Heart of a true volunteer

LIZA Chai is an epitome of volunteerism.

Over the past 50 years, she has dedicated her life to making Miri a better place – as a volunteer.

And yes, she came all the way from Spain, more than half way round the world, to marry the man she loves.

The year 1969 was when she fell in love with the “popular, handsome Benjamin Chai” who had to Spain as a scholarship nursing student.

Liza (her full Spanish name is Maria Isabel Navarro) did not even know where Sarawak was when she met him. It was a whirlwind romance.

They returned to Kuching, and within one month, Liza adapted to the Chinese community and soon became conversant with their do’s and don’ts.

She is very thankful to her mother-in-law for her help.When she and Benjamin were transferred to Miri in 1971, his income was $310 nett after deductions.

“Miri was just a two-street town and the cinema tickets were not affordable to us — even at $1. But we made do and had a wonderful time making new friends.

“I remember visiting Alice Yong, a kind new friend, who had a swimming pool in her house. I lived my life with my baby and was really happy, walking the baby from the peninsular beach to the long jetty.

“I often took the Nightingale (ferry) to Miri or the lovely sampan (20 cents with baby and all) across to the Borneo Company from our quarters,” she recalled.

The old Miri hospital was at the Peninsula or across the river before being moved to Lopeng in the 1990’s.

“One memorable purchase I made was a baby pram or push chair which cost me a princely $25 — no small sum in those days. No one told me to look up in the shop. There, I was looking everywhere at the floor for a push chair and then, as if God was telling me, I suddenly looked up at the ceiling — and there, full of cobwebs, very rusty, were four wheels which looked  like a push chair.

“The shopkeeper was shocked I wanted to buy the old push chair which must have been hanging there for a good few years. I took it home, sandpapered and painted it, and turned it into a handsome, shiny push chair for my eldest,” she happily retold the episode.

She also remembers vividly the mosquito bites on her legs during those early years.

“I was really suffering from the bites and there was no cure. It actually got to a terrible stage and I was willing to try anything,” she said.

And as if by divine intervention, a Mr Wee came along and suggested a Tua Pek Kong cure.

“Pick up a piece of paper money — or joss paper — and rub the mosquito bites with it. Then throw it away and don’t look back,” he counselled.

Liza did as advised — and believe it or not, the bites disappeared and she said her “skin is now the toughest you can find in Borneo, if not Malaysia.”

She has wrapped so much humour around this anecdote that we would be smiling about it for years to come.

Liza said not long after that, a friend’s son had a troublesome wart on his right eyelid.

The little boy had heard of her story. One day, as father and son were following a funeral, the boy blurted out: “Dad, why don’t I try Aunty Liza’s cure. There are so many joss papers outside here. No harm.”

And believe it or not, after it was rubbed with a joss paper, the wart fell off the boy’s eyelid — for good.

Liza said the family still talks about “Aunty Liza’s cure” very often.

A long-time friend is grateful to Liza for organising “a grand wedding” for her single-handedly. It was a most memorable wedding in Miri in the early 70’s — a multi-faith, multi-racial function, costing the bride and groom almost nothing.

Liza said she was not worried about the expenses at all but admitted keeping the flowers fresh without refrigeration facilities for the wedding the next day had her on tenterhooks. But the wedding turned out well and all the gardenias, frangipanis and bouganvilleas could not have been fresher!

Liza made all the bouquets and button holes, and dressed up the church. When the bride saw the decorations, she could not believe her eyes!

The church wedding saw Who’s Who of Miri in the congregation. Liza, the matron of honour, couldn’t be happier for her friend.

At Sunflower Centre of Miri (for the handicapped), Liza creates the best atmosphere for the students, staff, carers and visitors. And she comes alive, telling her stories, and one can see the love she has for her ‘special’ children.

She is very engaging and endearing person, calling people close to her my dear.

Liza speaks Hokkien because when her husband’s friends came to the house during the early years in Miri, they all spoke Hokkien, without realising they were excluding her from their conversation as she didn’t understand a single word.

She quickly picked up the dialect and made herself at home with it.

Liza said learning Hokkien was really a plus since she didn’t expect her in-laws and friends to learn Spanish just to communicate with her.

Today, she can use Hokkien to talk with parents of ‘special’ children who come to see her, or do business with people who cannot speak English or Bahasa Malaysia. Being multi-lingual has enabled her to enjoy her life in Miri.

Sunflower Centre has been run by this volunteer of volunteers since 1984 — two years after it was founded by the Miri Red Crescent Society. There is much respect for Liza from the staff and parents of the ‘special’ children.

The Centre is as clean as any high-standard hospital or even hotel — everything is in the right place. The whole setup is very professional, yet very hospitable and warm.

Children and adults who have been with the Centre for many years treat it as their home.  Liza sees to their every need and even manages their “working stints” in hotels such as the Somerset Hotel in Miri.

She believes very strongly that each Sunflower Centre child can be educated and trained to work and be independent.

As more and more children come to register, the Centre needs to be extended and Liza is a good chairman who sees to the donations and receives cheques from well-wishers.

“Millions of ringgit can pass through her hands and every sen and ringgit will be accounted for,” an old friend said.

“Liza is also a talented dancer and she trained some of my friends such as Bibiana Pek and Juliana Gan for a Spanish Dance when they were students at St Joseph’s. It was a real success and few people can forget that special dance,” a former St Joseph student noted.

One of Liza’s first friends in Miri is Winni Saba who said Liza was a loyal friend and would do her utmost to help those in need.

Winni and Liza were among the first few ladies to join the Women Enterprenuers and Professionals Association Sarawak (WEPS), set up under the leadership of women’s leader and trainer, Li Yo Wei.

Winni was its first secretary (from 1996-2000). She now spends more time looking after her orchard.

“Liza is a leader who cannot let anyone down. Many former WEPS members have retired and moved away from Miri — and it’s time to recruit more members.

“It’s so good of Liza to stay on and hold the flag high. I really respect her for her energy and great sense of commitment,” Winni said.

Those having served in Red Crescent Society in Miri concurred that Liza would not let anyone or event down and would stay in her office till midnight, if need be, to ensure everything was in order.

Liza loves the outdoors. She runs, climbs mountains, jungle- treks and enjoys horse back riding. She is one of the earliest women to play tennis at Miri Recreation Club with some of her good friends. She participated in every raft race, organised in Miri when it was a popular annual event in the 80’s.

One of her most memorable personal achievements was being given the honour to lead a special team for the Special Olympics in 1999.

Many parents are grateful to Gymkana Club Miri, and especially Liza, for all the swimming events they organised.

Liza herself loves swimming — and the swimming pool at Sunflower Centre is a crowning glory for the Miri Red Crescent as well as the Centre. It was, indeed, a good decision to add a swimming pool to the Centre. It has brought much pride to the Miri public.

Recently Liza and her ‘special’ children participated in Green Rides for World Peace in Miri. The Sunflower Centre children enjoyed riding their beautiful bikes and there was much joy among the parents, well-wishes and Mirians in general.

Liza has been bestowed many awards — BBS in 1993; PBS in  2003 and Volunteer of the Year (Red Crescent) in 2006, to name a few. In 2012 she was made a member of the Board of Visitors of the Miri Prison.

But she remains humble and continues to care for especially the Sunflower Centre children.

Liza is a exemplary volunteer who works without looking forward to any rewards or awards. She is not a person who  will complain she is tired or fed up — or say she has had enough.

You will see her even as early as at 7am at the Centre and she will work beyond 5pm or even 6pm if she has to complete an assignment with her staff.

This month she celebrated her 70th birthday. She said she would spend quality time with friends and family, and reminisce her 47 years of voluntary service and life in Miri.

Many Mirians will say: “Thank you Liza — we are glad you have come to stay with us in Miri.”