Umatac, Guam
Encyclopedia
Umatac is a village
on the south-western coast of the island of Guam
. The month of March in Chamorro
is "Umatalaf," or "to catch guatafi," which is believed to be the root word of Umatac. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census.
Prior to Spanish
arrival on the island, an annual celebration was held north of the village at Fouha Rock where the first humans were created according to the legends of the Chamorros
, the native people of Guam.
In 1521, the portuguese
Explorer Ferdinand Magellan
arrived on Guam while circumnavigating
the globe. Umatac Bay is traditionally cited as the location of the Spanish landing. Another explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi
, arrived in Umatac in 1565 and claimed the island of Guam for Spain. During both visits, misunderstandings led to the Spanish burning village homes and killing islanders.
When Guam was colonized in the 17th century, the Spanish made Umatac a parish so the Chamorros in the area could be converted to Christianity
. Remains of two Spanish forts built on hills on either side of the village are still visible today.
In 1898, Guam was taken by the U.S. during the Spanish-American War
. Under the U.S. administration, the small village has grown gradually. Today, the Discovery Day festival is held every year in the village. While the holiday was first established in memory of Magellan's discovery of the island, it is now a celebration of Chamorro culture.
serves the island. The F. Q. Sanchez Elementary School in Umatac will close at the end of summer 2011 due to budget cuts. Students will shift to a nearby Merizo elemtary school.
Southern High School
in Santa Rita
serves the village.
Villages of Guam
||The United States territory of Guam is divided into 19 municipalities more commonly called villages. Each municipality is governed by an elected mayor. Village populations range in size from under 1,000 to over 40,000. As of the 2000 census, the total population of Guam was 154,805. - History...
on the south-western coast of the island of Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
. The month of March in Chamorro
Chamorro
Chamorro may refer to:* Chamorro language, an Austronesian language spoken on Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands* Chamorro Party, a 19th century Portuguese political party...
is "Umatalaf," or "to catch guatafi," which is believed to be the root word of Umatac. The village's population has decreased since the island's 2000 census.
History
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
arrival on the island, an annual celebration was held north of the village at Fouha Rock where the first humans were created according to the legends of the Chamorros
Chamorros
The Chamorro people, or Chamoru people, are the indigenous peoples of the Mariana Islands, which include the American territory of Guam and the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Micronesia. Today, significant Chamoru populations also exist in several U.S. states...
, the native people of Guam.
In 1521, the portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Explorer Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan
Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer. He was born in Sabrosa, in northern Portugal, and served King Charles I of Spain in search of a westward route to the "Spice Islands" ....
arrived on Guam while circumnavigating
Circumnavigation
Circumnavigation – literally, "navigation of a circumference" – refers to travelling all the way around an island, a continent, or the entire planet Earth.- Global circumnavigation :...
the globe. Umatac Bay is traditionally cited as the location of the Spanish landing. Another explorer, Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi
Miguel López de Legazpi , also known as El Adelantado and El Viejo , was a Spanish conquistador who established one of the first European settlements in the East Indies and the Pacific Islands in 1565. He is the first Governor-General in the Philippines...
, arrived in Umatac in 1565 and claimed the island of Guam for Spain. During both visits, misunderstandings led to the Spanish burning village homes and killing islanders.
When Guam was colonized in the 17th century, the Spanish made Umatac a parish so the Chamorros in the area could be converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Remains of two Spanish forts built on hills on either side of the village are still visible today.
In 1898, Guam was taken by the U.S. during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
. Under the U.S. administration, the small village has grown gradually. Today, the Discovery Day festival is held every year in the village. While the holiday was first established in memory of Magellan's discovery of the island, it is now a celebration of Chamorro culture.
Education
Guam Public School SystemGuam Public School System
Guam Public School System , formerly the Guam Department of Education, is a school district that serves the entire island of Guam, a United States insular area...
serves the island. The F. Q. Sanchez Elementary School in Umatac will close at the end of summer 2011 due to budget cuts. Students will shift to a nearby Merizo elemtary school.
Southern High School
Southern High School (Guam)
Southern High School is a public secondary school located at #1 Jose Perez Leon Guerrero Drive in Santa Rita, Guam, United States.The school, a part of the Guam Public School System, opened in 1997 and serves grades 9 through 12....
in Santa Rita
Santa Rita, Guam
Santa Rita is a village located on the southwest coast of the United States territory of Guam with hills overlooking Apra Harbor. According to the 2000 census it has a population of 7,500, down from 11,857 in 1990....
serves the village.
See also
- Villages of GuamVillages of Guam||The United States territory of Guam is divided into 19 municipalities more commonly called villages. Each municipality is governed by an elected mayor. Village populations range in size from under 1,000 to over 40,000. As of the 2000 census, the total population of Guam was 154,805. - History...
External links
- "Umatac (Humåtak)" - article on Guampedia.com
- "Umatac - Guam's Cradle of Creation" by Anthony P. Sanchez, Pacific Daily NewsPacific Daily NewsThe Pacific Daily News, formerly Guam Daily News, is a morning-edition newspaper based in Hagåtña, Guam. It is owned by Gannett Corporation and is published seven days a week...
, 26 April 2007 - Village Map, Pacific Daily News