For the first time in its eight-year history, Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG has received a motor vehicle from a local company that has come forward as a sponsor.
Freeway Motors, owned by the Tasion Group Holdings, has donated a 7-seater Honda Maxima mini-bus valued at K35,000.
The vehicle donation includes full service three times a year.
Miss Pacific Islands, Leoshina Kariha, said: “It gives me great honour to officially announce the valuable sponsorship of Tasion Group Holdings – Freeway Motors.
“Transport is essentially needed to complete the day-to-day work of the MPIP PNG platform. This year, due to staging two pageants, there is more work and demand on the MPIP PNG Committee, which is made up of PNG women volunteers. This vehicle will be very useful in ensuring the Committee fulfils its obligation to contestants, sponsors, charity organisations, schools and other engagements.
“For years the committee has worked using their personal vehicles. It is a tremendous blessing to now have a vehicle solely for the work of the committee and we look forward to working more efficiently.
“We are ever so grateful for our sponsors, for without you, we would not be able to carry out the vision of empowering young women in the nation.”
Chairperson of MPIP PNG Committee, Molly O'Rourke, thanked the Tasion Group Holdings and said the vehicle will be used to organise the Miss PNG and Miss Pacific Islands pageants this year.
“I am very humbled and thankful for this gesture from Tasion Group Holdings.
“The company is PNG family owned and they have come forward as a sponsor in order for my Committee to put on spectacular pageants this year.
“The Committee is especially grateful to Chief Operations Officer for Freeway Motors Mr Ted Tasion who made this possible.
“We began discussions some months ago as I had been using my own vehicle for pageant work and the vehicle began having problems.
“This is a dream come true and we are very grateful.”
Freeway Motors has been established in Port Moresby since 1995 by owner Sam Tasion.
Meantime, the crowning of Miss PNG will be on the 31st of August and the Miss Pacific Crowning on the 30th of November this year.
(Miss Pacific Islands Leoshina Kariha with the new MPIP PNG vehicle)