Join Us - Under the American Sun: Camp Roxas Film Project
Join the Camp Roxas Film Project
Send your comments, information, scanned images or donations to Under the American Sun (Camp Roxas, Agat, Guam). Email to: camproxasguam@gmail.com or write to Bernie Provido Schumann, 177 B Mall St. A401, Tamuning, GU 96913. If you or a member of your family are former Camp Roxas residents or pioneer immigrant Filipino-American laborers on Guam, we especially would like to hear from you.
ClickHEREto view more messages received by the Camp Roxas Film Project.
From: Rosemary Jalique
Date: Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 8:28 PM
My name is Rosemary Jalique. I am a Filipina who currently resides in New York. My family is from Guam. My father had never revealed such information to myself or my brothers and sisters when we were growing up about the history of Camp Roxas. Only until now when my older brother asked questions about how our family came to live on Guam did this new -found information unravel.
Several of my aunts and uncles reside in Santa Rita. I have recently been informed that my grandfather and father (when he was a young boy) worked at Camp Roxas. My brother's father-in-law recalls vague childhood memories of the Filipino workers at Camp Roxas. He is has lived in Agat all his life and he is Chamorro.
My father joined the Army when he was 19 years old. He has served about 25 years of service. He continues to work for the U.S. Goverment. He and my mother live in Germany. They plan on retiring in 2 years and would like to move back to Guam.
I have e-mailed the website link to my parents, brother and sister-in-law so that they may see the details and pictures of your hardwork. I hope to hear from you soon!
From: Mallada, Bernard Q TSgt USAF
Date: Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Good morning. My name is Bernard Mallada and I am product of these hard-working Visayans that arrived on Guam.
Like my uncle and cousin, my father came to Guam to better his life. With the help of my Uncle Leon, he arrived on Guam in the late '60s and pretty much called home after that.
Since then, we have cemented the Mallada legacy with a huge family and only growing. Thank you.
From: Penaredondo, Claudette
Date: Tue, Feb 16, 2010 at 7:42 AM
Hello, my name is Claudette Z. Penaredondo. My great-grandfather is Fermin V. Zapanta Sr. I am interested in knowing more about the Camp Roxas history. I heard bits of pieces of the story from my mom and my grandfather, Fermin L. Zapanta Jr.
When I was little, I had seen a picture of my great-grandfather with one of the Chamorros and the land site they developed. I remember my mom told me that they have a Zapanta Blvd. or some street that was named after them, and also the first bowling alley and or a pool hall.
I would love to visit the site one day and learn the rich roots of my family and pass on to my children one day.
From: Alex Zapanta
Date: Sat, Mar 20, 2010 at 3:40 AM
My name is Don Victor A. Zapanta, Jr. I am the son of the late Victor L. Zapanta and grandson of the late Fermin V. Zapanta, Sr.
I saw some pictures of my father and grandpa taken during the time when they were both in Guam. I have never seen any of these pictures before and I really would appreciate it if you can send me copies of pictures where they appear.
Please include also the pictures of the following: Fermin L Zapanta, Jr., Ramulfo L. Zapanta and Manuel Yap.
From: Thelma Devlin
Date: Thu, Feb 18, 2010 at 1:40 PM
I am a teacher at Benavente Middle School. I wanted to ask if there is an individual available to make a presentation for my students.
I am in the process of planning activities for Chamorro month. I believe the story of Camp Roxas plays an important role in the history of Guam. My father was part of the camp and I support the endeavors to preserve the legacy of all involved. . .
From: Moki Hino
Date: Mon, Apr 5, 2010 at 7:51 AM
My name is Moki Hino and I am an Episcopal priest from Hawaii and am on Guam through May 10.
My grandfather, Bob Hino, was GM of Camp Roxas in the 1960s and I grew up at Masdelco until age 5. I am most interested in your film project and would very much appreciate the opportunity to meet and talk with you while I am on island.
From: Rosanna Barcinas
Date: Mon, May 31, 2010 at 12:00 PM
Bernie:
I just saw the Sunday insert this morning. Congratulations again on the work you and Burt have done with "Under the American Sun."
Every time i read about it i cry happy tears that you guys have documented a part of Guam's (our) history and have honored your parents and all the families involved in Guam's post WWII build up.
From: Father Moki Hino
Date: Sat, Sept 18 via FaceBook
I just put out a small collection of sermons from my time in Guam and Saipan called "Humidity." All proceeds from the sale of this small book will be donated to The Camp Roxas Film Project. Copies can be obtained at lulu.com.
Hello! My name is Mark Vincent Pernia, a University of Guam student under the Division of Social Work. My social justice class is currently on the beginning phase of our praxis assignment in which we, the students of the class, are taking action directed towards positive social change. After discussing theories, politcs and ethics of social justice work, we are in the process of translating what we learned into practice as participants in the change process. For our praxis assignment, we have to engage in the praxis of action and reflection for personal and social transformation.
Prior to the start of this assignment, our professor, Dr. Vivian Dames, gave us an assignment to critically examine some aspect of our social group membership and identity development. In my essay, I identified classism as the form of oppression that impacted my life the most. Coming from a middle-class family, I rarely paid attention to how I am treated differently in society compare to people belonging in high-class, low-class, and working-class. As I identify my social identity in the category of class, my personal learning objective is to determine how my middle-class status affect the people who I work or come across with in my time as a social work student and as a social worker when I graduate.
The praxis assignment consist of three levels, the personal, societal/cultural, and institutional level. My current plan for the societal/cultural level of my praxis assignment is to determine how class will impact the incoming construction workers from different countries, particularly the Philippines. But before we can anticipate how the working class of construction workers will be treated once they arrive for the military build-up, I believe that the people of Guam must look back first at the history of migrant construction workers on the island. I believe that through the documentary, "Under the American Sun", the history of oppression against working class will be dismantled, especially at this time when the military build-up will depend largely on migrant construction workers.
I do not know much about Camp Roxas. As I read information posted on the Camp Roxas website, I see that "Under the American Sun" is still in production. Since the documentary is still in production, I would like to know if I could voluntarily help with the promotion of this film for my praxis assignment at the societal/cultural level. I would like to know if I could be of any help to get this film project on the way, even in a small manner possible, such as showing a clip of Camp Roxas or form an exhibit on the University of Guam campus.
I would like to thank you for taking the time to read my message. I truly look forward to your reply. If there is anything that I could do, please contact me.
From: Erwin Bordallo, Jr.
Date: Sun, Nov 14, 2010 at 10:10 AM
Hafa Adai, I just came upon your site and was amazed at the wonderful pictures of what used to be Camp Roxas and Rizal Beach, etc.....
Our family, through Ancestral Land Claims, Land Management and local Government of Guam, have been able to reclaim our forefather's (The Bordallo Brothers Corporation) land back in 2005. I have been curious as to the true history and, of course, what it use to look like when it was being used.
Although born here, I was primarily raised in the Mainland and returned back to Guam in 2001. I'm still confused as to who actually built it (the pavilion that exists today) and under whose juristiction was it when it was last erected. There is an existing dedicated rock but the plaque that obviously use to be there is missing/vandalized. There is still a podium in the center but in inscription exists due to vandalism.
From the posted photos on your site, it's definitely not the same building as it was back then because for one thing, the pillars/columns that support the roof structure are in the shape/design of latte stones.
I came upon another article where the Iloilo Filipino Community of Guam's past president, while attending a Teen Beauty Pageant fund raiser (2004) made mention of the many contributions they have made both to the local community in Guam as well as their own communities in Iloilo, Philippines, cited the pavilion in Agat as being the one thing he was most proud of.
I am interested in learning as much as possible on this subject and would appreciate any information/help you can render. Thank you for your time.
From: Orleen Villasoto (via Facebook)
Date: Feb 21, 2011 at 9:54 pm
Hi, my name is Orleen Villasoto and my father is a former resident of Camp Roxas. His name is Julio I. Villasoto and is originally from Iloilo City. I am taking Tagalog 102 and we were given several choices to present during the festival. I chose to do a poster presentation on Camp Roxas - how my father came to Guam, along with many other Camp Roxas residents. I asked my father for some photos but he mentioned that many of his items were some how lost along the way, through many typhoons.
Please help me. May I borrow some photos and anything that may be helpful for my project. I would like to show how our fathers first arrived on Guam and give a little bit of history of Camp Roxas. I appreciate any help you can provide. Thank you.
From: Ryan Tolentino
Date: Tue, Apr 19, 2011 at 8:54 AM
I am a Filipino-American (from Hawaii) stationed here at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam and I am a member of Sector Guam's Human Relations Council.
I came across the camproxas.com website and was wondering if the documentary "Under the American Sun" is available on DVD.
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and our Human Relations Council would like to show this extraordinary documentary about the little-known chapter of American history to our U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam members. Aloha.
From: Tiffany Rose
Date: 21 June 2011
Via FACEBOOK
My 83-year-old dad was a Camp Roxas-er in Guam. Is this the group that did the documentary? Wow! I thought it was finished.
A friend of mine on Guam, Natalie Perada, sent my dad a t-shirt from the film. A light blue on white with all the men lined up...best wishes to you all!! Thanks for remembering...
My dad says they were some of the 1st waves of OFWs to leave Pinas during the 50s. He was recruited when he worked as an engineer for MERALCO. Sad to say that, nowadays, if you want a position on Guam for the most recent military buildup projects, you have to pay over 500,000 Philippine pesos and most folks go into some serious debt to secure such positions.
Hopefully there are better protections for OFWs in this day and age. My dad used to say that by the time their salaries were deducted for room and board and other expenses there was hardly anything to send home.
From: Marlene Ebeo - Hawaii
Date: Mon, Nov 14, 2011 at 7:08 PM
Dear Bernardette,
I’m sorry to read that your dad passed away. I send you our belated sympathies. Is your mother still living? If she is, I know she will remember me. In seeing the picture of your parents, I must say that you look like your mother. You were such a little girl and may not remember us. Your dad worked with my husband, Bernie Ebeo. I remember your parents as such good, kind and humble people.
My congratulations to you and the crew in producing such a needed legacy for those who worked and struggled so hard for their families they left behind in the Philippines and finally was brought to Guam after the US Immigration policy changed. It was a great sacrifice and personal hardship for many, working for meager wages, at the time.
Did you know that the Territory of Guam was under strict control of the US Navy and visitors were not allowed to enter Guam unless COMNAVMARIANAS, issued their stamp of approval to enter Guam? Even US citizens had to go through that process because I experienced that rule.
Life on Guam was good to many of the Filipino pioneer immigrants, Bernie included. We married at the Camp Roxas coral-built church and later our son, Bernard, was born at the US Naval Hospital.
A long lost friend of Bernie’s, Fred Santos, led me to your website. Fred only learned of Bernie’s passing a week ago as he browsed through the internet. I received his fax by sheer luck and we have been reminiscing about Guam ever since via email.
Our daughter, Nicole, is in the film and TV industry and has several credits working on a few movies, PBS documentaries, television episodes and now works mostly on TV commercials projects as a free lancer in production. Her most recent move credit is “Just Go With It” starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Anniston. Shortly after Bernie passed away on January 1, 2000 she went job hunting in LA with her girlfriend because Bay Watch Hawaii closed down and she’s been there ever since but she comes home on jobs about two or three times a year working primarily on commercial projects.
My apologies for such a long email but I look forward to hearing from you. Keep up the good work.
Warm Regards,
Marlene K. Ebeo
From: Wendy M O'Mara, United Kingdom
Date: Jan. 16, 2012 at 4:56 AM
My dad, a Stevedore, was employed by Luzon Stevedoring Company and was in Guam in 1947-48? I'm not sure of the dates exactly because I was only eight years old at the time.
His name was William Augustine Todd and he returned to Australia in 1949 to collect his family, (including me), to return to Guam. I know very little about him and I'm desperate to begin research into his whereabouts and role in Guam. I know he loved it and the only video I had of him on Guam with some naval officers and others - was stolen from a flat in London which was a terrible blow.
Unfortunately we didn't return to Guam because he died suddenly of a coronary, aged only 48 yrs.
I would appreciate any ideas you may have that would allow me to uncover any detail or links that could assist me in my quest!
