In search of the perfect wave in Papua New Guinea

As a surf destination, Papua New Guinea is relatively new to surf enthusiasts.

 Pioneers have found one thing that is certain - that the breaks here are just as challenging as any others they face elsewhere.

PNG has unlimited surfing potential year round.

On the southern side 10 minutes out of Port Moresby is Sero Cove, where the main barrier reef stretches along the southern seaboard all the way to the Milne Bay Province.

From June to September during the south-east season, the waves range from three to six feet, with the best waves in the early morning.

100km to the east of Port Moresby is Hula Beach.

 Other surfing spots are being explored around the Milne Bay area, Bouganville Island and the Gazelle Peninsula in the East New Britain which has quality waves ranging from three to six feet along the coral atolls, including point and beach breaks.

The northern side of PNG has premier surfing locations with waves on the mainland and offshore islands generated by the monsoon swells from mid October through to late April.

Consistent quality waves ranging from three to eight feet, and occasionally to 10 feet waves can be found at Madang and Wewak.

The most consistent waves are in Vanimo, which vary from beach breaks to point and island reef breaks.

Surf camps are set up at Wewak, Aitape and Vanimo and accomodation and transport is readily available.

Around Kavieng in New Ireland Province are numerous reef setups which provide several good and varying surf breaks.

Just off Kavieng town is Nusa Island Retreat, an environmentally low-impact facility that provides accomodation, meals and boat transport to the surrounding islands and their breaks.

The waves in this region and around Nusa Island Retreat are well-established and known in international surfing circles.

Nusa Island Retreat limits the number of surfers staying at any one time and is often fully booked during the surf season.

More information can be found on the Surfing Association of Papua New Guinea website http://www.surfingpapuanewguinea.org.pg/

                                               

Bulolo farmers get a boost

The happy graduands with Bulolo MP Sam Basil (second right) and DAL Momase Director Masayan Moat (far left)

The trainees prepare a cow for their graduation feast as part of their skills training

Story and picture by SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL
The success in the delivery of agricultural services at the district and local level government (LLG) levels depends on capacity building.
With more emphasis on development in the districts particularly at the ward level there is more demand on manpower, training, infrastructure, funding and other requirements.
A rural development officer working in the Buang LLG in the Bulolo district of Morobe Province, Tuwut Kole, made the remarks during a graduation ceremony for six officers and 14 farmers.
The two-week trainer’ training programme in goat, duck, cattle, buffalo and sheep production was sponsored by Bulolo MP Sam Basil and conducted at the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Erap Resource and Development Centre near Lae.
Mr Kole said the training had been beneficial to the participants who looked forward to passing on the knowledge and skills they have learnt to other agriculture staff and farmers.
“These kinds of refresher courses are helpful for those working and living in the rural communities,” he said.
“We look forward to carrying out work programmes in supporting agriculture activities at the LLG wards but we need more support in terms of capacity – we need increased manpower, funding and other resources.”
He said the capacity at the district level needed to be improved to enable the officers to provide assistance to current and new farmers.
Bulolo district administrator Nimson Kibisep agreed that it was a big challenge for the district staff and urged them to be committed in carrying out their duties.
A farmer from Wau, Sanik Kawena, said the farmers appreciated the training and would utilise the knowledge and skills gained to help themselves and others in the community.
Officer-in-charge of the DAL Erap centre, Ario Movis, and DAL Momase regional director, Masayan Moat, said the department was happy to provide agricultural technical services to enable the smallholder village farmers to benefit and improve their livelihood.
The department will continue to support the rural population in promoting food security and livestock provided funding was made available.
They commended the Bulolo MP for allocating funding to enable the training programme to be carried out.
Similar training is being planned for the future.

Adventures in paradise on board sv Tiki Tu

New Ireland’s perfect waves can be discovered on Tiku Tu

New Ireland children on board Tiki Tu

The unspoiled magic of Nusa Island

View from Tiki Tu

Exploring the islands of New Ireland

On Tiki Tu

Tiki Tu with canoes in a typical paradise Papua New Guinea

Innocence of a young island girl

Tiki Tu…marooned on an island

Two keen fishermen with a Spanish mackeral on board Tiku Tu

Do you ever wish you could escape this modern world and step back in time to a place where the great explorers found tropical island paradises and people untouched by western society?

It does still exist.

Papua New Guinea holds so many wonderful secrets and is one of the most-diverse and untouched lands on earth.

Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters can take you on a voyage of discovery around the beautiful tropical islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in New Ireland province on Tiki Tu, a 33’ sailing catamaran.

Crystal clear water, white sandy beaches, friendly people, spectacular coral reefs, world class surf breaks, abundant fishing, picturesque villages, fascinating cultures, idyllic palms and unforgettable sunsets make this region a traveller’s delight and an unspoilt, isolated paradise.

What better way to completely experience all that is on offer here than the simplicity and freedom of live-aboard yacht charter?

The islands of the Bismarck Archipelago are untouched by mass tourism, untroubled by five-star resorts and package tourists.

Every experience that you have will feel like you are the first to experience it, the first person to visit this island village, surf this wave or snorkel on this reef.

New Ireland is an honest place full of people ready to invite you into their lives and their homes and allow you to have an experience that you will never, ever forget.

Tiki Tu’s hosts, Adam and Dani Smith, can offer you an exclusive, uncomplicated, unbelievable experience concentrating on your interests.

Both Adam and Dani are qualified skippers, with many years of experience sailing in Australian and PNG waters.

Dani also brings with her over 10 years in Melbourne restaurants, so you can be guaranteed variety and attention to detail in each meal.

Every charter is tailored to the desires of those on board.

There are no set departure dates or lengths of charter.

Enjoy a few days’ island hopping and snorkelling, or set sail for a month and do it all, exploring river systems, fishing, snorkelling, hiking, surfing, visiting villages and more.

The choice is yours.

“With the beauty of the islands, their sheltered waters and rich local culture, you have great potential for a classic sailing holiday.

“Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters are based on Nusalik Island next to Nusa Island Retreat, where they moor their beautiful 10m three-cabined sailing catamaran, Tiki Tu.

“Half-day, full-day and extended charters are offered for you to visit uninhabited islands; seek out uncrowded surf breaks; drop in at Tabar Island, a stronghold of traditional carving; or visit the famous shark callers of St George’s Channel who hunt sharks by tapping shells against the sides of their dugouts.

“ Sit back and lap it up or learn to sail as part of the crew,” writes Jeremy Tredinnick, Action Asia Magazine.

Tiki Tu is a 10mperformance cruising catamaran.

She is light, allowing for excellent performance in light airs.

She is spacious, with 56 sq m of deck space, including a large forward trampoline to soak up the sun.

She has an awning which covers the whole back deck to shade you from the sun and keep you dry during the tropical rains whilst at anchor.

Tiki Tu is ideal for relaxing and peaceful cruising as she sits flat in the water without the constant roll that monohulls offer.

Her draft is under one metre, allowing her to enter shallow anchorages very close to the islands, and the reefs.

Tiki Tu is not a ‘luxury’ catamaran, but she offers comfortable accommodation for the adventurous traveller of all ages who are seeking a voyage through paradise.

Enjoy a voyage of discovery through the beautiful and unspoilt islands of New Ireland Province on board Tiki Tu.

Adventures In Paradise Yacht Charters:

Web: www.adventuresinparadise.com.pg

Email: tikitu@adventuresinparadise.com.pg

Achieve Your Goals With the After Action Review

Seven Steps that Can Change Your Life

Several years ago, Gary Ryan Blair discovered an important strategy that has allowed him, and his clients--which include Fortune 500 companies and top athletes--, to continually improve their performance every year. It's called an After Action Review (AAR), and it's all about leveraging knowledge and experience.
The vast majority of people don't learn all they can from their accomplishments and from their mistakes. To experience consistent growth you need to identify every nugget of knowledge your past performance offers and leverage it for all it's worth.
If you want to be at the top of your game you absolutely must review, analyze, and learn from what has already happened. Begin right now by performing an AAR of what took place in 2009 so that you can make the most of 2010.
Seven Steps That Can Change Your Life
There are seven steps in the AAR process, and you must begin implementing the ideas that you are about to generate immediately.
Step 1. Identify Your Three Greatest Accomplishments In 2009
Step 2. Analyze What You Learned from Each Accomplishment
Step 3. Identify Your Biggest Disappointments Of 2009
Step 4. Analyze What You Learned from Each Failure or Disappointment
Step 5. Identify How You Limited Yourself and How Can You Stop It
Step 6. Pragmatically Review the Information You Have Gathered
Step 7. Use This Information to Astonish Yourself in 2010
Once you've uncovered all this useful information, the final step is to incorporate it into a plan for 2010. You can do this by following Gary's program called "The Personal Strategic Plan".
"The Personal Strategic Plan" is a life changing program that will show you exactly how to adapt powerful strategic planning methods from Corporate America to your own life. If you want to perform better than you have in the past and to achieve more than you have so far, you have to make sure that what you do today will move you closer to your dreams.
It's easy to get started right away: just click here and in just a few minutes you'll have the entire plan at your fingertips. Be sure to check out the hundreds of testimonials about Gary and his amazing program.

 

Agricultural graduates urged to utilise skills

By SOLDIER BURUKA of DAL

Agricultural graduates have been urged to use their knowledge and skills to be farmers themselves.

They were told that obtaining a certificate is an achievement and a start to a new chapter in their professional career in agriculture.

Deputy secretary for corporate services with the Department of Agriculture and Livestock Vele Kagena said this at the 36^th Highlands Agricultural College graduation recently.

Speaking on behalf Minister John Hickey, Mr Kagena commended the 2009 graduating class and told them that getting formal jobs is not everything.

“Many of the graduands have many years of field experience as agriculturalists or as youths with no hope in life,” he said.

“The HAC programme comprising of the post-certificate diploma and the farmer training programme is a great achievement and will equip trainers and farmers with updated agricultural information.”

Mr Kagena said the HAC programme had further enhanced their ability and personal skills to better deal with their work within their communities or sectoral institutions.

“For you all, getting formal jobs is not everything,” he said.

“It is my hope that educated and trained agriculturalist like yourselves will use your knowledge and skills to be farmers yourselves.

“Obtaining a certificate today is a great personal achievement and a start to a new chapter in your professional career in agriculture.”

Mr Kagena said the current circumstances in PNG had curtailed job opportunities in the public and private sectors but urged the graduands not to lose hope and to seek other alternatives within the agriculture sector.

The 36^th HAC graduation marks another milestone and successful year for PNG’s premier in-service training institution that has produced well over 2,300 PCD graduates and another 1, 500 trainees on short specialised training courses, which is a significant achievement.

Mr Kagena praised the HAC management for its efforts and urged the college to refocus its curriculum and objective in promoting innovative agriculture development through improved agriculture technology, information and knowledge.

“The college has a critical role to play in ensuring that teaching and training of both farmers and agriculturalists is continued successfully and contributes to income-earning opportunities for the rural population,” he said,

HAC acting Principal Phillip Senat told the graduands to stand tall and be proud as agriculturalists.

“The diploma and certificate is a stepping stone and opens up new opportunities in life,” he said.

He urged them to utilise these to make a difference in their lives.

He challenged those going home to take up farming as a business and to provide leadership in the rural communities.

 

Ricky Mitio ousted as Papua New Guinea coffee chief

Coffee veteran Ricky Mitio today (Sunday, December 20, 2009) announced his retirement from an industry he has been in for the last 33 years, as news broke that he has been replaced as chief executive officer of the Coffee Industry Corporation.

Mr Mitio (pictured)  was on recreational leave when informed that he had been replaced in the CIC hotseat by Navu Anis, a former CIC senior staffer, by the National Executive Council last Wednesday.

Mr Mitio, Mr Anis and former CIC chief scientist Potaisa Hombunaka had been in the running for the position after Mr Mitio’s contract expired.

Mr Mitio, who was disappointed at the appointment, offered the CIC board his successor plan to ensure competent executives took over the running of the multi-million kina which involves more than two million rural people.

He said that the NEC may have been misled in the appointment process with Agriculture Minister John Hickey, who was not present at the meeting, shocked his submission was hijacked in Cabinet.

“A judicial review is underway to determine whether or not the acting Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Andrew Kumbakor, who is Minister for Housing, has indeed overstepped other Ministers’ portfolios in sponsoring the NEC submission without consent,” Mr Mitio said.

“It’s up to the CIC and the Government to sort out these confusions.

“I have already informed the CIC board of my retirement and I shall be moving on.

“I am also very disappointed about the weaknesses and conflict the regulatory statutory authorities (RSA) act has brought about in the statutory organisations and other state-owned entities (SOE) chief executives appointment process.

“We had faith in the merit-based appointment being adopted under the RSA act.

“However, when the statutory organisation’s preferred choice is overridden by political interests in the NEEC, it questions the integrity of the merit-based appointment process.

“In the case of coffee, the preferred candidate of the CIC board, the recommendations from the Public Service Commission, and the subsequent recommendations of the Minister responsible were all ignored by the NEC.

“In fact, the CIC board is forced to employ someone it did not approve of and is now forced upon it by outside political interests.

“It is not based on technical competence required by the merit-based appointment procedures of the RSA act.

“It is a total abuse and sabotage of due processes.”

Mr Mitio said quality of leadership for the administrator of the coffee industry called for far-reaching personal attributes that academic qualifications alone could not buy.

“Leadership qualities also cannot be bought and sold from the job,” he said.

“These prerequisites are inherited through deep commitment to profession and are acquired on the job.”

Mr Mitio said under his successor plan, four candidates had been identified to be groomed to take over the CEO position, coming from both within and outside the CIC.

“There will be a short period of 12 months to screen and groom the four potential candidates, after which the board will appoint two suitable candidates to understudy the CEO position, so that the board should be in the position to provide a list of nominees that meets its performance-driven criteria to the Government for its final appointment,” he said.

Poultry development in East New Britain

Captions 1 and 2: Australorp chicken distributed to a family in Kabakaul, East New Britain Province 3:     DPI workers from East Pomio purchasing Australorp Chickens for their district

 

By WANDAMU PALAU of NARI

National Agriculture Research Institute’s poultry unit at its Islands regional centre in Keravat is aligning itself and slowly gaining momentum in supplying poultry stock to farmers in East New Britain and the region.

 This is being done subsequent to experiences of Newcastle disease outbreak in the province in late 2006.

Following the detection of the deadly poultry disease, a blanket ban was imposed on all movement of livestock and livestock products into and out of the province.

The ban hindered NARI’s poultry development initiatives but the small hatchery and breeder unit stood tall to deliver beyond imagination.

National Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Authority (NAQIA), from its tests, declared the Keravat poultry facility to be clean and reliable to supply the sentinel flocks to those areas whose village flocks were destroyed by Newcastle.

During the restocking exercise, NARI Keravat hatched and distributed between 12 000 to 14 000 young chicks to the affected areas within the province.

The start of the restocking exercise, which commenced in early 2007, was completed in July 2009.

Presently, the ban is only applicable to livestock species going out of the province.

But those individuals and farmer groups within ENBP, who want to obtain stock from NARI Keravat, can place your orders now.

Australorp and other crossbred birds developed at Keravat are dual-purpose birds, good for meat and egg production.

Their feeding regime is not restricted to expensive commercial rations.

The breed is suitable for keeping under intensive and semi – intensive management levels. 

There are already significant purchases from local level government (LLG) areas like Bitapaka, East Pomio and Sinivit, which are getting young chicks to distribute to their contact farmers.

Commitment was shown by Livuan and Duke of Yoke LLGs to get some chickens for distribution in their wards.

Orders at NARI Kearavat can be made through telephone 983 9145 or fax: 983 9129

The Keravat poultry unit was established in 2004 with funding support from AusAID under the Agricultural Innovations Grant Facility scheme.

The facility’s purpose was to establish a poultry breeding and hatchery unit at Keravat for the production and supplying of Australop chickens to small holder farmers to the New Guinea Islands so as to improve food security, nutrition and income generation opportunities.

 

 

Processing of galip for food

Caption: NARI Staff evaluating local galip nuts at Keravat in East New Britain.- Picture by SENIORL ANZU

 

By MATTHEW POIENOU of NARI

 

Galip nut is a marketable product with great potential to improve the livelihoods of rural households in the South Pacific.

At the moment the galip nut industry is small in world terms, but there is strong consumer demand and acceptance of the product in Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

There is great potential in these countries to expand the domestic market and develop an export market.

However, a major constraint to increased commercialisation of the galip industry is poor quality of the nuts due to post-harvest handling and processing.

A recent feasibility study, conducted in PNG with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), concluded that while marketing expertise exists, the nut industry is limited by a lack of knowledge about post-harvest handling and processing techniques.

Processing methods need development in a way that is commercially viable for small-scale agriculture and can be easily implemented by local farmers.

 Specific research is undertaken to identify appropriate processing practices with dissemination of information.

 NARI is currently undertaking a collaborative research to develop a galip nut industry for PNG.

 The aim of this project, funded by ACIAR, is to develop post-harvest processes and techniques for Melanesian galip nuts that can be optimally used by small-scale, block and plantation farmers.           This research will identify processing techniques that are appropriate to and beneficial for the production of galip nut.                                                                                                                                    It is being conducted in partnership with Australia’s Sunshine Coast University, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu (Department of Forests).                                                                                                      In addition, processors from the macadamia industry will provide expertise.

 

Kavieng - The Island Style!

 

 

Nusa Island Retreat has a style and charm that is a fresh and welcome change from your conventional holiday destination.

Nusa is a low impact and eco-sensitive facility located just off the coast of Kavieng on the northern end of New Ireland Province.

 Set on a white sandy point which overlooks Kavieng harbour to the foreshore markets and township, it exudes a slow and relaxed pace with easygoing feel.

Accommodation is comprised of traditional style bungalows, which are aesthetically pleasing and blend with the natural environment. 

Limited numbers ensure a private and relaxed holiday environment. 

Most bungalows are set right on the water’s edge, with four rooms offering private bathroom facilities. 

The spacious and traditionally-designed central restaurant and bar is a focal point.

It has a fully-licensed bar with music, games and activities. 

Meals are a highlight with breakfast and lunch menus offering a healthy range of choices. Dinner each night is a buffet featuring upbeat and innovative dishes complementing the plentiful supply of fresh seafood and local produce.   

Do as little or as much as you like!

A host of activities can be organised.

 From action and adventure to island cruising, the Retreat is the perfect location from which to take advantage of the many options.

Kavieng and its surrounds is an aquatic underwater wonderland that has rapidly become a highly-regarded destination for divers worldwide.

Kavieng diving is renowned for its diversity - from encounters with big pelagics in the current swept passages to drifting along plunging walls decorated with colorful corals and fans. 

Explore WWII wrecks, or discover a multitude of small critters on inshore muck dives.  Those suitably experienced can also dive or snorkel the freshwater sinkholes and caves which are located on the mainland.

Diving in Kavieng is enjoyed all year round and is suitable for all experience levels and interests.

Nusa Island Retreat’s dive operator, Scuba Ventures, provides an easy hassle free dive service for in house guests.

 Dorian and Cara focus on small group diving providing a safe world class diving adventure with quality guidance during your personalised tour of the many famous Kavieng dive site.

Discover more visit  www.scubakavieng.com  

Fishing – fish galore!  Spanish Mackerel, trevalley, barracuda, dolphin fish, bill fish, tuna, red emperor, mangrove jack, coral trout and barramundi cod – the list is endless.  From trolling for the big pelagics, to bottom fishing or casting for sports fish.  All types of fishing trips can be arranged to suit the angler.

Kayaking – The Retreat has a range of single and double ocean kayaks.  From short or extended paddles – the choice is yours.  For those feeling energetic, it’s the perfect way to enjoy the islands.

 

Surfing (seasonal) – The nature of the waves here are typically 2-4 ft over reef at varying levels of difficulty. 

 Most of the reefs will handle larger swells of up to 8ft, with lefts and rights, some challenging and others more forgiving.

 It's a pretty reasonable selection in relatively close proximity and all located within the Kavieng surf management area. 

The Retreat has the necessary boats and local knowledge to take advantage of the best times and conditions.

 Surf management plans and quotas exist throughout New Ireland, ensuring uncrowded breaks.

Refer to the NASA website for detailed information on surfing in New Ireland province. http://www.surfingpng-newireland.org.pg

Other activities – There are plenty of other things to do and see. 

Try traditional style canoeing, nature walks on both the islands and mainland, day and overnight trips, bike rides, sailing, cultural events, interacting with the local people, and you are welcome to visit the villages and view them creating local art and craft. 

Nusa Island Retreat - the perfect place to relax and experience the best of the PNG Islands during a simple, yet extraordinary Niu Ailan adventure. 

Hamamas long Lukim yu sampela taim!

Nusa Island Retreat – Web www.nusaislandretreat.com.pg

                                    Email nir@global.net,pg

                                    Phone 984-2247

Scuba Ventures            Web  www.scubakavieng.com

                                    Email info@scubakavieng.com   

Phone 984-1244

TIGER WOODS HOLIDAY POEM

Twas the night of Thanksgiving and out of the house
Tiger Woods came a flyin', chased by his spouse.
She wielded a nine iron and wasn't too merry,
Cause a bimbo's phone number was in his Blackberry.
He'd been cheatin' on Elin, and the story progressed.
Woman after woman stepped up and confessed.
He'd been cheatin' with Holly, and Jaimee, and Cori,
With Joselyn, and Kalika. The world had the story.

From the top of the Tour to the basement of blues,

Tiger's sad sordid tale was all over the news.
With hostesses, waitresses, he had lots of sex,
When not in their pants, he was sendin' them texts.
Despite all his cryin' and beggin' and pleadin',
Tiger's wife went investin' -- a new home in Sweden.
And I heard her exclaim from her white Escalade,
"If you're gettin' laid then I'm gettin' paid."
She's not pouting, in fact, she is of jolly good cheer,
Her pre-nup made Christmas come early this year.

Snowmen fun

From PAUL OATES  in Queensland, Australia
I like the last one.

Those Christmas lights of Port Moresby

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ

LAST Friday at sunset, the city government of Port Moresby launched an array of Christmas lights at the Unagi Park in Gordon district, in this city of more than 500,000 residents.

Like a proverbial candle light attracting nocturnal insects that included moth, the blinking spectacles drew many city people from all walks of life.

Mounted on several posts and in various designs, shapes, motions and colors, they ushered in the frenzy of Christmas 2009 as it is celebrated in the Christendom.

To the residents of Port Moresby, those dancing and blinking lights are a welcome treat during the holiday season and obviously, a feast for the eyes of the many and a rare visual indulgence for those who are seeing them for the first time in their lives, and they are many.

Indeed, such comes only once in a blue moon, an evening delight to lo and behold.

Now, this year’s Christmas lights sponsored by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) under Governor Powes Parkop are an improvement (yes, I said improvement) of those put up last Christmas at Five Mile roundabout (rotunda) just about a mile away from the Unagi Park.

Surely, the city government has spent a lot to make sure it comes up this year with better evening spectacles for the city residents.

But then, last year’s Christmas lights, despite their simplicity in the eyes of expatriates (translation: nothing special, really, especially in the advent of the laser lighting gadgets and holograms that have become common in other cities, Manila included), were such a big hit simply because they were something I had considered a “first” in this country, and there were many reasons for my saying so.

The first is that last year’s Christmas light display was a tremendous upgrade of a Christmas that I first had in this country sixteen years ago this month.

For the first time, I set foot in Port Moresby at dawn of December 5, 1993, after disembarking from an Air Niugini aircraft at the Jackson international airport. I came here curious about a two-year contract with a newly-set up newspaper The National, now the leading daily in the country.

Momently forgetting how it was in Manila the night before, what I was seeing for the first time around me was nothing unusual – an airport already woken but still with one or two huge sleeping jetliners on the tarmac and a number of early morning welcomers clinging on the other side of tall, imposing airport perimeter wire fences.

It was a typical scene in a provincial domestic airport back home, except that those people wore no shoes or flip-flops. And it was supposed to be Christmas season but the hints that it was here to stay for the revelry were simply missing.

But hurtling back my mind to Metro Manila the night before on my way to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to catch the flight to Port Moresby, I immediately felt the shock: Because along the traffic-jammed avenues where we cruised, beginning from our residence in suburban Pasig, we had been deluged with a flood of muted colorful explosions being thrown all over the place by a jungle of neon lights that had also defined the evening skylines of the metropolis along its great avenues and thoroughfares.

I had seen Las Vegas a few times before where I played the slot machines and the feeling of being there once more was as intense as what had overwhelmed me as I watched those lights whizzed by as we drove on.

Night time Christmas in the metropolis is superbly defined by millions of lights in various sizes, shapes, colors, mood and state-of-the-art technology that one would easily come to believe that there’s nothing wrong with the nation’s economy and that every able-bodied Filipino is earning a living and doing well financially. But it could be far from the truth.

Of course, the onslaught of Christmas carols – both foreign and Filipino – on the airlanes, in shopping malls and many other places where people converged for the Christmas hysteria was clear enough indication that the Yuletide season had finally descended upon us and the tills in all shops would henceforth begin to ding merrily

Alas, there was not a drop of this in PNG sixteen Christmases ago and in the next ones that hurriedly came next.

My first Christmas Eve here was a ho-hum, convincing me with brutal reality that I was somewhere in this part of the planet yet to be touched by civilization. Was it a Christmas carol I was hearing? Uh … no just a shrieking voice of a local band blurting out from a neighbor’s stereo. No sounds of Christmas, no indications that it was here and yet, it was December 24, if you want to know the truth.

So, I drank myself to death that night, having downed several rounds of SP beer, booze that I had to make do with in the absence of my favorite San Miguel beer. But a lonely soul like me could not be too choosy of what poison to take for the heck of it. What was important that very moment was that I could somehow forget. Thinking of Manila, my family and my loved ones on Christmas Eve was an endless torture. Christmas Day. Here, I was alone in my flat not knowing what to do. There was no TV yet as the cable TV provider was unable to install my service as promised. Same thing with the landline phone, my supposed link to the outside world – my loved ones back in the Philippines. And no Christmas at all.

OVER THE NEXT 10 Christmases that followed, things began to improve, however. The ever-present Chinese-owned variety shops, especially at the Boroko shopping center, the supposed premier shopping area here in Port Moresby, began putting up many things Christmas, especially the items they sold – mostly from Malaysia and China.

They also put up popular icons of the season like Santa Claus and his Reindeers, Christmas lights, lanterns, wreaths, silver and golden balls, chrysanthemums, greetings cards and many more alongside the focus of the celebration after Baby Jesus --- the Christmas Tree.

Maybe because by riding the mood of Christmas season, these shops could entice the locals to come in along with some expat shoppers, browse the goods and buy something for the holiday. But because of their inherent poverty, they stayed away from such shops.

They would rather buy food for the table instead of wasting their kina on something that was totally foreign to them such as Christmas and the stuff that flooded the market to drum up holiday spending.

But the improving economy over the past few years has finally seen a lot more Papua New Guineans celebrating Christmas, the PNG way. They are now shopping for the holiday celebrations and buying a lot.

It only means that whatever economic upturn the nation has experienced over the last seven years has finally benefited more and more Papua New Guineans in terms of improved income.

And personally, I feel good about this, especially when I would see them inside shops, rubbing elbows with expatriates, eagerly shuffling the goods on the shelves and display counters which they intend to take home.

Well, this is really good for business and good for the economy too. More sales for the shops would immediately translate into more taxes for the government coffers, from which some development projects could be funded, thus generating a few jobs for the men in the street.

Over past many years, I experienced with them a struggling economy which was also the reason for a “struggling” Christmas feeling among many adults who had known of Christmas only in their mind. For the kids, the occasion was just a vague concept of adoration to the Baby in the manger that needed to be experienced in order to be felt.

In more ways than one, the Powes Parkop Christmas lights exhibit gave many of the city residents – most of them common people – a picture and feeling of what the whole celebration is all about.

****

THE Filipino expatriates here have been warned by the Filipino Association of PNG

(FAPNG) to be vigilant and be prepared from here on until December 31, New Year’s Eve, the day when a group of anti-Asians and anarchists will torch every Asian-owned “cottage industry” still operating by then.

The anarchic threat has been circulated in email-type memorandum addressed to all owners of Asian shops.

In this country, cottage industry means “variety stores, grocery stores, variety shops, fast-food and other small service enterprises”. My dictionary defines the term as “small-scale industry that can be carried on at home by family members using their own equipment”.

But since no Asian entrepreneurs operate a cottage industry, the anarchists have redefined the meaning to include “variety stores, grocery stores, variety shops, fast-food and other small service enterprises”, which are all owned and operated by the enterprising Chinese. This way, they could have some shops to burn and loot on December 31, their savage way of welcoming 2010.

The police hierarchy here is yet to make its mind known to the Asian community.

The Asian group in the PNG Diplomatic Corps is anxious over the security of their respective citizens.

The Philippine Embassy here in Port Moresby is coordinating with the Filipino community through the FAPNG on how to go about preparing for this imminent threat and thus, make sure all our “kababayan” are safe or out of the harm’s way.

In a recent email to the Filipino community, the FAPNG wrote:

Where to go (in POM), if the situation becomes critical:

- the embassy grounds (but gauge the situation if it is safe to be on the road)

What to bring, if going to the embassy grounds:

- travel documents and work papers

- some money

- some food and water

I just hope this is just a scenario.

Media sources said the top police officer, Police Commissioner Gari Baki, will come out with a statement regarding the threat, while initial discussions on how to deal with the situation have already been initiated by Port Moresby Governor Parkop and ranking police officials.

Well, that’s a comforting thought.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Email the writer: jarahdz500@online.net.pg

alfredophernandez@thenational.com.pg

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