Christmas Car Free Day Sees A Lively Turnout

Christmas Car Free Day. 23 December 2018. A Jolly Morning 

Ipoh City Council’s monthly Car Free Day, it’s 36^th since it was first held in October 2015, was a ‘most lively event’.

7.30am saw many participants arrive at the event

...they arrived by various means 

..of all ages ...

...many came by bicycle 

Besides the usual participants from NGO’s and Government bodies the organisers invited other NGO’s, assemblymen, resort operators and the art bodies such as PSPA (Perak Society of Performing Arts) and PORT (People of Remarkable Talent) and attracted 12,000 participants.

The regular NGO ICW (Ipoh City Watch) 

First time NGO 'Noah's Ark Animal Shelter'

Datin Rosalina Ooi of PSPA gives YB Jenny Choy the VIP treatment

MBI's Director of Planning and Development Zulkarnain Mohamed (with hat) with Yb's Tan Kar Hing, Howard Lee and Jennny Choy.

It was truly lively affair. In line with the Christmas season the booths had dancers and participants sporting Santa caps, Santa Claus cycling in and even a Nativity Scene by the Tamil Methodist Church of Tanjong Rambutan.

Dancers young and old showing off their moves

..a common denominator ....Santa caps

A Christmas Nativity Scene from the Tamil Methodist Church, Tanjong Rambutan

The booths on display were equally elaborate and contributed to the event. Perak Museum put on a display showcasing the icons of Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar and PORT displayed their remarkable talent showcasing a Malay quartet that played tunes in Chinese and English besides Malay.

1st Prize booth went to Perak Museum for their display of the Royal Town of Kuala Kangsar

PORT took 2nd prize

Participant of Lost World of Tambun 

Tourism Exco YB Tan Kar Hing announced that he was thinking on expanding the venue but other locations where it would benefit the community of that locale.

Judging the booths on display  

..this is serious work Judges Pak Peter (l) and Mohd Osman (r)

Heritage Bikers (above & below) 

At PORT. Coffee, morning music and ....

,,,dance

.... bringing communities together tourists included

The Malaysian Community - multi racial 

 ...and diverse ....

..yet traditional ...

..colourful and beautiful ....

...and joyously peaceful ...

A great program to end the year and hopefully we will have an expanded and equally lively Car Free 2019.

JAG

Christmas Begins With Midnight Mass

Midnight mass at OMPH Church

For as long as I can remember Christmas always began with Midnight Mass.

Nowadays the mass starts with singing of Christmas Carols before the mass proper commences. Today was no different.

The Carols were lovely and the mass beautiful.  Well there was 1 difference.

Choir master Freddie Yam

The Choir led by choir master Freddie Yam led us through an Italian  Christmas Carol, a first,  titled ‘Tu scendi dalle stele, O Re del Cielo” which when translated means ‘From starry skies descending, thou comest, Glorious King’.

It was first sung when the priest placed the baby Jesus in the crib in the manger.

The melody and original lyrics for the hymn were written in 1732 by Alphonsus Liguori, a priest and scholastic philosopher who founded the Redemptorist missionary order.

Below is Freddy Yam leading the choir with Tu scendi dalle stele

Merry Christmas one and all.

JAG

UPDATE - PSPA FESTIVE EXTRAVAGANZA 2018 @ CAR FREE DAY

23RD DECEMBER 2018 . 7.30AM - 9.30AM. JALAN RAJA DI HILIR, PERAK.

GUEST OF HONOUR : YB HOWARD LEE Plus VIP GUEST : YB JENNY CHOY

8.15am - PSPA Festive Extravaganza @ the Balloon Arch

9.00am - Launching Parade @ Sekolah Raja Perempuan Ta'ayah.

The event will have the participation of 37 groups plus the regular 30 booths which makes up 67 groups in total.

There will be music, dancing and singing plus charities offering festive goodies for sale & donation.

The events will also have costume competition for 2 categories under 12 and above 12 with prizes that  include cash and Theme park tickets.

Both Young & Old can participate  as long as you are fun loving!. There will also be booth decoration competition which will encourage some colourful participation.

The event finishes with a parade led by Lost World Tambun and all the participants of the event which includes 10 performing arts groups and Perak's own PORT.

The event will happen on Jalan Raja Di Hilir (Jalan Tambun) from 1 round about to the other. The road will be closed to cars but there is plenty of parking on all auxiliary roads!

You are encouraged to bring Family & friends for a fun filled event!

CAR FREE X’MAS JOY THIS SUNDAY With PSPA & MBI

Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA)with the support of Majlis Bandaraya Ipoh (MBI), will be organising a Car Free Day Event celebrating Christmas and the New Year season on Sunday, 23rd December 2018.

This 2-hour event starting from 7.30am to 9.30am along Jalan Raja Dihilir will showcase our rich, diverse and multi ethnic’s performing arts through a display of dances, singing, music, mascots and etc.

Our objective in celebrating this 2-hour event during the festive season is to bring the spirit of 'JOY' through performing arts with song, music and dance to the community.

The Society has also invited participation of corporations and NGOs to display/sell their products such as food and beverage, gifts and souvenirs associated with this festive theme to boost the atmosphere of festivity on this Sunday morning.

To encourage participation, the Society has included a series of contests such as   

- Festive Booth Display Contest (for participants come with booths only),

 Festive Costume Contests (opened to public).  - 2 years old and below and - Above 12 years old

Highlight of the event will be a ‘festive parade’ comes with goodies to be given away to the public.

This colourful festive extravaganza comprising of some 30 participating groups/organizations in addition to the regular participants at the monthly Car Free Day amidst a carnival atmosphere is expected to draw a crowd of many thousands as well as various media coverage.

We truly believe this will be a fun filled Sunday morning not to be missed. This inaugural and exciting community event is supported by several generous sponsors namely Chang Jiang International Sdn Bhd, Cycledios Management Sdn Bhd , Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng , Golden State Resources Sdn Bhd, Kim House Tiling & Sanitary Sdn Bhd, Kuan & Ho Sdn Bhd , Meru Valley Resort Bhd , Mutiara Permai Trading Sdn Bhd, Pagoda Foods (M) Sdn Bhd , Ren Aun Health Care, Soon Hin Hardware Sdn Bhd, Sunway Lost World Water Park Sdn Bhd, Symphony Suites Hotel, Thomas Air-Conditioning & Electrical Sdn Bhd , Yee Lee Trading Co. Sdn Bhd,  Yih Hor Engineering Workshop.

Last but not least, The Society wishes that the following end objectives will be achieved via the execution of this event are 1)To boost the atmosphere of Ipoh Car Free Day, 2)To spread the festive spirit of ‘Loving, Sharing, Giving’ ,3)To promote and practice performing arts within the state , 4) To create exposure for multi ethnics performing arts groups and 5) To achieve an artistically vibrant city through the collaboration between local authority and performing arts groups

PSPA

A Whiff Of Christmas Cheer With PSPA Singers

Part 1.The Recital 

I caught a bit of early Christmas cheer when attending a wonderful a Charity Concert organised by the Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA) Singers.

Called ‘The Chimes of Love Volume 2’ the concert had two parts. 

The Recital and a  Musical that adopted the Charles Dickens play ‘The Christmas Carol, about Ebernezer Scrooge’ the rich but miserly character but this version had a very local flavor.

 

Part 2. The Musical introduces Khoo who only thinks of money

The main character was named ‘Khoo Hong Low’ who played a rich and successful businessman who only thinks of making money with complete disregard for the beauty of Christmas which preaches giving and sharing.

Khoo declines his brothers invitation and his niece' plea 

His brother visits him at his office to invite him over for a Christmas meal. He promptly declines calling it an unproductive pastime even though his niece pleads with him to come ‘just this one time’.

On Christmas eve while at home he reminisces his growing up years with his parents on a picnic at the park and about his teenage years with his sweetheart.

Khoo reminisces on the Past

When he hears news that his niece is sick and in hospital he shows genuine concern and brings about a warmth quite unlike his usual self.

The finale sees Khoo in a Santa costume attending his brothers Christmas meal and singing along with his niece and the rest of the cast.  

 

The Future ...We Are The Reason

Khoo was played by Chai Jin Hann and was a delight as was the rest of the volunteers of the PSPA cast.  

Christmas 2018 is going to be totally memorable and not because of the concert.

The Finale...

 In line with being the season of giving there were no tickets sold and instead entrance was by means of donating to charity some foodstuff or clothing to Wesley Methodist Church, the venue of the concert.

Then before the start the MC asked everyone to turn around and greet three people that they didn’t know a Merry Christmas. A wonderful Christmas message, light, meaningful and fun for this time of year.

 

The PSPA Singers sing Feliz Navidad (below)

Merry Christmas