Say what you will about being Catholic, the nobena, independent of the bullshit associated with that religion, teaches A LOT about Chamorro familia and society. You practiced your respetu there, you practiced mamålao there, you got tågu, you might have learned to cook,
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You learned which of your cousins you liked playing with the most, you learned who your aunts and uncles were, who your grandparents siblings were, you learned words (written in the prayer books) that were spoken from antigu times,
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Bruh and don’t even get me started on the chow. It tastes better at a nobena. It’s not enough for us to say we don’t like being Catholics. What do we do after we move on?
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Cuz what if our kids look back at us the same way we look at our parents and grandparents? To say “why didn’t you practice this part of the culture? I feel like I’ve been denied part of my heritage.”
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Fawk you boi cuz that would suck wouldn’t it? You and I, the younger gen, spend so much time upset we were Americanized, upset our parents didn’t pass on a stronger Chamorro culture to us. Maybe it wasn’t so simple. We need to consider how to keep from repeating history here.
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So, a viable alternative. Do I know of one? I like the different Guma that dance has created. I think that’s a start. But no lie I’m unsure what can replace the nobena as a socializing and family orienting tool. Thoughts?
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Replying to @ChamorroTweets
Because it is such a part of me, I have made peace with the fact that I will most likely be the one continuing my family's nubena after my parents can't. As well as the Niño. I will also be keeping these traditions & going to church bc I can't reinvent this wheel solo tbh.
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Replying to @Lani4Pasifika @ChamorroTweets
I am aware the Catholic Church colonized & crucified our ancestors. At the same time I was brought up with the strict upbringing being such a part of the fabric of my life, that I can't just separate from it completely in the name of being more authentically Chamorro or something
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Replying to @Lani4Pasifika @ChamorroTweets
Being "authentic" ofc might not be everyone's motivation to separate themselves from it, but for me that is the reason that speaks the most to why I would. You're right. We built our villages, communities centered around i Guma Yu'us, literally. What can we center it around now?
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Replying to @Lani4Pasifika
The very important question—where can we center forgiving ourselves and then also having faith, releasing from control, loving peace. Religion helped with that.
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Yes! How can we feel connected to our taotao mo'na and ancient Sainas that allows them to enter the space and guide us? What practices can we do to honor them? Great things to ponder for sure 
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