For the first time in many years, the world is able to see
Guam in such a unique and beautiful way-through a masterpiece of a video on
Guam as part of a high quality promotion of the island for the 12th Festival of the Pacific Arts to be held here in 2016.
Many have dubbed the cultural fair as the "Pacific
Olympics" for the high level of
competition in recent years in the traditional chanting and dancing categories of
the FESTPAC and scores of displays of the wares of the Chamorro society and the
other indigenous peoples of the Pacific.
The 6:46 video takes the viewer through a brief history of
Guam touching on the first contact with Explorer Ferdinand Magellan, Spanish
rule and U.S. administration into the current day on island. The video also uses spectacular graphics to
show its place in Micronesia and Oceania.
Most importantly the video showcases our island culture
intertwined with shots of the ultra-modern international airport, popular tourist
sites activities and the stunning crystal blue waters and white sands that
surround our 250 square mile Paradise Guam. My favorite part of this video is the showcase
of the Southern part of our island-unfortunately my home village Talofofo was
not in it.
With all the fuss about delays in the Guam Buildup Program,
the exaggeration of the prevalence of the brown tree snake and quirky local
politicians, this video does such a great job to show a side of Guam not seen
in many years.
I am not sure who produced this video, seen on the You Tube
channel of Guam Legislative Speak Judy Won Pat.
It has local production company Shooting Star Productions finger prints
all over it-job well done folks. The old Guam Postcard video, seen by many on VHS,
did its best to showcase the island-but nothing like this.
Creativity. Honesty.
Passion.
This video shares these threeimportant values of our people to the rest of the world and of the efforts ofthe organizing committee preparing to welcome the FESTPAC to the island. The road ahead over the next three years is
going to be tough. 10 thousand plus
participants will be on Guam for the event.
There are expected to be even more folks here to experience the Pacific
culture like never seen before.
This is exciting stuff that we as
an island community should get behind. I
have not seen such interest in one single community event since Guam hosted the
South Pacific Games in 1999. While still
a long way out, please considering giving to the effort or plan to volunteer
time to make this event a very special one for Guam and islanders across the
region. Our culture will be showcased.
The activity will do such much for the island that we won't truly know the
social and financial impacts until way past the final song is sang on the
FESTPAC Main Stage.
We are all ready. Thanks for the video. And finally-Good Luck Guam!