[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 133 (Monday, October 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  HONORING MRS. CLEOTILDE CASTRO GOULD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 23, 2000

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, From a pool of very worthy candidates, 
the Guam Humanities Council elected to bestow the 2000 Humanities Award 
for Lifetime Contribution upon Mrs. Cleotilde Castro Gould, a retired 
educator and well-known local storyteller. This very distinguished 
award honors the contributions of individuals who, over the years, have 
worked towards the promotion and advancement of local culture and 
traditions. To Mrs. Gould, the conferral of this honor is both timely 
and well deserved.
  Mrs. Gould is primarily known as an educator and as a specialist on 
Chamorro language and culture. In 1974, she played a key role in the 
formation of the Guam Department of Education's Chamorro language and 
Culture program. She served as the program's director until her recent 
retirement. Her many talents include that of singing, songwriting and 
creative writing. She is a talented singer of Kantan Chamorrita 
(Chamorro Songs) and has written several songs made popular by local 
island performer, Johnny Sablan. In the 1980's, she obtained funding to 
document the Kantan Chamorrita song form. The result was a video record 
of the ancient call-and-response impromptu song form which is practiced 
today by few remaining artists.
  However, her claim to fame is that of being a storyteller. Her great 
talent in conveying ancient Chamorro legends to the younger generation 
has placed great demand on her skills throughout the island's many 
schools. Mrs. Gould has represented the island as a storyteller in a 
Pacific islands tour sponsored by the Consortium of Pacific Arts and 
Cultures and she employed the same talent in 1988 as part of the Guam 
delegation to the Pacific Festival of Arts in Australia. In addition, 
Mrs. Gould is also the writer and creator of the Juan Malimanga comic 
strip. A daily feature in the Pacific Daily News, Guam's daily 
newspaper, the strip and its characters embody the Chamorro perspective 
and our local tendency to use humor in order to get points across or to 
express criticism in a witty and non-confrontational manner. Mrs. Gould 
is one of my best friends and favorite colleagues in education. She 
represents the best in that indomitable Chamorro spirit.
  Through her song lyrics, the Comical situations she has concocted, 
and the lessons brought forth by her storytelling, Mrs. Gould has 
touched a generation of children, young adults and students. Her 
exceptional ability to communicate with people form a wide range of age 
and educational backgrounds has enabled her to pass on the values and 
standards of our elders to the younger generation. Her life has been 
dedicated towards the preservation of our island's culture and 
traditions. For this she rightfully deserves commendation.
  Also worthy of note are several distinguished island residents, who, 
in their own ways, have made contributions to our island. Dirk 
Ballendorf, a professor of History and Micronesian Studies, through his 
scholarly work and research, has provided the academic community a wide 
body of material on the history and culture of our island and our 
region. Professor Lawrence Cunningham, the author of the first Chamorro 
history book, has been largely instrumental in the inclusion of Guam 
History in the secondary school curriculum and the participation of 
island students in local and national Mock Trial debate competitions. 
Professor Marjorie Driver's translation of documents pertaining to the 
Spanish presence in the Mariana Islands has generated enthusiasm among 
the local community and brought about a desire to get reacquainted with 
their heritage and traditions. The Reverend Dr. Thomas H. Hilt, the 
founder of the Evangelical Christian Academy, has fostered the 
development of a generation of students and donated his time and 
efforts providing assistance and counsel to troubled kids. Local 
banker, Jesus Leon Guerrero, founder of the first locally chartered 
full service bank on Guam, the Bank of Guam, has made great 
contributions towards the economic, political, and social 
transformation of Guam. Newspaperman Joe Murphy has written a daily 
newspaper column for the last thirty years and has provoked our 
thoughts and encouraged us to get involved in our island's affairs and 
concerns. The director of the Guam Chapter of the American Red Cross, 
Josephine Palomo, in addition to her invaluable assistance during 
disaster related situations, has established a program which encourages 
involvement among the island's senior citizens in social and healthful 
activities. Professor Robert F. Rogers, through his scholarly work and 
provision of guidance and advise to political science majors in the 
University of Guam, has fostered the development of policy and 
leadership within our region. Finally, former Senator Cynthia Torres, 
one of the first women to be elected to the Guam Legislature, has made 
great contributions towards the advancement of women and vulnerable 
members in our island society.
  On behalf of the people of Guam, I commend and congratulate these 
wonderful people for their contributions. Their passion and dedication 
has gone a long way towards the development of a new generation who, 
like them, will dedicate their lives and their work towards the 
humanities. To each and everyone of these individuals, I offer my 
heartfelt gratitude. Si Yu'os Ma'ase'.

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