Miss Moso’oi Pageant rescheduled for Saturday due to weather

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — As part of the Moso’oi Festival, a new category called the Tama’ita’i Talks was hosted at the ASCC MPC this past Monday. Tama'ita'i Talks is a prerequisite event for the Miss Moso’oi Scholarship pageant, which is being Saturday — October 28, 2023 at 6 PM.

The Miss Moso’oi pageant will be held at the Su’igaula o le Atuvasa Park in Utulei, and will be a free event. There will also be a live stream available on the Moso'oi Festival's Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.

Tama’ita’i Talks highlighted each contestant’s “intellectual prowess” and gave them the opportunity to discuss topics about which they are passionate. 

Each contestant was given a 5-minute time limit and were judged on five different criteria – how informative they were on their chosen topic, how much research was integrated into their topic, creativity in delivering, how thought provoking their topic is, and their overall presentation.

Winner of the Tama’ita’i Talk category will receive an Apple MacBook Pro and $500 monetary prize. 

The five contestants vying for the title tonight are contestant #1 Angelina Fidow — Miss Fa’atamali’i, contestant #2 Naleigh Hudson — Miss All Star Signs, contestant #3 Aigafealofani Tofilau — Miss Pulepule Creations, contestant #4 Jeval Faletolu — Miss Fagatogo Youth and contestant #5 Precious Lisala — Miss Teuila.  

Here are excerpts from their Tama’ita’i Talks presentations on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023.

ANGELINA FIDOW

Contestant #1 chose Tourism as her topic and introduced herself as a tour guide to educate the crowd on the importance of tourism to her. 

 “Tourism is a significant industry that has a positive impact on the economy, society and the environment,” said Angelina passionately. “The following are some of the benefits of tourism — economic gains. Tourism is a significant contributor to the economy of many countries. Tourism creates employment opportunities, increases government revenues and stabilizes our way of life. 

 “When tourists visit our island, we can offer local delicacies, handicrafts and our breathtaking views for their family vacation. Job opportunities created from this avenue can help alleviate poverty and reduce social issues”, as Angelina put it. 

“Social gains from tourism through cultural preservation can ensure that our heritage is protected. Communities are empowered and arts in all forms thrive. We can foster a sense of pride through collaborative efforts from all aspects of government and community stakeholders. 

Angelina proclaims that, “environmental gains from tourism can enable the protection of our oceans by promoting conservation efforts and raising awareness of our ocean. Before technology, traditional knowledge enabled our ancestors to navigate the ocean freely, and the Hokule’a voyages are a living testimony. 

 “Let’s share our knowledge of the moana to advance efforts in protecting our environment and bringing awareness to the environmental issues our Pacific islands are facing.

 “Promoting tourism and cultural preservation play an important role in addressing these issues and in getting the community involved”, said Angelina as she concluded her presentation on tourism. 

NALEIGH HUDSON

Topic chosen by contestant #2 was domestic violence. Naleigh started her presentation off by telling the story of a domestic violence victim in order to provide a glimpse into the poison that is domestic violence. She also highlights that the perpetrators of domestic violence were once people that the victims thought they could trust. 

 “This is not just one woman’s story, it’s a reflection of an issue that silently lurks in our community, affecting us all,” said Naleigh. She put a twist on it and gave her presentation a title called “Twisted Love.” 

Naleigh delved deep to define what domestic violence is, stating that “domestic violence is not just physical abuse — it comes in many sinister forms. Emotional, financial, verbal, psychological, and sexual. The reality is that most people and many people in this very room, have experienced domestic violence first hand. 

 “In American Samoa, over 51% of our people from the age of 15 to 29 are victims of domestic violence, and only 40% of those women have reported. However, it is not only women who are victims to these crimes, but also men and children of all races, religions, relationship types, and ages,” said Naleigh as she stated statistics to back her presentation. 

 “This evil plagues our humanity, tearing apart the very fabric of the Fa’aSamoa way of alofa and fa’aaloalo, love and respect. Sadly, most cases of domestic violence happen within long-term and intimate relationships. These relationships are the last place you would want to find sadness, which is what makes it so twisted, twisted love, said Naleigh. 

 “The question often asked is, ‘why stay’ – but what we need to realize is that the victims are in a deep and dependent relationship with their abusers, making it hard for them to leave. Sometimes, the victim doesn’t even see themselves as a victim. They paint themselves as strong individuals with deeply troubled partners, which makes them feel obligated to endure this twisted love. 

 “Another reason it’s hard for victims to leave is because they’re scared and threatened into silence, because if not, they could die, as they are constantly reminded by the perpetrators,” said Naleigh. 

 “But love shouldn’t hurt and love shouldn’t kill. The question, why do they stay, indirectly implies that it’s their fault they’re staying. And suggesting that because they put themselves in painful situations but let’s not overlook the influence of fear.

 “Fear that can be a matter of life or death, it's crucial to remember that it’s never as simple as asking why they stay. Let’s break the silence, let us fight it.” Naleigh then emphasized that initiatives were taken by the government to advocate against domestic violence and that she hopes to “spread awareness of the struggles of domestic violence not from personal experience, but through the pain caused to her community.” 

To conclude her presentation, Naleigh strongly voiced that domestic violence affects everyone around us, and that it’s everyone’s problem, and that instead of staying quiet and neglecting victims, we should speak about it.

AIGAFEALOFANI TOFILAU

Contestant #3 chose suicide as her topic to present at the Tama’ita’i Talks. Aiga started off her presentation by acting as a teenager who received a plethora of negative criticism throughout life, and tormented herself by asking why she were born and what the purpose of existence is. Questions most often asked by individuals prone to suicidal thoughts, which she executed so emotionally. 

Aiga also voiced the kind of questions that suicide prone individuals ask themselves before committing the act — such as ways to go. 

 “These are questions these individuals must’ve asked themselves before they took their own life. Anger, sadness, and numbness is what they must have felt. But on the other side, is a mom, dad, sibling, or friend asking, ‘what did I miss, how could I not know, what could I have done’?”

Aiga voiced scenarios that would occur when family members and friends found out that someone dear to them commits suicide and questions and statements that the affected family members of suicide victims would ask after the fact.

 Questions and statements like, “I thought it was a Facebook joke, why didn’t you talk to me, what am I going to do now, why my child,” and so forth. “Suicide, suicide, I repeat myself.” Aiga went on. “Suicide is a preventable issue that we can stop. Governor Lemanu [states] that suicide awareness should be a community initiative, and that we should take the time to check on family members, friends, and neighbors, to show them that you care for their existence.” 

Aiga brought up statistics from the American Samoa Department of Health stating that “8% of American Samoan adults have thoughts of suicide, with fourteen attempts in 2021 resulting in 6 individuals dying, one attempt in 2022 with 2 individuals lost, and four attempts in 2023 with 5 individuals dying.”

Aiga then referenced statements made by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Saleapaga, that “too many lives are lost to suicide, and that something needs to be done.” 

Aiga also referenced a study conducted by the Department of Human and Social Services that 72 deaths were classified as suicides from 2005 to 2016 and reference a statement by community member, Pae Tuiasosopo, that “suicide is the silent cry of our island, that the people of American Samoa are crying for help.” 

Aiga mentioned that some of the common causes of suicide can by bullying, relationship problems, family problems, mentall illnesses, violence and abuse, and drug usage. Aiga also indicated signs and symptoms include those talking about wanting to die, whether in person or on social media, those talking about feeling hopeless and being a burden, isolation from others, impulsiveness and rage and those going through conflicts, loss and grief, and other stressful events. 

Aiga then offered that some solutions to solving the suicide epidemic is by reaching out to trusted adults, calling the 988 American Samoa Lifeline, spreading awareness in church, school, workplace, local community and government, and family bonding. 

To conclude her presentation, Aiga called on the government to establish a mental health and drug rehab facility.

JEVAL FALETOLU

Topic chosen by contestant #4 was the drug epidemic, which is currently plaguing American Samoa. Miss Jeval started her presentation off by asking the attendees to close their eyes, and raise their hands if they knew someone that was affected by “ice” or meth, as an icebreaker. 

She then instructed the crowd to open their eyes, and to no surprise, almost everyone attending knew of someone with a drug addiction. “It’s not news that drug use is a problem here in American Samoa. Now, I’m not an expert on drugs but I can tell you what drugs have done to my village. 

 “If you’ve ever been to Fagatogo, you can hear the whispers in the alleys to the screams that seep from behind closed doors, and know that drugs are affecting our homes. It tears apart our families and kills our loved ones.

 “The consequences of drugs results in our generation being scarred,” said Jeval. Miss Jeval then drew from personal experience, and told a story of a childhood friend she grew up with, whose life was ruined by drugs. Jeval teared up and highlighted how the drugs ruined her friend, and it led to him dropping out of school, among other bad decisions he made in his life, and how his decision to use drugs affected not only her, but his parents and family members. 

She finished that part of her presentation by asking herself, if it would’ve been a different outcome, had she spoken to him sooner.

Jeval then brought up a survey conducted in 2022 by the Christopher James Foeoletini Ledoux Foundation, which surveyed 402 youth between the ages of 16 - 25 from the Fagaloa district, which discovered that over 80% percent of them had thoughts of using or taking drugs. 

The survey, per Jeval, discovered that over 75% of the youth in her district knew the exact location of where and who to buy drugs from. The survey also discovered that 85% of the youth of Fagaloa district, knew friends or relatives known to be using and that only 3% had a conversation with their parents about drugs. 

 “How can we increase the dialogues in our homes? How can we change that 3% to a 100%? As Samoans, we are proud people that celebrate our heritage, however, this identity is tainted by those who deny the truth — drugs exist, our people our struggling, and we need help,” said Jeval fervently. 

 “Parents, uncles, aunties, cousins — it starts with you. You can ask them how their day went, create a safe space for anyone to share their hardships. Or even celebrate their successes, because being present for your loved ones, can make a world of difference.

 “So let’s break this stigma that comes from taboo conversations about drug use. Churches, pastors, Sunday school teachers, it starts with you. Be a sanctuary for your church members,” said Jeval as she advocated fiercely for solutions. “Use that time wisely to guide your flock, host community outreaches to teach about the dangers of using drugs.”

Jeval also called on village matai, pulenu’u and aumaga saying that it starts from them also, and suggested that the aumaga traditions be revived, and that mentorship programs should also be incorporated. 

Jeval concluded her presentation by advising that community, village, and church leaders should be an example, give the youth a voice, and to empower them if we ever want to stop the drug epidemic.

She also emphasized that these conversations need to be held within families and all aspects of the community, because “prevention starts with you”.  

PRECIOUS LISALA

Closing out the Tama’ita’i Talks with a presentation on mental health, was Miss Teuila, Precious Lisala. 

 “You’re probably sitting there and telling yourself that you’ve been in workshops for these before, but if you think about it, mental health affects everybody. You can be one of the most successful persons in this room and still have problems with perception. You can be quiet and still be attacked by your own nightmares in the middle of the night, but that’s what mental health deals with,” said Precious as she started off her presentation. 

 “How to define mental health is basically the emotional and physical wellbeing of a person. Usually emotional and physical wellbeing go hand-in-hand when you don’t have bad thoughts attacking your body, or when you’re unhealthy, leaves you lacking any emotion.” 

Precious pointed out that mental health for a college student can present a scenario where it can be difficult for the student to transition, noting that emotions can’t always be comprehended with one explanation — human emotions are complex and that each human experience is complex as well. 

 “And that’s just the nature of the human wellbeing. I feel like in my generation, we normalize things that shouldn’t be normalized at this point because there’s so many factors that play into your mind’s health, like manipulation and social pressures, where you come out in public, you’re entirely different,” explained Precious on what affects mental health. 

Precious went on to say that “this is the role of mental health in human behavior.” Citing a journalism class, where her instructor would tell her and her classmates, that if you can’t speak about your emotions, then try writing them down. 

 “In this class, there was this boy who didn’t speak English fluently. To accommodate him, I would have him tell me in Samoan, and I would write it down for him. When I heard this kid’s story, I thought to myself, I shouldn’t even be complaining about my situation, because other’s have it worse,” said Precious. 

As a teenager at the time, Precious says that even she had a struggle with comprehending her own emotions. “In our class, this kid, his name is Rex Mendoza, wanted to help us make a PSA video about drugs and alcohol, to bring awareness to young kids that drugs are bad and that mental health was very important. 

 “After Rex helped us with this PSA, the summer after that class was finished, Rex passed away. I couldn’t wrap my head around that, how’d he go to so many workshops and still ended up a victim to suicide?” asked Precious? 

 “It comes down to the fact that it’s you, you have to take the initiative to get yourself out of certain situations. And I feel like some people, they don’t take into consideration the effects and impact of your words.” 

Precious went on to state that “your words can give life, and your words can also leave a negative impact on people emotionally. And that’s difficult because I feel like we only come up with solutions when something bad happens. 

 “When Rex had passed away, I went back and watched the PSA, and in the video when we held up the signs and said our lines, ‘say no to drugs’, he was smiling. And to me, I wondered if that even helped him, cause if it didn’t, that proves that emotions are so complex, that I even wouldn’t have handled it if it was me.” 

Concluding her presentation on mental health, Precious recited a personal poem from her journalism class she took with Rex Mendoza, which talked about being kinder to yourself, and to always prioritize your mental wellbeing and to remove yourself from any situation that can be negative to your soul. 

Samoa News wishes all five contestants of the Miss Moso’oi Scholarship Pageant the best of luck Saturday and may the best woman win.