Militarization would desecrate Pagat, Chamorro sacred site

WHAT is Pagat? For the people who wrote the draft environmental impact statement, it is nothing more than a place to shoot off high-powered guns. For some people, it is worthless jungle, just as lattes and lusongs are worthless rocks. But many of us recognize it for what it is in its own right – a truly sacred place that, amazingly to this day, remains untouched by modern life.

Pagat’s caves and ancient Chamorro villages are places where we can touch and honor what was part of the daily lives of our ancestors who settled in the jungles for over 3,500 years. Amazing! Today, a walk through Pagat is a cherished visit with the ancestors, to the very roots of the island’s culture. It is the purest essence of Chamorro spirituality. It is our Sistine Chapel.

As an example of the deep reverence the Chamorros have for Pagat, we pray before entering the trail, speak in hushed voices, and respect the plants and animals encountered along the way. All the while we are filled with the sense that this experience is precious and its beauty humbles us. The idea of artillery echoing through this hallowed valley and destroying the lattes and lusongs is nothing short of sacrilegious. A firing range in Pagat would be no less an outrage than when the Taliban blew up the treasured, ancient Buddhas carved into the cliffs of Afghanistan.

The people of Guahan will never allow Pagat to be taken away, damaged, or restricted from future generations. Our people have protected the site for thousands of years, and will continue to do so, no matter how many powerful, ill-informed outsiders try to destroy what we have.

Christina Illarmo
Mangilao