Bilingual and bicultural week proclaimed
The week from June 19 to June 25 has been proclaimed the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association Week, as part of continuing efforts to improve the bilingual aptitude of people in the Commonwealth.
Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed the proclamation Thursday at the Governor’s Office executive conference room and was attended by PIBBA officers and members.
Babauta said he is encouraging everyone to recognize the many contribution made to the Pacific region by the organization. The celebration will highlight the 24th Annual Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association Conference at Kagman High School on Saipan from June 20 to 24.
According to the proclamation, educators in Micronesia and Hawaii organized the Pacific Islands Bilingual Association in 1979 and the second Pacific Islands Bilingual Conference took place at the Guam Reef Hotel in January 1980, where the constitution and by-laws of the association were adopted.
During the third annual conference in 1981, the association’s name was officially changed to Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association, which primary goal was to support and encourage the effective bilingual programs in the Pacific.
The mission of the association was to promote bilingualism and biculturalism in the Pacific.
“To establish channels of communication for disseminating information relevant to bilingual/bicultural activities in Pacific,” the original document stated.
The association also aims to foster community involvement in the development and implementation of bilingual/bicultural policies in the Pacific and to serve as a forum for the development of the bilingual/bicultural philosophy in the Pacific. PIBBA also aims to encourage the implementation of quality programs of bilingual/bicultural instruction in our Pacific Islands’ schools and communities.
The proclamation further read that the languages and cultures of the Pacific Islands Bilingual Bicultural Association represent American Samoans, Chamorros of Guahan and the CNMI, Carolinians of the CNMI, Belauans, Chuukese, Hawaiians, Kosraeans, Marshallese, Pohnpeians, and Yapese.
