UPDATE: The PIBBA Conference has been postponed until 2027. It was decided that, due to the severe damage inflicted by Super Typhoon Sinlaku on the island nations of Chuuk and the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, it was best to postpone the conference this year to allow our brothers and sisters affected by the storm to focus on recovery and rebuilding efforts as they return to pre-typhoon conditions. As the months progress, PIBBA President Shelten Neth will provide further details regarding the PIBBA International Conference 2027. The organization looks forward to welcoming everyone then and sincerely appreciates the continued support.
PIBBA POHNPEI, FSM
Sponsored by: Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association (PIBBA) International and Pohnpei Chapter
The PIBBA Conference is an annual event in which Western Pacific educators are provided with opportunities for professional growth and cultural enrichment. This year's conference offers a wonderful selection of traditional, innovative, and practical workshops, presented by creative and imaginative educators and cultural leaders from the Pacific islands.
I joined PIBBA initially because of our NMI local members.After participating in the PIBBA Conference in Kosrae in 1999 and experiencing the camaraderie of the PIBBA International members and officers, and the hosting entity, I remained a loyal member.
2.How long have you been a member of PIBBA?
I have been an active member of PIBBA since 1999.
3.Has PIBBA made an impact in the Pacific Island entities?
Yes, through the networking and sharing of best practices, etc.
4.Why should others join PIBBA?
Others should join PIBBA for the reasons I’ve stated in my earlier responses.
5.Are there any other thoughts you wish to share regarding PIBBA?
PIBBA is a very worthwhile organization that not only promotes our cultures and languages, but also friendship and camaraderie.I can now say that I am not just a daughter of the Marianas, but also of Micronesia and the Pacific in general.
The PIBBA family extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to the family of our PIBBA friend and past president of PIBBA, Dr. Rita Hocog Inos. God Bless her and her family. May she rest in peace.
Dr. Rita Hocog Inos
Funeral Services: Memorial Service for Saipan: Saturday 7:30am, followed by Memorial Mass at 11:00am. Between 7:30am & 10:30 last respects and viewing & series of tributes & resolution presentions and 10:30am Eulogy , acknowledgment & Mass.
Remains will be transported to Rota Sat. afternoon at 2:30pm. Tues. morning at 7:30am viewing and last respects at San Francisco de Borja Church. Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. Burial follows immediately at San Jose Cemetary, Rota.
The PIBBA family extends its deepest condolences and sympathies to Masa-Aki Emesiochl and his family on the passing away of their beloved father. We will keep them in our prayers. God bless you all.
I joined PIBBA because of my commitment to expanding my knowledge of the languages and culture of Guam, the Marianas, and Micronesia. PIBBA’s annual conference has not only included reading and discussion knowledge of the language and culture of the region, but has immersed us into each other’s languages and cultures, as we interact in the islands per se.
2. How long have you been a member of PIBBA?
I have been a member of PIBBA since 1989.
3. Has PIBBA made an impact in the Pacific Island entities?
I believe it has made an impact first by the PIBBA song and subsequently the personal knowledge of persons in the region who share the same concern of bilingualism and biculturalism. It has not been spectacular but the evidence of continuing to exist outside of direct grants to most of our entities is extraordinary. Incorporating PIBBA into greater consciousness and policy directives is an uphill battle. Globalization has added to the dimension of our existence if not confirm the need for greater consciousness of our Pacific existence in a global if not macro-world.
4. Why should others join PIBBA?
Others should join PIBBA for what one can give or add to the “Family of PIBBA!” During this 2009 PIBBA Conference I not only became more aware of the power of peoples when joining together for a task, but also my own personal learning about my CHamorru language and culture. A discussion of this from one’s language and culture may need to be opened up altogether!
Guam celebrated its 65th Liberation Day with an annual parade down Marine Corps Drive on July 21, 2009. The island marked the day when, on July 21, 1944, U.S. forces landed on the island and began its mission to regain control of the island from the cruel occupation of the Japanese Imperial Army. Biba Guam!
In celebration of Guam's liberation day, former PIBBA International President, Shelten G. Neth, took it upon himself to translate the PIBBA song in his Pohnpeian native language. We are grateful for his contribution. Here is the translation provided by Neth:
Kisinieng ipidohsang paliehsed
Ekehker peneinei dekehn PIBBA kan
Pwe kitail en ehukipene atail wewe kan, pokpene oh sirei
Atail lokaia kan, atail tiak, en wauniki atail dekeh kan,
Iokwe, raan annim, kaselehlia, alii, aloha,
Olomwaay, hafa dei, tuwoh, mogethin, talofa
Ngilen koul en PIBBA peido laud sansal
Kitail miniminpene, kitail wiaki ehu, sohte kemou
Sohte ketiuo
Lowetail kan en kosoia kitail en poakehng emenemen oh pil koarosie
Atail lokaia, atail tiahk, me kitail pwoson, atail sai!
Iokwe, raan annim, kaselehlia, alii, aloha,
Olomwaay, hafa dei, tuwoh, mogethin, talofa
Currently, the PIBBA song, which is located towards the bottom of our website, is now available in the following languages: English, CHamoru, Carolinian, Chuukese, Kosraean, and Pohnpeian. If you would like to assist us in translating the song in other Pacific languages, please contact us at pibba.international@gmail.com We will give you proper credit for your contribution. We'd love to have the song translated in as many languages as possible!
Thank you, Shelten! Un Dangkulo Na Si Yu'os Ma'ase' (Thank you very much)!
I joined PIBBA because of worries that the island cultures and languages are fading away.In addition, the introduction and importation of western life styles are taking over our inherited cultures and languages.
To allow our cultures and languages to decline and eventually disappear would be one of the greatest offenses we can make against our collective heritage of all humanity and ancestors.When we lose the foundation of culture through language we lose our cultural exposure.Our cultures and languages serve as our identity.When we lose a word, we lose the idea it represents, and when we lose the idea, we lose a piece of the puzzle of where we come from and who we are.
Through the collaborative efforts of PIBBA, I remain committed to help preserve the cultures and languages of our Pacific Island entities.
2.How long have you been a member of PIBBA?
I’ve been an official member for three years, but I’ve been a loyal supporter and follower of PIBBA for nearly 20 years.
3.Has PIBBA made an impact in the Pacific Island entities?
Based on my own opinion, in which I am entitled to this loaded question, PIBBA is making some positive impact in the Pacific Island entities but not suffice comparatively to its outflow and disappearance. You heard the presentation from the Kosrae panelist and the local chapter of Kosrae during the last day, that they lost their culture and language in their entirety 201 years ago. The attempt to restore is challenging, but they will not surrender and retreat, because they have realized the great importance of cultures and languages for us, the islanders that were born and raised with them.
4. Why should others join PIBBA?
Others should join PIBBA, because our only God-given identity is our own cultures and languages that must be preserved, avoid being lost, and promoted. This tells the world who we are and what we are. We can try all we can to be Americans, but cannot because we are who we are.
Behind the words and customs we speak, there are meanings, ideas, and feelings accumulated by our ancestors for thousands of years.Every object seen or made, every phenomenon, relationship, or idea, everything that meant anything from time immemorial became recorded in languages as they evolved.No language will ever be better suited to a particular place or a particular culture than the one language that was created exactly as a reflection of that place and that culture over time.So in any particular part of the Pacific, we should think of our language not as a collection of words, but as a living repository of literally everything that was ever experienced by our ancestors, everything that existed in our island, touched our people, and shaped our lives and worldwide.
PIBBA aims is to bring the Pacific Island entities together to promote cultural and language activities by disseminating information, involving communities, and encouraging quality education programs through the western Pacific.Therefore, I applaud the organization’s mission and will support its goals.
In light of this, we must remember that the essence of language is joined together by culture that we see or observe in our daily experiences at home and migrated into the wider Pacific Islands community.If we do not preserve our cultures and languages, the future generations will lose part of their identity.They will look at the remains of meeting houses and canoes in the museums, listen to our songs and stories on audio recordings, look at the moon rising over the lagoon and wonder why they feel nothing.They will wonder when their connection with the ancestors was cut off, when did they become the same as everyone else, and when did this world become so boring and monotonous.They might feel sad about it, but they will lack the words to express it.
Join PIBBA, so that we can strengthen the organization’s mission of preserving our islands’ cultures and languages, because together, we can make a world of difference!
Click on the form above to download the PIBBA International membership form. Please note that you will have to fill out both forms. The second form is for you to keep as a receipt. Membership will become official once payment is received in full by the PIBBA Treasurer. For more information, contact Rosa Salas Palomo at kailee.rosapalomo@hotmail.com, pibba.international@gmail.com.
Relative to recognizing June 22nd to the 25th of June, 2009 as the 28th Annual Pacific Islands Bilingual-Bicultural Association (PIBBA) International Conference and in recognizing the 28th Annual PIBBA International Conference Steering Committee, PIBBA, and PIBBA Local Chapter officers and members in promoting biligualism and biculturalism in the Pacific, particularly indigenous languages and cultures in the Micronesian region.
