Wooden latte stone-shaped plaques with NMI flags sit atop a table, ready to be presented to each delegation.
Marshall Islands delegates perform a musical number as part of their cultural gift exchange to the other delegates.
PIALA president and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library director Erlinda C. Naputi gives closing remarks
AFTER four days of “strengthening connections in the Pacific,” the 31st Annual Pacific Islands Association of Libraries, Archives, and Museums or PIALA Conference has come to a close.
Delegates traveled from great distances to take part in the conference last week, hosted by the CNMI.
Among the delegates was Digital Pasifik Content Analyst Ulu Afaese, one of the very first PIALA delegates from New Zealand.
“I think it was important to not only show the work that we do, but also to connect with our Micronesian brothers and sisters. This is the first time I’ve been to this region, and I think coming from New Zealand, not many people are aware of this region as well. I think it’s great that we connect and work together to create a positive impact digitally. This was my first time, actually, in all of Micronesia. I’ve never explored this side of the Pacific, so it was very important to come here,” said Afaese.
“The door is open for [delegates] to collaborate. I think Micronesia is one area that we would like to engage with more. We’re just very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to share the work that we do.”
Afaese and his colleague, Taputukura Raea, gave presentations at the conference, focusing on using metadata to connect treasures and stories to the people of the Pacific, which Afaese could relate to on a personal level.
“I have a family connection to exiled Samoan chiefs who came here. I feel like fate has brought me here, so I’m really grateful for [PIALA President and Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Director Erlinda C. Naputi] and the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library for inviting us,” he said.
As for his next steps, he said that he will continue to enhance the connections made at this year’s conference and continue making digital content visible and accessible.
“I think the future is bright. I think this conference has shown that we were meant to be here to connect. Sadly, we will be leaving here, but we will be leaving with a rejuvenated sense in connecting with Micronesia,” he said.
Next year’s conference will be held in Palau, home of PIALA’s newly elected vice president, Abel Noah.
“We are very excited to be hosting the next PIALA conference… It has been a while. This is the first time after the [Covid-19] pandemic that we have met, and I hope that we won’t stop the momentum, and continue on to Palau in the coming year,” said Noah.
“As small islands spread across the vast Pacific Ocean, we cannot do this alone,” he added. “With PIALA being hosted every year, it gives us the chance to get together and learn from each other. It shows that with further networking and cooperation between each entity, we can reach our ultimate goal and our common goal, which is to give access and availability of resources and information across the Pacific region.”
At the closing ceremony on Wednesday evening, delegates received awards, and gifted each other with cultural pieces from their respective home islands.
This year’s delegates were:
Chuuk
Jayleen Kokis, Legal Counsel Office of the Chuuk State Legislature
CNMI
Patty Aguon-Cruz, CNMI PSS
Rosalyn Ajoste, CNMI PSS
Della Angel, CNMI PSS
Molly Atinisom, CNMI PSS
Silverio Balisalisa, JKPL
Jonas Barcinas, CNMI PSS
Amy Blanco, CNMI PSS
Gerard Borja, JKPL
Catherine Borja-Flores, CNMI PSS
Carrie Camacho, JKPL
Seth Cepeda, JKPL
Caitlyn Crisostomo, JKPL
Aldebert Deleon Guerrero, JKPL
Ray Deleon Guerrero Jr., JKPL
Beth Demapan, JKPL
Christina Duenas, CNMI PSS
Shawn Fleming, CNMI PSS
Celina Foreman, JKPL
Natalie Hill-Beyer, CNMI PSS
Frannie Hocog, JKPL
Lisascheeyong Iginoif, CNMI PSS
Bianca Hope King, CNMI PSS
Nelia Llana, CNMI PSS
Sylvia Yoko Leon Guerrero, CNMI PSS
Shianalyn Lizama, JKPL
Tonnya Magofna, CNMI PSS
Omar Manacop, JKPL
Erlinda Naputi, JKPL
Martin Naputi, USDA
Valerie Naputi, JKPL
Maria Ornes, CNMI PSS
Leo Pangelinan, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Jackie Quitugua, CNMI PSS
Liz Rechebei
Kaleina Reyes, JKPL
Janet Sablan, CNMI PSS
Maggie Sablan, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Vincent Sablan, JKPL
Tracy Sanchez, CNMI PSS
Melissa Marie Santos, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Roberto Santos, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Arthur Sondheim, CNMI PSS
Joey Songsong, JKPL
Honora Tenorio, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Jose Darrell Terlaje, JKPL
Leora Terlaje, JKPL
Naomi Tudela, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Angela Villagomez, Northern Marianas Humanities Council
Colorado/Florida
Jaime Harold, STARnet
Anne Holland, STARnet
Brooks Mitchell, STARnet
Guam
Theresa Cruz, Guam Public Library
Jefrey Libao, UOG
Emily Rosario, Guam Public Library
Roland San Nicolas, UOG
Krishnan Seerengan, Guam Public Library
Nedine Songeni, Humanities Guahan
Marshall Islands
Wisse Amram
Verenaisi Bavadra, College of the Marshall Islands
Bernice Joash, RMI Parliament
Lucy Katjang, RMI Parliament
Melody Kilma, RMI Parliament
Elani Loeak, MILA
Suciana Mark, MILA
Lynn Miano, PSS DES
Lola Schutz
New Zealand
Ulu Afaese
Taputukura Raea
Palau
Darlene Higa, Palau Ministry of Education
Imengel Mad, Palau Ministry of Education
Vera Malimarang, Palau Ministry of Education
Annalisa Ngirakakiel, Palau Ministry of Education
Abel Noah, Palau Association of Libraries
Vania Ringang, Palau Association of Libraries
Pohnpei
Trueleen Albert, Friends of Pohnpei Public Library
Mary Kilmete, FSM Congress Library
Stephanie Lorens, NES
Nercy Simina, FSM Congress Library
For more information on this year’s PIALA conference, visit https://piala-pacific.wixsite.com/piala-pacific
