While I'd certainly like for you to visit the Borneo Post Online website, I know that after some time, most news publishers will archive older articles and then they will no longer be accessible to the general public (except perhaps for paying subscribers). So I'm taking this opportunity to reproduce George's article here on our own blog ... Also it may be easier for you to add comments on it.
St Joe Class of ’76 – Spirit of 1Malaysia
By George Lo
KUCHING: Long before Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak declared his dream of 1Malaysia, there was a group of guys who epitomised the very essence of that dream.
Malay, Chinese, Iban, Bidayuh, Indian, Eurasian – they worked together, ate together, played together, dreamed together. Race was never an issue between them. Friendship surmounted all.
More than three decades after they parted company at the doorstep of their beloved alma mater, the boys of Form 5 (1976), St Joseph’s School, Kuching are getting together in a Grand Reunion on Dec 23 at Merdeka Palace hotel.
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This reunion has its genesis in a popular blog set up in the beginning of this year by one of the 1976 fifth formers, James Yong, a regional director of Cisco Systems based in Singapore.
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This blog has reconnected old chums from across the globe.
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Old boys of 1976 from far-flung places as UK (James Kuo, John Lee, Ho Boon Chiang), Siem Reap (Bartholomew Sinos), Bangkok (Peter Tiong), Hanoi (Nick Lau), Perth (Kevin Chin), Canada (Chieh Lipp Kee, Bertram Chew, Michael Yeo), Manila (Chong Chi Nai) joined hands with their former classmates in various parts of Malaysia through the blog and found that their friendship, like fine wine, had blossomed with the passage of time.
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As another old boy, Dato’ Anthony Macpherson, CEO of NST, says, “The spirit that brings us together is the very spirit of 1Malaysia.
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“We never thought any of us was different whether we are Iban, Bidayuh, Malay or Chinese. We were 1Malaysia 33 years ago and we still are today.”
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Any member of the St Joe Form 5 (1976) cohort who has not registered to join the Grand Reunion, can call Robert Chin at 016-8774018 or Ben Wong (012-8989868) to book a seat.
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Anyone who knows anyone in Form 5 St Joe 1976 is welcome to check out the blog:
http://stjoe-form5in1976.blogspot.com/
Good article, Georgie boy!
Now all you boys who haven't yet signed up for the Grand Reunion, how could you stay away after such an impassioned write-up ? You're not just doing it for yourself. You're not just doing it for your old school. You're doing it in support of your country too ! ;-)
You know what you have to do ! See you ALL on Dec 23rd !
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Georgie boy, you the man.
ReplyDeleteDear All
ReplyDeleteThree cheers and a big round of applause to George for his efforts in getting our Reunion published.The report in BP was excellent - both in presentation and flow of language. "like the flow of wine"...free-flowing and full of substance. Even the postures in the photo was 1Msia...a Eurasian, a Chinese and a Native in the front..with Subra and Rodney right behind..in full support !! Only the sofa's sitting capacity restricted the number seated to 3 !!!
Can't agree more that Class of '76 epitomised the spirit of 1Malaysia - in fact, it went beyond that....it also showcased to the whole of Borneo ( since it's Borneo Post !!! ) and Malaysia the "queen's English" that we studied and learnt during our time. Even Shakespeare would have been proud of that !!
Another observation - our blogg also experienced a surge in the visits. WSG confirmed that the counter meter is not malfunctioning at all. The hits recorded are for real...0078723 as at 5.28am today.
I'm pretty confident that BP will call you again for more articles ! Surely they would have sold more copies yesterday. For starters, Class of '76 and friends would be among the first to grab hold of a copy.
I firmly believe that we should have more such articles released in the press...and other news portals. Not so much to publicise ourselves but rather, to share the "1Msia" spirit in ACTION. There's a saying that goes like this..."The hands that serve do more wonders than the lips that merely pray."
A call from the PM or Ministry of Social Unity is in order - for Class of '76 to promote 1Msia, especially now, with the gov't's concern on unity and harmony.
Let's keep this spirit flowing...( not only in the alcoholic sense..) and keep the comments coming. The organising Committee deserves our support ( very forthcoming indeed ) and this blogg has witnessed many beautiful words being exchanged....in appreciation, friendship or just friendly bantering...But all well-meant..from the heart !!!
Cheers and may you all have a fruitful week ahead !!
Edmund AS lee
Hi all,
ReplyDeleteI am told by our WebJaga, that there were a lot of new visitors to our site yesterday. I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of you new folks to our blog.
As you will find out, this site is not just for the Fifth Formers of 1976. It is for everyone who knows someone who knows someone else in our year.
A visit here is a walk down memory lane. Suddenly, we are 17 again! It rekindles so many long-forgotten memories of our school days, the pranks we got up to, the prefects who nabbed us, the ups and downs of being a teenager, and for some of us, the memories of all the girls we loved before ....
We hope all the Teresians, the Marians, and yes, even our arch rivals, the Thomians will join hands with us in a stroll down memory lane in this blog.
Syabas gentlemen !!!
ReplyDeletePeople, if you click the 'this' link at the top of the page, you will go straight to the Borneo Post link. Chris Sim just pointed out to me that the article "St Joe Class of '76" is now No.5 on the "Most Accessed Stories" of Borneo Post Online. That's real cool!
ReplyDeleteAnd our hits on this blog is racing up to 80,000!
Well done, George
ReplyDeleteAre you going to be on the radio chat show soon?
Regards
Kudos to the barrister.
ReplyDeleteNo, lah, John. I have a fear of public speaking.
ReplyDeleteThanks, KC.
Guys, the number of those coming to the Reunion hv not moved from 65 though. I hope a few more will come forward and register.
ReplyDeleteNeed benjamin wong to get on cats radio next! hehehe
the barrister aka gourment lawyer aka gemuk lawyer that is gl is working on eastern times now. maybe even the chinese and bm dailies.
ReplyDeleteHai guys, overheard that our grand reunion dinner tables are up for sale, some exTeresians are trying to get a table or two and join us in the fun! Anyone care to clarify? The exTeresians ARE talking about St.Joe76 grand dinner and it's spreading like wild fire!
ReplyDeleteAnd who are they, Sabun King? Who's been talking about us? We're hot, man! 33 years too late, though! LOL.
ReplyDeleteDream on Sabun King!
ReplyDeleteHey, Anon 8:30
ReplyDeleteThe gals across the bridge could even be talking about you if you were not hiding behind as Anon. You could be even hotter!!!!! and it's never too late. LOL
Stay focus on the original plan guys. dont get distracted. hehehe
ReplyDeleteYa, Anon 8.30, why you so 'kiasu' one ler, of course st. Joe 76 are hot now, if only you come out behind Anon, the galsss across the bridge will make you even hotter? It's not too late, life begins at 50!
ReplyDeleteHey George!
ReplyDeleteThere's a Hottie lurking online..
BTW, have you obtain the approval for publishing the photos yet?
Tell 'em to wash it out of their mind, Sabun King. This is one exclusive event for the boys only !!!
ReplyDeleteSabun King you're dreaming. I think this is not st joe concert cum dinner show or micheal jackson show lah. Just stick to your original plan. Get together among yourselves,you all 50 yr old men. You have lot to talk and update. We are only the "Looking Glass"
ReplyDeleteLee Kien, who's the 'Hottie lurking online'? And how do you know?
ReplyDeleteAiya George,
ReplyDeleteI just know lah..
must be a classmate of CLK (f) from STS
ReplyDeleteSomeone is quite right somewhere, gals of 76 across the bridge wish to join in the reunion dinner but do not know how to go about it, maybe they will gate crash. On that nite, if there are no females, dinner will be boring and everyone will want to go back early, even the teachers invited are only the male ones only, don't have female teachers in 1976 ha? I suppose the waiters for the nite will all be 'males' too? Anyone of you know who Margaret Munjan is? Heard she is coming back for holiday in december, so......
ReplyDeleteAnon Anon...
ReplyDeleteNo girls gonna gate crash lah...we will be busy with our own reunions...Like Lux said Dream On!
Anybody knows where Robert Dillai is? The very last time I saw him was in a bank at jalan kulas, was it BSN or what, he's working in the bank.
ReplyDeleteDear Lee Kien ( and to the once-upon-a-time "girls" of St. Teresa's )
ReplyDeleteI always believe that the "education" we received at St. Joseph's went beyond theorems, books and badges.
Many a time,as he walked towards class or the laboratory, a Josephian would do one of two things...look across the road towards St. Teresa. Perhaps to catch a glimpse...a glance...a peek or just plain "imagining" of a girl "in the distance." Or look around to see whether Bro Columba was "tailing" him !!!!!
That little "habit" soon developed into fondness, desire, longing...or whatever you may call it. I believe the feeling from 'the girl across the road" was also mutual......Oooops... Bro. Columba still "tailing" him....in spirit.
Josephians ( generally ) have a passion to excel...in studies..work...pray...etc. This tradition..or values have been inculcated in us by the Christian Brothers..( NEVER FORCED on us...)through their LIVING examples of selflessness, service to humanity ( and The Lord ) devotion and Love. "Others before Self", that is.
Of course the years of "indoctrination" and immersion in such environment have left its mark on us...consciously or otherwise. In Communism, Mao Tse Tung did likewise and the results are there for us to see - in RED China. Here, it's GREEN in St. Joe. "Green Green Grass of HOME "( Green is the National Colour of Ireland )
Fortunately our "indoctrination" at St. Joe was a POSITIVE one ( some may not agree with me, though ) and it carried through to our adult and family lives. Even ladies do tell me that Josephians are "special"....generally well-mannered...chilvarious...and "educated" My reply was simple - we are just "normal" human beings...possessed by this thing called "The Josephian Spirit." Yes..the Josephian spirit makes us DIFFERENT !!!!
And to sum up a Josephian's dream of meeting a Teresian...( 33 years ago...)
"just a boy..and a girl...with a promise to be so true. We grew up..all too soon..and discovered how little we knew. Would the dream leave the ground ? Was the future so sound ?...You and I..we had a dream to fly...wonderful dream..beautiful dream..don't let it die. Though we waited so long..till the dream lingers on....." Yes the dream lingers on...even on 23rd December 2009. Keep dreaming !!
But rest assured...though the ReUnion 2009 is a "strictly boys" event..you and the rest of the ex-Teresians will be in our thoughts...unless the beer says otherwise...hehehehe
Cheers !!!!
Edmund AS Lee
GL, saw you in the news in BPost today. Waiting for the online version to come on.
ReplyDeleteVernon also in today - Business section.
Have not seen it myself, Leo. Robert told me about it when we met for lunch at the Sarawak Club this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteOnline link here : http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=62506
ReplyDeleteNo pic though whereas the hard version with pic.
Hello boys,
ReplyDeleteI have seen several postings on the attire for the evening. I agree witn Anon...since the "Or kui" nizer had spent so much of their time, efforts,dedication, brains, ideas...it is only fair that we just agree with what they propose for the evening attire lah...make it simple mah...make life easy for everyone mah..
For without the organizers dedication, hardwork, persuasion skill, post- man skill, marketing skill etc..etc..., our Big 50 reunion on 23-12-09 , maybe just talk only...NATO= No Action Talk Only..
So Ben, Bob, Robert , Jensen, George, Norbert, Dato AM, Datuk JJ and those unseen, unsung heroes....Just do it, man...!!
Bonne weekend
Lee Kien and GL, wanna know who's the 'hotties' lurking online? Bet you do, well, if I'm not wrong, there's 2 or 3 hotties lurking online. It's just temporary until such a time when 'the gals across the bridge' have or set up their own blogspot.
ReplyDeleteAnon Anon..i know who's the hottie and the hotties lurking online, don't u Lee Kien? hehe.
ReplyDeleteHey Gina!!
ReplyDeleteOf cos lah! Do you think George still remember?? Ask him!! If he doesn't please remind him won't you?
BTW, did he show you the photos?
hehe..Lee Kien, i see that u are getting impatient, huh!
ReplyDeleteGina...
ReplyDeleteYa loh.So sporting to pose hoh, but approval take so long...like taking forever...Have to pass the title on already...year almost ending liau!! Hahaha!
Can e-mail your e-mail kah?.Ask "lau ang".We are hogging the boys' blog..
So its confirmed there's 'hotties' lurking and hogging on this blog, no problem, keep on going baby! I was wrong when I said 2 or 3 hotties, seems that there are more than 3! Gina and Lee Kien are 2 and there's another 3 that I know of, that makes 5.
ReplyDeleteai yah anon anon, don't get too excited. The 'hotties' are only worried wives and girlfriends of these lau Ah Pah feeling threatened by the pole dancers from Siem Reap!!!!! ROTFLMAO.
ReplyDeleteHai Anon Nov.23,09.6.57pm. Pole dancers not only from Siem Reap but also Mongolia, Hanoi and Bangkok! Don't worry kay, the boys will be in their very best behaviour on that 23rd nite, promise.
ReplyDelete