The Late Peter Tananak's Family

This is the first time I attended such gathering. Shamefully I had to admit, this is also the first time I ever knew about my root, a little briefing of my family tree on my father's side. Apart from the common family members that I knew since I was little, not much was told about my great-grandfather or my great-great grandfather. So last weekend, I learned a little about him and also my great-great grandfather, Koh Thiam Hock (I had no idea why he named his son 'Tananak'), or how we actually become who we were as this day. But this is what had been told to me, so I shared with you all.

My great-grandfather's is the late Peter Tananak, a Dusun Tatana from Kuala Penyu. Married to the late Monica Senandu, they were blessed with 4 children - Martin Kimsin, Magdelina Aceh, James Sunam (Which is my granpa) & Catherine Amit.

I was told that he can speaks fluently in English, and that he was one of the first Catholic and the founder of St. Peter's Church, Kuala Penyu. No, he's not calling himself a saint. The church was named after St. Peter, the first Pope. Little do he realized that his name is Peter too, and his way of life is just like the saint himself, building a catholic faith foundation the community he lived in that still standing strong uptil today.

He died in 1981 (when I was only barely 1 year old) at the age of 103 but according to my 2nd cousin, Rev. Fr. Boniface Kimsin, his actual age might be as old as 115 when he died. Mama told me that she still remember that great-grandpa Peter's hearing is still in good condition, but his eye-sight was already lost due to his old age when she was first introduced to him.

Another interesting fact that I learnt in the family gathering is, we are welcoming another clan into the family tree, the Imok family. It was later known that when my great-grandparents were married, my great-grandma already has a son named Imok. Which is kind of surprising for all of us since this is the first time we knew that there is another branch added into the family tree, and this year is the first time that the Imok family clan joined us.

I belong to the Sunam clan. My grandfather is the late James Sunam, married to the late Mary Motto and was blessed with 5 children - Winnie Sunam, Victoria Sunam, Antonia Sunam, Margaret Sunam and John Michael Sunam (My dad). However, Victoria Sunam passed away due to illness as a child. The late Mary Motto passed away in year 1988 while my grandfather, the late James Sunam passed away in year 1998, both due to old age.

My aunt, Winnie Sunam married to the late David Wong. They had 3 children -
Martin Wong Kah Len, married to Amy Law, has a son, Nathaniel Wong Fui Yang;
Justin Wong Kah Yung, married to Cassandra Tan Hui Leng, has a son Elijah Wong Tze Yang;
Angela Wong Yin Ling, married to David Johat, also has a son Jordan David.

My 2 other aunts, Margaret and Antonia Sunam not married.

My dad, the late John Michael Sunam married to my mom, Judith Situyin Tsen, thus resulting 6 of us in the household - Me, my brothers Aaron Miguel, Zachary Alan and Benjamin Isaac and my sisters, Kirstin and Kezia Sunam. My brother Aaron is now engaged with Tracy Hilda A. Dukim. My dad passed away in year 2001 after losing his battle against brain cancer.

Another interesting fact is, Tracy is actually an extended family member from the Magdelina Aceh clan. Magdeline Aceh was married to Mak Sui Long. Tracy's mother, Justina Mak happened to be an extended family member to the Mak family clan in our tree. We're not blood related but only by marriage; so this union between my brother and Tracy will bring the family ties even closer.

My grandpa also adopted 2 sons - Julian Kissil and Francis Embu.

That's part of the reason why such annual gathering is held, where the Kimsins, Sunams, Tans, Maks, Imoks (See...none of us were named Tananak) can gather and see how much the family has grown over the years. Well...also for all of us not to forget Peter Tananak's legacy, that we should never forget the name of this great man in our lives, he was the reason why I am here.

Because none of us were surnamed Tananak, it's even more the reason why this gathering thingy should continue each year, so that for each generation that was born into this family tree won't forget the name Peter Tananak & Monica Senandu for the rest of our lives and our next of kin will keep on talking and passing it on.

I should say, I am proud to be Peter Tananak's kin.