(L-R) Victoria Amenda Mislio and 
Minai Taidai pausing in front
St. Immaculata Conception 
Church in Riwo village, Madang.

Before taking off in any plane, a mother is reminded to look after herself first before ensuring the safety and comfort of her child.

Synonymously, we cannot in the context of PM Marape's statement, ‘act together in solidarity to practically address climate change as well as to ensure our Pacific oceans deliver prosperity to our people’(info@pngbusinessnews.com), without achieving these outcomes first in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

We must first ensure our provinces have practical policies and strategies in place that are tied to funds to take care of climate change refugees and related “blue economy” ventures.

Riwo villagers join other coastal villagers and 
offshore islanders in Madang province in
raising their concerns on climate change
effects and impacts.

Unless each local maritime coastal communities are economically viable, sustainable, and prosperous, we cannot blow the trumpet at the national level in the presence of heads of Pacific Island countries, representatives of Small Islands Development Forum (SIDF), high commissioners, ambassadors, and distinguished guests to act together to address climate change issues as well as to gain economically from our marine resources.

As PM Marape stated:” Act together, not only on climate change but also on ensuring our ocean resources delivers prosperity to our people.”

Whilst I commend PM Marape for this foresight, as he acknowledges the National Fisheries Authority for developing the landmark policies of the National Tuna Domestication Strategy (NTDS), and the National Aquaculture Development Strategy 2025-2015, which in my opinion needs to be reviewed and updated to 2025-2030; I cannot see how these policies will benefit an ordinary coastal villager and offshore islander in PNG, let along Madang province.

The policies are targeting industrial fishing companies.

(L-R) Clara Ladong, Atene Baleng, and
Galik Mazik witnessing the launching of
Riwo Wigabau or commonly known as
Balangut.

PM Marape has challenged NFA to collect K3 billion in 2026 for the State as quoted below.

“Reflecting on the NFA’s journey since its establishment in 1998, PM Marape praised the authority as one of PNG’s most successful state institutions.  He observed that it already contributes between K1.5 billion and K2.3 billion annually to the national economy”, as reported in Business news. He announced further, “I am now challenging NFA to lift its contribution to K3 billion by 2027”.

PM Marape added: “September 16 will come and go, but the work of building our nation never stops.  Tonight, we have launched two strategies that represent our determination to shape the next 50 years.  Our goal is to build a K200 billion economy where no child is left behind.”

In my observation, firstly, I fail to see how the NTDS will keep our village folks in our coastal and offshore island villages fish to sustain their lives, earn money and live prosperously without being directly supported.

As Riwo villagers celebrate the launching of
their 6th Wogabau or Balangut they fear
rising sea level and the impacts of climate change
will not leave their child behind.

Secondly, climate change has no mercy and will not leave a child behind.

Small Islands will continue to sink as long as climate change effects exists.  Their inhabitants will or have already been left landless and homeless.

I say this to rebut PM Marape’s statement: “In 2019, at the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), I argued that our focus must be on reclamation.  Our people must remain on their land, and the Pacific family will stand with Tuvalu and every island nation facing this crisis.  You are not alone in this fight.”

Please see a video link attached herewith to learn about the steps taken by Tuvalu and Australia to practically address this issue.  The signing of the Falefili Union allows 282 Tuvaluans to migrate to Australia each year:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCMGuIy79A

In light of this situation, has the PNG government done an assessment and compiled a report on this tragedy?  Has the government made recommendation and shared it in a report to coastal villagers and offshore islanders? 

If so can someone share the document or the link to this document?

I repeat, as a nation, do we have a blue print policy on climate change refugees?

Ward 21 villagers in Ambenob LLG,
Madang, celebrating the 50th 
Independence Anniversary at Riwo village.

Thirdly, I think it is hypocritical to invite other Pacific Island nations to come to PNG and establish their fisheries industries when we cannot first address our own people’s needs.

I say this in relation to what the PM Marape said during this event as I quote his words published in Business news:

“If you don’t have land, come to PNG,” PM James Marape said.  “We have land, and we have labour, and we are ready to share.  Together, we can ensure that Pacific fisheries sustain Pacific people, not just foreign markets.”

In my humble opinion, I suggest that the best approach for the government and or for each maritime provincial government to do, is to come up with their respective adaptation policies and strategies.

PNG is within the Coral Triangle group of 
countries.  Climate change induced threats
is severely affecting PNG's coral reefs.

This policy and strategy especially for climate change refugees must be tied to a budget annually.  Without funds, it will remain another document filed away in the shelves collecting dust, and the rhetoric will continue.

 

Pater Kristianus Risco Batbual, SVD, i selebretim 17 yia jubili

Pater Kristianus Risco Batbual, SVD, i selebretim
17 yia bilong wok pater long Riwo ples, Madang.

Pater Kristianus Risco Batbual, SVD, i selebretim 17 yia jubili bilong wok pater bilong em insait long Katolik Sios wantaim ol peris manmeri na pikinini bilong Santu Imakulata Konsepsen Sios bilong Riwo ples tude, Sande, Septemba 21, 2025.

Santu Imakulata Konsepsen Sios em wanpela autstesin insait long Holi Spirit Peris bilong Alexishafen o Seg, bilong Madang Asdaiosis.

Pater Risco i kam long Indonesia.

Pater Patrick Gesch, Pater Kristianus Risco Batbual,
tupela SVD pater i celebretim 17 yia jubili bilong
Pater Risco long Riwo ples wantaim Pater Francil 
Yass na ol pipel bilong Riwo.

Dispela em i namba wan taim tru bilong em bilong selebretim jubili bilong em long wok pater long Papua Niugini.

Ol Katolik mama bilong Riwo ples i go pas long kirapim wok bilong painim moni, bungim kaikai, na redim ol presen bilong givim long Pater Risco.

Ol i givim present tu long Pater Patrick Gesch, SVD, na Pater Francis Yass, wanpela Daiosisen pater bilong Riwo.

Pater Patrick, SVD, na Pater Francis i bung wantaim Pater Risco na selebretim Santu Misa.

Tude ol mama i pinisim olgeta dispela wok wantaim ol bilip manmeri na pikinini bilong Riwo wantaim wanpela Santu Misa, bung kaikai, na ol singsing, na danis, wantaim Pater Risko, Pater Patrick, na Pater Francis.

Pater Risco i askim ol bilip manmeri na pikinini long yusim olgeta blesing God i givim ol long lukautim ol arapela tu olsem God yet i laikim.

Ol Katolik yut bilong Riwo i amamasim 
Pater Kristianus Risco Batbual wantaim ol 
singsing tumbuna na mix rekod musik na danis 
bilong tumbuna na bilong ol ausait lain. 

Em i tenkim ol mama, yut, na olgeta Katolik manmeri na pikinini bilong Riwo long bilasim haus lotu, mekim naispela lotu singsing, na bung wantaim em na Pater Patrick, na Pater Francis long selebretim 17 yia bilong wok pater bilong em.

Nau yet Pater Risco i tisim musik long Divain Wod Yunivesiti (DWU) long Madang.  Bipo long dispela em i bin wok olsem pater bilong Holi Spirit Peris long Alexishafen.

Wanpela olpela siaman bilong Peris Pastorel Kaunsel (PPK) bilong Santu Imakulata Konsepsen Sios bilong Riwo, Adolf Sakio i tenkim Pater Risco long gutpela wok em i bin mekim taim em i bin stap olsem pater bilong Alexishafen.

Riwo celebrates PNG's 50th Independence history in style

 

A singsing group from 'wali country' celebrating
PNG's 50th Independence history at Riwo.

Riwo village in Ward 6, of North Ambenob Local Level Government (LLG) in Madang Province celebrated the 50^th Independence celebrations in style on September 16, 2025.

The traditional and contemporary dancers and singers mainly youths and young children, literally fulfilled this year’s 50^th Independence Anniversary celebrations’ theme; ‘Celebrate history to inspire the future generations’.

The celebrations began with a morning Mass celebrated by Fr. Patrick Gesch, SVD, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Riwo village.

Madu Rockers Band from Kananam village
performing at the Independence celebration.

Fr. Gesch who celebrated PNG’s first independence celebrations in 1975 with his parishioners in Yangoru, East Sepik Province (ESP), emphasized the importance of reviving and sustaining sacred traditional cultures, creative arts, songs, and dances through inculturation.

He recalled seeing six elderly men shedding tears when they saw a singsing group perform one of their traditional singsing at the independence celebrations back then.

The singsing according to these elderly men was performed only once whilst they were still young.

Hence, they were deeply touched when it was performed in 1975 once again.

Fr. Gesch further shared the history of Divine Word University from its early years to where it is today.

The plan to establish the university took time as there were only six national high schools in the 1980’s.

The SVD’s had to wait until Papua New Guinea (PNG) had sufficient number of secondary schools producing grade 12’s to finally establish the Divine Word University (DWU).

Isabela Nawon and a relative displaying their 
painted faces during the celebrations.

The SVD’s had to wait until PNG had sufficient number of secondary schools producing grade 12’s to finally establish the DWU.

He further highlighted the many successful services the corporate entities, the Churches and the government had provided in partnership with local communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders both pre and post-independence to build this nation.

He encouraged the parishioners to embrace positive change and to cling to Christian values in a Christian country with optimism for a bigger, brighter, healthier, wealthier, prosperous, friendlier, safer, and successful PNG in the years ahead using a figurative story of a child.

His views sync well with that captured in PNG’s Vision 2050, Medium Term Development Plans 3 and 4.

In December this year, Fr. Gesch will resign from his active duties as priest, professor, and lecturer at the DWU.

Former acting judge, Cosmas Bidar's family
join the celebrations with the display of PNG's
flag on the wall of their house in Riwo.

We were very fortunate and privileged to attend Fr. Gesch’s last Independence Mass on PNG’s soil at Riwo before his retirement.

Fr. Gesch will return to Australia after doing pastoral work most of his entire active life in PNG, especially in Yangoru in ESP, and at the DWU.

He comes from Townsville, in Queensland, Australia.

The celebrations continued with other activities including the PNG flag raising, before the Madu Rockers band from Kananam village in Ward 10 of North Ambenob LLG took the center stage and sung a few of their numbers.

It reminded many of the old folks of the Madu Rockers band’s songs recorded and played on Radio Madang.

Many other indigenous traditional singsings, contemporary songs and dancers, and a bamboo band from ‘wali country’ entertained the crowd.

A few tourists attended the event later in the day.

Although late to capture some of the more interesting and exciting traditional singsings from Manus,

Riwo villagers recognise their former local MP
Sir Angmai Bilas and MP Paul Kamod

East New Britain, East Sepik provinces, Good Shepherd High School students, and the singsings from Riwo and North Ambenob LLGs, they joined the happy dancers and danced along with the beat of a bamboo band.

To spice up the evening, local life bands performed late into the evening to the delight of the local enthusiasts who danced to their hearts desires to the sounds of the melodious local and western songs.

The roadsides and the field where the celebration was held were packed with village vendors who took this opportunity to their advantage and sold their produce.

Even the face painters did face paintings of different designs and arts including that of the PNG flag and the 50^th Independence Anniversary.

It was a jubilant golden day for these vendors who made money to look after their families whilst joining the rest of the villagers and visitors in this joyful and trouble free celebration.

Riwo Wog Abau or Balangut was presented to the 
Madang Provincial Events Committee as part of 
the 50th Independence Celebration

Pictures by Patrick Kalom and Isabela Nawon.

 

6th Riwo wogabau launched

6th Riwo wogabau launched for the Provincial
Events Committee

More than 1000 Riwo villagers and onlookers jubilantly celebrated the launching of their 6^th balangut or wogabau at Riwo village on Saturday, September 06, 2025.

The balangut or wogabau was officially launched by Mr. Siegfried Beschel, chairman of the Madang provincial government’s Events Committee.

The occasion marks the official presentation of the 15.5 meters in length Riwo wogabau or balangut to the Provincial Events Committee to be used for the purpose of celebrating the 50^th Independence Anniversary.

The 15.5 meters long wogabau being launched.

Mr. Beschel informed Riwo villagers that the theme for Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) golden jubilee or the 50^th Independence Anniversary is to celebrate history and inspire the future generations.

He added that the amount of money spent to construct the wogabau or balangut is no way near the actual cost for the sailing canoe.

He further thanked the carvers, and the villagers and urged the younger generations of Riwo to uphold, maintain, restore, and sustain their traditions and customary practices. 

He stressed that by keeping the traditional cultures Riwo villagers will continue to preserve and promote with pride their identity, integrity, and dignity amongst the more than 1000 unique and diverse tribes of people in PNG.

Mr. Beshel said the Riwo traders will meet the Bilbil traders on their balangut respectively in a mock traditional barter system to be staged at Tusbab seafront during the 50^th Independence Anniversary’s celebrations on Saturday, September 12.  The other independence activities will continue until September 17.

The wogabau or balangut was named ‘Dibor Pain’, or ‘Dibor Meri’, Dibor Lady in respect for the Kimadi clan at Dibor for using a tree and other materials from their tropical virgin forest to build the sailing canoe.

Ngas Gubab leading traditional songs at the 
launching of the wogabau

It symbolizes a mutual respect and strengthens ties between the wogabau builders for and on behalf of the Riwo villagers and these two indigenous tribal communities.

Dibor is situated about 100 km northwest from Madang town, in Murukanam village of Ward 3 in the Sumgilbar Local Level Government area of Sumkar District.

According to common knowledge, the first balangut or wogabau was left at Bilbil village after the Riwo villagers couldn’t sail it from Rai Coast all the way to Riwo.  The sailors then walked home from Bilbil village.

This story is disputed by certain key village elders.  They said, the wogabau or balangut was actually presented to Bilbil villagers by the sailors before they walked back to Riwo.

The second wogabau or balangut was built by late Philip Bilas (Bilahai) Slubak or Zubak, the father of late Sir Angmai Bilas from Malapau clan.  He named his wogabau ‘Silalai’.

The third wogabau or balangut according to Mrs. Minai Kenas, the daughter of late Philip Bilas Slubak, was owned by late Paul Kubulan and family.  It was built by her dad, for Wosmai Kubulan, a cousin sister of the builder and was named AnnieRose after a daughter of late Mr. Kubulan.

Both Silalai and AnnieRose were used by the Catholic faithfuls in Riwo for their Korpus Kristi’s processions.

The fourth balangut or wogabau was built by late Philip Bos Tamen, a nephew of late Slubak.  It was purchased by Mrs. Dianne Christensen and Little John, former owners of Jais Aben.  This balangut or wogabau was shipped to Darwin.  Late Mr. Bos was flown to Darwin to fit the rest of the parts for the wogabau or balangut.  It is now kept at the Darwin museum in Australia.

The fifth balangut or wogabau was sponsored by Mr. Udd Kassas, from Riwo.  Mr. Kassas is a successful local businessman.  It was used by the Madang Archdiocese during the procession of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the lagoon and for transporting Archbishop Anton Bal to Saidor Parish in Rai Coast District and back to Riwo after dropping off the Archbishop.

The Catholic parishioners in Riwo recall with fond memories of late Br. Vinantius SVD, and of his brass band performing on Silalai and AnnieRose during their Korpus Kristi’s processions.

The launching of the 6^th wogabau or balangut will be used by the Provincial Events Committee in the 50^th Independence Anniversary.

(R-L)Delilah, Cathy, a friend and Maria witnessing
the launching of the wogabau.

According to Mr. Bonny Duad, the lead wogabau or balangut builder, certain rituals are performed in the construction phases of the sailing canoe.  To strictly adhere to this sacred rituals and processes and protocol takes time.

 

“Once the wogabau or balangut is completed a pig or more are cooked with vegetables and garden food and distributed equitably and equally to those responsible for the construction of the canoe.  After the feast, the wogabau or balangut is launched and ready for its maiden trading voyages.  This feast is accompanied with kava or ‘gigek’,” said Mr. Duad.

 

Mr. Bonny Duad is the grandson of late Mr. Bilas’s younger brother, late Peter Duad.

 

Jacinta Obou joining the traditional singing at the 
launching of the wogabau.

Wogabau or balangut in Riwo remains the intellectual property of Malapau clan.

 

The process of building a canoe or wogabau is a lengthy process.  Once the trees are cut in the forest, the logs are stored under a shelter or house to dry before being carved into a canoe.

 

Unfortunately, this step and other steps and sacred rituals were not followed to build this recent wogabau or balangut as the timeframe given by the Provincial Events Council was too short to meet the deadline.

Mothers and children witnessing the launching
of the wogabau.

On the occasion of the launching of this wogabau or balangut, the Madang town mayor arrived late.  Both the Madang Governor Hon. Ramsey Pariwa, and the Acting Madang Administrator, Mr. Daniel Aloi were excused as they had attended an urgent special meeting for the provincial government.

 

Story and pictures by Wenceslaus Magun