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