Author: Valentine Tawie Salok

In April of 1963, our new teacher, Tom Meludin Dian, at Saratok’s Nanga Assam Primary School experienced a heartbreaking loss when his infant son, Igat, passed away at just six months old. This tragedy deeply affected Tom, 27, and his wife, affectionately known as Indai Endun, 22, and their four-year-old

My late father, Apai Salok Jembu (1910-2002), was a prominent bard known for his expertise in various Iban incantation rituals. He led the performances of Timang Jalung during significant ceremonies such as Gawai Antu (Festival to Commemorate the Deceased), Pengap Gawai Umai (Farming Festival), and Pengap Gawai Batu (Sharpening Stone

Having penned two durian narratives previously, the scarcity of roadside sightings of the King of Fruits across Sarawak prompts a reflection on captivating durian tales that blend intrigue with a pinch of altruism. In November and December last year, my niece and her husband generously shared a plentiful supply of

‘Birth of The Dragon’, the latest film about Lee Jun-fan, professionally known as Bruce Lee, serves as a poignant reminder of my teenage obsession with movies featuring the late actor. Bruce Lee, who passed away at 32 on July 20, 1973, in Hong Kong, then a British colony, was born

In 1987, several events unfolded that I am eager to share with you. The year began with me assuming the role of acting principal at Grade A school SMK Serian in Serian, following my promotion in late December 1986. This advancement was sparked by Fong Chee Hung’s transfer to the

In reminiscing about our youth in the interior, on the edge of the jungles, we always looked forward to the ’empayang’ event by two Chinese shopkeepers whose retail stores were just about 60 metres from our old Kedap longhouse in Saratok. The ’empayang’ involved lighting firecrackers during the Chinese New

Prices of cigarettes that have been adjusted and have been increasing over the last few years have succeeded to a small extent in slowing down the momentum of smoking in the country. Despite smoking bans in locations such as eateries, the majority of smokers persist in significantly adding to the

LAST Sunday on Oct 20, I turned 70, a significant milestone. At 70 I am still me, still thinking that I am 40 and rocking on stage. But in reality, life is certainly not the same and I don’t have the Elvis swagger anymore. There have been fewer singing engagements

There are ups and downs in my musical journey of over half a century. The ups come when the tempo, key, and tune are just right, and the performance receives thunderous applause from the audience, whereas the downs occur when the opposite is the order of the day. It was