Hearing-impaired drummers showcase skills at Chap Goh Mei celebration

KOTA KINABALU – Twelve hearing-impaired drummers showcased their skills at the Chap Goh Mei celebration at the Sacred Heart Parish Centre here on 4 Mar 2018.

Over 300 people turned up for the gathering organised by the Chinese Coordinating Committee headed by Oliver Kong.  Chap Goh Mei or 15th day of the first month marks the end of the lunar new year festivities.

Among those present were Archbishop John Wong, retired Archbishop John Lee, Father David Sham, Father Paul Lo, Father Joshua Liew, Father Max Hontor, Father Leo Choi, Father Andrew Kim, the aspirants and seminarians, the religious, and members of the parish pastoral council.

The event began with a drum display by Archbishop John Wong, followed by a longer display by the five young drummers – Frankie and Brian Wong, Jessica Liew, Betty Kong, Megan Sham – who also gave a drum performance before the Lunar New Year Mass on Feb 16.

This was followed immediately by the 12 hearing-impaired drummers from SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin Penampang whose performance was applauded by the appreciative audience.

In his brief speech, Abp Wong welcomed those who came and thanked all those involved in the organising of the event.  He also exhorted the attendees to emulate the good qualities of the dog (being the Year of the Dog).

While taking their dinner, the diners were entertained by a variety of performances including a guzheng (Chinese zither) performance by Chang Ruo Ping and two cultural dances by the Ivy Kok group with lucky draws in between.

Both prelates distributed hungpows to the children, single youth and adults, including the aspirants and seminarians.  The priests and religious also received hungpows from Abp Wong.

The event ended with a prayer- blessing by Abp Wong after an amusing lion dance performance by a troupe based in Kepayan.