Former Classmate Back from Canada for CNY 2024

The last time the Chee's or Frankie and Teresa came back to KK was in February 2014, exactly ten years ago. I managed to organize a reunion lunch for them to meet up with our former classmates at one of the local Chinese Restaurants (Read here).

In August 2017 when my wife and I toured Canada, we also met up with the couple in Vancouver before we started our driving tour to the Rockies (Read here).

Taken in front of the Chee's house in Vancouver during our

August 2017 visit to Canada.

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In September 2022, I was informed by Teresa that her husband, Frankie underwent a kidney transplant in a Vancouver hospital on 18 September 2022. The operation was a success. He no longer needs to go thrice weekly for the dialysis. Quality of life has improved.

Frankie was discharged from the Hospital on 23 Sep 2022, five days after the operation.

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Earlier in late December 2023, Teresa whatsApp me that a huge 3-generation group would be visiting Sabah in conjunction with the CNY 2024. The trip would be two-week duration from 4 to 19 February 2024.

Sadly, Frankie was not able to join the group. According to Teresa, such long trip away from home would be too demanding on him.

Teresa's trip program was jammed-packed with activities. Besides KK, the group toured many places - Membakut, Kudat and Kudasang.

I managed to find a slot of just two and half hours in the afternoon of 18 February, the day before they flew back to Canada to meet up. I also managed to get another former classmate, Jeannie within very short notice to join us. Within this short time, we managed to visit our old school at the Signal Hill and had coffee at the popular outlet, Kedai Kopi Fook Yuan.

We visited our old Lok Yuk School at Signal Hill. We were once classmates in this old school and had spent one and a half years together from 1965 to mid 1966 in Form 1 to middle of Form 2. In August 1966, Lok Yuk School moved to the new school at Likas. The old school premise later on became the campus of the Sabah Theological Seminary.

(Left) In front of main entrance to Sabah Theological Seminary, (Right) once the entrance to the old school.

We had a peep at the earth trail that traverses along the hill side. This was once used by students daily to walk/climb from the foot of the hill up to reach the school premise.

The sight of a former classmate who now uses a walking stick triggers nostalgia as well as empathy. Sixty years have passed since she last walked the trail. Now, it's unlikely that she is able to walk the trail again. 

The current sight, though bittersweet still brought back memories of when we were young, full of energy and the many happy times we have had. It's also a testimony of the passage of time and the fragility of life.

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(Top) We stopped by the corridor of the old Chapel where (Bottom 2) we had spent countless times during school recess.

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(Top) At the open space where (Bottom 2) we used to have morning school assembly.

(Top) We walked the staircase where (Bottom) we had to walk multiple times every day.

At this stage of our lives, we are glad that we have a past that we can occasionally go back to - a past that triggers smiles and refreshes lessons learnt; a present that we can still enjoy and a future that we can look forward to. Who know, we might meet up again somewhere in another day!

Chinese New Year Family Reunion 2024

I could not remember whether I have taken any of my children to visit the village where I grew up at Jalan Istana before the family moved away in 1972. Most likely it's no.

This time, I decided to take Paul to have a look at my old school at Signal Hill. On the way as we drove along Jalan Istana to see my old school at the current STS premise, we passed by the junction which T-off from Jalan Pinggir just in front of the Istana Entrance. That T-junction along a steep slope (Read here) eventually leads to the old village I once stayed. We did not stop to take a walk down the slope. I did draw Paul's attention to the thick forested valley next to Jalan Pinggir. The old village is hidden within the thick forest. 

Photo taken in front of the old Chapel of STS. The  Chapel was once used for school assembly of the old Lok Yuk School.

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Paul and Junshi in the second evening after their home coming for the CNY 2024, took us to Oitom, a fine dining restaurant in Kota Kinabalu.

As described in Oitom website, the word Oitom in Kadazan-Dusun language means black. This restaurant is recognized by Tatler Malaysia as a new temple to locavore spirit, and has titillated fine dining lovers in KK. Oitom is also nominated for Malaysia Best Restaurant top 100 from 2019  to 2024. Oitom believes in the importance of utilizing locally sourced and ingredients for their menu, focusing on the abundance of the seafood in Sabah. 

The restaurant offers a set meal of 13 dishes. Each is unique and each contains some local ingredients. Among the local ingredients are bambangan seeds, Borneo mango seeds, tuhau samba, roasted keluak, corn-fed chicken etc. 

It was indeed a very interesting fine dining experience!

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CNY Eve family reunion dinner is traditionally held at my parents old home. We have not had family reunion dinner for the last four years. The last was held in February 2019 before the Covid pandemic. As expected in families with aging family members, full attendance is becoming more difficult. This year, my older brother and my younger brother and his family could not join us.

We are indeed happy that Junshi for the first time joined the reunion dinner!

Among the dishes served that evening are the three dishes which are traditionally always in the menu during the family reunion dinner: Braised pork belly with Taro (芋头扣肉), Hakka Niang tou fu (酿豆腐) and pak cham kai or the Chinese poached chicken (白斩雞).

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CNY Reunion in February 2019 which was attended
by Junshi as well.

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Taken outside the Church entrance after the Church Sunday Service on the second day of Lunar New Year 2024.

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The night before Paul and Junshi flew back to Singapore, we had an 8-course dinner at the Silk Garden Restaurant in the Pacific Sutera Hotel. As customary in CNY meal, Lou Sang is the first dish in the menu.

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Breakfast at our home before leaving for the airport for another home!

This year, we received a big angpow from Paul. For this gesture, I'd like to echo what a well-to-do mom in my church said in her Instagram posted after receiving an angpow from her daughter, "The joy of being a Mom: receiving angpow from my dear daughter!". 

It's not so much about the quantum of the angpow, but the gesture which symbolizes an acknowledgement of gratitude indeed kindle joy and happiness!

MU Fifians is One Member Less

The news of the passing of KC Ho, a member of the MU Fifians group received on 9 February 2024, the CNY Eve was not something unexpected. 

KC in his final WhatsApp posted to the group on 17 January 2024, revealed that his doctor had told him that the treatment rendered on that same day was the final treatment for him. The medical team handling his case had come to the conclusion that treatment options had come to the end and there was no more treatment available. KC was advised to choose to spend his final days either in hospice or at home. He chose the latter. 

He stated specifically in the message that he still could not accept and reconcile with the decision of the doctors. It was obvious from his statement that he was not ready to give up the fight to overcome his illness yet!

KC first informed the Group on 4 April 2022 that he was diagnosed with a rare disease called Dermatomyositis, a form of cancer. He had since been receiving regular treatments at the hospital. That news which came just 10 months after his wife passed away on 6 June 2021 was indeed shocking. His wife was first detected with stage 4 kidney cancer in April 2020.

Since then, KC had undergone numerous rounds of chemo. On 21 November 2022, he had an operation to remove the lymph node. After the operation, he was all fired up and happy to report his steady progress to recovery. He looked positive and happy when two Fifians members paid him a visit at his home in Singapore in May 2023.

Left: Posted on 4.12.22 after his operation in November 2022.

Right: Posted on 20.5.23 after Lai Har and Jenny paid him a visit in Singapore.

This message posted on 25 December 2022 soon after his operation in November 2022 reveals his unyielding spirit and his hope to live on.

But by August 2023, his condition began to worsen. He had a relapse of the cancer and he never recovered from that.

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The last time we met up was during the reunion of the Fifians in August 2016, about seven and a half years ago (Read here). That reunion was organized for the Fifians to meet David Tow who was pivotal in the setting up of the Fifians Group in 1973 when the bulk of the group members first entered the University. David was a lecturer of MU and a Fellow of the 5th Students Residential College.

In that gathering, KC was still the KC whom we knew more than 45 years ago - a jovial and playful guy. In that gathering, he was the "chef" who cooked all the dishes. Cooking was a skill he picked up after the university days.

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In KC, I saw a man who possessed an unyielding spirit of "never-giving-up". Even with his wife gone, he was still determined to carry on living! Indeed an incredible man!

The Fifians are both happy and sad over the passing of KC. We are sad that he finally succumbed to his illness in spite of his long "fight" he put up to stay alive. On the other hand, happy that he is now relieved of his pain and suffering and is now re-united with his wife. May his soul rest in peace!

Chapter 35: CNY Unicorn & Lion Dance of Yesteryears

On 2 February 2024, Pope Francis was reported to have an audience with a delegation from the Italy-China National Federation. Troupe from the Chinese Martial Arts Academy of Vercelli brought the Dragon and Lion to the Apostolic Palace in Vatican. Before the martial arts performance, the pontiff was also invited to paint the Lion's eye - a ritual traditionally meant to empower the Lion to fulfill its duty of bringing good luck, health and prosperity to those present.

This is indeed a rare sight when a head of a religion is seen doing an act that some of the conservative adherents of that faith may find it difficult to accept!

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In the 1950's to mid-1960's, the old Lok Yuk School at Signal Hill where I spent my primary school education and part of my high school education had a unicorn troupe. The troupe members were students of the school. Before every Lunar New Year, they had to undergo vigorous training in martial arts in preparation for performance around the town of Jesselton (Kota Kinabalu). Throughout the lunar new year season, members of the troupe had to forego celebrating the Chinese new year with their families, relatives and friends.  It's a sacrifice I believe they were happy to accept. A primary school classmate of mine who was also my neighbour was a keen member of the troupe. During that period, he was not available to join us roaming around the village, playing games, igniting fire crackers and occasionally being given ang pow by the elders.

Every year, before the launching of the unicorn for the festival, a Blessing Ceremony would be held. I remember participating in one of the Blessing Ceremonies in either 1964 or 1965 when I was in Bridge Class or Form 1. The ceremony was traditionally held in the late afternoon or early evening of the Lunar New Year Eve. It was led by the church pastor and attended by the troupe leader and a unicorn handler among others. The ceremony was held at the small hill beside the old basketball court. The ceremony started with a short exaltation followed by a prayer of blessing for the unicorn and the troupe members by the pastor. After that, the unicorn was led to plug a few green leaves from a nearby tree, chew and swallow them. This signifies that the unicorn is fed and is ready for action!

The unicorn troupe of old Lok Yuk School was eventually disbanded probably in between mid-1960's to late 1960's. The reason for the disbandment was unclear. However, I recall hearing comments made by some members of Basel Church that the hosting of a unicorn troupe under the Church's jurisdiction was incompatible with the Christian faith. Whenever the unicorn troupe was asked to perform in families practising ancestral worship or of Buddhist faith, the unicorn were often led to bow and pay homage to the ancestral altar or altars lined with Chinese deities. Some considered such act to be inappropriate for the troupe members of Christian faith to be involved in. Whether this is the reason for the disbandment, I am not certain!

Incidentally, La Salle School KK under the Roman Catholic Church did have a Lion Troupe around the time when old Lok Yuk School had their Unicorn. That troupe too was disbanded!

Colourised Photo.

A female schoolmate, Lynette recently pointed out that she and another classmate of her were also members of the troupe. She is seen squatting next to a unicorn at front row second from left in this old photo. Her classmate , a daughter of a Pastor of Basel Church Jesselton then is at her left.

Troupe performed along the streets of old KK.

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These days, lion, unicorn and dragon troupes are still aplenty in KK. Most are under some Chinese school boards or the management of Chinese temples.

Interestingly, these days, most of the troupe members are non-Chinese. In the case of SJK(C) Yick Nam Dragon, Unicorn and Lion Dance Troupe, Chinese members are a mere 5% (Read here)

I recall writing a blog about lion dance and Chinese culture in February 2013. The declining participation of Chinese in unicorn, lion and dragon troupes is continuing and I may add - this trend is irreversible (Read here)!

Incredibly, the popularity of lion dance and the participation of Australians of Chinese descent in the lion dance troupes is on the rise in Perth. This popularity is fueled firstly by the active promotion of this part of the Chinese culture by the local Chinese Clan Associations. Secondly,  many Chinese parents also encourage their children to join these lion dance troupes to learn the arts and skill of lion dance performance. This news was conveyed to me just this morning by my daughter during the online "Bai Nian" from family members residing in Australia and Singapore!