Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Christmas celebration started early this year for the territory’s senior citizens who gathered last Friday morning, along with government officials and others to first dedicate the new Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA) center in Tafuna. And the memories of five senior citizens, who lost their lives in the Tsunami of 2009 that devastated the TAOA compound at Pago Pago were not forgotten.

Last Friday’s ceremony, “marks the end of a long journey. A journey, I believe, began eleven years ago,” TAOA director Evelyn Lili’o-Satele said in her speech at the ceremony, which included the governor’s annual senior citizens Christmas  program, held earlier than usual as the government is heading towards a change of administration.

In the Tsunami of 2009 “five of our senior citizens lost their lives to the devastating impact of that day. Several of our staff were swept away but miraculously, their lives were spared. The TAOA facilities were rebuilt on the same location and unfortunately so were the memories,” she said.

In early 2017, upon her appointment as director, Lili’o-Satele recalled Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga speaking to her of “his dream to locate TAOA’s office to a new location, one that would be more centrally located, more diverse, more relevant in its offerings to the senior citizens of the territory.

The governor also spoke with the “urgency to relocate our senior center to a location that would no longer be a constant reminder of the devastating impact nature can have on our lives,” she said and pointed out that the governor’s dream “began to take shape almost immediately”.

“Our new facilities are not just a cluster of buildings. They are a reminder of our cultural heritage and the critical role our seniors play in preserving it,” Lili’o-Satele told the audience, which included cabinet members, senior citizens and invited guests.

The TAOA director pointed out that the TAOA center, stands “as a monument to our role of advocating for seniors rights, their health and their independence in these changing times. Above all, our buildings represent a new way of life for all of us in this age of technological advancement and unfortunately the current threat of worldwide pandemics.”

She went on to express appreciation to all those who have had a hand, “however big or small”, in bringing this project to completion.

She also paid tribute to the territory’s senior citizens, saying “Thank you for the joy you bring each day, for the laughter, the smiles, the dancing, the gift of music, and all that you have done to preserve our culture, our families, our futures, our faith in God, and your hand in molding the communities we treasure today.”

“Thank you for all you will continue to do to extend and deepen the legacy of years to come,” she told senior citizens.

In closing she shared with the audience her “mother’s philosophy of aging”.

“Age is just a number; she would say — not a label. And if there were no mirrors, we would all be 21 forever. Never ever under estimate your ability to contribute, to influence, to make decisions, to be heard. Nothing, absolutely nothing can compare to the wisdom that comes with age. Your voice is a powerful one, that impacts all of life’s values,” Lili’o-Satele concluded.

At the start of the ceremony, the governor, who delivered his remarks in Samoan, recalled that the dream by senior citizens to have a new home began in 2013 when his administration took office.

Lolo said the TAOA director at the time told him that the TAOA center in Pago Pago was no longer safe after being impacted in the 2009 tsunami that claimed the lives of some senior citizens.

And when the current TAOA director came onboard, the governor said one of the issues raised in their first meeting is that Pago Pago center is not safe.

The governor explained that during planning of the project, the most difficult issue was funding, as none is available through the federal government. So after discussion with Fono leaders, the administration submitted the appropriation bill to fund the project.

As previously reported by Samoa News, the administration submitted in February this year and the Fono approved the following month, the $721,000 appropriation bill to fund the TAOA construction project.

At last Friday’s celebration, the governor revealed that the TAOA project is not fully completed, as the cost is heading towards $2 million, but what’s important is that the TAOA center is available for seniors to utilize.

He said the incoming administration of Lemanu and Talauega will continue with the project.

(Samoa News notes that with the project not fully completed, it’s unclear what the total cost would be for the entire project.)

Public Works director Faleosina Voigt shared with the audience a summary description of the project — awarded to Pentagon Samoa, as the main construction contractor — which includes buildings that house offices, a conference room, a shop where seniors can sell their handicrafts and the multi purpose building, and there is also a “Fale Samoa” on the compound.

Also included in the price tag, is the fence surrounding the compound, parking and improvement of road into the compound. There were also a handful of small subcontractors, such as providers for windows and railings.

Voigt joined, the governor and the TAOA director in thanking Pentagon Samoa, the subcontractors and others who contributed to the success of this project, for the territory’s seniors.

Pentagon Samoa president and owner Taupau Tauleave Toluono gave brief thanks and also thanked the governor and the administration for giving local Samoan owned businesses the opportunity to carry out ASG projects.

He said this is the second big project carried out by the company for ASG; the first one was improvement and upgrade to the Fagatogo Pavilion.

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

The second part of the celebration was the governor’s annual senior citizens Christmas program, which has usually been held in the early part of December since the Lolo Administration took office in 2013.

Lolo told the audience that he decided to hold it earlier than usual, as the government moves towards the change of Administration. And he hopes that the new incoming administration of governor-elect, Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga and lieutenant governor-elect, Talauega Eleasalo Ale will continue this program and others implemented by the out-going administration or even improve the programs heading forward.

The conclusion of the celebration was a feast and distribution of Christmas gifts — provided by ASG agencies — to senior citizens.