Overview:
Palau news, Ngchesar State, Ngirakebou Andres Madraisau, Palau chiefs, Palau traditional leaders, flag half-staff, Palau history, Palau independence, Palau community service, Palauan elders
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (Feb. 24, 2026) — Palau is honoring the life and service of Chief Ngirakebou Andres Madraisau of Ngchesar State with a national flag-lowering observance on February 23, 2026, recognizing his contributions as a community leader, traditional chief, and public servant.
Born June 16, 1939, to Madraisau Tiou and Tomoisang Madraisau in Ngchesar, Ngirakebou Andres Madraisau was among the generation of young Palauans in the 1950s and 1960s who pursued formal education, attending Ngchesar Elementary, Mindszenty School in Oreor, and Palau Vocational School.
The proclamation honoring him cites his achievements on and off the baseball field. As a left fielder and leadoff batter for Team Asahi, Madraisau helped the team win three national championships and contributed to the growing popularity of baseball across Palau.
Professionally, he began his career in retail with George Ngirarsaol Retail before working roughly three decades as a contractor for Mobil Oil Micronesia until his retirement in 2000. Afterward, he operated small businesses in Oreor and Imul, including apartments, a laundromat, a mini-mart, and a gas station, supporting local economic activity and employment.
Madraisau’s traditional leadership roles are also highlighted. He is a member of the Kebou clan and was formally installed as Ngirakebou of Ngchesar in 2019. He later served as a kingellel, or advisor, to Rubekul Belau, Palau’s traditional council. He also served on the Ngchesar State Public Land Authority, contributing to state-level land and resource governance.
The proclamation acknowledges Madraisau’s extensive family—seven children, six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren—and the respect he earned throughout Ngchesar and the broader Palauan community.
Acting under both constitutional and customary authority, President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. directed that the national flag of Palau, and other flags across the country, be flown at half-staff on February 23, 2026, as a mark of deep respect and mourning. The proclamation was issued in the 19th year of Palau’s independence, reflecting the connection between national identity and traditional leadership.
“Chief Ngirakebou Andres Madraisau leaves behind a legacy of leadership, service, and devotion to both family and country,” the proclamation reads.