4824(II)_Harim Tok – Wokabaut Wantaim

Don Bosco Technological Institute Cultural Show

August 20, 2018

By Catherine Nongkas PhD, Principal DBTI
Photographs: Karl David Valmonte and Fr Ambrose Pereira sdb

Boroko, PNG, 18 August 2018 -- Don Bosco Technological Institute, Boroko (DBTI), staged its Cultural show on 18thAugust 2018. The theme of the Cultural show was, “Harim Tok – Wokabaut Wantaim” which is the pidgin translation of the Strenna, “… Let us cultivate the art of listening and accompaniment”.

The Cultural show concluded its celebrations of the Don Bosco week from the 11th– 18thAugust 2018. The celebrations commenced with the Family Day on the 11thAugust, which was well attended by the families, parents, guardians and friends. On the 13thand 14thAugust was the Sports fest while on the 15thAugust we had the ‘Open House and Skills competition’ in all the seven technologies. Then on the 16thwe had a variety of activities such as the: ‘Launch of the DBTI website, fashion show, and Bosco got talent, etc.’ On the 17thAugust, students were given time to prepare for the cultural show during the day and in the evening was the homecoming of the past pupils. During the entire week of activities and celebrations, we witnessed how the students displayed and reflected the spirit of the theme as their teams performed and worked together to achieve the targets set.

The Cultural show commenced with a prayer by Br Reto Wanner SDB. The singing of the National Anthem and the recital of the National Pledge led by a student, Mr. Basil Iwik. Fr. Alfred Maravilla SDB, Provincial of the Salesians of the vice-province of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands (PGS), who is the chairperson of the Governing Board of DBTI welcomed everyone and opened the show.

There were 20 provincial singsinggroups who performed. The students represented the four regions, Southern, Momase, Highlands and the New Guinea Islands and the 21 provinces of Papua New Guinea. The students prepared very well for the dances and proudly displayed their cultures.

“The celebration of cultures in Papua New Guinea is very important for our young people. As a people, we need to maintain our indigenous cultures to anchor the young people within their culture, so that they do not lose their cultural practices, dances and songs, food and language” said Dr Catherine.

At DBTI, a biannual cultural show is celebrated. Given the opportunity to participate in their cultural show, the students put their heart into the preparation of the different dances. “The staging of the traditional songs and dances is done with great pride. I was really proud to see the quality of the singsinggroups from each of the provinces. It was a joy to watch them sing and dance”, said Dr Catherine.