Dayak community welcomes Gawai

KUCHING: It is that time of year again, when Sarawak’s rich diversity of culture is showcased at its best.

Traditionally, the Dayak community welcomes the Gawai celebrations to give thanks to the gods for another successful harvest of the paddy, while praying for another good season up ahead.

Celebrated in the State on June 1 each year, Gawai Dayak is both a religious and social occasion.

Gawai Dayak simply means a ritual or festival celebrated by the native ethnic groups of the Iban and Bidayuh people of Sarawak and neighbouring Kalimantan of Indonesia.

Even though many of the younger generation have migrated to the city and are not involved in paddy planting anymore, Gawai Dayak remains an integral part of the Dayak traditions and customs.

Evolving with time and social changes, Gawai now symbolises a time to give back, to reunite with family members, friends, the community and above all, to strengthen the understanding and appreciation of the traditions, cultures and the roots of oneself.

Although the colourful cultural extravaganza and fiesta of the Gawai Dayak runs through June until its ‘Ngiling Tikai’ (closing ceremony), it is the rituals, prayers and celebration to welcome Gawai that would be considered its highlights.

For the Iban community, be it in the longhouse or the urban housing communities, celebration starts on the eve, on May 31 itself.

During the evening, a ceremony among the Ibans, a ceremony called Muai Antu Rua (to cast away the spirit of greed) is conducted to ward off the spirit of bad luck .

Around 6pm (twilight), an offering ceremony called ‘miring’ would take place.

The longhouse chief or the most respected senior figure in the community would conduct the miring ritual by thanking the gods for the good harvest, asking for guidance, blessings and long life as he waves a cockerel over the offerings.

The cockerel would then be sacrificed and a little blood is used together with the offerings. Before the ceremony, ‘gendang rayah’ (ritual music) would be performed.

Once the offering ceremony has been carried out, dinner would then be served at the ‘ruai’.

Just before midnight, a procession along the ‘ruai’ for seven times called ‘Ngalu Petara’ (welcoming the spirit gods) would be performed.

It is usually during such procession that a beauty pageant to choose the festival’s queen and king (Kumang and Keling Gawai) would be held.

However, in this modern time, with the growing interest of the Kumang Gawai festival, the pageants would be held days or weeks earlier leading to Gawai Dayak.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Dayak community welcomes Gawai
.
.

Sabah leads global bid to save rhinos

KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia, represented by the Wildlife Department in Sabah, is leading a worldwide bid to save the Sumatran rhinoceros that are in serious danger of extinction.

Dr Laurentius Nayan Ambu, director of the department, has been appointed chairman of the Global Sumatran Rhinoceros Management and Propagation Board (GMPB) for the next five years, a post previously held by Indonesia.

By virtue of the fact that Indonesia and Malaysia are the only two countries where this rare animal is found, they are known as the range states and considered the leading countries on the board of this global body.

Laurentius told the Borneo Post in an interview here that there are not more than 350 of this specie of rhinoceros left on earth and there are no more than 50 of them in Malaysia.

“To be exact, there are no more than 30 in fragmented areas, mainly in the Tabin and the Danum Valley in the Lahad Datu district of Sabah,” he added.

“These are the two areas we surveyed that have a good number of rhinos left, the bulk of rhinos in Sabah.

“The rest are in the interior, like the Tungod area, the Yayasan Sabah’s timber concession areas and some forest reserves in central Sabah.”

Elaborating on his role as GMPB chairman, Laurentius said:

“I am spearheading the movement. That means I talk to the Indonesian authorities on what they are doing there. I call on them every now and then to see what’s going on in Indonesia and find out what help do they need.”

He pointed out that there are only two captive breeding sites in the world – one in Indonesia and the other in Malaysia.

The one in Indonesia is located at Waykambas, Bogor, on Sumatra Island. This is where they keep their captive rhinos. The one for Malaysia is in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve.

“These are the two Sumatran rhinoceros breeding centres in the world. My duty is to call on the technical experts on the board, representatives of the donor countries and try to work out how to support these two breeding centres.

“The other breeding centre is at the Cincinnati Zoo. They took the Sumatran rhinos from Indonesia. That one is captive, whilst the ones in Malaysia and Indonesia are in semi-wild conditions.”

Laurentius disclosed that a rhino conservation workshop, held two years ago, passed a resolution saying that an active intervention had to be taken to save the rhinos.

Continue reading at: Sabah leads global bid to save rhinos
.
.

Kaamatan promotes Sabah’s rich diversity

KOTA KINABALU: The Harvest Festival has indirectly help promote the uniqueness and diversity of Sabah apart from celebrating the cultural heritage of the Kadazandusun and Murut (KDM) communities.

The promotion through the concept of Malaysia Open House has also contributed to the increase in the arrival of tourists to Sabah which had recorded its highest growth so far of 2.5 million people in 2010.

“This is our uniqueness and I hope the spirit of Harvest Festival celebrations will continue to provide inspiration and strength for us to unite and strengthen the unity to ensure stability, peace and prosperity of our beloved state,” said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman, at the closing ceremony of the State-level Kaamatan Festival at KDCA Hongkod Koisaan here yesterday.

The official closing ceremony was performed by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin.

“I myself had the opportunity to attend various celebrations and are pleased with the involvement and support of people of various races and cultures all over the state,” he noted.

Although the festival had reached its end, Musa believe the spirit of the celebration will continue and should be used as a platform to unite the people in the state, in line with the theme for this year celebration ‘understanding of the culture-wise step forward’.

He said the debut of some ethnic groups brought by KDCA at this year celebrations such as Tidung, Dusun Labuk, Sukang, Kuizau, Murut Tangala, Dumpas, Orang Sungai Kuamut and Orang Dusun Tabilung were to expose the uniqueness of their culture in a spirit of friendship, understanding and harmony.

He said the traditional performances presented throughout the celebrations by the various races and ethnic groups had further strengthen our cultural understanding, making Sabah an example for harmonious society as well as the best model for the 1Malaysia concept, achieved by everyone regardless of political boundaries.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan promotes Sabah’s rich diversity

.
.

Kaamatan a platform to strengthen unity

KOTA KINABALU: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan said the Harvest Festival celebration has provided a platform not only for all communities to come together but also to bury any hatchet and differences.

“It is time for forgive and forget our past and move forward,” he said at the closing ceremony of the State-level Kaamatan Festival celebration at KDCA Hongkod Koisaan here yesterday.

Pairin who is also the main organising chairman, said apart from the merriment, the celebrations has also provided a platform to strengthen the unity and understanding of the state diverse races, culture and ethnic groups as well as to appreciate the sacrifices of Huminodun while enjoying a bountiful harvest.

Sabah United Bisaya Association president Datuk Lajim Ukin who was present at the ceremony said: “There are more than 31 ethnic groups in Sabah who have their own custom, culture and dance respectively.

“So with this festival, we have the opportunity to highlight their culture and traditions to the public as well as become an attraction for the tourists,” said the Deputy Minister of Housing & Local Government.

“Our diverse cultures should be promoted to the visitors and when you understand our cultures, the international communities will recognise us,” he said.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Kaamatan a platform to strengthen unity
.
.

Philippine Universities recorded continues influx of Foreign Students to avail World Class yet affordable Education

Philippines - Thousands of foreign university students are flocking to the Philippines, attracted by cheap yet high-quality courses conducted in English and an easy-going lifestyle outside class.

With more than 2,100 private and state-run institutions nationwide offering a wide array of courses, and an immigration policy friendly to foreign students, the former American colony is enjoying an enrolment boom.

Nearly 20,000 foreign students held special visas at the end of the school year in March, according to the immigration bureau, which said the number would rise when classes began in June.

This excludes the tens of thousands enrolled in small institutions that offer short courses in English and are particularly popular among South Korean and Chinese students.

Nigerian medical student Dike Edward Ikechukwu, 22, said he learnt about studying in the Philippines at an education road show conducted by Manila schools in his country.

Then already studying pharmacology in Lagos, Ikechukwu said he was intrigued by the prospect of studying in a foreign country where he could expand his medical knowledge without depleting the family resources.

"It was cost effective for me," said Ikechukwu, who is president of the 605-member foreign students' organization at Manila's 400-year-old University of Santo Tomas.

"I would have spent so much more in the United States for the same quality of education."

Denis Somoso, a Filipino OFW Accountant and International Taxation Specialist who is working in Hyundai Engineering, a company of the one of the biggest car maker in the world; the Hyundai Motor Group supposed to pursue his MBA in South Korea but he found out that he need to spend around $ 15,000.00 US Dollar every semester while in the Philippine universities, $ 800 to $1,400 US Dollar is enough for the whole semester so he decided to take his MBA in the Philippines.

“I supposed to enroll for my MBA here in Seoul Korea; I have chosen already one of the famous universities for foreign students here. I got the requirements already and they scheduled me to take an English test but after I got all the information including the fees, I changed my mind because it is really expensive compare to the Philippines” he said. “I still believe the quality of education in the Philippines and studying to the USA is not even needed if you are a graduate in the Philippines because graduate of the Philippines Universities are recognized abroad” he added.

A 4-year degree course in the Philippines costs between $1,000 and $2,500 a year, significantly cheaper than in the United States for example where one could spend more than $30,000 annually, educators here say.

Another important factor for Ikechukwu was English. He said his father, a shipping consultant; travelled to the Philippines before he enrolled to inspect the university and liked the fact English was widely spoken.

The Philippines inherited English from the Americans, who colonized the archipelago at the end of a war with Spain in 1898.

American teachers fanned out across the country to open up schools in remote villages, teaching English grammar, diction and generally instilling a love for education in a legacy that lasts to this day.

Even though the Philippines is one of the poorest countries in Asia with one of the biggest wealth divides, the literacy rate remains one of the highest in the region at about 90%, according to government data.

The government began enticing foreign students to study in the Philippines in the 1980s, mostly in specialized fields such as medicine and agriculture.

The following decade saw an explosion of schools and institutions offering short-term courses in English language, aviation, hotel and restaurant management and maritime-related classes.

Then, in 2000, the government embarked on a strategy to promote the Philippines as a center for education in Asia, with one plank making it easier for foreign students to apply for visas.

It also established exchange programs between Philippine schools and universities in many countries, including Australia, the United States, South Korea, Canada and European nations.

Professor Evelyn Songco, assistant to the rector for student affairs at the University of Santo Tomas, credited the high number of foreigners to the government's strong push to make the Philippines an academic mecca in Asia.

"Many Philippine schools and universities are accredited abroad, and those who graduated from here have created a good impression around the world," she said.

"Our diplomas are competitive abroad, and Philippine universities have always strived to do justice to the tuition fees these foreigners pay. We give them quality education, quality faculty members and facilities."

Beryl France Buendia, an American studying for a physical therapy degree at the University of Santo Tomas, said she believed studying in the Philippines would not disadvantage her in the US job market.

"I believe a Philippine diploma can be just as competitive in the States," the 22-year-old said, although she added cost was a big factor in deciding to study in Manila.

"My dad's quite old and my mom's going to retire soon so they had to budget the plan, so we decided to enrol here," she said.

A younger sister, Bethany, is finishing a degree in communication arts, also at Santo Tomas.

For South Korean psychology student Juhyun Kim, 18, learning English and low costs were important reasons for enrolling at the Ateneo de Manila University.

But she said another factor in choosing to study in the Philippines was the reputation of Filipinos for being so friendly.

"Koreans are very welcome here. Filipinos sincerely care. I like staying here," she said.

Hongkod Koisaan impresses with new look for Kaamatan 2011

PENAMPANG: The state-level Kaamatan 2011 has received thumbs up from regular visitors following a noticeable improvement of facilities at the Hongkod Koisaan, the permanent hosting site for the annual cultural extravaganza.

Kaamatan, the harvest festival of Sabah’s biggest ethnic group – the Kadazan Dusun Murut (KDM), is traditionally celebrated as a way of showing gratitude for a bountiful harvest of padi or rice.

Today, however, the Kaamatan festival is more of a celebration of culture and tradition, part of a continuous effort to preserve the colourful identity of an ethnic, and highly recognized as a tool for promoting inter-racial understanding.

And this year’s festival, according to visitor Shamsul Adzrin, is as grand as ever, only more joyous and festive with more people from all background coming to join the celebration.

“It’s more happening this year, that’s the vibe you get. You can see a number of new and upgraded structures, and more importantly there are more people and everyone is excited and happy,” said the 40-year-old from Johor.

Shamsul said he almost never missed coming to Hongkod Koisaan every Kaamatan since residing in Sabah 16 years ago, and noticed that the organizing of the event had continued to show gradual improvements over the years.

“I think this year’s improvement is quite noticeable. It is a job well done for the Kadazan Dusun Murut Cultural Association (KDCA),” he said, as unending flow of visitors continued to arrive despite the simmering hot midday temperature.

Over the years, local residents and tourists have been flocking to Hongkod Koisaan (which means the Unity Hall in the Kadazan language), for the state-level Kaamatan festival closing ceremony held every May 30 and 31.

However, this year, the organizer, KDCA, decided to go for a major revamping, offering visitors a refreshing change, both with the itinerary and facilities.

The renewal literally started at the doorstep, with visitors being greeted by the ‘KDCA Cultural Village’ arch which led them to a hanging bridge with a man-made pond underneath.

Continue reading at: Hongkod Koisaan impresses with new look for Kaamatan 2011

.
.

20,000 foreign students enrolled in the Philippine Universities for the Affordable but World Class Quality Education

Universities in the Philippines - Thousands of foreign university students are flocking to the Philippines, attracted by cheap yet high-quality courses conducted in English and an easy-going lifestyle outside class.

With more than 2,100 private and state-run institutions nationwide offering a wide array of courses, and an immigration policy friendly to foreign students, the former American colony is enjoying an enrolment boom.

Nearly 20,000 foreign students held special visas at the end of the school year in March, according to the immigration bureau, which said the number would rise when classes began in June.

This excludes the tens of thousands enrolled in small institutions that offer short courses in English and are particularly popular among South Korean and Chinese students.

Nigerian medical student Dike Edward Ikechukwu, 22, said he learnt about studying in the Philippines at an education road show conducted by Manila schools in his country.

Then already studying pharmacology in Lagos, Ikechukwu said he was intrigued by the prospect of studying in a foreign country where he could expand his medical knowledge without depleting the family resources.

"It was cost effective for me," said Ikechukwu, who is president of the 605-member foreign students' organization at Manila's 400-year-old University of Santo Tomas.

"I would have spent so much more in the United States for the same quality of education."

Denis Somoso, a Filipino OFW Accountant and International Taxation Specialist who is working in Hyundai Engineering, a company of the one of the biggest car maker in the world; the Hyundai Motor Group supposed to pursue his MBA in South Korea but he found out that he need to spend around $ 15,000.00 US Dollar every semester while in the Philippine universities, $ 800 to $1,400 US Dollar is enough for the whole semester so he decided to take his MBA in the Philippines.

“I supposed to enroll for my MBA here in Seoul Korea; I have chosen already one of the famous universities for foreign students here. I got the requirements already and they scheduled me to take an English test but after I got all the information including the fees, I changed my mind because it is really expensive compare to the Philippines” he said. “I still believe the quality of education in the Philippines and studying to the USA is not even needed if you are a graduate in the Philippines because graduate of the Philippines Universities are recognized abroad” he added.

A 4-year degree course in the Philippines costs between $1,000 and $2,500 a year, significantly cheaper than in the United States for example where one could spend more than $30,000 annually, educators here say.

Another important factor for Ikechukwu was English. He said his father, a shipping consultant; travelled to the Philippines before he enrolled to inspect the university and liked the fact English was widely spoken.

The Philippines inherited English from the Americans, who colonized the archipelago at the end of a war with Spain in 1898.

American teachers fanned out across the country to open up schools in remote villages, teaching English grammar, diction and generally instilling a love for education in a legacy that lasts to this day.

Even though the Philippines is one of the poorest countries in Asia with one of the biggest wealth divides, the literacy rate remains one of the highest in the region at about 90%, according to government data.

The government began enticing foreign students to study in the Philippines in the 1980s, mostly in specialized fields such as medicine and agriculture.

The following decade saw an explosion of schools and institutions offering short-term courses in English language, aviation, hotel and restaurant management and maritime-related classes.

Then, in 2000, the government embarked on a strategy to promote the Philippines as a center for education in Asia, with one plank making it easier for foreign students to apply for visas.

It also established exchange programs between Philippine schools and universities in many countries, including Australia, the United States, South Korea, Canada and European nations.

Professor Evelyn Songco, assistant to the rector for student affairs at the University of Santo Tomas, credited the high number of foreigners to the government's strong push to make the Philippines an academic mecca in Asia.

"Many Philippine schools and universities are accredited abroad, and those who graduated from here have created a good impression around the world," she said.

"Our diplomas are competitive abroad, and Philippine universities have always strived to do justice to the tuition fees these foreigners pay. We give them quality education, quality faculty members and facilities."

Beryl France Buendia, an American studying for a physical therapy degree at the University of Santo Tomas, said she believed studying in the Philippines would not disadvantage her in the US job market.

"I believe a Philippine diploma can be just as competitive in the States," the 22-year-old said, although she added cost was a big factor in deciding to study in Manila.

"My dad's quite old and my mom's going to retire soon so they had to budget the plan, so we decided to enrol here," she said.

A younger sister, Bethany, is finishing a degree in communication arts, also at Santo Tomas.

For South Korean psychology student Juhyun Kim, 18, learning English and low costs were important reasons for enrolling at the Ateneo de Manila University.

But she said another factor in choosing to study in the Philippines was the reputation of Filipinos for being so friendly.

"Koreans are very welcome here. Filipinos sincerely care. I like staying here," she said.