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The "Navy Generation" of Chamorro descendants and the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
It was not until October 17, 1876, when the Japanese completely annexed the Bonin Islands, despite the Islands initial colony of settlers with a variety of national origins (i.e. British, American, Italian, Portuguese, Chamorro, Carolinian, Hawaiian, Tahitian, etc.) since June 26, 1830. The Bonin Islands became one of Japan's World War II losses to the United States, surrendered by General Tachibana Toshio in September 1945.
Like the Northern Mariana Islands, the Bonin Islands immediately after World War II became administered by the United State Navy. However, the Naval administration of the Bonin Islands would only last for the next 22 years. To the surprise of the Bonin Islanders and with very little to prepare, on June 26, 1968 the U.S. and Japan reached an agreement and the Bonin Islands would be returned back to Japan's sovereignty.
During the Navy's administration of the Bonin Islands, English once again became the controlling language at school, work, home and church. This was a shift from prior Japanese control with English only being spoken at home and church; while, Japanese was taught and spoken at work and school. Because schooling was limited on the Islands, children from the Bonins were sent to school on Guam and in some cases to Saipan for the remainder of their high school years. When they were sent to the Mariana Islands for schooling, they were sponsored by and lived with U.S. Navy families.
The featured picture in this article is Irene Savory (circa 1966), who won a $5,000 scholarship from the Rotary Club of Guam. This is one article of many that I have come across during my on-going research of the Chamorro people and the Bonin Islands. It was interesting to note that the Rotary's article identified her as "part Caucasian, from way back. Her great grandfather was a whatler from New Bedford, Mass. She also has Japanese blood, and speaks Japanese, as well as English, she has been on Guam for five years." (Source: http://www.rotary.org.gu/history/1953-66.htm)
It seems that most people were not aware of the complete history of the Savory family and the Bonin Islands during that time. Otherwise, they could have also identified that Irene also has Chamorro ancestry from her Great Grandmother, Maria Castro delos Santos, the matriarch of the Savory family from the Bonin Islands.
Pre-Historical Relationships Between the Mariana Islands and the Bonin Islands (Ogasawara)
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
As I continue my Chamorro genealogy journey researching the ancestry and descendants Maria Castro delos Santos and the Bonin Islands I came across more fascinating information and possibilities. There is archaeological evidence that strongly support some type of pre-historical relationship between the Mariana Islands and the Bonin Islands; long before any historical recordings of the sighting of the Bonin Islands or even discovery of the islands. Some of the archaeological evidence found were stone adzes that are very similar to those found in the Mariana Islands. Very few literatures would seem to posit credit to the Chamorro people for discovering the Bonin Islands.
Were the Chamorro people the first navigators to discover, visit or even settle in the Bonin (Ogasawara Islands)??? Hmmmm….
References:
Long, Daniel. 2007. English on the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands. Durham, NC: Duke University Press
Oda, Shizuo. 1983. The Archaeology of the Ogasawara Islands. Asian Perspectives, XXIV (1), 111-138.
Database Update 24 November 2012
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
The database has been updated and has grown from 220,146 to 221,249 names.
1951: Isabel Borja Presentation School of Nursing SD
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
This photo appeared in the Aberdeen Daily News (South Dakota) on September 9, 1951, and featured the enrollment of Isabel Cruz Borja (sitting next to her father, Jesus C. Borja from Agana) into the Presentation School of Nursing in Aberdeen, SD. Isabel would later graduate from the nursing school in 1954 along with a couple other Chamorro women: Brigida Crisostomo (Barrigada) and Estella Duenas (Agana). Also, Isabel is the wife of the former Senator Francisco Rivera Santos and mother of the former Senator Francis Santos.
Pictured on the immediate left is Dr. Rosa Garrido Roberto Carter (1929-2010). She attended the Northern State Teachers College (NTSC) on a scholarship and had been a long time educator on Guam. Dr. Carter would later serve as the President of the University of Guam from 1977 to 1983. (http://guampedia.com/rosa-roberto-carter/)
Standing to the left of Isabel is Josefina Mesa, who also attended the NTSC on a scholarship and upon graduation, returned home to become a teacher. [I have no data at all on Josefina Mesa and would appreciate it if some might have additional information on her.]
1945: Gay Belles on Guam
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- Written by: Bernard Punzalan
This photo of Chamorro women seeped in the media between May and June 1945. According to the source of the article (Richmond Times Dispatch: June 2, 1945), the photo originated from the Leatherneck Magazine; a magazine for Marines.
Pictured are:
- Toni Terlaje, Agana Heights
- Irene Bordallo, Agana
- Victoria Leon Guerrero, Agana
- Josefa Ulloa, Talofofo
- Toni Martinez, Agana
- Elizabeth Perez, Agana Heights
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