PCA youth coordinator Bernice B. Ravell said Tekereng Sylvester from Aimeliik state and Ereong Samil from Peleliu state, both 91 years old, were recognized during a Senior Citizens-Mecheuodel Appreciation Dinner at the Garapan Central Park on May 21.
Sylvester, popularly known as Tenten, was born in Yap on March 3, 1920. His family moved to Palau when he was five years old. They moved to Indonesia in 1934 to further his education and then to Japan in 1942. He worked as a Japanese translator for Japanese and Indonesian soldiers during World War II.
Sylvester returned to Palau and worked as telephone operator for the government in 1953. He got married and moved to Saipan in 1966. Here, he got employed as a community worker delivering water to homes and families. Sylvester retired from government service in 1985 and worked for TASI Tour company for 10 years as tour guide and translator. He lives in Oleai.
Samil has seven brothers and three sisters, all deceased. She attended Japanese school in Peleliu and pursued her higher education in Koror. Samil has nine children. She started as a cook and was promoted as head of cafeteria for Peleliu Elementary School.
Samil has 22 years of employment in the Palau government. She moved to Saipan in 2001, spending her time planting vegetables and fruits at her house in Papago and participating in the activities of the Aging Center. She encourages everyone to “remember God, love and respect one another, and persevere to achieve your dreams.”
Ravell said Samil was not able to make it to the appreciation dinner because she went to Palau for a family funeral.
Ravell said 175 elders from Tinian, Saipan and Rota, 55 years old and above, were invited to the special dinner where they were entertained by music, dancing and chanting. Food was also served.
“The Palauan youth had a grand time serving the elders during the event,” Ravell said.
PCA also sponsored the 2nd Annual PCA Youth Day for all Palauan youth in the CNMI at the American Memorial Park baseball field last March 26.
For an entire day, the Palauan youth played volleyball, baseball and other games, and heard messages from speakers, including Palauan retirees, and were entertained by bands, musical presentations and other performances. Lucky individuals went home with various prizes.
