A Message from the Website Jaga

Dear friends,

I trust you have enjoyed reconnecting on this site (as well as via other channels) over the past months. It is quite gratifying to see the visitor rate go from around 10+/day in January to 30+/day in Feb to 60+/day in March, and then it shot up to 120+/day since mid April. Interesting to note that this spike coincided with when the ladies started visiting the site (or at least making known to the rest that they were also online). Our all-time high was 173 visitors on 26 April. As several people have noted, the cumulative visit counter shot past 10,000 over a week ago, and is still racing upwards. And we are also approaching the 100th posting.

I do hope you will continue to visit, participate, give feedback & suggestions, and contribute new content for sharing with your friends. And not just the boys ... I'd like to encourage the girls to also send in their news and pictures, old and new ... And tell other formmates and friends about it so the community continues to grow.

Over the past few months, a few of us have been catching up virtually via another channel - Windows Live Messenger (previously known as MSN Messenger). Some of you may be familiar with this application which allows real-time chatting. What is nice about it is that we can have more than two persons chatting. Last night we tried four. I'm going to propose a session on a much larger scale - all the classes of Form 5 (1976) ... and their friends ... meet on a Windows Live Messenger session on a specific date & time in late May. It will be like a virtual cocktail party - lots of guys and gals standing around chatting with each other. It will be very interesting. We might even serve you virtual beer, wine and cheese if you behave yourselves :-)

I can be the central point of contact and will send out the invites in early May. In the meantime, if you are not on Windows Live Messenger, you may want to consider registering (it's free anyway). Then send me the email that you have registered under, and I will add you to my contact list. Or if you are already on Messenger, just add me as one of your contacts . My email, if you don't already know, is jslyong@hotmail.com . And please spread the word to others you know.

April is coming to a close. Happy May Day to any who celebrate it ....
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Poetry Time: Love Bridge

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OK, so I'm taking a chance with this posting. You guys showed that you had a ... emmm ... sensitive side ... when you composed those two-line poems for the earlier post "Going Upmarket - Poetry Sharing"
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Now take a look at the picture shown above. This easily recognisable structure has been dubbed "The Love Bridge" by past generations of students of the two schools it connects. At first glance, it's just a physical overhead bridge. But it's really more than a physical bridge. It's the embodiment of heightened emotions, torrid romance, sweet memories, sizzling desire and all those other warm fuzzy feelings ... everything that makes a good subject for a spot of poetry, don't you agree?
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To get you into the mood, here's a piece adapted from German lady poet, Petra Yasmeen Baroness von Schleinitz.
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Building a Bridge of Love

Feelings of love
Feelings of understanding
Two soules made for each other
A mighty wild road between us
Different families
Different schools
Different cultures
Too many people,
too many fights
Two silent soules looking sadly
Each one on the other side of the road
Hearts are flying across the tarmac
Love will be building a bridge

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So c'mon, guys and gals, don't be shy. Showcase your innate literary genius, your poetic prowess ...
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As added incentive, I'm sure I can find some of the rich towkays or towkay neos among the members or friends of Form 5 (1976) to sponsor a prize for the best written piece.
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Over to you ...
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The Rugby Boys

Someone asked about the St Joe rugby fields in the previous posting on "Snapshots at St Joe". Well, I don't yet have any photos of those fields, but I do have a great contribution from our master photo archiver Kuan Chee Kok on ..... (drumroll) ..... the Rugby Team in the 70s, posing with their coach Bro Adrian!

What a bunch of macho guys. I think this is the A Team ... (please confirm, chaps).

Once again, thanks very much KCK and do keep the photos coming !

As usual, here are the zoomed-in shots ...

Left section



Right section

Undoubtedly a great sporting momento. Now for a couple of questions:

* Firstly, how many of the chaps in the above picture can you name ?

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* Secondly, what year was this picture taken?

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* And thirdly, could the next picture be the same team a few minutes later? And if so, can you match face to bum ? :-)

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Before the entire team decide to find me and do their "scrum" on top of me, let me hasten to say: JUST KIDDING GUYS !!! LOL
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Snapshots at St Joe (Part 2)

Sorry, I was called away earlier & decided to just publish whatever I had time to put in ... Here are more St Joe photos, including some taken at the Food Fair itself. Look carefully and see if there's anyone you can recognise in the picture :-)

A new block at where the high jump pit used to be

Walking down to the canteen

At the Food Fair

Another shot at the Fair

People eating and hanging around at the Canteen

The former Red Cross/Crescent room (not sure what it's used for these days)

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Hope you liked that little photographic tour of the St Joe grounds. Will share more when I get hold of more photos. Once again, all photos were provided by Leonard Sia.

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Snapshots at St Joe (Part 1)

One of our fellow schoolmates and a regular visitor to this website was back in Kuching and at St Joe over the weekend, when there was a Food Fair being held at the canteen area. He took the opportunity to take a few photos. Thanks Leo!

For those of you who are not based in Kuching and have not been back for some time, these may bring back memories ...

The main entrance

Former Junior Science labs, now Admin office

William Tan Auditorium

Form 3,4 and 5 block (or at least it used to be)

The Form 6 Science & Library block

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Well folks, that's it for now ... There are a couple of other photos, which I'll put up later. Enjoy.
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A Micro-Reunion in Cambridge, UK

Just received news from James Kuo about a micro-reunion they had in the UK last week. I'll let JK describe the event in his own words ...
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"On the morning of the 18th April 09, we set off on a long 5 hours drive to Cambridge to pay a visit to the 'Brain' of Form 5 1976 (Mr Ho Boon Chiang).

For those of you who may be suffering from early onset dementia, Mr HBC is the guy who owned a crappy old bike and whose official residence was at The Library, St Joseph's School. He held on stubbornly/greedily to the No 1 position in the Class year after year. While he remained 100% focused on his work, most of the others (ha ha, me excluded) would be focusing on the beauties across the road. Now who is missing out then? Well boys, he has finally met his match. He was discussing statistics with his better half (IN) and it was obvious who the winner was. Mr BC, let me remind you of the 2 golden rules. No 1: never argue with a Cambridge Professor, No 2: even if you are right, admit defeat to keep the peace at home, right???

The long journey was well worth it as we were treated to a feast of local Malaysian food: Sarawak Laksa, Belacan Bee Hoon, home made kaya etc. Yum yum. Compliments to the Chef esp the daughter, EH, who prepared the delicious belacan bee hoon. Thank you.

Most of the conversations were centered on our 'old' classmates back at the Kampung. It was a great evening overall and we set off back home at 9.30pm and arriving back home the following day at 7 pm (OK, that was with a stopover in Birmingham). "


Now for the photos ...

Left to right: Khim (Mrs Kuo), James, Boon Chiang, SH, Irene (Mrs Ho), EH

Wow! We managed to get BC to smile!

Thanks for the update. From the looks of it, a wonderful feast and reunion. The first of many such gatherings I'm sure ... next time, make sure we are invited too, ok? :-)

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Secret Loves of Fifth Formers

This is certainly a topic you asked for. I don't think there's any need to explain what this post is about ... and frankly I don't have a clue where the discussion might go ... after all I'm just the Website Jaga ;-)

Good natured teasing is fine, and my only caution is not to be defamatory, rude or insensitive about causing real embarassment to anyone. Remember that we now have some ladies regularly reading this blog. I hope I won't have to exercise my editorial rights and delete any offensive posts.

Beyond that, go for it, boys ...

Condolences to Roney

We are extremely saddened to learn of our friend Roney Zaidell's great loss. His beloved mother passed away on Wednesday morning in Kuching. We send him our deepest condolences, and wish him strength at this most difficult time.

Lessons from Primary One

One of my favourite books is Robert Fulghum's "Everything I Really Needed to Know, I Learnt in Kindergarten". Very slim book, very easy read, very wise life lessons. I've had a copy on my office desk for many years, which I still dip into once in a while when things get unecessarily complex. Anyway, check it out if you've never read the book.

So I'd like to start what might be an interesting discussion in the same vein. Think back to Primary One, if you can remember those early years. For some of us, that would be St Joe Primary One. For others, it might be at another school. Doesn't really matter where.

What did you learn in that formative year that has served you well in your later life?

Passing of Julian Wee

Just received the extremely sad news that our friend Julian Wee (Form 5 Arts 1, 1976) has passed away this afternoon (22 April 2009) at 12:48pm in his own house in KL. He has been battling lung cancer for 2 years and passed away peacefully.

Julian is a Muslim and his burial will be this afternoon at Bukit Tiara Taman Tun Muslim Cemetery at around 5:30pm.

Those concerned can call Ben Wong at 012 8989868. He is currently at Julian's house. Ben was very close to Julian after they started working. He was at his bedside when Julian passed away.


I remember Julian as a most friendly and helpful friend in school. He will certainly be missed by all who knew him. Let us all pray for him. May he rest in peace.

Snapshot of an EVEN FURTHER Past

Guys, we certainly have a lot to thank our old friend Kuan Chee Kok for ! Here's an even older photograph of ..... (drumroll) .... St Joe Primary 6A class of 1971 ... that he has kept in near perfect condition all these years! [ CK, I think this qualifies you to claim a drink from every chap in this picture who happens to be in or visit KL ;-) ]

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Not all of us from the Form 5 (1976) classes were there in this Primary 6 class, but quite a large number were. See if you can recognise the familiar faces. And hey, weren't some of us SOOOOO CUUUTTTEEE .... ??? !!!

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The Principal is Mr Chai Chin Tu, the lady on the left is Mrs M. Leong, and the other lady is (I think) Miss Chong.

Huh, what was that you say? Too small? Can't see? Tsk tsk tsk - ok, ok, just for you half-blind old foggies, here are the blown up sections again ...

Left section

Middle section

Right section

Enjoy the reminiscing ...
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Then & Now - Part 5

This will be a rather brief "Then and Now" posting, only one person ...

Those who've been following this blog for a while will notice that I'm modifying the format slightly to allow more than one "Then" photo, when they are available. Sometimes having a time series of photos allows us to portray an "evolution", which can be very interesting ...

Today we feature our recently reconnected friend KC (Form 5 Sc, 1976) who now resides in Perth, Oz with his family. I understand he has 3 kids.

Qualified as an accountant, "Panjang" spent some time in Singapore before moving to Australia, where he is presently an investigator with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

The three "Then" photos came from 1971, 1974 and 1978, all during the St Joe days. "Now" is a recent shot (2009) that he sent me only yesterday.

As I said, folks, a short posting today. But as others send me their old and current photos, I hope to share more with you in future.

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Snapshot of the Past: Form 3A in 1974

WOW!!!! Here's a rare, old photo contributed by our friend Kuan Chee Kok. It shows the class that was Form 3A in 1974 ... some 35 years ago. Kudos to Chee Kok for saving this gem!

I know, I know ... it's too small and you want me to blow it up in sections. OK, here you are.

Left section

Middle section

Right section

Have fun identifying all your classmates ... btw, does anyone remember what's the name of the lady teacher?

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At a Party: George, Jude and Tony

Our friend George shared this photo from a buffet dinner at Jude Jong's place in Kuching recently. Jude was in the year above us at St Joe. Lots of fun, food & festivities.

The photo shows (left to right): George, Jude and Tony Chung.




Looking hale and hearty, guys !

GL adds that: "... francis ting and lee ah see [class of '75] were there too. also met winnie chin[edward's sister]. some of the guys may remember winnie, margaret chieng and linda leong as a trio who used to hang out together. they were 2 years our junior ..."
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Panjang from Perth writes ...

Over the weekend, I received an email from former classmate Kevin Chin (Form 5Sc, 1976), now in Perth. Had lost touch with him some time back, when his email address changed, so I was very happy to be back in touch with old "Panjang", as we used to call him. His current email is takkuasa@iinet.net.au for any of you who want to get in touch.

Instead of repeating all he said, I'll just include excerpts from his email below, and let him extend a "G'day" to all of you himself. Kevin also attached a great old photo from 1978. Can you remember who's who?


Hello James

Greetings from sunny Perth! It’s been many years since we last exchanged emails.

I happened to catch up with Bob Chew for dinner the other night during one of his lightning visits to Perth. He mentioned a website that you’ve set up for former classmates. That tweaked my curiosity sufficiently to do a Google search which led me to the blog that you’ve created. I’ve got to confess that I’ve spent many hours reading everything on the blog and having a great time looking at pictures of old friends (so many prosperous towkays, professionals and top executives!) and laughing out loud at the comments made by everyone. It caused me to trawl through my old photos but unfortunately I have absolutely nothing dating back to Form 5. However, I managed to unearth this pic that was taken in 1978 (when some of us were in Upper 6 at St Joe) which may bring back memories. It’ll be fun to try and identify everyone in the photo.

... I’m [an] investigator ... with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission. I’ve lived in Perth longer than I’ve lived anywhere else, including Kuching. I’m looking forward to retiring in a few years’ time in this big “retirement village” that many perceive Perth to be.


I heartily concur with those who’ve commented that you’re doing a great job with the blog and I hope many more people will reconnect to make it a lively online community. Please say "G'day" to everyone for me.

Sincerely

Kevin




To have a clearer view of the above picture, you may wish to download it to your PC and view it directly.
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MUST WATCH : Chicken Ala Carte

Both Lawrence and George directed me to this video. It was a winner at the Berlin short film festival. A very moving film. See it for yourself. Get your children to watch it too. And encourage others to watch it.





Friends, if you're touched by this clip, consider forfeiting your next chicken meal (or any other meal if you're not so inclined to chicken) and donating the price of the meal to any charity of your choice. If each one of us goes and does this simple deed, we will make a small but positive difference. Also skipping a meal may help in the battle against your middle bulge.

Popular TV Shows of the 70s

Although TV was first introduced in Sarawak only in 1973 or 1974, many of us got hooked to various programs on the goggle box very quickly. After school and in the evenings, we spent many hours in front of the box, enjoying drama and action serials, game shows, movies, local productions from RTM and because it was such a novelty then, some of us often enjoyed even the ads ... and were able to hum the jingles way later (remember the Milo ad?) ...

TV watching in those days tended to be a much more social activity than it is today. Not every family had a TV set, but usually welcomed neighbours, friends and others to their homes for snacks before catching the latest installment of some series or movie or boxing match (like the Ali-Bugner event described before).

I remember Western shows such as "Laredo" and "Rawhide", cop shows like "The Rookie" and "CHiPs", and heartwarming family series like "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie" ...

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There were also local productions from RTM - variety shows, game shows, documentaries and comedy series.

Do share your own favourite shows and memories ...

Another Form 5Sc class of 1976

Here's another photographic gem ... St Teresa's School, Form 5Sc class of 1976.

Take a close look. Who can recognise? Do you know where the ladies are now? Have you been in touch with anyone?

Form 5Sc, St Teresa's School, 1976

At the request of some of you - obviously those with failing eyesight - I've given this photo the same treatment of expanding into left, middle & right sections. This will hopefully allow you to see the faces better, and hopefully jog those fading memories.

Left section

Middle section

Right section

If you'd like a clearer view of the entire photo, you'll need to download the file onto your PC, then view it in a larger format.

Enjoy ...
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Then & Now - Part 4

Ready for the next batch of "Then and Now" ? Here we go ...

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CM (Form 5 Sc, 1976) now resides in KL with his family. "Si Tiaw Mo", as he has long been nicknamed, studied in NZ and has been in business for many years. He now claims to be "semi-retired", a state that I'm sure most of us still in the rat race envy him for. "Then" shot was from mid-70s during his school days with the Red Cross. "Now" is a recent shot from early April 2009, when we had a wonderful mini-reunion in KL.

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CCN (Form 5 Sc, 1976), or rather Dr CCN now, is a senior executive with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) based in Manila, Philippines. A quick google of his name would reveal his active involvement in ADB's assistance and development efforts in Afghanistan, India, Nepal and other developing countries. "Then" shows CCN in 1985 as a postgraduate student at Newcastle University in Australia. The "Now" shot was taken in early April 2009 in Washington DC.

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Our next old friend featured is RZ. Once a short, skinny chap sitting at the back of the Form 5Sc class of 1976, he has since "grown" significantly. Now tall and lanky (and stylishly botak), this Petronas executive jests about being under-nourished in his school days. Again I don't have a very old photo of Roney, but the one I'm going to use as "Then" came from a reunion in 1994. "Now" is more recent, from an early April 2009 mini-reunion.

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Well folks, that's it for another rendition of "Then & Now". As always, I appeal to all those who haven't sent me photos of yourselves to do so quickly, so that we can continue this series of posts.

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