June

Knowledge is Power
10 06 June 2016 Australia Samoa Newspaper
TRUE STORY: IT IS NEVER TOO LATE
In this issue, we have decided to feature a truly inspirational success story, of a beautiful soul, who has defied the odds with stereotype opinions that
come with the natural progression of humans through aging. UPF is very proud to feature Tuisa Leone Patea Tanuvasa Filipo’s personal story.
As told by His Worship, Tuisa Leone Patea Tanuvasa Filipo JP, to Maiava T Brunt
In 1962, life was exciting for an 11
year old like me. Samoa had just
gained Independence from New
Zealand three months earlier. Susuga
Malietoa Tanumafili II had just been made
Co-Chief of Independent Western Samoa.
It was this particular year that I believe I,
as an 11 year old boy, became an adolescent
– a term that I can now clearly refer
to at this time of my life – but back then,
I had no term for this change in my level
of thinking. All I knew then, was that I had
begun to notice how hard my father had to
work the plantation, and would go fishing
daily. Why my parents had to work. How
my mother was so supportive of my father
as he worked night and day to financially
provide for us. No matter how much
we struggled financially, there seemed to
always be enough food to share with our
parish priest & catechist family, which my
father never failed to ensure.
I was the youngest of 5 children. I
would have been the youngest of 8 children,
if my late sisters Katerina and Maria,
and late brother Falaniko, did not
pass away at birth. May they, and my parents,
always Rest in Peace.
Me & My beautiful wife and soulmate Naomi Filipo
(nee Chan See)
Maiava Tricia Brunt
The year 1962, I realised, my family
was not financially well off. Well, we were
rich in land and in necessities of life. However
if you measure wealth in terms of
how much you had in your bank account,
then I guess you can say we were not that
well off in the 60’s. That means we had
no fancy luxuries in my young days or
extravagant Christmas or birthday presents.
My parents did not waste time talking
about any financial problems though,
or feel sorry for themselves, or tell us if
they were struggling. They were too busy
working the land to make sure there was
enough money to pay for our school fees,
and bus fares for me and my siblings, as
well as to feed us and our Priest and Catechist
family.
As a child, you never understand the
value of a good education, or even attending
a school like Marist Brothers
school. Back then, Marist Brothers primary
school at Mulivai in Apia was one
of the most prestigious schools a child
could attend. Although our family was
poor, my parents made sure we could
attend only the best schools – no matter
how expensive it was. I was blessed
to attend Marist Brothers Primary school.
However, even the bus fare to and from
school was becoming more of a burden to
me and my family. Lunch comprised of no
fancy goodies. There was no such thing
as taking money to school. I was lucky to
even have a pair of rubber sandals as it
was part of our uniform. Owning a pair
of rubber sandals back in the days, was
like owning a pair of
leather shoes in today’s
standards.
I was fortunate
to pass an entrance
exam into Chanel
College, a Catholic
Boarding College
where I stayed until
the end of each
term. No bus fare
was needed. (There
were three terms
in a year in those
days). After seven
years with Chanel
College, I went
straight to the seminary
at St Columbas
College, in the Blue
Mountains, Sydney,
Australia. Spending
7 years with Chanel
College inspired me
to become a Catholic
Priest, but like
the saying goes,
“Many are called
but only a few are
chosen”. After one
year, I decided that priesthood was not
my vocation so I returned to Samoa. You
can say that I was still on a journey of selfdiscovery
and still unsure as to what career
I should really pursue. I just wanted
to be able to provide for my family.
My education level was sufficient for
Samoa’s standards, and equivalent to a
Higher School Certificate. This level of education
blessed me with a job with Polynesian
Airlines for 7 years since 1972 at
age 21. I knew I was passionate about a
job related to up-keeping the law, but of
course I was not able to pursue further
studies to realise a law career. I joined
the Samoa Police Force in the hope of
getting a promotion through “promotions
exams” available to police officers who
had served over 2 years. However, after
exams were delayed for 4 years since my
employment, compounded by the exciting
buzz around town for the 1983 South Pacific
Games, I decided to resign.
At the age of 33, the year 1984, I
moved to New Zealand to pursue a new
future, hoping to enrol at MIT (Manukau
Institute of Techonology) for a Tertiary
qualification. However, my father became
sick, and my mother asked for help, if
one of us boys could come home to help
out. By then, two of us boys were in New
Zealand with our families, and my older
brother was living in the United States of
America with his wife and children. I drew
the short straw so I went back to Samoa
in 1985 with No Savings, No Assets, and
still No formal Tertiary qualification.
No doubt some of you could relate to
my story, and I hope your situation wasn’t
as helpless as I felt back then. Nevertheless,
I hung onto my prayers and religion,
and continued to toil any way I could to
bring money in the family, by working the
land.
Back in Samoa, I tried to imitate what
my father used to do, ‘working the land
during the day and going fishing at night’
to support the family. BUT it was very difficult,
as I was not used to this type of
routine. I was struggling but still tried my
best. With my wife Naomi standing strong
by my side, we managed to carry on and
survived.
My father passed away in
February 1990 but we still
lived in Samoa with my mother,
my wife, and my daughter,
Charity, who was born on the
19th May, 1991.
After fourteen years (from
1985 to 1999), at age 48,
my wife took me back to New
Zealand to seek medical treatment
for my severe spinal injury
which paralyzed me from my
chest down. The injury was due
to an unofficial rugby game in
our backyard in the village. At
this point of my life, my dreams
of getting a good steady office
job was blurring into a very far
distance.
I spent 5 months with the
Otara Spinal Rehabilitation
Unit. Crying almost every night
from stress since we could only
survive from one day to the
other on the Sickness Benefit
money we were given by the
government. My wife became
my 24/7 carer. I could have
been discouraged and given
up at this point, living the rest
of my life as a cripple, but I did
not want to be beaten by this
medical condition. I simply willed myself
to health through prayers and positive
thinking. When I managed to use crutches,
I pushed myself further to start studying.
I was given another chance when
I got accepted at MIT to study for an NZ
Diploma in Business Management. I was
50 years old then, oldest in the class of
15 students.
In 2003, I came across a vacancy on
the internet that grabbed my interest, so
I submitted an application, and was accepted
by the Ministry of Social Development
as a Case Manager. I am still currently
employed there as an Employment
Coordinator.
Remember my passion for Law? In
upkeeping the peace? The reason why
I applied for the Samoan Police Force?
Well, that passion never left me. With
years of maturity, comes clarity. With my
newfound clarity, I knew my true passion
was in Law, especially sitting at the Land
and Titles’ Court in Samoa. My father
was employed for Judiciary Duties with
the Land and Titles Court even though
he had no academic qualification, but he
was gifted with great knowledge of the
Samoan Customs, Traditions, and History
of Samoa. For as far as I can remember,
I always wanted to follow in my father’s
footsteps, and be qualified for Judiciary
Duties in any Court of Law. I also wanted
to be a good solid role model to my family
and their children, showing them that it’s
never too late to achieve your dreams. It’s
never too late to study.
In 2005, after undertaking more studies
part-time, while working a full time
job, I was appointed as a Justice of the
Peace.
At the age of 62, in 2009, I completed
my Judiciary course with the Open Polytec
of New Zealand. In December 2014,
I was finally appointed and sworn in to
the Bench to do Court Duties at Auckland,
North Shore, Waitakere, and Manukau
District courts. When I walk into
the courts to serve at the Bench, I am addressed
by the Courts as “Your Worship”.
Who would have thought that a simple,
humble guy from Lotoso’a Saleimoa,
many decades later, would be addressed
TUISA LEONE FILIPO, son of Patea Tanuvasa Filipo
and Maria Nive Maiava Filipo, Lotoso’a Saleimoa
in such a prestigious manner in a country
like New Zealand? All glory be to God
for this blessing in my life. Without my
Almighty Father, and my Saviour, through
prayers and faith, where would I be now?
I am now 65 years old, and at the age
where I can retire back to the Islands and
give back to my beloved country of Samoa.
I always wanted to be able to serve
at our Lands and Titles’ Court in Samoa. I
still have this dream. I pray one day soon,
this dream will finally be realised, God
willing. I know that I am more than qualified
now for that prestigious opportunity.
It took this long, but I have proven that it’s
doable, no matter your age. One just has
to keep on dreaming, believing, and keep
on working, and God will do the rest.
If you continue to dream, and work
on that dream or passion, you too will
achieve. Age is only a number. It is never
too late to study. It is never too late to
start on a new career path. I hope my father
is smiling down on me. Dad was a
fighter. I realise now, I too am a fighter,
and a quiet achiever. God bless.