I try to get the new one every year! Guam artist Judy Flores produces a holiday ornament with a different design every year, and this year’s ornament features Sirena At The Bridge in her signature batik style. Her painting is reproduced by artists who handpaint the inside of the glass ball in the traditional Chinese art of reverse painting. 

One of the most successful commercial brands in this foodie space, Denanche’ Drizzle roasts small batches of local donne’ on island and offers them in different flavors like Calamansi and Piña Habañero. Their Spicy Gift Set conveniently packages their signature flavors (Original, Garlic Pepper, and Spicy Honey), perfect for holiday gift-giving. 

I also tap this Oregon-based Etsy seller for dinanche food gifts; owner Jorge Carreon has a green thumb when it comes to his donne’ plants, which he grows from Guam seeds. Right now he has donne’ sali sea salt available, and the ingredient list reads like a Trader Joe’s spice blend: bonito flakes, calamansi lime, cane vinegar, creamed coconut, donne pepper, fermented hot pepper, palm sugar, roasted hot pepper, roasted garlic, roasted sweet pepper, sea salt, shiitake mushrooms and shallots.  

I was delighted to get this set as an early Christmas gift: Powdered Fina’dene, Pika Strawberry Gummies, and most exciting of all, Guam Boonie Pepper Seeds! I’ve already put them in soil and can’t wait to to grow this donne’, said to be found in the wild. Talk about a gift that keeps on giving!  

When you want to give your foodie friend something that lasts beyond the first bite, get them a Build-Your-Own Mini Fiesta Plate Magnet, complete with red rice and your choice of meat (tinala katne or barbecued short ribs, chicken or spare ribs) and two sides (tamales gisu, potato salad, kelaguen, lumpia, empanada, shrimp patties or cucumber diago kimchi salad) - the fina’denne’, dinanche and titiyas are complimentary! His signature custom figures come at a higher price point — contact him on his website or social media for more info.   

I have Gerard’s older version, a glass beer mug, and it’s been used so many times over the years. This version is larger and conveniently includes a cover so that you can make and store it in the same container. You can tweak his recipe to your taste — I add vinegar for a splash of acid to my fina’denne’.  For non-foodie gifts, check out his website for a wide variety of products ranging from holiday ornaments, books, home decor, and much more

Nothing screams chelu like a Fökai jersey. For me, it will always be the OG of apparel brands for Guam — the quality of their products is matched only by the quiet pride of those who wear it. Love their accessories too — they currently have lanyards and “dude bags” on their website. If you like it, get it because the inventory rotates quickly. 

This winter, keep your par warm as they barbecue in the snow with this zip-up hoodie lined in microfleece. The jacket is part of the wearable art collection by Manny Crisostomo, who put Guam on the journalism map with a Pulitzer Prize for photography. Other apparel and accessories feature stylized versions of some of his most iconic photos.    

If you know someone in the Bay Area, or know someone visiting the Bay Area, or hope you get to go to the Bay Area soon, they will be forever grateful if you get a gift card to this San Francisco CHamoru staple. Heck, if you get me a gift card, I’ll take a trip to The City just to use it!

See above, ditto for this Baltimore English-style tavern with the neon Hafa Adai sign for that Marianas vibe on the East Coast. Chef Kiko Fejarang’s Crispy Shrimp & Corn Patties were recently named as one of the country’s Best Restaurant Dishes by the New York Times - be sure to note that on your gift note!