Close to 100 years old and still going strong, Tepu' Apung is one of the most direct and outspoken elders I've met in Bario. Always well known for her intelligence and sharpness, quite literally, her other name, Bekan Ayu, means [i]"something different"[/i] in Kelabit - and she lives up to it. On this particular day she decided to give me a Kelabit name, but her delivery was uniquely serious and classic Tepu' Apung: [i]"Chris is a girl's name. You can't use that name anymore - your new name is Giak!"[/i]
She spends most of her time at Rumah Labang just spending time around people and the environment - be it relaxing by the fire, making sure everyone has eaten ([i]"Kuman? Kuman!"[/i]) or sharing stories from the past. Some of her stories are even so detailed and complex she claims she can't even share them with us as they would literally take days to complete.
Her spoken Kelabit is very deep with not all words completely understood by younger Kelabits - as parts of her lexicon are not commonly used on a daily basis. Any misunderstanding is usually met with Sarawak Malay to get the point across. Her beads are also of particular importance to her - as they are to most Kelabits (especially in past times where they were highly valued), and if she is not found in the kitchen she can undoubtedly be found beading in her room.
Be aware though, If one wishes to engage Tepu' in discussion, they should be commited to discussion. She doesn't joke around and she commands honest respect. For that commitment, however, one will be rewarded with stories of Kelabit past available nowhere else and uniquely [i]Bekan Ayu.[/i]
Rumah Labang, Kelabit Highlands, Sarawak, Malaysia, 2009
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