Jonathan O. Emul, come and cure the country’s hurt feelings
“Scientists say radio waves emanating from radio broadcasting stations on Earth continue to travel through space for eons of times, and that those that originated in the early twentieth century are still shooting through the cosmos toward the outer reaches of the universe”.“If that were true, then Jonathan Olsingch Emul’s voice, speaking in Palauan, would be among those first earthly chatters that would be heard by aliens in some far off galaxies. Olsingch uttered the first Palauan words to be transmitted over the airwaves in May 1961, when the “Ngerel Belau” broadcasting station WSZB at 1250 on the radio dial first went on the air. Other Palauan voices, including those by Alfonso Diaz and Ben Yobech, would join Olsingch in those talk shows among the stars, long after their deaths”.“When Olsingch died, we lost one of our most colorful public figures. He was a politician, an educator, and a high district government official. In the late fifties, he simultaneously held the positions of “Bedul Olbiil (Speaker)” of the OEK and Community Development Officer for Palau District. As station manager for WSZB in early 1961, Olsingch helped usher in radio and television services to Palau”. “Olsingch possessed a silver tongue that could put into words things that were difficult to describe. His detractors say Olsingch was an obnoxious snob who always looked at the negative sides of people and things. Olsingch is remembered for the many painful truths he uttered on public issues and about some of our prominent citizens. As a high Government official, he had the ability to talk with the traditional leaders in the morning, meet with women groups at lunch time to discuss the merits of produce markets, call municipal magistrates stupid morons at 3:00 P.M. for not aggressively collecting head taxes and dog taxes, chastise school teachers for their sloppy work before they leave for home at 4:30 P.M., and would still have the energy to chat with his drinking buddies at the Community Club in the evening, at which time he would not miss any opportunity to aggravate Ibedul Ngoriakl with his cutting remarks about hereditary leadership”.“There was a time in the late fifties when he walked around town with his head tilted at an angle. Asked if he had a problem with his neck, he explained why his head was tilted that way. “After studying at the University of Hawaii, my head is so heavy with wisdom I have a hard time keeping it upright”, Olsingch explained. “Boasting and showing off ”, his detractors cried out. He is also remembered for advising people from Babeldaob and Youeldaob to return to their own villages because they were crowding the genuine people of Koror out of their own lands? “We did not send the LCU, the M-Boat, or the Kumiyai to bring you here. Please go home”, he urged them.“Olsingch, please send some pleasant winds our way soon”.
