Livonia brings pride to the Bidayuhs

By ROBERT KENNETH

JOINING it just for fun, Livonia Ricky Guing never

knew that she was actually a champion quality until she won the recent reality show “Pilih Kasih 2” organized by TV2.
“A university friend of mine suggested that we go for the audition for the reality show. At first I was reluctant but after being persuaded we decided to go and it was held at the Boulevard Shopping Mall in Kuching.
"So many participants came to the audition and at that time I did not have the confidence that I will be selected among 16 participants from all over the country to join the show," said Livonia.
Livonia is the only participant selected from Sarawak.
After being informed by the organisers that she was selected to participate in the reality show, Livonia became anxious but fear of being scolded by their father.
"I did not tell my father anything about the audition because I knew he wouldn’t like it.
"However, I braved myself to tell him that I was selected to participate in the show and I was called to Kuala Lumpur.
"Then my father became confused on whether to let me go or not, but finally he gave me the green light to proceed with my intentions and I went to Kuala Lumpur on 28 November last year," he said.
She said that during the first episode she have confident in herself that she could proceed to the next episodes, but in the 10th episode she became worried because she was in the third placing from the bottom.
"Fortunately in that week Rosyam Nor, our principal decided not to eliminate any one of us and I was in the final competition," she said.
Saying she did not expect to win title in the final, Lovina said she only gave her best presentation.
"I was just happy to be in the final, title was not important for me but thanks God I won the title and it was my best birthday present,” said Livona who celebrated her birthday a day before the final show.
She defeated six other contestants with judging based on 50 percent marks from the professional judges and another 50 percent votes came from short message service (SMS).
The teaching staff involved in the reality show were Erma Fatima as the theatre director, Hamzah Tahir the monologue director and Aziz M. Osman as the drama director.
Livonia started acting when she joined the theater club in her university.
She is expected to sign a contract with a film productions company owned by well know film director Erma Fartima.
According to Livonia, the contract signing ceremony will take place in Lagend Hotel, Kuala Lumpur on March 4.
In addition, Livonia is also expected to sign a contract to act in a 13 series musical drama to be produced by Suhan Movies owns by another popular actor and director Rosyam Nor in collaboration with RTM.
The 20 year-old Bidayuh lass from Kampung Giam at Jalan Puncak Borneo said she hoped to follow the foot step of two successful Bidayuh actors – Tony Eusoff from Siburan and Zack from Kampung Bunuk.
However, this second year students majoring in tourism and hospitality at the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Kota Samarahan here said she will still continue with her studies.
The third of five siblings, Lovina said she would try to manage his time between acting and learning, and believe she would be able to manage it.
According to Livonia, for the time being she is taking the semester off since December last year and will be back to continue her studies in July.
Lovina said she would try to apply to continue her studies at UiTM Shah Alam to enable her to venture into acting and at the same time continuing her studies.
She was also Miss Borneo Heritage in 2009.