Ngedikes Becheserrak, Rhondalyn Ngirarorou, Baulbei Isechal and Philip Tirso have arrived home from working as Pavilion staff during the Shanghai World Expo, which started on May 1 and ended on October 31. With them were Director Dwight Alexander of the Bureau of Arts and Culture, his wife Clarinda, Jelga Emiwo, Jesse Ngiratreked and Ngirameketii Salii.
According to Alexander, they stayed for the closing ceremony on October 31 to arrange for all the items that were registered in the Palau booth. “The work in Shanghai at the World Expo was a great success,” he shared. “In fact, the Denmark Ambassador to China is in Palau today enjoying diving before returning home to Denmark.”
More than 7 million people visited the Pacific Pavilion, and Alexander said Palau received many inquiries about accommodations, travel routes, tour agencies and so forth. Palau provided them with brochures with Chinese translation.
“The Pavilion Staff did a great job,” Alexander noted. “They were very proactive, knowledgeable and very engaged in their work.”
Aside from tending the Palau Pavilion and entertaining guests, the Pavilion Staff also attended conferences and seminars to promote Palau.They also appeared on television and other media.
“The conferences they attended involved short presentation where they did PowerPoint presentations to show the Palau attractions, accommodations, and various activities that could be carried out in Palau.They also demonstrated some of our cultural practices in which they simulated the Ngasech and dances and truly showcased Palau beyond the required duties at the Pavilion,” Alexander shared.
Minister Faustina Rehuher-Marugg of the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs and President Johnson Toribiong expressed their appreciation for the work the Pavilion staff have done for Palau through Certificates of Appreciation.
“It was a wonderful reception, and no doubt Palau will do more to show their appreciation to the staff and to the organizing committee for a great job that was done in Shanghai,” Alexander added.
The Dil-Imeungs dancers who went to Shanghai to celebrate the Palau National Day on October 23, together with Grette Williams and Cynthia Malsol, also went to the airport to welcome the Pavilion staff with gifts of local food and drinks.
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