Leaders, descendants reflect on nearly 75 years of the Organic Act

As the 75th Anniversary of the Organic Act of Guam approaches, the people’s house became a place to look back on the road we’ve traveled, and to set our sights on the road still before us.

“Just about 75 years ago, the Organic Act laid the foundation for a government on Guam by and for our people. Gave our families U.S. citizenship, established the Guam legislature, and began a critical shift to let Guam start governing itself,” said Acting Governor Josh Tenorio.

Tuesday’s event kicked off a series of celebrations under the theme “Lumåla’ i Estoria-ta,”  history comes alive.

That history felt alive inside the legislature’s chamber, filled with what Tenorio called “the descendants of the constructors and formulators of our civilian government.”

Speaker Frank Blas Jr. paying tribute to the icons who paved the way, saying, “We’re sitting in a historic site where many icons and many individuals who have taken us to where we are today have stood before their colleagues to be able to speak about the liberties, freedoms, and powers that we want our people to have. The likes of Carlos Taitano, Baltazar Bordallo, Antonio Won Pat, F.B. Leon Guerrero, Eduardo Calvo, and many others.”

Victor Lujan, grandson of the late Carlos Taitano, reflected on his grandfather’s early fight for civil government and the larger quest for self-determination.

 “He hoped many things for Guam, and particularly, to live long enough to see the day when Guam was no longer a colony. He passed away at the age of 92 with that wish unfulfilled. Even so, my grandfather and leaders of his generation demonstrated that even if the odds are against you and the powers against you seem impossible to overcome, you can change things for the better. If my grandfather and his peers could, then maybe, and I firmly believe we can, just maybe we can achieve this goal in my lifetime. To me, that is Carlos Taitano’s true legacy,” said Lujan. 

Attorney Mike Phillips, grandson of Baltazar Bordallo, who helped shape the island’s political development, also reflecting, “It definitely was something to celebrate–it was a transition and we kind of left out that part, we’ve kind of revolved around the organic act and it’s not–it’s such an opportunity. The path is still there, and we just have to fight.”

Meantime, the acting governor added that while this milestone is a time to celebrate who we are as chamorus and guamanians and our rights.

“The rights and privileges as citizens, especially given the circumstances in the continental US and abroad, but to recognize that there still remains unfinished business at the table of Guam,” said Tenorio. 

For the full lineup of events slated for Aug. 1 see below.