I BELIEVE

 

SELF BELIEF IS KEY TO 

SELF DETERMINATION AND SUCCESS

 

PROUD - The Manihia family.

By PATRICK LEVO

I BELIEVE - just two simple words that can make a positive change for the better in one’s life.

One hardworking Papua New Guinean has thrived on that simple motto and built himself and his family a better future.

Civil engineer and businessman Simeon Manihia grew up believing in himself, believing in achieving his goals, believing that anything is possible, believing in his talents and abilities, and believing in conquering the unconquerable.

His hunger, his thirst and his self-belief has led him on a lifetime journey all over PNG and the world. Now in his 60s, he is reaping the benefits of his self-belief.

Last month, Simeon, a father of 3 children and grandfather of six, graduated from the University of PNG’s Law School.

It was an ‘I Believe I Can Do It’ moment. And he did in style, adding the Law degree to the Civil Engineering Degree he gained from the University of Technology on November 28, 1980.

But wait. Simeon, the 65-year-old father of three, is aiming for another ‘I Believe’ challenge.

It might be lofty but you can’t beat a Yangoru man with tons of determination and energy. In Yangoru, they say ‘Yangoru Drop’.

Whichever way it drops, it can mean anything, either drop everything and run with the crowd or drop in and stay on course.

In typical Simeon Style, he dropped anchor, set his goals and has been achieving these successfully.

MANIHIA SIBLINGS CELEBRATE - (l-r) Petrus Manihia, Roslyn Manihia Pukienei, Simeon Manihia with his degree, Merena Manihia Faiparik and Philip Manihia. Two other family members are deceased.

Simeon is aiming to tick off a third degree from the University of Technology in Lae in about 5 years’ time. He plans to pursue a Degree in Land Administration and Management.

Now how can an elder be so energetic, sprightly, knowledgeable and spirited? It is quite simple. Refer to his motto – I Believe.

Secondly, his humbleness and humility have held him in good stead. Simeon’s Christian upbringing in the Assembly of God church has also built his faith in the Biblical promise – I can do all things through Christ.

Simeon believes that self-belief and self-denial are keys to the success of nation building.

He believes that for someone to succeed, ‘you must believe in yourself, you must believe that you can do it against all odds.’

He also believes strongly that you must deny the things that are a distraction to your goal of succeeding.

Two ideas from two relatives influenced his passion for doing things the right way to build up his life.

Firstly, at a very young age, his brother, Iringian sent him a bicycle from Rabaul. This was to impact him in a rather strange way.

He was the only kid in his village to own a bike. And riding it around gave him a feeling of ‘I Believe’ because when it broke down, it gave him that opportunity to take it apart and fix it himself. ‘I believe’ was growing in his young heart and in his mind.

Secondly, he had a great uncle named Yehirai, who was the adventurous type. Yehirai was also a visionary leader.

Simeon Manihia surrounded by his equally proud granddaughters and sisters.

On his many early adventurous trips to Rabaul, Kavieng, Lae, Wau and Bulolo, Yehirai returned with ideas that were to impact his people. One of these was a school for the children of Kwahuie village in Yangoru in 1955.

With the AOG Church already established in Yangoru in 1954, it was easy to begin a bush material church and classroom that was the spark for many successful students to emerge with a thirst and hunger for knowledge.

Many graduates included Dr Ilomo Barton, agriculturalist John Javaru Kuira, Major Philip Safihao, Professor John Yavavu Luluaki and the first civil engineer Paul Yakremba Kuira and a former East Sepik Premier Jonathan Sengilomo, pioneer female UPNG graduate from East Sepik Cathy Yuamai Kuira, pioneer Yangoru UPNG graduate Lazarus Wafimbi.

The seed of ‘I Believe’ migrated Simeon as one of students of the AOG Pre-School of Kwahuie village in 1965. He realised early that Yehirai wanted all the children to be educated, to understand the ways of the new world, and to strive for the nation that Michael Somare was aiming to build.

Simeon went on to Maprik High School (now Secondary) and was dux of the grade 10 class, from where he was selected to do civil engineering at the University of Technology in Lae in 1976.

Simeon remembers those days as stimulating and thought provoking as PNG had just gained independence, and he and the other graduates formed the frontline of Prime Minister Michael Somare’s post-independence nationhood ideals.

As an incentive, University students were granted the NatSchol pocket allowance which was quickly absorbed by other uses. Tertiary fees were all met by the government, meals were hearty enough and the lecturers and school infrastructure were upbeat.

Compared to nowadays, studying was flawless. The environment was fluid for ‘I Believe I Can Do It’ remembers Simeon. After graduation, Simeon received offers from the Works Department, Ramu Sugar and an Australian firm Willing & Partners (PNG) Pty Ltd. 

Prime Minister Michael Somare’s post-independence nationhood principles also included policy direction through then National Investment Promotion Authority (NIDA) to speedier localization of expatriate-held public service position and nationalization of foreign companies to 49 percent foreign and 51 percent national equity holding.

His choice to run with the Australian company Willing & Partners (PNG) Limited and eventually set up the PNG Partnership firm, Willing Pacific (PNG) Limited in 1990 with him as CEO. Simeon controlled 75 percent of the PNG operations until 2001 when Willing & Partners (PNG) Limited merged with Cardno MBK Group that he bought out the foreign equity and then on control 100 percent.

Son Wangian at his graduation in Australia.

Before that, Simeon cut his teeth in the petroleum retailing business by running service stations in Gerehu for Shell. He was so successful that Shell expanded his management to its Hohola, Gordons Market and Badili service stations.

His success led him to be snatched by Mobil to initially run 5mile service station with the promise of him running all Mobil Service Stations in Port Moresby. He voluntarily resigned the fuel-only arrangement because he wanted the convenient shop as well but that was leased out to Steamship’s Kwik Shop.

The ‘I Believe’ was in flood. Anything Simeon touched always had a rosy ending.

But his Civil Engineering background brought him into some challenging times. He walked the length and breadth of PNG with just his notebook, pencil and slide ruler before calculators came on the market. His mind worked as a calculator. He was a walking computer.

There was no fancy gadgetry of today, no drones and no satellite to guide his path. He did it as best as his motto ‘I Believe I Can Do It’.

Some of his successful projects in his almost 40 years as a consultant engineer was 16 consecutive years from 1996 to 2011 on public service housing scheme which included the Telikom Compound at North Waigani which he delivered to the PNG Telikom Workers, Air Niugini housing compound at the Walala Estate at Gerehu, Ensisi Valley, Tokarara, all in NCD and 11 mile in Lae.  All these land developments were development of State Land.

The highlight was the 12 hectares Ravens Estate Customary Land in Alotau and from this 154 individual Certificate of Titles were issued to the customary land proprietor.  

These Certificate of Titles were mortgaged by ANZ Bank to provide loan finance to the developer a total of K1.3million for the construction of all essential subdivisional infrastructure such as road & storm water, water supply and overhead power reticulation.

There were significant legal issues in the development of customary land which led to Simeon’s desire to venture into Law studies to compliment his engineer skills.

Simeon’s last engineering project was him as the Project Manager on the Momote to Lorengau 36km Road for the upgrade and se from 1aling of that road plus the Lorengau Town Square Road upgrade from 2016 to 2017.

Simeon and friends while attending Maprik High School (1972-75).

In 2018, Simeon decided it was time to return to the halls of academia. He found new jobs for his staff of 15, put the closed sign on the door of Willing Pacific (PNG) Limited, Consulting Engineers  and found himself back at UPNG Law School.

At his graduation kaikai last Sunday, organised by the Dove Christian Academy and his family at Gerehu, his law compatriot Londari Lakai expounded on the ideals of self-belief.

Londari started as a primary school teacher and taught for 15 years before taking up law studies same time as Simeon 2018 to 2021.

He said studying together with Simeon taught him the lesson of humbleness. And that in everything you do, acknowledge the guidance of the Creator.

He said believing in one self is important, self-sacrifice is significant in the long road to success.

‘Simeon has showed us the road, he is a perfect example of achievement based on self-belief,’ said Londari.

Paul Wagun, former public curator, challenged the young people of today to learn from leaders like Simeon Manihia.

Paul said many students today flunk their courses or keep repeating because they do not acquaint themselves to the task ahead.

He paid tribute to Simeon Manihia for assisting him with school fees to achieve his Master’s Degree in the United States.

Simeon said he was studying at university with some of his grandchildren. ‘Grandpa graduated. They are still there,’ he chuckled.

Simeon on graduation day from the University of Technology, Lae in 1980.

After Unitech, Simeon married the love of his life Aloisia from Madang on June 30, 1984. Their children are studying at various universities in Australia.

First born son Wangian graduated in Civil Engineering at the University of Queensland in 2013 and currently works in Western Australia as a quality Assurance Engineer. 

His second born daughter Jannelle graduated with a degree in Commerce with a major in Sales & Marketing from Griffith University also in Brisbane and currently works for SP Brewery. 

His third and last born and look-alike Sokurau graduated with a degree in Health Sciences from University Queensland in Brisbane in 2013 and worked at the National Department of Health HQ prior to enrolling for her second-degree course here in PNG at the UPNG Medical School studying to be a doctor.

If anything, his children have also thrived on the same principle as their father: ‘I Believe I Can Do It’.

Simeon’s advice to you reading this story is – You Can Do It Too If You Believe In Yourself!

 

Proud dad Simeon and his last born daughter Sokurau.

The three Manihia muskeeters - Sokurau, Janelle and Wangian celebrating Janelle's graduation from the  Griffith University of Queensland.

Father Simeon and daughter Janelle sharing the success of her graduation with a Bachelor of Health Sciences from the Griffith University, Brisbane Australia.