| Rokiah Mahmud |
SOME 15 Chung Ching Middle School students expressed their excitement after performing Diobolo (Chinese Yoyo) before His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam at the Tionghua Chinese New Year (CNY) get-together ceremony at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas yesterday.
Mandarin teacher and Diobolo instructor Low Siang Ling explained that it was their first time being invited to such an event and performing before Their Majesties.
The performers comprised Year 3 to Year 9 students, who have acquired skills playing Diobolo as part of their extra-curricular activity at school.
She added that the school has been promoting Diobolo for eight years. The school also conducts Diobolo camps every year and invites professional instructors to share their experiences and skills with the students.
Year 9 student Calvin shared with the Bulletin that he was excited and enthusiastic to show his skills after knowing that he would be performing before Their Majesties.
The ceremony also featured a Wushu performance by 22 national athletes who won several medals in national and overseas competitions.
The athletes showcased their Wushu routines including Changquan, Nangquan, Taijiquan, Dao, Nandao, Jian, Taijijian, Gun, Nangun and Qiang.
The ceremony was also enlivened with a five-minute cultural dance by performers from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
