A total of 16 boxers officially signed their Professional Boxer's contract agreement last week Friday. The contract was signed between the boxers, their managers and the Oceania Fight Promotions. Marketing Manager for Oceania Fight Promotions, Mr. Noel Sarei, said that the contract consists of a number of details such as the boxers’ terms and conditions between the three parties, the category they will be fighting under, the number of rums to fight, the name of their opponents and most importantly the prize money. “We at Oceania Fight Promotions, recognize boxing not only as a recreational activity but also an industry.” “We focus on building our youths to become champions.” “Our track record has proven hosting a total of seven local fights and four international events which gave us confident and strength.” Sarei added that with the company’s mission to address unemployment and poverty issues, the signing of the contract is seen as a significant milestone for participating youths, especially those in professional boxing. After the contracts are signed, the fighters will then proceed in training and preparing themselves for the upcoming boxing tournament. The Legend’s X-Mas Clash fight is a boxing tournament that takes place annually and will be held at the Sir John Guise Stadium this Sunday. Sarei thanked all the sponsors for their support in making these two events possible; the contract signing as well as the upcoming tournament. “I can confidently assure our sponsors and stakeholders that your sponsorship and association with us will increase your showcasing responsibility to the community.” He concluded by encouraging those out there who are interested in such sporting activities, to come forward and showcase their talents.

A new band in the music industry, the Eleven 35 boys took out the Yumi FM Musik Award Listeners Choice Song of the Year Award, thanks to their fans that voted for their song “Superman”. The 17th Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards 2021 Live on Radio recognized artists, songs, bands and producers of the year 2020 who worked tirelessly and managed to deliver to their fans amidst the COVID-19 situation the country. Eleven 35 was nominated in the Best New Artist of the Year category, however they missed out on that category but the listeners and their fans never gave up on the group’s hit single “superman”. Their song ‘Superman’ got the highest number of votes and requests on 93 Yumi FM for 2020. This is the first time Eleven 35 has won an award for the YUMI FM PNG Musik Awards. “Winning the award for the first time is something new and exciting for us and winning an award for the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards is huge for us, just by knowing that we were recognized.” “This shows that we have done our part by doing something right for our listeners and for the PNG Music Industry as a whole.” Sky from Eleven 35 thanked all their fans as well as Yumi FM for making it possible for them to win the awards. “If it wasn’t for the fans, we wouldn’t have received this award, and with that we are thankful.” Sky said this was something to look forward and strive harder come next year’s Musik awards. “We are now preparing for two upcoming songs, one of them will be with Sai Kay which should be done and released early next year.” The group which started around July last year, have so far released 13 songs in total, Superman, being one of them. Superman which was released in November last year, has been a hit ever since. “Since PNG has good artists, our aim now is to create good music and to make sure that we keep this group intact by using our talents to sing and to be a part of the PNG Music Industry.” “This is just the beginning of what is yet to come and that’s starting off with this achievement and building on from there.”

Friends of POMGEN, a charity organization made up of business houses and others have been running an appeal as of last week at Waterfront Food World under the banner “GIFT A FRIEND”. A booth has been set up at the shopping center for anyone who wishes to gift a friend at any of the wards in Port Moresby General Hospital. The donation appeal will end on the 19th of this month, while the gifts collected will be donated to the hospital on the 20th -24th December. Founding Director of Friends of POMGEN, Ms. Naarai Banam said the gifts will be given to everyone from children to adults. “This is the time of sharing, so what a better way to give a gift especially to those who need it the most.” In addition to this, Banam said that Friends of POMGEN will also be selling merchandise such as mugs, key rings and other stuff. The merchandise will be put up for a sale once the new orders come in and are made available. “We the Friends of POMGEN continue to enable communities to be a part and be involved in helping and most importantly caring for our hospital.” She said the ‘Gift a Friend’ appeal is not the only appeal that Friends of POMGEN would like to do but they would very much appreciate it if more surrounding communities such as schools and organization can also chip it to help. “Any form of help would be appreciated and needed at this time, especially when we are approaching the festive season.” “We hope that once this appeal is over, we have enough to share with those ones in the hospital, especially those who don’t have loved ones with them during this time.” Apart from the appeal, Ela Murray was also one of the supporting communities who recently donated 200 Christmas gifts to the Children’s Ward. Banam encouraged everyone to help show their support during this festive season in buying and donating a gift to those in the hospital.

Estapacifica has won three awards at the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards 2021 Live on Radio which was hosted last night on the Yumi FM radio station. The awards include Best New Artist of the Year, Female Artist of the Year and Artist of the year. Estapacifica was nominated under these categories for her most outstanding performance in the PNG Music Industry in 2020. The artist who hails from Southern Highlands and Eastern Highlands Provinces respectively is the first Female Artist of the Year to win the Artist of the Year award for 2021. In addition to this, Estapacifica's Gomohane was the top song that played for nine consecutive weeks on the Yumi FM radio station. Alongside Estapacifica, K-Dumen won the Song of the year as well as the JK award, Saii Kay won the Male Artist of the year followed by Snooks Wilson (Deh Deh sounds) who won the Producer of the year award. Tasik Yard was also amongst the other winners who won the Registered Artist of the year award followed by Eleven 35 who won the Listeners Choice song of the year. Every year the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards brings together hardworking local artists and gives recognition for their contributions towards the PNG Music Industry. This year, for the second time around, Yumi FM has brought another successful Awards Night Live On Radio and would like to wish all the artists a continued success in their musical careers.

The list of nominees for the YUMIFM PNG MUSIK AWARDS 2021 LIVE ON RADIO is out now and the winners will be announced tonight on the Yumi FM radio station. The nominees have been voted under each of the ten categories, including Song of the year, Best New Artist of the year, Best Male and Female Artist, Group/Duo of the Year, Artist of the year, Producer of the year, Registered Artist of the year, Justin Kili Award and Listeners Choice Song of the Year. The nominees have been recognized for their contribution to the PNG music industry in 2020. Estapacifica’s single Gomohane is amongst others who have been nominated so far for the Song of the year Award including K-Dumen & Roman Niemba’s Burum Ambi, Saii Kay ft Cammy Bee & Kronos with their song Frangipani SSM and Daniel Bilip’s Longwei Peren. Nominees for the Best New Artist of the Year include Eleven 35, Tuhiana, Estapacifica and Natz. McDonald Taylor, Jayrex Suisui, Mal Meninga Kuri and Saii Kay are nominees under the Best Male Artist category alongside Asi Vaname, Taita Maraga, Esatapacifica and RiiKah who have been nominated under the Best Female Artist Category. Group/Duo of the Year of the Year nominees include Stagajah and Chaddy Chad, Tasik Yard and Naps Safe, Extracts Band of Alotau, Kelly Bol and Tarvin Tounie, Archie Tarzy, Ragath Solomon and Hatred. Nominees for the category; Artist of the year include K Dumen, Estapacifica, Saii Kay and Tasik Yard. Late B-Rad is also one of the nominees for the Producer of the year award; Block Music. He is amongst others in the likes of Snooks Wilson (Deh Deh Sounds) and Weedy Boy (Blaze 1 Recordz) who have all been nominated for the Producer of the Year Award. As for the Registered Artist of the Year, the nominees include Tasik Yard and Saii Kay. Apart from these artists nominated under each of these categories, there are two more categories which will also be announced in efforts to recognized more local artists. The two categories include the Justin Kili Award and the Listeners Choice Song of the Year. According to Program Director of Yumi FM, Tuluan Vitz, the artists who are most voted and requested for by the listeners will be announced and presented their awards. “These artists are given awards based on their outstanding performances and contributions they have put in towards the PNG Music Industry.” “The event will be delivered live on air as well as on our Yumi FM social media page, giving our listeners a feel of the event in which they can take part in.” Tuluan Vitz has encouraged everyone to tune in tonight on Yumi FM starting from 8pm to 12 midnight to listen to the announcement of the best artists of the year.

Christmas came a little early for children at the Port Moresby General Hospital Pediatric Ward when Ela Murray International School today donated over 200 Christmas presents. The donations were initiated by a parent group committee called TEMIS. According to a parent, this was one of their ways in supporting the surrounding communities and one of them is giving back to children in the hospital. Melissa Belfrord who is part of the parent committee, expressed that this was the kind of support the school wanted to give especially during this festive season. “If it wasn’t for the help and support from the other parents, we wouldn’t be able to support our communities and with that I am forever grateful.” “We the parent group of TEMIS, feel so blessed to be part of a community supported event. We appreciate the work Friends of POMGEN does and with that, we are more than happy to support them.” According to one of the Founding Directors of Friends of POMGEN, Ms. Naarai Banam, this was an initiative that the students and parents wanted to share with other children during this pandemic time. Banam expressed her gratitude to the parents and students of Ela Murray for the support and effort into donating to the hospital. “We have about 203 children in both Ward 1 and 2. We will present a gift each to them as their early Christmas present" Banam said that this is the first year for the school to donate to the hospital and hopes that this can be done again come next year.

In a country where there is an increasing number of lawlessness among our youths who have resorted to cheap alcohol and drugs, it is very difficult to raise a young man without the negative influence from his peer groups on the street. Parents, church leaders, schools and community leaders are struggling to tame this generation but it keeps getting worse by the day unless the youths are engaged in something positive they love doing and sports for Papua New Guinean youths is an alternative. A former professional boxer Nelson Kosipi has seen how this generation is wasting away to cheap alcohol, drugs, unhealthy food, lack of discipline and has decided to come up with a boxing club aiming to get youths and kids off the street and away from activities that pollute their minds and destroy their body. Kosipi’s boxing club is known as the House of Pain Boxing Club and it’s located in Waigani where youths from Morata, Waigani, Gerehu and NCC have become part of this club. He is currently coaching 50-60 youths from as young as nine years of age to 26 years of age. The club members are slotted into three divisions as per their age and weight. The first division is called the Cadet, which is made up of youths as young as 8-15 years of age. The second is the Novice division consisting of 16 - 19 years of age and the final division is the senior division comprising of youths from 20 -26 years of age Kosipi has so far seen an improvement in his team members’ boxing skills. He said it is just a matter of helping them finding out who they are and building them on from there. “I decided to take up the initiative of creating this boxing club for youths specifically those living in Waigani, to give them a chance to do something good for themselves.” “I made the decision to take them off the street and into the ring so that they can take part in something good such as sports and not illegal activities that includes drug consumption and so forth.” He said the club has so far helped the youths in doing something productive in their lives instead of resorting to bad habits. “Boxing can also help develop and mold them into being someone better in the future.” “My aim right now is to build up new boxers, to become the next Martin Beni and Jack Willie in Papua New Guinea so that they can become good role models for their community and also for the country.” The House of Pain Boxing club is among six clubs currently taking part in the North-East Boxing Tournament. The tournament which began a month ago, takes place every weekend at ATS. The House of Pain has so far won 38 matches and will be going into the semi- finals which are set to take place this weekend. In the event that the team members win the semi-finals this weekend, then they will be able to proceed to the grand finals which will be on the 4th-5th of December.

The Accident & Emergency department at the Madang Provincial Hospital has recorded 74 Covid-19 positive cases for the last three weeks after carrying out a total of 203 tests. Emergency Physician, Dr. Juith Gawi, said swabs were done on patients who presented themselves with COVID-19 symptoms at the outpatient area. He said the department has seen a surge in the number of cardiovascular diseases like stroke, chest pain and treatment failure malaria. “Since October the Madang Provincial Hospital had recorded 74 positive Covid-19 cases and 25 Covid-19 deaths, while 55 Covid-19 patients were discharged from the A&E department for home quarantined." "They were then followed up by the surveillance team while some came back for review through the A&E department and had recovered.” Gawi said. Gawi added, the hospital is still working to have its isolation ward fully functional for covid-19 patients thus most of the covid19 patients were also kept at the A&E department. “The A&E department has a 15-bed capacity that normally gets patients from all districts of Madang."  "For now, Covid-19 patients are being admitted and treated in the A&E Department.” Furthermore, he said it is risky for the hospital to nurse Covid-19 patients in the same department as the non-covid patients while waiting for the isolation ward to be up fully functioning. The hospital has tried to help the situation by partially separating them for now. The biggest challenge they are currently being faced with is bed limitations and lack of manpower due to the recent strike by nurses in the country. “Another challenge is the mortuary which is full to capacity." "There are a number of unclaimed bodies that caused the mortuary to be full and we are unable to accommodate other bodies coming in.” He added, they are also faced with the challenge of adequate Oxygen supply for all the patients. "The department has two multi-facet oxygen concentrators that can supply oxygen to eight patients only which is four patients to one concentrator." However, despite the decrease in the number of Covid-19 cases, the department is still seeing more patients turning up with Covid like symptoms.

Nominations are now open for the Listener’s Choice Song of the Year Award for the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards 2021. According to the Program Director Mistiq, listeners will be given this week to vote for their favorite song from 2020 into this year. Nominations have opened as of yesterday start today and will close on Sunday 28th of November. The Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards will take place on the 4th of December where Yumi FM will announce the most nominated artists who are voted the most by the listeners. The awards night will be aired live on Yumi FM from 8pm to 12am. The Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards consist of eight categories including the Listeners’ Choice Song of the Year Award, and listeners are encouraged to vote for their favorite song before Sunday. Nominations and votes can be posted on the Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards Facebook page or can call NAUFM or Legend FM on 73738817 to put in their vote.

The UPNG West New Britain Students Association have recently carried out a major project in West New Britain Province. The project consists of two parts, which includes an academic excellence awareness talk as well as a Book Drive program. Both the programs were carried out in five schools in each of the LLGs in the Province. The 2021 President of the UPNG WNBSA, Zeal Dau, said that as of the first program, the WNBSA conducted an academic excellence awareness to talk to students about the importance of education. According to Dau, this was to help students make informed decisions about their choices of studies, specifically to tertiary institutions such as UPNG. “One of the key message that was addressed to the students during this awareness was the entry requirements and courses of UPNG. Additional to that, we also addressed the behaviour and attitudes of students towards their education.” According to Dau, the awareness itself was carried out in three schools and was initially planned out for five days, however, was decided in the end that the program be carried out for just two days. “We attended three secondary schools which were, Poinini Catholic Agricultural Technical Secondary School, Hoskins and Kimbe Secondary School. The aim was to educate, motivate and challenge the students to work hard and secure a space at the University.” Apart from the awareness talk, the Book Drive was also part of the association’s program. Dau said that this was the second phase of the program where the association distributed mainly reading books to the students. “As for this part of the program, the schools in which we distributed the books to were selected randomly. The schools included, Ruango Junior High, Talasea High, Mosa High Ceneka High and Ceneka Secondary.” Dau said that so far, the two programs carried out were so far a success. He added that the teachers of those schools responded positively by organizing their students. “We as an association, are happy with the outcome we received, mainly from the first phase of our program, where the talk we gave to the students was helpful to them. The students were keen to know more about the University’s Courses and requirements.”

The Yumi FM PNG Musik Awards is back this year to recognize the contributions of local musicians and producers in the PNG music industry. This year the Musik Awards is set to take place on the 4th of December, where Yumi FM will announce the most nominated artists who are chosen by the dedicated listeners and loyal fans of the artists. The Awards show will be aired live on the Yumi FM radio station from 8pm to 12midnight. Program Director of Yumi FM, Tuluan Vitz, said this is the second time Yumi FM will be hosting the event live on air because of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it impossible to host the event live on stage. According to the Program Director, the Musik Awards for this year will consist of eight categories, which includes two additional categories. The categories are Best New Artist, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Male and Female Artist of the Year, Best Producer and Best Duo Group. The two additional categories include the Justin Kili Award and Listeners’ Choice Song of the Year. “The event will be delivered live on air as well as on our Yumi FM social media page, giving our listeners a feel of the event in which they can take part in.” According to Tuluan Vitz, the only difference between the Musik Awards aired live on radio and showcased live on stage, is that the audience and listeners will not be able to see their favorite artist perform when its live on air. “During the airing time of the Musik Awards, we will only be able to play the hit songs for those most nominated artists and not every one of their songs due to the interference of our scheduled programs that is already set to go on air.” “That is why we are given only a time span from 8pm to 12midnight for the event,” Tuluan said. The Program Director added that once the names of those most nominated artists have been announced on air, they can then go to the PNGFM office where they will receive their awards. “These artists are given awards based on the votes and requests from the listeners. We then acknowledge them by rewarding them for their outstanding work.” She said despite the covid-19 pandemic, Yumi FM still managed to get good feedback from the listeners based on last year's experience. “Though we had to cancel our show for last year and again this year as well, we still received a good feedback and participation from our listeners.” She concluded that Yumi FM is the first ever radio station to host a big event like this on air and encouraged everyone to listen in to vote and request for their favorite artist. Tuluan Vitz has also encouraged everyone to tune in during the time the Musik Awards will be aired on the radio on December 4.

“Doing what I am good at is not for the sake of the money but for the passion I have for it.” These are the words of one talented Jayde Jemimah Ovia, who has always had a dream of becoming a professional makeup artist one day. Ovia, aged 23 from Central and Gulf, took up Cosmetology at Caritas Technical Secondary School. After completing her studies in 2016, Ovia went into the fashion industry and took up modelling. She has been modelling ever since, following the recent fashion runway shows she took part in; the MPIP fashion show and the Paradise Runway. “This is my sixth year of modelling now and ever since; the experience of modelling has boosted me even more in doing what I am most passionate about.” “Modelling comes with beauty and that’s where my passion has grown.” Ovia who has always had a passion for beauty and fashion said that being a makeup artist is something that she loves doing, especially for young girls and women. “I mainly do makeups for little girls in schools and also within the community that I reside in.” “As part of my practice and experimentation, I also practice applying makeup on my sisters and nieces at home.” Apart from modelling, Ovia has also done voluntary work with Cheshire Homes in which she helps out during her free time. Ms Ovia volunteers in reading books to the students as well as taking part during their play time. “Due to the shortage of teaching staff, I help assist the teachers with the children.” “I also prepare them for special events such as fun days, parent teacher days and so forth.” “With the skills that I have gained, I share with them and that is of course through doing makeups for the little girls and dressing them up.” “Another school where I do voluntary work is Waigani Primary School where I usually volunteer to dress them up for mini fashion shows, specifically for Book Week,” Ms Ovia said. Apart from volunteering at schools, Ovia also conducts sessions with young girls in her community where she teaches modelling and fashion. “Being a model is not only about dressing up and looking pretty but also about being respectable and having integrity in your own self.” “This is part of me being a good role model to these young girls and most importantly, having an impact in someone else’s life.” In addition to this, Ovia has also used her makeup talent to address awareness based on real life issues in the country such as Gender based violence. “I create makeup, specifically makeup that I use for real life issues such as GBV, one of them being the passing of Late Jenelyn Kennedy who died as a result of violence.” “My aim is to influence a lot of people; especially females as I believe that using my talent to change others’ lives, will create a greater and safer community.” According to Ovia, she believes that in order to build the fashion industry, she would like to use her talent to address issues affecting the country. This will make sense as to why the fashion industry is important as well. Due to her vast modelling experiences and makeup skills, Ovia was invited as an inspirational speaker for the Native Fashion and Arts Academy for young girls modelling training which was part of their modelling and ethics training. “I hope that with my gift and talent, I can help a lot of young girls and women.” “Fashion and styles are not only about the looks but it is something we can use to inspire and help others.” Ms Ovia is currently providing a makeup treat for young girls for their graduations and formals which is free of charge. The young makeup artist said that this is part of her way of helping those who can’t afford such services and is happy to do what she can to help these young girls. Images supplied