MANY countries of the world, in fact all the major ones, have documents listing the names of their exceptional citizens who did much to improve the lives of their citizens and to bring the name of their countries to the attention of the World. In the United States they have George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Martin Luther King, just to mention a few.
Although our Palauan islands have been an independent country for only fifteen years, our own history as a people goes back many centuries and is replete with the names and titles of individuals whose wisdoms and extraordinary pubic deeds molded these islands into an entity we now call PALAU.In ancient times these revered historical individuals include historical names such as Lebuu, Dirrengulbai, Bekeu el Bechab, Malsol, Ibedul (The British spelled the title as Aba thul) and many others. For the modern time, we might included the name of Oukerdeu Joseph Tellei,who bravely took a boat outside the reef to meet the America invading forces to show them where the Palauan refugee camps were located on Babeldaob so that they may be spared from the pre-invasion bombardments. No Palauan refugee camp on Babeldaob was attacked, thanks to the information Joseph Tellei gave to the American Forces.The modern group may also include the names of Iebedul Louch, Reklai Brel, Felipe Mismark, Indalecio Rudimch, Economist Benjamin Mersai, T.T. Government workers Thomas Remengesau, Takeo Yano, Alfonso Oiterong, David Ramarui, Lazarus Salii, Roman Tmetuchl, Itelbang Luii, Tatsuo Adachi, Composer Kodep from Ngarchelomg, Soldier John Kintaro, and doctors Lomisang Ngrailild and Masao Kumangai to name just a few. We also should include in the roster the names of ladies such as Bilung Ngerdokou. Ebil Reklai Rolmii, Maria Merep, Lusii Orrukem, Emaimelei Bismarck and others.The Olbiil Era Kelulau should initiate a public contest, with an appropriate price, whereby local citizens would be ask to submit proposed designs that could be used to document in a safe manner and by historical groupings the names and titles of these revered individuals While these people are working on the project, they might be asked also to design appropriate certificates and medals that could also be awarded to deserving individuals by their grateful government for their contribution to the Country. All these work are not going to be easy tasks, therefore we recommend that the Society of Palau Historians working together with appropriate offices from the Ministry of Education should spearhead the efforts.It would be a very sad loss for our future generations if they grew up not knowing how and when the KEPTOT EL BAI that stood at what is now the Koror site for the PNCC office building on Koror was planned and constructed. That KEPTOT EL BAI was probably the last structure, which was planned and erected by architects and workers representing all the villages of Palau working as one united nation. All the materials used in the building were also contributed by all the villages of Palau. That Abai stood on the Koror site for close to twenty years until it was destroyed by a Typhoon in 1964 Let us preserve some of our significant cultural and historical legacies for future generations to marvel at and to enjoy. They belong to them by historical rights and they should be meticulously recorded and preserved.
