor’s degree in English literature and is a local performance poet and hip-hop artist who believes spoken word and music can be tools to “educate and uplift the masses”. He has been sharing his work in the local community since 2009.
Music/poetry selections: Lupang Hinirang (Philippines National Anthem); Tabitha Espina (recorded in 1993 at age 5), Island Girl by Alpha C. Espina, CD produced by Trax Studios, 1995; Blind Tongue, poem composed and performed in studio by John “Metaforce” Sarmiento; and Down with the Movement by Meta-Dakota-Willa [for this and other samples of Meta’s work, go to: www.arkiology.tv or www.youtube.com/defynow]