A Message fro m the Speaker 

Liheslaturan Guahan
Hagatna 

Hafa Adai:

To all internet "surfers" visiting "http://www.offisland.com". I would like to extend a warm "Hafa Adai!" from the beautiful island of Guam, and congratulate Off Island News Company (http://www.offisland.com) on the launch of this internet resource.

I invite all who have not had the pleasure of visiting Guam, to do so. It is an island paradise blessed with clean air, warm weather and genuinely friendly people.  Also, I know there are probably quite a few American-born Chamorros who "need" to visit their parents' and grandparents' humble beginnings.  There is something very special about touching the ground of your ancestors, about knowing there is a place where you are not regarded as a "minority".
And, as the new millennium approaches, this might be an appropriate time to revisit those pangs of discovering "from whence you came." 
Also, as a note, I would encourage you to consider participating in the Chamorro language lessons online here, which are being administered by the Chamorro Language Commission. It's a very good way of getting "in touch" with our culture.

Regardless of what reasons you conjure up to justify your next visit to Guam, you will find a population of people still cordial enough to greet you with a smile and "Bueñas." a diversity of nationalities and cultures thriving and living together, and a dynamic island lifestyle positioned at the epicenter of the Pacific Rim.  Guam is touted as the fron-and-center row for the upcoming Pacific Century -- predicted as the most tremendous economic growth area in the history of mankind.

In closing, as you cruise the communciation super highway, I would like to invite you take a turn to the off ramp, "http://www.offisland.com".
My website link, www.guam.net/gov/senate/spkr12 can be found there.
To our "off-island" friends and family, "http://www.offisland.com", offers a way of staying informed of other news among those Chamorros who are off-island. So join the "off-island" crew when you have time to cruise to their site.

For now, on behalf of the people from Guam and my colleagues at the 24th Guam Legislature, may God bless your holiday, and may your New Year be full of joy and success.

Adios,

Antonio 'Tony' R. Unpingco

155 Hesler Street
Hagåtña, Guam 96910
Tel: (671) 472-3455 / 3456 / 3457
Fax:(671) 472-3400