WHEN PEOPLE WALK AWAY FROM YOU...

I WISH HER WELL...

Dear All.. gosh seems a long time ago  since I was here. I sure miss this neglected blog and have taken a little of my time just to jot down something lest this blog forget me.. hehehe..

As usual, my busiest months would be April and May and this is due to preparation for the Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival held every 30th and 31st May organised by the KadazanDusun Cultural Association (KDCA). Coupled with that, this year, it is election time and everyone seems to be busy concentrating more on the upcoming GE13.

As usual, we the Organising Committee would arrange a photoshoot for the reigning Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan (Harvest Festival Queen)  a month before the celebration. These photos would be used as publicity for the upcoming celebrations in the form of streamers which would be lined up along the roads or at billboards by the sponsors, this year Digi, a telco company. 

Come May 1st, 2013 photos of Melinda Louis, the reigning Unduk Ngadau would be found all over Kota Kinabalu and even out of town. However, as it is election time, the spaces along the roads are at the moment filled with candidates'  flags and posters.. a war of flags and posters. So looks like, Mel's photos might have to wait until after election that's on May 5th 2013.

Melinda,  (centre)

So, we not satisfied to be just those behind the scene people, we too took the opportunity to experience that 5 minutes of fame. Being made up  and hair done by none other than the reknowned make-up artist, Mr Mart who is also a member of the Committee, is every girls' wish. We, too  had our own photoshoot ..NO, not to be displayed anywhere of course, but just for our own collections and some to be used for our magazine.  

clowning around with Mart (centre), and Ando his assistant, standing behind.

Mart is a well-sought individual, especially come every May when girls line up to vie for the Unduk Ngadau title fight to use his services to make them beautiful.  He is usually already booked like a year in advance by unduk ngadau aspiring participants. He also has bookings like 2 years in advance by prospective brides! The only weekends he is free is during the month  of Lent, where Church weddings for Roman Catholic is prohibited.  And that is, if one can afford his fees! So to be made-up by him complimentary is like a dream come true!!  

We had that session yesterday, this being the 3rd year. We ladies marvel at how our plain looks suddenly looking so much different and each of us shrieking in laughter at each other's transformation. In the midst of our fun, I couldn't help missing our former Chairperson. I felt her absence and could feel myself tearing up every time I look at our old photographs. 

on happier times...April 2012.  Mart the guy on the right.

Jornah,  (Centre) and Jo on her left.

A few days before, we were shocked to receive news that she had resigned from all her posts in KDCA including leading the Unduk Ngadau Organising team.  A former Assistant Minister and Matunggong assemblywoman, she decided to stand for election in her constituency after being left out from the fray in the 2008 election when the Party decided to field someone else at the eleventh hour.  She had agreed to stand aside and gave her full support to the chosen candidate. 

Seems there is a repeat where again, someone else was fielded at eleventh hour. So disappointed was she that she decided to give everything up. I hope she is happy with her decision, though  I read from some papers that she has switched camps and is now busy campaigning for the opposition.   Ohhh...I hate politics!  I am sure that those without any political inclination sleeps better at night.  Oh well, I wish her well...

Joanna Kitingan, the Deputy is now our new head and she is well supported.