Frederick B. Quinene, Guam’s Poet Laureate, has published a collection of poems entitled An Islander’s Voice with the University of Guam Press. A book launch and author signing to celebrate the publication of An Islander’s Voice will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2018, on the second floor of the University of Guam’s R.F.T. Micronesian Area Research Center (MARC).

Mr. Quinene will read some of his poetry and autograph copies of An Islander’s Voice, which will be available for sale at $15. Refreshments will be provided by the Quinene family.

An Islander’s Voice provides readers with a window into Mr. Quinene’s deep love of Guam and a unique period in the island’s history. The book includes writing on love and family; politics and insights on the Bordallo administration; CHamoru legends; and poems to mark funerals and family occasions. It also includes a beautiful collection of black-and-white photography by Ron J. Castro, depicting island scenes to accent the poems.

Recognizing Mr. Quinene’s ability to make a difference with his poetry, former Governor Ricardo J. Bordallo officially declared him the Poet Laureate of his administration on August 4, 1986, stating, “Fred Quinene has been blessed with the gift of a poetic pen, and possesses the ability to write beautiful, lyrical sonnets … and this gift should not go unnoticed and is most certainly a source of pride for all of Guam.”

Mr. Quinene writes about the island and the CHamoru culture with love in both CHamoru and English. It is from this place of love that he also critiques important political and historical issues, and has always been vocal about Guam’s colonization and relationship with the United States. This collection of poems is Mr. Quinene’s gift to the people of Guam.