The Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency has presented the Guam Masters Award to Saina Antonia Babauta Santos, recognizing her as a Praktikan Tradisionat Techa, or Master Prayer Leader.

The award ceremony was held on June 25 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Rita, with Gov. Lourdes Leon Guerrero, Lt. Gov. Joshua Tenorio, CAHA Board Chair Monica Guzman and CAHA Director Angie Taitague in attendance. The award honors Santos’ lifelong devotion to preserving and nurturing CHamoru spiritual traditions.

Born in 1939, Santos was immersed in religious practice from a young age. Her mother taught her CHamoru prayers, which she deepened through daily rosaries and the traditional nobena devotionals. These early experiences laid the foundation for her future as a Techa, or prayer leader, a role she stepped into at age 15 in 1954.

Her leadership in Nobenan Santa Guadalupe, Nobenan Santa Rita and the Stations of the Cross has kept CHamoru spiritual practices alive and widely observed. Even as elders stepped back from leading, Santos remained a guiding force in ensuring these traditions endured.

Santos has also mentored younger prayer leaders, teaching them not only the rituals but also reinforcing the use of CHamoru language in prayers and hymns. Her work has helped retain the spiritual and cultural depth of CHamoru identity.

In 2012, she published "Chamorro Prayers and Hymns," a collection of traditional prayers and songs from Sumay. The book serves as a record of CHamoru religious practices and as a cultural bridge between generations.

Santos has also contributed to educational initiatives, including a collaboration with Guampedia’s project to document and celebrate nobenas, further supporting the continuity of these traditions.

“Saina Santos is a shining example of the strength and beauty of our CHamoru heritage,” said Gov. Leon Guerrero. “Her lifelong dedication to our spiritual traditions inspires us all to cherish and preserve our culture.”

Lt. Gov. Tenorio added, “The legacy Saina has built through her devotion and leadership is invaluable. It is through the efforts of masters like her that our cultural identity remains vibrant and alive.”

CAHA Director Angie Taitague said the award affirms the importance of Santos’ work.

“Honoring Saina Santos with the Guam Masters Award celebrates not only her personal achievements but also the enduring spirit of our community’s traditions,” Taitague said. “Her work ensures that our cultural heritage is passed on with respect and pride.”

The Guam Masters Award was established through Public Law 30-139 to honor master practitioners of Guam’s traditional and folk heritage arts. It recognizes lifetime dedication to cultural preservation and supports intergenerational transmission of local traditions.

CAHA is the lead agency for the promotion and preservation of Guam’s cultural heritage through the arts, humanities and traditional practices. It continues to support the community through education and advocacy, serving as a steward of the island’s artistic and cultural legacy.

This information was provided in a release from the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency.

(Daily Post Staff)

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