32nd Guam Legislature presents resolution honoring Chamorro language, issues retirement certificate for longtime teacher

The 32nd Guam Legislature presented Resolution No. 326-32COR recognizing the importance of the Chamorro language and culture and issued Certificate No. 109-32CR honoring a retiring Department of Education teacher during a ceremony in March, legislators and presenters said.

The resolution “relative to observing a group of Chamorro celebration during the month of March 2014” was introduced by Speaker Juan Pat, former Speaker Ben Pangolin and Senator Respicio, the transcript shows. The resolution commends the Chamorro Studies Division of the Guam Department of Education, Chamorro language teachers, the Department of Chamorro Affairs and other collaborators for efforts to promote and perpetuate the Chamorro language, culture and heritage.

Speaker Juan Pat, who introduced the resolution in remarks recorded in the transcript, said the island’s language and heritage are central to local identity, adding, “if we don't protect and preserve our language, our culture, our heritage, then we would no longer be an island.” The presentation acknowledged partnerships with the Department of Education, the University of Guam, Guam Community College and private schools that participate in Chamorro-language work.

During the same ceremony the legislature presented Certificate No. 109-32CR, introduced by the Speaker and the members of the 32nd Guam Legislature, honoring a teacher identified in the transcript as JQ San Miguel on the occasion of his retirement from the Department of Education. Remarks at the event said the retiree had 34 years of teaching service with the Department of Education and asked attendees to applaud his career.

The transcript records the presentations and applause and several legislators yielding the floor for remarks and photos. The event included recognition of Chamorro-language teachers and schools (the transcript refers to “JFK High School” and other local schools) and calls for continued daily attention to the language in classrooms and communities.

No formal motion, roll-call vote or final adoption of legislation was recorded in the supplied transcript excerpt. The record shows a ceremonial presentation of the resolution and a certificate; it does not show committee action, a formal legislative vote on Resolution No. 326-32COR at this event, nor an ordinance or appropriation tied to the presentations.

Legislators and educators at the ceremony urged continued work to recruit and retain Chamorro-language teachers and to sustain partnerships between public schools and higher-education institutions. The ceremony concluded with photo opportunities and additional small recognitions called by the presiding legislators.

Details not specified in the transcript include the exact date of the ceremony (the transcript references “the month of March 2014” but does not give a calendar day) and any formal vote or legislative record approving the resolution at this event.