Rizal Day an annual affair in Sandakan

Published on: Saturday, June 19, 2021

By: British North Borneo Herald

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Dr Jose Rizal: Filipino nationalist who was executed by Spanish colonial government for rebellion.

17TH JANUARY 1940

Rizal Day Celebration has become a big Annual Affair for the Filipino Community of Sandakan. The 1930 celebration was made possible by the active initiation of Messrs. J Agama and J Sales ably assisted by Mr M Udarbe, and, of course, by the ready support of all civic minded Filipinos in Sandakan.

As in last year, the celebration was held on the night of 30th December at the Sandakan Recreation Club which was tastefully decorated by Mr F Melegrito for the occasion.

For the first time in many years the barong Tagalog and Filipino meziza dress were worn.

The wearing of the national dress on this occasion rendered the celebration very colourful and a distinctive Filipino affair. Mr R B Cabiling acted as Master of Ceremonies and after making his opening remarks, Mr B Brillantes delivered a short address of welcome explanation of the significance of the occasion followed by a biographical sketch of the life of the Filipino Hero Dr Jose Rizal.

For the second time in the annals of Rizal Day Celebration in Sandakan, the 1930 celebration was held without a programme, so immediately after Mr Brillantes’ address, the first music of the evening was played and dancing commenced.

Mr Pablo Delgado’s Filipino Orchestra and Mr 0 Garcia’s Radio Pick-Up alternately furnished the music.

Drink was plentiful and could be had for the asking and a delicious Insalada Rusasa la Gordon Bleu was partaken after several dances.

Variety entertainments which broke the monotony of the waltz, fox-trot, one-step etc. were supplied by Mrs 0 Garcia and Mr and Mrs E Trinidad in the form of vocal solo and tango respectively.

The rendition of by Mrs Gracia of her Spanish songs was truly harmoniously sweet and received the enthusiastic response of her audience.

Mr and Mrs Trinidad likewise danced the tango extraordinarily well to the delight of the spectators.

The occasion was made a complete success by the presence of a big crowd of European and Asiatic guests.

Among the guests may be mentioned:-

The Hon. Mr F W Pinnock, the Hon. Capt and Mrs Smelt, the Hon. Mr G L Gray and Mrs Gray, Mrs Leonard Gray, Capt and Mrs Houston, Mr and Mrs H G Keith, Mr and Mrs G C Fenton, Mr and Mrs F J Robinson, Mr and Mrs H E Hopkins, Dr and Mrs H Wands, Mrs C Boyer, Dr and Mrs C T Chan, Madame Ou, Mrs M Y Cohen, Mr and Mrs A J Pereira, Mr and Mrs J S Funk, Mr and Mrs Simon Yew, Mr and Mrs Lo Ah Fuh, Mr and Mrs P Funk, Misses N Parnell, G Ou, A Watson, G Fund, M Watson, M Neubronner, M Willie, W Willie, Rev. Fathers B J Davis, Mulders, Walsh, Rev. Henthorne, Rev. Brown, Messrs J D S Hay, G S Brown, G A Taylor, W F Hill, M G Edge, Vun Tsze Chong, Kong Su En, Fung Shong Kong, Fong Chung Fah, Ho Hiap Yun, Vun Yin Chong, Luk Shui Shing, M Velayutham, Ho Kwang Kim, Ng Ah Yong, T Ah Chuen and Lam Weng Hin.