CHAMORRO month is just around the corner. As a way of kicking off my favorite month of each year, I thought I’d provide the lyrics for one of my favorite Chamorro power songs, “Mångge i Chamorro,” or “Where are the Chamorros?,” from the band Chamorro and the album “Tiempo.”

The message is tahdong yan klåru. It calls on Chamorros not to give in to apathy or hopelessness because of the tragic hand that history has dealt to them in some ways. There are, after all, a multitude of ways in which academics and everyday people argue that history has affected Chamorros so much that we don’t exist anymore.

This is, however, only a fraction of our history. Every tale of Chamorro tragedy or loss is also accompanied by one of strength and survival. The song is a reminder of how Chamorros are still here, but we are only as strong as we make ourselves. We are only as strong as we make our language and our culture. We are only as strong as we keep ourselves in body, mind and spirit. We are only as strong as we can keep the land. Sen gefpågo este na kanta.

The song was featured in the article “Liberation Day: A Re-Telling” written by C.T. Perez and published in the Hale-ta volume “Kinalamenten Pulitikåt.” The lyrics and translation below are taken from that article:

‘Mångge i Chamorro?’

Manmåtto, manmåtto magi
They came, they came here
Tåya’ mamaisen, tåya’ ni’ håyi
No one asked, not any of them
Chålan Maloffan
The road of the past
Homhom i karera
Is a dark voyage
Ti u ma’åñao ma’åñao
They will not be afraid of
Este na manera
This way

Pastot i lugåt
Shepherd of the place
Hami i Chamorro siñat
We Chamorro are the symbol/sign
Hami lina’la’ taotao Guahan
We are the life, people of Guam
Mångge Chamorro maila
Where are the Chamorro? Come

Tohge yan pulan
Stand and watch over
I tano’-måmi
Our land
Fanhasso familia
Remember, think of family
Guinaiyan-måmi
They are our love
Balensia i chekle
Fight the thief
Guatdia lina’la’
Guard our lives
Umoppan mensåhi
Have the message heard
Prutehi guinaha
Protect what we have/what’s ours

Pastot i lugåt
Shepherd of the land
Hami Chamorro siñat
We the Chamorro are the symbol/sign
Hami lina’la’ taotao Guahan
We are the life, people of Guam
Mångge Chamorro?
Where are the Chamorro?
Taotao Guahan
People of Guam
Mångge Chamorro?
Where are the Chamorro?
Taotao Guahan
People of Guam
Mångge Chamorro maila
Where are the Chamorro? Come