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.

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“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

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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

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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.