KUAM is celebrating Mes CHamoru with our new weekly series "Rooted". We bring you a look at our island roots and the origins of different customs in our culture, the history of our traditions as well as our language.

To kick things off, Matsuki Hirayama learns about the history of the Inifresi from Dr. Michael Bevacqua.

Inifresi (from Guampedia):
Ginen i mas takhelo’ gi Hinasso-ku,
i mas takhalom gi Kurason-hu,
yan i mas figo’ na Nina’siñå-hu,
Hu ufresen maisa yu’ para bai hu Prutehi
yan hu Difende i Hinengge,
i Kottura,
i Lengguahi,
i Aire,
i Hanom yan i tano’ Chamoru,
ni’Irensiå-ku Direchu ginen as Yu’os Tåta.
Este hu Afitma gi hilo’ i bipblia yan i banderå-hu,
i banderan Guåhan.

(In English)
From the highest of my thoughts,
from the deepest of my heart,
and with the utmost of my strength,
I offer myself to protect
and to defend the beliefs,
the culture,
the language,
the air,
the water and the land of the Chamorro,
which are our inherent God-given rights.
This I will affirm by the holy words and our banner,
the flag of Guåhan!