Friendship Beyond Borders

Contributed by Rtr Hui Hui

As I was writing this article, the famous conference song ‘Pinoy Ako’ (in Tagalog) still lingers in my mind. That was the song sang at the APRRC 2006 convention hall at Tagaytay City, Philippines where the Asia Pacific rotaractors did the line dance in unity.

The decision to attend this conference and paid the package of US130 was made at the spur of moment. And it never occurred to me to visit the Philippines, the country of 7000 islands.

But, the preparation to go for the conference was a tedious job. The team of APRRC committee of rotaractors had to crack their heads to come up with a cultural performance and ideas on promoting Malaysia as the next APRRC host.

Lead by Rotaract KL President Kim Kek Seong and PP Vijay Ananth, about twenty of us met at Rotarian Donny’s Kua home at Bukit Damansara after work. The last time I met the fellow committee was during the DRA and joint district rotaract conference. And, I never thought that all of us as delegates became good friends after the APRRC.

After the first, second and third week of August, the team finally got the dance moves correct and the correct tune of the songs to be performed. I volunteered to sing for the first and for the final part cultural performance. It was Joget Pahang song made popular by Siti Norhaliza and A Thousand Million Smiles by the late singer, Sudirman.

Imagine I had to watch Siti’s concerts in VCDs and P Ramlee’s old movies to get into the mood.

The rehearsals and the meetings continue until we touched down at Clarke Manila airport. We were greeted courteously (Mabuhay: Welcome!) by the APRRC Pilipinas committee team.

To my dismay, the journey to Days Hotel, Tagatay City was longer and tiring. And talk about not having adequate sleeping hours from the first day of travel. But, what was fun are the series of things that we experience ie:

1) Rolling our heavy luggage (full of Malaysian delicacies and tourism brochures) to a Manila shopping mall. Left it in the bowling alley and went shopping.
2) Dressing up in cultural costumes. Laughing at DRRE Dinesh for putting on the huge size ‘papa’ sunglasses with a Baju Melayu outfit.
3) During the first part of cultural performance dance, part of the ‘Joget Pahang’ song was already ‘axed’ out due the technical problems. In spite of that, the joget dancers were versatile enough to catch up. (I admit I was nervous seeing the huge crowd of eyes at the stage below during that time)
4) Seeing the team candidly snapping pictures of rotaractors caught sleeping at the conference table during the opening ceremony on the first day. Thanks to IPP Bernard of RAC Kelana Jaya.
5) Seeing the RAC Seremban rotaractors came back from a midnight swim in resort swimming pool in a chilly weather like in Cameron Highlands. Grrr….
6) ‘Kan pai’ session with the Taiwan rotaractors, thanks to IPP Harley, Rotaract District International Service Director, who drank vodka on my behalf, and for PP Vijay, Kim and Nellie.
7) And then, the drinking and the Mars/Venus debate session with Rtr Kim, Jamie, Amanda, Nellie, Tracy till five in the morning thanks to PP Vijay, the man that no need much sleep.
8) Myself with Rotaractor Aslinda, Jamie, Sindhu, Rosmarie sneaking out from the convention hall to go shopping in the city with our two Filipino friends, Rotaractor Maria and Mark who graciously accompany us.

And the most wonderful moments, were the fellowship and exchange of momentos with our gracious Rotarians and Rotaractors from the host country Philippines and from Australia, Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and other Asean region countries. And the live dancing and singing session as well.

What I gained was the ability to reach out to our fellow rotaractors friends within country and abroad. And I proud to say that the team of us did promote Malaysia successfully as the next APRRC host, I hope!

P/S This article is dedicated to my new circle of friends who I had formed the close bond during the trip. You know who you are…J