One people, one country, one god

BY BASIL B PEUTALO

ON THE OCCASION of the 36th Independence anniversary of our country, I would like to pay tribute to some people who are not my relations, not even wantoks, but who helped me and my family not only appreciate but share in their generosity and basic human fellowship, the true meaning of “One People, One Country, One God”.

Pursuing a life as a self-employed consultant in the social and community development sector has its ups and downs.

In my historical graph as a freelance consultant, the latter has mostly very long bars. The year 2008 was an annus horibilus for me and my family of six: the peak of my selfish self-employment idealism.

I lost the tenancy on our accommodation due to prolonged non-payment of rental. I was faced with a very long delay in securing any contracts during the first quarter of 2008. No contract or job ever came for me until June 2009.

My family and I were evicted after incurring massive rentals that are still haunting me to this date. My social responsibilities to my family remained high with four dependants still going to school.

One, who was attending a technical college, decided to start a family under cover of his schooling. Well, he brought about a beautiful little girl in this year. This little angel created a milestone for me and my wife as grandparents. But the joy of welcoming this little beauty was overshadowed by our predicament.

It is difficult to say it, but I began indefinite and numerous rounds of begging from friends, contacts and people who were friends of our friends and even acquaintances.

And this was when I came upon one of these acquaintances. His name - Wai Havoame from Olunguti, Lufa District, Eastern Highlands Province.

He and his family lived in a settlement up on the ridges that run above the National Broadcasting Commission premises towards Port Moresby International School.

Wai and his family have a very close family friend, John Khalalale, an accountant by profession, from Simbu Province. Wai informed John Khalalale of our predicament.

John and his family owned a big two story house at Boroko. They occupied the top floor with the ground floor vacant. They generously allowed us to move with all our household items and boxes of my work records into this vacant ground floor. At least there was a roof over our head and safe place to hide. We stayed at John’s house for the whole of 2008.

We did not even given much consideration as to how we were going to eat and survive even under the roof and safety of John Khalalale’s house.

This was where and how these two families, unknown to us and from other provinces, conscientiously demonstrated in all the remaining days of 2008 what is meant to be Papua New Guinean.

They fed us. They protected us. Wai worked as a chef with a catering company in Port Moresby. He would bring leftovers from his kitchen to us every evening. John Khalalale would give some money to us regularly.

These two families are from the Highlands region and they are Seventh Day Adventist Church members. My family and I are from the New Guinea Islands Region. We are Catholics.

Wai Havoame and his family and John Khalalale and his family did not consider any of these tags. We are all Papua New Guineans under One Flag and One God.

Thank you Wai and John with your respective loving families for sharing with us your meaning and spirit of true Papua New Guineans.

Comments

[Peter Kranz]

Well maybe 800 or so peoples; 20 province-level divisions: 18 provinces, plus one autonomous region (Bougainville) and the National Capital District; and a few hundred Gods if you include traditional deities.

"Papua New Guinea had not one or two, but hundreds of traditional religions, just as the nation today continues to have hundreds of tribes and hundreds of languages... It is reasonable to say that our traditional tribal gods served us very well " (M. Somare, IRLA Congress, Suva, June 1993).

http://www.pngbuai.com/200religion/traditional/trad-gods1.htm

And remember The Grand Chief's speech in 2009.

“Tasol yu save pinis, Sukundi ia, planim n stap.Pasin bilong politics I olsem, ol arapela ting ol I nap mekim senis, orait noken wari long dispela tingting bilong ol. Gavman bilong yu bai stap 2012 na bai igo ken long narapela taim I kam."

[Basil Peutalo]

Paulus - Thanks. It is indeed ordinary people doing extraordinary things for others, regardless. I paid Wai and his family a visit this morning. They are still living up there in their settlement on the ridge. I met Wai on his own, while rest of his family members have gone down to Jack Pidik Park to see the celebrations.

[Mrs Barbara Short]

Thank you Basil, for your story. It is very moving.

I used to think that PNG would become a better country when there were plenty of "mixed-race" marriages.

But I can see the spirit of nationalism is alive and well.

[Paulus Ripa]

Basil - It is stories like this at a personal level that are moving to me and give me a sense of hope that there is still much good in this country and its people.

Last year one of my students, who comes from a very impoverished and broken family background (from Simbu), had his fees paid by another student's parents (from Western Province). They were not related in any way; only that the two students were in the same class.

Another student a couple of years ago (from Lufa EHP) was taken in by a Manus/Morobe family because the two young men were in the same class. One came from middle class PNG fammily and the other from back of beyond Lufa.

Though the Manus man left to be a pilot the EHP, the lad was supported and part of the family until he graduated and his two familes came together.

All the most erudite essays in this column have not moved me as much as your simple tale of kindness and humanity in our every day lives.

[Hillary Rodham Clinton - Press Statement]

Secretary of State
Washington, DC

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On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to send best wishes to the people of Papua New Guinea as you celebrate your 36th Independence Day this September 16.

The United States and Papua New Guinea share a strong history of partnership rooted in our commitment to democratic values and traditions. This partnership continues to strengthen today as we work together to promote open and transparent government, mitigate the impact of global climate change, combat the spread of infectious disease, and advance the status of women.

As you mark your independence and celebrate this special day, know that the United States joins you in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. Congratulations and best wishes for peace and prosperity in the years to come.