House of Chamorros Newsletter
To the Board of Directors, Members, and Volunteers of the House of Chamorros,
As 2024 comes to a close, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who supported the House of Chamorros throughout the year. Together, we celebrated our vibrant Chamorro culture through signature events like the Hafa Adai Festival and the festive Spirits Garden during December Nights. These events were made successful by the unwavering efforts of our volunteers, who ensured the cottage remained open every weekend and brought our shared heritage to life.
Looking ahead to 2025, we are excited to continue fostering cultural pride and community through the Ethnic Food Fair, the next Hafa Adai Festival, and an even more welcoming presence during December Nights.
I also want to express my gratitude to the outgoing officers who served with dedication: Treasurer Mary San Agustin, Queens Board Member Melissa Salas Ramirez, Secretary Janice Waller Bouffiou, and Executive Director Philip Gogue who are pursuing new endeavors. Thank you for your contributions to our organization.
I am pleased to welcome our new officers—Vice President Andrew Duenas, Treasurer Cailee Daniels, Secretary Timothy Lu, and new Board Members Donna Rodriguez and Janice Waller Bouffiou. Fresh minds and ideas are always a gift to our organization.
While every past director and host’s participation is deeply valued, and has left an indelible mark, a special acknowledgment goes to Jesse Salas, who hosted at the cottage an impressive 12 times this year. Your commitment inspires us all.
On behalf of the board I encourage everyone to continue being members and or volunteers. Your continued support to bring in others into our organization is vital to keeping our doors open and ensuring the legacy of Chamorro culture thrives.
Si Yu’os Ma’åse’ for being a cherished part of our community.
Warm regards,
Jeff Macaraeg
President
December Nights
It was an amazing time at the Spirit Garden during December Nights!
The House of Chamorros truly brought the island vibes to Balboa Park. Their select brought on of drinks was impressive, with options like Hot Cha Cha, Hot Chamorita, Mariana Breeze, and Virgin Ahu. However, the real showstopper was their Typhoon Shot! The Typhoon shot included Rum followed by a shot of cold ahu. Before every shot, the sound of the conch shell added a touch of cultural magic, transporting attendees to the shores of the Mariana Islands. The crowd went wild for the Typhoon Shot, and it was clear why it was the favorite! By the way, Ahu is made with young coconut. But the fun didn’t stop there! The Guma was open for all to explore, offering a glimpse into traditional Chamorro architecture and culture. To keep the energy high, Island Mist and Friends treated the crowd to lively music that kept everyone entertained. The House of Chamorros’ participation in the Spirit Garden was a fantastic way to share Chamorro culture and hospitality with the San Diego community.
If you missed it, make sure to catch them next year!
Kudos to the planning committee and a huge Håfa Adai to the House of Chamorros for an unforgettable experience!
By Lily McDonald
Nobenan Niño
The House of Chamorros hosted the annual Nobenan Niño Jesus with the St Jude group of the Sons and Daughters of Guam Club on December 15th. HOC was represented by Brienda Diaz, Michelle Cachero, and Loling Cepeda. It is a cultural novena held on Christmas for 9 days. Every village group is assign a day to help host, celebrate the joy of Jesus birth with food and other delicacies.
HOC Queens Program 2025
Earlier in December, our HOC Queen and Princesses attended December nights at Balboa Park. An annual celebration that is one of the largest holiday events in
Balboa Park. Some of the things our Queen and Princesses does is help a tour House of Pacific Relations Queens Booth. It is there where you can get hot dogs, snacks, drinks and cultural desserts. The girls all contribute their time and donations towards making this a successful fundraiser for their Queens program. Pictured in the photos is some of our girls working the HPR Queens booth. As you can see, they really enjoyed themselves and love working with the house Queens and Princesses from all the other cottages at Balboa Park.
- March 1, 2025 & March 2 , 2025 | Queens Hosting Day in Cottages
- March 16, 2025 | Chamorro Appreciation Day
- April 5, 2025 | Jamul Fundraiser (General Fund)
2025 HOC Membership Renewal:
$20.00 per Calendar Year January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025.
For more information, please contact:
Brienda Diaz
HOC Membership Chairperson
(805)312-1728
ebdiaz671@gmail.com
CHECK THIS OUT!
San Diego Beamers:
Performances by your very own House of Chamorro Members!
www.SanDiegoBeamers.com