St Michael’s students give Tagal centre a facelift
Penampang: The Kibambangan Tagal Centre at Kg Putaton in Inobong has been given a facelift by 20 SM St Michael’s students and is well on track to becoming an eco-education and tourism spot.
The Form Four students spent six weeks working with members of the local community during off-school hours to give the centre a fresher look through the Petronas All About Youth (AAY) competition which they are again competing this year.
Their school is one of seven secondary schools in Sabah and 30 nationwide which are taking part in competition that is endorsed by the Ministry of Education.
The three-year old programme, which started as a pilot project by Petronas, aims to nurture well-rounded youths in areas of social development, community well-being and environment.
Given a RM1,000 grant from the custodian of the national oil and gas resources, this year’s students who call themselves Michaelian Little Helpers chose to revive the Kibambangan Tagal Centre and their entry project in the competition.
But in those weeks being hands-on in works like mural painting on the Tagal Hall, repainting the Riverview Balcony, helping out in the building of a traditional hut, toilet and hanging bridge as well as planting indigenous fruits trees and donating a river harvesting tank, the students felt their world has got a lot bigger.
Their team leader Glenn Gerald told Daily Express they would use the centre to advocate and promote the indigenous ‘tagal’ system, which is implemented only in Sabah, to the world.
“We’ll spread the tagal system through our friends especially through social media,” said the 16-year-old from Kampung Babagon, another village in Penampang known for its successful implementation of the traditional riverine conservation system.
He said even though taking on the social media platform may not likely convince foreign governments to replicate what communities in Sabah have accomplished, at least not overnight, the students still believe that change for the better is possible in time.
As some young people will become future decision and policy makers in governments, Glenn’s effort together with his peers received nothing but strong support from their teachers.
“We hope they’ll be successful and on our part we can only encourage and guide them,” said school principal Jennifer Asing.
The Kibambangan Tagal Centre at Kg Putaton in Inobong is located between 20 to 30 minutes’ drive from Donggongon Township but remains relatively unknown to members of the public.
Through the project, the students and community hope the site will gradually elevate itself to becoming a place that promotes eco-education and leisure.
A ceremony was held Tuesday to officiate the centre’s new look by representatives from Petronas led by its chairman for Sabah and the Federal Territory of Labuan Mohd Zaini Mohd Yunus. Also present were the company’s general manager Julita Untol, Petronita Kota Kinabalu chairperson Rohana Affandi and SM St Michael’s PTA chairman Datuk Philip Lasimbang.
Also present were District Education Officer Mojuntin Ebin, village head Michael Kubot, District Fisheries Department enforcement officer Tony Anus, Tagal Kibambangan chairman Maximus Miwil and Kg Putaton JKKK chairman David Inang.
Source: Daily Express
