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Bank of Guam donates $2K for Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta
Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta together with their founder L.J. Castro and board chair Elaine Cabrera receive a $2,000 donation from Bank of Guam. The donation will be used for their expenses as they represent the CNMI in this year’s Pa’a Taotao Tano Chamorro Dance Competition and Festival to be held in Guam. (Frauleine S. Villanueva)
Bank of Guam donated to the Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta that will be travelling this week to Guam for the 2015 Pa’a Taotao Tano Chamorro Dance Competition and Festival.
A $2,000 check was given to the group last Friday by the bank’s executives including general manager Marcie Tomokane.
“It’s very heartwarming to know that they share a common passion for displaying our culture,” Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta board chair Elaine Cabrera said.
“We’re very grateful for the Bank of Guam and others for helping us,” founder L.J. Castro said.
To show appreciation and gratitude, the group performed several songs after the check presentation.
Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta is a non-profit organization that aims to give individuals an opportunity to experience the uniqueness of the Chamorro culture through visual and performing arts.
They were invited to compete in the 12th year of the festival, which is the signature event that brings Chamorro dance houses, or “gumas”, together for a showcase of Chamorro dance and culture.
This is the first time that members of the group will be representing the CNMI as Guma’ Simiyan Mañaina-ta.
“This is Simiyan Mañaina-ta very first time as a guma. They’ve gone a couple of times under the high school,” Castro said.
“If not the youngest, it’s one of the youngest dance groups in the organization of dance groups,” he added.
They group needs roughly $11,000 to use for their airfare, lodging, meals, travel insurance, uniforms, and other requirements to be able to perform in Guam.
