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ROSKA
STAYS BUSY WITH HOLIDAY EVENTS 2006 |
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By Easter Asi Bruce |
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The Republic of Korea Samoa
Association (ROKSA) kept busy this past holiday season beginning
with the Gift-wrapping Fundraising Event held 22 and 24 December
2006, followed by the Christmas Program & Dinner held 25 December
2006 and finally the New Years Eve family event held at Yongsan
Lanes, 31 December 2006.
The Gift-wrapping Fundraiser is ROKSA’s second major fundraising
annual event after the golf tournament. The funds raised from the
Gift-wrapping activity are used to subsidize costs for the Christmas
and New Years Eve Program. Approximately $2700 was raised over the
two day period ROKSA was scheduled to work. These funds were used to
defray costs with all the holiday activities scheduled.
Laughter rang through the hallways of Commiskey’s Family Restaurant,
South Post, Yongsan Army Garrison where ROKSA hosted the 2006
Christmas dinner for members and invited guests.
Talalelei Fautanu Jr. served as the evening’s Master of Ceremonies
(MC) keeping the program filled with enthusiasm and excitement while
maintaining the sequence of events. After his welcoming remarks, the
evening kicked off with the opening prayer, pese and Christmas
message delivered by Flo and Leafe Amosa. The guests were then
dismissed to partake of the buffet line that included a few Samoan
dishes: faalifu fa’I, sapasui, pagi popo and puligi just to name a
few. During dinner, a slideshow of ROKSA’s 2005 Christmas Program
created by Rosa & James Lesui-Thomas was provided as many photos
rushed back fun-filled memories as evidenced by the audiences’ sighs
and chuckles. A surprise visit by Santa presented prime
opportunities to snap photos with many of the Samoan young ladies in
attendance.
ROKSA president, Tauapai Laupola provided opening remarks for the
evening. The theme of Laupola’s remarks reinforced the notion that
ROKSA was founded on love and respect in order to provide a home
away from home for Samoans stationed in Korea. Vital to this goal is
providing an environment that promotes the understanding of the
Samoan language and culture. ROKSA is the vehicle to bring together
all Samoans on the peninsula
to promote the “fa’asamoa” (Samoan way of life). Since the new ROKSA
Board was installed in October 2006, ROKSA sponsored |
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The 6 participants competed in transforming their
partners into attractive Samoan ladies. Standing from left to
right: Pule Tuono, Joe, Rodney Roby, Faapaia Seiuli, Matt Iuli
and Fiavivini Sipa.
(Photo: ROSKA) |
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Taking first place in this competition were
Lagi Namu and Si'i Galoia, standing to the far left.
(Photo: ROSKA) |
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Taking first place in this competition were Tima
Sua and Pule Tuono pictured here on the right.
(Photo: ROSKA) |
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nine different events
(Annual Membership-drive and Officer Installation Event, SGT Silia
Sefo Farewell, Annual Golf Tournament, Congressman Faleomavaega
Welcome Dinner, Thanksgiving/White Sunday Service, Launching of
ROKSA’s website, Gift-wrapping Fundraising Event, Christmas Program
and finally reigning in the New Year 2007 at Yongsan Lanes. Laupola
emphasized the fact that ROKSA has proven its worth based on its
accomplishments listed above and many more since its inception 3
years ago. Therefore, you don’t have to look too far because ROKSA
is providing that “home away from home” for Samoans on the peninsula
that was not in existence several years ago. ROKSA not only provided
a conducive environment but also afforded the opportunity to share
our rich Samoan heritage. Laupola shed light on that rich history by
saying that each Samoan village has a story. He then used respective
villages of several soldiers from Fitiuta, Falealupo, Aua and
Vaitogi to emphasize his point. He concluded by acknowledging the
ROKSA board for their dedication and commitment to provide a home
away from home for ROKSA members.
The entertainment of the evening began with a few competitive games
all relating back to the theme of “Life on a Sunday in Samoa.” Ms.
Easter Bruce chose this theme because the games would be an
enactment of chores done when cooking Sunday meals. The games
started out with making puka kopai . A 2-person team had to mix a
set amount of flour and water provided in order to make the puka
kopai. The result? Some puka kopai made would have earned a couple
of whacks on the head from mom but nonetheless, the judges were
lenient and made their ruling – Area II represented by Tima Sua and
Pule Tuono took first place.
The 2nd game was fofo’ega fa’i (peeling green bananas). A small
twist was added to the game – all the peelers were blindfolded and
keeping in line with our Korean hosts, chopsticks were provided to
peel the bananas. This game will certainly reveal those who has
spent many hours in the kitchen cooking and those who never stepped
foot in the kitchen. Area III represented by Lagi Pine and Si’i
Galoia took first place; the chopsticks did not hamper their mission
at all.
The 3rd game was valuina o talo (cleaning taro). Each team member
gathered behind their taro with an already prepped asi (scraper).
Once the judge gave the green light, team member #1 began scrapping
half of the taro then passed it to their teammate to scrape the
remaining. Area II representated by Tima Sua and Pule Tuono took
first place.
Overall, Area III took first place with a score of 27; Area I with a
score of 17; and Area II with a score of 16. Area II winners were
presented with cans of pilikaki; Area I with tins of popcorn; and
Area III with $50 AAFES Gift Cards.
For the final game, Fa’apaia Seiuli, Pule Tuono, Matt Iuli, Joe,
Rodney Roby and Fiavivini Sipa were randomly selected from the
audience. Three participants were blindfolded while the other three
were given a bag of items with these simple instructions: every
single item in the bag had to be used on the blindfolded
participant. As soon as the green light was given, the blindfolded
gentlemen were quickly transformed into shady maybe even sexy,
Samoan ladies complete with lipstick, pantyhose, a Samoan purse and
some possibly became well-endowed thanks to two balloons. The judges
voted for Fiavivini Sipa and Matt Iuli as first place winners; the
team received $100. For their participation and team spirit, ROKSA
awarded the other two teams $50 each.
The games prepared the audience for more entertainment as Area I
provided a medley of Christmas Carols both in English and Samoan;
Area II provided a family siva by the Laupola Girls as they danced
to a catchy tune, “Feliz Navidad.” Area III performed a song and
then segued into a siva number dancing to a medley titled
“Laulausiva” from the Dolphin Boys Volume 3 album. The sole
representer from Area IV, Pule Tuono, also crooned a few holiday
tunes with a little help from Area II’s, Punefuolemotu Aiumu and
Poasa Masaniai, Jr.
The evening ended with bidding farewell to 4 departing ROKSA
members: Fiavivini Sipa, Luce Poutoa, Myron Muasau and Easter Asi
Bruce. Ms. Bruce provided closing remarks where she encouraged ROKSA
to continue with its mission of providing a “home away from home”
for Samoans in Korea. This was followed by closing prayer and pese
led by Leafe Amosa. Guests were then choraled into position for the
traditional group photo.
The Yongsan Lanes New Years Event was ROKSA’s last holiday activity.
Attendance was purely optional as ROKSA’s role in this activity was
merely to reserve tickets for interested individuals. This event is
a sold-out activity for Yongsan because the activity caters and
attracts families to celebrate New Years Eve as a family. ROKSA
reserved 40 tickets for its members and guests to purchase.
For a second straight year in a row, ROKSA, was able to raise funds
to cover dinner costs for the Christmas Program, provide ample
raffle prizes, provide audience participatory entertainment that
kept laughter ringing and provided another alternative to
celebrating New Years at Yongsan Lanes. As the year closes, ROKSA’s
executive board and committee chairs look forward to an exciting
list of activities for 2007.
Please check out the website: www.roksa.info for the latest photos
taken during the holidays of these events.
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Copyright Event Polynesia Ltd.
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