Expert: Chamorros originated from Southeast Asia
National Geographic Scientific Data Manager Dr. Miguel G. Vilar, PhD, explains to the crowd results of his research on the origin of the Chamorro people in last Saturday’s presentation organized by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council at the Fiesta Hall of the Grandvrio Resort. (Jon Perez)
Molecular anthropologist Dr. Miguel Vilar’s recent studies on the origin of the ancient Chamorro people revealed that they originated from parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines.
Vilar, National Geographic Society’s project manager for the Genographic project, was on Saipan for a one-night lecture on “Researching the Origins and Genetic Distinctiveness of the Chamorros: A Bi-Parental Analyses.”
The former University of Pennsylvania post-doctoral research fellow based his analyses after getting DNA samples from 122 Chamorros from Guam, Rota, and Saipan in 2013. His study showed that the Chamorro people’s origins could be traced to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Results reveal that 92 percent of Chamorros belong to haplogroup E, which is found in both Southeast Asian countries but is rare in Oceania. A haplogroup is a genetic population of a group of people who share a common ancestor on the paternal or maternal lineages.
Vilar, who is tracing the connection of the Chamorro people to modern day Indonesia and the Philippines, told Saipan Tribune that this could be part of the Austronesian migration and expansion that occurred thousands of years ago.
“It was really fascinating to learn that these people were expert seafarers. They managed to find the [Marianas] islands just by looking at the stars, studying wind conditions and direction of the waves,” said Vilar. “It was a great feat and they truly are amazing people who discovered the small islands here in Micronesia.”
“We have to dig deeper on this and break down the components to understand more. We need to do more research and work on this,” said Vilar after his almost two-hour lecture that was presented by the Northern Marianas Humanities Council and attended by close to 100 people.
Filipino DNA further surfaced with the Philippines and the Marianas—Guam and the CNMI—being under Spanish colonial rule for hundreds of years. The Mariana Islands is the usual stop of Spanish Galleons going back to Spain by way of Mexico.
He said that in Guam alone five of the participants in 2013 showed they had Philippine lineage.
“This is mainly because of colonization. Filipino men integrated with Chamorro women.”
Vilar said that bones and other sources of DNA should be preserved especially in tropical islands where heat is one factor that destroys remains of people.
“As technology in identifying and tracing DNA further advances we need to preserve remains of ancient people. We don’t want to lose these evidences because of outside forces.”
Wait, the writer did not state that the Chamorros may have been here 3,500 and possibly 5,000 years. And that the Caroline Atolls existed only about 2,000 Years based on geological information. This is very crucial because settlement in that part of the region only occurred at least between 1,500 to 2,000 years ago. By that time the Chamorros have traversed the ocean via the Sakman “flying” Proa for over 3,500 years.
Also, personally, there is a possibility that the Chamorros may have been from Bismarck as the flow of navigation supports this theory. Looking forward to find if the Bismarck people have prominent E haplogroup in their DNA.
Food for thought!
Peace!
Buenas Magahaga,
Maybe my ancestors were from Africa, because I couldn’t qualify for a homestead and agriculture plot according to the former defunct MPLA Board of Director from Tinian. My wife and children were residing on Tinian when I was deployed to Asia in support of the first Gulf War.
Do you think we care if we are Chamorro, knowing that others would go out of the way to deprive us of our privileges under your so call CNMI Constitution? In time, such document would be amended and it wouldn’t matter what are the make up of our bloodline to own land in the CNMI. Such scenario would be possible thanks to the ever changing dynamics of the ethnicity of our voters.
We would love to join you to protect our ancestors’ graveyards, but knowing that we had been discriminated by our own people was a hard thing to swallow. Especially of all people, the cousin of our late father.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
No Jun, it’s not only the Constitution, it’s the Covenant in political union with the United States of America. I am not sure why you or your family did not qualify to own land in the Marianas. But if it is not anything within the scope of the two documents referenced herein. Then, I cannot help you there; nor did I agreed to the terms and conditions of the documents. Personally, if I was voting at the time, I would NEVER cast my vote on such documents. Too many ambiguity as what is being manifested with our issues both locally and nationally.
But again, there are many ways to skin the cat! and that is probably what they are doing to you and your family…running around the mill! I have lived and traveled there for many years; and I can share some of your sentiments.
You may want to ask exactly why not on PAPER? And if you are brave enough, share it on this blog or feel free to email me: magahaga@gmail.com.
I AM CHAMORRO AND I AM VERY PROUD AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ONE!
Peace!
Buenas Magahaga,
On a different note, I would like to thank you for having the confident on me and for nominating me for such post. But from the beginning, I had been warned to slow down and the final straw was my flight to the mainland prior to the event.
Take care and hopefully we would meet one day in the near future.
Si Yu’us Ma’ase
Good luck and God’s Speed!
Peace!
Its really gotta hurt the newly breed “pinoys bloodline” since the Original people of the country termed the Philippines are the “Negritos/ Aeta people” (read)http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/history1.htm—– Wow! these people look nothing like the people here that call themselves Filipino, how interesting, don’t you think? The people of this article are so Black looking, eh mate.
Excuse you! The Chamorros have originated somewhere as what Dr. Vilar suggest, including the Filipinos, BUT why would I be trampling over people just because they are Filipinos? Be it that we, Chamorros and Filipinos, are from Southeast Asia does not give rise to make such statement “after all these years of trampling the Pinoy under foot like he’s some slave…” IS INSULTING!
I have in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews who are of Filipino descent BUT never have I trampled or enslaved them. In fact, my spouse’s families can still be traced back to Pangasinan…what are you suffering from glaucoma – tunnel vision?! Ano caba bulag or bingi?!
However, I AM CHAMORRO and I will not just turn the other cheek when someone, and especially some foreigner, disrespects me or anyone for that matter, in your own home.
Similarly, I would not dare travel (and I have numerous times) to the Philippines, or anywhere for that matter; and to disrespect or to insult the people in their own place. This is simply the rule of humanity! Deba?!
I am sure that if Best Sunshine desecrated hundreds of your Ancestors’ graves, you would be like wildfire burning up their casino?! just as you are referencing me here. So, tigilan mo na ang katarantaduhan!
Peace!
I’m no fan of Best Sunshine, but I place no significance on anyone’s graves, my ancestors’ or your ancestors’.
To understand where you headed, you gotta’ understand where you came from; just sayin’.
Ya, I know, don’t try to describe the ocean if you’ve never seen it… but dead men tell no tales. So, I maintain that a pile of bones is just a pile of bones.
Chamoru and Filipino are definitions from the colonial era, not ethnic definitions other than superficially. The issue is not where we came from defined as part of a group. In the new global village, the important question is what we are to do with the one, unique, unrepeatable existence that each of us have without hanging on to externals to “save us” or be a part of a status clique that someone rubs a bit of status on what many perceive as their miserly existence. By the way, Chamorri were the elite of the Marianas (of Maria Anna of Vienna) while Filipinos were Señor Felipe de la Españas domain, and we still go by the same definitions. Your choice. Not mine.
Unfortunately, you cannot change history. Historical names are just that. Relax.
Well the only way they are going to tell you those things are if you dig them up. So I guess you’re a fan of the Grave Digger…
Regardless of ancestry “People Are People” and it is in their being and sense of humility that bring us together especially in bad times. Join hands and march on!
I would have thought Taga kin to be more of a fan of Bigfoot
This is the reason for our ardent advocacy to establish a department for Chamorro studies. It is not only long overdue BUT it is the ONLY RIGHT THING TO DO! I appreciate your comment. If you like, check out National Geographic Society’s Manager for the Genome project, Dr. Miguel Vilar’s recent presentation at the Humanities. I’m sure you’ll be fascinated.
Peace!
Instead of having the government do it, how about asking the indigenous if they’d like to start it themselves?
You know, have a petition, do a local kickstarter, or something else along those lines? I just think that the government already has too much power. Let’s show them that We the People can do things without them.
The same can be applied to those who want to learn the original Chamorro words, culture, etc.
You absolutely right about the government having too much power. And yes, there are ways in which we can create or establish INDIGENOUS – culture, language and traditions. But I still believe that the schools MUST ensure that our Heritage is understood by all people; and especially i Tautau Tanu.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Peace!