The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being.
She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.
"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.
She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel."
"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.
"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.
After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk non-stop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.
Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she revelled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.
At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."
As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humour every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!"
"There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."
"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."
She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.
One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep.
Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.
Remember, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY, GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.
Government fed by the people
Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.
Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?
When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.
Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)
Friday, October 05, 2007
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Selangor Ongs' Clansmen Association
(My father, standing fourth from left; Ong Hei Sia, sitting fourth from left)My late father was one of the passive founding members of this little known association of Chinese men with surname Ong in Selangor, which actually includes Kuala Lumpur for this purpose. It was founded in the 60s and I still remember my father going to the preliminary meetings, getting a lift from Ong Hei Sia, who used to own an Esso petrol station in Jalan Ipoh, near the roundabout leading to the Jalan Kuching roundabout which further leads to Jalan Kepong.
Hei Sia was rather generous, contributing tens of thousands of ringgit (a new Mercedes 200 costed only Rm20,000 then) towards the setting up of the association, which had its beginning in rented premises in Jalan Silang. Years later, the association managed to raise enough funds to buy its own premises in Jalan Ipoh Kechil, a decent 3-storey corner shophouse, behind Tan Chong showroom cum headquarters at junction of Jalan Raja Laut and Jalan Ipoh..
During the initial period, we were proud to have some VIPs like Chief Justice H.T. Ong, his brother Justice H.S.Ong and Minister, Ong Kee Hui to grace some of the events. Incidentally, CJ H.T.Ong actually attended my wedding dinner in 1976! Unaware of his presence, the association treasurer chided me and took the trouble to lead us to his table to offer a toast to him and his wife. I got married during my 6-week holiday in KL and the event was organised by my parents, which was my excuse for being blur then.
Later, we had MCA President, Tan Koon Swan to attend one or two SOCA dinner functions. More recently, former MCA President, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik and wife, Toh Puan Edna Ong attended a dinner held at the Dewan Heng Gok Hai, named after the man who put up the building, which is located at the entrance to SMK MBS Sentul, my alma mater. (Just went past it last weekend, renamed Dewan HGH Convention Centre and below it, S.R.J.(C)Sentul). Heng is also Ong to the Teochews, like Wang to Taiwanese and Wong to Cantonese and some Hainanese, like lawyer Ronnie Wong Chin Yiam, my former MBS classmate. Yet, Ong Ka Ting and Ong Tee Keat, though spelt the same, are not of our surname!
Before Dewan HGH, big dinner events used to be held at the Thean Hou Temple hall, on a hill off Jalan Syed Putra. Some members consider this as a Hainanese temple not sure if it is so or just because of office bearers like Tan Loon Swan and other Hainanese. I believe Tan Koon Swan had some misunderstanding with his former boss, Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, who used to live opposite the temple, over Feng Shui.
More recently, my only contact with office-bearers when I attended a dinner function is a son of Ong Ee King, a past President (not Ben E King) and an Advisor (someone who declined to be an office-bearer and retained, ie. can afford to contribute or buy Rm1,000 or Rm2,000 tickets for a table for 10, besides past generous contributions), Ong Hock Eng, who happens to be a minerals exporter who buys minerals from my in-laws! He probably has business dealings with a past President, Dato Wong Chin Chye, a tin miner and politician from Rawang.
The top floor of SOCA’s own building in Jalan Ipoh Kechil is reserved for own use and is still being used to house tablets of deceased members, which included my parents’. During festivals like, Spring, Autumn and Chinese New Year, members and their families would gather to pray to deities and deceased members. This is followed by lunch.
The traditional ancestor worship has also created problems of worship to descendants of members, who have become Christians. While some do not mind holding joss sticks, treating it as only symbolic and traditional, others will not get involved at all and preferred to stay away from functions. Even during wedding ceremonies at home, offering tea to ancestors at the altar had caused serious friction among in-laws.
The ground and first floors are rented out to provide some basic income. I am not proud to say that I am not a member for various reasons. My brothers’ children were getting money prizes as encouragement for getting good results in schools and I find it too obvious if I were to do so. The main reason was my migration to Perak, which means I should be joining, if I were to, the one in Taiping for example, which again is too far for me. Anyway, we have had one or two treasurers who did not account for some monies collected, which put off quite a number of would be members and office bearers. Last but not least, I also find associations to be a place where people look up to people who are successful, whether financially or otherwise, preferably willing to contribute money substantially. The rest tend to be bystanders making up the number or people who like to be associated with VIPs and political leaders.
I would like to imagine myself as Honorary Treasurer if I was given the chance, but I am afraid my strict rules concerning financial transactions would have been stressful if I were to come across hanky panky dealings. My late second brother was at one time, elected to be in charge of ‘English-speaking’ members but he was too busy then to have done anything fruitful. The members and their children were and are predominantly Chinese educated.
I did a check and found that the association does not have a website. It would be nice to start one, even if unofficially, to see how far our Ongs in Selangor have spread to. For example, I would be proud to say that my children are now in London, Brighton and Maastricht!
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Hokkien: my children's father tongue
Taking the easy way to teach my children some Hokkien, I take the liberty to copy from TV Smith's excellent article posted in his Dua Sen on 11/04/05.
"If there's a Chinese worker kidnapped in a rogue state, you can bet your arm that he's from Fujian Province" says an article in Running Dog. The Fujians (or Hokkiens as they are known here) are the unsung heroes of the far-flung Chinese diaspora.
The Hokkiens may be the biggest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia but the fact usually goes unnoticed except for one particular night. On the 9th day of the Chinese New Year, closet Hokkiens set off the loudest bang on earth. Armed with enough firepower to upset the earth's rotation - but thankfully restrained by the law - they settle for pissing off neighbours, pets and cops.
Most outsiders, understandably, consider Cantonese as the predominant Chinese dialect of Malaysia. In reality, Hokkien is the 'lingua franca' for many Chinese in Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu, Malacca and Johor. Within the Klang Valley, Hokkien is also widely spoken in Klang, Kepong and Setapak. So how did we end up with this popular misconception? Some say it was due to a misguided political move to limit the use of Mandarin on our airwaves during the 80's. Mandarin was then promoted as an unifying language in the Hokkien strongholds of Singapore and Taiwan.
But why pick Cantonese instead of Hokkien? Firstly, ignorant advertisers thought only Cantonese consumers (of Klang Valley) had purchasing power. It didn't help that most Hokkiens spoke Cantonese and not vice-versa. Secondly, Hokkien television programmes from Fujian State TV and even Taiwan sucked big time. The soaps were overly melodramatic and its production quality flaky. In contrast, their southern neighbours in Hong Kong were light years ahead in technique and content. Thirdly, the dialect itself consists of so many sub-dialects and regional variations, making 'standardisation' impractical.
The Hokkiens were running away from home since the cavemen days but the first major exodus was at the turn of the last century. Many of them landed in Ma Lai Ar with only a shirt on their back. Through grit, grind and a frugal diet of chai por, a number of them became octogenarian billionaires and tan slee. Ironically, in some cases, their educated heirs reversed the hard-earned fortune almost overnight.
Other illustrious descendants conquered the political world (Latuk Slee Dr Lim Keng Yaik - Gerakan, Latuk Slee Ong Ka Ting - MCA, Saudala Lim Kit Siang - DAP) and the blogsphere (Bolok Ong Jeff Ooi - Screenshots). By the way, there is now also a Hokkien bolok (blog), albeit in romanised form.
If the Malays contributed the words amok and 'rangutan to the English language, the Hokkiens' only contribution must be the universal word; tea (from teh). The influence of the Malay language on colloquial Hokkien is undoubtedly unique, especially when many of the original words were borrowed from Sanskrit, Portuguese, Arabic and English. This linguistic mixture is a living testimony of our nation's colourful and diverse cultural heritage.
Hokkien > Malay
Beh Chia - Becha (horse carriage)Bee Hoon - Bihun (vermicelli)Chat - Cat (paint)
Chin Chai - Cincai (easy)Gian - Gian (addicted)Gua - Gua (me)Goli - Guli (marble) Kantang - Kentang (potato)Kam Cheng - Kamcheng (close)Kau - Kau (thick)
Ker - Kuih (pastry)Kongsi - Kongsi (share)Kueh Chee - kuaci (melon seeds)
Lu - Lu (you)Mi - Mee (noodles)Pan - Papan (wood)
Sar Tay - Satay (3 pieces, from Hainanese)Teh Kor - Teko (teapot)Tengki - Tengki (IC)Tau Geh - Taugeh (bean sprout)Tow Hoo - Tauhu (beancurd)Towkay - Tauke (boss)
Malay > Hokkien
Agak - Agak (estimate)Baru - Balu (recently)Belacan - Balachian (shrimp paste)
Botak - Botak (bald)Diam - Tiam (quiet)Durian - Liulian (durian)Duit - Lui (money)Gaji - Gaji (pay)Hutang - Otang (debt) Jamban - Jamban (toilet)
Kacau - Kachiau (disturb) Kahwin - Kauin (marry)Kaki - Kaki (own, self)
Kari - Kali (curry)Kaya - Kaya (coconut egg jam)Lelong - Lay Long (auction)
Longkang - Long Kau (drain)Main - Main (play) Mana - Mana (where)
Mata Mata - Mata (cop)Misai - Misai (moustache)Pancit - Pumchet (puncture)
Pandai - Pan Nai (clever)Pantang - Pantang (superstitious)Pakat - Pakat (conspire)Pasar - Parsat (market)Pecah - Pit Chia (break)Roti - Loti (bread)
Samseng - Sam Seng (gangster)Sabun - Sap Bun (soap)Salah - Salah (wrong)
Sama - Sama (all)Saman - Sambang (summons)Sayang - Sayang (pity, waste)
Sekali - Skali (again)Senang - Sinang (easy)Senget - Senget (crooked)
Sombong - Som Bong (unfriendly)Sotong - Sortong (squid)Suka- Sukak (like)
Tahan - Tahan (withstand)Tapi - Tapi (but)Tiga Suku - Sar Suku (crazy)
Tikam Tikam - Tikam (draw)Timun - Timun (cucumber)Tolong - Tor Long (help)
Some local Hokkien words are innocuous but may sound offensive with changing times:
Ahmad (driver)Bang Ka Li (Sikh)Huan Kia or Huan Na (Malay)Kek Leng Kia (Indian)Sakai (Orang Asli)Sek Kia Ni (Serani)
Others sound bizzare but are actually quite logical (etymologically):
Ang Mo Liulian - (mangosteen) (corrected to soursop)
Butokan - (bottle)
Chiak Hong - (eat wind > vacation)
Holland Tau (peas)
Kana Kiu - (olive ball > rugby game)
Tua Kow - Big dog (police inspector)
Tua Kow reminds me of a story related to me by my father:
A Hokkien man went to see the police inspector to seek the release of his son. "Ai yah, Anjing busat tua kow ko, gua kasi lu ayam lua eko..." (Ah yes, elder brother Big dog, I give you two chickens...)
The Malay inspector angrily dismissed him with a reply, "Pergi lah, babi." (Go away, pig)
The poor man went home disappointed and told his wife, "E mai kueh, e ai tu." (He did not want chicken, he wanted pig.)
"If there's a Chinese worker kidnapped in a rogue state, you can bet your arm that he's from Fujian Province" says an article in Running Dog. The Fujians (or Hokkiens as they are known here) are the unsung heroes of the far-flung Chinese diaspora.
The Hokkiens may be the biggest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia but the fact usually goes unnoticed except for one particular night. On the 9th day of the Chinese New Year, closet Hokkiens set off the loudest bang on earth. Armed with enough firepower to upset the earth's rotation - but thankfully restrained by the law - they settle for pissing off neighbours, pets and cops.
Most outsiders, understandably, consider Cantonese as the predominant Chinese dialect of Malaysia. In reality, Hokkien is the 'lingua franca' for many Chinese in Penang, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu, Malacca and Johor. Within the Klang Valley, Hokkien is also widely spoken in Klang, Kepong and Setapak. So how did we end up with this popular misconception? Some say it was due to a misguided political move to limit the use of Mandarin on our airwaves during the 80's. Mandarin was then promoted as an unifying language in the Hokkien strongholds of Singapore and Taiwan.
But why pick Cantonese instead of Hokkien? Firstly, ignorant advertisers thought only Cantonese consumers (of Klang Valley) had purchasing power. It didn't help that most Hokkiens spoke Cantonese and not vice-versa. Secondly, Hokkien television programmes from Fujian State TV and even Taiwan sucked big time. The soaps were overly melodramatic and its production quality flaky. In contrast, their southern neighbours in Hong Kong were light years ahead in technique and content. Thirdly, the dialect itself consists of so many sub-dialects and regional variations, making 'standardisation' impractical.
The Hokkiens were running away from home since the cavemen days but the first major exodus was at the turn of the last century. Many of them landed in Ma Lai Ar with only a shirt on their back. Through grit, grind and a frugal diet of chai por, a number of them became octogenarian billionaires and tan slee. Ironically, in some cases, their educated heirs reversed the hard-earned fortune almost overnight.
Other illustrious descendants conquered the political world (Latuk Slee Dr Lim Keng Yaik - Gerakan, Latuk Slee Ong Ka Ting - MCA, Saudala Lim Kit Siang - DAP) and the blogsphere (Bolok Ong Jeff Ooi - Screenshots). By the way, there is now also a Hokkien bolok (blog), albeit in romanised form.
If the Malays contributed the words amok and 'rangutan to the English language, the Hokkiens' only contribution must be the universal word; tea (from teh). The influence of the Malay language on colloquial Hokkien is undoubtedly unique, especially when many of the original words were borrowed from Sanskrit, Portuguese, Arabic and English. This linguistic mixture is a living testimony of our nation's colourful and diverse cultural heritage.
Hokkien > Malay
Beh Chia - Becha (horse carriage)Bee Hoon - Bihun (vermicelli)Chat - Cat (paint)
Chin Chai - Cincai (easy)Gian - Gian (addicted)Gua - Gua (me)Goli - Guli (marble) Kantang - Kentang (potato)Kam Cheng - Kamcheng (close)Kau - Kau (thick)
Ker - Kuih (pastry)Kongsi - Kongsi (share)Kueh Chee - kuaci (melon seeds)
Lu - Lu (you)Mi - Mee (noodles)Pan - Papan (wood)
Sar Tay - Satay (3 pieces, from Hainanese)Teh Kor - Teko (teapot)Tengki - Tengki (IC)Tau Geh - Taugeh (bean sprout)Tow Hoo - Tauhu (beancurd)Towkay - Tauke (boss)
Malay > Hokkien
Agak - Agak (estimate)Baru - Balu (recently)Belacan - Balachian (shrimp paste)
Botak - Botak (bald)Diam - Tiam (quiet)Durian - Liulian (durian)Duit - Lui (money)Gaji - Gaji (pay)Hutang - Otang (debt) Jamban - Jamban (toilet)
Kacau - Kachiau (disturb) Kahwin - Kauin (marry)Kaki - Kaki (own, self)
Kari - Kali (curry)Kaya - Kaya (coconut egg jam)Lelong - Lay Long (auction)
Longkang - Long Kau (drain)Main - Main (play) Mana - Mana (where)
Mata Mata - Mata (cop)Misai - Misai (moustache)Pancit - Pumchet (puncture)
Pandai - Pan Nai (clever)Pantang - Pantang (superstitious)Pakat - Pakat (conspire)Pasar - Parsat (market)Pecah - Pit Chia (break)Roti - Loti (bread)
Samseng - Sam Seng (gangster)Sabun - Sap Bun (soap)Salah - Salah (wrong)
Sama - Sama (all)Saman - Sambang (summons)Sayang - Sayang (pity, waste)
Sekali - Skali (again)Senang - Sinang (easy)Senget - Senget (crooked)
Sombong - Som Bong (unfriendly)Sotong - Sortong (squid)Suka- Sukak (like)
Tahan - Tahan (withstand)Tapi - Tapi (but)Tiga Suku - Sar Suku (crazy)
Tikam Tikam - Tikam (draw)Timun - Timun (cucumber)Tolong - Tor Long (help)
Some local Hokkien words are innocuous but may sound offensive with changing times:
Ahmad (driver)Bang Ka Li (Sikh)Huan Kia or Huan Na (Malay)Kek Leng Kia (Indian)Sakai (Orang Asli)Sek Kia Ni (Serani)
Others sound bizzare but are actually quite logical (etymologically):
Ang Mo Liulian - (mangosteen) (corrected to soursop)
Butokan - (bottle)
Chiak Hong - (eat wind > vacation)
Holland Tau (peas)
Kana Kiu - (olive ball > rugby game)
Tua Kow - Big dog (police inspector)
Tua Kow reminds me of a story related to me by my father:
A Hokkien man went to see the police inspector to seek the release of his son. "Ai yah, Anjing busat tua kow ko, gua kasi lu ayam lua eko..." (Ah yes, elder brother Big dog, I give you two chickens...)
The Malay inspector angrily dismissed him with a reply, "Pergi lah, babi." (Go away, pig)
The poor man went home disappointed and told his wife, "E mai kueh, e ai tu." (He did not want chicken, he wanted pig.)
Wise words since Confucius...
On Marriage:
Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live
without... but whatever you do you'll regret it later.
You can't buy love ... but you pay heavily for it.
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!
My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.
It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.
They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak.
Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee.
A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.
Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.
on Friendship:
True friends stab you in the front.
Forgiveness is giving up my right to hate you for hurting me.
Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.
and generally:
Regular naps prevent old age... especially if you take them while driving.
They said we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.
Ladies first. And then pretty ladies first.
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.
Don't marry the person you want to live with, marry the one you cannot live
without... but whatever you do you'll regret it later.
You can't buy love ... but you pay heavily for it.
Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband!
My wife and I always compromise. I admit I'm wrong and she agrees with me.
It doesn't matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss.
They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom gets to speak.
Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee.
A child's greatest period of growth is the month after you've purchased new school uniforms.
Saving is the best thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.
on Friendship:
True friends stab you in the front.
Forgiveness is giving up my right to hate you for hurting me.
Real friends are the ones who survive transitions between address books.
and generally:
Regular naps prevent old age... especially if you take them while driving.
They said we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they wanted cash.
Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.
Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.
Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others.
Ladies first. And then pretty ladies first.
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools talk because they have to say something.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)