Roman Dela Cruz FOKAI

Wise words from the Man himself Roman DLC!

Exhaust.Proceed.Cultivate!

Hafa adai.

First of all, the column has been a few weeks overdue and a sincere apology to the handful of you who spare a piece of your valuable time to share in the good intention that is rooted in between the lines of these words of babble. The Pacific Daily News has been kind enough to give Guam’s competitive and non-competitive martial arts a voice and truthfully — in particular these past few weeks — the island’s achievements really have a lot to speak of.

Among other things:

Our neighbors in Saipan are rising from the ashes of misfortune as the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands’ major headquarters for mixed martial arts development was set afire by a-yet-to-be-identified arsonist on Feb. 8. Saipan’s premiere fight training center was down but not out as Trench Tech’s Purebred Saipan is already back up and running in its new location on the seventh floor of the Marianas Business Plaza. Contact Cuki Alvarez on Facebook for further details if you want to help with the resurrection of Saipan’s ongoing campaign for positive mixed martial arts representation.

A standing ovation for PXC 30 and the Rise for Japan. What a great example of Guam’s embrace of mixed martial arts in conscious effect for the greater good.

Guam continues to succeed in U.S. jiu-jitsu competition. Great job for Guam’s Gerson Atoigue for taking gold in the adult brown-belt division at the Seventh Arizona Open & Arnold Classic 2012 and good work again for Mike Carbullido, taking first place in the Abu Dhabi Pro Trials for the adult purple-belt 202-pound division.

Props for Universal Alliance’s Jon Tuck, who fought well in his chance at one of the 16 slots of The Ultimate Fighter’s Season 15. Despite breaking a toe in the middle of the fight, great job fighting forward valiantly, letting the watching world know that Guam will fight strong to make its way forward into the upper tiers of world MMA.

Good luck to Joey Lopez and Maria Dunn, who are in Morocco to compete in the continental qualifier for the London 2012 Olympic Games March 16-18. We are endlessly looking forward to seeing our island’s grapplers in the world’s greatest sporting event.

MAGNIFICENT 17

Ava and Alexandria Aflague, Laralei and Jayronne Gandaoli, Stevie, David and Ambrosio Shimizu, William and Thomas Ludwig, Ralph Gutierrez, Johanna and Ayden Duenas, Brian Roberto, Justin Untalan, Gi’anne Mantanane, Rayjon Umadhay and Adriano Cruz are 17 names worth remembering from the Purebred/Lloyd Irvin Jiu-Jitsu Academy for the countless hours of training, the priceless accounts of sacrifice and the thousands of miles of traveling to California for Feb. 19’s Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships.

In an effort to cement their victory from last year’s tournament that turned eyes of attention from all around the jiu-jitsu world toward this tiny dot in the Pacific, they finished in a close second place to team CheckMat (who was accompanied by Universal Alliance’s Ethan Flores of Guam). Just a hair’s margin away from becoming the event’s defending champions, Team Lloyd Irvin walked away from its 2012 venture to and through the Pan Kids Jiu-Jitsu Championships with more virtue than they had asked for.

Just a day before the Pan Kids tournament the representatives from Guam decided to pay a visit to the Gracie Museum in the newly located Gracie Academy in Torrance, Calif. There, to everyone’s surprise and thanks to super-perfect timing, they were happily greeted by the legendary Rorion Gracie, who was kind enough to spontaneously offer a personal and very elaborate tour of Gracie jiu-jitsu’s history, personally dialogue different details that shared true and memorable stories of the days-of-old Gracie Challenge and outline the steps that led to the inevitable creation of the UFC.

After hearing of the hurdles that his father Helio endured to create Gracie jiu-jitsu, the hosted tour was a priceless experience and a lifetime highlight that in itself made the trip vastly more than worthwhile.

The past couple weeks we’ve been in touch with all kinds of Mariana Island martial arts headline stories. Off-island jiu-jitsu success, MMA for benefits, our fighters on national TV, etc. It’s amazing the stories we are able to tell truthfully through these many ventures of self-improvement.

Recognizing that a martial arts headline or cover story in the past seemed more exotic, and few and far between, now it seems that virtually every week we are given a highlight-worthy public feature and broadcast. It’s success story after success story, competition after competition, ambition after ambition. Guam’s occasional MMA or jiu-jitsu headline that used to make a sound on this mere 32-mile-long island has now become a frequency that is resounding positively all over the planet.

PUSHING FOR SUCCESS

Our guys and gals are putting in real work. Our athletes are competing in the greatest events, they are training with the world’s best and even outside of competing, they are going above and beyond to join in the push for the success of fighting sports and competitive martial arts. We have been supported with hard work and sacrifice; we are blessed with ambition and direction. As a result, we are increasingly inspired with the panoramic view of massive opportunity. Guam is leading the way to put the Mariana Islands in good light throughout the extending landscape of combat sport. It’s really inspiring to see our island, our people and our neighbors in the Marianas reaping its benefits. Byproducts of our love for the game have escorted our island recognizably and honorably throughout the many corners of its increasingly complex and diverse industry.

Martial arts has done, is doing and will be doing a great service for the islands even if for any reason we should become the most unaccomplished competitors in the world.

Watching Dana White, Dominic Cruz and Urijah Faber give Jon Tuck props on national TV, seeing our Pan Kids competitors hosted by Rorion Gracie, hosting celebrities and legends at 13 degrees North 144 degrees East firmly illustrates that our efforts through competitive martial arts have blazed the way for a path toward greatness for the Mariana Islands.

In this ridiculously competitive sport we’re definitely not the best in the world nor are we pretending to be, and we are light years away from perfect, but you can’t argue that martial arts and competitive martial arts on Guam in many ways is something done properly.

After reading comments on Facebook to see our athletes and martial artists rise above discipline and/or gym affiliation to show their support for our brothers in battle around the world, it’s obvious that in a venture of (among other things) learning how to defend ourselves, we, at least and in large, have learned to fight for the honor of our islands, something far greater than any single person, discipline or gym. And in this small part of an even bigger picture, the growing numbers of fighters and fans around the world will agree that our islands are definitely something worth fighting for.

For her honor always.

Thanks for dropping by.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erhDVCrXqMQ

Josh "Zeng Zung" Castro

My name is Joshua Q. Castro and my dad is from Guam and my mom from Tinian. At the moment they both reside on the island of Saipan. Growing up, after we moved from Germany, I found myself hoping islands from time to time. Mostly from Guam and Tinian, and a couple stints on Saipan. During that time, I didn’t realize how much I would appreciate it in the long run, but my experiences of the different types of people I had in my culture would most definitely mold me into the person I am today and greatly influence my music.

Through out my experiences I’ve learned that even as one Chamorro group there were a lot of differences on how we did certain things. The slang we possessed, the accent when we spoke the language, even certain traditions I saw that were modified. One thing however that stood strong throughout all this was the CHAMORRO pride that was displayed by ever yCHAMORRO I met.

Another thing that weighed heavy in my life growing up was all the types of music I got exposed to. Believe it or not but my mom allowed me to listen to rap music since day one. Even the controversial rap group 2 live crew. I can even remember my dad playing some Temptations when I was little and him telling me that his military friends introduced him to that kind of music. I was listening to all types of music including rock, pop, r & b, hawaiian, reggae, rap, and of course CHAMORRO music.

I always saw a resemblance between hip hop music and CHAMORRO music. I always thought that Run D.M.C. and K.C. DeLeon Gurerro had a resemblance when it came to their passionate delivery. The poetic aspect of Tupac Shakur and Daniel DeLeon Gurerro. Then of course when it comes to humorous entertainment, 2 Live Crew and J.D Crutch were 2 of the most memorable. Above all, all the artists mentioned, at one point in time had a song about where they were from. They exhibited tremendous pride in their hometown and always reminded the general public where they were from and why they do it. From Hollis to L.A. to the MARIANAS, when there was great music to be heard, and I was there trying to listen.

One thing that not too many people know about me is that I love writing poetry. I have been writing poetry since my middle school days till now. All my poetry has been influenced by real events that took place in my life. Love or hate it, I can’t change it. If I did I’d be lying and that’s one thing I am trying to avoid.

Now I never really saw myself recording anything at all but it happened. The opportunity presented itself so I took a stab at it out of curiosity. Thanks to Mizz D at Beat Drop Productions Studios in Clovis, CA and Optimus Rhyme at Phantom 58 Studios in Las Vegas, NV. They, along with friends and family, had me believing that I might actually have something here. With an upgraded passion, I vowed to never turn my back on my musical inspirations and will forever make the attempt to represent my culture, my people, the MARIANAS.

I can’t really put a label on what kind of music I do. It’s definitely not CHAMORRO music and by far not in any way modern hip hop. My mix tape material might be but definitely not my album tracks. I try and stay true to the roots of hip hop and at the same time I speak CHAMORRO while doing that. I feel my job is to make the attempt on creating great music and I’ll leave fans, haters, and all in between decide where I fit. Where ever it is imma still do what I have always saw as my fun passionate hobby………….RIGHT GOOD POETRY and now RECORD GOOD MUSIC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIVxvSRpuYk

Trench Warz - Supremacy! Dec 16, 2011

Here is the latest updated/revised fight card for Trench Warz 15- “SUPREMACY!” Dec 16th 2011

1. Zac Reyes (Zalaka) vs. George Manglona (Team Relentless Tinian) – Boxing 145lbs

2. John Ilo (Zalaka) vs. Rentz “The Intense” Benghit (Team Relentless Tinian) K-1 145lbs

3. Jake “ONE BLOW” Ilo (Zalaka) vs. Craig “EarthCraig” Borja (ZZ Tinian) MMA 140lbs

4. Dennis Cruz (The Fight Shop) vs. Vince “The Clinch” Masga (TT) 150lbs

5. Jared Melon (Spike 22 Ground-Fu) vs. VJ Pua (Marianas Elite) 170lbs

6. Kev “The Rev” Esteves vs. Josh “CHAOS” Duenas (TT) 135lbs

7. Leandro Dalalo (CounterShot Guam) vs. Joe Duenas (Zalaka)130lb

8. Rryan Toves (Lights Out Gym Dededo Guam) vs.”Badd” Brad Palacios (TT) 145lbs

9. Keith Corpuz (CounterShot Guam) vs. Martin “Ningbo Slice” Cepeda (TT) 190lbs

10. “Tabi” Jay Muna (Predator Combat) vs. Mark “The Dark” Nuique (TT) 135lbs

11. Martin “Gosh” Pablo (Guahan Top Dog) vs. Slade “The Rage” Adelbai (TT) 230lbs

12. Rob “The Real Deal” Wusstig (CounterShot Guam) vs. Shane “PIKABOO” Alvarez (TT) 145lbs **Championship TITLE Match**

13. Maitai “The Charger” Charley (Marianas Elite) vs. Fasi “Quikdraw” Jesse (TT) 145lbs

14. Manny “THE ENFORCER” Chong (Thug Cop) vs. Mylo “Bam Bam” Lassiter (TT) 230lb

FOKAI The Golden Token

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg4AvG_0ZI8

Ancient Chamorro Village

We The People | The Ancient Chamorros

The Ancient Chamorros by Anthony Sanchez

The ancient Chamorros weren’t opposed to trade, but actively participated and prompted it. They were businessmen who bartered and traded with each other, with Spanish galleons and other islands.

The Spanish documented trade with the Chamorros from Magellan’s first encounter. It seems Chamorros were acquainted with iron and valued it immensely, raising speculation the Spanish did not introduce iron to the Chamorro. Dandan was the area where early Spanish priests once mined a limited amount of iron.

The following account is quoted from Ayer Manuscript, 1409, of the Boxer Codex. Translated by Marjorie Driver, it documents trade between a Spanish galleon around 1590. The trading described occurred some 40 miles out in open sea. The galleon was only passing through the Marianas, having enough provisions.

“When a large ship is sighted, so many of these vessels (referring to proas) appear that they seem to blanket the sea. The sea tosses them about and the islanders board the ship to fetch iron, which is like gold to them, because they value it more (than gold) and use it in all their farm work and in preparing clearings for their garden plots.

Latte Stones

“They bring with them some very good fresh water. (Also) many coconuts, fish that they catch on hooks, (and) rice prepared in their special way and wrapped in leaves. They toss these things aboard the ship in exchange for iron. They also bring fruit, including bananas, as well as others that we did not recognize.

“When they have reached within approximately a stone’s throw, they stand up and shout ‘Arrepeque, arrepeque,’ which some people say means ‘friends, friends.’ others, (that it means) ‘Take away the arcabuz’ (a firearm). Be it one or the other, they shout and say ‘arrepeque.’ In their hands they carry large calabashes filled with water, coconuts, or fish. In effect, each brings samples of whatever he has.

“As soon as they approach (the ship), they tack to the windward with remarkable nimbleness and speed. When they spot a piece of iron, they draw near and barter everything they have for it. In order to (be able to trade better, they tie-up to a rope (dangling) from the stern of the ship. From there and all parts of the ship, a profusion of old nails and broken cask hoops is thrown down to them.

“All this is amazing to see, because when they catch a rope with iron tied to it, they cut it with their teeth as if it were a radish. Then in response to signs made to them, they re-attach coconuts or whatever else has been requested.

“For people so greedy for iron they do something very strange, which is that they will not exchange more for a large piece than for a small one. This trait was confirmed here.

“If a piece (of iron) is thrown into the water for them, they are such expert divers and swimmers that before it sinks very far, they dive after it and return to the boat. One (islander) did just that; when it was thrown to him to him, he lowered his sail and dropped it in the water. Then he jumped in, caught the piece of iron, and clambered back into the boat. He lifted the wet sail from the water — and it was large and one would have expected it to take three or four men to pull it out — (yet) he, very easily, lifted it out and put it up all by himself. Then, without bartering for more iron, he went back there.

“We wanted to find out if they had any knowledge of the weapons we use, so I held up an unsheathed sword and pretended I wanted to

Chamorro Warrior Anatomy Chart

throw it to them. As soon as they saw it, they yelled and shouted and although they all wanted me to throw it, each coveted it for himself. In return, by means of signs, they offered not only all their fruit, fish and water, but other things (as well). One who hoped to get it by using this (artifice), took from beneath (the usual things) many woven mats and some beautifully crafted little boxes and offered them all. Finally, they sailed off without it, but later returned twice, still wanting it and offering everything they had.”

Ancient Chamorros grew produce, fashioned fine carved and woven products, traded freely, went to great lengths to ply their trade and relied on their own ingenuity.

The Chamorro was a self-made man, who fed his family by the sweat of his brow, the skills of his craft, traversing the deep, blue sea as commander of all he caught, built and took care of. The government social systems of today would be treated with contempt or dismay.

The following excerpts are from Fray Juan Pobre in the Marianas 1602 (translated by Driver).

“While they are very young, they make their sons and daughters work and teach them to perform their tasks. Consequently, the very young know how to perform their tasks like parents because they have been taught with great love. So great is their love for their children that it would take a long time to describe it and sing its praises. They never spank them and they even scold them with loving words. … With such great love do these barbarians raise their children that they in turn, grow up to be obedient and expert in their occupations and skills.”

Ancient Chamorro taught their children skills from an unbelievably young age. Fray Pobre depicts their version of schooling.

“At the age of four or five, they teach their sons to go out to sea in little boats that they build for them, and which have their own outriggers that are identical to those on their father’s larger boats. By the age of fourteen, they have become so skilled at using them, that the sons know as much as their fathers; by the time they are sixteen or eighteen, the sons put out to sea to fish alone, as I have seen them do. Alone in his funei (proa), he sets the sails, bails the boat, and fishes with hook and net; if it capsizes, he rights it, so great is their strength.”

Respect ruled the Chamorro society from birth to death, regardless of age. While they learned individualism, the people as a whole never lost their sense of duty, dignity and respect — contributing to society while lifting those burdened by it. Nai y animu means to encourage with your spirit.

Ancient Chamorros would be today’s everyday heroes — the waitress serving you coffees, the cashier saying have a good day, the mechanic fixing your car, the farmer and fisherman selling their goods — doing the mundane with the respect it deserves and creates. Many Chamorro families have become local, regional and global leaders in banking, insurance, property, medical and legal services, hospitality, retail, wholesale and more. It’s an entrepreneurial spirit from our ancient past reaching for a future we must nurture and expand.

Anthony P. Sanchez (Fongu) is the editor for Guahan/Guam A History of Guam.

Awesome write up on The Ancient Chamorros!

ByTheBay Spear Fishing Saipan, Tinian CNMI

GoPro Saipan Spearfishing Adventures

Tinian, Northern Mariana Islands CNMI

w/ Jose ByTheBay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmoAmCka7IM

Trench Tech RITES OF PASSAGE 11 ONRA. 9.9.11

Rites Of Passage 11- “ONRA!” Tentative Fight Card:
September 9th 2011

Guam vs. Saipan
1. Mark Dark (TT) vs. Franklin Agulto (Zalaka) 155lbs BOXING
2. Justin “Dungka” Dizon (Team Guam Muay Thai) vs. Regino Mundo (Zeng Zung/Tinian) 150lbs K-1
3. Irvin Saralu (Ind) vs. Frank Muna (TT) 155-160lbs K-1 or Donivan Mendiola

Lady BOXING MATCH:
4. Gianna “GiaBaby” Sarusal (Dededo Boxing/Lights Out Guam) vs. Tara “The Tarantula” Namauleg (Ind) 150lbs.

Fight Card:
5. John Garcia (CounterShot/Guam) vs. Jacob Ilo (Zalaka) 125lbs K-1
6. Jared Santos (CounterShot/Guam) vs. Jungle Boy Ogo (Haga) 120lbs K-1
7. Kevin Miranda (CounterShot/Guam) vs. Josh “ChAoS” Duenas TT) 135lbs MMA
8. Vince Masga (TT) vs. Pete Keju (Ind) 160lbs
9. Jason “Ground Maintenance” Teregeyo (Ind) vs. Joe Duenas (Zalaka)  135lbs
10. Walter Florencio (TT) vs. Frank “The Crippler” Atalig (Team Haga) 135lbs MMA
11. Mike “The Attack” Limiac (Tsunami Gym/United Kingdom/England- Guam) vs. “Badd” Brad Palacios (TT) 140lbs MMA
12. Brandon “Commotion” Camacho (Ind) vs. Leonard JC Cabrera (Ind) 145lbs. MMA
13. Ryan “Trobz” Ngirbabul (TT) vs. Derrick San Nicolas (Ind) 205lbs MMA

Featherweight SUPER Fight Title Match!:
14. Derick “El Peligro” Rangamar (Marianas Elite) vs. Shane “Pikaboo” Alvarez (TT) 140lbs MMA “Battle 4 the Belt”

Triple MAIN EVENT:

1. JJ. Ambrose vs. Fasi “Quikdraw” Jesse (TT) 155lbs USA vs. Saipan

2. Will “the Kill” Chope (Dragon Muay Thai) vs. Maitai “The Charger” Charley (Marianas Elite) 150lbs USA vs. Saipan

3. Myron “The Natural” San Nicolas (Marianas Elite) vs. Mylo “AlabaMMA” Lassiter (TT) 230lbs- THE BIG BRAWL!!

**Fight Card is subject to change.

Be sure to stay posted and for more information Contact the MAN HIMSELF
Cuki Alvarez at trenchwarriorsaipan@yahoo.com & www.trenchtech.tv

GUAM USA, Agana Boat Basin Sunrise

Borrowed from the man himself Jose “ByTheBay” Quan!

Sick Sunrise Timelapse of Guam’s Agana Boat Basin.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oG-77WOmb8

ByTheBay & Crank on Tinian CNMI

Hafa Adai!

Jose ByTheBay is holding it down on Saipan! He recommended I get the GoPro cam for some sick easy film shooting. Check out him and his GoPro mounted on his Maxima driving around the island of Saipan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxHldGoJZzo

Jason "Rush" Tarkong

Sometimes we walk around with chips on our shoulders. We’re like a tightly wound spring ready to jump at the slightest trigger, when other times we would let the same event go unnoticed. We even say self-righteously, “I didn’t start it.” Now that we are becoming more responsible for ourselves, we are owning our part in relationships. Maybe we have a problem with being like a spring ready to jump. When we are like that, we are difficult to live with or be around.

We can change by getting in touch with our pain. We need to explore our feelings. Perhaps we need to be honest with ourselves about low self-esteem, about feelings of loneliness or fear. Then we must talk with another person or our group about our feelings and continue to talk about them. In this way we become reconciled to ourselves and to our friends around us.

God, help me accept my own pain, and help me be tolerant of my friends’ mistakes.

Love between two people is such a precious thing. It is not a possession. I no longer need to possess to complete myself. True love becomes my freedom.- Angela L. Wozniak

Self-doubt fosters possessiveness. When we lack confidence in our own capabilities, when we fear we don’t measure up as men, women, fathers, mothers, lovers, employees, we cling to old behavior, maybe to unhealthy habits, perhaps to another person. We can’t find our completion in another person because that person changes and moves away from our center. Then we feel lost once again.

Completion of the self accompanies our spiritual progress. As our awareness of the reality of our higher power’s caring role is heightened, we find peace. We trust that we are becoming all that we need to be. We need only have faith in our connection to that higher power. We can let that faith possess us, and we’ll never need to possess someone else.

God’s love is ours, every moment. Recognition is all that’s asked of us. Acceptance of this ever-present love will make us whole, and self-doubt will diminish. Clinging to other people traps us as much as them, and all growth is hampered, ours and theirs.

Freedom to live, to grow, to experience my full capabilities is as close as my faith. I will cling only to that and discover the love that’s truly in my heart and the hearts of my loved ones.

Meditation for the Day

The rule of God’s kingdom is perfect order, perfect harmony, perfect supply, perfect love, perfect honesty, perfect obedience. There is no discord in God’s kingdom, only some things still unconquered in God’s children. The difficulties of life are caused by disharmony in the individual man or woman. People lack power because they lack harmony with God and with each other. They think that God fails because power is not manifested in their lives. God does not fail. People fail because they are out of harmony with Him.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may be in harmony with God and with other people. I pray that this harmony will result in strength and success.