Our Footprints - Reflections in Truth and Love

OUR FOOTPRINTS Reflections in Truth and Love Pioneer Batch CJC 1975/76

OUR FOOTPRINTS - Reflections in Truth and Love Authors: Writers from CJC Pioneer Batch (1975-1976) Editorial: The Committee Cover & Illustrations: Nikesh Shaun Ramakrishna

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OUR FOOTPRINTS

A Dedication...

To the principals, teachers and staff of our schools and CJC who taught with passion and imbued in us the values that guided us; and all those who have influenced the pioneer batch in one way or another.

College Motto The college motto In Veritate et Caritate (‘In Truth and Love’) implies seeking the truth about the universe, about ourselves, about God. But truth alone is not sufficient. There must be love - a love based on understanding and reason.

The college motto, In Veritate et Caritate (‘In Truth and Love’) speaks of our mission to nurture students who will be thinkers and leaders that uphold integrity, and are driven by the desire to serve and improve the world around them.

FOREWORD From Us to You… 800 students started their first day in the month of March 1975, at the new Catholic Junior College (CJC) campus in Whitley Road. This pioneer batch came from students across the Catholic schools in Singapore as well as some non-mission schools. CJC began with classes for Arts and Science in English and Chinese streams and Technical. From January 1975, as CJC campus was not ready, these students spent the first three months studying at various holding schools till the new college was ready to open its doors to the pioneer batch.

Fast forward to 43 years later, the youthful teenagers of 1975 turned 60! More than 200 of them gathered at the CJC auditorium to celebrate this milestone birthday. It was an evening of non-stop chatter, singing and dancing as many memories were shared of the care-free days much filled with fun, freedom and growth. In the midst of that celebration and reminisces, a gnaw began – a few of us wondered on what could be the most worthy contribution we could make to CJC and its thousands of students. We are the oldest - the major part of our lives has been, more or less, played out in many different ways, though there are still more adventures ahead. As older teenagers, then, in 1975-76, many of us had little idea how our lives would pan out, lives thus far have been lived and will continue to be so, till the end of our days. Sadly, we have lost some of our batch mates: may each of them, Rest in Peace.

So we thought the best thing we could do was to share this project – ‘Our Footprints – In Truth and Love’ – as a means to give hope, appreciate life’s mysteries and to showcase what CJC gave us directly and indirectly. This - ‘Our Footprints’ journey - shows how Reflections in Truth and Love v

many of us from the pioneer batch have carved our own footprints in our own way – for ourselves, for our families, for our friends, for our community, for our faiths, for our country, for people and for the environment.

These stories are of how individuals have evolved to make sense of their lives and map their individual journeys. The stories highlight events, many learning points and values that became more and more important to the individuals from the pioneer batch who handled the challenges they faced, grew closer to what they wished to achieve and focused on wanting to make a difference - in the lives of their families, their friends, many other people, in the environment that we live in and in their own spirituality. We are influenced and inspired by the values nurtured at home, in schools, through our varied interests, by people who inspire us, through our faiths and/or philosophies. In this process of recollecting on CJC’s influence, many have written how the motto of ‘In Truth and Love’ is a universal value that had grown deeper in meaning over the course of many years.

Our contributors to the stories wrote about learning life skills that helped them navigate their lives in adulthood and learned life lessons at CJC. Some have described the time they spent at CJC as the best years of life and their most cherished experiences, seeing it, in one case, as the “pivotal point in one’s early life”. For some others, the This - ‘Our Footprint’ journey lack they felt whilst at CJC, blossomed shows how many of us from the later into making them confident pioneer batch have carved our own people, as they never lost sight of the values they had acquired through footprints in our own way – for home and school. These values and ourselves, for our families, for our ethos set the foundation, stayed friends, for our community, for our with many throughout their lives and faiths, for our country, for people provided strong grounding and moral and for the environment. strength. The college years were not just about studies and getting the A level certificate. The years were about a build-up to leading and directing our own lives.

“I had not really recognised it during those early days at St Joseph’s Convent and Catholic Junior College. But the lasting impact of the holistic quality of our education incorporating character building and spiritual development with academic pursuits is something I am so grateful for,” said pioneer college student, Ms Pauline Goh, who served on the CJC School Management Committee for 17 years.

This book does not aim to honour achievements of the pioneer batch, of which there are many. Here CJCians share how they grew, were challenged and saw through their passion. What is significant is that the pioneers of CJC continue to live out the realities of CJC’s motto - “In Truth and Love” - in their own varied ways as a journey in life. So we share these stories in service to CJC. Some among the alumni reached out to the poor, vi Reflections in Truth and Love

marginalised, disadvantaged, victims of humanitarian crisis, refugees. They built schools, went on medical missions. Some live through loyalty and care for close friends. Some advocate for the dignity of the human person and their human rights. But what is most important is that each share in this book underlines that living happily means making a difference on how one lives, connecting with family, friends, community, colleagues and being mindful that we are each part of an ecosystem, a link in a connectivity.

In many ways, what we have become and where we are, is a result of the teachers, principals, religious brothers and sisters who taught us through the years. These dedicated educationists and professionals often played varied roles – teacher, mentor, coach, friend and father/mother figures – in our lives. To them we want to show our sincere appreciation and gratitude.

The CJC motto, “In Truth and Love” speaks of the mission to uphold integrity and being driven by the desire to serve and improve the world around us. Many from the pioneer batch have tried to live it daily but it always remains a challenge. Whichever path one has taken, it is based on good intentions and to grow, to be motivated, to be driven with a desire to do as well as one can. We hope our footprints can be a spark leading to reflection and actions for future students and alumni of CJC. In Truth and Love Goh Han Serm, Pauline Goh, Braema Mathi, P. Ramakrishna

The commitee posing next to the ‘Jelly Baby Family’ statue at Plaza Singapura during one of the meetings

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CONTENTS 1 It’s All About People by Gerard Chai

3

2 My Wonderful World, Thanks to CJC by Michael Chee

7

3 Hard Knocks – Gains for Life by Lourdes Mary Daniel

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4 A Green Warrior by Patrick Foong Keng Yuen

15

5 My Office in The Sky! by Anna Gan

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6 Faith in Action by Goh Han Serm, Hans

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7 Building Myself Up to Give Back by Pauline Goh

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8 Undaunted by Joan Kho

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9 The Perfect Recipe for Life – Make Lemonade by Irma Kloer-Gill

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10 Volunteering has Given Me Heaps; and It Began in CJC by Andrew Kwa

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11 ACTS of Love and Charity for God by John Lee, Priscilla Lim

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12 Soccer Bonds by Leong Kok Fann

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13 Overcoming Fear to Serve When Asked by Stephen Lim Beng Lin

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14 Flying High in Honor by Richard Lim

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15 Responding to a Different Drum by Richard Loh

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16 If Only… But I Still Found My Way by Rebecca Low

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17 CJC – My Curtain Raiser by Braema Mathi

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18 Freedom and Initiative – An Education Beyond the Books by P. Ramakrishna

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19 Found My Calling at CJC by Brother Nicholas Seet, FSC

93

20 Volunteer Work is My Giving for Life by Tan Lee Jee

97

21 Football and its Lessons for Life by Richard Tan Eng Sui

101

22 Artistic Connections by Tang May Mey

107

23 My Journey in Faith and Life by Jeremy Tay

113

24 To Serve by Joseph Tham

117

25 All Things do Come Together by Anthony Wong

121

26 What’s in a Name? by Joseph Wong

125

27 Friendship Unlimited by Martin Wong

131

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01

It’s All About People Gerard Chai Technical 2

1975 was a momentous year for me.

It was coming of age and the first major pivotal point in my life – ‘A’ levels at the brand new Catholic Junior College (CJC), which we had all helped build through donations and fund raisers from Catholic feeder schools.

Apart from the excitement that had been generated from years prior to the school opening, I was going to be in the first batch and there would be girls (!!!) from all the convents headed there too. You need to understand that all my years, I have been in an all-boys school, St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) and was somewhat of a shy introvert (where girls were concerned) and had all these years only focused on sports and studies. So, this was going to be new and exciting for me.

I count CJC as the best two years of my school life. I didn’t really enjoy University in Canada. I was an average student and struggled somewhat. But I digress. Coming back to the good old days at CJC, I excelled at sports (athletics) and socially too.

My athletic achievements at CJC led to my one and only time representing Singapore in the 4 x 400m men’s relay at an international event while still a student. We came in 3rd and that was the highlight of my sporting career. It was downhill thereafter! On the social front, I made a lot of friends, got to know many guys and gals and found that I was actually very comfortable with people in general. That was lovely for the shy me, at that

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time.

This realisation, coupled with my natural curiosity, has been a major asset in my career all these many years. You see, I ended up in the people business, recruiting and advising senior executives and leaders in the largest talent and organisational consulting firm globally.

There were many aspects of life at CJC that I enjoyed and treasure till this day.

One of which was forming the many longlasting friendships. What would life be like without friends? The Catholic-aided schools, including CJC back in those days, strongly encouraged a balance between studies and sports.

Having been a sportsman, I learnt the values of hard work paying off and teamwork over the individual; as well as being able to celebrate success and equally importantly, being able to pick up oneself after facing disappointment in losing, and get going again. Throw in the Catholic ethos of spirituality, love, truth, honesty, humility and respect for others; these values have continued to stay with me throughout my life.

Gerard at the National Schools 4x400m Finals, 1976

These same values have also served me well in my career where my belief in fairness, balance and respect for every individual particularly when you are in a leadership role, engenders reciprocity … so we hope.

I started my career in the Information Technology industry and after 12 years, was persuaded to make a career switch into Executive Search, which is about placing Senior Executives into client organisations, and in the process, impacting many lives.

There were many aspects of life at CJC that I enjoyed and treasure till this day. One of which was forming the many long-lasting friendships. What would life be like without friends? The Catholicaided schools, including CJC back in those days, strongly encouraged a balance between studies and sports.

The firm is a prestigious US multinational firm, and I guess they must have seen something in me – how I am in sync with people and resonate with them. I was then in my mid-thirties, with a wife and four children and was thinking of embarking on something that was totally alien to me at that time.

I was more than apprehensive. Of course I prayed, and a senior mentor, from whom I sought advice, told me, “You’ll do well because you’re a people’s person, you are curious and you are sincere in your dealings.”

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It turned out that he was right, I became good at what I do. I am now in my 25th year at the firm and have been the Managing Director of the Singapore operation for the last 17 years.

Now in the twilight of my career (I’m still working on a Plan B), writing this article has encouraged me to reflect on what CJC meant to me then and what I hold dear, even now, about college. I certainly benefitted from the two years there; it set the foundation for much of who I am today. The foundation I refer to, is the Catholic culture and ethos of CJC and definitely the influence of the teachers who created the environment that allowed many of us to develop and grow. I remember and appreciate to this day.

Also, I think our cohort was outstanding too and that I believe, was an equally important part of the equation. After all, they do say that who you are and what you have become, is also a lot about who you hang out with!! And just to be clear, I’m not only referring to the really book smart ones, of which there were many, but the whole mix of people who have shown me what I value most, who they are and what they mean to me.

I have found and experienced throughout my career, that it’s not just about only being bookGerard, the corporate man! smart that truly sets you apart. In my experience, there are many more successful people who are just people smart, who have the ability to connect and build relationships with most people, get things done and deliver on promise.

I will always cherish my days at CJC. It was the very first pivotal point in my early life and while there have been many others since, we all know that you always remember and treasure the first – CJC.

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02

My Wonderful World, Thanks to CJC

Michael Chee Science 17

At Catholic Junior College(CJC), I was one of the quieter ones, happy to mind my own business, preferring to indulge in activities like football and carom.

Believe it or not, I am still crazy enough to continue to enjoy playing competitive football even at my age now, although I can only last for one-half these days as my CJC 2S17 mates and I, we kick the ball amongst ourselves. My favourite game these days, however, is a smaller ball – golf.

I also have a wonderful family – my wife and three adult children aged 28, 26 and 23.

My recollection of the time in CJC was really one of plenty of fun and freedom. As pioneers studying in a school which was still being built, and with new teachers also trying to find their own footing, it was a time of almost semi-chaos, so one had to take responsibility for one’s own studies and grades.

I recall either playing carom or one of the team sports like football or hockey, most of the time. Fortunately, my studies did not suffer and I did reasonably well enough to earn a scholarship to France.

That meant spending another six years of my life living and studying in a foreign country, where English was not the language of choice. So it was another period of self-discovery, semi-chaos and learning to be self-reliant. It was a time of travelling and exploring Europe, and discovering different personal strengths. I believe the strong grounding and values

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which came from studying in a Christian Brother School environment at St Joseph’s Institution and CJC, helped me to deal with life challenges. My belief in God, respect for others and staying true to the 10 commandments, are all relevant till today. I work these days in the financial services sector, where integrity is viewed as a core value one must embody, which, in essence, is also in the commandments.

▶ Michael (right) with former President, S. R. Nathan and embassy colleagues in 1992

Michael at the Washington Mall in 1990

Starting work in the mid-1980s, when Singapore was also going through its first recession, marked another milestone in my life journey. I was fortunate to be working in the then Trade Development Board and be exposed to the challenge of maintaining Singapore’s position as a major trading hub, especially during a time when trading relationships with our ASEAN neighbours was also going through some hiccups.

The highlight of my career in government was probably when I was posted to serve as the Trade Attaché in our Embassy in Washington DC, where I had the opportunity to see Ambassador S R Nathan (who later became Singapore’s President) in action and to learn from him. I had never imagined that I would end up spending 3½ years in the US capital and almost getting the frontseat view of some interesting moments in our nation’s history.

I believe the strong grounding and values which came from studying in a Christian Brother School environment at St Joseph’s Institution and CJC, helped me to deal with life challenges.

My belief in God, respect for others and staying true to the 10 commandments, are all relevant till today.

I recall vividly the occasion when Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who had just taken on that mantle, visited Washington DC. The thought of being so close to our nation’s founder was a surreal and hypnotising moment.

Those years of working in our embassy in the US represented an amazing period in the 8 Reflections in Truth and Love

work life of this ex-CJC student. I will never forget, and am constantly reminded by my two older kids, who were born there.

Oftentimes, my wife and I will reminisce fondly about the great times we had in Washington DC, when work and life were so much more care free. Who would have thought that this simple country boy from CJC would, one day, work in the powerhouse capital of the US - what a life-changing experience!

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03

Hard Knocks – Gains for Life

Lourdes Mary Daniel Science 13

When I was in Secondary 4 in Katong Convent, Brother Patrick came to speak to us about the new Catholic Junior College. I rejoiced as I really wanted to continue my education in a Catholic school. I never regretted my decision. In many ways, it consolidated all that I had learnt from my family, my education in the CHIJ schools and my church experience as a youth leader in the Church of our Lady of Perpetual Succour (OLPS).

The two years in CJC were filled with wonderful experiences: strengthening of old and forging of new friendships (many ‘new’ friends became lifelong friends), learning to take responsibility and most importantly, deepening of my faith.

And amongst the many wonders at CJC, I will always treasure this particular experience.

Mrs Moses was my Maths teacher. I was more interested in the myriad experiences that Junior College had to offer than in doing boring old Maths. My marks were far below average and handing in homework late, with a new excuse each time, was my usual habit.

Mrs Moses was a soft-spoken and gentle lady, so I was not really afraid of her. But when I scored 4/100 for a Maths test, Mrs Moses sat me down and in no uncertain terms, informed me that my work and attitude were unacceptable. That I was playing the fool and needed more discipline and focus. But, in the midst of this long lecture, she also conveyed to me her belief that I was capable of much more and that she would help me. She started with planning my Maths homework. I could choose my own date to hand in my homework, but if I were not to do so on the date of my choice, I would get zero marks. I agreed and

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asked for a month to complete my next Maths homework assignment (she usually gave us a few days). On the stipulated day, she walked into class and looked straight at me. I was ready with my work and she accepted it without any comments. This carried on for several months till the next Maths test when instead of scoring only 4/100, I actually LOST only 4 marks – I had scored 96/100!!! She pulled me aside and with her usual smile and gentle manner, and told me that it was the top score of the group.

It was a lesson well learnt – you have to decide what you want and focus on achieving it. Her confidence in me, her method of dealing with the problem and her gentle but firm manner turned me around. I have never forgotten her or this incident. I went on to score an A in Maths and got a scholarship to do Medicine in NUS. Many years later, when I met her at a CJC reunion, I went up to her and whispered to her, “Mrs Moses, I made good.” And in Dr Mary Daniel with her husband Capt Alpha Abraham who that same gentle manner and smile, both enjoy travelling, singing, cooking, sharing their joy she said, “I know you did.” I believe that she embodied the motto of CJC – In Truth and Love – and showed me what it meant by her example.

Medical school and specialty training were very difficult for me. I struggled, tripped and stumbled many times. But, I never forgot the lesson I learnt from Mrs Moses The two years in CJC were filled and with the help and support of my with wonderful experiences: family, close friends and understanding lecturers and mentors, I am now where strengthening of old and forging I want to be. of new friendships (many ‘new’

Today, I am a paediatrician in KK friends became lifelong friends), Women’s and Children’s Hospital. I was learning to take responsibility and a Neonatologist for almost 25 years, most importantly, deepening of working in intensive care for premature my faith. and ill new born babies. It was sheer hard work, but the combined skill and care provided by the nursing and medical team kept ill babies alive, to grow and develop their full potential. We rejoiced together with the parents when they were discharged.

And grieved together if some could not live. Words cannot describe what I feel when I watch them grow up, when I see them smile and/or when their parents relate their achievements! Every bit of hard work was worth it. But what I have embraced most of

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all from my long years as a Neonatologist, are the lessons I have learnt from parents, my nursing and medical colleagues. The resilience of parents in the face of adversity, their strength despite their grief and devastation, the ability of my colleagues to continue to focus on their patients despite fatigue and long hours on their feet – I would have never had this rich life experience if I did not become a paediatrician. And Mrs Moses and CJC helped me to get there.

I now work with special needs children who have developmental, behavioural and learning difficulties.

Like the premature children I worked with for so many years, these children really pull the drawstrings of my heart. I also have a special fondness for the children from low income and high risk families. So, I remain in the public sector medical service, still in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital where there are many opportunities Mrs Moses embodied the motto of CJC and showed Mary to make a difference to special needs what it meant by her example children and their families – who need special attention and a hand to hold on to for help as they navigate the difficult journey to adolescence. My own educational struggles have made me determined to stay in this area of work.

I know very well that my own life journey and my own experiences have shaped my work.

I thank the good Lord who walked with me all my life, made sure that I had the support and assistance I needed from family, teachers and friends, pulled me up when I tripped and fell and brought me to where I am today, where I can help special needs and high risk children every single day of my working life, where I can say in all honesty that I do not work - I simply live my days doing what I love most. What a blessing!!!!

Freely, freely, you have received freely, freely, give, go in my name and because you believe others will know that I live.

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CHAPTER

04

A Green Warrior

Patrick Foong Keng Yuen

Science 3

Having come from an all-boys’ school since Primary 1, I was enthralled to be part of the first cohort of CJC students in 1975. It was also the first time being exposed to meeting schoolmates of the opposite sex.

At the tender age of 16, I was not sure what kind of career to embark on. But I knew that a job that required meeting people would have been a ‘no go’ for me, as I was then innately shy and reserved.

At that time engineering was a popular choice. So I decided to select subjects that would allow me to read engineering or an equivalent degree at university, without being too specialized. I landed in science (S3) and not the Technical stream. During the two years at CJC, my personality underwent a drastic change. I became more articulate, more sociable, managed to overcome the fear of participating in tutorials and began to ask the teacher questions in class.

One of the teachers who left a lasting impression on me was the late Gabrielite Brother Philibert, who was both my home tutor and Applied Mathematics teacher. His mastery and delivery of the subject was extraordinary. He enthused me to the point that solving problems relating to ‘mechanics of materials’ became my favorite pastime. I had so much confidence in that subject that I had even bragged to my friends that it would be “difficult” for me not to bag a distinction in the ‘A’ Level examination.

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Having done reasonably well in my ‘A’ Levels, I proceeded to read Mechanical Engineering at King’s College London after serving my 2½ years of national service. I rejected a Public Service Commission scholarship as I strongly felt that it should be awarded to someone who needed it more, from a financial perspective. Admittedly, I am not as academically inclined or intelligent as many of my schoolmates but I have strongly held onto the adage that perseverance and hard work would compensate for any deficiency. It certainly helped me earn my first class honours and emerge as the best performer among my cohort.

I started my career working as a Refinery Engineer in the early 1980s and shortly after, I joined the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC now known as SMRT) and had Patrick Foong, a green warrior the benefit of learning operations planning, design and maintenance of mechanical and electrical systems from the railway experts (mainly expatriates). During the six years at MRTC, I had the opportunity to implement a number of energy conservation measures such as putting in platform screen doors at underground stations and implementing automated control strategies to save energy. That was my first brush with application of engineering principles to One of the teachers who left a get the most from our limited resources. lasting impression on me was the I realised then that although engineering late Gabrielite Brother Philibert, enthused me, green practices excited who was both my home tutor and me. I chanced upon an opening for the position of Chief Engineer at a whollyApplied Mathematics teacher. His owned subsidiary of DBS Land Ltd (now mastery and delivery of the subject known as Capitaland Ltd). I got it and was extraordinary. He enthused me from that point on – for a substantial part to the point that solving problems of my 36-year career – I played a pivotal relating to ‘mechanics of materials’ role in transforming buildings into became my favorite pastime. energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable ones.

Having worked in many capacities - designer, facilities manager and energy consultant - as the representative to the owner of a company, I grew to appreciate what stakeholders wanted and the challenges they faced in their desire to make their buildings ‘green’.

My grounding in engineering and the practical experience gathered over the years,

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allowed me to formulate pragmatic ‘green’ solutions with relative ease for many of these stakeholders.

I now have an unflagging zeal and passion to advocate environmentally sustainable design practices. I have also become very articulate in front of any audience; from building professionals to even ordinary folks at general meetings of Management Corporations.

I am certainly an advocate for reducing energy demand, maximizing energy efficiency, harvesting site energy, adopting green operations and maintenance practices and continually seeking out cost-effective renewable energy for long-term sustainability. In 2014, I was given the ‘Green Engineer of the Year’ Award, by the Building & Construction Authority (BCA) and the Singapore Green Building Bro Philibert’s mastery and delivery of Applied Mathematics Council (SGBC), in recognition of was extraordinary and that left a lasting impression on Patrick my past contributions towards environmental sustainability. I am currently a BCA-appointed Industry Ambassador for Sustainability.

Presently, I run an energy services company that provides energy performance contracting solutions for the building industry. One current project involves retro-fitting a milliondollar central air-conditioning system as part of a design and build project, without asking for any minimal outlay from the customer and still ensure that the project remains financially worthy for them and my company.

My other latest project involves management, auditing and replacing old lifts and escalators with the latest designs, in compliance with all the safety advisories issued by authorities to be in compliance ‘design and build projects’ for which we receive funding.

My other areas of specialisation include being a SCDF Registered Inspector for Fire Safety, a Specialist Professional Engineer for Lifts & Escalators and an NEA Qualified Energy Services Specialist.

I am an active participant and speaker at green seminars and conferences. I am also an adjunct lecturer in the area of green practices and specialist engineering applications at the Real Estate and Construction Academy and the Building and Construction Authority Academy.

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CHAPTER

05

My Office in the Sky!

Anna Gan Arts 12

The sky is the limit. Or is it?

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I would be a pilot! How many of you know what you want to be in JC? This is common for many of us and I’m sure for others, too.

Only a handful ever know at that age. For many of us, we keep searching for the right careers and some like me are lucky to find the one that suits me to a ‘T’.

My childhood was very ordinary. I was not academically bright, often just scraping through my exams. Looking back, I guess I was too interested in playing.

I studied at Marymount Convent, was quite athletic and an ‘outdoors’ sort of person. I joined the National Cadet Corp (NCC) in secondary school. In CJC, I participated in the National Day Parade marching proudly and representing the combined schools NCC contingent. I was even made the contingent commander, an honor that till today, I am immensely proud of.

Entering CJC as the pioneer batch meant coping with a college not ready at the beginning of school year in 1975. We were “squatters” at CHIJ Town Convent the present day Chjimes, for the first 3 months of the year. We were all excited when the Big Day came for the college to be opened. I remember trudging up the hill and getting all our new sneakers caked with brown mud. It was fun!

So each typical college day began with an uphill walk. Then it was daily prayers led by Bro.

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Patrick, CJC’s principal, from the center of the square, the one that is today close to CJC’s main entrance. This was soon followed by the chaos of hunting down the classrooms or lecture theatres. There was a sense of excitement and spirit in the air. Every day during those months, it was a discovery that is very hard to describe or for many to understand what it meant to be a pioneer and being part of that history. As we were from mainly all Catholic schools, there was also a sense of belonging, amidst feeling lost in the new environment. As a school population, we were very involved in all activities such as the running of the school canteen to the design of the uniform, school crest and motto. This was done way before it became a norm for students to be involved in shaping the college.

This was very special because it made us responsible and gave us ownership.

The two years in CJC were wonderful and it went by too fast. As college ended, I did not go to university but opted for a career in the army. So I joined the 3rd female Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Officer Cadet Course. My 9 months there were thoroughly enjoyable.

It was like a long camping adventure to me with exciting times like firing the AR15 rifle, throwing a grenade and driving a Jeep. All cool stuff! As an outdoor enthusiast, the Officer Cadet Course was an adventure for me. I loved it and I am proud to say I emerged top cadet during that course.

But reality soon set in after graduation. I was stuck behind a desk, and felt so confined, pinned down and restricted.

I realized that was not what I Captain Anastasia Gan in the cockpit of the plane as she begins her morning flight to San Francisco wanted to do for the rest of my life. I was not happy. Then an opportunity came knocking. The Straits Times ran a recruitment advertisement for females to join The Republic of Singapore Air Force as Pilots! It was an answer to my prayers! I did not hesitate. I knew I wanted to try my hand at flying even though I was clueless in what it entailed. I only knew that pilots were always associated with excitement and adventure, and portrayed as awesome, tough and cool men in fighting machines. So I wanted that and I knew I had to fight all social norms to step into the unknown male dominated arena.

I knew then I wanted to be a pilot, 1½ years after college in 1978.

I applied and the selection process was very stringent. I went for a flight assessment to see if I possessed some flying skills and I passed the assessment. This was followed by vigorous rounds of interviews, psychomotor tests, medicals and finally after six months, I was finally accepted as a pilot trainee.

I was in the second batch of females that the RSAF took in and I had two other female 20 Reflections in Truth and Love

course mates with me. It was an arduous 2 years of studying (which surprisingly I did well enough to win the best in ground school trophy) and flying training. The most fun part was taking to the sky in the aircraft and learning to fly!

I can never forget the first time I took to the Air - an indescribable experience. I must have looked like a Cheshire cat grinning from ear to ear. I was blessed with an unnatural sense of balance in my semi-circular canals in the ears and was never prone to air As a school population, we were sickness. I enjoyed all the aerobatics very involved in all activities and spinning and never had any fear, such as the running of the school maybe partly due to ignorance and selfcanteen to the design of the confidence (or ‘cockiness’ in the pilot’s uniform, school crest and motto. lingo). Every pilot’s dream is to fly the first solo. On 23 August 1979, I was on This was done way before it the small single propeller Siai Marchetti became a norm for students to be SF260, took off and did a circuit on my involved in shaping the college. own. I was yelling and laughing and This was very special because it talking to myself the whole time. I must made us responsible and gave us have been a looney if anyone could see ownership. me. It was glorious!! Not many events can top that euphoric 10 minutes.

Throughout my training I was blessed with very helpful and friendly course mates who treated me as their equal. I did not encounter any biasness from my peers. In fact, I learnt that if you approach the males for help, they are genuinely glad to be able to help you. So I learnt to use that to my advantage! The flying Instructors were professional except for one or two who would often make remarks of us women in an all men’s arena, but luckily they were only a minority. I obtained my coveted “RSAF Wings” and became the 3rd female pilot in the Republic of Singapore Air Force in 1980. It was an awesome achievement and a huge milestone for me to cross into a profession long hailed as an allmale domain. Thrilling!

The best part of flying ?

It’s like knowing how a bird feels. it’s amazing to see the land and sea below you when you are soaring through the sky and enjoying the kaleidoscope of colors of the sky and sea merging with the vast lands. Yet, at the same time, I feel very humbled as I also realize how insignificant I am in this vastness of a world that is so wondrous.

I spent 23 years in the RSAF and I took on instructional flying duties and am proud to see many of my students successful in their flying careers in the Air Force and also in the commercial flying world. My life in the RSAF was very challenging and immensely rewarding In 2001, I was approached and was extremely blessed to be given an opportunity to fly

Reflections in Truth and Love 21

commercial jets. My mentor, Capt. Len McCully, paved the way for me to join SilkAir as the first female commercial pilot. However, before I could join SilkAir, I had to pass the Airline Transport Pilots Licence. That was the toughest set of exams I ever had to take. I spent 6 months literally burning the candles at both ends studying and at the same time still working in the RSAF. I think it was sheer determination that got me through that critical stage. My husband said I was a pain to live with at that time.

I left the RSAF on the early retirement scheme after 22 years of military flying and stepped into a whole new world of commercial flying. It was so different from what I used to do in the RSAF! It dawned on me that people were depending on me to safely transfer from one country to another. The sense of responsibility was surreal! It made me proud yet nervous. Even now after almost 20 years of commercial flying, every day is a different experience. There are so many variables in my job. The sky that was blue yesterday could suddenly turn into real nasty thunderstorm clouds and I have to manage these changes to ensure that my passengers and aircraft remain safe and sound.

What makes me look forward to going to work? Knowing that the view outside my window will be stunning, ever changing, mesmerizing and unpredictable. I love to take in the spectacular lightning display on stormy days, admire the snowcapped mountains of Japan, see the majestic volcanoes of Indonesia and the clear blue waters of the Maldives or glimpse the shooting stars over the Indian Ocean. I am so lucky to see these spectacular scenes that others can only view through books, the media or get a glimpse from their window seats. As pilots, we have a panoramic view of up to 270 degrees, vast and almost no limits.

People always ask me if flying was dangerous. I think driving a car is more hazardous compared to flying. There are air traffic controllers and strict air rules that we have to comply with and this makes it a lot safer than driving a car. Of course there are heart thumping days when the weather on the approach is marginal coupled with low fuel state and you are challenged to land the aircraft safely or when it starts snowing and your visibility becomes obscured. It still remains my responsibility to take up the challenge and use my experience to stay calm and manage the situation and land the aircraft safely. I always start the day with a prayer for the safe passage and delivery of my passengers; and a prayer of thanks at the end of the flight.

Was it worth all the hard work to get to where I am? Absolutely! I would not swop this job for another! The beauty of my work is that I go to my “office” and I know things are never the same. There is an excitement every time I walk into the flight deck and it gives me a “high” in anticipation of the variances to come. Not many people can look outside their “office” window and admire the panoramic view of the sun’s rays slowly clawing up at sunrise or the orange glow of the sun receding at sunset or even smell the fresh rain pelting down the aircraft windows. I am never tired of the scene outside my “office” window. My biggest regret when I finally retire from flying is that I won’t get to view all these scenes anymore.

22 Reflections in Truth and Love

I have learnt that in life, opportunities will present themselves to you and you must rise up to accept the challenges. I say adopt a positive outlook and go searching for what you really desire. Don’t live life with regrets of what could have been. I know most of the readers would be at the college age and still unsure of what lies ahead. Do not despair if you have not decided what career path to choose. Have Faith but embrace life and seize the opportunities that come your way! I hope everyone has a fulfilling career as I have.

God Bless!

Captain Anastasia Gan Pilot of Airbus 320

Reflections in Truth and Love 23

See, Judge, Act

24 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

06

Faith in Action Goh Han Serm, Hans Arts 5

Part 1: Young Christian Students at St Joseph’s Institution ‘See, Judge and Act’ at SJI FOND memories of my school days at St Anthony’s Boys’ School, St Joseph’s Institution (SJI) and Catholic Junior College come back to me. I recall how these institutions developed my interest and abilities in sports, gave opportunities for my leadership abilities, built my self-esteem and self-confidence.

My family was poor but what we lacked at home was compensated by a positive experience at school. Many of my school friends remain treasures till today, giving me much joy and meaning to my life. But it was the Young Christian Students (YCS) at SJI, especially the formation’s See, Judge and Act (SJA) method, that made the most significant impact on my growth and education. The years in YCS eventually led me to actively promote the dignity of the human person and the Catholic Social Teachings, advocate for workers’ rights, and strive for a preferential love for the poor.

In 1971, I joined the YCS as an ECA (extracurricular activity) and was introduced to the three-step SJA method used during the YCS meetings to look at and reflect on our life and what was happening around us. During the meetings, members shared and discussed the situations we faced in school and at home, and also the problems and challenges of students and teenagers. After an analysis (See) of the situation, we reflected (Judge)

Reflections in Truth and Love 25

on the situation and issues, drawing on the Gospel values and Church’s social teachings, guided by our advisors and chaplains. More importantly, we took small actions (Act) to improve the situations affecting students. Some of the issues we faced then were favouritism in class, pressure of school work and boy-girl relationships.

Through the regular use of SJA, we became aware that our education system overemphasised textbook learning and examinations. Consequently, we, the YCS leaders, organised talks and camps to create awareness among YCS members that education could do more in the all-round development of students, and not to overly focus on examinations as the results alone were inadequate for the workforce and to develop the economy. The discussions and reflections during YCS meetings helped us to be conscious of our responsibility to our fellow students and our community.

Part 2: In Truth and Love at Catholic Junior College Leadership Role My friends and I were among the pioneer batch of students of Catholic Junior College in 1975. In December 1974, a few of us, YCS leaders, got together to discuss college education, our role in the new college and how we could contribute to students. Our reflection was that active participation in college life would complement the all-round development of students. Being the pioneers, we should take responsibility to build up the new college. One important contribution would be to build up an active Students’ Council to support a vibrant, an all-rounded college education. Besides working on basic student welfare matters, the Students’ Council should be a voice for students, articulating their views and providing inputs into decision making on matters directly affecting students.

With this vision, my group of YCS friends decided that we need to take on different roles and tasks in college. One of us could focus on working with other students to build a strong Students’ Council and others start the YCS as an ECA Club in CJC. My Han Serm at the YCS exhibition booth role was to build up the Students’ Council. I stood during the Official Opening of CJC in 1976 for elections and was elected to the Students’ Council Exco. The Students’ Council comprised representatives for various departments of work. I chose to lead the ECA department of the Students’ Council because ECA was a very important platform for all-round development. I advocated for ECA Clubs to be more broad-scoped, emphasise the educational purpose, and cater to development of students’ growth. The Students’ Council did not just organise activities, but also became 26 Reflections in Truth and Love

a voice for students’ concerns, contributing to student development.

Students, Thinkers and Leaders The structured approach of SJA helped YCS members think critically, be aware of the issues in society that affected people and to show concern. In 1976, the policy of promoting sterilisation to manage population growth was controversial. As part of the government ‘Stop at Two’ policy, those who opted for ligation after the birth of the second child, were given priority for registration to In December 1974, a few of us, primary schools. Male Singaporeans who wished to marry female Malaysians YCS leaders, got together to would be given the licence for marriage discuss college education, our on condition that they signed an role in the new college and agreement for their spouses to be how we could contribute to ligated after the birth of the couple’s students. Our reflection was that second child. This sterilisation policy active participation in college touched on moral and ethical issues and had grave consequences on individuals, life would complement the allschools and society. round development of students.

I was a leader of the YCS in CJC. Together Being the pioneers, we should with other members, we organised a take responsibility to build up forum at CJC to raise awareness and to the new college. One important develop a deeper understanding on the contribution would be to build sterilisation issue. We invited a doctor, up an active Students’ Council to a priest and a Member of Parliament support a vibrant, an all-rounded (MP) as speakers. The largest CJC lecture theatre was filled to capacity college education. with students. Questions flowed fast and furious. The forum provided information, offered varied viewpoints and encouraged critical thinking. The forum made quite an impact and also helped students to better understand the issue and its implications.

Education and Civics Lessons My classmates and I were fortunate to have Sister Deirdre O’ Loan as our Home Tutor (Arts 5) for two years. We enjoyed the lively and thought provoking discussions during Civics lessons.

Three of us in Arts 5 read regularly about current affairs in Singapore and Malaysia. I remember an interesting discussion about a power struggle involving a powerful politician in Malaysia. Sister Deirdre who had taught in Kuala Lumpur, shared with us her insights on the sensitive issues at stake. It was education beyond theories and books. Sister Deirdre was a deeply passionate and caring educator. Despite being very busy with administrative work, she made time to care for and to bond with her charges. My classmates fondly

Reflections in Truth and Love 27

remember the time we spent with her during a cycling trip and picnic at Sentosa, and the several visits to her residence. She was the rallying point that brought our classmates together again after almost 30 years.

Our college motto, In Veritate et Caritate (In Truth and Love), speaks of the mission to nurture students as thinkers and leaders who will uphold integrity and be driven by the desire to serve and improve the world around them. Indeed, many students had begun to live the motto in college, actively participating in student issues and caring for others.

Part 3: Uphold integrity, serve and improve the world The six years of formation in YCS was a strong foundation for my life’s journey. SJA helped me in my life’s choices and decisions including my education, career, my social concerns and the work with the poor and marginalised.

My formation and experiences in the YCS was instrumental in my choice of career. Teaching is a vocation for me. It is a calling to grow the hearts and minds, and to contribute to nation building. It is a mission and not just a job for a livelihood. This drives my commitment and sustains me to persevere and overcome the challenges in the last 40 years I have given and am still giving to teaching.

When I started working, I joined the Young Christian Workers Movement (YCW), another lay apostolate organisation of the Catholic Church. I was the YCW National President from 1986 to 1988. I spent 12 years reaching out to young workers with a focus on creating awareness of their dignity as persons and the rights of workers. Many of the industrial workers faced poor working and living conditions. The YCW encouraged workers to think about their lives and to share their concerns with others. During the discussions and conversations, we helped them analyse the challenges they faced, shared our reflections on the situations in the light Arts 5 celebrates Sister Deirdre’s birthday of Christian faith, universal values and human rights, and encouraged them to take small actions to improve the working and living conditions.

During the 12 years in YCW, I spent much of my time after work making friends with, having discussions with and providing services to Singaporeans and migrant workers at the YCW Workers Centre in Jurong Industrial Estate. I taught English to the workers and organised recreational and educational activities. The programmes addressed the needs of the workers and helped to develop worker-leaders at the workplace. In building a community to help one another, I understood and experienced solidarity. As a Catholic,

28 Reflections in Truth and Love

I try to live out my faith through actions with and for those in need. In accompanying the workers in their struggle for dignity as persons and a better life, I was Jesus’ witness to the poor and the marginalised.

In 1983, I had the opportunity to further my studies at the university, get a degree, earn a higher salary as a graduate and have better promotion prospects. But full-time studies would mean that I would not be able to continue my active involvement with the workers. The discernment using SJA helped in my decision - I gave up the opportunity for undergraduate studies, choosing to serve the workers and YCW. Having seen the reality of the workers, and the need for leaders in YCW, I chose to respond to the needs of the workers and to give my time to this work. I took up leadership in the YCW and journeyed with the workers. The inspiration and motivation was being a follower of Jesus’ work – the preferential love for the poor.

To understand the conditions of the workers, I spent a few days doing factory jobs including their 12-hour shift work. I had to stand throughout the 12 hours except during the short lunch breaks. This short immersion in the workers’ lives was an educational exposure to the toil these workers had to go through daily.

In the early 1980s, there were several important issues and policies that adversely affected the lives of workers such as 12-hour work shift and retrenchments. I interviewed the affected workers for a survey, organised discussions and did research on working 12hour shifts. I was actively involved in raising public awareness on these issues and spoke up for the plight of workers through publications and press statements. These actions to advocate for better protection of workers and job security, were not well received by the authorities. The advocacy work was misread and we were accused of being naïve, confrontational and even had wild allegations made against us.

The Singapore Pledge calls us to build a democratic society based on justice and equality.

The Catholic Church teaches us about the dignity of the human person and service to the poor and marginalised. My alma mater, CJC, urges me to live In Truth and Love – to uphold integrity, and to serve and improve the world around us. To fulfil this call to build a just society, to stand with the poor and marginalised is not easy; there will always be struggles and difficulties, and for some, a price to pay.

I strive to live a purposeful life, to bear witness to my faith through my actions. This gives me meaning and fulfilment. Looking back, I have been very blessed to have inspiring advisors, chaplains and friends from YCS and YCW who have been instrumental in my formation and growth. I thank them with a grateful heart.

I end here with the refrain from the CJC Anthem: Live in Truth live in Faith and Love Let our light spread and brighten the night Let our flame warm all hearts and unit

Reflections in Truth and Love 29

30 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

07

Building Myself Up to Give Back Pauline Goh Science 15

Like almost everyone else from the early cohorts at CJC, I benefitted greatly from 12 years of Catholic school education. Spending my childhood and youth at St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) and then CJC, allowed me to absorb Catholic ethos and values without my even realising the benefits and advantages we had over our secular school counterparts.

Looking back, I am so grateful for the dedication of the educators especially those from the various religious orders; the values that they had imparted during those formative years in my life have been quite priceless.

Strict discipline was enforced by fierce strict but caring principals and teachers. They also taught us the spirit of giving, sharing and caring for those not so fortunate, the daily prayers of petition and thanksgiving.

The two years that I spent at CJC were among my happiest. In 1999, when the then Principal, Sr Maria Lau, invited me to join the School Management Committee (SMC) in 1999, I readily agreed as I was keen to make a positive contribution to my alma mater.

For the next 17 years, it was rewarding to see the school improve its ranking while still maintaining its Catholic ethos, and its alumni community also became more vibrant and active.

When I first joined the SMC, Gerard Lee (from the -class of 1976) and I were the only alumni. However, over the years, the board renewal process brought in an almost allalumni membership. We worked closely with the college management team on student

Reflections in Truth and Love 31

programs and events, helping to facilitate networking with other alumni to get them to contribute their time and talent to the school. The activities included giving talks, providing valuable guidance to students at the college’s annual Think Career Day, participating in mentoring and other programs, as well as being actively involved in refreshing the college crest that led to the unveiling of the new crest in July 2013.

Understandably there had been much emotional attachment to the old crest. The committee led by fellow SMC member Gillian Koh, had to work with many stakeholders including alumni, current students, the principal Mrs Christine Kong, chaplain Fr Leslie Raj, current and ex-staff, and parents, to gather their views. The refreshed crest carried much of the old beloved elements including its shape in the form of a shield, the dove which depicts the Holy Spirit to guide the college community, and the motto In Veritate et Caritate or In Truth and Love. The motto speaks of the mission to uphold integrity and the aspiration to show love, care and improve the world around us. The graphic representation of the dove was updated to make it more dynamic and the well-loved college flame was added to reinforce the idea that the light of God, knowledge and wisdom must lead the way in all that we do.

Pauline beside the Chapel which she helped to build

Another physical reminder of what I consider to be my single most important contribution as an SMC member, is the building of a proper CJC Chapel, called the House of Prayer. In 2008, Bro Paul Rogers, the Principal at the time, mooted this idea about the chapel. I enthusiastically took on the project as the school had long outgrown the prayer room over the last 30 years. I worked with Bro Paul in the project committee along with fellow board member Teo Swee Lian, Fr Leslie Raj, a teacher and a student. We developed the project brief, appointed the project consultants, selected the building design, monitored

32 Reflections in Truth and Love

the project through construction to its completion in early 2010, and raised funds for the project. Now whenever I go back to CJC, I am really happy to see the black Granite-clad chapel building standing discreetly but proudly to the left of the main school building: knowing that it regularly provides a place to celebrate sacraments; to express the appropriate liturgy of the church; and just as importantly, a personal place for students, regardless of religion, to retreat to for peace and sanctuary.

My involvement in the board also made it easier for me to initiate alumni events with college support. I got together with a number of like-minded alumni including Throughout my own journey from Leong Kok Fann (S17), Ramakrishna school to where I am today, the Purushotaman (S17) and Gerard Chai most powerful message has been (T2), from our pioneer batch, to kick the great joy of being able to start the partnership with the college to organize the CJC 30th anniversary contribute back to the community. event in 2005. The event included a I had not really recognised it soccer match followed by reception and during those early days at SJC and dinner for the first 3 batches of alumini CJC, but the lasting impact of the from 1975/6, 1976/7 and 1977/8. We also holistic quality of our education, started the ball rolling with milestone incorporating character building celebrations for our cohort - our birthdays when we turned 50 in 2008, and spiritual development with 55 in 2013 and 60 in 2018. Subsequent academic pursuits, is something I batches also did likewise with their own am so grateful for. milestone celebrations and it has now created a stream of alumni activities in the college. As part of the SMC, I also got involved in the planning of the CJC 40th anniversary event which included a mass and a dinner in 2015.

We had such a blast planning, organizing and attending these events. It was exciting to reach out to old friends we had lost touch with and make friends with people we didn’t get to know when we were college mates. In one of these events, we took time to remember and pray for friends who had passed on. At the recent 60th birthday celebrations, it was sheer joy and nostalgia to re-live our 1975 and 1976 days as many of us sang and danced like how we had performed back then at the Carousel of Entertainment for CJC. The camaraderie and enjoyment witnessed by all, were intense and incredible.

What is even more meaningful is how we took the opportunity to raise funds for CJC’s Needy Students Fund and the Flame & Archbishop’s Scholarship Fund, through such celebratory events. This spirit of wanting to give back is a strong character trait that many of us have and it makes us even more proud to be the pioneer batch.

As my professional career progressed, I had thought of other meaningful ways that I could give back to the community that had served me so well throughout my childhood Reflections in Truth and Love 33

and youth. Leveraging on my experience in the real estate industry, I went to work with the Catholic Archdiocese as an active volunteer in ALPS (Archdiocesan Land & Properties Singapore) in 2011 and also later with the Catholic Foundation, the main fund-raising arm of the Archdiocese.

I had also been thinking for some time how I could support charities in a more structured way. We are constantly being asked to donate to all sorts of charities and causes and we often donate when approached, without considering the need to monitor how the money was actually being used.

In 2011, I was invited by a group of individuals who had formed a private organization called Asia Philanthropic Ventures (APV) in 2009 to join them in their second field trip to Cambodia. Their first trip was to Thailand. On these trips, APV members visit the poor and needy communities in the countries. For me it was such an eye-opening experience to see how much suffering and deprivation there was around us: children and women caught in the vicious cycle of poverty and being at risk, the lack of water and sanitation, lack of basic healthcare; and lack of access to funds to pull themselves out of the poverty cycle through education and training.

APV’s aim is to provide help and support in building capacity for needy communities within Asia. The company ensures due diligence when evaluating projects requiring support. It also works actively with the respective NGOs and community leaders to ensure that they account for the financial resources provided to them.

Since the visit to Cambodia in 2011, I have joined the company in annual trips to other countries including Philippines, China, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka & Vietnam. Along the way, I have begun to recognize that there is so much that needs to be done. I am no longer an observer but am now part of the company. This deeper involvement allows me to deliberate with the fellow directors on the merits of each project, decide on the project and determine on the nature and level of support that APV can provide.

APV also allows me to bring my children along for these visits, and I am grateful that they can see for themselves how so many people around us are surviving even without the most basic of necessities that we take for granted here in Singapore.

Throughout my own journey from school to where I am today, the most powerful message has been the great joy of being able to contribute back to the community. I had not really recognised it during those early days at SJC and CJC but the lasting impact of the holistic quality of our education, incorporating character building and spiritual development with academic pursuits, is something I am so grateful for. I believe that the foundation it has laid, has been providing the guidance as I made choices on the type and nature of activities I wanted to get involved in especially during the past 15 to 20 years.

34 Reflections in Truth and Love

“So each typical college day began with an uphill walk. Then it was daily prayers led by Bro. Patrick, CJC’s principal… Every day during those months, it was a discovery that is very hard to describe or for many to understand what it meant to be a pioneer and being part of that history… we were very involved in all activities such as the running of the school canteen to the design of the uniform, school crest and motto. This was done way before it became a norm for students to be involved in shaping the college. This was very special because it made us responsible and gave us ownership.”

- Anna Gan, Arts 12

Reflections in Truth and Love 35

5 9

36 Reflections in Truth and Love

2

CHAPTER

08

Undaunted

Joan Kho Arts 5

There have been many labels to describe my generation, the ‘baby boomers’ born after World War I and II, and even the term ‘the rat race’ to give a picture of how we had to prove our mettle in a world where only the fittest were destined to survive! The importance of education for my future was deeply ingrained in my mind and I was determined to ensure that I did not fall behind in my grades.

Throughout all my school years, I probably worked harder than most people, so that I could secure a promising future. My perception of sterling academic results as the be all and end all goal, eased more during my secondary school and college years. I took notice of students who had large personalities and leadership skills that I admired. I eventually got out of my private persona and participated in other areas besides studies – I was a drummer in the school band in CJC and I sought to improve my sports skills. Though I did not really excel in either of these skills, the positive experiences helped to build up my confidence.

Being in the pioneer batch of students in a new college offered some advantages. First of all, the teachers were open to our suggestions about the kind of extracurricular activities (ECA) to have at CJC. I wanted to form a girls’ football team and plucked up courage to ask our discipline master, Mr Louis Lim, to be the coach of this team. I told him that many girls were keen on playing football and asked if we could have had an all-girls football team. He was game.

Reflections in Truth and Love 37

When the team was formed, I found that playing football was tougher than I had imagined it to be. Nevertheless, I persevered, knowing that I would not have another opportunity to play this sport after my CJC years. We girls managed to learn how to dribble the football and some of us even managed to execute a header to hit the ball into the goal post!

The 1976 Girls Soccer team, the first girls college team with their coach, Mr Louis Lim

Many years later, people commented about my lack of fear in moving into totally new areas.

Perhaps this came about from my positive experiences at CJC where new areas (such as forming a girls’ football team) were viewed as being possible rather than being ‘poohpoohed’ as ridiculous or daunting.

In my career in the shopping mall management and marketing, I learned to adapt to the vagaries of the property market. However, the one major change in my life was when my daughter, Vanessa, was diagnosed as having a severe disability on the autism spectrum at 3½ years old. I sought the help of therapists and teachers and learnt how to manage Vanessa’s behavioural issues and help her develop cognitive skills such as reading and writing.

Joan with her daughter Vanessa

At the time when I came to find out about Vanessa’s autism condition, I had been working for about nine years. I decided to stop work to devote myself to helping my daughter develop her skills, no matter how arduous the work was going to be. As it turned out, I realised that one can put in as much effort and plan in detail, but with a special child, hard work does not guarantee the outcome. The results were not proportionate to the amount of work I had put in.

I did, however, learn about perseverance and through the years of persistence and hard work to help Vanessa, I encountered many moments of successes. Vanessa managed to acquire basic self-help skills. She is now able to read at the level of a five-year old child.

Throughout those difficult years, I never once felt despair. Strangely, I have always accepted my lot and have remained a positive person, grateful for Vanessa’s little successes in speech and understanding her better with everything she does, in her many unexpected ways.

38 Reflections in Truth and Love

Vanessa would have her bursts of understanding in the most unexpected manner. I believe that though she may not be looking at someone directly when that person is talking, she may be absorbing things expressed by the people around her and has developed a level of understanding in her own way. For instance, during my cousin’s daughter’s wedding, after the speech was given by the bride to thank her parents and sibling for all the love that they had showered on her throughout her life, Vanessa put both hands on her heart and said, “Spoken from the heart.” That just took me aback! A beautiful surprise.

My years at CJC have helped me to become a confident and yet compassionate person in a competitive world. I recognise the tremendous selfworth (value) of the people whom I interact with.

I am thankful that my initial feelings of trepidation in coping with the demands of studies, made way for moments of friendship, fun, and jubilation at CJC. The wisdom I discovered is that even if we are not gifted with huge talents, we can develop our skills to achieve levels of excellence, if we put our heart and hard work into developing these skills.

There were situations where the work performance of my staff did not meet up with expectations due to their personal issues. There were times when a new staff was not very impressive and I was asked not to confirm that staff after the initial probation period. In those situations, I tried my best to address the business needs of my company and at the same time offer the staff a second chance. Business goals may be all encompassing, but I tried my level best to exercise compassion in difficult situations.

Due to my enthusiasm for learning, I became a part time lecturer at the National University of Singapore while holding a full time job in Marketing. Two years ago, when my full time retail management job workload lessened as a result of a tough market, I decided to take the opportunity to be trained as a speech and drama teacher. As expected, I enjoyed every aspect of the five- month training and soon enough, obtained my foundation teaching certificate in speech and drama.

I decided to go full time into speech and drama while keeping my part time work as a lecturer in the university. So you can say that it sounds rather odd that I am a university lecturer as well as a speech and drama teacher for preschoolers! What a privilege it is to be able to interact with precocious preschoolers and to be given the challenge of motivating and educating undergraduates.

With the preschoolers, I get to delve into stories and the complexities of the English language in speech and drama. I experienced many special moments, chatting with preschoolers and simply enjoying their love for play.

In my work as a lecturer, I get to present actual case studies to set my students thinking

Reflections in Truth and Love 39

critically about issues in the property market. At the same time, I get the opportunity to learn alongside with the undergrads when they present solutions and perspectives through the in-depth discussions and their assignments.

Looking back, I am thankful for the nurturing years at CJC. The two years have reinforced and developed my love for learning and I felt assured of my worth as a person and the difference that I can make.

The positive experiences in learning made me want to share my passion for history with other people. I became active as a docent in The Peranakan Museum and as a volunteer guide with the Preservation of Sites and Monuments. I enthusiastically expound the history of our local culture to anyone who cared to listen, through walking tours in churches, mosques and old buildings.

With the grounding in percussion during my school band days at CJC, I am able to play the bongo drums to accompany a group of ukulele players whenever we entertain residents in hospices from time to time!

I am thankful that my initial feelings of trepidation in coping with the demands of studies, made way for moments of friendship, fun, and jubilation at CJC. The wisdom I discovered is that even if we are not gifted with huge talents, we can develop our skills to achieve levels of excellence, if we put our hearts and hard work into developing these skills. The process for me was long and humbling as I took on many knocks and bruises. Yet the learning process remains for me, a truly enjoyable and fulfilling experience.

40 Reflections in Truth and Love

“During the 12 years in YCW, I spent much of my time after work making friends with, having discussions with and providing services to Singaporeans and migrant workers at the YCW Workers Centre in Jurong Industrial Estate. I taught English to the workers and organised recreational and educational activities. The programmes addressed the needs of the workers…In building a community to help one another, I understood and experienced solidarity. As a Catholic, I try to live out my faith through actions with and for those in need.

In accompanying the workers in their struggle for dignity as persons and a better life, I was Jesus’ witness to the poor and the marginalised.”

- Goh Han Serm, Hans, Arts 5

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42 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

09

The Perfect Recipe for Life – Make Lemonade Irma Kloer-Gill

Arts 4

Brother Patrick Loh told me one day in the canteen of CJC, “When life gives you lemons, you must try to make lemonade.” I remember thinking, “Why is this crazy old man asking me to make drinks? So weird.” Of course at that time, I was an untried and over-privileged young person without a care in the world.

I continued blissfully throughout my years at CJC enjoying friends, games and teenage experiences of parties, first crushes, angst over my looks, etc., fully expecting my life to proceed smoothly to University and beyond.

Alas, it was not to be. My mother became gravely ill. Unexpectedly and against medical prognosis, she fell into a coma and passed away after ten days. She was 51 years old. We were devastated.

The family had no time to prepare ourselves unlike in cases where relatives had long illnesses.

This was the first time in my life that I was made Bro. Patrick Loh and President Sheares at the aware of what these words meant: trouble, worry, First Pre-U Seminar organised by CJC in 1977 hardship, grief, etc. Lemons of all kinds indeed.

My father was in shock: the family money, houses, boats, plantations, cars, etc., were

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all under my mother’s name. He had done that because he was 17 years older than my mother and fully expected to be called to the Lord first. Without a Will, everything was a mess. My father could not face making decisions; and we were in financial trauma. I was 20 years old, and asked not to continue studying but to get a job instead, where my monthly salary was half what I used to get as pocket money. Besides coping with my own grief, I found I also became the ‘One’ my family turned to for all sorts of things in lieu of mum. So I made food and drinks (including lemonade), for the family each day and slowly our lives moved on.

“Going home after knee replacement surgery, with my bright clothes, make-up and a big smile - that’s making lemonade inspite of pain.”

My job began slowly, much due to my resentment at having to work in the first place instead of being at University. But I picked myself up, dusted myself off and made the best of things. I worked hard but was broke. There were days when it was a choice of eating or having bus fare home. How I longed for the days of maids, drivers, gardeners and cooks who made my life such a joy. But at least I only had to cook dinner every day while my sister did the house cleaning. I attended evening classes for secretarial short hand.

(This is a form of squiggly writing based on sounds rather than the alphabet. It was used by secretaries to take verbatim notes of what their managers dictated for letters to be typed out. This has largely been replaced by the computer; although as a secure and confidential form of note taking, it is still favoured in some circles.) I worked hard, and never said no to the boss if I was asked to do a task. Sometimes I said I could do something, like send a telex, when in fact I had to figure out later how to actually do it. This, in the days before Google, was quite challenging.

I managed well and promotion followed hard work.

I kept studying for many different and diverse courses. I have worked in Hong Kong, Singapore, Milan and London. I managed to complete my law degree with Honours. I have worked for a variety of nationalities including Japanese, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Danish, Hong Kong Chinese, Singaporean, Australian and Indonesian.

I was back in Singapore visiting family when I joined a charity fun-run and I noticed an Englishman wearing a shirt that said, “I started so I’ll finish.” That intrigued me, so I went up to talk to him and he turned out to be a really nice person. He explained that finishing and participating are important. In fact, he said, “There can only be one winner but everyone can strive to finish and everyone can run their own personal best.” I immediately thought, “WOW! What a great guy, another lemonade maker like me!”

44 Reflections in Truth and Love

So I happily married him and followed him back to the UK to carry on with our life. There were so many adventures to experience when travelling to many countries and learning to cope with changes in lifestyles and expectations. Do you remember I mentioned having never cleaned a house? Well, at the ripe old age of 28 years, I caught myself inspecting a vacuum cleaner thinking, “I know in theory how this is supposed to work … hmmm.”

Obviously there were hard lessons and bad experiences as well as good ones. Life was different 30 odd years ago. Many countries had never heard of Singapore. Where is that?

China? Russia? Mexico? Seriously I have been invited to dinner parties in Europe where the host thought to do me a favour by inviting someone from “your background” such as a lady from Taiwan speaking hardly any When life gives you lemons, you English. I have had people asking me outright, “WHAT EXACTLY ARE YOU?” must try to make lemonade … I My reply has usually been “female”. have made a lot of lemonade and I

I have had people screaming at me, am getting quite good at it!

“Wog go home!”, from passing cars as I walked along the road. I have had my bag slashed with a knife, my house burgled and my car hit by a “hit & run” driver. I have been referred to as “the coloured person”. I have had to fight harder than my colleagues for recognition or promotion because I was “the foreign one”. But I survived. I kept my head down and made lemonade as much and as often as I needed to. I made the best of whatever I could. I kept smiling as much as I could and carried on. Eventually people always recognise professionalism and respect follows shortly. I kept true to myself.

All the while I was coping with whatever Life was throwing at me and I still managed to raise a family. My two sons are the world to me. I do not regret giving up my career, albeit briefly, to raise two self-assured young men. We so enjoyed the children’s parties (I usually went over the top) and I brought all my organisational skills to bear. I hosted pirate parties, dinosaurs, Star Wars, and magical wonders of all kinds. I made costumes and painted huge giraffes for the safari party, making all sorts of transformations to the house. We had themed Christmas decorations. I helped out at school and I made costumes for the school concerts, including the entire cast of their ‘Cats’ production.

Looking back over the years I have come to realise that I have led a full and eventful life.

Lived all over the world, worked with some wonderful people and done many amazing things. I had my own business, worked at top level in many industries, learnt to sew my own clothes and kept the extended family together with annual Christmas feasts and my secret ‘kueh lapis’ recipe.

My eldest son made me a cocktail the night I was writing this – a gin & tonic with Mojito mix and a splash of lemonade. As I drank this, I thought about Brother Patrick and his advice. Yes, sir. I have made a lot of lemonade and I am getting quite good at it! Cheers to you Brother Patrick and thank you. I am a strong CJCian.

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46 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

10

Volunteering has Given Me Heaps; and It Began in CJC Andrew Kwa Science 17

One of the many things that school taught me was to appreciate how lucky we are.

I came to Singapore in 1967 from Indonesia, which was at that time, in a state of turmoil.

As a Chinese living there, we were always marginalised, often provoked and made to feel less than others. As we all know, our great forefathers came out from China to establish their roots in South East Asia and they worked very hard to establish a good and stable foundation for future generations.

In the mid-1960s, Suharto ousted President Sukarno and it was a tumultuous period in Indonesia. Suharto changed and implemented many new laws which made my own father feel uncomfortable. So he decided to move and uproot the family to Singapore.

During my secondary school days, we had a flag day programme and I spent many Saturdays walking along Orchard road to get some support for the many welfare organisations that had asked the school to help them. Somehow I got hooked on the spirit of volunteerism.

In Catholic Junior College (CJC), we all helped the Interact Club to do many good works during our brief two-year stay there and somehow the spirit stayed with me. One of the many things that we, the pioneers, did was to help the school run certain programs. I remember that I was somehow tasked to help with the training of our ladies’ hockey team. What we did was just to organise and help them with all aspects of their training.

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Running was one of my other passion, and, in CJC, we wanted to take part in the All Schools’ Track and Field’s event and submitted our names for the 4 x 100 m invitation relay. We formed a group of four - Gerard Chai, Tan Teow Aik, me and the last runner was anyone who was available and who could run. It did not matter if we won but what was more important was participating. The college was new and we came from many schools. At that time, many of us took the initiative to help and build up a good and strong sporting culture for CJC.

Andrew golfing in Singapore

After my National Service (NS), an opportunity was given to some of us to go higher up the ladder as Reservists. I took it up, going for a number of long courses. Somehow I kind of liked it, finishing my first 13- year cycle in my unit. I was then given an opportunity to continue to lead another unit for a new cycle. Many of us would want to finish their reserve liability as soon as possible, but I saw it as a form of volunteerism and totally enjoyed every moment of it. Surprisingly, I also met many friends who decided to give more than they should and who also volunteered willingly.

I also joined the National Service Resort & Country Club (NSRCC), in the early days, as I was impressed with the government’s promise that they would create a club for those who had served NS. Thus, began my long term affair with volunteerism.

This time in a golf club. I was new to golf and very intrigued to find that there were many volunteers in the club. I enquired on how to go about being a volunteer and decided to apply when there was an opening. This was a great eye opener for me. In NSRCC, volunteers were chosen and not voted into office. So there was no baggage and obligation to serve the people that voted them into office. Our mandate was given by the Club and the President of the club. It was a great learning experience for me, and somehow I was very lucky and managed to climb up the ladder in the club. I guess the pinnacle is when Andrew with his pet dog you are appointed to become Captain of the Club. I was Club Captain for eight years and when I had to step down, I was given another role

48 Reflections in Truth and Love

in the Club to lead in the engagement committee. In 2018, the committee was closed down as we had served our purpose well and there were enough members and events. I am still serving in another committee in NSRCC. If I am not mistaken I am currently in my 18th or 19th year as a volunteer in NSRCC. Another additional volunteer role that I took on was to be the Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Golf Association For those of you who are keen to (SGA). I was in this role for four years, serve and become a volunteer, just helping to shape the role and future of golf in Singapore, and helping both the two pieces of advice: firstly, serve members and the juniors who would fly with all your heart and passion and the Singapore flag. Singapore won the don’t look for any kind of returns SEA Games Gold.

I have also served in the Basketball Association of Singapore for two years as an elected committee member and one of its Vice Presidents.

or rewards; secondly, step down when it is time to do so, don’t cling to power.

For those of you who are keen to serve and become a volunteer, just two pieces of advice: firstly, serve with all your heart and passion and don’t look for any kind of returns or rewards; secondly, step down when it is time to do so, don’t cling to power.

I have made many new friends as a volunteer and this has given me the greatest joy. In our lives, we depend a lot on friends to steer and guide us on the correct path of a journey of wanting to be part of society and be a contributor if we can.

Friends keep us going on and on in our lives.

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50 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

11

ACTS of Love and Charity for God

John Lee (Science 13) Priscilla Lim (Science 14)

When I entered Catholic Junior College (CJC) I was just your typical pimply, insecure teenager trying to search for meaning in life. Coming from an all-boys school, we had to adjust to studying in a co-ed environment. I immersed myself in every conceivable extracurricular activity (ECA) including organising a St Vincent De Paul (SVDP) conference.

Our spiritual adviser was Canossian Sister Janet Wang who guided me through my turbulent years.

I was in charge of running the canteen, so I got to skip classes before and after recess.

The money which we raised went to bursaries for the poorer students. I did not do much studying in college but the lessons I learnt were much more important than Physics and Chemistry.

When I entered university, I immersed myself in student politics and sports. At that time the medical campus was separated from the main campus. So we went to the Bukit Timah campus before finally going to Kent Ridge. I was elected to head the Combined Student Union of University of Singapore and Nanyang University (Nantah). I became involved in many initiatives like starting the NUS SANA volunteers and travel cooperative. But I was still dissatisfied and searched for something more meaningful. I kept remembering the joy that I felt when we reached out to the Vietnamese boat people – the refugees - as part of the SVDP activity. Together with Priscilla (a fellow CJCian and later my wife), we organized outings for the Vietnamese orphans who were sheltered at the Hawkins Road

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camp, through the work of Redemptorist Fr O’Neil.

Together, with my good friend Harish, we drove from East Coast to Hawkins Road and brought the children to Sentosa to spend the day. Then we drove them back and all the way from the camp to East Coast. He later told me that he wished he could have adopted a couple of them. We had given them presents and, in return, they gave us unconditional love.

Dr. John Lee’s audience with Pope Francis

volunteering as SVDP doctors and promoting social issues.

After I graduated, I was elected Honorary Secretary of the Singapore Medical Association and later Chairperson of the Catholic Medical Guild. I married Priscilla and we were busy developing our careers and raising our eight children. We were active in various ministries in Church, supporting the fledging hospice movement,

Occasionally we got involved in humanitarian relief efforts but something was nagging me. I could feel a void. In 1996, I was elected as President of the Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations. In 1994, we had the wonderful privilege of meeting Mother Teresa and in 2000 Pope John Paul II. In 2014, I became the second non-European to be elected as President of World Federation of the Catholic Medical Associations (FIAMC), comprising some 120,000 physicians from various countries. It was humbling and a great honor.

In 1998, I started focusing on organising missions and humanitarian relief efforts.

Myanmar was the first country that we made regular mission trips until the military government voiced their disapproval to Archbishop Mathias Shwe about foreign groups visiting Taunggyi. Following that experience, I began to organise medical missions to Timor Leste, Ghana and Puerta Rico. We provided medicine, set up medical facilities such as mobile clinics and even a general hospital in Nias in memory of Pope John Paul II. We also developed systems to provide clean water, brought relief supplies to disaster areas, and also built up a community.

In all these areas we worked with the local Church authorities, religious groups like the Missionaries of Charity, IJ Sisters, La Salle Brothers and Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) but our consistent partner from then, is the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco.

When I was a teenager, I was captivated by the thoughts of St John Bosco on spirituality.

52 Reflections in Truth and Love

I was particularly intrigued by his teaching that our life could be a continuous prayer.

Even the simple action of thanking God before drinking a glass of water was a prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Even as most of us were still pondering whether our lifestyle was more like Martha or Mary, the Salesian approach actually gave the perfect answer to this eternal conundrum of achieving the happy balance between prayer and “Path towards attaining the ideal action, describing it as “contemplatives of human fraternity and a means in action”.

for its greater realization” (Pope Understanding ‘contemplatives in Francis, UN General Assembly, 25 action’ led to the formation of ACTS (A Call to Share). It was to get involved in September 2015) – an inspiration the work of the Salesian Sisters - first to me. in Cambodia, then later in Myanmar, Philippines and Vietnam. ACT is Divine Providence. In December 2005, two volunteers from Christ at Work, Millicent and Lynette, who just returned from Phnom Penh, approached us for help to procure and send a filtration system to the Don Bosco Chreh school. The container was stuck at the port for a few months and a group of medical students went up to help install the filters in June 2006.

The students from NUS medical school were so inspired by the nuns that they asked us to organize a medical mission.

In December 2006, Priscilla and I led a small group comprising a teacher, a baker, seven medical students and a few of our children, on an advent mission to Phnom Penh.

On its annual Advent mission, the participants interacted with the children of Cambodia, ringing in the joy of Christmas. We also had funds for scholarships which helped many John Lee and Priscilla Lim at a mission trip deserving young students complete their studies. Some returned to work for the Catholic Church to help their peers. Working with youths also fostered a change in our own Singapore youths who initially thought that they would be the ones to change the world. However, they soon realized that they were being changed by the people whom they were interacting with.

Sr Ophrini told us that a ten-year-old student asked her, “Why do these strangers (ACTS) come from so far away to love us?” The answer goes to the motivation of the ACTS mission - to be a mirror of God’s love. We are grateful to the nuns for allowing ACTS to share in Reflections in Truth and Love 53

their mission, to manifest God’s love especially to those who are less fortunate.

ACTS has organised humanitarian aid, contributed to famine disaster relief and spread the message of going green amongst the schools in Cambodia and Myanmar. Within the space of twelve years, ACTS has grown to become one of the biggest humanitarian groups in Singapore. What distinguishes ACTS from other mission groups is the sharing of our Christ-given talents even amongst the non-Catholics who form a significant minority of its participants. We highlight the Catholicity of our mission by inviting people of other faiths to join us for our daily Mass and Sacrament of Reconciliation. The daily reflections after their work are based on the social teachings of the Church.

In the last 12 years, ACTS has collaborated with the Salesians on several projects mainly on health and education. ACTS has been involved in several aspects of the mission of the Salesians including providing health care and vaccination to the students, funding the daily meals, providing scholarships, sending of containers of computers and introducing the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS).

Other activities include building grottos to Jesus’ mother, Mary, Advent missions and annual excursions to Siem Reap for the graduating class of students from Phum Chreh.

Activities were also undertaken to improve the curriculum of the schools, train teachers, provide clean water, renovate the Phum Chreh school, rebuild the vocational school cum hostel at Tuol Kork and conceptualise and build the high school at Teuk Thla. (www.actssingapore.com) Each of these projects is filled with stories of how God triumphs over human tragedy if only we allow ourselves to be instruments in His hand. The idea of the high school came about because my children saw old students of Phum Chreh school, lining the fence looking wistfully at the activities going on during mission work.

We felt that there was a need for a high school to bridge the gap between the elementary schools, the vocational schools and university. Through the effort and sacrifices of many, including the students, the dream became a reality. The ‘most beautiful school in Phnom Penh’ was inaugurated during the ACTS Advent mission in 2015.

Twelve years on, we realised that Sr Jessica and the all the sisters no longer consider us as collaborators. Instead they have embraced ACTS as part of the Salesian family sharing in the community daily activities, its joys and its sorrows. However, the constant shared vision of an education for every child who aspires to study, remains.

ACTS is thankful to the Salesian sisters for inviting us to share in their mission, to be part of a mosaic of love and in the process experience the joy of service.

There is plenty of evidence to show that there is a sea change especially among the young people. The children from the upper class of society are indignant at the poverty that the poor are subjected to. The poor children are mindful that there are others who might be equally as poor as them. Recently, the children of Don Bosco went to the Mother Provincial of Cambodia and Myanmar and asked for permission to organise a dance to

54 Reflections in Truth and Love

raise funds for the children of Sudan.

The medical students of the University of Putrisutra have joined us on our annual mission to help as translators. These are but a few examples. In recognition of the work we do, the Cambodian government has given ACTS three awards including the Royal Order of Monisaraphon, the highest honor that can be awarded to civilians.

For many of us, ACTS has become a way of life resulting in greater awareness of the environment around us. We have come to realise through sharing with participants from Australia, Malaysia and Maldives, how valuable the program can be. Like St Jose Maria Escriva who taught us how one can become sanctified in our daily lives. While this may not be the way for everyone, it could be one of the ways towards sanctification.

I am inspired by the beauty of Mother Teresa’s philosophy in life, so eloquently expressed in her words, “I am but a little pencil in God’s hand writing a love letter to the world.”

The world at the present moment is filled with the horrors of war, massive displacements of peoples, serious threats from climate changes, humanitarian and natural disasters.

Although it is recognised that the evangelisation of the Church results first and foremost in the mission of charity, the love of neighbor is manifested in the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is all about a rootedness in the dignity of a human person and the inalienable rights that flow from this dignity as expressed in the writings of John Vanier.

Having a special compassion and love for the children is our strength. Our effectiveness is based in our commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Human Development, which world leaders have mutually agreed upon as the action plan. The plan aims to end poverty and hunger in all its forms and dimensions, so that all human beings can realize their potential in dignity and equality in a healthy environment.

Recently we were granted a private audience with the Holy Father Pope Francis to get his endorsement for an initiative to promote ‘living of the gospel’ amongst the international community of Catholic healthcare workers, especially the medical students and the young doctors. While waiting in the Hall of Popes, I was reflecting that I have come a long way from the shy, insecure boy who entered CJC. The values I learnt in college have helped me find meaning in life.

In Veritate et Caritate

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K 56 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

12

Soccer Bonds

Leong Kok Fann

Science 17

Throughout my school years, I had the privilege of experiencing the benefits of sporting activities and learning moments that shaped my values and beliefs. While many could understand these as a necessity for a balanced education, mine was mainly a substitute for the lack of paternal presence and love. Growing up in a community known for poverty, dysfunctional families and gangsterism, it was also a free and effective indulgence to stay away from vices that affected teenagers.

As an active parent-volunteer at my son’s primary school, I was most heartened by the boys who were keen to participate in inter-class soccer competitions even though these activities were perceived by many as being less relevant to the pursuit of academic excellence. It was also intriguing to notice that there were disproportionately more mothers than fathers and teachers combined, at these inter-class matches!

While attending one of these matches, I was invited by the Principal of St Michael’s Primary to assist with the school soccer team. That request was an honor and a humbling experience. I have never harboured ambitions to becoming a coach, left alone taking on the duty to oversee a large group of highly energetic and restless 11-year-olds. The other downside was that I had to hang up my golf clubs, forgo my regular rounds of golf on Saturday mornings and trade all of that, for passing and dribbling drills in a pair of wornout soccer boots with a whistle in hand. This was my first combined experience in fatherand-son bonding and coaching as my son would be there watching, learning, and running

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with me along with the other members of the school team.

It was during these regular soccer practice sessions that I realized my love and passion for the game had not subsided despite my family life and corporate work. The enthusiasm, commitment and dedication shown by the players reminded me of my training stints with the national team, during which these traits were instilled into us on a daily basis.

▶ Kok Fann representing Team Singapore at the Kallang Stadium in 1979 in front of 60k spectators

When the boys won the National Schools Championship title in 1999, it invoked the same feeling and pride I had when I was a member of the Malaysia Cup winning team in 1980 at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. While the joy and tears that overwhelmed the boys at the final whistle were a fitting tribute to their sacrifice, hard-work and dedication, the immense pride that parents showed at their sons’ performances, brought back fond memories of the emotions that characterized the famed Kallang Roar.

This inspiration for a junior soccer academy came from the need to sustain the initiative so that future fathers and their sons can benefit from our experiences.

The fathers were initially hesitant to commit as coaches due to their lack of coaching credentials and availability of time. But the mothers were more enthusiastic and convinced that encouragement, support and bonding mattered more than coaching excellence.

Not by design, many of the fathers started to engage in two-sided games and have since started a fathers’ soccer team. That was indeed a lovely and surprising development that only reinforced the joy and fun in soccer.

▶

With the strong support from the SJI Board of Governors and Brother President, the Academy started very humbly in 2007. The emphasis was to have fun through two-sided games while developing their character and building bonds with their friends and fathers every Saturday morning at Malcolm Road. Since the coaching was undertaken by enthusiastic fathers, the bonding and love for their alma-mater led to the recognition of a need to donate the Kok Fann with his coaching team at the Soccer Academy excess financial resources to the school’s which he masterminded 58 Reflections in Truth and Love

needy pupils’ fund.

Over the years, the fundamental value for the academy has remained anchored on character development and bonding with their fathers. This has been When the boys won the National further enhanced during overseas tours Schools Championship title in 1999, competing in age-group tournaments.

The success of the academy owes much to the strong support and dedication from the parents, who till today have volunteered their expertise and unique talent to the program. The careful selection of coaches, who understand the priority of character development over soccer excellence and the exuberance of the kids, augurs well for the future of the academy.

it invoked the same feeling and pride I had when I was a member of the Malaysia Cup winning team in 1980 at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur. While the joy and tears that overwhelmed the boys at the final whistle were a fitting tribute to their sacrifice, hard-work and dedication, the immense pride that parents showed at their sons’ performances, brought back fond memories of the emotions that characterized the famed Kallang Roar.

One of the more memorable moments for me include a chance encounter with a parent who revealed that her son, Eugene, who was then chosen to be captain of his secondary school team, was doing well. I recall vividly he was quite a robust kid during training sessions and had his fair share of disciplinary issues. But the strong bonding with his dad and mum based on the common interest of soccer, had contributed much to his focus and dedication; and that eventually paid off in terms of his sporting and academic achievements as well as the development of his leadership skills.

On my 55th birthday, 14 years after my foray into a father-coach role, my kids Aaron and Alyssa, together with my wife, presented me with a new set of Taylor-Made golf clubs – for my next phase of leisurely indulgence!

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60 Reflections in Truth and Love

CHAPTER

13

Overcoming Fear to Serve When Asked

Stephen Lim Beng Lin Chinese Science 6

Twenty years ago, when I was at Changi airport to pick up my mother who was returning home from a church retreat, I bumped into Rev Chong who invited me to serve on the Executive Board of the local church. I gave him the usual excuse – ‘no time, no talent’.

Rev Chong had looked at me in a serious manner and said, “Stephen, you are mistaken. I am only the messenger. It is God that is calling you to serve.” My smile disappeared, and my immediate feeling was one of fear. I felt that it was perhaps my most reluctant calling and also one I could not turn down. Since that day, for the next 20 years, I have ‘served’, holding various finance related positions. At present, I am the Treasurer of the Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS).

That’s one of the many lessons I learnt about serving with Truth and Love. Till today, I serve in fear; fearful that I am not serving with Truth and with Love. My boss, God, did not send me memos and there is no annual appraisal. I know, it is not by my might but his grace that I have not screwed up.

Not surprisingly, calls to serve are rarely planned. My first call to serve in the info communications technology (ICT) industry was to lead Singapore’s ICT companies to China. The Singapore government was calling on local ICT companies to take up the challenge to break into the China market. As the founding chairman of the Singapore Enterprise Chapter within the Singapore Federation of Computer Industry (which later became Singapore IT Federation or SITF, and is now known as SGTech), I faced the daunting

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task of convincing the local companies to come together to take up the challenge. The companies did their part with the result - the groundbreaking SITF Centre in Shanghai Raffles City and another satellite centre at the East Software Park in Hangzhou, the home of IT-company, Alibaba.

This Centre achieved many firsts, including creating a ready talent pool to work with Singapore ICT companies venturing into China. It facilitated an internship program called “Qian Li Ma” that allowed some 700 young graduates to experience Singapore’s ICT industry. Till today, the “Qian Li Ma” alumni network remains strong, a reputation that speaks well of well of the Singapore connection!

▶ Celebrating 25 years of Computerisation with PM Lee in 2016

My next call to serve in the ICT industry came unexpectedly too. The designated Chairman of SITF had quit. Nobody wanted what was seen as a thankless job. We all have our own business to run, and some still needed to find time to serve the Perhaps in CJC then, it was more industry. My company was a tiny local important to ‘lead’ by example, SME. I hardly fitted in to be the chair of instead of ‘telling’ what it a federation of giants. The Singapore ICT should be. Reflecting, yes, I did industry was dominated by MNCs and learn about Truth and Love in local ICT enterprises, including mine.

But everyone wished to be heard. So CJC. Sometimes from negative reluctantly, I stepped up to chair the SITF demonstrations, but mostly from – with a purpose to help ICT companies those who served, especially the and to give voice to their interests and clergy. I think this is what made CJC concerns. Again, the calling to serve had different, a sense of Godliness that entrapped me. But I also knew then and motivates one to serve in Truth and now - God provides. Many came forward to support me; I am truly grateful.

Love.

After my Chairmanship in SITF, I served another ten years in the Singapore Chinese Chamber of commerce and Industry (SCCCI), out of which, I chaired the Technology Committee for eight years. While SITF

62 Reflections in Truth and Love

was the federation of vendors, the SCCCI represents the local SMEs struggling to adopt technologies. My role took a 180-degree turn, from representing the Federation of vendors to championing the adoption of technology amongst local enterprises. The committee worked together with government agencies to help the ICT industry connect with SMEs, many of which were SCCCI’s membership. One key accomplishment was the expansion of SCCCI’s annual ICT event, from 2,000 attendees to over 4,000, during my time in the committee.

In Truth and Love. Frankly, I could not even remember that this is CJC’s motto. Perhaps in CJC then, it was more important to ‘lead’ by example, instead of ‘telling’ what it should be. Reflecting, yes, I did learn about Truth and Love in CJC. Sometimes from negative demonstrations, but mostly from those who served, especially the clergy. I think this is what made CJC different, a sense of Godliness that motivates one to serve in Truth and Love.

Serving SITF from 2004 to 2006

I think I have a blessed and rewarding life, serving man and God. While making a buck is important, I found the “feel good” comes from serving in Truth and Love. Now that I am 60, I hope to continue serving as long as I can. So help me God.

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64 Reflections in Truth and Love

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14

Flying High in Honor Richard Lim Science 4

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would become an Air Force fighter pilot. After a year with the Commandos in National Service, I was shortlisted to go through a series of tests to be assessed to become a pilot trainee.

The assessment was stringent to say the least, but I worked hard at it and I successfully met all the requirements, launching me into a fulfilling 30-year career with the Air Force. My flying career brought me to multiple postings overseas and provided me with opportunities to be Command, Staff and Leader. I eventually become the Brigadier General. I carried out that role with much honor and pride. I spent the last few years of my career as a Defense Attaché at the Singapore Embassy in Washington DC. The early years of training were highly demanding and rigorous, and the attrition rate was extremely high. It took close to two years to earn the pair of “wings” and too often, I would see fellow trainees being eliminated from the course along the way. It was quite unnerving, wondering if you could be the next one. While it was all about hard work, discipline, and perseverance, ultimately it was about believing in myself and passionately pursuing what I really wanted. I guess I just hated to fail, and subconsciously pushed myself to adapt and learn fast.

Surviving as a fighter pilot is about having the determination to always out manoeuver, outwit and out bomb fellow pilots, but still being able to end the day with a friendly beer at the bar. As much as we were trying to outshoot each other during training, we depended

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on each other to watch our backs and work as a team when it came to executing a mission.

This reminded me of the days I used to play soccer in CJC. During training, we worked hard at out-dribbling each other, but when it came to playing against another JC, we played as a team, supporting and creating opportunities for each other to win the match.

Flying the F16 fighter jets, with adrenalin pumping, and training in realistic large scale exercises like the Ex Red Flag in the US, boosted my passion for flying and my ego. But every now and then, the risks and dangers that came along with the job became a reality when fellow aviators met with accidents and even lost their lives. I grew up very fast in the Air Force. I realised that I had to take responsibility for all my words and actions, especially when lives were at stake. I remember missing the relatively sheltered and comfortable lifestyle of school days in CJC. I also began to appreciate the genuine care, concern and guidance by our teachers that I had taken for granted.

In my later years as a military commander, the top priority during peacetime was to achieve Operational Excellence and Readiness. But I also found myself in a position to shape Richard in the F16 Fighter Jet and nurture the lives of the men and women under my charge. So when the time came for rewards and promotions, it called for diligence and careful considerations. But where needed, it also called for courage to make difficult decisions to penalize or discipline accordingly.

There was always the constant pull between compassion, understanding and respect for individual needs, while balancing against the rigorous needs of the organization.

Thankfully, the solid nurturing of twelve years in a Catholic school environment had given me the strong foundation and core values to ‘Think with my Head and Act with my Heart’ when dealing with people.

Montfort School was where I was first introduced to the Catholic faith and the nurturing continued in CJC where I was eventually baptised as a Catholic. This upbringing definitely provided me with the spiritual and moral strength to make difficult decisions. Ultimately, it was always about doing the right thing.

The role of the Defense AttachĂŠ called for a slightly different set of skills. It involved establishing strong interpersonal relationships with counterparts. Clearly, cultural differences were initial challenges to overcome, and being tolerant and open-minded were key to achieving friendships based on trust and understanding. At that level of military

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interaction between Armed Forces, there were always sensitive issues to handle and many of these had wide ranging national implications if not managed well and promptly.

It required being alert to opportunities to foster close ties and cooperation, but also to be sensitive to issues that could develop rapidly overnight. It was certainly an ‌ the solid nurturing of 12 years in honor to serve at that level, but it took a Catholic school environment had me out of my comfort zone, and I had given me the strong foundation to adapt. As a pioneer CJC student in the class of 1976, we were all outside and core values to ‘Think with my our comfort zone. We all came from Head and Act with my Heart’ when different backgrounds and different dealing with people. secondary schools. But we quickly learnt to make friends, building on common interests, socialising and bonding. Many of us have maintained a strong camaraderie to this day. I am especially grateful for such important life skills I acquired while in college.

As I now count my blessings, after a long and satisfying career, I have my wife, also from CJC, to thank for the many prayers and candles lit at the altar while I was on flight and detachments overseas. To my children, who left their friends in Singapore and overseas every time we were relocated. I know it was disruptive and I thank God that they turned out to be the stable, intelligent and upright young adults they are today.

I would like to think that my nature would have still held strong; but I believe that growing up in a strong Catholic environment, was the nurture element that made me who I am today.

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CHAPTER

15

Responding to a Different Drum Richard Loh Arts 5

I received my early years of educational formation at De La Salle Primary School and St Joseph’s Institution and then went on to Catholic Junior College. I will never forget the dedication of the teachers and religious brothers and sisters. They taught with much passion. It was through the blessing of this basic Christian grounding that enabled me to embrace the faith in a deeper way, later in life.

I obtained my engineering degree and MBA in the UK and worked mainly in business development for five different establishments. After being in the marketplace for 17 years, I decided to respond to a different drum beat. Through the calling of God, I took a bold step to give up my career to enrol in a seminary for full time Christian service in 2001.

Subsequently, I obtained the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry.

My last job was as a Director of Raffles Medical Group. I remember that when I reconnected with an ex-colleague, a medical Director, he commented that while he was still very much caring for the physical health of patients, I had moved onto caring for the much needed spiritual health of others. Indeed, in my view, spiritual health is often neglected because we are always concerned about the ‘here and now’. But certainly we are going to spend a much greater time on the side of eternity than the short season we are preoccupied with here. This may sound morbid to some. But I guess that’s the final outcome – each one of us dies. And so here I am, a pastor in a Baptist Church and have been doing it for over 17 years now.

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Pastoral ministry (or priesthood for some) is a road less travelled. It can even be awkward.

When I meet CJC alumni, it is sometimes hard to explain why I took this path or what exactly I do as a pastor. Someone quipped that being a pastor is six days invisible and one day - Sunday - busy at work. It is much harder to measure or talk about success compared to key performance indicators in the marketplace using criteria such as revenue, profits, market share, zero defects, etc. cetera.

Here, I talk about the soul and where it might go if not well tendered. There was once a young man who passed a cemetery and noticed a statement on the tombstone that read: “Pause, dear stranger, when you pass me, pause.

Where you are, I once was.

Where I am, you will be.

So prepare for death and follow me.”

This sounds really scary. However, this witty young man who saw this on the tombstone returned with a chisel and inscribed this -“To follow you, I am not content.

Until I know which way you went!” – on the tombstone.

Pastor Richard Loh caring for the spiritual health of others

So to all my beloved members from the same … the need to tender to one’s alma mater, thank you for the memories and soul for it is of greater worth the footprints you have left in my life. The least I can do is to reciprocate, offering you than any other thing that one this thought - the need to tender to one’s can achieve in life. soul for it is of greater worth than any other thing that one can achieve in life. So as you grow older, please do begin to also respond to a different drum.

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“Like almost everyone else from the early cohorts at CJC, I benefitted greatly from 12 years of Catholic school education.

Spending my childhood and youth at St Joseph’s Convent (SJC) and then CJC, allowed me to absorb Catholic ethos and values without my even realising the benefits and advantages we had over our secular school counterparts. Looking back, I am so grateful for the dedication of the educators especially those from the various religious orders; the values that they had imparted during those formative years in my life have been quite priceless.”

- Pauline Goh, Science 15

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CHAPTER

16

If Only…But I Still Found My Way

Rebecca Low Arts 9

Looking back, if you could reset the clock to 1975, what would you have liked to have known when you first stepped into CJC? If you could have been granted three wishes, what would be the three super powers you would have liked to have when you were 17 years old?

Learn how to Learn To LEARN how to LEARN fast and easy. If only I had known that much younger, it would have spared me unnecessary anxiety, pain and muddle, especially in preparing for my ‘A’ levels. Plus, I probably could have done better in my examinations and made it to university, like most of my friends. I felt left behind and disappointed when I did not get a place. I can still remember receiving the rejection letter, feeling lost and afraid for my future.

Luckily my good grades in GP and Literature, landed me a job in broadcast journalism. It was rare to get in without a degree and was quite a struggle for me, from day one. Working in the newsroom on Caldecott Hill turned out to be my University of Life and School of Hard Knocks. I had spent 25 years there. Nothing like the stress of daily deadlines to freak out a chronic procrastinator like me. It was my baptism of fire, to focus and follow through every single time - not to sit, not to ruminate and so not delay my general tendency.

Then the Iran- Iraq war broke out in 1980. The internet was not invented yet. We had to

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plough through lengthy ticker tapes from the important news agencies to make sense of all the updates to edit a news copy that was up to date, accurate and could be read on air.

It was a living nightmare, to sort out so much data and organize my many thoughts within a super tight deadline.

Somehow, it happened. I survived the constant panic attacks and chaos of my newsroom days. It is true: what does not kill you makes you stronger.

There was a silver lining in those dark and difficult times. Sifting through tons of information taught me to synthesize and distill many perspectives my daily regime as a news editor. But I would have made much faster progress had I learnt how to manage that awful voice in my head and not beat myself up constantly. I wished I had learnt much sooner the power and concept of ‘Positive SelfTalk’ – to make me realize how thoughts become habits and become behaviors that can eventually lead to self-fulfilling prophecies. I only discovered that important concept much later in my forties when I helped to facilitate the station’s change management program called ‘Investment in Excellence’. If I am not mistaken, it had cost the Rebecca enjoying life company $2 million. Sadly, it did not bring about the desired positive outcomes. Somehow the staff then could not access the motivation needed to start and get going. But the simple concept of Self-Talk stuck with me. It was my master key to unlocking the ideas on human potential and on peak performances.

When I changed the way I looked at my failures, good things started happening in my life.

‘So what’s your next act?’ asked Tom Peters when he ran MediaCorp Radio’s seminar on ‘Crazy Times Call for Crazy Organizations’ at Suntec in the 1990s. Unlike today, people are used to staying in one job or in one company forever. My father was a prime example, almost four decades in the same place. Changes are good. Just making the move from the Newsroom to the station’s Training Academy was a truly big step for me. For the sake of credibility, I needed to get that piece of paper. So the moment came when I signed up for a long distance Masters Programme. Visualizing the graduation somehow made the sacrifices and suffering much easier to bear during the journey. It gave me the stamina I needed to follow through and complete the assignments on time.

Tame the Mind through Meditation The mind, however has a mind of its own and is difficult to tame. So the second ‘SuperPower’ I wish I had as a coping tool in JC would have been, MEDITATION. Knowing how to pay attention and not let the monkey mind jump all over the place during tutorials 74 Reflections in Truth and Love

and lectures would have made me a better student. The science supporting the health benefits of meditation is growing and so are the number of practitioners worldwide, even in high tech companies like Google. This ancient practice is certainly one of the best ways to navigate the non-stop stresses of modern life and find our way back to our sanity and humanity. I found that to be true for me.

What I found comforting about being in a Catholic school, are the daily prayers One of the best lessons I learnt and sense of spirit that permeated the recently on You-Tube is to be just premises. It was good to be reminded, 1% better every day. When you daily, of something bigger and greater, try to live and track your best than myself. But I needed a bit more to help me get in touch with God from version of yourself daily, you within. “Be Still and know that I am begin to generate more positive God” is a favorite psalm of mine. And vibes within and come closer to I am grateful to have found Christian whatever is your IKIGAI or Bliss.

Meditation as a way to cultivate my inner sanctuary for peace and calm. In his last days, former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew turned to meditation as a way to quiet his mind especially when his wife was sick and dying. I am very grateful to have received that precious gift through the work of the World Community of Christian Meditation led by a Benedictine monk, Father Laurence Freeman. It was, you could say, heaven-sent and helped me cope through tough times, like the break-up of my first marriage, the death of my parents and adjusting to a new life abroad.

If I could wave a magic wand on CJC today, I would introduce Meditation as a standard practice before lectures and tutorials. Just three minutes of silence to centre the hearts and mind to the magic of the present moment, to be fully present and alive.

Ikigai a.k.a Follow Your Bliss So what is the third super-power I wish I could have had back then? The Japanese word, IKIGAI, comes close to embodying the essence of it. It is about living out your life on purpose or to put it another way, to ‘Follow Your Bliss’. At 17, it is hard to know what that was. Sadly, not many grown-ups find it either. Often many are trapped by conventions and expectations from within our tribe. In an Asian society like Singapore, independent thinking is not encouraged or celebrated. Taking the conventional route seems normal and natural.

Our teachers did their best for us. They taught what they had to teach. But I could not relate to the subjects I had to learn. I found Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, written in old English, pretty pointless. Economics was okay but for me it was enough to know about supply and demand determining price and the law of diminishing returns. History, I could not recall a single thing at all then and can’t, even now. Even graduates at Harvard often

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forgot most of what they learnt once the exams are over. Most students study just to pass exams anyway, in pursuit of that piece of paper. I did the same in my Masters Programme.

History has a way of repeating itself ... sigh.

But when learning sparks JOY, then it is a whole different story. You just want to keep on learning more and more. That was how I wish college could have been for me and everyone else. Luckily for me again, I found IKIGAi in the study of voice, speech and presentation skills.

One good phrase I often said to myself and still say to this day, is that I get paid to learn so that I can teach others. Even though it was hard work, I did enjoy my newsroom days because I appreciated the opportunity to sharpen my writing and storytelling skills. And gratitude pays dividends. I was asked to help coach the new reporters and newscasters with their ‘voice-overs’ and ‘presentations’ - crucial skills Rebecca celebrating her birthday for telecasting and broadcasting work. I even got to train the late President, SR Nathan. And for me, this is a passion, a gift that keeps on giving back. My explorations have taken me from Hollywood to Harvard and even Oxford, in my quest to learn from the very best. Now with You-Tube and Ted Talks, I have instant access to the best speakers and thinkers all the time. They are masters of their subject and living proof of IKIGAI on the public stage.

1% Better Everyday What if you have not found your mojo yet? One of the best lessons I learnt recently on You-Tube is to be just 1% better every day. When you try to live and track your best version of yourself daily, you begin to generate more positive vibes within and come closer to whatever is your IKIGAI or Bliss. I have learnt how to make change easy through the power of positive self-talk, in baby steps. I keep telling myself simple one liners, to move myself towards my intended goal. Our mind is always listening to what we often say to yourself. Everyday 50 000 thoughts pop up, non-stop. Mostly the self-talk is a repeat telecast of bad or sad, not the glad and happy moments. That is how our primal brain is wired. Learning how to manage the constant chatter in our head takes the deliberate practice.

For me, I have also learnt how to create simple structures and cues, before I start any new habit. Better still, when I link it to something I am already doing, regularly. This helps to create the momentum needed to sustain the process for change, if needed. I read and follow the work of James Clear, an author, entrepreneur, and photographer as he shares some great steps on how to form successful habits. I know now that all it takes are tiny

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changes – one at a time - towards my intended goal. These are little ways - to meditate for just one minute when I am busy and overwhelmed. I wonder what my student days would have been had I these little insights to guide me through my exams, work and other challenges along the way.

Having a simple 1% mindset is perhaps one of the easiest ways to achieve the three super powers for my rich and fulfilling life. In my case, it has taken me from Singapore to Sweden where I live with my second husband. And now we have started another life in Spain, learning its language and culture. And it is back again to the process of learning how to learn again. Spanish verbs are an absolute nightmare. Yikes! But I am starting to see some light in the endless grammar exercises and homework and to find some joy in the process ‌ Adios Amigos & Amen.

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CHAPTER

17

CJC – My Curtain Raiser

Braema Mathi Science 11

Catholic Junior College was not ready. I was not ready. CJC was being constructed. So was I. CJC had a definite plan, a design, a solid foundation of concrete materials and values brought in by many college students, staff, Brothers and Sisters. I had no design, no plan, just a desire to do well in my A-levels to get to University. I brought myself into CJC as a student with many thoughts, held silently, in my head and a ‘me’ that could do with some structuring to anchor my foundation.

CJC was alien, exciting – trails of muddy tracks that left shoes soiled, and a social mix of 800 college mates in different coloured uniforms. Most crucially, I felt the opening up of a ‘space’, the freedom at CJC. It was a two-year journey of discovery: through many friendships, crushes, fun, interactions with college mates, angst, escapisms; of many adventures, projects, activities, lessons learnt or unlearnt from many teachers; and with the regular antidote at morning assemblies when Bro Patrick, a kind gentleman, spoke on acceptance of and caring for people.

CJC had, indirectly, shoved me onto a stage, opening up a process of self-discovery. Many windows opened to new experiences, thoughts and possibilities. Of course, when I was in CJC, I was unaware. As I looked back, some decades ago and again now for this article, I have to say that what I value most about CJC was the space that prodded me to look at the many bits twirling in some disorder inside of me. CJC set me on stage to begin that process of self-awareness, my curtain raiser.

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My world, before, was more or less a prescribed text. I entered college as someone who had done well throughout school. I grew up in a home that focused on studies, values, the news of the day, friendships, good manners, personal grit and a ‘get-on-with-it’ attitude.

I went to Canossa Convent Primary School which focused on discipline, values, studies, catechism, and an ‘all people are one’ code (today we call it ‘equality’, ‘inclusivity’). There were many questions arising from what was going on. At home, the questions were about transiting from being well-to-do to being poor, being loved, and being sensitized to different communities. In the neighbourhood, they were about outdoor adventures, hardworking people, grit, widows, stepchildren, adultery, domestic violence and entrapment of animals. From what I saw and heard, there were many questions. Some answers to the ‘why’, ‘how come’ and ‘what’ came from within my home. Other answers came from catechism classes especially from the stories on the Saints. Aged nine, I heard about St Francis who cared for the poor, who stood up for fairness and justice. I like him, much. No one battered an eyelid when studying with hearing-impaired classmates or having classmates who did not go home but stayed at the convent’s boarding house because of home-based difficulties.

But, in my first secondary school, I saw directly how fairness played out. My good friend from my primary school was expelled from the mission secondary school that we both were in. We were doing well until she started hanging out, at parties with some schoolmates and was experimenting with drugs. Two other students were given a second chance because parents came to the school, pleaded and promised to watch over their daughters. No one came for my friend as she was from a broken home. I asked a teacher, who was running the Christian Fellowship, for help. No help came. I prayed at the school chapel. Nothing changed. I was very upset. So I left the school to join Marymount Convent. It was a blessing to transfer. I was also having my own flashes of rebelliousness which, thankfully, found resonance as there were schoolmates showing similar traits. In fact, some got into trouble, over inane ventures.

Braema enjoys trekking, has a soft spot for forests, rivers and Marymount, with its scenic waterfalls grounds, was the ideal place for me. I enjoyed Mathematics, the Arts, strong English language focus, and theatre which was an important activity in school. I also learnt about the shelter at the convent, for unmarried young mothers.

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These were my many experiences from home, kindergarten, the neighbourhood, and the primary and secondary schools. And I landed at CJC with those experiences and thoughts.

So what connected at CJC for me, to set me on deepening my self-awareness?

It began during the three-month sojourn at Montfort Secondary School, one of CJC’s holding schools. General Paper (GP) was unravelled. I loved it. We were taught by many teachers – Ms (now ‘Dr’) Catherine Lim, Mr Francis Wu, Mrs Mary Gan and Mr As I looked back, some decades Oliver Balasingam. Each teacher brought his or her own expertise, sharing many ago and again now for this article, ideas, some provocatively, in class. My I have to say that what I value world was blossoming and I grew to most about CJC was the space that love GP as it legitimized for me that it prodded me to look at the many was ok to share thoughts, discuss ideas, bits twirling in some disorder debate on views, play with language and inside of me. CJC set me on stage assemble many thoughts into essays.

GP, to me, was an extension of what to begin that process of selfhad been going on in my home for so awareness, my curtain raiser. many years as my father, an avid news reader, used to talk about ideas every day. I learnt words such as ‘propaganda’, ‘world’, ‘war’ ‘politics’, ‘independence’, ‘policy’, ‘budgets’, ‘justice’ and ‘unfairness’ often without understanding all of it. Fascinating stuff at home. But all that dried up in school as the focus was on the prescribed texts, exercises, homework and examinations. GP made sense of the real world. GP affirmed for me that it was okay to have questions and thoughts piling up. The GP journey never stopped for me, becoming a core in my life. It began at CJC. Based on the cumulative experiences from home and schools, I wanted some tangible hands-on involvement, instead of just observing. So I immersed myself in the galore of activities at CJC. I joined football for the fun of it. I joined the Interact Club as there were drama and debates. I served as a volunteer in the school canteen, selling buns. I joined my classmate, Boon Kwang, on many treks around Woodlands before the farmlands disappeared. I joined St Vincent De Paul (SVDP) as they talked about people in need of services and my Marymount friend, Nancy Tan, convinced me that they accepted nonCatholics. I learnt plenty in SVDP and from Sr Janet Wong. I did some useful things like making sure I turned up regularly for the swimming pool sessions with children at the then Spastic Children’s Association of Singapore (now known as the Cerebal Palsy Alliance Singapore) in Gilstead Road. The girls would just wait till one of us turned up to hold them, one at a time, in the knee-deep pool, for them to splash about in the water, screaming and/or drooling in joy.

For CJC’s official opening ceremony we were enthused by Bro Patrick to showcase our work. I did two projects. For my tutorial class of S11, I led a chick embryology project

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featuring the stages of development to a full chick, using up plenty of chemical alcohol to sterilize and embalm the embryos. My late classmate, Kaan Sheung Kiu, and I heard later that the high alcohol cost almost gave Bro Patrick a seizure. For SVDP I conducted a survey on the well-being of older persons at the mission-led nursing home at Thomson Road. At 18 years old, I was not fully aware of the errors I was making when doing all this work. I learnt that alcohol was costly and that the research should not just sit on a bookshelf, but needs to lead to improvements. The survey showed clearly in 1976 that older persons without families, despite having volunteer visits, felt lonely and isolated, as they knew what they wanted – the world that existed beyond the gates. I felt the letdown as it became just a survey and nothing, further, happened. These were my infancy discoveries, with no clear direction. Over the years, however, the lessons learnt were anchoring my set of values and guiding principles for taking on activities.

So when I left college, I was confident that I was right to continue thinking, seeking knowledge and not to shut it down or out, even if there were no discussions. I was also focused on work related to service for people, treasuring my good friendships, having more adventures and believing in limitlessness when painting the future.

However, I did lose the plot at CJC. I did not do well. I had to re-take my A-levels, foolishly, in the same Science subjects and did well enough to touch the bottom rung to get into University. But this time round, Malay had become a requirement, entrapping me as I did not pass my Malay. And home circumstances made it quite impossible too as my 72-yearold father had been felled by his third stroke and his rheumatoid arthritis meant very little mobility. I was much needed at home to help my 60-year-old mother as my only sibling, who was also helping to support the family, was soon to be married. I needed to work.

Thus began my journey as I share below – not chronologically - my uncovering, discovering and structuring of me through various experiences of building up knowledge, doing work to improve systems and people’s lives.

I enrolled into the Institute of Education (now called National Institute of Education) to become a teacher without really knowing how I would fare. I flourished – studied Literature, English language and Mathematics. Loved them all. Mathematics gave me a focus, a steadiness on logic, a sum of different parts that I needed whilst Literature offered me life in pages, dissecting and analyzing the texts could, sometimes, be quite divine. As a teacher, the students fed me with their passion, irrepressible energy, creativity, awareness, humour, cheekiness and coping skills whilst carrying home-wrought difficulties.

My side acts, from my CJC awakening, continued as they were key to students’ personal development, helping them to grow and discover themselves. So I was into drama, debates, students’ newsletters, creative writing, camps, trekking trips and hockey. I organized inter-class and inter-house platforms for drama and hockey so that anyone looking for a chance, and with some training, could participate and be put up for selection or just have a new skill. To be fair and just, also became crucial to me. I hope I did not fail the boys on this score. Till today I wonder if I did well enough with the boys, in giving them 82 Reflections in Truth and Love

hope, guidance, enthusing them especially those who faced a few challenges. Teaching will always remain my first love – it can be pure and un-adulterated. But how does one hold onto values when the emphasis on school bandings and assessment grades were beginning to poison a beautiful learning process for students and teachers. I declined persuading any student to drop Literature if they had low grade scores, which would impact the school’s overall band grade. Asking students to drop any subject because they were not scoring well enough is not the right thing to do. It is a disservice to the students, to education and to Literature. It soon got to a stage when I could not decline a request and stay firm on my values, so I left.

I kept on learning. I did a diploma in English Literature at the MOE’s Language Proficiency Centre (LPC). But the very next year, MOE opened courses at the LPC for its final batches of non-graduate trained teachers to attend A-levels classes to gain entry into university.

I was stuck as I had already taken my diploma under the MOE scheme. There is no clear explanation, in life, as to why things happen in the sequence that they do. A good friend of mine, who had also worked double to put her siblings through university, had enrolled into these classes. Concerned, she encouraged me to do the Arts A-levels as a private candidate and shared her notes with me. As it happened, that year, my father passed away on his 81st birthday. So at the year end, I started my 20-day and night ‘swot’ relying on the excellent notes and netted very good results in History, Literature, Mathematics and GP. My friend got into NUS as she did her Malay examinations. I didn’t as I was not proficient in Malay. I applied to University of Nottingham, took the MOE loan and went off to UK to get my bachelor’s degree. What more could I ask for - friends who care and another opportunity, to follow what I knew by then, as my deep interest.

UK - I loved it. Freedom. Thoughts. Knowledge. Ideas. Adventures. Friendships.

Relationships. Nature. Leadership. I was in my element. Many side acts in student leadership, working part-time, interactions with a wide social mix of people of all ages and backgrounds. I learnt there – within textual analysis and in various discussions - about political ideologies, human rights, rights of lesbians and gays, discrimination, minority groups, aboriginal rights, apartheid South Africa, human rights violations in Tiananmen Square, detentions without trial as had happened in Singapore, critical theories of feminism, Marxism and deconstruction. Most importantly, I also realized that I could have been more adept at dealing with gender identity issues when I was teaching as I had spotted anxieties among some boys. I had no skills then, other than to ensure that under my watch, there was no bullying and no discrimination. But I also just left things well alone. I was a ‘Silly Me’. Much of what I had picked up in UK shaped me, firmly, to stand by diversity and inclusivity – codes that began from young, but the reality hits when you see the bald discrimination and cruel messages in texts and as documented in the news.

Coming home. It was a vacuum. Back to pre-GP days. I joined AWARE, the women’s group as they talked ideas and it was about women’s rights. I did my master’s at NUS, part-time, on Jewish and Irish literatures. What fell into my lap was a scholarship offer to be the first

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post-graduate student in the School of Arts at NTU. I leapt, took a loan to pay off MOE for breaking my bond, and left teaching to plunge into the novels of African-American writer, Toni Morrison and the psychoanalytical theories of Carl Jung and others. I was immersed in getting to grips with slave-history, repression, oppression, justice, fairness, discrimination, gender inequalities, sexualities, grit, civil rights, inner consciousness. This study made the biggest impression on me. It brought all matters – from home, from school, from CJC, from teaching – into one place on the fabric of life, histories and contexts. I did very well on the work and developed vastly, on my own growth.

I wanted to seam together, thoughts and writing. So I joined The Straits Times. It was tough but rooted me into having a ‘nose’ for the news. It was a process of gathering information, writing, editing, writing, shaping and re-crafting. Interviewing people at their high moments was easier work, compared to getting people to talk about loss, discrimination, wants, needs, unfairness, trauma and devastation. It is mirroring people’s lives; cause, effect and impact. I wrote much that I am happy over: trafficking of girls into the sex trade in Cambodia, rehabilitating child soldiers; ensuring access for people with disabilities, domestic violence, poverty, HIV, discrimination, social protection etc. Because of the nature of the stories I was doing – gaps in policies and programmes – that I was motivated to found the The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund which continues till today. The Straits Times has done a marvelous job in its commitment to making sure that students-in-need have pocket money for themselves. If you work at journalism with your heart and brain, it never stops drawing you into a world of finding many jigsaw bits to create a whole picture to improve lives. Oftentimes, it is fulfilling.

When I left the newspapers and joined the workforce in a hospital, I also became a Nominated Member of Parliament. Again, the musings, thoughts, observations, reflections, first-hand journalistic experiences all came together, to advocate for betterment for the people. I did carry out my role responsibly, tabling at every Parliament sitting 3 oral questions, many written questions so that I could have answers, data, elaboration or explanations, and spoke on the new Bills. One thing that kept bugging me from the SVDP’s Gilstead Road experience, my volunteer work and my journalism was the inadequate appreciation of social service staff. So, I filed a motion to ask for more adequate professionalism of social workers, progressive career prospects and salary upgrades – this happened as the, then, Minister was responsive.

My volunteer work saw me grow, plenty, in research and advocacy, programme management and capacity building. I started this line of work at AWARE, and then using CEDAW (Convention for the Elimination of All forms of Discrimination Against Women) to lobby for women’s and girls’ rights. Then I founded, with others, a recycling network called ARENA (A Recycling Network in Action) to send educational toys and books to children in developing countries. I also founded, with others, a migrant workers’ rights NGO called Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2) where we built an ecosystem of stakeholders on this cause and carried out a widespread advocacy campaign called Dignity Overdue. T ill today,

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17 years since it began, the rights and dignity of migrant workers remain, steadfastly, as the focus. I also became the vice-president of Action for Aids and am grateful that I got to understand more what being stricken with HIV meant and why sexuality education was crucial.

As the regional president of the International Council of Social Welfare, I made presentations, on social protection for people especially the older ones, the disabled and migrant workers, to important influencers in UN and in ASEAN. In 2007, I led in the formation of a human rights group, called MARUAH (which in Malay, Singapore’s national language, means ‘Dignity’). This work is all encompassing but the toughest zone I am working on, as rights is almost a taboo topic still. We are not strong on civil and political rights, whatever the race, religion, gender identity and their ideologies. Being in Catholic schools and my work became a full circle for me when the Good Shepherd sisters asked for my help on trafficking of girls and women in Southeast Asia. I grew to value, respect and love the late Sister Susan Chia for her grit, her commitment and for standing up against death penalty, like their founder, Saint Euphrasia, who stood up and fought her ground to care for the people.

I have been lucky as what began eons ago at home was in synergy with what I learnt at school. CJC opened that door wide for me to go on my way and to keep going. I grew in strength. I have a family that believes in my work, even as they scratch their heads, and good friends from all facets of my life, including some of my students, who give plenty of support. We have many talents. Along the way, some get harnessed more than the others. I have learnt that is why we need to work with many others whose talents are sharper than ours. But all that can only be based on our vision to imagine and our values.

The above is written In Truth and Love – two valuable core qualities that I did not quite value then as they are rhetorical and difficult to sustain. But whatever faith or beliefs we follow, these are to be universally upheld. A lifelong journey.

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CHAPTER

18

Freedom and Initiative – An Education Beyond the Books

P. Ramakrishna Science 17

No proper entrance, no canteen, no field‌ no sweat! Yes, this was exactly how most of us felt during the pioneering years at CJC. We were thrown into the deep end, did not know what to expect and yet were game for the adventure of being in CJC. During those initial months when the college first opened its doors, we walked into a physical structure of our college which was not completely ready. The entrance was a long, gradual mud slope from the main road. As I look back to 43 years ago, the daily walk up this particular slope is my most vivid recollection of our college experience!

When asked to cast our minds back on our early college years, most of us definitely recollect many memorable moments spent with classmates or the times we spent with our teachers, and perhaps for some of us (certainly not all ) the A-level examination results. Not many amongst us have pondered over the circumstances which had shaped our individual characters for all the years we have had, since we were at CJC. On reflecting, what has surfaced are the values and life skills which we inherited from our time in college. I know, for sure, that the lessons, I gained, went beyond our textbooks. It is the experiences that forged my compass in life, helping me to navigate adulthood, and influencing the way I have lived my life.

These are my precise thoughts when I looked back at our glorious pioneering years at

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CJC. The incomplete college building, and the temporary facilities did not deter me from making the most of what my friends and I had. We were a motley bunch from various feeder secondary schools who had gotten together, huddling in the first ever Catholicbased College in Singapore. For all of us, it was perhaps our first ever experience of being in a mixed cohort environment, with boys and girls mostly from La Sallian and Convent backgrounds. We were all thrown into one big melting pot without a past history to guide us through our educational journey.

Let me share some instances where the college students had to dig deep within us, to take control of our own destiny.

▶ The pioneer CJC hockey team and champions with Rama (extreme left) and Ian Palmer (seated; 3rd from left)

In sports, we punched well above our weight, despite not having a school field or proper coaches. Being closely associated with hockey, I remembered how we put together our own team by selecting the players based on interest and hockey experience. Our team Captain, Ian Palmer, who was an ex-SJI hockey player, made most of the team decisions. He took control.

Without a proper field, we had to train at the nearby former Police Academy premises (opposite our college) where we were allowed to use one of their several pitches. This entire exercise was done without any teacher supervision, as it was collectively driven by the team players. We did reasonably well in the first year of the inter-college tournament in 1975, considering it was our first taste of competition.

As part of our preparations for the 1976 tournament, we persuaded Keith Kleiman, a wellknown national hockey player to be our coach. It was an initiative totally decided by the players. We went on to win the National Schools Championship title in 1976, thrashing National Junior College 4-0 in the finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium. What an achievement it was for us playing against other seasoned college teams with a history of winning hockey titles. Even now, this whole experience is a reminder that students can achieve much when they want to, and will do their best for a deep passion that they have. For us, it was hockey. Becoming the champions was and still is sweet victory.

Most of the Extra Curricula Activities (ECA), were also driven by students who felt a strong desire to form their own clubs. Students actively undertook recruitment by promoting and reaching out to other fellow students with similar interests, to form clubs and plan activities. I remember being roped into the ‘Interact’ Club where its members put together an inaugural live show titled ‘Carousel of Entertainment’.

The choreography for the dance acts, music and fashion parades were all helmed by the

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students, another outstanding example of working creative collective responsibility by the students. The show was a remarkable success and was much talked about for many months later.

Ask not what the college can do for you but what you can do for your college! This is the mantra which we held close to our hearts. I am quite sure there were many other instances like the impromptu canteen where this self-reliant ‘gung-ho’ spirit was once again put into practice, when students volunteered at the stalls to sell bread, buns and easy bites, during recess.

The spartan college conditions brought out the best in us. We forged our own culture of self-reliance, camaraderie and adaptability, as well as leading without much supervision and, cultivating essential life skills which kept us going in our journey through adulthood.

Together with a couple of other CJC buddies like Gerard Chai and Leong Kok Fann, we ventured boldly into Canada during the early 80s, a relatively mysterious country to Singaporeans, to pursue our University education. We were total strangers in a land well known for sub-zero winter climates. At that time, the furthest we had ever travelled out of Singapore was perhaps across the causeway to Malaysia. However, we managed with the same ‘gung-ho’ spirit and graduated, returning to Singapore with jobs and progressed with our respective careers.

Besides this sojourn in Canada, there were also two other milestones in my life journey that were carried out with the same boldness and courage.

The first was when I decided to leave my public sector career after 31 years to join the private sector, a move which many thought was quite risky (some even felt it was a foolish thing to do), especially at the age of 56! But I still went ahead with my plans to leave and have no regrets with my private sector work today. Grateful to my loving wife for her unwavering support when I made the difficult decision to leave the public sector.

Rama holding the ‘Intelligent Island’ book

The second milestone was when I published and co-authored a book titled Intelligent Island. The book chronicled the untold stories of Singapore’s three decades of effort to become a model country for technology. The key motivation behind this book project was to inspire our next generation of technology leaders to continue building on the ground breaking efforts of our tech pioneers.

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Being a first-time author of a book, an 18-month long project, was indeed an unforgettable experience. Never in my wildest dreams did I have ever imagine that I would see my name printed on a book which is commercially available online and in local book stores.

Now as I scrutinise our college motto and crest more closely, I realise that it epitomises our philosophy of life - the stars as a symbol of faith and values which have guided us throughout our lives. We discovered this in our later years during our alumni gatherings that many of us shared a common bond tied into the In Veritate et Caritate (In Truth and Love) CJC spirit.

The spartan college conditions brought out the best in us.

We forged our own culture of self-reliance, camaraderie and adaptability, as well as leading without much supervision and cultivating essential life skills which kept us going in our journey through adulthood.

Many of my recollections about our pioneering years are very much about ‘an education beyond our textbooks!’ Our alma mater symbolizes friendship, camaraderie, self-reliance and shared values, principles that had shaped our characters and made us who we are today.

It is worth highlighting that the best way to get the most out of people is just to give them more space with the least amount of intervention. This is precisely what the CJC teachers did for our pioneering batch -they removed the ‘shackles’ and allowed us to depend on our own instincts to get things done. It was precisely this self-reliant virtue which has become so much a part of my personal DNA, spurring me to venture into uncharted territories to try new things!

No proper entrance, no canteen, no field … no sweat! Thank you so much, CJC. Infuse your life with action Don’t wait for it to happen Make it happen!

Bradley Whitford

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“A good friend of mine… encouraged me to apply for the A-levels as a private candidate and that she would share her notes with me... My friend’s excellent notes kept me ‘swotting’ for 20 days and 20 nights as soon as final year school examinations and marking were over. I did very well distinctions in my new A-level subjects of History, Literature and also in Mathematics… I applied to University of Nottingham, took the MOE grant and went off to UK to get my bachelor’s degree. What more could I ask for, friends who keep a lookout for you and want you have a share of the pie, too.”

- Braema Mathi, Science 11

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HOLY BIBLE

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CHAPTER

19

Found My Calling at CJC

Brother Nicholas Seet, FSC Arts 15

I remember vividly the unpaved slope up the hill, where the Catholic Junior College (CJC) building stood in 1975, to the spot where the hostel had yet to be built. There was no shelter and we were at the mercy of the elements. Nonetheless, the staff and students made the most of what we had, took it in our stride and developed a deep sense of pride for our college and its values.

As the pioneer batch, we were asked and also shared our views in a survey on the colour of the uniform, the crest and the school motto ‘In Veritate et Caritate’. La Salle Brother Patrick Loh became CJC’s Principal after his term at St Joseph’s Institution. Together with Sister Deirdre O’Loan, they helmed the school leadership. While I saw them to be disciplinarians, I felt that we were not treated as children for they were interested in our views and opinions.

I walked into the room when Sister Deirdre was planning the school timetable for 1976 on a huge board without the aid of a computer. Those were the days when work was done manually. Sister spoke clearly, often with her hand arched up to her head to tug forward her religious veil that used to slip back, allowing her hair to peek out.

From an all-boys environment in a secondary school, we were thrown into the presence of the girls. It was a novelty then for many of us. The girls added a dimension of serious study, kindness and gentleness that many of us from an all-boys school lacked; we were quite a rough lot. And we even used to joke that Mr Louis Lim was always kinder to the

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girls than to us boys if we were late for school. He was right; as boys, we tried less hard to be on time.

In the tutorial rooms, we had teachers like Canossian Sister Janet Wang and Mrs Low Siew Nghee who taught us Geography.

Sr Janet took us on a memorable trip to a Chinese farming village in what is now Potong Pasir. Mrs Low was always the gentle and soft-spoken teacher. Our History teacher, Mr Subramaniam, with his ability to play the drums and his fast recall of historical events, led me later to study History at the National University of Singapore. Our teachers gave us their all. I appreciate them for it. Though as Sister Janet Wang taught Geography and took the a student, I probably might not have students on a trip to a farming village, now known as measured up to their expectations with Potong Pasir good grades especially in subjects like General Paper or Economics which I found to be unfamiliar and challenging.

I carry a few things close to my heart. I remember listening intently to Brother Patrick on what he wanted as he had sought the help from us, the Legion of Mary group, to put up the crucifixes in each of the tutorial rooms.

Till today, I remember and remain impressed with his wisdom. When asked a question about students from other faiths, he said that even though CJC is a Catholic college, the students, teachers and all must have the utmost respect for others who might not share the same beliefs. Brother Patrick then elaborated that the Church has to be a service for all for the good of humanity. I remember being moved by his explanation then. Till today, I hold that close to me and in my work.

I joined the La Salle Brothers and became a member of the community at St Patrick’s School, Brother Patrick had mellowed much but his Brother Nicholas called to be a service for thoughts and ideas were still very clear. He was humanity also an ardent supporter of the People’s Action Party as he had experienced Singapore in its early years from the Japanese Occupation, to post-war, pre-independence and post-independence.

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After college, my1975-1976 tutorial group still met regularly. Later I could not do that regularly due to my service as a Brother. But the warm bonds of friendship never faded and I have moved with my friends through their parenthood days with some even becoming grandparents. In 2018, we arrived at our 60s.

The college, with its motto, teaching staff and students, have been a part of my life’s journey and contributed in no small way to my being a La Salle Brother today.

When asked a question about The friendships forged, the prayers students from other faiths, he and Masses as well as the many school (Brother Patrick) said that even events contributed to what I am today. though CJC is a Catholic college, I remember having to help put up an the students, teachers and all exhibit together with other members must have the utmost respect for of the Legion of Mary in a tutorial room, others who might not share the and that to me was the largest display of the Legion that I had taken part in. same beliefs. Brother Patrick then Gabrielite Brother Dominic Yeo-Koh, elaborated that the Church has who was also a student then, had helped to be a service for all for the good with much of the display too.

of humanity. I remember being

My own religious life today owes moved by his explanation then. Till somewhat to the example set by the today, I hold that close to me and different congregations of Brothers, in my work.

Sisters and priests who helped out at the college. Their personalities and the different religious attire they wore, led me to find out more about what made these men and women sacrifice their lives for others and also what each mission meant in their work for God. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood with their fully covered arms and flowing robes and what looked like a mortar board as their headgear to the lighter clothing of the Canossians and the Infant Jesus Sisters. Then there was the Gabrielite Brothers and the La Salle Brothers, and of course, the diocesan priests and Jesuits who helped out at the college then. Different attire. With such an array of services provided by many generous and faithful followers, I could not but be caught up with their generosity to serve the Lord.

Memories come and go, fond ones especially remain but living my life as best as I can to the school motto, ‘In Veritate et Caritate’, makes my life as a religious Brother meaningful, thanks to the many teaching and non-teaching staff and the friends I made in the college.

After all, it is the relationships that matter at the end of the day. Thank you Catholic Junior College, a blessing to my life.

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CHAPTER

20

Volunteer Work is My Giving for Life

Tan Lee Jee Arts 8

At the ripe old age of 60, it is perhaps timely to pause and reflect on one’s past and value what has happened well.

As a teenager I took part in many school extra-curricular activities (ECA) primarily to score more points. Apart from the uniformed group, Red Cross, I joined the Young Christian Students (YCS), because it was, thought to be unstructured and hence easy to get by and earn points on the ECA. Little did I know that through the YCS, I would be subsequently exposed to students from various other schools (and yes, boys...), showing me that there was a diverse world out there.

I had come from a family fraught with complications but realised that mine was not the only one; so were many other families. During my days at CJC, I participated in a Metropolitan YMCA programme that taught me social work. Together with teenagers from various other schools, we organised holiday camps for the children of workers from the Port Workers Union.

I recall a kind gentleman, Mr Wong, from YMCA. He was a wise and generous person who got together students from diverse backgrounds to work with the children, helping them to learn and to teach them to lead and look after the younger ones. All these made an indelible mark on me, constantly reminding me that there are always people in more need than ourselves.

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Fast forward 15 years later. I started my journey as a mother of two, became a workaholic but fortunately had the unstinting support from the best Mother-in-law in the world. I received a request to join the Neighbourhood Committee. The purpose was primarily to make the neighbourhood a better place for residents and our children. This resonated with me given that I had two young children and I felt so lucky to be living within a lovely community.

I quickly learnt that the voluntary work in such a community setting was quite different from what I had done in school or the ad-hoc corporate social responsibility activities in the workplace. I remained active in voluntary work for more than 20 years thereafter. Firstly, I realised that aside from relationship issues (which is to be expected due to the hordes of volunteers from literally all walks of life), the government had indeed set aside millions of dollars for people in need. Most importantly, I know that I could help connect the people to aid schemes. Of course no Lee Jee, active in volunteer work one works in isolation and teamwork has its ups and downs. Often the situations we come across are complicated and I would like to share briefly about a family which we had helped.

Nancy (name has been changed) is an incredibly strong grandmother who has to care for her two grandsons because her son was in and out of drug rehabilitation centre, and the children’s mother had left them. This took a toll on Nancy. The only source of income was from rental of one bedroom Every day is a chance to learn and in their 3-room HDB flat. Through voluntary organisations, the family do good. May we be blessed with received much help - food voucher, free the faculties to do so. tuition for her grandson and referral to Rainbow Centre for the younger child.

As Nancy was growing old, she worried about her two grandsons and who would be guiding them through their lives. We were able to connect her to various sources of help such as community volunteers providing strong support to her. Being able to contribute to the community in such a way, has always given me a sense of satisfaction.

In the journey of voluntary work, I am thankful to have the opportunities to learn how to help, including tapping on the vast Volunteer Welfare Organisation (VWO) network. It is important to not judge others and allow people to make choices.

Finally, while financial help is crucial and available, I feel deeply that there is urgency to 98 Reflections in Truth and Love

work on getting Singaporeans to value family, self-respect and resilience above material gains, gadgets and positions. Help should always be extended but we need to be careful not to encourage people to expect freebies or game the system without making an effort for themselves and their families.

Every day is a chance to learn and do good. May we be blessed with the faculties to do so.

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Football and its

LESSONS for

LIFE

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CHAPTER

21

Football and its Lessons for Life Richard Tan Eng Sui

Technical 4

I am not academically inclined and I barely made it to Catholic Junior College. I somehow got in because I had some extra “points” for representing St Joseph’s Institution in a number of sports.

On the final day of our ‘A’ levels examinations in 1976, I was caught by Principal Brother Patrick Loh for playing cards in the library and was nearly expelled. So when my buddy and fellow CJCian Rama asked me to pen reflections for Our Footprints: In Truth and Love, I was initially doubtful but agreed, choosing to focus my story on the football field and leave the classroom out. After all, even in school, I was out of the classroom most of the time! Football at CJC was something that I did cherish, and could honestly say was the one “subject” that I did pretty well during the two years there.

So after some reflection (being a non-graduate, it took a while), I thought perhaps for me, the lessons and experiences I gained from my association with football in college might be worth sharing.

Rather than reminiscing and writing about how good our team was or how we became champions, I thought it would be different if I shared here some life lessons from the game that had impacted and shaped my life, and the friendships that were formed, as well as pay tribute to special people in the team.

So here is my Footprint…

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Champions

▶

We can all recall CJC’s football achievements in 1975 and 1976 and how we won the National ‘A’ division championships two years running. We were only a small cohort of Pre-U One students when we won the title the first year in 1975, beating the likes of Raffles Institution and Geylang Serai Vocational Institute in the semi-finals and finals. These were formidable teams with players older than us.

Who would have thought that a relatively unknown school in its first The CJC Football team, Champions in 1975 with Mr Louis Lim year of existence with only 17 year (back row, third from left) olds from diverse backgrounds, could win the coveted championship in 1975? The victory was sweet. Till today, when I meet footballers of that era from some of these other schools, they still recall how good our CJC team was.

First days My first day at CJC began not at the new campus at Whitley Road but at the former Catholic High School at Waterloo Street. I was disappointed that I was not placed in the top technical class. Instead, my tutorial class was the ‘top’ from the bottom. The greater disappointment was that all the girls were separated from the boys until we moved to Whitley Road.

Technical 4 was a motley group of ‘good boys and rascals’ from St Joseph’s and St Gabriel’s. We got along well, and after a couple of days, I learnt that most of my tutorial mates shared a similar passion in football.

We remained at Catholic High for a couple of months and I tried to adjust to this new “college culture”. It was boring. I did not understand the Maths, and Economics was not my cup of tea either. I even contemplated switching over to Polytechnic when the term started. However, when I got news that Mr Louis Lim, my teacher and football coach from SJI, would be coming over to CJC as the Assistant Sports Master, I was happy and I was determined to stay.

Coach and mentor Mr Louis Lim, or L2 as we fondly call him till today, was not only a very good football coach but was also my mentor. He still is. I love this man. I also love playing football. It was L2 who gave me the opportunity when I was only in Secondary One in SJI to play for the best ‘C’ division school team then. I excelled in the sports because L2 believed in me, nurtured

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and guided me especially when I was in CJC. He appointed me the team captain in the second year and this appointment instilled in me qualities such as discipline, leadership and responsibility so that I could play football well and lead the team. These qualities have stood me in good stead for all the positions that I took on later in my life.

But L2 was not just a teacher and football coach. He was a father figure, a friend and a confidante to many of us.

He treated us as men even though we were not really as mature then. He even counselled us whenever we needed him.

I remember that Brother Patrick would frown upon many of our self-indulgent activities where some even warranted caning. But L2, who ironically was also the Discipline Master, made sure we did not cross the line.

For many of us, L2 remains the teacher closest to our hearts. Thank you, Sir, for always being there for us.

I would think of the hard work and determination during football training in CJC and the reward that came. That kept me going even when my legs were weak and I thought I could swim no further ‌ The first lesson I learnt here was that in life, good things do not come easy. If you want to be the best, it takes hard work, determination and perseverance.

Lessons in life Winning the football trophy two years running did not come easy. It was won with passion, hard work and perseverance. Without pain, there was no gain. L2 made sure of that. Later in life when I was going through my diver training in the Republic of Singapore Navy, there were times when I thought of giving up. Being in the special force was really physically and mentally tough.

However I would think of the hard work and determination during football training in CJC and the reward that came. That kept me going even when my legs were weak and I thought I could swim no further. I later became the Commanding Officer of Naval Diving Unit, leading one of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) most elite forces. The first lesson I learnt here was that in life, good things do not come easy. If you want to be the best, it takes hard work, determination and perseverance.

The second important lesson playing football for CJC taught me was that I am only as good as my teammates. I learnt that no one person carries the team by himself. Although it was our forwards, Stephen Yeap and Lawrence Yeap, who scored the goals that won the match, they could not have done it without the perfect passes from Leong Kok Fann, or crosses from our midfielders, David Thong and Wee Kiat Sia. Meanwhile our opponents were prevented from scoring by defenders, Aloysius Phua,

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Tan Quee Hak and myself. At the rear, between the posts there was Noel Chia to beat. I realised that without all of us working together, the team might not have won the match, let alone the championship.

From this, I learnt that as you go through life, you become a part of many teams - from family to groups of co-workers. These people rely on you and you depend on them, to meet certain goals such as financial needs, or finish a project on time.

These relationships require collaboration, just like when I worked then with my teammates by passing the ball or blocking an opponent from scoring. Football at CJC helped me understand that win or lose, you do it as a team. This is the same even in our daily lives.

One other lesson playing football for CJC taught me was about dealing with defeat. We were knocked out of the inter-schools 7-a-side competition by Gan Eng Seng Secondary School. It was a pride shattering blow to us, as we had won the more important 11-a-side competition the year before.

The loss however energised the team, making my teammates and I practise and train extra hard on our fitness and also to hone our skills. We went on to win the 1976 ‘A’ division championship again. From defeat we learnt how to handle mistakes, and that in life when the chips are down, one needs to pick up the pieces and come back a stronger person.

▶ Richard with his CJC buddies including Henry on the extreme right

Friendships Many of us remain friends after college. For me, the best friends that I have today are my football teammates from CJC. Somehow the bond that keeps footballing friends together is universal. Football friendships are unique. I always looked forward to hanging out with my teammates and our supporters at the hawker centre beneath the then Whitley flyover, and to sharing the experiences about working hard and competing together against others. These memories last forever.

During such football gatherings, we got to know each other better and more intimately. Strong relationships were formed and some CJC couples went on to marry. Till today, after a game, we would sit down for a drink and indulge in mindless conversations.

One of my closest friends was Henry Ho Wan Sing. Henry was not a great footballer. He knew that, and he knew he could not make it to the team. Nonetheless, he volunteered himself as the team assistant, helping L2 take care of the footballs, training equipment, jerseys, drinks at half-time and so forth.

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Rain or shine, if the team was there, Henry would be there too. When we had to come back for extra training, so would Henry. He did not have to but he did so without any complaint. Sometimes we take people like Henry for granted. What he did for the team then was special and out of true selflessness.

That goodness remained in him even after CJC. Sadly, Henry died 26 March 2018. As the Team Captain, perhaps it is not too late to pay tribute to Henry and to say, “On behalf of the team, thank you Henry. You have been and will always remain a true part of this team.”

12th player Our team was successful because we trained very hard, had strong fighting spirit and good teamwork, and were moulded by a great coach and tactician. In addition, special to the success of the team was the unwavering support and encouragement shown by the boys and girls behind the scenes. They supported from the bench and from the side lines.

I remember the cheers and chants during our matches, “It’s OK, it’s alright, CJC, fight, fight, fight!” at Farrer Park and Jalan Besar Stadium.

Yes, I wish to also pay tribute to our supporters, the ‘12th player’. Every one of you deserves a medal too and a pat on the back. Thank you.

Finally…

I hope these words do bring back some fond memories especially for my teammates and our supporters. But more importantly, this article is my little offer of life lessons to the CJC students of today.

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CHAPTER

22

Artistic Connections

Tang May Mey

Arts 11

In our pioneer year at CJC, the school started small but we were privileged to be part of a small class of 8 Art students from different tutorials. Initially, our art lessons were at the CHIJ “town convent” on Victoria Street, which is now CHIJMES. We had to climb a spiral staircase to the second level and learn from an elderly nun, amidst the noise of the children having their recess. Back then, CHIJ shared the premises with St Nicholas Girls’ School. I would always recall nostalgically, each time I go to CHIJMES for a meal, the spiral staircase and our dear teacher. I could even hear the children’s excited screams and laughter playing catching and hide and seek during recess. I always wondered what the upstairs was being used for, as there was always a barricade to the spiral staircase.

At times, I even had a fleeting thought of going through the barricade just to satisfy my curiosity.

After a short stint at the historical town convent, Brother Patrick had the foresight to bring in an Art teacher so we need not shuttle to CHIJ. We were fortunate to be tutored by the renowned sculptor artist, Chong Fah Cheong. My good friend even had a crush on him as he was and still is good looking. Till today there is nostalgia each time I read about Mr Chong in the news and whenever I passed by his various sculptures in town. I would linger for a while and recall our Art lessons. I could still visualise him chipping away at his wooden sculpture. Those days, sculpting was hard labour for skinny me as it required a certain level of biceps, which only Mr Chong had. He encouraged us to think out of the

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box and got us to go around the grounds of CJC, which were still under construction, to take photos and paint from the photo prints. It was exciting then, navigating the muddy grounds, the paths of dangerous steel rods, wobbly wooden planks with inch long nails sticking out, garbage, machinery and the ‘what-nots’ of construction. Such opportunities will not be possible for today’s kids as we have sadly evolved to a present day mollycoddled status for our children and grandchildren. Mr Chong is now based in Canada but he returned to Singapore in 2014 to receive his well-deserved Cultural Medallion.

One would remember certain schoolmates well because they have unforgettable names, synonymous with SQ, a city in Australia, or a name that reminded us of a jungle. I am sure if we each ponder further; the list will be much longer.

The favourite go to place, for many of us, was the locker room. That was one of the few places that one would find the boy or girl one had been eyeing from afar and getting the chance to pluck up courage Down Syndrome Association’s students and May Mey to approach. The atmosphere there was (in the middle) with their artwork - an acrylic painting relaxed with someone strumming the of peonies guitar in between lessons, and some were so relaxed that they skipped a lesson or two. It was also here that I noticed the boys enjoyed games of colours. The girls were so relaxed on the sofa that they forgot they were girls. The boys would play their colour game, grinning from ear to ear. Looking at them, one would think they had struck the lottery.

Another favourite place was the canteen. We all had our favourite stall.

Once our hunger was satisfied, the mood improved, so much so that some linger at the canteen longer than required. My classroom was closest to the canteen; so when lessons got boring, the stomach took over as my favourite food smells wafted in.

Examination time always had an air of tenseness with all of us squeezing in as much knowledge as we could within a short period. The library was a safe 108 Reflections in Truth and Love

The favourite go to place, for many of us, was the locker room. That was one of the few places that one would find the boy or girl one had been eyeing from afar and getting the chance to pluck up courage to approach. The atmosphere there was relaxed with someone strumming the guitar in between lessons, and some so relaxed that they skipped a lesson or two.

haven for such cramming. It was also a defacto ‘gaming’ outlet as the tired boys at the next table, out of boredom and to de-stress, used their textbook in place of cards by adding the digits of the pages. They woke up immediately, eyes popped wide, smiling and giggling away. First signs of ingenuity and creativity honed at CJC! At another table, a just woken up Adrian would belt his deep and throaty rendition of the song of the day which at that time was Paul Anka’s “Times of Your Life”, which now seems so apt.

In my work-life, as an Executive Assistant, I must say that I was very blessed to have had excellent bosses who took care of the staff very well. This allowed me to stay on in my last company for 27 years, joining as a single, going through courtships, getting married and having my three children. When my boss, Philip, retired in 2015, I thought it would be good that I too did something different, so I chose to retire as well. I am thankful to have learnt a lot from each of my bosses who were May Mey working with and teaching the students art all brilliant CEOs, especially Philip, and and craftsmanship this has allowed me to be financially free to pursue my interests while I was still young and not be stuck to a job just to have a monthly income. I must say that I was one of the lucky few who actually looked forward to going to work daily. Work had its challenges and stressful moments but I enjoyed challenges. Of course, I must also give credit to my wonderfully supportive husband, to be able to retire young.

Being a full time employee, wife to a loving husband and mother to my wonderful children left me no time for myself. So I was happy to be able to pick up where I have left off 39 years ago after leaving school. I decided to go back to immersing myself in Art, taking up several short courses. Equipped with what I had learnt, I began as a volunteer to teach at the Down Syndrome Association (Singapore).

I did a holiday program teaching them decoupage and clay art over the course of 8 sessions.

Not having worked with persons with special needs before or having much prior contact with them, I was hesitant if they would accept inexperienced me or if I could adapt to this new environment. However after the holiday program I was neither apprehensive nor discouraged. Instead, I found this work largely fulfilling and meaningful. The joy and pride on my students’ faces when they produced a beautiful piece of work transcended to me and moved me. It was God’s grace that the art instructor for the Visual Arts Program (VAP) had to leave for personal reasons. Guess who jumped at this opportunity? It has been now three years. Besides continuously learning new art skills and techniques to equip myself to conduct classes for the VAP, I also did craft workshops at the DSA(S)’s

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annual World Down Syndrome Day and various road shows throughout the years, as well as holiday programs during the national school vacations.

On a less happy note, I must say that government funding for the DSA(S) is still not sufficiently adequate and the Association has to constantly seek donations to keep their programs running and continue the vital support for persons with Down syndrome. I managed to bring some funds in through the auctioning of some members’ paintings at Manulife Singapore’s annual dinner and dance in 2016 and 2017, and am exploring other avenues of seeking more funding. The VAP was commissioned to provide the packaging artwork for Juan Tea’s 2017 Christmas gift packs which were sold to raise funds for DSA(S).

This year, the DSA(S)’s annual charity gala dinner theme was “Saving Gaia”, and the VAP group gave a ‘new life’ to a table and five chairs which brought in much needed funds during the auction, as all the items found new homes. Teaching Art to kids aged 4 to 8 at Crestar brought added joy as children are a constant source of happiness. I learnt from them as much as I taught.

The Art knowledge acquired also came in useful when I gave workshops at University of Third Age, which caters to persons over 50 years of age. There I conducted several workshops on decoupage and plaster cast sculpture. Teaching my peers was similarly rewarding as I benefited from the interactions and the new friendships formed. Along the way, I volunteered at AWWA Day Care Centre and taught the lovely old folks how to make a pandan rose bouquet. An older gentleman thoughtfully brought his bouquet home to present to his wife. Mingling with them taught me more patience and that it requires a different skillset to handle forgetful old folks. Volunteering at AWWA on a regular basis will be my ongoing project.

2018 is a special year for the pioneer group. To commemorate our 60 years of existence, the Marymount girls got together for a decoupage workshop followed by a big feast at a hotel. Sirena, our classmate and also college mate, showcased her sewing skills by presenting everyone at the workshop with their very own personalised apron. Everyone chipped in one way or another to provide breakfast and lunch and we adjourned to another classmate’s, Man Lee’s home for tea and more laughter. It was a hilarious twoday event filled with love, hugs, laughter and camaraderie. Every one of us unleashed our creativity, came away with precious mementos of the event and refreshed memories of each other since our last celebration at 50.

I have come one full circle teaching Art to children, the special needs, peers, classmates and the elderly. And it all began at CJC with Brother Patrick’s idea of engaging sculptor artist Chong Fah Cheong.

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“Many of my recollections about our pioneering years are very much about ‘an education beyond our textbooks!’ Our alma mater symbolizes friendship, camaraderie, self-reliance and shared values, principles that had shaped our characters and made us who we are today…the best way to get the most out of people is just to give them more space with the least amount of intervention. This is precisely what the CJC teachers did for our pioneering batch … allowed us to depend on our own instincts to get things done. It was precisely this self-reliant virtue which has become so much a part of my personal DNA, spurring me to venture into uncharted territories to try new initiatives.”

- P. Ramakrishna, Science 17

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CHAPTER

23

My Journey in Faith and Life Jeremy Tay

Science 15

In my first job interview in 1982, I was asked to summarise the essence of my religion.

I replied, “From God I came, to God I will return.� I was rather surprised at the answer myself, as it was spontaneous. I now think this phrase very succinctly summarises my belief and here is a brief story of my journey.

One of the most significant and life-changing decisions in my life was the decision to be baptised as a Catholic at the end of Year 2 at CJC. It was a decision that has impacted my outlook in life, my values, lifestyle and in practically every aspect of my being and relationship with family and others.

So how did I become a Catholic and what is the impact on me? The seed was probably planted when my mother sent me to Montfort Junior School, even though she was a Taoist. Her decision was a significant one considering that there were other options. It was truly her foresight and wisdom to send me to a Catholic school. Being in a Catholic school, I had many Catholic friends but I do not remember any of them actively evangelising to me. However, the school environment played an important part - the morning prayers, masses and interaction with the Gabrielite Brothers.

My involvement in the Young Christian Students (YCS) movement at Montfort Secondary School and CJC also provided me with other opportunities to grow in my understanding of the Catholic faith. During that period, I decided to take up Catechism lessons with a Gabrielite Brother who later became my godfather when I was baptised on 24 December

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1976.

Later, I became a member and a leader of the Young Christian Society at Nativity Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It provided many opportunities to learn about myself, faith and relationships, and I grew in my relationship with God. Many of the YCS members are still friends and our shared memories will last a lifetime.

Jeremy with his wife on pilgrimage, Camino de Santiago, France to Spain

God has also indeed blessed me with many other opportunities to know and love Him more deeply. Through programmes like Exodus, Cursillo, Choice, Engaged Couples, Married Encounter, Discipleship Retreat, Conversion Experience Retreat, and many others, my relationship with God has become more personal and real. I am especially grateful to have the privilege of doing three walking pilgrimages across Spain My faith was tested when my and Portugal on different Camino de medical condition worsened in Santiago trails over 1,500 kilometres.

April 2015. I questioned God on why They had taught me many things about that was happening to me. At the myself, people and many other matters, as well as deepen my experience of God. same time, I had never been closer

to God than during this period as I In 1999, I helped to set up a new organisation called Morning Star struggled with this condition. Like Community Services and became its St Paul said, “When I am weak, founding president. It offers after-school then I am strong�. care services in response to the needs of children and families in north-eastern part of Singapore. It has been a great journey over the past 19 years with Morning Star which continues to grow from strength to strength. It provides upstream, preventive and 114 Reflections in Truth and Love

early intervention programmes, family life education workshops and counselling services.

These programmes and services help to enrich and strengthen family relationships in a society where challenges to harmonious family relationships are increasing in intensity.

Together with the staff and volunteers, I am glad to make a positive difference to society.

I have ups and downs in my faith journey. My faith was tested when my medical condition worsened in April 2015. I questioned God on why that was happening to me. At the same time, I had never been closer to God than during this period as I struggled with this condition. Like St Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong�. By being vulnerable and in desperate need for the healing grace of God, I became closer to God as I rely more on Him. God has been good and I know that He has greatly blessed me with a good family, career, friends and a good life. Thank you, Jesus.

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24

To Serve

Joseph Tham Arts 15

Like many others, my life after college was one of hard work and strife. Coming from a poor family background, my objective at that time was to strive for a better and comfortable life. Though I had a place in NUS to study Accountancy, I decided to give it a miss and worked in manufacturing operations for 30 years.

I was a member of the Young Christian Students (YCS) in Montfort School and was involved in reaching out to youths during the early years. That was the initial spark in service for others.

However, the turning point of my life came in 2008 when news of Myanmar being hit by the Nargis Cyclone came through and thousands of people had been killed or displaced.

Initially, I was not moved by this disaster as my focus was then still on providing for my family. Then I suddenly received many pictures of the impact of Nargis on the lives of Myanmar people. The sufferings of the victims really struck me, “What’s life? Why work so hard?” That had a deep impact on me for several months and I prayed and asked for direction. Why was I so troubled by the suffering of others and I was more concerned with that than my own life. After several months of reflection and prayer, I strongly believed God had a purpose for me, to serve others and I decided to place my trust in him.

I wanted to leave my job and commit my time to serve the community. At that time, my two sons were only in primary school. I discussed with my wife and she asked me, “Are you sure about what you are doing? What about our children who are still young?” I said

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my savings were enough to last for two to three years and that we see what happens next.

My first community service was joining Caritas Singapore to build houses for earthquake victims in Java in 2008. That year, the Canossian Sisters came to my Church to raise funds through selling candles. I offered my service to help them. The Sisters asked me whether I would like to offer my service in Myanmar. Though I did not know what I could do, I said ‘Yes’.

In 2009, I went to Myanmar with the Canossian Sisters to give Christmas cheer to the poor children in the boarding houses. I raised funds with help from my close friends. I started small in 2009 due to the small amount of money I managed to raise. Since then, for the past nine years, I have been going to Myanmar in December to give Christmas Cheer to the poor children. Today, my group has grown to ten volunteers. We give children goodie bags, Christmas gifts such as mosquito nets, blankets Joseph with his wife and eldest son or jackets. We visited many parts of Myanmar, collaborating with the Singapore Canossian Sisters stationed in Myanmar and the priests who were also in Myanmar. Our Christmas Cheer extended to giving provisions such as rice, oil and sugar to the poor villagers. We do not go to the same place every year. We want the poor in Being involved in the community Myanmar to experience God’s love and and social service really gives me joy through our care and concern. Some a strong sense of fulfilment in of our volunteers also helped out in the my life … I have left my life in the Myanmar children’s camps and youth hands of God and let Him direct my camps. This overseas mission work is like an annual pilgrimage for me and I life. When we give to others, we always look forward to it. receive blessings from God. In Singapore, I worked in the social service sector for seven years – two years in the HIV/AIDS shelter Home (CARE) and about five years in the Welfare Home for the psychiatric residents in Pelangi Village at Hougang Green. I joined the St Vincent de Paul Society in 2007 to help the poor families in the Church’s neighbourhood. I was also involved in St Vincent Home for about four years as a committee member. My calling is clear: to serve those in need with love, humility and sincerity.

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Being involved in the community and social service really gives me a strong sense of fulfilment in my life, even though the salary is lower than my previous job. Since 2008, I have left my life in the hands of God and let Him direct my life. When we give to others, we receive blessings from God.

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Restaurant

Restaurant

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25

All Things do Come Together Anthony Wong

Science 1

Reflecting on the last 27 years of running my own business, I realized with great conviction that the formation I had received from the De la Salle schools had played a significant part in my life and in shaping my business.

When I graduated from CJC, I got a place in NUS School of Engineering. But I made the life-changing decision to move halfway across the world to pursue a degree at the University of Hawaii in Travel Industry Management. One might say that I went, based on my instinct, trading in a safe choice in Engineering for Hospitality, which at that time was a new and novel industry. Looking back on that pivotal point in my life, I know now that I was being led to discover my God-given talents. That decision led me on a journey filled with many opportunities such as working for the Grand Hyatt and eventually establishing my own food and beverage (F&B) company with stores spanning several countries.

I would go so far as to say that the values that I had gained from my education in the De la Salle schools have helped me to navigate life and the many difficult decisions that one had to make along the way. When I attended school at St. Joseph’s Institution and then later CJC, religion was undoubtedly central to the education I received. Even more prominent were the familial values that we were taught. Our closely-knit community comprised friends from all walks of life and different cultures. It was the non-elitist environment that was particularly compassionate and accepting, and had shaped my worldview. This is something I had always returned to, when it came to my attitude and approach in

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conducting my business.

Over the years, I knew more clearly than ever that the same instinct to try out new and unchartered territory in hospitality in Hawaii, was based on a moral compass that was already working within me. Taking my bearings from the familial warmth, sincerity of the De la Salle schools and CJC, my exposure to the diverse environment in Hawaii, and later from the corporate world of entrepreneurship, the values developed from these experiences have led me to good decisions. It is never easy to navigate unchartered waters, especially when sometimes the worldly choices may seem to be the easier, more popular and more practical. Thankfully, I was always able to return to an ethos Anthony with his family including his grandchildren that was grounded in the truth of my Christian faith, a common bond that I have with many of my mates from school, college and church.

Starting my own business was also an inspired decision. Having lived as an expatriate for some years in Taipei and Jakarta, I knew I had to be reunited with my family in Singapore. Leaving my corporate career to become an entrepreneur was however not at all daunting, as one would imagine it to be even for a thirty-something year-old like me. I felt the need to keep my family together and to provide for them. So I took each plunge backed by a quiet belief that God would provide, since I was doing my best with the talents that I had been given.

After two decades of building my company, I was happy. I was then in my early 50s and saw a lot of business owners struggling because they did not know how to pass on their businesses to the next generation. While I never

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When I attended school at St. Joseph’s Institution and then later CJC, religion was undoubtedly central to the education I received.

Even more prominent were the familial values that we were taught. Our closely-knit community comprised friends from all walks of life and different cultures. It was the non-elitist environment that was particularly compassionate and accepting, and had shaped my worldview. This is something I had always returned to, when it came to my attitude and approach in conducting my business.

planned on handing my business to my children, I did trust in God’s provision. It was quite out of the blue when my eldest daughter, Bernadette, volunteered to work for Creative Eateries, with my younger daughter Bonnie following soon after. They left their corporate careers to assist me, seeing how hard I was working. While they were untrained in F&B, they had however witnessed the growth of my business during their growing up years and it became natural for them to want to be part of it.

Since handing the reins over to my daughters, five years ago, it has not only allowed me to play a more strategic role in the business, but also enabled me to give back to the Catholic community through endeavors such as the Anthony with his elder daughter, Bernadette Crossings CafĂŠ, a social enterprise restaurant, and the Catholic Business Network. I did not plan specifically for this but I am grateful how things have worked out. This is possible with the love of family togetherness that has been fostered by the Catholic culture of my upbringing, and the love of my very own family. I am gratefully thankful.

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CURRY-PUFF MAN

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CHAPTER

26

What’s in a Name?

Joseph Wong

Science 3

I was conferred various monikers at different stages of my life. Far from being mere nicknames, they marked significant milestones in my journey to where I am today.

When I did my National Service, I was a quartermaster with the 41st battalion of the Armoured Division (41 SAR). In the SAF, a company quartermaster is commonly called CQ. And during my time at 41 SAR, I was called “CQ Wong” by my own men and the men of my company, not Corporal Wong. My Company Sergeant Major (CSM) pointed out many times to everyone that it was not an acceptable SAF form of salutation. Despite his warning, the men continued to call me CQ Wong that eventually my CSM gave in. I didn’t mind, really. I found it almost endearing. The fact is I was not the typical soldier clinical, at times ruthless, and yet accommodating. I was, at 19 years of age, God-fearing and principled. I still said “please” and “thank you” on the battlefield and spoke in gentle tones. I knew that the CQ who took over from me when I completed my mandatory term, wasn’t called CQ Lim (that was his name) by the men. He was simply Corporal Lim to the men. Perhaps it was simply who I was to them that earned me this moniker. I could go down in SAF history as the only CQ with this moniker!

When I went into my first - and as my life history can now claim – and only job at Standard Chartered Bank, I was blessed with great bosses, except for maybe two of the 36 years I eventually spent there. I was given opportunities to move from one role to another, which helped me become a more knowledgeable banker, influential leader and an overall better

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person. But it was in my first managerial role in 1985 that my persona was given a name.

Because of my eye for detail, my passion for accuracy (not political correctness) and my impeccable command of the language earned me, I was given the moniker “Joe Perfect”, fashioned after Snoopy’s character from Peanuts. It may seem flippant but it did my reputation a whole load of good and often set the tone of engagement in projects involving people I had never met. Because of my nickname, everyone I worked with had to step up their own game.

Saint Francis of Assisi said, “For it is in giving that we receive.” While at Standard Chartered, I organised many fund-raisers and other charity events as my way of giving back to a life, God so generously bestowed Joseph, regular volunteer at the Muhammadiyah Welfare on me. I also wanted to create Home opportunities for others to be a part of the giving. One such event stood out more than others. The year was 2010 and someone in the Bank was selling homemade curry puffs in aid of a certain My time at CJC, as part of the charity. How many curry puffs could one pioneer batch of 1975-76, opened person consume? So, I decided to call a welfare home ...any home...to see if my eyes to the possibilities and they would like curry puffs for their tea degrees of talent in people I time. I googled for the nearest home to meet. Before then, I was relatively my office and up came Muhammadiyah sheltered in a rather prescriptive Welfare Home at Mountbatten. That and, dare I say, cushioned was basically a 10-minute drive away. I secondary school life, believing called them and told them of my curry puff offer, which they accepted. They that the crème de la crème of told me they had 70 boys in the home. society was only those handful of So, I bought enough curry puffs for the boys in my school and that they boys and staff. When I confirmed their were my competition. I was so address, I found out the home had wrong. Thankfully I did not earn moved to Bedok! Oops! But a promise is the moniker “Joe Frog in the Well” a promise, so I showed up at the home in Bedok with my curry puffs. As soon as for this.

I met the inimitable superintendent and her team of committed caregivers, and was taken on a tour of the home, I was immediately enamoured by the efforts of this 126 Reflections in Truth and Love

Muslim home to turn these boys, some as young as 10 years, into responsible members of society. That was the start of many fundraising, community and enrichment efforts I organised for the Muhammadiyah Welfare Home.

I became a regular volunteer at the home and was invited to many of the home’s public events. At one such event, the Minister for Communications and Information, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, called me ‘the Curry-Puff Man’ in his speech on volunteers. In fact, my moniker “Curry-Puff Man” was often used as a conversation starter during events at the home.

Practically everyone connected to the home had heard about “Curry-Puff Man”. I actually like this title - it is as endearing as “CQ Wong” although if I were to be a super-hero by this name, I cannot imagine what my costume might look like!

I entered a television talent contest with a few friends in 1994. The programme was titled “Rollin’ Good Times” and we joined the Beach Boys contest, calling ourselves Budak Pantai. We did very well in the Final and won the contest! That win propelled Budak Pantai to instant stardom, albeit with an underground following. The win also Joseph raises funds for various charities made me more prominent at Standard Chartered.

I was often referred to as Budak Joe when the topic was anything about music. I used my mini celebrity status to organise concerts to raise funds for various charities. The most prominent was the 2015 concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall, where $200,000 was raised for the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Saint Peter said, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” I am blessed to fulfil this calling as Budak Joe. I voluntarily left the Bank’s employment in 2015 and began to build my second career as an adult trainer. My key focus is on communication, in particular phonetics. I believe that phonetics is the foundation skill for speech and that anyone wishing to speak well ought to start by learning and mastering phonetics. Having now delivered phonetics as an approved SkillsFuture Credit programme for two years, I am known in the industry as “Phonetics Joe”. Once again, I am enamoured by this title because it does aptly describe what I do and I am perhaps the only trainer in the adult education field with this unique moniker.

My time at Catholic Junior College, as part of the pioneer batch of 1975-76, opened my eyes to the possibilities and degrees of talent in people I meet. Before then, I was relatively sheltered in a rather prescriptive and, dare I say, cushioned secondary school

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life, believing that the crème de la crème of society was only those handful of boys in my school and that they were my competition. I was so wrong. Thankfully I did not earn the moniker “Joe Frog in the Well” for this.

So, what’s in a name? For me, plenty! It was a sort of report card. It assured me that I was on the right track, I was living up to my own principles and I was fulfilling the potential that God has given to me. If nothing else, it’s a great conversation starter. “Hi, I’m Phonetics Joe.”

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“My own religious life today owes somewhat to the example set by the different congregations of Brothers, Sisters and priests who helped out at the college. Their personalities and the different religious attire they wore, led me to find out more about what made these men and women sacrifice their lives for others and also what each mission meant in their work for God. The Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood … the Canossians and the Infant Jesus Sisters... the Gabrielite Brothers and the La Salle Brothers…the diocesan priests and Jesuits...

With such an array of services provided by many generous and faithful followers, I could not but be caught up with their generosity to serve the Lord.”

- Brother Nicholas Seet, FSC, Arts 15

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CHAPTER

27

Friendship Unlimited Martin Wong

Science 1

My journey with Tony Tan Kok Cheng began in St Joseph’s Institution. Even before his conversion to Catholicism, Tony believed in Jesus Christ. But his near death experience has brought him to trust Jesus wholeheartedly. Tony knows that without God, he would be in a vegetative state today.

Tony and I were students from Christian Brother Schools (CBS). We progressed to another CBS, Catholic Junior College (CJC), for our pre-university education and were part of the pioneer batch.

After National Service, Tony joined Singapore Airlines (SIA) as an apprentice ground engineer while I joined as a cadet flight engineer. Disaster struck in our third year with SIA, 6 months before my graduation. The world economy then was in the doldrums and SIA suspended all apprentice programmes including those for engineers. It was a debilitating time for us and for most of our fellow apprentices, it caused much hardship.

Tertiary Education Tony and I decided to further our studies in NSW University, Australia, as we had always dreamt of being beach bums on the tempting Aussie beaches. Tony studied computing and I did accountancy, finance and information systems. The beginning was an uphill task, and it really tested our mettle and resolve. Writing essays of 3,000 words was a killer as we had hardly written anything much over the last five years. There was no laptop

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available then and our fingers cramped with the writing. We nevertheless kept ourselves going through that difficult period and this was when we truly bonded as “brothers”.

Working Life Tony managed to remain in Australia after our graduation and I returned to Singapore.

Although we kept in touch, we slowly drifted apart and communications lessened. But true friends are like stars, even though you don’t see them all the time, you know they are always there. I got married and he remained a bachelor. Whenever there was a CJC gathering, Tony would fly back to Singapore to attend the gathering as a true old boy of CJC. Tragedy Struck Before we knew it, time had flown and Tony was preparing for this retirement. But tragedy struck.

I still remember the day (August 19, 2013) when our common friend in Sydney, Richard Tan, called me from Australia and asked if Tony was with me. I was puzzled as Tony didn’t tell me that he was coming to Singapore. Richard told me that Tony and he were supposed to tee-off in a game of golf that morning but Tony had not shown up, which was very unusual.

Richard eventually made a police report. The police, assisted by the Fire Department, broke into Tony’s apartment. Tony was found lying on the living room floor with foam around his mouth and was in a deep coma, according to the paramedics. He was rushed to the Royal North Shore Hospital where he was diagnosed with a category 5 subarachnoid haemorrhage, an aneurysm. The situation was critical as Tony’s brain was filled with blood for nearly three days and pressure was building up in his skull. It was a miracle that Tony was found. If it had been any later, he would have died within hours from the time he was found, according to the doctors. The doctors could not operate on Tony as his vital signs were unstable. He was in such a fragile state that even to drill holes into his skull to relieve the pressure from the bleeding in his Martin with Tony, friends forever brain, had to wait till Tony was less unstable.

On August 22, the main surgeon was able to operate on Tony to mend the burst blood vessel. During this period, no visitor was allowed except for Tony’s immediate family 132 Reflections in Truth and Love

members.

I didn’t fly over to Australia immediately as I wouldn’t be allowed to see Tony then. So I sent mailers/requests out to classmates, schoolmates, friends and the Carmelite Sisters to pray for Tony. Tony’s mother couldn’t travel to Sydney as her medical condition didn’t allow it. But she was anxious to see Tony, her favourite child. The next best thing was video conferencing.

I flew into Sydney on August 29, 2013. Tony was in the Intensive Care Unit and in an induced coma as he was having frequent spasm attacks. On September 2, the doctors gave the green light to bring Tony out of his sedation. Together with Tony’s brother and his spouse, we waited eagerly for Tony to come out of his unconscious state. After 30 minutes, Tony was still unconscious which was not a good sign.

We waited anxiously and I continued to pray for Tony to wake up from his deep slumber. Many hours later, after much calling out to Tony, he showed some sign of awakening. Eventually he opened his eyelids for just a few seconds before closing them again.

I would like to share with you two key points behind Tony’s miracle: “What man can’t do, only God can do” and “Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the world”. Should you ever find yourself in a state of helplessness and think everyone has deserted you, I pray you will remember the above points. God is our Father and is always there for us.

Never lose faith but pray to Him always with conviction.

The neuro surgeon who operated on Tony and the doctor in attendance invited Tony’s brother and me for a short meeting. They asked us what Tony was like and if he would want to live in a vegetative state for the rest of his life. They also asked us to prepare ourselves for long term nursing care for Tony. In their professional opinion, Tony would not recover and would be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life due to the massive damage and trauma to his brain.

As we walked out of the meeting room feeling rather depressed by the doctors’ dire prognosis, I told Tony’s brother not to lose hope. That man could not undo what God wanted. I didn’t care what the doctors said. For me, it was inconceivable that God would desert Tony now after bringing him back from the brink of death.

On September 4, before I flew back to Singapore, I went to visit Tony again in ICU. He was still in his deep sleep and had a hole in his throat because he needed assistance to breathe. Occasionally Tony would choke and cough and only then would his eyes open momentarily before going back into his deep slumber. The situation looked hopeless but I continued to pray on my Rosary and left a small statute of the child Jesus at Tony’s bed side-table, before I left for the airport.

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The Miracle The miracle began about four to five weeks later. Tony became stronger and he was more awake than asleep. He began to show signs that he could recognise some of the people who came to visit him at the hospital but he had zero physical ability. Even though Tony could not walk nor talk, his condition was stable. The doctors were amazed not only at Tony’s recovery but also at his pace of recovery as well. The day came when they deemed Tony’s condition to be stable and well enough to go for rehabilitation.

On October 10, Tony was moved to Mount Wilga Private Hospital, Hornsby where he stayed till early January 2014. The miracle gained traction as Tony continued to show more and more signs of improvement in both his cognitive faculties as well as his physical abilities. Soon Tony was able to eat on his own and then he could get up and walk with the nurses’ help.

His memory started to come back but he was totally clueless as to what had happened to him on that eventful day. His speech was slurred and he stammered a lot. At that stage, we knew that our prayers had been answered as the miracle was unfolding right before our eyes.

He couldn’t recognise his siblings initially but after a few visits he was able to. However, he recognised me when we did our first video chat after his incident. Guess it must have been our deep bonding. By January 2014, Tony was able to walk slowly by himself in small steps. He would drag his feet as his legs were weak and so couldn’t lift them higher like in normal walking. His speech was less slurred but the stammer was still there.

The day came when Mt Wilga decided that they had done all they could for Tony so he had to continue his recovery elsewhere. The doctor there suggested a nursing home. At this stage, Tony’s physical ability was about 70 to 80 per cent but his mental capacity was probably 50 to 60 per cent of his old self.

So Tony was admitted to Burga Nursing Home which was not the best of choices. Tony was unhappy at Burga and he tried to escape from the home a few times. His belongings were always packed in his bag ready for his escape. It was understandable as who would want to see mentally unwell patients daily. How could one’s own mental condition improve in such an environment? Tony’s improvements appeared to have stopped. His sister, Margaret, and my Aussie friends who visited Tony in Burga, strongly felt that Burga was not the place for Tony. It was heart wrenching to see Tony standing at the exit gate hoping his leaving visitors would take him away from Burga.

The Great Escape Sometime in May 2014, Margaret called me and asked for my help to take Tony out of Burga and fly him back to Singapore. She and her mother believed that Tony should not be in Burga but Tony’s other siblings were adamant that he should remain there.

My concern then was whether flying could aggravate Tony’s medical condition. I have by

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then learnt to leave all to God and so I asked God to guide me on this difficult request. It dawned on me that perhaps God’s reason for bringing Tony back from the brink of death was that God planned to answer Tony’s mother’s prayer to see her son before she passed on.

On May 28, I flew to Sydney to embark on my mission to break Tony out of the “Cuckoo’s Nest”. Margaret and I stayed at Tony’s apartment for two days. Then with the help of a good friend, Captain Sze, we took Tony out of Burga without his other siblings’ knowledge and agreement. Tony was allowed out by Burga on our excuse of taking Tony for a day’s outing. If we had done it any other way, we would have needed all the siblings to sign Tony out of Burga. Back at the apartment, Tony’s condition started to improve again. He was walking better although he was still shuffling his feet. There was less stammering in his speech. His long term memory was fine except for the day of the tragedy. His short term memory was bad at that time.

On June 4, all three of us were at Sydney airport. As Margaret was flying back to Singapore on another flight, she was anxious about Tony being alone with just me. She was worried that the impending flight might have an adverse impact on Tony. I told her not to worry as God would take care of all of us. After 7½ hours, with God’s grace, Tony and I landed safely at Changi International Airport.

Tony’s mother finally had her prayers answered and I could see her glowing with love and excitement to see Tony again in person. It was a priceless moment and I am so fortunate that I was there. Tony was fine throughout his stay in Singapore and didn’t suffer any relapse or needed any medical attention.

Priceless Takeaways Today, Tony can drive a car and ride his motor scooter. He helps out at a Christian church near his home daily. The doctors wrote Tony off that he would never recover and be in a vegetative state for the rest of his life due to the massive damage and trauma that his brain suffered.

Now five years later, Tony not only doesn’t show any physical sign of that tragedy but has recovered close to 100 per cent of his physical abilities. He has recovered 85 to 90 per cent of his mental capacity and lives independently today. Tony’s doctors are dumbfounded by Tony’s miraculous recovery.

I would like to share with you two key points behind Tony’s miracle: “What man can’t do, only God can do” and “Prayer is the most powerful weapon in the world”.

Should you ever find yourself in a state of helplessness and think everyone has deserted you, I pray you will remember the above points. God is our Father and is always there for us. Never lose faith but pray to Him always with conviction.

Our Father will answer our prayers. Sometimes it may take a little longer and sometimes the results may differ from what we asked but He will answer our prayers.

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Committee’s Path: Our Footprint The organising committee, as expressed in the Foreword, decided to reach out to the pioneer batch to gather their reflections for this book – Our Footprints: In Truth and Love – as a compilation of varied stories based on our college mates’ own experiences and life journeys. This book is a humble contribution.

On 23 March 2018, we sent an email to members of the pioneer batch who are on the alumni contact list and followed up, over a few months, with phone calls and emails.

Many pioneers were keen. Many also found it a challenging task as it involved a scanning over many years of one’s life, since CJC. Those articles that you read here were done through much perseverance, a desire to share and a determination to get it done. A number of pioneers who supported the idea just could not put down their stories as the task was overwhelmingly demanding and it also meant taking up time away from family and work commitments. Of course, some were not keen.

We apologise to anyone who would have loved to contribute and we did not reach out to you. We relied on the alumni contact list and did not know how to go further when emails bounced back or had outdated phone numbers.

We deeply appreciate the 27 contributors who had written down their footprint and are sharing their stories. We were moved by the depth of the sharing. Many showed how ‘In Truth and Love’ that could have been alien concepts to some of us in our teenage years, had played a role in many ways in the lives of our friends as CJC’s motto deepened in its meaning had directed many on their own individual journeys.

We must also thank everyone who has made time and contributed. We also thank the current CJC staff for their encouragement and support so that we could launch this book at the 2019 CJC’s Speech Day event.

Lastly, we say Thank You to CJC that has influenced so many of us, directly and indirectly.

This is our gift to CJC and to ourselves. We hope our footprints might be inspirational to CJC students who walk through these walls at Whitley Road, that we saw rising in 1975.

In Truth and Love

IN LOVING MEMORY Of our college mates who have left us much too soon We treasure forever the friendship and happiness we shared together You continue to live in our hearts and thoughts, With love and fond memories of our mates, principals, teachers and staff who have passed on, And for many of us who believe, you are home with the Lord.

Rest in Peace In God’s arms, forever.

“In the path of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” Proverbs 12:28