Celebrating Father's Day - the Motuan village way
 

THE smiles on the gentlemen's clean shaven faces accompanied by the unmistakable glint in their eyes - only men kne about - could have continued for eternity if only The Creator himself decided not to end that moment.

All in white and black, a few in their ties, some in their 50's and 20s, the men commemorated in a unique and traditional fashion the typical Motuan village style the Father's Day - an event celebrated last Sunday (7/09/03) by thousands of fathers nationwide.


Fathers of the Gorobe clan preserved for this day floral shirts sewn by the expert hands of the village women. In this picture the gentlemen pose for a quick picture before proceeding to the main arena where food wa being prepared for them

It was a day of feasting, singing and of remembering the fathers (as head of the household in many instances) and while in the nation's capital, the usual drinking spree, barbaque with selection of music and friends unfolded....in traditional remote Motuan village, the fathers, mothers, sons and daughters slowly embraced the day with singing and exchanging smiles and greetings.

Gentlemen singsing pocession towards the main stall where the mothers and children awaited them

No other men could have asked for more on Father's Day than the gentlemen from Vabukori village past KilaKila, Kaugere and Gabutu in the Moresby South Circuit.

And they would not have worn the smiles on their faces that day if it wasn't for the energetic mothers and daughters who have willingly prepared for the special occassion.

Fathers singing and celebrating the Vabukori way

With more than 8 clans and a number of people totalling over 1000, the village is consisted of four ethnic groups - Motuans, Koitabuans, and people from Hula and Kerema.

Though they have their own language, the people widely communicate in Motu. The village lifesyle is basically the same in this remote area with a typical Motu/Koitabuan peacful background.

Generally, everyone is in tune with each other - of course you hardly hear of ethnic clashes given the different backgound.

A welcome sign - Children happily greeted the fathers at the main entrance with a cup of noodles before they proceed into the feasting area

Upon a request by a friend, I decided to visit the Vabukori village and to see how the Father's celebration was commemorated.

Before that I was notified that a total of 350 fathers and sons were out on Manubada Island on a three-day retreat.
Father's and Son's Retreat was previously an initiative of Pastor of the United Church of Vabukori, Rev Gahuna Obaha to create a strong family bonding.

The gentlemen were treated to an hours entertainment staged by the villagers

According to the mistress of ceremony Cathy Raka, the retreat drew from the men and their sons a kind of bonding that was not there before.

"The retreat had changed totally the idea of many fathers and sons in our village. We have sons who never comminucate directly with their father and the fathers who never talked with their sons. This retreat has brought them all together," Cathy said.

The men left on Friday, two days before Father's Day, for Manubada island. They slept on the island and continue their retreat through the nigth.

A sign welcoming the Gorobe Fathers into their feasting area.[/url

The Father's Day Mass took place at the Vabukori United Church Congregation with the theme: "Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right."

Since the men were away, the women and their children led the preparations and that included cleaning and decorations for church building, and also organised choir goups and singsing group.

The service on Sunday was led by a group of enthusiastic mothers and daughters who topped it up later by putting up items for the men to enjoy.

The men arrived on Sunday morning from the retreat and went straight to church service.
The theme of the retreat was "Holy Ghost come and help us build our family."

Girls gracefully dancing to the tune and words of a praise song

Well done Alison !
 

I would like to congratulate Alison on her article that features -Celebrating Father's Day the Motuan Village way. As an ex-Png expat, I have found it very informative, the photos of the happy Gorobes Fathers captured the real meaning of Father's Day, since I had visited the village several times , your article made me really "homesick". Thanks Alison for the "report" well done.

Lucerne...Thanks for the acknowledgement. I am glad you enjoyed reading the article and that it brought back some fond memories.