By – Ms Feona Jinu

The Blue Lagoon at Sutera Harbour’s Marina Club in Kota Kinabalu, was the place some 80 exfranciscans and their friends spent this year’s St. Valentine’s Day. Surplus proceeds from this function were to go towards the costs of EFA’s website newly-launched at Installation Night - 2003.

Here are my thoughts at the function –

Special heart-shaped EFA chocolates made by exfranciscan Ms Esperanza Sulit were the surprise gifts given out at the entrance of the Blue Lagoon. When I entered, I was very much enchanted by the setting – there were romantically–lit tables for two in the quiet corners; tables for a small party of four here and there; and 2 tables for a party of 10. All along the bar, there were place settings for the single ones although I did spot a couple who sat at the bar .. – perhaps re-living how they first met? There was a small stage and a dance floor – cosy and quite complete.

The buffet dinner which started at 7.00pm was very generous indeed for the ticket price of RM40-00 which included soup, salads, 6 main courses and a sinful dessert table I didn’t go near. It was a very good spread and I heard the same from friends who had joined us as non-members.

There were no formalities at the dinner and dance. After dinner, some had drinks at the bar and the irrepressible year of 1979 – Doris Ubing, Catherine Engsun, Mary Gomez, Olivia Chen, Leena Toyoi Bohuntung had fun on the dance floor. Lucky draws were called out at 10pm and after that everyone continued to enjoy themselves.

As a newcomer to EFA, I must say that there is a core group that has kept this Association going. If only their enthusiasm, sense of fun and loyalty through EFA can be bottled up and distributed. I believe that the future of EFA lies in exfranciscans who have yet to discover or perhaps re-discover the bonds of sisterhood through EFA as we walk along Life’s paths. Let’s hope that our active exfranciscans will inspire and continue to inspire.

As one of our Trustees, Ms Rita Chin said, at the Installation Night 2003 – “Let’s keep in touch …. through EFA”

See you at our next event !