Following the spectacular float parade that ended yesterday as part of the lead-up celebrations to Papua New Guinea’s 50th Independence anniversary, under the leadership of NCD Governor, the program kicked off this morning at the Sir Hubert Murray Stadium with the Pacific Stories festival. This was acknowledged through a vibrant display of cultural dances like the Maori Poi dance & the famous Haka, the traditional Samoan tattoo crafting method and many more with local pacific SME stalls displaying their arts & crafts and food sales as well. Present to witness and be part of the event, Miss Papua New Guinea May Hasola said, Papua New Guinea did not come this far on their own and it is only fitting to celebrate this great mile stone together. “It’s means a lot to me to be able to celebrate with our Pacific brothers and sisters, because it reinforces the idea that we did not to 50 years on our own but with the help of all our pacific community and all pour people so I think that’s the most important thing." "Just remembering that we all did this together so it’s only right that we celebrate together,” said Hasola. With the event set to come alive tonight, Miss Hasola is looking forward to watch the vibrant cultural Maori Haka and the Samoan Siva to be performed by the former Miss Pacific Islands and Miss Samoa Meomoana Schwenke. She further emphasized that, in the lead-up to our 50th anniversary celebrations, young people should embrace the spirit of unity as Pacific Islanders and be encouraged to celebrate their resilience and identity as Papua New Guineans. “At the launch of this event yesterday, Prime Minster James Marape was talking really strongly and gave good insight into how we shouldn’t take our democracy for granted and how free we are in our country.” “And I think that’s the most important thing as youths is too not just take for granted how far we’ve come as a country and our freedom.”