At a lecture in the Fiesta Resort’s Azucena Hall on Saipan, Jesuit scholar Fr. Fran Hezel made a bold claim: the “Hispanization” of the Marianas was really “Philippinization.”
Spanish culture, he said, reached the islands mostly through the Philippines. Filipino soldiers served here, married into local families and became alcaldes. Spain once even tried to move the whole population to the Philippines.
“I don’t believe denying their role serves Chamorro society well. It ignores historical realities,” he told Variety years ago.
He tied the lesson to today’s immigration debates. “We must learn to embrace diversity and treat others as our own,” he said. “If we fail to do so, what purpose does our faith serve?”
The hall agreed.
In a thought-provoking public lecture at the Azucena Hall of the Fiesta Resort & Spa Saipan, Father Fran Hezel, a Jesuit priest renowned for his scholarship on the Marianas and Micronesia, stirred the audience with a bold assertion: the Hispanization of the Marianas should rather be termed "Philippinization."
Father Hezel argued that Spanish cultural influence in the Marianas primarily arrived through the Philippines. He highlighted the significant presence of Filipino military personnel in the Marianas during the Spanish colonial era, many of whom integrated into local communities through marriage and assumed leadership roles as "alcaldes."
During his address, Father Hezel emphasized the pivotal role played by Filipinos in the islands' history, noting waves of migration and even an attempted mass relocation of the Marianas population to the Philippines, thwarted by opposition from Jesuits and the looming threat of English and Dutch piracy.
"When we discuss the impact of Spanish colonization on the Marianas, we must acknowledge the intermediary role of the Philippines and the bloodshed associated with the Spanish presence," Father Hezel remarked.
However, he lamented the reluctance of some to recognize the contributions of Filipinos to Chamorro society, urging a more inclusive approach to understanding the region's history and identity.
"I don't believe denying their role serves Chamorro society well. It ignores historical realities," Father Hezel asserted in an interview with Variety years ago.
Highlighting parallels with immigration debates in the United States, Father Hezel underscored the importance of learning from history to foster inclusivity and compassion.
"America's history offers valuable lessons. We must learn to embrace diversity and treat others as our own," he said.
Drawing on religious teachings, Father Hezel urged listeners to extend kindness and hospitality to newcomers, citing biblical passages to welcome strangers.
"If we fail to do so, what purpose does our faith serve?" Father Hezel questioned.
His impassioned plea for recognition of the diverse influences shaping the Marianas drew widespread support from attendees, signaling a growing acceptance of a more inclusive narrative of Chamorro history and culture.
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