I never belonged anywhere but Guam, and I hope those who left come back home

By Peter J. Santos

I first left island when I was 10 years old because my family, like many Chamoru families in the 1980s wanted to try what it was like living in the U.S. mainland. My mother was one of 12 children and since the 1970s they started slowly relocating to Long Beach, California. It was extreme culture shock to say the least. I have lived a few years at a time off and on Guam my whole life for school and military service. I have tried living in different parts of California, Washington, Texas, Georgia and even Europe.

No matter where I have lived, although very enjoyable, I always felt like a fish out of water. I never really felt like I belong. Heck, even when I made multiple visits to the CNMI, I still didn’t feel like it was my place. So I admire the folks who come to Guam or the CNMI and put down roots and call this place home. They even get very involved and make tremendous contributions to the community. When I was living abroad, although I got involved or volunteered my service, I always felt like I should be doing that back home in Guam, for my island community. So it’s no wonder that I ended up back here on Guam, the only place I have ever felt like I belong. Every day, just driving on Guam roads with my family in tow and listening to local talk radio or the local Chamoru radio station, I feel an extreme sense of gratitude.

I have many friends and family in the U.S. mainland and abroad that have put down roots there and have gotten involved and contribute to their respective communities and I am glad and happy about that. But the thought always creeps into my head, what if they did that here at home. At the time, then-Congressman Robert Underwood or UOG President Robert Underwood, visited places where I had been living and would organize meetings with UOG alumni and former Guam residents and he would socialize with us, get to know what we were up to and he always made the same pitch: Go HOME!!! Guam needs you!!! Reverse the brain drain. Now that we gained education and experience and expertise, GO HOME AND SERVE!!!

Now, having lived off island and on island both as a child and as an adult, I can honestly say that for me personally, Guam is the best place on earth. There are many advantages and reasons why living off island is appealing, but none of those override my love for our island home. Many people have said to me that they left because there’s no opportunity on Guam to make it or the government is too much of a good ole’ boy system. This has not been my experience or my observation. In fact, I have seen it worse in the military and in the U.S. mainland. Many say Guam is too corrupt or things are bad, but it’s been my observation and experience that it’s worse elsewhere. The merit system does exist on Guam. I know. I have never pulled any strings to get promoted or get job assignments. I can honestly say, I earned my way in this world, on Guam especially.

People say it’s too hard to do business on Guam and the CNMI, but I challenge that mentality. Many who have come to Guam and the CNMI from foreign countries arrived with just the clothes on their backs and have managed to build successful and thriving businesses. We who were born on Guam had a huge advantage over them. We were born here, we didn’t have to fight to get here. We were likely raised up with a large family and support system, something they didn’t have. What they did have was hunger, drive, initiative, and determination. That is probably what we natives are lacking.

To everyone who once called Guam and the CNMI their home, your home is calling you. Come back. If you’ve gotten education, experience, and success elsewhere, come home and bring it here. If you haven’t, still come home and look for it here. It isn’t hard to find. Your home needs you. Håfa un nanangga? Laguse’ mågi, sa’ man mahålang ham nu hamyu ya in nisisita hamyu lokkui’. (What are you waiting for? Hurry over because we miss you and we need you too!)

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Peter J. Santos is a resident of Yigo. He is an attorney in the Office of the Alternate Public Defender and is a civic advocate. He has been a prosecutor and is a combat veteran.