June 5, 2016 Sunday
By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my
FOUR guides who died protecting climbers up Mount Kinabalu in the June 5 earthquake last year have their names etched in the hearts of many.
They are remembered in prayers, songs, tributes and inscriptions as well as a legacy that represents the qualities of the guides from the foothills of the mountain.
The four mountain guides were Valerian Joannes, Ricky Masirin, Robbi Sapinggi and Joseph Solungin. They were among 18 people killed in the earthquake that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale.
Valerian and Ricky, both 28, were via ferrata trainer guides with Mt Torq that runs the popular rock face excursions while Robbi and Joseph were summit trail guides.
Their loved ones are still coming to terms with what has happened and this weekend will see many converging at Kinabalu Park to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice they made.
Nurse Jessica Sikta who was engaged to be married last November to Valerian said it has not been easy for her as she constantly thinks about him everyday.
“Each time I return to Bundu Tuhan I will visit his grave, talk to him, pray, its hard to let go,” said Jessica who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
This weekend she will join 20 family members of nine Singaporeans who perished in the disaster in a commemorative climb organised by Mt Torq that operates the Via Ferrata near the summit. Jessica is climbing with 13 representing Valerian and Ricky.
They planted 18 trees in the park on Friday in honour of all those who perished, start their climb yesterday and retrace the route up to the via ferrata today, the same programme lined up for the Tanjung Katong school children.
“I want to have a feel of the place where Valerian used to work, the place where people say he died protecting the Singaporean children from falling rocks,” she said referring to the seven Tanjung Katong primary schoolchildren who died that day.
“We will also offer prayers, light candles and lanterns for all departed souls.”
Last year after all that happened Jessica discovered Valerian, who was her partner from when she was a teenager, had written a Kadazandusun songs as a wedding gift.
The song titled “Igitanku Longon Nu” (I Will Hold Your Hands) became a local hit as it told of how a brief separation endeared him to Jessicamore as he found out it would be hard to live without her.
Valerian also expressed his eagerness to spend the rest of his life with Jessica in his song – it did not happen.
Jessica despite being devastated, she appreciates life more now and finds strength from family and friends. “Its him looking after me, holding on to my hands.”
Mt Torq marketing director Quek I-Gek said the via ferrata activity was reopened on early this year and now gets an average of between 10 to 15 guests, a far fry from their average 20 to 30 before the earthquake.
“On the day it happened we were at our maximum capacity with 46 guests,” she said adding the maximum capacity now has been limted to 33 by Sabah Parks, custodian of the mountain and the park in its surrounding.
By Olivia Miwil
olivia@nst.com.my
FOUR guides who died protecting climbers up Mount Kinabalu in the June 5 earthquake last year have their names etched in the hearts of many.
They are remembered in prayers, songs, tributes and inscriptions as well as a legacy that represents the qualities of the guides from the foothills of the mountain.
The four mountain guides were Valerian Joannes, Ricky Masirin, Robbi Sapinggi and Joseph Solungin. They were among 18 people killed in the earthquake that measured 5.9 on the Richter scale.
Valerian and Ricky, both 28, were via ferrata trainer guides with Mt Torq that runs the popular rock face excursions while Robbi and Joseph were summit trail guides.
Their loved ones are still coming to terms with what has happened and this weekend will see many converging at Kinabalu Park to commemorate the ultimate sacrifice they made.
Nurse Jessica Sikta who was engaged to be married last November to Valerian said it has not been easy for her as she constantly thinks about him everyday.
“Each time I return to Bundu Tuhan I will visit his grave, talk to him, pray, its hard to let go,” said Jessica who works at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Kota Kinabalu.
This weekend she will join 20 family members of nine Singaporeans who perished in the disaster in a commemorative climb organised by Mt Torq that operates the Via Ferrata near the summit. Jessica is climbing with 13 representing Valerian and Ricky.
They planted 18 trees in the park on Friday in honour of all those who perished, start their climb yesterday and retrace the route up to the via ferrata today, the same programme lined up for the Tanjung Katong school children.
“I want to have a feel of the place where Valerian used to work, the place where people say he died protecting the Singaporean children from falling rocks,” she said referring to the seven Tanjung Katong primary schoolchildren who died that day.
“We will also offer prayers, light candles and lanterns for all departed souls.”
Last year after all that happened Jessica discovered Valerian, who was her partner from when she was a teenager, had written a Kadazandusun songs as a wedding gift.
The song titled “Igitanku Longon Nu” (I Will Hold Your Hands) became a local hit as it told of how a brief separation endeared him to Jessicamore as he found out it would be hard to live without her.
Valerian also expressed his eagerness to spend the rest of his life with Jessica in his song – it did not happen.
Jessica despite being devastated, she appreciates life more now and finds strength from family and friends. “Its him looking after me, holding on to my hands.”
Mt Torq marketing director Quek I-Gek said the via ferrata activity was reopened on early this year and now gets an average of between 10 to 15 guests, a far fry from their average 20 to 30 before the earthquake.
“On the day it happened we were at our maximum capacity with 46 guests,” she said adding the maximum capacity now has been limted to 33 by Sabah Parks, custodian of the mountain and the park in its surrounding.
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