Cermin Mata ....

Gaya Baru!! (New Look!!)

Anak aku tu, ari belaboh sekul bulan Januari suba madah ke diri enda ulih meda blackboard! Nya meh aku ke kiroh berandau enggau guru kelas iya, minta iya duduk di mua. Iya tu tinggi dibanding enggau kaban iya bukai, nya alai selalu diasoh guru duduk dibelakang. Tang taun tu, iya duduk di barisan kedua, tapi di tepi, enggai ke ngelindung orang di belakang. Taja duduk aba barisan nya, agi ngah iya enda meda, laban sekeda tulisan guru tu mit ko iya. Nu ninga iya puas madah ke diri enda tentu meda, lemai kemari check-up mata iya (serta engku empu), lalu ko optician, short-sighted power 200! Enda teruk endal, semina leka leka ke mit enda ulih dipeda.
Si cantik molek lalu gaga bepilih ke gagang cermin mata!! Setengah jam tua iya bepilih ke ni ke manah aba mua, be model ke macam2 cermin. Pilih iya - shape: oval, size:132, warna: biru, kaca:coated, harga:RM150.00! Cermin mata anak mit pen ngemal nya!!


Since the beginning of the school year, Val had been complaining about her eyesight ie the fact that she could not see the blackboard well. She's one of the tallest student in her class, so naturally, she gets to sit at the back of the classroom; so I had to meet her classroom teacher to request for her to sit in front. She was placed in the 2nd roll at the side. However, some of the teachers write small, and she still has problem; so yesterday, decided to take her to the optician. Well ... she's shortsighted, power required 200! Not too bad! But the fun part was watching her shop & model so many glassess!!! The final choice - frame:oval, size:132, color:blue, lens:coated, price:RM150.00! So expensive for a little kid!!!

SIDS: Gathering of Dayak Women ...

SIDS Sibu Delegates

Honorable Datuk Senator Empiang Jabu (2nd right) with SIDS Sibu officers



Delegates & Observers from the various branches

Honorable Datuk Senator Empiang Jabu (Chairman SIDS), Honorable Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim, Mr. Mengga (President SDNU), Mdm. Senorita Linang (Hon. Secretary)

The meeting...

Last weekend I was in Kuching attending the one-day Biannual General Meeting of the Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak (Sarawak Dayak National Union, Women Wing). It was an interesting meeting. Its always a joy to meet and reconnect with the ladies from all corners of Sarawak! To see the various beautiful kebaya, baju dero, etc.. - a very colorful experience! With the various fashions on display, I equate it to the Fashion Week in Paris or New York!! Maybe ... Fashion Week of Borneo!!!

I had attended many of these meeting, since joining SIDS, Sibu; first as Secretary and later when I took over the chairmanship of Sibu branch. Dayak women had indeed progressed over the last 5 decades - since the formation of SIDS in 1957! We now have the FIRST Dayak woman appointed Senator - Honorable Datuk Senator Empiang Jabu. Another FIRST, is also the appointment of a Dayak woman as Temenggong (Datuk Tra Zehnder) who was later appointed as Ketua Majlis Adat Istiadat. Her absence was greatly felt from the BGM; we pray for her continual good health! A great and inspirational woman!!

Was the meeting fruitful? What knowledge, new ideas, etc did we gain?

The meeting went on the usual mode of reporting & election. Dayak women, we need to ask ourselves ... What next? With a membership of about 12,300 women, all over the state - I would think, in numbers there is strength. Change is inevitable; and Dayak women must adapt to the changing environment.

At the meeting, I raised 3 matters:-

1. Issue of membership of SDNU & SIDS - You got to understand the constitution to realize the issue at hand and I would not go into its details here. A resolution to change the wordings of the constitution in relation to the Women's Wing was proposed and accepted. Earlier I had also proposed that the submission of the SDNU membership forms by SIDS members be extended until the end of this year and also requested to waive the SDNU membership fees for 2 years. We await for the next course of actions by SIDS/SDNU on the matter.

2. Annual dialogue with branch chairman - In the years that I had been with SIDS; there had never been a dialogue session with the Chairman and the Executive Committee. I suggested that this should be arranged as it is important to meet and discuss various aspects of Dayak women issues/development. I had also mentioned the possibility of composing the Dayak Women Agenda.

In this matter, Datuk Senator had asked each one of the branch chairmen to come up with ideas/agenda for discussions; so I hope all of us will do that. Let us take up the challenge and get back to Datuk in a month!!

3. Organize annual program e.g. seminar/development program - a seminar should be organized annually for Dayak women to educate/develop us in various fields/subjects. Where would the budget come from? That was part of the problem raised. Annually, the State government gives grant to SIDS which could be used for this purpose or it could also be through smart partnership with other agencies in organizing the event.

That's all my thoughts to be shared ... others ... keep to myself!!! :D

Bala Sarakup Indu Dayak Sarawak bertemu ...

Bala Sarakup begempuru di Kuching ujung minggu (28.2.09) tu ngulu aum besai SIDS. Bisi 15 orang bala pengari ngulu aum ari Sibu. Semua pampang di Sarawak bisi nganjung pengari - 23 iti pampang lalu lebih 200 bala indu bisi baum. Nitih ke rekod SIDS HQ, diatu bisi 12,229 bala kaban (12,300+ kaban disebut malam 28.2.09) di Sarawak ke aktif. Enti di tinjau ari segi pemayoh tubuh bala indu Dayak/Iban di Sarawak, tu semina peratusan ke mit aja. Ni bala ke bukai? Ulih kitai begempuru alam Sarakup? Laban munyi ke orang, enti tubuh kitai mayoh, jako kitai dipending/didinga orang agi. [Udah aku belalak, aku mantai ke penemu ke lebih agi pasal pekara ke dikerandau ke dalam aum.]

Gaga ati ketegal ulih betemu maya aum nya enggau pagan-pagan lama serta mega bekelala enggau pagan ke baru dalam Sarakup ...

Sebugey kena 'tangkap' nyadi mamarazzi!

Mamarazzi enggau Adong Suara Belalai Miri? ;) Serious endal Sulu baju merak tu!

YBhg Datin Catherine Gramong (Vice Chairman), YB Datuk Senator Empiang Jabu (Chairman), enggau YB Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim

Endun Belalai begulai enggau bala menyadi ari SIDS Bintulu, Miri aka Sebugey & hmmm ?? Aku nuh bemua ke siko agi pagan, ianya Pengerusi sida dulu suba, Pn. Rita.

Bala SIDS Sibu begulai enggau YB Datuk Senator Empiang Jabu, Chairman SIDS

Hebat bala indai-indai serta inie-inie tu menari!

Bala Exco SIDS Sibu mantai ke line dancing ianya Pn. Monica, Pn. Angelyn, Pn. Catherine, Pn. Magdalen (barisan depan), lalu di belakang Pn. Jeluie, Pn. Sitie, Pn. Rosalyn & Cik Judith.

Sakit HFM ...

Udah beberapa kes anak mit sakit kena HFM di Sibu! Aku irau ke penyakit tu merebak baka ke taun dulu dulu suba! Bala anak staf aku dua iko udah kena ari nemalam, lalu diatu masuk hospital prebit, arap ke seduai jampat gerai.

Nama patut dikerja kitai apai indai ngambi anak-anak kitai enda dijangkit penyakit HFM? Puas aku mikir ke tu, pagi tu; enggai tinok aku ari jam 4.25pagi pengudah nerima sms minta chuti ngenyit ari staf. Bakani kita ngelak ke anak kena HFM? Ke amat endal, aku enda nemu! Nuh enda ingat! Udah aku macha enggau silik beberapa taun ke suba, maya anak agi mit gi; tang sepagi tu, aku enda ingat!

Aku semina ingat ke siti aja ajar Lutor ... anang mai anak ngagai endor ke mayoh orang/anak mit! Nya alai sebedau tudah anak nurun sekula tadi, lalu berlecture lah aku ngagai iya - madah ke tengahari tu legi iya enda ulih enggau main volleyball. Ya, athletic anak aku; bansi indai suba enda tentu aktif!

Aku endang ngarap ke semua orang belaboh bejaga-jaga.


Well, lots of parents are concerned in Sibu ... the hand, foot & mouth disease might be back!!?? Two of my staff kids are confirmed to have the disease and admitted to the private hospital here. So, do take care with your children!

What do you do to prevent it? What to do when your kid have it? All these questions came to my mind, early this morning at 4.25am (after receiving sms for emergency leave from my staff) and honestly .. I don't know!! What do we do? I know that this is not the 1st time that the 'epidemic' had happened in Sibu - several times!! What did I do during those times?

What a parent!! I need to keep myself informed!! I know I read about it several years ago; and it just slipped my mind, completely. I only always remember the doctor's advise - keep away from crowds!

I hope and pray that the situation will be contained!

Pejalai ... terubah ...

Semua pemendal udah diterima; nyadi meh aku ke menoa tu!! Abstract aku udah diterima, lalu deka dibantai ke aba aum besai tu ila. Nadai disangka-sangka pengudah aku sekali mantai ke kertas kerja aba aum antarabangsa di KL taun nyin kemari; aku nuh nerima peminta baru bejako ke topik tu! Tang maya nya suba, mayoh penyukong laban ke di menoa diri; samapai sida bos-bos 'besai' pen bisi enggau ninga!
Tang ke sekali tu, berasai gaga bisi serta mega berasai 'takut' mimit bisi. Urang bukai ke bejako tu nuh betubi-tubi kertas ke udah ditulis serta dibantai; engku baru lah ke-dua! Tang munyi ko aku merangsang diri - Aku Meh Paling Landik mantai ke kertas kerja tu!

Its confirmed! All approvals received to attend the conference and the organizer had accepted my abstract; thus I will be presenting a paper at an international conference in the said country. It will be only my 2nd paper at an international conference; although the first one was held in Kuala Lumpur! At the KL conference, I had a lot of local/foreign supports; even my bosses!! Yeah, the bosses part - that was PRESSURE!! My performance being assessed! I must have done good ;)
I am really excited to be among the experts presenting; and it looks like possibly the only woman presenter (unless I can't distinguish the foreign names gender!!). I have a few concerns also; but, I motivate & encourage myself by saying - I am the BEST, I am the EXPERT! phewwww!!! Hope it works when the time comes!!! Anyway ... Here I Come!!! :D

Upcoming Cultural Events ...

Its confirmed now ... the following events will be happening in Sibu! Its two of the greatest events in Sarawak; and for those in Malaysia, its a MUST, especially the Borneo Cultural Festival. Those overseas, its something to consider, especially when your making trips to Malaysia.

23 May; Gawai Dayak Sibu Dinner @ Civic Center at 7:00 pm;Dinner tickets from RM300 - RM500/ table will be available from April.

3 - 11July; Borneo Cultural Festival @ Town Square (I need to double check on this dates)

However, you could go into the website http://www.sarawaktourism.com/ for updates or further details.

Another event that I love is the Rainforest Music World Festival! Another MUST for music lovers! The experience is worth it - at least ONCE for those in Sarawak!! :D

Hope to see you at the events!!

Gawai Dayak Sibu ... 23 Mei 2009

Haribulan Gawai Dayak Sibu udah ditetap serta disetuju ka kena 23 Mei 2009 di Dewan Suarah. Sampal datai ngulu pengerami tu. Tuai ke taun tu bedau SIDS, Sibu lalu disokong sida SDNU, DBNA, OUNA & SADIA. Engka meda untung taun nyin kemari lebih RM11k keni, ngelama tu lalu duit kira2 RM2k aja :D Taja pia, meja ke dijual bisi 9 iti kurang ari taun-taun ke dulu; nuh besekut alam Dewan. Ko jako tadi ka ngambi gambar komiti besai; nuh enda ingat laban ke enda lanchat be ambi gambar. Enti raun2 baru aku lanchat kacit ke kamera!