Sabah Kababayan Association holds AGM, Gala Night
KOTA KINABALU: Members of Sabah Kababayan Association or Persatuan Kababayan Sabah (PKS) from all over the state gathered for its second annual general meeting (AGM) over the weekend at a leading hotel here last Saturday.
PKS is an association for members whose descendants came from the islands of Luzon, Visayas, Palawan and Mindanao in the Philippines. This Kababayan community comprises Filipinos whose ethnicity are mainly Ilocanos, Bisayas, Ilonggos and Chavacanos, to name a few.
Bridging friendship, promoting camaraderie among members and developing their potential to become better contributors to society are among its aims while emphasis is given to inculcate the Filipino tradition and culture to its younger generation before they are completely forgotten or diminished.
Over its infancy period, the PKS membership roll had grown rapidly, and cultural and sporting activities have been organised by its respective liaison committees in Kota Kinabalu, Keningau, Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu. Some of these successfully organised activities were business networking among members, visits to charity homes and massive blood donation campaigns for the respective district hospitals.
At the AGM, 2015-2017 chairman, Teddy Pacaldo, briefed members on PKS’ achievements over the past two years and pleaded with them to continue the vision and mission of the association. He also thanked the co-founders for bringing the Filipinos in Sabah together and to continue to unite for the benefit of its younger generation.
“Our forefathers who came as early as the 1920’s to North Borneo had contributed to its development, hence, we should continue to do so as Sabah is our home now,” he stressed.
The newly-elected office bearers for the 2017-2019 term comprised members from all over Sabah headed by Alfredo Hernandez (chairman), Cherilyn Rondidas (vice chairman), Delce Teresita Prudente (secretary), Abner Villame (treasurer), Ruth Santander (assistant secretary), Maricris Gleo Rodrigues (assistant treasurer) and committee members: Nolda Gwendolyn Stephens, Jesusan Roble, Erlinda Cabanlit, Joseph Ernesto Bandiango, Ariffin Delacerna, Ronald Lo, Amparo Rachel Regino, Elsa Auza and Elizabeth Banagua, all of whom have promised to continue the efforts of their predecessors.
Meanwhile, coinciding with the gathering of Malaysian Filipinos, PKS Kota Kinabalu district liaison committee headed by Victor Fernandez organised a dinner and dance event, aptly themed ‘Glitz & Glam’ at the Pacific Sutera Harbour. The hugely successful event saw a congregation of the Kababayan community and their friends from all walks of life coming from all over Sabah.
“It is my first time seeing so many Filipinos under one roof,” commented a non-Filipino guest, confirming that PKS is indeed serving as an umbrella to unite the Kababayan community.
The event, well organised by a committee under the leadership of Amparo Rachel Regino, provided guests with a variety of Filipino cultural dances performed by the younger Kababayan members and their friends and beautifully choreographed by PKS-KK cultural advisor Shella Koh, who is a professional dancer herself and owner of Baila Dance Studio.
A singing performance by 10year-old PKS star Stephanie Jane Liew and a ballroom dance performances by Alvin and Joanna from Damai Dance Studio awed the audience.
A special performance by Rachel Kumar, the owner of Dance with Me studio and her dance partner Jorence Altoveros, who recently won the Asian Championship 2017 in Japan this July, proudly presented their winning tango dance which had truly raised the bar to heady heights.
These performances set the mood, and coupled with the Filipinos’ love for dancing, the dance floor was constantly packed whenever opportunities arose.
Generous members and friends donated attractive lucky draw prizes which included a 49-inch flat screen television and leading hotel vouchers, among others. Among the highlights were the revival of the Filipino tradition of having a community muse, which was won by a FilipinoChinese, Joy Ling Siang Mee, 24, and the ‘Harana’, a Filipino song rendition which was performed by the organising committee themselves.
Most attendees agree that the event had brought Philippines to Kota Kinabalu, Mabuhay!