Maga’Låhi Ågualin - Guåhan

Maga’Låhi Ågualin also rose to defend his homeland during the slaughter of the CHamorus by the Spaniards.  He and his people fought to rid themselves of the foreigners that hindered their freedom.

Maga’Låhi Ågualin is noted to have united his people between 1676 and 1677 by infusing in them a sense of nationalism.  On one occasion, he pleaded with them to resist the Spaniards. 

“What are you doing, valiant islanders?  How can you live so unconcerned while they are in your islands such cruel enemies who have done you such great harm?  Tell me about the harm we have suffered since they came to our islands.  They have killed our children with the water of God, and those who have received this mortal poison, loath us to death, as we saw in Hagåtña when the children stoned and dragged a relative and friend of ours, who was killed by these tyrants as a criminal because he defended his homeland and his freedom.

They have taken our daughters from us in order to marry them, and we have lost the price that the Uli’tao (single men) would have paid.  They have killed many of our people and soon they will kill all of us if we do not stop the damage with prompt action.

And when they allow is to live, what death can be more painful than the lives we lead: without pleasure, without freedom, forcing us as though we were slaves to attend mass and the doctrine of the church: forcing us to abandon the pleasures of fishing, of weaving our nets, and making our boats?

Where is the courage of your stones and lances, with which you have so often vanquished your enemies?  DO not fear these foreigners.  They are few and we are many.  It is only our fear that makes them brave.  I shall lead you with my lance, which has killed many and will kill them all; then we shall be able to reestablish the freedom our fathers and grandfathers enjoyed, which we have allowed to be lost because of our cowardice.”

Ågualin led his people in many battles, knowing that their lances and sling stones were inferior to cannons and muskets.  Not-withstanding this fact, Ågualin and his people chose to die with dignity in battle, rather than to be enslaved by the Spaniards.

Maga’Låhi Ågualin fought valiantly, but was eventually caught in Luta in 1680.  Don Jose Quiroga ordered that he be hung immediately.

Ågualin died in August of that year.

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Ginen I Lepblu: I Manmañaina-ta, Geran Chamoru yan Españot: 1668-1695.

Tinige’ as: Eddie L.G. Benavente,

Pinentan as: Siñot Raphael J.N. Unpingco

Inilao as: Siñot Ronald T. Laguaña yan si Señora Janice S.N. Furukawa

Ayudånte para Kulot: Siñot John Taisipic

Ayudånte: Siñot Joey G. Leon Guerrero

Ayudånte: Señora Aleine V. Balasta