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.
more messages received by the Camp Roxas Film Project.
From: Ed Arriola, Jr.
Date: Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 1:45 PM
Subject: RE: documentary
To: Bernie Schumann
Hi Bernadette:
Thanks for getting back to me. I'm originally from Barrigada, Guam. My dad is attorney Eddie Arriola, and my mom, Shirley Ann Arriola, used to be a professor of psychology at the University of Guam.
In 1995, I did not want to go to college yet, so my parents asked me what I wanted to do. I had always been interested in airplanes and I mentioned that I wanted to be a pilot. My dad, who was an avid cockfighter, just returned from Iloilo for a derby. He mentioned that he had a friend in Iloilo who would show me around. I was 18, and jumped at the chance. I stayed in Iloilo for about a year to take flight lessons at Mandurriao Airport in Iloilo City. After a year, I decided to go to Manila to further enhance my skills.
My parents took me to Manila and introduced me to a man by the name of Nene Reala. I remember Nene from the early ‘90s when I would go to Manila with my family. Nene was in his late 60s to early 70s then and very thin. He would follow us everywhere and read his newspapers doing crossword puzzles.
I lived about half a mile from the Manila domestic airport and would ride my mountain bike all over the city. The first few months of life in Manila made me realize the deep connection between Guam, Iloilo, and an old café at the airport called Marinaw Restaurant.
After lessons and whenever I had free time, I would hang out in the restaurant and sit in the back with some characters. Nene would be there, as well as another man named Moring Duremdes and three other guys whose names I cannot recall.
They would tell me stories of Camp Roxas and the work they did. They were very proud to have been the rebuilders of Guam. It pleased them to think how they were the ones who put the pieces back in place through their hard work. This was all new to me at the time and I couldn't figure out what location they were talking about. A friend from Guam visited me in Manila and pointed out that Camp Roxas was the place right across the street from the Mobil gas station at the Santa Rita intersection.
I also learned that Marinaw Restaurant was a meeting point for all Ilonggos who were on their way to and from Iloilo. Before Philippine Airlines opened their new terminal, the old domestic airport was the only place available to travelers who wanted to fly to the provinces.
I noticed a pattern in my two years in Manila. During summer and Christmas breaks, I would start to see people that I knew in Guam. These were friends of my dad who were on their way to Iloilo for the holidays. Nene and those other old men would jump into action when fellow Ilonggos would arrive from Guam.
The men would usually get a call on the restaurant phone from former Camp Roxas folks or families. The Guam calls usually meant that they were arriving on a certain day. Sure enough, I would walk into the restaurant and see Nene or the others sitting with other old men in the corner. They would sit and talk and I would jump in and grab a drink and a seat.
Usually, they would give Nene a list of things they needed in Manila and almost always give him some U.S. dollars for his efforts. Sometimes, he would be a guide for the younger-generation Ilonggos who were in Manila or headed to Iloilo. The flight would be announced and Nene and the others would escort their friends into the airport. Then, they would head back to the restaurant for more coffee.
The men told me about Nene's story and why he didn't have children or was married. Camp Roxas had a ratio of what? 200 men to 1 woman? Nene was in love with a woman from Iloilo who was working in Guam at the same time. But, she left him for another man. He declined to stay in Guam and left early, while his friends stayed and received U.S. citizenship.
Nene would always talk about how he would drive a U.S. Jeep on Guam and go fishing up north in Yigo. He'd also talk about his youth in Iloilo, remembering how the Japanese would cut off people's heads or sleeping in the Iloilo cemetery because it was so quiet.
We remained very close from 1996 to 2005. He moved to Iloilo in 2000 after he fell ill. Last I saw him in 2005, he was blind, still very thin and frail. But, he had a sense of humor and would talk about how he wished he could go back in time to those youthful days on the beach in Agat. I don't know if he's still alive since I haven't gone back to Iloilo in three years. But, I remember where he lives.
I also remember Rudy, a security guard at American Bakery, across the Micronesia Mall. He was one of the close friends of Nene who would visit the café in Manila. He passed away in 2003. My godfather, Radhi Gahit, who lives in Agat, was also one of the frequent Manila visitors and Camp Roxas people.
I don't remember much about Camp Roxas. However, a source close to the Parsons family has shared some memories of Camp Roxas and Chick Parsons' involvement in the recruitment from Iloilo.
Most of the early workers came from Iloilo. Guam was in ruins and needed to be rebuilt. The Philippines offered skilled and cheap labor. Unemployment in that area shortly after the war was huge. LUSTEVECO (Luzon Stevedoring Co.) and VISTRANCO (Visayan Transportation Company) had the management and skill to muster and send hundreds of men to Guam.
The problem was that certain influential labor and political groups were not included in this recruitment process. Some of the unhappy events at that time included the involvement of organized labor unions in the Philippines and Congressman Pascual Espinosa of Iloilo against Chick Parsons. Unfortunately, Edward "Pete" Grimm, Chick Parson's partner in LUSTEVECO, was not much help and/or was out of the country.
An investigation was launched by the labor unions. Chick Parsons was called in front of the Philippine Congress to testify on a number of occasions. Legend has it that Chick Parsons suffered one of his heart attacks during this difficult time. All this stress may have been the reason, among others, for the Parsons family to go on a prolonged tour of Europe.
Supposedly, the accusations centered on "imperialists underpaying our great and noble work force." A congressional record of the testimony delivered by Chick Parsons exists somewhere. It would be interesting to uncover this archival information, which was then called the Guam Labor case.
The Parsons family believes that Chick Parsons was kind, fair and loyal to his workers, as opposed to the body politic of the newly born Republic of the Philippines, which was more interested in personal gain.
A Jesuit priest named Father Hogan from Brooklyn, New York, worked to organize labor unions in Manila's North and South Harbors. According to sources close to the Parsons family, he was a huge bother to Parsons and LUSTEVECO, because he may have been among those who wanted to disrupt the LUSTEVECO-Guam connection.
In opposition, another Jesuit priest, Father Edward Haggerty, wrote a supportive tribute to Chick Parsons during this labor controversy, saying that Chick Parsons was a just and fair man in all his business dealings.
From: Jeff Mendiola
Date: Feb. 20, 2009
Hi Mrs. Schumann,
I am happy to see this project is in the works. I just saw the ad for the Camp Roxas Film Project fundraiser tonight and I will do my best to stop by after work today.
I have been wanting to let your team know that I have spoken to my grandma about her experience with the camp and she had some great stories. My grandpa (Ernesto V. Candoleta - deceased) came to Guam as a contract worker and lived at Camp Roxas where he and my grandma eventually met. I did an interview with him about his experience before he passed but unfortunately after so many moves I am unable to locate the tapes or the actual paper which I wrote for a class at the University of Guam.
I remember my grandma speaking to my wife and I about the softball games down at the camp and how her and some other ladies from the village (Santa Rita) used to go down and 'flirt' :-D with the guys. She was almost in tears as she recalled this part of her life.
I will speak to her to see if she has any photos or films . . .also if you would like to have your team interview her in person I think that she would be willing to do so.
Great work on the project. . . saw the clip when it was showcased at Isla and I can't wait to see the full length version.
Name: Ernesto V. Candoleta
SSN: 586-01-1610
Last Residence: 96932 Agana, Guam, United States of America
Born: 8 Nov 1926
Died: 3 Nov 1999
State (Year) SSN issued:Guam, American Samoa, Philippine, or Northern Mariana Islands (1956-1961)
Source Citation: Number: 586-01-1610;Issue State: Guam, American Samoa, Philippine, or Northern Mariana Islands;Issue Date: 1956-1961.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
From: Tom Adame
Date: Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 9:32 PM
To: Camp Roxas Film Project website
I've been keeping track on the progress of your project and I love how it's been going so far.
When you first had your first display at the University of Guam, I was very excited to see a part of my legacy (through my father) the journey that he took to where me and my brothers are today. Sadly, my father passed away 13 years ago, but his pares are still with us, although living in Iloilo.
I have pictures - - - and they're labeled Camp Roxas - - - of when my father and his buddies used to dress up and take pictures to be sent to my mother when she was still in Philippines.
I can still remember my father bringing me and my brothers to Pop's Bakery in Agat. ( I believe his son, Roland Pono, is still on island).
Anyways, how do I get a hold of you and show you these pictures to share in your project?
* * *
From: Tom Adame
Date:Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 11:33 PM
To: Camp Roxas Film Project website
Hey Bernie,
I'll gather them up and have a chat with my oldest brother, who now lives in San Diego. He knows more about my father's history.
When I was younger, I thought that the pictures were taken in Roxas City (where my father and mother wed) because most of them were labeled Camp Roxas. It never occurred to me that it was taken in Guam's own Camp Roxas because I never even knew that the place existed.
I also have his identification cards that the Camp Roxas men were required to carry. Would you believe that an old footlocker that my father managed to save from Camp Roxas is still at my house? Although faded, it says that all who enter the camp must have their ID at all times.
I'll have a busy weekend putting this one together.
From: Serrano, Linda
Date: Tue, Mar 3, 2009
I wanted to share with you that I have a friend who is a film producer living in Seattle and he produced a documentary regarding migration of Filipinos to the United States as early as the 1500's. My dad came to Guam not through Camp Roxas but through Andersen Air Force Base...he was hired from Clark Field in the Philippines; but my mother had an uncle who was the cook at Camp Roxas so I am familiar with it. If you want to see the video, I don't mind sharing it with you.
It was great meeting you at the Rotary Club of Tumon Bay Charter Night! As mentioned, I think Frank Ishizaki can be a great asset to knowledge about the times when Camp Roxas existed ... Although he may not look it, he used to herd his goats down the Santa Rita hill to sell one to the Camp Roxas villagers.
While I am not a descendant from Camp Roxas, I can share some memories with you. We lived in Santa Rita behind the church overlooking Apra Harbor. We were all poor so my dad raised all kinds of livestock, including chickens, pigs and goats. We also grew vegetables for home consumption.
The goats were a hot item, especially for the Camp Roxas crowd who came up almost every Friday to buy a goat for their weekend feast. We had a great goat sales business and the customers loved the goat meat. The goat sales continued for years until I went off to the University of Guam and got too busy to help dad. Eventually the goats disappeared into the hills behind Santa Rita and into Naval Magazine. Those were the good old days for me.
My friends and I also visited Camp Roxas because they had a PX and we were able to buy stuff. Our favorite purchase had to be the old Converse tennis shoes since we were too far from Agana and they were affordably priced for us poor kids. From the village, we bicycled down to the camp. And, if you know the area, it was quite a trip for us.
My Aunt Victoria (Dad's sister) married Ambrosio Calip, aka Uncle Bochu. They raised several kids with whom I continue a familial relationship. Auntie Torah and Uncle Bochu have long passed on but have raised several generations of Calips.
Charlene Calip is one of many Calips of Ilocano decent. Her dad Ken is one of my closest cousins who is married to the Lt Governor's mother-in-law. Welcome to Guam and the many relationships we share.
Frank
From: Mauro Somodio
Date: Wed, Mar 18, 2009 at 6:01 AM
Congratulations! How I wish this documentary film could be shown in Iloilo. This has to be seen by all Ilonggos. And the only hall in Iloilo City which could accomodate the thousands of Ilonggos who will be watching the show will be the Rose Memorial Hall of Central Philippine University.
I visited Guam last 1999, when we were invited by the Filipino Ladies of Guam. I have seen so much similarities in our Iloilo province. I hope someday I will pass by Guam again.
All I can say is wow!...it's about time this story is told and I congratulate everyone involved....I'm having goosebumps just going through the website. I found out about this project from Ms. Schumann's comment in GOIloilo.com.
My name is Edzel Jereza and I am a Camp Roxas descendant through my father, Nestor Jereza, who started his Camp Roxas days in 1956. My mother, brother and I joined him in Guam in 1983 when he was working for JESSPEN. We were long-time residents of Santa Rita/Agat.
My father retired last year and now lives in Manduriao and Guimaras with my mother. I left Guam, retired from the Navy in 2004 and am now living in Olongapo. My brother lives in England with his wife. Thank you once again for this worthwhile endeavour and more power to all involved! Hoping to hear from anyone : )
Edzel Jereza
From: Jan Borja-Cecil (Camp Roxas descendant)
Date: Mon, Mar 30, 2009 at 3:52 AM
Hi Bernie,
Just watched the FILM, I must say, it was well done and it touched an emotional part in me...I loved the PALAKPAK part too!!! Anyways, again would love to see more of anything you have produced, I am so honored and proud to know you. Take care and may you continue to be blessed!
Jan
From: Joe Rabanal
To: Bernie Provido Schumann
Date:Thursday, April 9, 2009 at 9:34 AM
Hi Bernadette,
The video has been an inspiration to watch I believe, we have a daughter of one of those early settlers in Guam after WWII. I will ask during our next meeting. It's great to chronicle and have a documentary video about them. And, yes, we will place a link regarding the Camp Roxas article in our website.
I saw your interview with Dan Ho on KGTF on Camp Roxas. Very commendable project that hits home to me, too. My Dad (who passed in July 2007) was part of another camp, Marbo Camp. I rushed to have my mother watch the show. She had a lot to say about being married to a Filipino who also came to "build" Guam after the war. According to my mother, Marbo Camp was tasked by the U.S. Air Force in Andersen AFB to perform the construction here in the northern part of Guam.
I hope this sparks interest regarding the other camps, so they, too, can tell their stories. It is a beautiful thing! According to my mother (San NIcolas from Tumon), there were a few other camps in Tamuning, Harmon Cliffline (Two Lovers Point).
My mother's oldest sister (deceased) husband came here originally thru Camp Roxas. His name is Alberto Opena. He is not doing very well these days, but it would sure be nice to have heard his stories.
Edwin SN Cadag
Dededo, Guam
Name: Ignacio H. Cadag
SSN: 586-01-5271
Last Residence: 96932 Agana, Guam, United States of America
Born: 28 Nov 1926
Died: 28 Jun 2007
State (Year) SSN issued: Guam, American Samoa, Philippine, or Northern Mariana Islands (1956-1961)
Source Citation: Number: 586-01-5271; Issue State: Guam, American Samoa, Philippine, or Northern Mariana Islands;Issue Date: 1956-1961.
Source Information: Ancestry.com. Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2009. Original data: Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Social Security Administration.
From: KFA
To: Alex Munoz
Date: Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 2:41 AM
Alex, Alex, Alex... Man, oh man. That documentary was amazing. Thank you so much for showing that to me. It really touched something inside of me. Hhaaha. I'm just in tears right now. I've never been so proud to be Filipino. I've always known that Filipinos are usually hard workers... but to hear stories such as theirs was absolutely amazing.
When Donald Marshall mentioned that "they never complained" about the hard work and the pay it really hit me from then on. It hit me then because my parents are the same way, as is my sister, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. They never complain about hard work. They merely get to work and work hard and that's it.
From my mom who works two jobs to my grandma who I lost a little while back who worked night and day until she died doing what she loved doing (dress making) to my dad who migrated to Canada on his own to give my sister, mom, and I a good life to... to, well, everyone in my family who's had to work hard for every little thing we have now.
I always thought that my work ethic came from just my family. But seeing this film showed me that my work ethic came from my people. You've shown me that my people are born and bred to be hard working people.
I don't know, man... I'm just so speechless right now. I guess the film had me really appreciating who I am even more and appreciating the people I claim more. Thank you, bro.
From: Bennet Saloma Corbilla
Date: Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 9:55 AM - Facebook
Re: Camp Roxas
"I wish I had some family memories of Camp Roxas with me, but we lost most of our pictures during Typhoon Pamela. However, I will send some photos of my dad when he was younger in Guam.
I appreciate all you do. I would have never known the history of Camp Roxas. All I knew is that it existed. Bravo!"
