Borneo Festival

Borneo seem to be the land of festival.

Almost every month, there is always some kind of festival, and what make it very attractive is, everyone seem to enjoy it.

The last one seem to be in July and Philip Hii from the Star newspaper reported it.

II would love to join them next year.

Wednesday July 21, 2010

Borneo Cultural Festival begins with 15,000 enjoying various events

By PHILIP HII
philiphii@thestar.com.my

THE increasingly-popular Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2010 in Sibu kicked off last Friday night with at least 15,000 people cramming the Town Square to witness a host of simultaneous events.

Nightly revue: Huge crowds watching the BCF cultural performances.

Apart from three specially-erected stages, one each for the Chinese, Dayak and Malay-Melanau communities to present cultural performances nightly during the nine-day celebration, there are more than 100 stalls selling food and handicraft of the various communities.

Two other attractions are a trade expo and a photography and calligraphy exhibition.

The festival’s highlight will be the dances, songs and competitions involving individuals and cultural troupes representing Sarawak’s ethnic groups on the main stage during the final three nights.

Child’s play: Tiong Xin Hui (left) and Esther Wong presenting Da Kung Chi for the audience.

Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh and Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King accompanied by the community leaders of the ethnic groups led a colourful street parade to kick-start the festival on Friday night.

Wong later released balloons to officially launch BCF 2010.

At another ceremony, Wong released balloons again to launch a series of activities at the Chinese section of BCF 2010 at Chuang Corridor in Sibu Town Square Phase One.

Awesome: A warrior dance.

The activities included a lion dance competition, eating competition, Chinese chess competition, Chinese folk songs competition, dragon dance performance, martial arts performance, Chinese opera and traditional games performance.

BCF is organised by SMC to promote and strengthen harmony and unity and attract local and international tourists to Sibu.

Looking at the number of visitors, I think the Borneo festival has done its purpose to attract more visitors. People seem to know about Borneo than Malaysia itself.