DELEGATES from across the Pacific are on Saipan for the four-day 31st Annual Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museum or PIALA Conference.
PIALA president and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi on Monday said the association is committed to fostering awareness and encouraging cooperation and resource sharing among Pacific libraries, archives, museums, and related institutions.
With the theme of “Strengthening Connection in the Pacific,” libraries and other repositories of information from Chuuk, the CNMI, Guam, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Palau, and Pohnpei are all represented in this year’s conference being held at Crowne Plaza Resort. The event will feature presenters from Florida and Colorado.
“Many of you have traveled great distances to be here,” said Naputi in her welcoming remarks. “This serves as a reminder to us of just how important our work of strengthening connections in the Pacific remains…. It is important that we continue to collaborate, communicate, and strengthen our connection in the Pacific. We are excited to re-establish the pathways for our Pacific Island communities to learn, achieve, succeed, and share ideas…. PIALA is like a family reunion, which we look forward to every year, and although a few of us are not here this year, we hope to see them in our future conferences.”
Young Chamorro author Jacqueline Iris Quitugua, accompanied by her grandmother, Jacqueline A. Quitugua, M.Ed., a senior director of the CNMI Public School System, gave a moving reading of her book, “Si Tatå-hu (My Dad),” which shares her recollection of her late father who died of oral cancer when she was just 5 years old.
“May we continue to place our libraries as instructional spaces that will give our children the opportunities to share their stories,” her grandmother said to the delegates.
In her keynote address, first lady Diann T. Torres recognized the young author and other children for sharing their stories.
Through the Lady Diann Torres Foundation, over 3,000 books by 12 young authors have been printed and published, written in English and translated into the CNMI’s indigenous languages, Chamorro and Carolinian.
“I intend to continue this program for as long as I am able to because it is imperative that, as leaders of today, we have the responsibility to ensure that we continue, in some way, the preservation of culture and language, if not in the form of published books, then in other forms that are equally as effective,” Mrs. Torres said.
She also commended local and visiting delegates for their various contributions to society. “It is an honor to be addressing a crowd of brilliance, a crowd of information guardianship, intellects of today, who are the bearers of historical treasures, who I consider to be the most vital group in the safekeeping of history, the cataloguing of stories, documents, and information to educate our children who will eventually become the leaders of tomorrow. Your role in society is immeasurable and more valuable than you could ever quantify or imagine,” the first lady said.
Delegates from the CNMI, New Zealand, Guam, and the U.S. mainland Various gave presentations throughout the day by. Officials from the Institute of Museum and Library Services delivered virtual messages to the delegates.
The opening ceremony began with an invocation by Fr. James S. Balajadia followed by a Chamorro cultural chant and the blowing of the “kulu” or conch shell by local cultural practitioners.
Also present for the opening ceremony were Northern Marianas College Board Chair Charles V. Cepeda who represented the Kiyu family, House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez, Rep. Angel A. Demapan, and Rep. Leila H. F. C. Staffler.
The conference resumes today, Tuesday, and will conclude this Wednesday evening.
For more information, visit https://piala-pacific.wixsite.com/piala-pacific/.
The 2022 PIALA — Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums — Conference delegates and officials pose for a photo Monday morning at Crowne Plaza.
PIALA President and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library director Erlinda C. Naputi gives her welcoming remarks.
Young Chamorro author Jacqueline Iris Quitugua reads her book, “Si Tatå-hu (My Dad),” to the PIALA Conference delegates and guests, as her grandmother, Jacqueline A. Quitugua, M.Ed., a senior director of the CNMI Public School System, assists her.
First lady Diann T. Torres gives the keynote address.
Delegates from the Marshall Islands listen to remarks made during the opening ceremony.
Delegates from Guam, the FSM, and the Marshall Islands listen to remarks made during the opening ceremony.
Cultural practitioner Frances M. Sablan performs a traditional Chamorro chant.
Northern Marianas Humanities Council Executive Director Leo G. Pangelinan blows a “kulu” or conch shell.
