"If you built it, they will come..." said the voice to the Iowa farmer in the 1980s. So, he decides to forgo his corn fields, where his livelihood centres around. Instead, he builds a baseball diamond amidst jokes and laughter from his neighbours; and upon completing the field, lo and behold, the famous Chicago White Sox of 1919 come; so too, came all his neighbours, from far and wide, to witness his dream come true.
Back in May, 2011, a couple of PNG officials on APEC SOM2 engagements in the picturesque Big Sky, Montana, decided to build our own "baseball diamond". These was caused by the loud whispers in the corridors of APEC then, "that those who haven't hosted an APEC year were free-riding off the back of those who were hosting, and those who had hosted two times already, etc, etc, etc". We had been a member of this august body since 1993.
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| The visionaries: Joseph Varo (left) and Jack Kariko (right) |
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| Mr Vincent Sumale, then with our Embassy in Washington DC was there too, in the beginning. |
So, we got together during a break in the meetings, and started brainstorming and deciding on the possible years of when we could host. By then , APEC had hosts lined up only to 2013. We decided on 2018 because it was the only year convenient for us. The country had commitments in all the other years; and no, we couldn't go as late as 2019 or 2020 because that was "game over" year for the APEC Bogor Goals.
So, we returned and got the ball rolling; and one thing led to another, and our field of dreams was built, and our version of the Chicago White Sox, albeit, 20 leaders, whose economies cover 54% of world trade, are arriving next week (from 16 November).
The journey, since May 2011 to 18 November, 2018, had been a very turbulent one. Of course, it had to be turbulent; I mean which conservative and "experienced" Papua New Guinean was going to allow a so-called "bunch of happy-go-lucky, inexperienced kids" to build this field of dreams.
So, stepped in the venerable and majestic Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc (who sadly passed on a few years later). Sir Manasupe quietened the raging waters around these kids, in his ever humble ways, and in doing so, enabled planning to continue unabated from 2012 onwards.
My heart is heavy, my chief, because you left too soon. When the Era Kone Declaration is endorsed by Leaders next Sunday, 18 November, 2018, I will be thinking of you, Sir.
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| Yours truly with the late Sir Manasupe, during on of our regular catch-ups. |
For now, I would like you all to join me in applauding two great Papua New Guineans: Mr Joseph Varo, currently with the Department of Foreign Affairs, and Mr Jack Kariko, currently, Secretary, National Judiciary Services.
To JV and Secretary Kariko, your field of dream is ready; they are coming! This is for you. SALUTE!!!!!!
(The full behind-the-scene no-holds-bar story of our journey, is being planned for publishing in 2020.).
