Cherry secures the Dayung Sikora title

By VANES DEVINDRAN
vanes@thestar.com.my
Photo by ANDRE OLIVEIRO

SERIAN lass Cherry Ying Ying Abel was crowned Gawai Carnival Redeems 2010 beauty queen in the Dayung Sikora contest, the culmination of the three-day annual carnival.

The 23-year-old who hails from Kampung Lanchan Serian beat 13 other Bidayuh beauties for the title and earned herself RM1,000 in cash, a RM500 voucher and a trophy.

The first runner-up position went to Princilla Leong, 19, from Kampung Atas Singai. while second runner-up was Cabrina Rosery Andrew, 18, from Kampung Apar Singai.

Bidayuh beauties: Cherry flanked by Princilla (right) and Cabrina waving to the audience after their win.

Princilla took home RM750 in cash, a RM300 voucher and a trophy while Cabrina won RM500 in cash, a RM200 voucher and a trophy.

The Miss Photogenic title went to Shirley Sinatra Gran, 23, from Kampung Tanjung Poting, Singai. All prizes were sponsored by Lea Sports Centre.

The contest was officiated by Head of State Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Muhammad Abang Salahuddin.

In a closing address, Infrastructure Development and Communication Minister Datuk Seri Michael Manyin Jawong urged all Bidayuhs not to be split by dialects and location.

He said, even though the Bidayuhs were spread out in Kuching and spoke different dialects, they should come together and work for progress.

“We have to remember that our value system is the same whether we are a Bidayuh from the Serian, Penrissen or Bau area. We must stop segregating and just introduce ourselves as Bidayuhs.

“Only by doing this can we will grow closer to one another and move as one to be at par with other communities,” he added.

Manyin also cautioned the Bidayuh people against negative elements and advised them to discard any thoughts that would hamper their development.

Earlier, organising chairman Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie said, aside from reporting the progress of the community in Singai and Bau, the carnival aimed to promote tourist attractions such as the Bamboo Park in Singai and the Wind and Fairy Cave.

He said the carnival showed how the Bidayuhs contributed to the development of Sarawak and their interest in cooperating with other communities.