News: All Destinations

Personal account by Alcina Charlie (Vanuatu Tourism Office E-Marketing) on the brand launch in Esp. Santo :
Jimme Taea (co-vocalist, keyboardist), and I arrived at Santo Pekoa airport on Saturday 26th March around midday and our first taste of the island before our hostess picked us up was a gush of heat wave that had us sweating as if we’ve just come out of the shower. Oh yes, it was hotter than Vila, but little had I known that a refreshing reward awaited as soon we arrived at Village de Santo, a new boutique resort nestled on the outskirts of Mango Village along Red Corner road, only an 8-10 minutes drive from the airport and 3 minutes from Luganville’s main urban centre.  As Beverly Anti, the resort manger and an aunty or bubu to local residents of Santo through her charity works for communities & villages, walked us through the gate and onto the premise, I was soaked into tranquillity surrounded by beautiful, lush, tropical gardens of ginger, palm, dwarf bamboo plants and bright yellow, red, and orange flowering shrubs neatly trimmed and planted outside each apartment for complete privacy. In the centre of the resort was an inviting pool for an afternoon dip. A brief hello from the staff and it was time to unwind. My apartment, number 4, was spacious, immaculate, spotless, and self-catering containing all modern facilities including a refrigerator and mini bar, microwave, toaster, plus every other holiday essentials for guests to have a pleasant holiday experience, excluding the telephone which can be accessed at the front reception – perfect for full relaxation and no disturbance. Wireless internet is available on site which makes online messaging to family possible without the need for calling.

I hit the shower which runs both cold and hot water, immediately after unpacking and changed into something comfortable and light before trotting down to the restaurant to order one of the best Beef Burgers I’ve ever indulged. 1606 Restaurant is named after the year of Pedro De Queros who was the Spanish explorer to first set foot on the island. After an enjoyable Beef Burger, kumara chips, and fresh lime juice, I was totally satisfied. I turned on the fan, rested myself on a comfortable, soft bed and fell asleep like a child on a hammock. Three hours later, I woke up and only then did I realize that my work involved with preparing for brand launches, back in Vila, did wear me out without my noticing and here was a perfect excuse to catch up on the energy loss!  Naturally, it did come without my forcing it.

My mobile rang and it was a work colleague from Santo, offering a special welcome do and dinner where she and other colleagues were staying. Then soon after, a truck pulled up at the Village’s parking area,  we drove into town across to Unity Park where Edou, a popular singer from New Caledonia and a Pacific music icon, was staging his concert. The town was swamped by thousands dancing and cheering away into the night. I was impressed and tempted to join the crowd but it was getting slightly late and I had a busy schedule tomorrow, and so an hour later I was dropped off at the resort.
What a first day experience on the island that I last visited, or to be more specific transited, twelve years ago. Already, I could sense there were more hidden treasures to discover.

Sunday 27th March 2011: Preparations & Santo outskirts
Breakfast came on a tray and small jugs of fresh orange juice, local fruits, cereal, toast, and coffee. A meeting was held at 9am at the Chief’s Bar between Beverly, who was incharge of the entertainment program for the brand launch, Kevin (keyboardist/vocalist), Jimme and myself. We discussed available sound equipments, bands, fees, plus set up time, followed by sound check, which we all agreed needed to happen that afternoon and into the evening while the Drokas mamas were decorating the stage. At 11am we drove off to meet Desmond who is responsible for Canal Studio and the hiring of sound equipments. Desmond is a youth from Santo who also plays in Santo’s top local reggae band “Steel Soul”. After Canal Studio, we ventured off to Ridley “tusker”’s home at Shapi area, then off to 26 Roots residence where I met with one of Santo’s most senior resident originally from England, Ms Caroline Nalo. Caroline spoke very softly, and with elegance as we exchanged greetings. I knew Caroline through her son Dave Nalo who is also very much involved in the development of Youth and Music in Santo.

Sharpi area was extraordinary, as we drove, I saw local expats driving their trucks filled with Ni-Vanuatu families, everyone well dressed as if they’ve all just come out of church together. As I hear stories on projects that Beverly and her husband Nabil are involved in to raise funds for village communities including the setting up a Sister Kinda program between Brisbane and Mango Station, their involvement in the development of the local music scene in Santo, and raising funds for building materials to complete an assessment centre in Sharpi for people with disabilities after discovering a local lady who looks after 25 disabled children at her home at any one time, I came to realize that these were some of Santo’s hidden heart-felt treasures. From there, I was beginning to discover a special side of Santo that exist between the local communities and local expats that live in Santo.

From further observations around Luganville and its outskirts, I saw that the roads were in good condition and could event fit 3 to 4 vehicles! After tracking down the equipment it was time for a lunch stop back at Village de Santo, and at 3pm, we would start transporting the equipments to Unity Park stage.

After another delicious lunch with Bev and Nabil at  Restaurant 1606, I took off to my apartment, cooled off under the cold shower, had an hour’s rest, and then we drove off to Canal Studio, Alliance Francaise and Kevin’s residence to pick up the sound equipment and ship them off to the stage. By 5.30pm, Desmond started setting up the speakers, amps, mixers and sub woofers, and by 7pm we tested and sound checked.
The quality was crystal! We were very happy with the turn out, thanks to dear Desmond.

Arriving back at Village de Santo, Jimme and I got ready to entertain for around 2 hours, as a courtesy gig to thank Bev and Nabil for hosting us, and in return which we didn’t expect, we were feasted to pizzas and seafood pasta which were simply divine to close off a long and tiring day.

Shut eye for me was around midnight but by then, I wasn’t overly exhausted, because I was still abuzz from all the excitement for tomorrow’s launch.

Monday 28th March 2011: Discover what matters…Vanuatu launches!
We were asked to be at the stage to start “making noise” or play music, at around 7.30am so I was up by 6.30am, had a cold shower, ate breakfast, then changed into my red uniform top and a long black skirt. Around 8am we arrived at the stage and soon after started playing music. The band that sound checked before Jimme and I was a full 6 piece gospel reggae band Redeem and they were fantastic. Kevin followed soon after performing several of his band’s hits. After 2 hours of lively entertainment to hype up the crowd before the launch ceremony, a colourful parade led by the Vanuatu Mobile Forces brass band, followed by cultural groups, and dignitaries, Sanma tourism industry, tour operators, local business houses, and the general public paraded from the Police Station to Unity Park.

The official ceremony was filled with an array of activities including cultural performances, a traditional knife dance from Malo Island, hanging of flower leis, speeches and remarks from Sanma province, the private sector, Sanma tourism council, the brand manager, Hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Department of Tourism, the cutting of ribbon and cake, dedication prayer, kava ceremony, a special song “Vanuatu Smile” performed by Jimme Taea and Alcina Charlie, refreshments, and lastly 2 to 3 hours of Santo’s top live bands rocking Unity Park up to 5pm.

There was a VIP guests cocktail held at the new Vanuatu National Provident Fund building, inside a spacious and beautiful conference room, where all government, provincial, and private sector dignitaries, as well as all tour operator reps assembled for finger food and drinks. During the function, there was a power point presentation by VTO’s brand manager, Ms Elizabeth Youdale, on VTO’s role in destination marketing leading onto why a brand such as Discover what matters Vanuatu, matters for Vanuatu. Throughout the function, Ms Alcina Charlie and Jimme Taea entertained from 1pm to 4pm.

We arrived back at Village de Santo around 5.30pm, worn out and tired. I showered, had a quick bite to eat, then off I went into my own little world far, far away. The last thing I recalled before dozing off, was thinking about was how successful the launch turned out and what a story this would make! It sure was a privilege to be a part of a milestone achievement, especially to be able to participate in it here on Santo.
I would be heading back to Vila tomorrow, and with me I would take memories and experiences I discovered here in Santo that matter very much especially in a fast and material world that we live in today, and one of them was appreciating one’s culture and living with its people. Thanks Bev and Nabile for looking after Jimme and I. No words can express how thankful we are. Your hospitality has been fantastic. Thank you dearly, and we wish you all the best!