Chief Gadao

{The Three Feats Of Strength}

Gadao's Paintings in Cave


Long ago, there was a man, with great strength and fearless, who was called Gadao. He was the Chief of Inarajan.
{Antes na tiempo, guaha un taotao, sen metgot yan taima'anao na mafa'nana'an gui', Gadao. Guiya i maga'lahen Inalahan}.

One day, Gadao and his friends all went fishing in Umatac. They caught plenty of fish and as they were heading back toward shore, they saw a huge shark heading directly towards them.
{Un diha, maniha yan i mangga'chong-na mameska gi ya Humatak. Sen meggai kinine'-niha ya annai esta para guatu siha halom gi tano' ma li'e' un sen dangkolo na Halu'u na humananao guatu gi ya siha}.

Gadao, being strong and fearless, picked up his spear and threw it with such thrust that the spear went through the shark, killing it instantly.
{Si Gadao ni' minataknga, ha hatsa i fisga-na ya ha daggao ni' diruru ya madotgan ha' ya sen matai ha' i halu'u engsigidas}.

Having heard about his great feat, the Chiefs throughout the entire island decided that Gadao be the High Chief of Guam. Although not all the chiefs agreed to this.
{Ma hungok este na estoria ni' pumalu na manmaga'lahi gi entereru i isla ya mandanna' para u ma disidi kao para guiya etmas takhilo' na ma'gas gi ya Guahan. Ti todu mangonfotme nu i hafa bida-na}.

The Chiefs all gathered and decided that in order for him to be High Chief, he would have to accomplish three other major feats.
{Mandanna' todu i manmaga'lahen i sengsong ya kumu para guiya i etmas takhilo' na ma'gas, pues ha nisista ha kumple tres na ginagao-niha}.

The first would be to swim the entire island fifty times without stopping. The second would be to crack a coconut into pieces with his bare hands. Lastly, to level the tallest mountain on Guam.
{I fine'nana na u para nangu i entereru i isla, singkuenta biahi sin pumara. I mina'dos na para u ipe' un niyok ni' kannai-na gi meggai pidasu. Yan para u pannas papa' i etmas takhilo' na sabana Guahan}.

Immediately, Gadao accepted the challenge and managed to complete the three tasks in seven days and nights, thus becoming the High Chief of Guam. He was the first to swim around the island of Guam fifty times without resting, the first to smash a coconut into many pieces in one thrust with his bare hands, and the first to level the tallest mountain on Guam.
{Engsigidas, ha aksepta si Gadao todu i tinago'-niha, ya ha komple gi siette dihas. Konfotme na guiya ha' fine'nana nunanguyi i entereru i isla singkuenta biahi sin hafafa ha' na prublema. Guiya ha'ta'lo umipe i niyok ni' kannai-na ya ha pannas papa' i etmas takhilo' na sabana gi isla}.

It is believed that one of the rocks that Gadao removed from Mount Lamlam, the tallest mountain on Guam can be seen off the coast of Piti today.
{Deste pa'go, ma sasangan na sina ha' un li'e' i un troson acho' ginen i sabanan Lamlam, na a'annok ha' guatu gi kanton tasi gi iya Piti}.

Legend contributed by Fino' Chamorro Column prepared by the Department of Education's Chamorro Studies and Special Projects Division. Picture above was from Guam Visitors Bureau Guam USA booklet.


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