Independence

This week (first in June) marks fifty years of Samoa’s Independence. And it’s times like these that I, as a sojourner, feel like Daniel of old, having my windows open toward the home country, and, requisitely, on my knees giving thanks to God (re: Daniel 6:10).

At the same time, I have been reminiscing and experiencing streams of indelible memories of past celebrations flowing freely in my mind as I selectively pick out the ones that have profoundly affected and influenced my life.

As I have consistently pined, growing up as a young boy in a semi-primitive village in Samoa is an experience that I will always cherish. The simple, carefree and happy life of the time is one for which I still yearn. The nostalgia is made more striking by the fact that I now live in the most advanced and most modern country in the world. The contrast is plain and intuitive, but also bittersweet and distressful at times.

During my boyhood years, people would travel - by boat and by bus - from outlying islands and villages to participate in the week-long festivities and activities. Those who stay behind in the villages treat the week as time for allegiance and respite. The only means of communication between the remote areas and the celebrations in the city was the transistor radio.

I remember the days leading up to the first week of June when families would make sure their radios were working properly. A couple of main preparations included new batteries (mostly Eveready brand) and a good wire antenna. Older batteries are usually recharged by “drying” them outside in direct sunlight. (Hence “dry cell” batteries? ...LOL!)

For better radio transmission and reception, the wire antenna is tied, stretched and pulled through tree tops, and the higher the better. It was therefore common to see these wires strung from one coconut, breadfruit or kapok tree to another. Sometimes an empty glass soft drink bottle - as an insulator - is threaded and suspended horizontally along the wire antenna. The transmission signal is enhanced as a result and the reception is better and clearer.

the longboats (fautasi)

Families would then gather around the radio to listen to the broadcasts of proceedings and activities. The most popular ones are the boat races, which the fautasi (long boat) race was the main event - and still is today. Families without radios, or with poor reception would listen with other families especially during the races.

Perhaps more importantly, it was during national Independence days that I initiated and found my own independence.

One year, when I was about eleven years old, and still cloistered and brooded under my parents’ and extended family’s wings in the village, I decided that I would spread my own fledgling feathers and fly into town for the celebrations. With my parents’ permission, I was both excited and apprehensive.

kekepua'a

First, I took the bus with a couple of friends - not my dad or grandparents - to town and that alone was indicative of  personal freedom and independence. I had $4 (Tala) spending money with instructions to return home when my generous stipend is spent. Logically, I thought therefore that the less I spent per day, the longer I would stay in town. I got to manage money on my own and it was my first lesson in budgeting ... or lack thereof. But I think I did well since I managed to stay for three days (out of five). I learned the lesson of being self-sufficient; I lived on sugar cane and kekepua’a (pork cake) and an occasional small cone of ice cream.

I also got to stay up all night, independent and unsupervised. Apia for the most part turns into a city that never sleeps during Independence days, and so those from the villages, especially young boys, would just roam the nights out. My sense of independence was also felt when crossing the busy streets when my hand was no longer held and guided by a parent or an adult.

Samoa College Independence Commemorative Stamp

After my three days of independence, I was back in the village, and I felt that I have conquered something, overcome a challenge and accomplished a major task - all on my own. I must have quietly said: “C’mon world, bring it on!”

A few years after my Independence days' adventure, I attended school in town (Leifiifi then Samoa College) and I was glad that by this time, I had had my exposure to the city and I had already personally experienced a measure of self-efficacy aaand .......Independence.

Memorial Day and the Empty Tomb

Memorial Day in the United States is a holiday that pays tribute to those who have passed on. Originally, it was a day to honor those “who died to preserve liberty” - according to one newspaper. In other words, the men and women who died while serving in the US Armed Forces.

Today Memorial Day has been extended by most Americans to remember their own deceased family members and loved ones. Therefore the holiday (last Monday in May) is the day when fresh flowers and other decorative items are piled and draped on grave sites and tombstones. It’s a conspicuously colorful day at the graveyards. Family members go to the grave sites to pay their tributes by delivering flowers and spending some moments “with their dead”. The government and the military also hold commemorative services in honor of deceased veterans and victims of wars.

Though this is a belated post, I believe that in the contemplative and pensive moments of this past Memorial Day, it would have been fitting and also more meaningful to remember one particular grave - an empty one. It is of One who also died to grant and preserve liberty, not just for a certain group country or people, but for the entire human race.

May we always remember and "visit" the empty tomb. In fact, through and by Him - who had lain in it - all other tombs will eventually be empty too.

Parker on SI Cover

"Basketball is what I do, it's not who I am." ~ Jabari Parker

"The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Parker is a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and along with leading Simeon High to three consecutive state championships and carrying an impressive 3.7 grade point average, he wakes up early three days a week for LDS seminary, carries a copy of The Book of Mormon in his backpack, and is considering serving a two-year LDS mission after his freshman year of college." Read More

Jabari’s parents are Sonny and Lola.  Sonny is from Chicago and Lola is Tongan.

Decision 2012

Notable quotes and other highlights

"President Obama hasn't run anything before he was elected President of the United States. Never ran a state, never ran a business, never ran a lemonade stand. This job's too important for on the job training,"

"In contrast, Mitt Romney's been a successful governor, a successful businessman. He's got the executive experience."

Bobby Jindal - Governor of Louisiana.

"What I would like to know is why is it OK for Barack Obama to publicly invoke the name of Jesus to justify high taxes or same-sex marriage, but when I mention that my faith leads me to accept what Jesus said regarding marriage as 'a man shall leave his mother and father, and a woman shall leave her home and the two will become one flesh,' I get whacked by the press and the pundits? I've been called a narrow-minded bigot, a homophobic hate monger, a Neanderthal, right-wing religious kook, and other things not mentionable on family television,"

Mike Huckabee - Former Arkansas Governor and host of Fox’s ‘Huckabee”


And now my TOP TEN contrasts between Romney and Obama

#10. Romney is Mexican (?); Obama is Indonesian (?)

#9. From Harvard, Romney has two degrees (Law and MBA); Obama has one (Law)

#8. Romney is considered rich; Obama is almost rich

#7. Romney was a bully, or so they say (at a private school); Obama is presently a bully, or so they say (in Washington)

#6. Romney mistreated the family dog; Obama ate someone’s dog (as a child in Indonesia).

#5. Romney’s great grandfather was a polygamist; Obama’s father, grandfather and great grandfather were all  polygamists.

#4. Romney smoked [a] cigarette as a youngster; Obama smoked dope in college

#3. Romney is not a Christian (or so they say); Obama is a Muslim (or so they say).

#2. Romney is for traditional marriage; Obama is for gay marriage

...and Number 1.....[drum roll]

#1. Romney is robotic, stiff and ... straight ; Obama is loose, flex and....gay (?)
 

Caption Time

MICHELLE: Oh stop it Barack ... and you, here, on my left.

OBAMA: : Easy for you to say Mich, but this Romney guy is keeping me up all night

MICHELLE:  Oh yeah? I thought you’re doing a more serious Al Green impression

OBAMA:  Do you think I look like Michael Jackson?

MICHELLE: You need makeup ...you can use mine .....

SECOND GUY:  Sorry “Lady” but I haven’t flossed in days.

Samoa’s Masiofo (First Lady) Upstaged ...

...in Utah, by Samoans

First, some background information.

Samoa Head of State and First Lady at Royal  'Ava Ceremony,  Utah

Some time in September last year (2011) Samoa’s Head of State Tupua Tamasese and his Masiofo (Good Lady) Filifilia visited Utah on an invitation by the LDS Church. During these such visits - as is normally the case especially where an established Samoan community is found - the dignitaries are extended the respect, love and hospitality of the expatriate community in the form of a welcome ceremony.

In this particular case, the Samoan community in Utah - through members of a couple of matai (chiefs’) councils - planned and implemented the cultural program at one of the local universities to officially welcome the Head of State and his Masiofo. The program was not well attended by the Samoan community due to the party’s short and tight itinerary. As a result, not many - including this blogger - had the opportunity to watch the program.

However, a few days ago, a video of the program was finally released and made available on Comcast’s (cable TV) local offerings.

The program included the usual lauga o le feiloa’iga (welcome speech) followed by a version of the ‘ava faatupu (royal ‘ava ceremony) all done using some modified protocols because of the indoor setting and other limitations. All of that seemed to have met a certain level of acceptance and approval for an average Samoan observer.

But then the blatant anomaly happened, at least as far as I’m concerned. The faux pas happened during the faafiafiaga (entertainment) part of the program, during the taualuga (finale).

As usual, there was a “taupou” (maiden), all dressed in traditional wear consisting of a fine mat trimmed with colorful feathers and the tuiga (traditional headdress). She was escorted by two soga’imiti (tattooed men) to center stage and started to do her siva (dance). Almost immediately, Masiofo Filifilia stood up from their raised seating, and joined the taupou and the rest of the aiuli (backup dancers). Now, at that moment, according to cultural protocols, etiquette and common sense, at the very least, the make believe taupou should immediately yield center stage to the Masiofo, and dance as an aiuli to her. Instead, the taupou kept her center position and assumed role while the Masiofo dances from the back of the stage.  Masiofo Filifilia was therefore upstaged, literally!!  It was weird, offensive and disrespectful to see the Masiofo dancing backup to a mock “taupou”.   I cringe at the sight.

It would have been fine if the Masiofo had remained seated and watched the taualuga, but the moment she gave up her seat to grace the floor, she should have been given front and center stage based on her title, position, role and honor of being Samoa's Masiofo.

Head of State being served  'ava (ceremonial drink)

Now I don’t necessarily blame the “taupou” because she seems to be one of those young girls who was born and raised in America and did not know better other than to fulfill her assigned role as in other routine performances. But the chiefs and adults who were present should have realized the impropriety and corrected it.

Moreover, money should not have been collected as part of this particular taualuga. Yet the floor was strewn with dollar bills and even worse was an old paint bucket - as the proverbial collection plate - conspicuously placed in front of the “taupou”. If the money was intended for a gift, or to supplement a gift to the Head of State and his party, then it should have been arranged beforehand to be collected away from the taualuga. Maintaining the dignity of the whole ceremony should have been the main focus of the chiefs and others who were present, and not to be distracted by the trite and mundane nature of everyday taualugas.

Personally, I feel that the taualuga for this occasion became an untoward scene and gesture.

Sa tatau lava ona taga’i toto’a e sa faafoeina lenei porokalama i tulaga nei. O le lago mate lava e tasi na te faaleaga le suau’u atoa.  E faamoemoe o le a le avevaleina ai le igoa o le Ekalesia i lenei faatamala.  Ae atonu o le a aoga aleu faapea ma mea tutupu e toe liuliu ai le tofa, ma toe afua ai le taeao ma toe sasa’a le fafao.