3 days ago
Sabah family in Beijing keeps Kaamatan spirit alive
Elisa, Alexzender and Katama.
KOTA KINABALU (June 1): As Malaysians across the globe come together to celebrate the 2025 Kaamatan Festival, one Malaysian family living thousands of kilometres away in China is sending a heartfelt message back home, a tribute to their roots and cultural pride.
Elisa Marie Ungkiu Singgon, her husband Alexzender Roy Dusin, and their young son, Katama Jireh Gingging, born in Beijing nearly two years ago, are currently based at the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing.
Despite the distance, the family extended warm Kaamatan greetings to fellow Malaysians, especially their loved ones in Bingkor (Keningau) and Kitapol (Kiulu, Tuaran), Sabah.
'Though we are far from home, the spirit of Kaamatan continues to live in us,' Elisa shared. 'Kaamatan is more than a harvest celebration, it is a time for reflection, gratitude, and staying connected to our heritage.
It is how we bridge the gap between where we are and where we come from,' the couple said.
Living abroad, they said, has only deepened their appreciation for Sabah's rich cultural traditions and close-knit family ties. The festival reminds them of the enduring importance of ancestral heritage in shaping identity and fostering unity across diverse communities.
'Kaamatan unites us, wherever we are,' added Alexzender.
'We're raising Katama Jireh to know his roots, as a son of Sabah and a Malaysian, even while growing up in a different part of the world,' he said.
The couple also emphasized that the values of Kaamatan, gratitude, unity, and shared humanity hold universal meaning, and are worth sharing across cultures and borders.
'Happy Kaamatan Festival 2025, 'Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan' from the three of us here in Beijing. To our dear family in Sabah, we send love and longing across the miles. May peace, joy, and good health be with you always,' they said.
This year's Kaamatan carries the inclusive theme 'Kaamatan For All,' celebrated in multiple languages to reflect Malaysia's cultural diversity:
