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Plans to revive traditional carving, blacksmithing now in the works
The revival of traditional blacksmithing and carving is in the works, after Guam master carvers visited Saipan and offered their expertise to the Northern Marianas Technical Institute.
While on Saipan, Council of Arts and Humanities Agency masters Francisco C. Lizama and Greg T. Pangelinan met with the NMTI officials to work out a long-range plan to offer their expertise.
A baby sea turtle sitting on top of a coconut shell signifies the intricate connection between the sea turtle and the Chamorros and Carolinian as part of their traditional food gathering as represented on the carving by Greg Pangelinan. From left, Council of Arts and Humanities Agency master carver Greg Pangelinan (Guam), Bill Torres (Saipan), Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Tonie Tudela (Saipan), CAHA master blacksmith Frank Lizama (Guam), and Guam apprentice John Manglona (retired military). (Contributed Photo)
Lizama and Pangelinan expressed great interest in teaching their craft to Saipan students. They met with NMTI and municipal leaders when they took part in the Liberation Day parade last July 18, riding on the float of the Northern Islands Mayor’s Office.
Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council chair Antonia Tudela said she is collaborating with NMTI in introducing local blacksmithing at the school.
Tudela met with the CAHA masters at the Guam Micronesia Island Fair at the Ipao Beach Park last June.
“It would help teach the young generation interested in local blacksmithing who want to learn how to use traditional Chamorro and Carolinian tools. It is a great opportunity to keep our culture alive and they can learn something from it,” Tudela said.
NMTI chief executive officer Agnes McPhetres earlier said she had been talking with Tudela regarding the local blacksmithing program.
Lizama and Pangelinan have represented Guam in the Festival of the Pacific Arts in Palau in 2004, American Samoa in 2008, and the Solomon Islands in 2012. Both took part in similar events in New Caledonia and Australia.
The two also participated in the Guam Micronesia Island Festival in Guam and the CNMI’s Flame Tree Festival. Lizama has practiced blacksmithing for over 25 years and Pangelinan began learning the traditional arts at the early age of 13, when he took a drawing class at Barrigada Junior High.
The council’s support is part of a shared vision by the council, NMTI, and the respective mayors of the Mariana Islands—Rota, Northern Islands, Tinian, Saipan, and Guam—that will focus on the planned conference called 2016 Konferencian Dinana Islans Marianas to be held on Pagan.
