|
An organization that aims to "revive" the Chamorro flying proa was formed on Saturday. Sakman Chamorro Inc. is a 13-member group headed by local anthropologist, historian and artist Noel Quitugua. "The goal of the group is to build the Chamorro flying proa last seen in the late 1700s. We are aiming to build a 40-foot canoe which was the fastest sailing vessel in the world," Quitugua said. The vessel will be built within the year, he added. Quitugua said building a flying proa has been his life-long dream. "I cannot do this alone and this is the mission of our newly-formed organization. We are going to make this thing happen and through modern technology, we are expecting that we can complete it in a short period of time," he said on Saturday. According to Pete Perez, the group’s liaison officer, they will conduct fundraisers. A Chamorro activist who lives in San Francisco, Perez will be in charge of fundraising and promotion for the project. "We’re not just trying to build the canoe but to revive a Chamorro tradition. We want to fill in the blanks within those ancient times and we intend to build more," he said, adding that their group will conduct workshops to teach local children how to build and sail the canoe. He said the group will hold its first major fundraising event in the U.S. on Aug. 6. "From this event, we are hoping that we can raise the needed money to start the construction," Perez said. Three of the group’s members have donated the foundation materials for the canoe. Perez, for his part, has provided the land where the canoe will be built. Perez said Quitugua will direct the building of the canoe using anthropological data as well as historic information and drawings from the 17th to 18th centuries. "Micronesian canoes were symmetrical but the Chamorro canoe was flat on one side ...making the design unique and we will pattern it after a very detailed drawing done in 1742," Perez said. On Guam, a film titled "The Chamorro Flying Proa," is being produced to document "an impassioned and determined group of indigenous people from the Mariana islands whose desire to renew the beauty, power, and strength of Chamorro culture, inspires them to build an ancient Chamorro sailing canoe." The film will "document the intensely personal journey of the canoe builders as they work to resurrect the Chamorro sailing tradition. It is also a story of the group of Chamorros on a spiritual quest to regain something precious that was taken from their people centuries ago." According to Perez, "this is a film that will celebrate the triumph of the human spirit over heart-breaking tragedy - a powerful and moving testament to the will and the resilience of the Chamorro people." European explorers claimed the Chamorro flying proa was capable of a speed of over 25 miles per hour. Besides Quitugua and Perez, the other officers of the new group are Ken Concepcion, vice president; Patrick Guerrero, treasurer; and Mark Mendiola, secretary. The members are Herman Tudela, Stanley Villagomez, Andrew Masga, Fabian Indalecio, Joe Guzman, John Castro and Many Bermudes. |
|
© COPYRIGHT 2002-2007 OLEKOI PALAU. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. |
