PNG 38th Independence Anniversary Celebrations, Rome Italy - September update

Dear Wantoks and friends,

September is upon us and we have 7 days to go before the big day on 14 September 2013. I am sure you are prepared to celebrate and for those of you joining us from other European cities and abroad, I am certain that your bags are packed and you are ready to travel. Our coming celebrations in Rome is already famous. Keen readers of one of PNG's newspaper, the Post Courier, will have seen the announcement of our Rome Party in the coming week. If you have not seen it, the extract can be seen below.

This email is to give you some updates:

• Our programme will start on 13 September for Wantoks from other European cities and abroad. On that day from 17.00 to 21.00 hours, there will be a BBQ hosted by Fr. Paul Stefan at the same celebrations venue.

Preparation Programme:

Friday 13 September - The Rome hosts and volunteers will start to prepare the venue. Any wantoks who will already be in Rome can volunteer to help.

• Soon after the BBQ on Friday13 September, the Mumu Team Leader (Paula Wiemers) and her team will start making preparations for the Mumu;

Additional info for the Saturday Programme:

 Attire: The theme is PNG wear (contemporary or traditional) but you can wear anything that is comfortable and close to what you consider is PNG wear (e.g. Pacific). Those who will compete in the PNG meriblouse competition should be wearing their meriblouse.  Be sure to carry your bilums (PNG handmade string bags);

 Etiquette: Best celebratory behaviour is expected but this obvious matter is mentioned only because we are using the premises free of charge and so we are expected to respect the premises and property and avoid unecessary disturbances and damage. All music and celebratory noises etc. will be restricted to the specific venue space allocated to the celebrations.

 Contributions: Rome invited friends and guests (other than the Wantoks who are hosting and Wantoks from Europe and abroad) may be asked to make a token contribution at the entrance towards the cost of the celebration.  Any surpluses will be donated towards a charity chosen by the members of Wantoks in Europe.

 Talents and performances: Those wantoks who are going to perform and present talents should inform Blaise (B.Kuemlangan@gmail.com), Zita (Saddiezee@gmail.com) and Paula (paulawiemers@web.de) as early as possible.

 Thank you for your attention and for passing on the information in this email to concerned Wantoks and Friends.

 Lukim yu klostu (see you soon).

 Blaise (on behalf of the Organising Team)

.......

 

The Drum

Thursday 05th September 2013

ROME PARTY
The Drum yesterday on UPNG Sepik students’ cultural day caught the eye of Papua New Guineans in Europe. Wantoks in Continental Europe (WICE) are also gearing up to celebrate independence in the eternal city of Rome, Italy instead of the usual venues of Germany or Austria. They are expecting up to 50 Papua New Guineans and friends of PNG from Austria, Germany, the UK and Sweden to join the party.

thedrum@spp.com.pg

AUGUST UPDATE

Dear Wantoks,

September is around the corner. I guess we will be seeing you soon when you come to Rome to join the celebration of the 38th Annivasry of PNG's Independence.

We have sent out an email invitation on Thursday 18th July to those of you who are on my email list.  Please pass on the invitation to other Wantoks that you think missed out on the invitation.  The content of the email is posted below for you to use.

Other miscellanous developments in addition to the above are as follows:

• The PNG Embassy in Brussels have expressed their support for the initiative and have made a contribution towards offsetting the expenses of the celebration.  Thank you Charge d'Affairs a.i Kapi Maro and your colleagues. Unfortunately, the PNG Embassy staff in Brussels will not join the celebrations in Rome. We wish you happy celebrations in September, wherever you choose to have it!
• We are getting support also in terms of sponsorship of prizes for raffle tickets which you will be invited to obtain in exchange for a token donation. We will provide a sample of the prizes closer to the date of celebrations.
• The wine and other apperatives for the reception and lunch have been purchased. We just need to chill them on the day and offer a toast (or more).
• The interest from Wantoks in Port Moresby in joining us in Rome has been really good. It seems we will be getting a good crowd.
• Our Wantok women have indicated a charity/welfare initiative to support should we manage to receive additional donations. We will announce the charity/welfare group closer to the date of the celebration.

The best news of all is that Rome is ready and awaits your arrival. See you soon.

........................................................

 

Text of email sent on 18 July 2013



 If you are a Papua New Guinean, had lived in or visited Papua New Guinea (PNG), connected to me as a family member, a friend, a friend of a friend, a friend of a family member, a friend of a fellow PNGean, an acquaintance or just connected somehow – then you are my WANTOK (literally ONE TALK).

So my dear WANTOKs,

On 14 September 2013 in Rome, Italy, we the Wantoks in Europe, especially those living in Austria, Germany and Italy, will informally celebrate the PNG National Day (the 38^th Anniversary of PNG Independence which officially falls on 16 September). So if you are not doing anything important on that day and wherever you are, mark this day on your calendar and come join us for some PNG/Italy/Pacific food, PNG/Pacific traditional and modern music, dance (all styles + PNG/Pacific traditional dancing), expó of talents and celebration to commemorate the day.

We are sure that it will be a fun filled family day!

You will find the venue and time set out below. The programme and map of the venue are attached.

PLEASE INFORM Blaise or Zita IF YOU ARE COMING (by email or phone +3493116380/+3463091789) so that we ensure there is enough drinks for all.

See you there!

Your Wantoks,

Blaise (B.Kuemlangan@gmail.com) and Zita Kuemlangan (saddiezee@gmail.com) and Paula Weimers (paulawiemers@web.de) on behalf of the Organizing Team

(Please pass this on to any Wantok we did not include on the circulation list)

DATE: 14 September 2014

VENUE: Via dei Verbiti 1, 00154 Rome, Italy (SVD -Divine Word Missionaries House) –see map attached

TIME: 11.30 – 17.00 hours

For more information, see: http://wantoksineurope.blogspot.com/2012/10/png-independence-celebration-2013.html

Tentative Programme - PNG Independence Annivesary, Rome, Italy

 Hello Wantoks and friends of Papua New Guinea.  We have finally put together a tentative event programme for the 38th PNG Independence Annivesary to be held in Rome, Italy on Saturday 14 September 2013.  Happy reading.  We hope you will join us in Rome.

_____________

“A Taste of Papua New Guinea in Rome”

Celebrating PNG’s 38^th Independence Anniversary with Wantoks, Pacific neighbors, and friends of Papua New Guinea in Rome and Europe

Saturday, 14 September 2013

SVD College Conference Hall, Via dei Verbiti 1, Rome,  Italy

_________________________________________________

TENTATIVE OFFICIAL PROGRAMME

11.00 -11.45               Registration and “Bungim na Savé long Wantok”   Reception Cocktail

                                    -“Mingle and Meet” and displays of all things PNG

- Final registration for participation in best Meri-blouse, bilum and best and PNG and Pacific attire, challenges and talents competition etc.                          

 - issuance of raffle tickets to guests

                                           
11.45 -13.00                Official Welcome, Prayer, PNG National Anthem and Pledge

Address by prominent PNG personalities TBA – (to be advised) -                   

- (a call for hope, pride and national unity)

Rendition of  popular PNG patriotic songs (led by local and young talented  wantoks and friends)

                                   - PNG challenges (select activities etc. competition)

13.00 -14.00                Pranzo Mumu (Mumu Lunch) - “PNG and the Pacific meets Italy”                  

                                     - (a lunch buffet featuring the PNG mumu (earth oven meal) and the Pacific food and local (Italian) delicacies)

 

14.00 -16.45                Tumbuna danis/singsing - Cultural presentations, string band and talent show                               

                                        (featuring PNG traditional songs, dances and demonstration of other known and hidden talents)                                                                               

                                       Presentation of awards to winners of competitions and raffle draw            

                                       Finalé  of Joint Celebration in various PNG dances and songs

 16.45 – 17.00              “Arriverdeci Roma” – Tok gudbai na lukim olgeta gen long narapla taim

END OF OFFICAL PROGRAMME

____________

Reminder:                  Wantoks can book accommodation at Camping Village Fabulous Rome- http://www.ecvacanze.it/en/camping/camping-village/camping-village-fabulous/ where a number of confirmed participants are staying. However, there is no obligation to reserve accommodation there. There are so many choices for accommodation in Rome that are located near to the event venue that can suit any budget.

SVD College, Via dei Verbiti 1, Rome, Italy

 
I hope 2013 has started well for all friends and Wantoks. Two months have passed since the beginning of the new year while three months have passed since the last post. This post, you might say, is therefore over due. The lapsed period has, however, been put to good use. The 2013 Independence coordinators in Rome are pleased to report that a venue for the event has been secured. The Rector of the SVD College in Rome has kindly granted the group’s request to use the Conference Hall of the College for the event. Thank you Fr. Belamide. We could not have found a better venue.  The SVD College Conference Hall is located in the College Building in its beautiful grounds at Via dei Verbiti 1.

Google Map showing Via dei Verbiti 1, Rome, Italy

The address is in the heart of Rome and is within minutes from the main attractions. It is well connected in terms of public transport, especially considering that the Ostiense Train Station and the Piramide and Porta di San Paolo metro stations are literally next door. One can reach the SVD College directly from Rome Fiumicino Airport in 45 minutes by train to the Ostiense Station. Trains from Europe and Italy also pass through this Station. The Lido metro train departs from Porta di San Paulo Metro Station to Ostia suburb which is in the south of Rome by the beach. The Piramide Metro Stop is in the same location. From here the commuter can connect to Laurentina Station to the south east of Rome and north to Rebbibia through the main Train and metro station at Termini in the heart of Rome. Trams and busses to many principal attractions in Rome also begin and end their journey here.

 The SVD College premises is an oasis in the Eternal City - with its wide and green spaces walled in by high walls. The grounds are so peaceful and quite that you could forget that you are in the center of Rome and that the noisy Rome traffic is happening just outside the wall.

 The Rome Wantoks are looking forward to welcome and host all Wantoks and friends who will participate in the 2013 PNG Independence Anniversary Celebrations at the SVD College - a true haven in Rome. Be reminded that the 2013 PNG Independence Celebration will take place on Saturday 14 September 2013 at Via dei Verbit 1, Rome, Italy.

Look for the next post which will feature the event’s tentative programme.

Miscellaneous news items on Manus and PNG

Wantoks and friends,
Just in case you missed them, here is a mix of some current news and articles on Manus and PNG  that are available on the internet.

Manus Temporary Regional Processing Center

Birds eyeview of Lobrum Naval Base which hosts the Center (Photo: The Australian)

 Instead of being in the news for the fiesty performance of the famous Manus dancers or being the smallest and most northerly province of PNG, Manus is receiving a lot of attention these days for hosting one of the Temporary Regional Processing Centers (TRPC) for asylum seekers attempting to enter Australia by boat. The first batch of asylum seekers were transported to Manus last week.  There are several sources for news on the first transfer last week of asylum seekers to the reopened Manus TRPC. In addition to news items in PNG's dailies the Post Courier and the National, you can also read about the transfer in Autralian news sites such as the ABC http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-21/first-asylum-seekers-arrive-on-manus-island/4383876 .  Photos of the first transfer to  the Manus TRPC last week can be viewed at http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/temporary-regional-processing-centre-in-manus-island-3 .

The Last Laughing Death

Dr. Alpers at his Freemantle home (Photo and story: The Global Mail)

This is a story of the last death of the dreaded desease the kuru which was first detected and studied in PNG among the Fore people and the work of pioneer scientists like Dr. Michael Alpers (pictured above) and his group. This interesting  and informative story can be read at: http://www.theglobalmail.org/feature/the-last-laughing-death/470/

The Return to Manus of the Climate Challenger

The Climate Challenger blog

There was so much hope that the Manus canoe, the Climate Challenger and its crew will successfully complete its journey through the islands of PNG, Solomon Islands and the Micronesians States of the Pacific spreading the message of human resilience and adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change, in particular sea-level rise.  Sadly, the dreams of the Captain Manuai Matawai and his crew have been put on hold.  They did not want to risk navigating the vast ocean space between Solomon Islands and Nauru during the cyclone season.  Resources to sustain the voyage was also badly needed but was not forthcoming.  The Climate Challenger is now on its way back to Manus.  Hopefully the voyage will be taken up next year. The voyage of the Climate Challenger can be followed at: http://climatechallengervoyage.net/

Fasfowod Stringband

Fasfowod Stringband (Photo: Fasfowod - http://www.fasfowod.de/)

Now for something really exciting.  In my search to find stringband music of the Pacific in Europe, I stumbled upon Fasfowod Stringband of Germany.  This is a group of musicians who simply love the earthy but uplifting stringband music of Vanuatu and have taken up playing this kind of music.  Interestingly, I found out that Fasfowod has done a cover of one of PNG's own Oshen's songs "Meri Lewa".   I would not mind seing Fasfowod in action. If our German wantoks are reading this, you might want to pass on the message to Fasfowod that it is welcome to come join us liven up the PNG Independence bung in Rome in 2013.  There will definitely be a lot of PNG tokpisin (pidgin) spoken and sung during the event. I suspect the Fasfowod members speak Bislama (Vanuatu Pidgin) and will have no trouble mixing it with PNG pidgin. After all, they have done Meri Lewa, a popular song in PNG tokpisin.

Peace. Your 1tok in Rome

ATOLL RICE - a short story about the hopes and pain of rice growing on an island

[Hi Wantoks. This is a short story which might appear elsewhere in print soon. You are reading it first here. Enjoy it while we await developments on the 2013 PNG Independence bung]

 

 

THE RICE GROWERS OF BIPI ISLAND

“Atoll rice? You must be kidding me?” That was my first reaction when I was told that rice was being grown on Bipi Island, Manus Province, Papua New Guinea (PNG).  I had to check out this incredulous tale and there is no better substitute to being there in person to do it.



It was August 2011 and I had just joined my family on Bipi Island, for a 2 week break from hectic work in Rome where I was first informed about rice growing on the island.  So eager was I to get to the bottom of this fantasy that I was led at once to a small test plot located in the Bipi Primary School grounds, just a stone's throw away from our island village house.  In one part of the plot that had been seeded earlier, I saw young shoots of almost yellowish green grass, the kind of colour that could be considered to be that of an unhealthy plant, an indication that the grass shoot was struggling, that it would die soon.  The other part of the plot appeared to be just a vacant portion of the 5 meter by 5 meter square of toiled soil.  “Why aren't the shoots growing there?”, I asked pointing to the bit of the plot that was void of plant life.  “That bit was seeded later, the seed have yet to germinate'  was the response, “...or otherwise...”' 'Otherwise what?' I interjected? “Otherwise, the free roaming and hungry village chickens have got to the rice seeds first”, responded my informant.

Transplanted young rice plants

 'That's the end of the rice, story ' I mused, even after I was offered the extra information that there were other test plots seeded elsewhere on Bipi, that the rice was doing well and that I could be shown the healthy growing rice plots if I wanted to.  My doubtful self demanded hard evidence rather than just being shown growing rice plants. I thought that rice growing and producing on Bipi was destined for absolute failure because I founded such a believe on the following facts: 

• Bipi was a coral island measuring just over 3 km in length from West to East and just over 1 km in width;

• Bipi had atoll-like soil which appears to me to be 95% sand and only an average of 10 centimeters of black topsoil being decayed organic material;
• Even if it poured buckets of monsoonal rain on Bipi, the puddles that were formed on the ground would seep through the sandy soil and dry up in no time;
• Real soil in the region was found only on the main island of Manus.  Indeed, on the west coast of Manus, it was reported that farmers from the mainland village of Kali had grown rice and they had enjoyed their first harvest. But, that is Kali and of course the main island of Manus. Bipi was something completely different.

So rice growing on Bipi was not to be, I thought.  Fast forward to August 2012 and my family and I were on Bipi again for a longer vacation.  The question put to us this time was, 'Have you tasted Bipi grown rice?' 'For real?' was the incredulous reaction from us.  Smugly narrated stories of modest but successful rice harvests begin to unravel for our listening pleasure. We were even told that the rice was 'sweet' compared to store-bought Asian or Australia packaged and imported rice.  'Sweet' in this case meant that the cooked Bipi rice was delicious - that it could be eaten without the normal accompaniment of fish that is bountiful in Bipi seas.  Thus began our conversion, from non believers to believers of the fact that rice can be grown and that the same rice can be harvested, cooked and eaten on this remote island of Bipi.

Sick rice plants - early stage

Wow - rice, a food item that was long considered a foreigner's, even a rich men's food - something that you could buy only in stores -  was to become a locally grown food item. A commodity that was steadily rising in cost and threatening to move out of reach of the meager buying power of an ordinary villager was finally being grown on Bipi among cassava and kaukau (sweet potato). It did not have to be purchased.  The Asian staple would become just as accessible as picking ripe bananas or plucking breadfruit off the trees that grew in abundance on the island.

Sadly however, the rice story of Bipi is not all rosy.  Just before the end of our vacation on Bipi, an investigation team comprising civil servants from the Manus Provincial Government, disaster relief officials and other technicians representing NARI (the PNG National Agriculture Research Institute) and other government entities, visited Bipi.  We had been told about the rice plants on Bipi that had withered, turned brown and died. For some Bipi rice farmers, it was their whole plot that was devastated, plagued by a mysterious disease. The government investigation team was on Bipi to investigate the cause of this disease.

 

PNG Government Investigating Team members

 We were informed immediately after the team’s visit that the rice plants were suspected of being attacked by larvae of two tiny moths found on Bipi. One of these liked the pith of the rice stalk and the other the roots.  Bipi rice could not withstand such a double, sleek and covert attack.  This preliminary finding of the investigation is yet to be confirmed. For now, rice planting beyond the first successful harvest (or second harvest for those who managed) will have to be suspended until NARI gets to the bottom of the disease affecting Bipi rice.

Sick rice plot Uprooted sick rice

At the end of our vacation, during a gathering where sharing a meal with family members is an institution on Bipi, we got to see the preparation of and sampled our first Bipi rice, harvested from the first planting cycle by Henry, a favourite relative.  True to its earlier acclaimed features, Henry's Bipi rice was indeed 'sweet'.

Unhappy Bipi rice farmer

For the people of far flung islands like Bipi, there is much to be gained if atoll rice can survive the harshness of tropical island conditions to become a sustainable part of the food supply of islanders such that their food security could be given a boost.   While local tropical island fruits and vegetables and saksak (sago) will continue to comprise the main diet of the Bipi people, we hope, for nutritional variety and choice reasons, that such a tasty food item, one that may soon become the staple of many Papua New Guineans, would survive on Bipi. Our hopes are that NARI could confirm their findings of the disease affecting Bipi rice soon and that the disease can be treated or eradicated so that rice can be grown with confidence that a bountiful harvest will be the profit of an investment of labour and love of the rice growers of Bipi.

 

Another unhappy farmer

 

Update: 2013 PNG Independence Anniversary - Rome, Italy

We all know that September 2013 is far into the future but it is always better to be early with the preprerations for the 2013 PNG Independence Annivasary Celebrations in Rome.  That is what the co-organizers have advised, thus this blog and and the subject matter of the majority of the posts on this blog for some time to come.  So wantoks out there, if you are interested, here is some information that is restated in this post for your convenience:

Event:            2013 Papua New Guinea Independence Celebration
Date:              13-15 September 2013 (main event/programme scheduled for 14 September 2013)
Venue:           Rome, Italy
Participants:   All PNG nationals, wantoks and friends in Continental Europe

 

Recommended (not obligatory) accommodation for participants:

 

Camping Village Fabulous

( http://www.ecvacanze.it/en/camping/camping-village/camping-village-fabulous/ )

(Address:  Via di Malafede 205, 00125 Casal Palocco, Rome, Italy)

If you wish to contact the organizers or ask for help, please post on this blog your question or comment or use the following means of communication:
Email:                 2013pngwantokbung@gmail.com
Mobile phone:    +39 3493116380

Latest information on organizational issues

In addition to the new email contact provided above for wantoks' convenience, I am pleased to report, thanks to another core member of the Rome organizing team, that we have made some progress in discussing possible premises in Rome to be used for the main event which will occur on 14 September 2013. We will reveal this information as soon as it is confirmed but it should be somewhere convinient nearer the center of Rome and adjacent to several means of public transport (train, tram, metro, bus).

The main event will at least include inspirational address by a PNG personality, cultural items including song and dances and feasting on the traditional PNG dish the mumu.  Ideas for enriching the main event are welcome but whether or not the ideas will feature as part of the main event will largely depend on: minimal or no cost involved, ease of organization, participatory in nature and fun for all.

More information on organization will be shared periodically.

Interesting news and events

Those of you who are keen followers of major events in PNG will know about the visit of Prince Charles and Princess Camilla to PNG.  It seems from the news media sources that PNG has really turned on the charm for these two members of the Royal Family who are visiting PNG, Australia and New Zealand to mark the Queen's diamond jubilee.  Charles and Camilla have really been made to feel welcome and it seems they are enjoying themselves.  Our hats off to our fellow PNGneans, leaders and organizers of the visit and volunteers for making a good impression for our important visitors.  Some photos from Post Courier are reproduced below for your viewing pleasure.  (Credits to the owners of the photo.  No gain in kind or otherwise is made from re-posting these photos. No breach of intellectual property rights or in commiting any violation is intended).

 
Peace.

Your 1tok in Rome.