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Regional bilingual and bicultural group to re-establish committee
After three years, the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association will finally have an entire committee just in time for the upcoming annual PIBBA conference on Saipan.
PIBBA is a non-profit organization that is composed of a local chapter and an international chapter. Both chapters are focused on the preservation of indigenous languages, heritage, and cultures across the Pacific.
The local PIBBA chapter in the Northern Marianas, specifically Saipan, has not had a committee in over three years.
According to PIBBA local chapter president Frances Sablan, PIBBA was not able to re-elect or nominate new individuals to take up positions in the PIBBA committee for over three years.
Last Monday, several individuals met at the Admiral Herbert G. Hopwood Middle School and talked about reviving the committee.
Gloriana Teuira was chosen as the committee chair. The vice chairs are Roman Tudela and Jonas Barcinas. The rest of the committee will be nominated at the organization’s next meeting on Aug. 25.
According to Sablan, the PIBBA local chapter was established in 1996. Up until three years ago, the seats in the committee were filled.
Sablan decided that it was about time that they form a brand new committee before the 2018 annual PIBBA conference.
Rose Taimanao, who was part of the organization for many years, shared that the PIBBA experience depends on where the conference is held. Her experience in the PIBBA conference was in Palau.
The conference will allow attendees to get an in depth knowledge of the heritage of the conference’s host and will also share the importance of different Pacific cultures, according to Sablan.
Next year, the famous PIBBA conference will be held on Saipan.
The organization is accepting volunteers. Volunteers are required to share the same dedication to the preservation of diverse indigenous cultures in the Pacific.
