Three sisters celebrating their birthdays last Saturday were reminded that on the day their parents were married they had been told to be faithful to each other.
Theresa ‘Ofa Avilla Uaisele (21), Tisiola Uaisele (17) and Anna Jr Uaisele (16) celebrated their birthdays at the Greyhound Function Centre in Manukau.
In a speech made during the event their great-uncle, Tito Fīnau, said he took pride that their parents were still together more than 20 years after they were married.
Fīnau said that on the day they were married he told their parents it was important to stay together as husband and wife until the end of their lives.
He said he was happy to meet them again on Saturday at an event that showed they had a great family.
An emotional Finau said these days many young Tongan parents could not resolve the difficulties they faced and separated from each other.
He praised his niece, ‘Alakoka, the birthday girls’ mother, for the more than two decades she had stayed with her husband.
‘Ofa Avilla made an emotional speech after she was given the traditional 21st birthday key. She asked her parents to keep it until she could find somebody she could trust.
Her statement brought laughter, but she said it was difficult for her to think of moving on with her life because she was 21.
She said at home her parents spoiled her and did whatever she wanted including sleeping and waking up to find her meals were ready.
The celebration opened with a kava ceremony led by heralds from Fatai and Ma’ufanga, where the Uaiseles’ parents come from.
The kāinga performed tauʻolunga and raised fund to donate tor the birthday girls.
The day was closed with a prayer by the Otara priest.
The main points
- Three sisters celebrating their birthdays last Saturday were reminded that on the day they were married their parents had been told to be faithful to each other.
- Theresa ‘Ofa Avilla Uaisele (21), Tisiola Uaisele (17) and Anna Jr Uaisele (16) celebrated their birthdays at the Greyhound Function Centre in Manukau.
- In a speech made during the event their great-uncle, Tito Fīnau, said he took pride that their parents were still together more than 20 years after they were married.
- He said he was happy to meet them again on Saturday at an event that showed they had a great family.
