Out of PNG

Philippine Embassy staff greatly helped in mobilizing Filipinos in PNG for the purpose of the centennial year activities.

In celebration of the centenary of Philippine independence, two monuments were unveiled in Port Moresby spearheaded by the embassy with the full support of the Filipino community. These were: 1) “a bust monument of the national hero at the PNG Botanical Gardens which

and picnic grounds of Filipinos; and 2) “

under the belfry of a Catholic church facing the direction of the Philippines to honor the pioneer Filipino lay missionaries who arrived in PNG during the late 1890s and stayed on. Their numerous descendants of mixed blood were in full attendance and visibly moved by the installation rites.

Filipino volunteers and their PNG friends successfully handled the "bayanihan way" all other activities undertaken during the year, be it in the areas of culture, sports, education and environment. Well marked was the assistance by the community after a devastating earthquake via the PNG Red Cross.

Spectacular Papua New Guinea

“An island of gold, floating in a sea of oil” beset with g ov e r n a n c e challenges, security problems, economic uncertainties, landowner issues vis- à- vis resource development and environmental concerns is the PNG I worked in with much optimism and expectation. I looked and listened, researched and conferred, assessed situations and implications and communicated per mandate.

I recall only an instance when, backed up by legal guarantees, the release of a Filipino from jail was sought. Sending home a body was meticulously and wholeheartedly handled by the vice consul who was extremely good at it. I do not know why.

In brief, homework was done and it was a great feeling when

conveyed word that the mission in PNG is “alive and well.” Indeed, it was a privilege to be assigned to a culturally rich and economically modernizing country like Papua New Guinea with traditions intact before the moment of change.

My PNG stint gave me the opportunity at continuing my environmental law pursuits. I never declined invitations to popularize the newly emerged field of law at university symposiums, NGO gatherings and even the diplomatic corps.

I gamely joined their singsings and marveled at their indigenous body paints with varying colorful headdresses featuring bird plumes and cowry shells. The women’s grass skirts were grass skirts. Not plastics. Those were occasions to witness proud fathers with beautiful daughters participating in the festivities as it translates to higher bride price in accord with their marriage tradition.

I looked forward to their celebratory banquets with under-

center of the table interspersed with PNG dishes and Filipino

and fried

It turned out some Filipinos were in the catering business and the PNG people took a liking to our cuisine. from mature sago trees and patiently processed, is special and very much unlike our sago and gulaman concoction.

Despite a history of colonization, Papua New Guinea’s unique architecture is evident in its Parliament, National Museum and international airport buildings. Very impressive is the newly constructed International Convention Center by the sea in Port Moresby which incorporates in its modern architectural design features of the distinct PNG indigenous art. It will be inaugurated in November 2018, in time for the Asia- Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) to be New Guinea, with the attendance of heads of state and govern-

forms are manifest too in their totem poles, tribal masks, kundu drums, tapas, clay potteries, kina necklaces and toea arm shells, and multi- purpose string bags (bilum). Even symbols on canoes and carvings in their yam houses are constant reminders of the oneness-of-all in nature.

Best of all, PNG has a breathtaking landscape and glorious scenery. The mountains, punctuated by waterfalls, are spectacular. Its forests are habitats of exotic wild plants and animals. The sapphire seas dotted by emerald isles teem with numerous marine species. Coral reefs and even tourist- drawing World War 2 aircraft and ship wrecks turned fish shelters or lairs abound too. Papua New Guinea is identified by UNEP as one with the “mostest” in biodiversity along with Indonesia and the Philippines in Asia Pacific.

The PNG Tourism Authority’s longtime slogan ‘ Land of the Unexpected’ has now been replaced with ‘ Paradise Live.” Truly, PNG is one such place.

And then, it was time to move on to another post — Qatar. “From the bushes to the desert,” a colleague remarked.