“For over the last 40 years, we have always celebrated the spirit of Guam and the spirit of the Chamorro culture by answering our telephones with Hafa Adai and our emails have Hafa Adai…and we make sure that we keep the spirit and culture alive. We may be a part of the United States but we are unique and if we don’t keep that identity then what makes us different than any other place,” stated President Rector during the Hafa Adai Pledge Signing Ceremony for GVB’s We Are Guam campaign earlier today. GFT was the first organization to officially protect the right for people to speak their natural language (Chamorro, Filipino, Chinese, Palauan, etc.) through the first Teacher Contract signed in 1970. During that time period, prior to the contract, teachers and students were punished for speaking languages other than English. The provision stated, “Teachers shall be expected to speak English in the classroom except where the use of other languages shall aid in the teaching process. Teachers and students shall not be restricted to the use of the English language outside the classroom.” GFT supported our island culture then and will continue to do so today through the Hafa Adai Pledge.

GFT Guam’s Local Union is proud to join the “We are Guam” movement by supporting the Håfa Adai Pledge.
As supporters of the HÃ¥fa Adai Spirit, we stand committed to energize, empower, and engage our Chamorro cultural identity in the following ways:

• Greet visitors with a warm Håfa Adai as they enter the GFT Office.
• Answer the office phones with a Håfa Adai greeting!
• Promote Håfa Adai Fridays by having all employees showcase their island inspired attire and accessories in the workplace
• Promote our language by incorporating Håfa Adai in our eUpdate Newsletter, Quarterly Direct mailers, TV show or videos and all formal letters.