FANOHGE CHAMORU PUT I TANO'-TA!

By Tim Rohr

The following was sent to JungleWatch anonymously:

Inexperienced workers dismantled and removed the sacred relics believed to include the cassock of Father San Vitores from the Cathedral and transported them to Blessed Diego Church in Tumon.

The relic was removed from its protective glass and placed on the floor without reverence. Workers handled these sacred relics without knowing their true significance. This was not their fault. They were hired to dismantle, remove, and deliver them. They simply did what they were told to do.

After placing the relics on the floor, they loaded the display case into the back of a pickup truck. To the inexperienced eye, this may look innocent enough, but to someone like myself, familiar with the proper handling and preservation of museum artifacts, this is a disaster.

The clothing and the Martyr’s letter were placed back into the glass case in the back of the pickup truck, exposed to the elements, including direct sunlight and intense heat. The oil painting commissioned by King Juan Carlos as a gift to the people of the Marianas was placed to the side of the pickup truck and exposed to sunlight and potentially to rain, scratches, and other damage.

Why were these sacred religious artifacts not transported in proper acid-free archival containers and protected from the sun’s intense light and heat? Since they were transported during the day and inside a glass display case, the temperature within that enclosed case could have risen significantly above the outside temperature. Such conditions can be extremely damaging to historic textiles, documents, paintings, and other fragile materials.

The ink on the letter may now be at greater risk of fading, while the cassock, exposed to moisture, salt air, light, and sudden changes in temperature and humidity, may deteriorate more rapidly. As an experienced curator for almost all of my professional life, I consider this a disaster. Whoever orchestrated or authorized such a brazen transfer of these sacred relics should be held immediately accountable. These sacred relics are important to the people of Guam and especially to the local Church pursuing his sainthood. 

What if the transport vehicle had been involved in an accident? The cassock could have been damaged by broken glass, thrown onto the roadway, exposed to direct sunlight, or soaked and drenched by rain. The original letter of Father San Vitores could have been irreparably damaged by exposure to sunlight or water.

This recent exposure to light and heat may accelerate the deterioration process of both the cassock and the letter.

Why was there no professional supervision present? Why was there no museum curator present? Why was there no priest present to supervise the transfer of these sacred relics?

And now that these sacred artifacts have been moved to the church in Tumon, was a professional curator consulted regarding their proper handling, preservation, and display? Are they protected from direct and indirect sunlight? Is the room in which they will be placed temperature- and humidity-controlled? What safeguards are now in place to ensure that these irreplaceable pieces of our religious relics are preserved for future generations?

This is yet another deeply troubling action under the leadership of the new Archbishop. For many in our community, actions such as these raise serious questions about whether sufficient respect is being shown toward the religious, historical, and cultural identity of Guam’s indigenous CHamoru people.

If reports concerning remarks you allegedly made about the CHamoru people of Guam are accurate, Archbishop, then we deserve a clear and public response. The people have a right to ask whether our identity and sacred history are being preserved and respected by you, Archbishop.

It is time for the CHamoru people to stand up for the preservation and protection of our sacred religious and cultural heritage.

Fanohge CHamoru put i tano’-ta!