Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to seal the partnership was signed on Tuesday by the founder of the IBSUniversity, Sir Mick Nades, and Chairperson of the MPIP PNG Committee, Molly O’Rourke, at the IBSUniversity campus at 11-Mile, outside Port Moresby.

The fully-funded scholarships, to be known as “IBS Founder’s Scholarships”, celebrate Sir Mick Nades’ 75th birthday this year and MPIP PNG’s 10th anniversary.

The scholarship encompasses the following:

She said it was through sports that she had the privilege and opportunity to continue her education to the university level, and graduate.

Maino is 23 years old and is from Kairuku in Central Province. At 15 she was given an opportunity of a lifetime to study in the United States when an aunt and uncle took her there. Maino received a soccer scholarship in California and went to the University of Hawaii where she graduated with a Business Administration degree in May this year.

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.

In the past, the pageant only sponsored those taking up courses in the fields of health and education.

This news came with the announcement of the 2018 scholarship applications open for the year.

The pageant sponsors young women, in the hopes of empowering them for the future, through education.

Since 2011, the pageant has spent K684,000 to the end of 2017 for 246 young women throughout PNG institutes.

Last year alone, the pageant sponsored 56 young women. 

Twenty-five-year-old Esther Aiga is the sixth and final contestant for the pageant this year.

She is sponsored by KTK Accountants & Advisors, an accounting firm based in POM.

The firm is big on women empowerment, with 65 percent of staff being females.

KTK is a first time sponsor into the pageant.

"Not all women in PNG can do this and Esther is one of them. She is a female with plans and purpose. That's why we are proud to assist her," said senior partner, Richard Kuna.

The firm is in its fourth year now.

Her message was directed towards the young women of the country.

She noted and commended many of the pageant’s past contestants who graduated in political science.

However, Babao said many more women in the country were taking politics as their next step in life, instead of the first.

She said in developed countries, women take this as a career path.

Babao was speaking during the pageant’s announcement of its first contestant.

The pageant is about empowering women through education.

It has since spent about K88,000 to universities for this year’s 47 scholarship recipients.

This is an annual scholarship awarded to successful recipients who best fit their outlined criteria.

According to the MPIP chairperson, Molly O’Rourke, the pageant scholarship prioritises medical students and those taking education, as the country needs more teachers and doctors. 

O’Rourke also confirmed a new scholarship launched this year.

This was announced by Lawrence Stephens, general manager - corporate affairs and governance, Melanesian Trustee Services Limited.

He challenged the newly appointed face of the fund, Renee Jasmine Siaguru, to find these missing members using the Miss Pacific Islands Pageant (MPIP) PNG platform.

Siaguru was the first contestant to join the annual pageant and is sponsored by Pacific Balance Fund/ Melanesian Trustee Services Limited.

Renee Jasmine Siaguru is sponsored by Pacific Balance Fund/ Melanesian Trustee Services Limited.

The 24-year-old is of East Sepik and Simbu parentage.

Siaguru is a lawyer by profession, currently engaged with Allens Linklaters, an international law firm.

She has taken over the title from last year's Melody Leke and will be the face of PBF/MTSL this year.

Project runway this year is sponsored by the Pacific Balance Fund.

It will be held this Saturday, August 12, at Crowne Plaza in Port Moresby.

11 designers have been confirmed, three of whom are new comers - Annette Sete of Lava Girl, Yaku Omotosho of PNG Fashion International and Cynthia Chapman.

Each designer will create pieces in three categories as required by the MPIP PNG.

Categories on show are Traditionally Inspired Dress, Sarong wear and Day/Eveningwear.