Humanities Council to launch new Chamorro book

The NMI Council for the Humanities invites the public to a book launching ceremony for a new Chamorro language publication on local history and culture to be held at the Multi-Purpose Center on Monday morning, March 30, beginning at 10am.

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, PSS Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan, and Tun Juan’s son, Jose DLG Sanchez.

Commissioner Sablan will discuss PSS’ 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 will include Kimberly Camacho of Gregorio T. Camacho Elementary School, Ignacia Sakisat of Hopwood Junior High School, 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.[B][I] (PR)[/I][/B]