IN OUR TWILIGHT YEARS....

Received this article from a friend thru Watsapp which prompted me to share these pictures of the State Unduk Ngadau Committee together with some of the Unduk Ngadau Finalists 2015's visit to the Residence of the Senior Citizen, Kg Purak, Papar, a nursing home managed by the Catholic Church, Sabah. Some of the senior citizen living there used to hold high posts in their younger days, some were government servants, teachers and others. But they chose to live there in their remaining years, to be with friends and be taken care of lovingly by the Sisters.

"My dear girl, the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If when we talk, the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say: "You said the same thing a minute ago"... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way ... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issues every day... the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don't let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don't feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you ... my darling daughter."

'TIS THE SEASON IN SABAH AGAIN...

May, the wonderful and a busy month of May in Sabah.

It is Sabah Fest again and of course the annual month-long State Harvest Festival celebrations. This year, the celebration kicked-off in Tenom, a district in the interior of Sabah, launched by none other than the Sabah Chief Minister on 1st of May 2016. A thanksgiving festival for all the good tidings and harvest that has been bestowed to the land by the Almighty.

With an invitation to the UNK Committee to accompany Miss Ryannie, the reigning Harvest Festival queen, we travel a day before through the long and winding road via Kimanis road to Keningau and later to Tenom where we stayed at a modest but comfortable homestay.

The evening we were invited to dine at one of the nice restaurant atop a hill, the Fatt Choi Restaurant and Resort with the State's dignitaries. Not much to see at night though except for the flickering lights but I guess must be a sight to behold during bright sunny day.  Incidentally Fatt Choi Tenom is famous for their coffee. http://fccoffee.com/tenom/cabin/.

The following day we witnessed the launching proper.

Special Appearance by State Unduk Ngadau Miss Ryannie Niels Yong (left) and Unduk Ngadau Kemabong 2016 Miss Cehrolley Judah.

The winner, Miss Nancy Julai (seated) and 1st runner up Miss Anasthasia (on her left) will represent the district of Tenom and Kemabong respectively in the State Level this May 31st, 2016.

Credit to photograper:Mr Augustine Jumat

P/s: Unduk Ngadau Kaamatan - a title bestowed to the most deserving Kadazandusun young maiden, one who resembles the legendary Huminodun, daughter of Kinoingan (Deity) who sacrificed herself for the starving mankind during a great famine once upon a time. It was believed that her sacrificed body 'fertilized' the earth and rice and other plants once again thrived.

To commemorate her sacrifice, an annual search of the most ideal Unduk Ngadau is done. In selecting the Unduk Ngadau, she must satisfy the judges that in her most natural self, she potrays the best virtues and potentials who will serve as paragon of ideals and values encompassing the aspect of personality,beauty, talent, intelligence, kindness, courage and social responsibility and resemble the beatified Huminodun, the Kadazandusun Queen of love and compassion.

bringing cheers to Old Folks a the Holy Family, Kg Purak, Papar

helping to build a house under the Habitat for Humanity Programme.

under the educational and empowerment program .. learn a traditional skill

with the Underprivileged Children of Don Bosco, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau.

Lastly, from yours truly,  wishing everyone Happy Harvest Festival.. Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan.  Cheers.

  

SOMETHING TO PONDER UPON ..

Every morning when I wake up, my hands would automatically grope for my mobile phone and if you are like me who have more than 30 watsapp group chats .. you will know what I mean about the never stop beep beeps of messages.. some not necessary useful but once in a while will get not only interesting pictures but more so of the messages it contains some hilarious but thought provoking, taken mostly from the Net of course..

.... makes me ponder 

 

 

  

Cheers..have a great weekend..

IT'S THE TIME AGAIN AND THE AFTERMATH OF ORGANIZING THE STATE LEVEL UNDUK NGADAU 2015..

Soon it would be the celebration of the Pesta Kaamatan or Harvest Festival again and the launching this year will be in Tenom, a district in the interior of Sabah on May 1st, 2016.  And the usual flurry of activities that is  going on making preparations.   April seems to be flying and it is making me nervous.

The emphasis that Unduk Ngadau Committe is making this year will be "Speak your Mother Tongue". Last year was 'Back to Basic' in relations to the traditional costumes.

The Kadazan language profeciency has decreased among younger generations and Unduk Ngadau is taking this initiative to prevent further decline of its usage and to preserve the legacy for future generation. Some efforts on this has been made by various groups but we felt it timely to also include it in our programe as the novelty of speaking the language seems to rub through the younger generations with the influence of these gorgeous young ladies. 

Anyway re posting this...

This post is long overdue and it was lying in draft form in my vault since June 2015. Anyway was browsing through this almost dormant blog.  It is so easy to forget this blog and just let be as there are so many social media mode.  Just reading through the endless messages from friends on my watsapp, wechat or telegrams, Instagram and of course Facebook take me almost a whole morning.   So much has happened this few months.
 
Was not able to take any pictures this Kaamatan as was too occupied to even think about taking. Tried to snap some with my handphone and horrors, it gave me a message  'full memory'.. Oh well, will have to depend on our Official Photographers and also those photographer enthusiasts.

Thank goodness, the 5-day event from 27th May the day of registration, photoshoots, videoshoot for the 42 UN participants each representing a district/sub-district/municipalities till the final competition on 31st May 2015 went well but not without some glitches.

Experiences in handling a big event such as this does count as we were able to cover it and was able to act fast and remedy the situation. Each day was packed with program for the ladies..seminars, practical learning at the museum, rehearsals that stretched through the night.  Well, the Crown is certainly not going to be given to them on a platter! Told them this is a competition and they were not here on a holiday!

 The top 3 Winners
Ryannie UNK 015 (centre)
Shirley (left)1st Runner up and Everina (right 2nd Runner up. 

Special appearance

Giving back to society in our own small way..

In Aid of the Underprivileged Children of St Pius X, Bundu Tuhan, Ranau.

HAPPY EASTER - HE HAS RISEN, ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA

HE IS RISEN!  ALLELUIA! ALLELUIA!  

HAPPY EASTER

WORDLESS...

A NITE WITH THE OLDIES BUT GOLDIES - A WALK DOWN MEMORY LANE

Last night I was at Kimmy and Daffie's wedding dinner. Kimmy, a former beauty queen and a model is not only a friend's daughter but is also one our girls in the Unduk Ngadau pageant a few years back. She emerged as the 2nd runner-up.  Daffie her husband, is the only son of a well-known individual in the State.

 

 the newly-wed in the Kadazandusun traditional costume.

And so, I met an old friend. After hugging and exchanging pleasantries as well as giggling like teenagers checking each other out, she exclaiming.."Huhh.at this age, we don't look too bad yet , do we?" she said laughing. "Well with this positive attitude, how to grow old" I laughed.  

And it reminded me of this post which has been in my vault almost forgotten since last August, a reunion with my primary school classmates which I had intended to blog about but did not complete. Here it is, a throwback August 2015.

" Recently, we managed to have a reunion of friends from long ago... 40 odd years, primary school days.  Were just kids then.  But that's the beauty of modern technology as some friends managed to track me and included me in their watsapp chat group. Everyone was excited at suddenly being in contact of long lost friends. Slowly the contact number of old friends grew. Some have migrated, a few have passed on, some living just in the neighbourhood, yet we've never bumped into each other. Goodness, Kota Kinabalu can't be that big! 
 

We then arranged for a gathering and managed to gather about 30 + people.  The Glamour Lounge at the Palace Hotel was the perfect place.  We wanted the occasion to be informal and so chose our dress code  "Bohemian" haha .. to commemorate those days when we were growing up... well at least some did try.    Everyone was excited at the prospect of meeting each other again after so long. The day came and  when we met,  the years just melted... it was amazing how friendships rekindled again. Though a few have gained spare tyres, some quite unrecognizable, gray hairs, wrinkles and double chins, yet it felt like we were the young carefree kids again.

 We shared stories, jokes,  laughter, the incessant teasing from the guys, some confessions, which were hilarious.  The night just flew and soon it was time to say good nite with a promise to meet again..   Oh but we have the chat group and we do 'meet' everyday, the normal greetings and all."

I like the saying : " Good friends  are like stars. You don't always see them, but you know they're always there"

Ok here are some pics for rememberance, lest one day we grow too old to remember.

                                        some of the guys. Now all successful individual..

my gorgeous bestie.. those days. We still keep in touch occasionally..

  Till our next reunion, adios, stay healthy, stay positive and stay young always..