calendar of events • travel • tech • recreation • health & fitness • restaurants • culture & arts • special features • nightlife • coupons & much more
March 2013
Sainan Hereru R&R speaks to a Master Blacksmith
What’s to do? Get out and get to know the island!
Jerilyn Pangelinan A Chamorrita beauty with a sense of pride
Section///Spotlight
contents MAIN FEATURE
Get to know Guam
EVENTS CALENDAR
Events and things to do this month
FASHION SPOTLIGHT
Dudu’s Couture
TECH THIS OUT
March picks
ON THE COVER
Jerilyn Pangelinan
SWEET TREAT SPOTLIGHT
Baker’s Delight
IT&E FEATURE
IT&E Technicians at your service
BUY LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
4
B&O Sausages
8
Consider becoming a trainer
HEALTH & FITNESS TECH SPOTLIGHT
11 12 14
Track Me Guam
OUT & ABOUT
Event & reader photos
SPORTS
The Powerhouse Richard Chou
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Francisco C. Lizama
22 25 27 29 30 32
18 21
Cover photo by Joe Cruz of Fstop Guam Photography. Wardrobe: gold dress ($21.99), bangles ($7.99), earrings ($7.99), shoes ($11.99) and necklace provide by SM Store. Hair and makeup by Essence Hair Artistry. Props provided by Gef Pago.
2
R&R Pacific/March
our team
2013
PUBLISHER
PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR
Maureen N. Maratita
Nerita F. Enderes
MANAGING EDITOR
DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Frank Whitman
Rosanna Dacanay & Vikki Fong
ASSISTANT EDITOR
SALES MANAGER
Jacqueline Guzman
Annie San Nicolas
REPORTERS
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Paul Moroni & Tom Johnson
Yvonne Matanane & Larry Siguenza
CONTRIBUTORS
ADMINISTRATION
Joe Cruz
Janice Castro, Jessica Leon Guerrero
Patrick Lujan
Carmelita McClellan & Bernard (Mr. B) Leonen
Carmen Rojas
MANAGING DIRECTOR
CREATIVE & PRODUCTION MANAGER
Marcos Fong
Taliea J. Strohmeyer
Glimpses Publications include: Marianas Business Journal • Guam Business Magazine • R&R Pacific • Beach Road Magazine
R&R Pacific • March 2013 • Entire contents copyrighted 2013 by Glimpses of Guam, Inc. R&R Pacific is published monthly by Glimpses of Guam, Inc., 161 US Army Juan C. Fejeran St., Barrigada Heights, GU 96913. Telephone: (671) 649-0883, Fax: (671) 649-8883, Email: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com • All rights reserved. No material may be printed in part or in whole without written permission from the publisher.
Hafa Adai!
Welcome to the new and expanded R&R Pacific! Thanks to your support and interest, R&R is now appearing monthly. Additionally, and because of numerous reader requests, we have launched R&R’s very own website. You can find the magazine at www.rrpacific.net and it will carry the same great features and special offers from advertisers as the print edition. Also for your convenience, we are printing additional copies and distributing to many more locations. What won’t change is our coverage of choices for dining and entertainment, a calendar of events, health and fitness articles, sports coverage and a variety of features. We’ll also maintain the same great standards of colorful photos throughout R&R. Our travel coverage of destinations will remain, though this month we focus on a variety of island activities to recognize Chamorro Month. We are adding more tech news and a variety of topics you’ve requested. Out & About will cover happenings around the island. I hope you enjoy R&R. We welcome your feedback, and don’t forget to like us on Facebook! Sincerely,
Maureen N. Maratita Publisher Glimpses Publications
Main Feature // Get to know Guam
Get to know
GUAM BY Maureen N. Maratita
March is Chamorro month, definitely a good time to get to know Guam. Whether you are a visitor, living on-island for a few short but sweet years, or a son or daughter of the island, here are some places to visit or revisit.
Pick a village
Live up North and never venture to the south of Guam? Or vice versa? Stuck in the middle? Check out R&R’s calendar, take a chance and head out one weekend. Here’s an incentive to get you started: The village of Malesso will be hosting the 2013 Gupot Chamorro Crab Festival from March 22 through March 24. Aside from the stuffed crab, you can watch or take part in the talaya (fishing net) throwing contest, the tuba (palm spirits) drinking contest, enjoy the arts and crafts display, and the jet ski powerboat race. With cultural dancing and a karaoke contest, there really will be something for everyone. The event will take place at the Merizo Pier park grounds, and food and refreshments will be available for sale. You can decide for yourself if Malesso lives up to its reputation as the crab capital of Guam. Look out for other village special events through the year. Talofofo celebrates a banana festival in April, Agat hosts a mango festival in June and Mangilao a donne’ (hot pepper) festival in September. Each village also hosts a fiesta — its own patron saint’s feast day cum village party — so it’s always worth checking with the mayor’s office to find out when that is, and what special events are planned.
Now pick Chamorro Village
How many times have you driven past Chamorro Village in Hagåtña and wished you could stop? Also open during the day, Chamorro Village is a mix of shops, and stall holders that come out on Wednesday evenings, so you never know precisely what you’ll find. Sometimes you’ll see a local dance group that’s taking the opportunity to practice and entertain visitors at the same time. Chamorro Village has a variety of shops selling gifts, clothing, jewelry and art – and, of course, food. A good time to arrive is about 5:30 p.m.
4
Visit a museum
You’ll have to wait a while for the Guam museum in Hagåtña to open – though it has just broken ground. But in the meantime there are new exhibits at the T. Stell Newman Visitor Center on Marine Corps Drive just before Naval Base Guam (It is part of the War in the Pacific National Historical Park). Open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the museum is child-friendly with interactive exhibits. Spare some time for the bookstore as you exit; it has souvenirs and a wide selection of books to include history of the region and children’s books as well as plenty about the war years.
Dip your toes in the water
We live on an island, and it’s a joy to experience Guam’s clear and warm waters. (Be sure to practice water safety and recycling of trash though.) Tumon Bay and Agana Bay have safe waters and picnic areas on the shore, with hotels and restaurants nearby for all sorts of food and refreshments. It’s a chance to swim, snorkel and be an ambassador for the island. Offer to take a tourist group photo and you’ll likely be rewarded with smiles and polite bowing. Ritidian is definitely not ideal for swimming as the currents are extremely strong, but the beach is not crowded and as part of the Guam National Wildlife Refuge it is pristine. The refuge is open daily, except for public holidays. Aside from visiting the nature center, and following a two-mile hiking trail, a picnic area is available, and visitors can get a permit to collect coconuts, lemai (breadfruit) and more. Guam also has some memorable waterfalls. Talofofo Falls has a 30-foot cascade and the waterfall is reached by cable car from Talofofo Falls Park, which allows for great views. The park has other
Main Feature // Get to know Guam
attractions like an outdoor shooting range. If you are willing to take a moderate hike, then Tarzan Falls on Route 17 is also worth the trip as it also offers a scenic hike through the jungle. Though not too difficult, the trail can be steep in parts and sometimes muddy, depending on the season. Namo Falls is in Santa Rita, and offers two waterfalls within the Namo Falls Tropical Garden, which also offers the chance to view a variety of tropical blooms and fruits. The Garden is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.
Must-see sites
There are some places on Guam that just have to be visited. If you are from Guam and you send photos to your family off-island, you know they
will recognize the places immediately. If you are not from Guam, then these sites should form part of your Guam To-Do List! Two Lovers Point is located to the North of Tumon Bay, and is worth the visit for the views alone. It lays claim to being the most visited tourist site, and is also popular for local parties.
Latte Stone Park
While there are still latte stones scattered around Guam, these examples (relocated from the Fena River area) are easy to visit. Situated behind the Dulce Nombre de Maria Agana Cathedral, these archaeological pairs of stones forming the latte are believed to have been foundations for raised buildings and houses. The latte has become a symbol of Guam and the region.
Asan Overlook
There are a number of scenic overlooks on the island, each of which offers potential. (Cetti Bay overlook is known for dolphin-spotting, for instance). Many are of Spanish era or World War II significance. Asan overlook gives you the same view as Japanese forces when U.S. Marines stormed Guam beaches to free the island. A war memorial and signage help emphasize the location’s importance.
Be a loner
Find those special places on Guam that have meaning for you alone. It’s the watering hole where you feel comfortable stopping after work for a beer, or the bar staff know your favorite cocktail.
5
Main Feature // Get to know Guam
It’s your favorite destination for brunch on Sunday, or the bakery that you can’t resist. It’s the store where you like to browse (and always find something). It’s the water resort the kids clamor to return to, or the park where the kites and the baseballs fly. It’s wherever you like to train or walk and exchange island news and views with the other regulars.
Be a joiner
Whatever your interests, there’s an organization on Guam for you. If you are interested in running, there’s hardly a weekend where there isn’t a run/walk. If you are only mildly athletic most of the events have transport arranged on the side while you work on your stamina, and you can start to build a magnificent T-shirt collection by registering or arriving early. Sports organizations abound on Guam; take your pick. The island also has a long list of nonprofits raising money for good causes that attract volunteers, but always need more. Not only will your sweat equity be appreciated, but you may get to see all sorts of performers and events for free. As a bonus, if you are a student, some of the hours you put in may qualify for academic credit, and if not, any thank you letter can go straight into your resume file. Guam’s villages and schools are often looking for volunteers for special events if you want to give back to the community close to home. Whatever your motivation, it’s hard not to feel good about helping others.
6
EVENTSCALENDAR
Section///Spotlight
MARCH events
BOONIE STOMP: ASIGA CAVES Explore this isolated southeastern wilderness of cliffs, caves and an underground pool. Bring: 4 quarts water, hiking boots, gloves, long pants, flashlight, sun screen, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: walking on rough rocks and climbing in caves. Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Guam’s trails are not developed. No reservations required. LEVEL:Difficult DURATION: 4 hours for 1.5 miles MEETING TIME & PLACE: 9 a.m. in the Center Court of Chamorro Village, Hagåtña PRICE: $2 (hikers over 12) MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/ GuamBoonieStompersInc TEL: 787-8830
March 9TH
BANK OF GUAM 8TH ANNUAL IFIT 5K RUN
featured event
Benefiting Guam Cancer Care. Start & Finish: Bank of Guam Headquarters Building, Hagåtña. Show time: 5 a.m. Go time: 6 a.m. ONLINE RACE REGISTRATION: ifit5k.eventbrite.com MORE INFORMATION: Email clauron@guamcancercare.org March 16TH
BOONIE STOMP: MT. SANTA ROSA CAVE
Photo by JR Manuel
March 2ND
MARCH 23RD - PORT AUTHORITY BEACH
XTERRA GUAM 2013
March 2ND
2013 will be year number two for XTERRA Guam as a full-fledged ‘Championship’ event. Now more age-group slots will be accepted to the XTERRA World Championship, held every October in Maui. For the professional triathlete, it is the lure of $15,000 in prize money. Participants can experience the warm-open water swim, biking on the challenging terrain, and navigating through climbs, sliding down the waterfalls, and running along the beach toward the finish. The modified international distance off-road triathlon has a 1.5K swim in the waters of Piti, Guam, 31K bike up Nimitz Hill and through the Mt. Alutom area and a challenging 8.2K trail run.
BANK OF HAWAII/ GUAM RED CROSS 5K RUN
SHOW TIME: 5:30 a.m. RACE STARTS: 7:30 a.m. MORE INFORMATION: info@xterraguam.com ONLINE REGISTRATION: www.xterraguam.com
Start & Finish: Guam Red Cross Building, Hagåtña Show time: 5:30 a.m. Go time: 6 a.m. MORE INFORMATION: Call Caroline Sablan at 472-5451 March 3RD
2ND GATE-TOGATE 21 MILE RUN Sunday, March 3 Start: Naval Base Guam Finish: Andersen Air Force Base Show time: 3:15 a.m. Go time: 4 a.m. PRICE: $5 for GRC member $10 for nonmember
8
Explore a unique cave along the volcanic/limestone geological junction. Bring: 3 quarts water,
March 24TH hiking boots, gloves, long pants, insect repellent, lunch, camera and flashlights. Special conditions: climbing in narrow cave passages with water. LEVEL:Difficult DURATION: 3 hours for 0.5 miles MEETING TIME & PLACE: 9 a.m. in the Center Court of Chamorro Village, Hagåtña PRICE: $2 (hikers over 12) MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/ GuamBoonieStompersInc TEL: 787-8830
BOONIE STOMP: ALUTOM FALLS Hike to two cooling and scenic waterfalls in central Guam. Bring: 3 quarts water, hiking boots, gloves, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, lunch and camera. Special conditions: steep slopes, mud and climbing with a rope. LEVEL: Medium DURATION: 4 hours for 2.5 miles MEETING TIME & PLACE: 9 a.m. in the Center Court of Chamorro Village, Hagåtña
PRICE: $2 (hikers over 12) MORE INFORMATION: www.facebook.com/ GuamBoonieStompersInc TEL: 787-8830
EVENTSCALENDAR
MARCH sun
mon
tue
wed
thu
fri 1 MOVIES Jack the Giant Slayer The Last Exorcism Part II premieres at Hollywood Theaters
3
5
4
6
7
8 MOVIES Oz: The Great and Powerful Dead Man Down premieres at Hollywood Theaters
2nd Gate-to-Gate 21 Mile Run
10
12
11
13
14
MOVIES The Incredible Burt Wonderstone The Call premieres at Hollywood Theaters
Miller Football League Playoff Game
17
15
18
Boonie Stomp: Asiga Caves Bank of Hawaii/Guam Red Cross 5K Miller Football League Game
9Boonie Stomp: Anao
Bank of Guam 8th Annual IFIT 5K Run First sales of Coca-Cola 6-bottle cartons sold this day in 1923, in New Orleans, La.
16 Boonie Stomp: Mt. Santa Rosa Cave Kick the Fat 5K Run Miller Football League Championship Game
20
21
22
23
26
27
28
29
30
76 Paddles Against Cancer
42nd Guam Marathon Annual Marathon/ Runner of the Year Awards Banquet Guam Ko’ko Kids Fun Run
2
19
St. Patrick’s Day
24
sat
MOVIES The Croods Admission premieres at Hollywood Theaters 3rd Annual Malesso Crab Festival
MOVIES GI Joe: Retaliation The Host Tyler Perry’s Temptation premieres at Hollywood Theaters
XTERRA Guam 2013 Boonie Stomp: Alutom Falls Simon Sanchez High School - National Honor Society 5K Run 3rd Annual Malesso Crab Festival
Boonie Stomp: Atillong Acho to Umatac
31 Easter Sunday
SPONSORED BY:
649-1111 • www.gohollywood.com Proudly serves refreshing
beverages.
Visit a Burger King near you: • Guam Premier Outlets • Micronesia Mall • Tumon • Guam International Airport
“The Coke Side of Life” campaign was introduced this month in 2006.
*Event times and dates may change without notice “Coca-Cola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-ColaCompany.
9
Spotlight ///Fashion
THERE’S A NEW SHOP IN TOWN
Dudus Couture
BY Jacqueline Guzman PHOTOS BY Vikki Fong
Looking for a new look? Enter Dudus Couture … Dudus Couture, a new store carrying women’s plus-size fashion clothing and accessories, opened Dec. 15 in the Agana Shopping Center Marketplace. “Here on Guam there is actually no store that caters to just plus-size women’s needs,” says Frances Quinata, purchaser for Dudus Couture.
The store orders its merchandise from the U.S. mainland from wholesale locations in Washington, California and New York, Quinata says. Women prefer in-person shopping over online shopping, according to Quinata. “Online shopping can be deceiving, whereas buying in person you can try the clothes on and feel good about how
they look on you,” she says. Prices range from $17.99 for blouses and from $22.99 for dresses, and Quinata said the quality of the clothing is worth the price. “Women love clothes and when they find clothes they love, they love to wear them and show them off therefore it was only appropriate to call the store Dudus [flirtatious],” she says.
While the store has been open for less than three months, plans are already under consideration for more than one location. The store has three employees. Operating hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
11
Tech This Out///March Picks
TECH THIS OUT!
Better sound. Whenever. Wherever. By Afred C. Calinagan Do you love listening to music from your smartphone or your tablet while you are cleaning your car, playing at the park, doing homework, or chilling at the beach? Notice how your sounds with your favorite music, movie or game seem to be missing the great impact as you are sharing them with everyone around you or enjoying them alone? Bose® has a great product that gives you the solution to those needs. The Soundlink® Bluetooth®Mobile speaker II works with any Bluetooth audio enabled device, while its battery keeps going for hours. The Soundlink® speaker looks as good as it sounds with a gray metal grille and black trim. When you’re ready to go, the integrated dark gray nylon bi-fold
cover protects the speaker in your bag. Additional covers are also available in nylon or leather, in multiple colors to match your style. You’ve got the music on your phone or tablet. Now enjoy it with better sound. Flip open your Bose® Soundlink® Bluetooth® Mobile speaker II, make a quick Bluetooth connection, and you’re ready to enjoy clearer, fuller sound than you thought you could get from a speaker this small. It’s all thanks to unique technologies you can only get from Bose. Share your music everywhere you go, with the Soundlink® Bluetooth® Mobile Speaker II. Visit Micropac, Inc. at your nearest location to hear a demo and pick up yours.
The Bose® Soundlink® Bluetooth® Mobile Speaker II
Works with any Bluetooth audio enabled device and looks as good as it sounds. www.micropacinc.com
12
Jerilyn
Pangelinan
Jerilyn Pangelinan is a Tahitian dancer for Tiare Hinano at the Fiesta Resort Guam and she has been dancing for 8 and a half years. She is a student at the University of Guam and her major is tourism, travel and management. She chose this major because she has been working in the tourism industry for almost nine years and she enjoys sharing her experiences as a Chamorrita. Chamorro month means a lot to Jerilyn, especially because she is Chamorro. It gives her a chance to appreciate and be grateful for what her ancestors did to make us who we are today.
Feature//On the cover
Photos: Joe Cruz of Fstop Guam Photography Hair & Makeup: Essence Hair Artistry Wardrobe: SM Store Special thanks: Gef Pago
15
Feature///On the cover
ON LOCATION: GEF PAGO The Gef Pa’go Chamorro Cultural Village is a living museum of thatched huts that portrays the Chamorro life of the early 1900s and has been around since 1992. It is now operated by the Historic Inalahan Foundation, a registered non-profit organization founded by residents of Inarajan on March 2007. Its mission is to provide a showcase of Chamorro culture for visitors and provide hands-on education experiences for Guam’s youth to learn about their heritage. Gef Pa’go is one of Guam’s last remnants of Spanish era village life that offers demonstrations and exhibits showcasing the daily life of the Chamorro people, according to Historic Inalahan Foundation director, Chris Duenas. Some activities include hands-on experience in rope making, salt production, coconut oil, coconut candy, weaving of pandanus and coconut leaves and carabao riding. Tourists, military and students from all schools are regular visitors.
Visitor Information: Tours are from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on weekdays. Afternoon tours are by advance reservations only. For more info, call: 828-1671 or 828-1673.
16
Section///Spotlight
17
Section///Spotlight Spotlight//Sweet Treat
BAKER’S DELIGHT
Delight Indeed BY Thomas Johnson PHOTOS BY Vikki Fong
Baker’s Delight in Harmon held its grand re-opening this past Nov. 19 after the title was transferred to its new owers - Christine Aquinde, Vicky Sanchez and Lisa Guevara on Oct. 18 The three ladies made a decision to purchase the ailing business mere days after noticing it was for sale. “I’ve always liked baking and when this opportunity came up, I didn’t hesitate. I really wanted it,” says Aquinde, a former stay-at-home mom and caretaker.
18
Following the purchase of the bakery, Aquinde, Sanchez, and Guevara renovated the space, doing most of the work themselves while enlisting help from family and friends. “We’ve painted the place. We had to purchase items, we had to buy signs, we had to re-do everything, air conditioning, lighting.” All told, the renovations cost the trio upwards of $5,000, and took over a month to accomplish. The renovations also forced the three ladies to push their
grand opening back further than they had planned. “Originally, we wanted to open in October, because I wanted to donate speciallymade cookies or cupcakes to the Breast Cancer Foundation,” Aquinde says, pointing out the pink cancer ribbon hats worn by everyone in the bakery, “but we didn’t open on time.” When asked if they were intimidated by competition from larger, more established bakeries, Sanchez says, “All businesses have competitors,
“…Everything is fresh. If it’s a day old, we set it aside for donation...we want to give back to the community.” Christine Aquinde OWNER
and it’s a challenge. But that’s why we want to constantly improve our products and provide the best service that we can offer. A lot of people say we have great service, which is great to hear,” adds Aquinde. “They come in for the first time and they really like it. It’s a more personal bakery. People can order whatever they want, and if they call in advance, we can set aside anything they want,” she says. And even though it deals in traditional fare such as doughnuts, cakes, pies, cookies, and brownies, the bakery’s repertoire also includes some of the ladies’ personal favorites, including cream cheese bread, ensymada, bread pudding, and cassava. “In the future, we also plan to start making fresh noodles and siopao,” Sanchez says. In spite of opening so recently, the small business has already begun wholesaling its products to markets such as Onedera Store, Galilee Market, Lee’s Market and Kang’s Market. “We give free samples to our customers before they buy anything …everything is fresh. If it’s a day old, we set it aside for donation,” Aquinde points out. “I’m not sure about other bakeries, whether they just throw it away, but we want to give back to the community.” Aquinde, Sanchez and Guevara are currently making plans to establish contact with the Guam Homeless Coalition and discuss how they can help feed the less fortunate, while Aquinde herself makes daily rounds to deliver leftovers to the Guam Memorial Hospital, the Dededo Police Precinct, and the Dededo Guam Fire Department.
19
20
Special Feature//IT&E Techs
IT&E WIRELESS TECHNICIANS AT YOUR SERVICE An IT&E wireless technician takes on multiple roles. One is to provision the units before they get into the hands of our customers. We ensure that all of the services (VOICE, SMS, and DATA) that we provide are working properly before the phone reaches the customer. When new phones hit the market, we take part in programming them to work with our network, to provide the newest and latest phones to our customers. When customers are going off island we provide services to ensure that they are able to communicate back home. We work with our customers to provide excellent service. There is a technician stationed at each of our locations, excluding
the Macheche Branch, for better accessibility to our customers. IT&E is committed to being available to its customers. If customers have any issues with their phone we will be able to troubleshoot in the stores. We offer hands-on training for those who are new to smart phones. We provide courtesy calls after your purchase to make sure your needs are satisfied. If a customer is unable to visit one of our locations, we are available over the phone. A brand new service we are offering is the technical hotline. A technician will be available 24/7 for any technical inquiries.
IT&E wireless customers can dial *884 on their phones for any technical questions. Please check our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ITE-Guam/204135012958403 for tips, tricks and promotions we have going on.
21
B&O ISLAND STYLE CHAMORRO SAUSAGE
Keeping it island style BY Paul Moroni PHOTOS BY Vikki Fong
Barbara Ann “Bobbie” and Oscar Velasquez started making their Island Style Chamorro Sausage back in 2008, a much simpler time. Today they lead a cottage industry on island, turning out more than 5,000 pounds of chorizo every month. A couple of weeks ago, I stopped by the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved facility attached to the couple’s Yigo home to see the process in action. The afternoon I stopped by their shop, I found that ‘island style’ is more than just in the name. The couple was all smiles and warm hellos when they welcomed me onto their patio. The processing facility sits off to the right of their home — so no long commutes here. The entire property opens onto a grassy field landscaped with native flowers and trees. As it turns out, B&O likes to get an early start, operating 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every weekday. I was too late to see how the sausage gets made. But, I suppose, as they say, you don’t want to see how the sausage gets made, you just want to eat it. After a short tour of the facility, I was invited into the couple’s home, where we were treated
22
to spaghetti in a pork chorizo marinara and chicken chorizo over rice, just a couple of the eclectic recipes island residents have infused with the B&O brand over past few years. You may have already been introduced to B&O Island Style Chamorro Sausage and not even known it. Local chefs have been crafting recipes with the sausage since shortly after the company got its start. Today, B&O is featured in recipes at five local restaurants. After introducing the chorizo sausage to Linda’s Café and Lemai Café in 2008, B&O expanded into Pika’s Café and Proa Restaurant in 2010. Proa’s new Hagatna location makes five. Dishes featuring B&O’s Chamorro sausage include traditional fare such as fried rice and eggs at Lemai Café, as well as Chamorro versions of American staples, like the Benedict Dela Cruz — Pika’s Café’s take on eggs Benedict. In addition to featured dishes at these restaurants, B&O brand products are also marketed at island grocers, including PayLess Markets. B&O Island Style Chamorro Sausage began as a hobby for Oscar Velasquez after
he retired from Guam Telephone Authority. He started with an old family recipe handed down from his grandmother. After giving some of the sausage to family and friends, they began to say, “Hey Oscar, why don’t you sell this stuff?” “I grew up helping my grandmother make Chamorro sausage,” he says, smiling. “I never thought I would be doing it for a living one day.” Back then, Oscar’s family raised their own pigs, he says. “I remember having to help my grandmother prepare the pig to make sausage. Then we had to grind it all by hand.” “Making the product available for market, we have very different standards today,” Bobbie says. She’s right. USDA oversees B&O’s entire operation. They even have an inspector on site during all processing to make sure they turn out the highest quality product. The couple says they hope to see the company expand distribution to the U.S. mainland one day. In the meantime, they are focused on meeting the demands of the local palate. So far, Guam’s only locally made Chamorro sausage is proving to be a big hit.
Feature//Health & Fitness
CONSIDER BECOMING A TRAINER By Carmen Rojas
Since it’s the month of green, let’s talk about the kind of green we can all appreciate. Money!
If you have ever thought about becoming a personal trainer, I am going to give you some helpful money-making and money-saving tips that will help you as you consider becoming a personal trainer.
Q: Do I have to get certified and, if so, by whom?
A: The simple answer is there are gyms that don’t require certification, and may add you under their insurance umbrella. However, I would expect that this type of arrangement is going to reflect itself in a lower hourly rate for your services. One of the current challenges facing the personal training industry is the lack of regulation. There are efforts by some states to require personal trainers to be “licensed” but to date, no such provision exists. As a professional, I would advise that personal trainers seek out a certification. There are many types of certifications available and some of them are have more challenging certification exams than others. If you want to give personal training a try, I would suggest that you look online for an affordable certification that you can easily earn and maintain.
Q: Do I have to be ripped to be a personal trainer?
A: No. You don’t need to have single percent body fat and muscles on top of muscles to be a personal trainer. Keep in mind that you are selling fitness, so a healthy professional appearance will be more attractive to potential customers. You can be your own success story. Show how you can help people by showing your own before and after photos and measurements. Some of the most successful trainers I have worked with have been more than 60 years old.
Trust is a key component when selling fitness and baby-boomers are comforted when they can see someone with similar life experiences sitting on the other side of the table.
Q: Should I work in a gym or be independent?
A: The answer to this question is rather complicated. It totally depends on where you are in your career. My personal opinion is that when you are starting out, working in a gym has real advantages. You don’t have the issue of a location, your marketing is basically taken care of by the gym, and you have a steady flow of people that will see you every day. You may not make a ton of money, but at this point in your career, building a reputation is critical. Once you develop a following, you can either renegotiate your agreement or consider operating as an independent. If you choose the independent route, be prepared for significant upfront costs of insurance, rent, utilities down payments, advertising and other issues. These expenses will have to be covered before a client walks through your door. There are many questions that you will have to answer before making the jump into personal training. One of the best ways to learn how to become successful is to talk to someone who already is. Successful trainers are by definition very business savvy and would love to share their experiences with an up-andcoming trainer.
25
TrackMe! Guam
TO THE RESCUE
BY Jacqueline Guzman PHOTO BY Vikki Fong
Guam-enabled Garmin brand GPS navigating devices are now available for sale from TrackMe! Guam which holds the exclusive dealership of the Garmin products through Marianas GPS. Consumers can purchase a Garmin device directly from TrackMe! and each contains a map of Guam, according to Jesiree Balajadia, office and operations manager at TrackMe! Guam. “You may also purchase a Garmin device from Macy’s and you will see our ad on the machine explaining that we supply the map of Guam for Garmin. So now we have navigation for Guam. We’ve supplied several devices already and our customers love it,” Balajadia says. The device is the first product that TrackMe! Guam offers to the general public. “Before we only had systems specifically for
companies. Our simple Find My Vehicle GPS allows you to locate your vehicle just using your own smartphone. All you need is a smartphone with a subscriber identity module or SIM card that is enabled with short message service or SMS and a car cigarette lighter. “There is no need for general packet radio service or GPRS data and no server. All you need to do is call the number that was provided with your SIM card and an SMS message is sent to your phone with a link containing a web address. Click on the link and a new window will display the location of your vehicle,” says Balajadia. This new product and service has been available since mid-December, according to Balajadia. The Garmin brand units and the Find My Vehicle unit do not require maintenance, but Bala-
jadia says she advises clients to treat the units as carefully as they would their smartphones. “You try everything to make sure you do not break your phone; do the same with the device,” she says. There is no monthly charge for the Find My Vehicle device or service. “The way we plan on selling this is the customer purchases their own prepaid/post paid SIM card that is enabled with SMS and they can pay on their own [through their mobile phone service],” Balajadia says. TrackMe! Guam began business in 2005 as a fleet and fuel management solutions provider. “We give companies the ability to monitor the behavior of their drivers and their fleets. With this it allows the companies to better manage the fleet and also lower costs,” says Balajadia.
“…we supply the map of guam for garmin... now we have navigation for guam. we’ve supplied several devices already and our customers love it.” JESIREE BALAJADIA OFFICE AND OPERATIONS MANAGER
27
OUT&ABOUT
out & about
Photo from Guam Football Association
Matao professional players prior to Guam’s match against Macau in the East Asian Cup preliminary competition held in July at Leo Palace. Jason Cunliffe (9) and Ian Mariano (14) of Pachanga Diliman FC played against Jonahan Romero (4) and Kaya FC for the first time in an official UFL 2013 season game on Feb. 7 at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila, Philippines.
Photo submitted by Gillian Gallardo
Gillian Gallardo and her daughter snorkeling near the Spanish Steps at Big Navy.
Photos by Joe Cruz
John Robert Powers hosted “A Touch of Glamour: A Day to Live, Laugh & Love” at the JRP headquarters in Maite on Feb. 2. Photo submitted by Peggy Denney
Peggy Denney of iRecycle Guam (right) with Angel Sablan and Janet Floran at Sablan and Floran’s home after the Yigo Fiesta on Feb. 10.
TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS FOR OUT & ABOUT, EMAIL HIGH-RES PHOTOs to: assist_editor@glimpsesofguam.com PLEASE INCLUDE: - CAPTIONS (NAMES, DATE, EVENT NAME AND LOCATIOIN) - YOUR NAME AND VILLAGE
29
Feature//Sports
THE POWERHOUSE
Richard Chou
www.guamsportsnetwork.com
BY: Patrick Lujan
We have a new CEO and a new board, and we’re very optimistic and excited for 2013. GSPN: You mentioned that there ARE big things coming up for you this year. Any connection with Guam? Chou: I’m always looking to make connections with my projects to Guam and this could be the year. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. GSPN: You go back and forth from Hawaii and California. How often do you come back home? Chou: I feel really bad. I should be coming back more often. (It’s been two years since Chou has been back home) My family is still here and a lot of my closest friends. I’ve got to make it a point to come back at least once a year. Every time I come back it’s such an amazing time. Prior to Strikeforce closing its doors and being bought out by the UFC, Guam’s Rich Chou was one of the important pieces in the big MMA promotion as the match maker. Here he is with fighter Jason ‘Mayhem’ Miller. (Photo courtesy of GSPN)
When it comes to the mixed martial arts industry, no one from Guam has made it further than Richard Chou. The 1997 graduate from St.
John’s Episcopal School was one of the main masterminds of the Strikeforce promotion as the match maker before it was bought out by the UFC in 2011. He is now still very much involved in the MMA industry, doing business in both Hawaii and California. The 1997 high school MVP in basketball and volleyball was back home on vacation recently and took some time out to talk a bit with GSPN. GSPN: Tell us about Strikeforce: how it was and the experience you gained. Chou: I got the Strikeforce job because I was a part of Elite XC and Strikeforce bought a lot of the Elite assets — TV contracts and fighter contracts and that’s when Strikeforce went from a regional promotion to a national promotion. Fortunately, I was a part of that and the last event [was Jan 12th]. GSPN: So what have you been doing since Strikeforce? Chou: I’m currently the VP of operations for ProElite and I do a lot of consulting work on the side with various companies who want to penetrate the MMA market whether it is clothing — I’m working with a beverage company right now. It was an interesting year (2012) for ProElite. We weren’t very active as the company was being restructured. It’s a public company so things move a lot slower than a private company.
30
GSPN: What do you miss most about Guam when you’re away – other than family and friends. Chou: The food! It’s so unique here and one of the things that I miss, but there’s so many little things that make Guam what it is. It’s so special and unique from every other part of the planet.
GSPN: How about athletes like (Jon) Tuck and now (Ryan) Bigler making it to TUF? Chou: Oh man, I was very proud. It was a huge moment for Guam [when Tuck made it to the UFC]. I’m telling everybody to watch out for the Guam boys, here’s the first wave coming. GSPN: What is your take on the jiu-jitsu explosion on Guam? Chou: I think we’re seeing a transition, not just on Guam, but all over the country where it’s growing again. What got us started was jiu-jitsu being the foundation for MMA here. Then we saw everyone jump and go to MMA. Now we’re seeing more people go back to jiu-jitsu. I think it’s because it’s more of a lifestyle: women, children and old people can train jiu-jitsu every day. I think MMA is so brutal and taxing on the body, and a lot of people just don’t like getting hit, but jiu-jitsu is a gentle art. People are starting to realize that and I think that’s why it’s growing again.
Spotlight//Arts & Artists Traditional Dance///Culture & Arts
Sainan Hereru
MASTER BLACKSMITH FRANCISCO C. LIZAMA ON THE RICH HISTORY OF A MODERN CULTURAL TRADITION STORY AND PHOTOS BY Paul Moroni
Step into the workshop of Francisco C. Lizama and you quickly realize that for him and his students, blacksmithing isn’t so much about resurrecting an ancient craft as it about carrying on a modern cultural tradition. In a surprise ceremony last December, the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities bestowed upon Lizama the honor of Sainan Hereru - Master Blacksmith. The well known blacksmith began his journey to that high honor more than 26 years ago, while he was still a firefighter with the Guam Fire Department. It was then that he came under the apprenticeship of Joaquin F. “Tun Jack” Lujan, himself a master blacksmith and something of a living legend on Guam. Prior to that, Lizama says he developed a curiosity about metal working while serving in the Army, where he often forged small pocket knives as a hobby — learning through trial and error how to come up with a usable tool. Today, Lizama’s work revolves around the blacksmithing trade — working with his nephew, Greg T. Pangilinan, forging tools for local farmers and collectors and passing down the trade through apprenticeships at the Hurao Academy. Today, their tools are made mostly from recycled scrap metal recovered from local junk yards. The coil spring from a vehicle’s suspension, saw blades, and even train spikes are turned into ceremonial knives, machetes, plows and various hand tools using processes refined by Lizama and predecessors over generations. “A well-made machete can easily last 100 years or more,” Lizama
32
says. “A man’s machete used to be a symbol of his stature. A worn down machete showed that you provided for your family.” Lizama’s implements cater to a small niche market of local farmers, fishermen, hunters and collectors — the disappearance of this tradition is a factor principally of economics. As imported foodstuffs improved in the postwar period, the local farmers that once made up the bulk of a blacksmith’s clientele moved into other sectors, and demand for these tools dwindled — the blacksmiths with them, from several dozen in the middle of the last century, to a small handful active today. But for people still interested in doing things the old fashioned way, in investing in tools of such quality that they will probably outlive the purchaser, Francisco C. Lizama is part of a small group of local blacksmiths dedicating their time to keeping the tradition alive.