By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The inauguration of the newly built State Capitol of Melekeok on Feb. 2 was not just a start of the holding office by the State leaders and employees. It was a celebration of the rich culture and tradition of Melekeok. The outside feature of the new building itself is a combination of ancient and modern architecture.
Inside of it, photographs of people and their outstanding achievements, community activities and cultural traditions are displayed on the walls. These photos are the main attraction of the first floor of the two-story structure that houses both the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the State Government and other offices.
Pictures of proud sons and daughters of Melekeok like Paramount Chief Reklai Rahael Bao Ngirmang and other veterans and current active US military men are just some of them.
Kathy Kesolei explained that this concept is to connect what was yesterday Melekeok and what is it nowadays.
She said that these hundreds of photographers had been collected from different sources such as Belau National Museum, from individuals and schools.
Following is the result of a research made for last Friday’s inauguration rites.
"The spot where the new Bailechesau now stands is a historical ground not only for the State of Melekeok but for the entire island nation of Palau as well."
"The name of this meeting place, Bailechesau, is said to have been inspired by the name of a fish called Chesau, which used to congregate in large numbers between the beach here and the reef during the incoming tide. The reason these fishes called Chesau stayed together in large schools in the nearby waters was and has always been UNITY for feeding purposes. The name of this new Bai or meeting place also refers to Bai-ra-chesiau, which in English means "the Meeting Place for developing Cooperation among and between people." As in the case of the Chesau fish, the same sentiment is also true for the Palauan term Chesiau, which means providing assistance as a United group."
"A series of community meeting places called "Bai" in Palauan have stood on this very same ground for over 300 years. They served the same purposes and functions as this new building would provide when it is formally opened for use and occupancy."
"The grounds surrounding this new Bailechesau structure of Bai is steeped in historical footnotes, which constitute the experiences of the people of Melekeok in the last three centuries. They cover five different ears; from the pre-contact period through the British, Spanish, German, Japanese and the Trusteeship period under the American Administration. As you walk the grounds surrounding Bailechesau, you would come across a number of historical artifacts, one of which is the stone bridge that dates back to the period when wars between Palauan villages (Koror vs. Melekeok etc.) were common. You would also come across many artifacts and historical accounts that reflected and recorded long period of peaceful existence between the villages of Palau, including the one that had prevailed to this day. This is the legacy the new Bailechesau will carry into the 21st Century."