'78 hadn't started off very well for Italy. There had been the kidnapping and killing of Aldo Moro and his escort and this had shocked everyone and had generated enough fear and uncertainty among the people. We wanted to think about something else.

In 1991 Gino Paoli wrote and sang "We were four friends at the bar who wanted to change the world". In May-June 1978 we were 3 friends (Carmine Rega, Salvatore Aschettino and I) who had met by chance not at the bar but in Tonino Rega's barbershop (Mast'Aniello had already emigrated to America) . We didn't want to change the world but to do something for Moschiano. We discussed this and that and how that summer was particularly boring because nothing special was planned. In Lauro perhaps celebrations would once again have been held, but in Moschiano nothing. What could have been done then to brighten up the summer evenings for the people of Moschiano who would not have gone to Lauro, much less on holiday, and for the many emigrants who returned?

The party in Moschiano hadn't been held for years. To tell the truth, I have always hated the fact that people used to celebrate with the excuse of faith. I preferred and prefer that the two things remained separate or at least without excesses. For some years Don Peppino had been organizing little parties in Capomoschiano. In particular for Sant'Anna a more religious celebration and on August 15th a more "civil" one which she called "Friendship Festival". The latter was organized with the intention of allowing the many emigrants who returned to Moschiano from abroad or from Northern Italy to spend a few happy hours during the August holiday period before returning there. They were two nice initiatives but there was nothing between July 26th and August 15th.

With Carmine and Salvatore we started talking about what could be done and the ideas began to emerge like an erupting volcano. It was the process that I later learned was called “brainstorming.” We understood that perhaps something could happen. We decided to meet again in the following days (usually at Minuccio's Bar, in the parish or at the home of one of us) to jot down more concrete ideas. Usually we started in one place and ended in another.

That's when several proposals came out. Why not symbolically combine the parties that Don Peppino already had and organize events between the two to entertain people? It would also have been an opportunity to unite the communities even more. What could we have organised? And then with what funds to subsidize them?

It was decided to present this proposal to other friends and see what they thought.  Ideas began to flow. Athletics competitions could have been organised, for example, perhaps a ping pong or volleyball tournament. Why not do a play? How about an evening of singing like "Corrida" or various games along the lines of "Games without Borders"? For the funds we could have collected donations from local traders or made a collection. Come on guys we can do it.
We got to work and presented the idea to the Parish Priests and Mayor Mimi'. They indulged us. We then decided to draw up a detailed program. Since we didn't have any money, we thought we'd use old election propaganda posters and write it with markers on the back. I don't remember the program well. We certainly accomplished everything I mentioned above and perhaps more. I also remember that in those years volleyball was becoming established in Italy (Italy would in fact win the silver medal at the World Cup that year) and that for Moschiano (and Vallo) it was something new. Carmine, Salvatore and I decided to write the rules on some sheets and give them to the teams. 3-4 men's teams had been formed and I think two or three women's teams. Don Salvatore lent us the net and the balls of the Lauro Middle School. The poles to support it were made with iron forged by Paolo Paolillo, an expert blacksmith and supported by two wheels filled with cement.

For the play, the bullfight and other things we needed a stage but how could we do it? I had an idea. I asked Pio Addeo. if he could have placed the trailer of his truck sideways in front of the sacristy parallel to the Church. We could have used it as a stage and the sacristy as a 'dressing room' and, once the performance or concert of the day was over, easily remove it the same evening so as to have space the following day for the volleyball games. There were no problems. Pio was a master at these things.

On August 6, 1978 we were holding the Bullfight in the Square when the news of the death of Pope Paul VI arrived. I remember that Don Salvatore communicated it to me while Mimi' Esposito (Mimi' and Alena) was performing with his accordion and I was the one who went up on stage to give it to the many people who were in the Square. Of course we stopped the party.

Those days were memorable. I remember the kids who, when they met me on the street, asked me: "What are we doing this evening?". With Don Peppino we decided that the final evening would be the Friendship Festival in Capomoschiano. With other friends and with the funds collected among the traders we decided to buy prizes such as cups and medals to be distributed on August 15th. Marco Arpaia sent us to a shopkeeper in Naples who he knew and who sold these things. So one day in the first week of August Carmine Rega, Salvatore Aschettino and I found ourselves in the heat of a semi-deserted Naples to buy cups and medals. The first child of Carmine Rega and his wife Gianna (Saverio) was due in a few days.

Everything went well. On the evening of August 15th we were all in Capomoschiano to celebrate Friendship Day with many other people and to distribute prizes.

On August 15th the First Esate Moschianese ended in the churchyard of Capomoschiano. A party, without a party but where everyone was celebrating.

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