50 years Anniversary Bash at SXI

50 years Anniversary Bash at SXI
The big Five-0 had finally arrived for many of us whom was born in the Independence year. The National day celebration was just yesterday and today being 1st September 2007, many of us ex-Xaverian have had gathered for the big bash at the main entrance of our beloved school, The St Xavier Institution.

Yes, being a bit lazy to drive back alone, I have managed to catch hold a NICE bus ticket for this trips back to Penang. At 1100 hours sharp, my bus departed from the KTM old station. The bus journey was smooth and comfortable and arrival on Penang Island four hours later. To kill time, I drove my brother’s Kia Carnival over to Campbell Street / Kg Malaba to bite on some hawker’s fare.

Yulp. That Woo Hing shop is just round the corner and being a true WIS, not stopping over to browse is not my nature. And before I know it, I was staring at one Tudor Chronograph (pre-Tiger) with black tachymeter; black dial with 3 sub white dial comes with bracelet. Boy! How my heart race that very moment. Did I say; ‘I always wanted one’. No? They have one last piece left and the price is fair and even more attractive than that pre-owned Tudor Chronograph, I had last checked at the Times Square. So what’s now? Yes. You guess it right! About 10 minutes later, I proudly walk out with the watch on my wrist to source for my ‘chow-down’. After a tasteful plate of ‘yin-yang’ (Hor-fun) at the coffee shop next door, I proceed to drive over to my old school.

I arrived at school early, an hour before the big bash starts at 1900 hours. Noticed that no one else had show-up as yet, I took the opportunity to do a quick de-tour around the school vicinity. Armed with my Fuji Finepix digital, I went about capturing a few good shots of my beloved school..

A few guests, I mean - classmate has arrived by then. We were staring at each other, we recognized each other but could not recall names. We shook hands, exchanged greetings and no, we did not shed any tears. We are men, remember. Of course, the guest of honor is our Bros. Charles. And my! He looks very fit, a man in his nineties. (I believe) We shook hands, exchange a few preliminaries. Bros. Charles is the man, whom many had admired from afar in the schooling days, but have not had the guts to approach the great man to say a simple ‘hellos’. Well, you know, those were the Principal – students’ days back then.

By now, our group had grown larger by the minutes. Facial recognize amid the grey, bald and spare tyre features comes in various shapes of body’s misfit are for all to see.

Our groups were then taken on a tour down the memory lane through the school corridors by our organizer – Mr. KS & M. We make straight to the school canteen compound, where everybody who is anybody seizes the opportunity to take snap shots. I, of course, take this opportunity to be photographed with Bros. Charles.

Without much ado, we then proceed to walk over to the E & O Hotel on the next block. It was a nostalgic walk, as a matter of fact – with all the old buddies tagging along. Reaching the E & O Hotel, we went straight to the sea front. The sun was about to set. Beautiful picturesque scenario, I would say with air of nostalgic feeling.

Bros. Charles was given the honor to give the opening speech. And after that our school song;
Here goes; (For those who know the chord / lyrics, come on let’s sing along)

1. All through our college a voice is resounding,
Promptly respond to your duty's sweet call,
Hearken you all for the trumpet is sounding,
Your Mater's proclaiming her watchwords to all.

Chorus :
Forward her children dear, ever with hearts sincere,
Render with joy to your Mater her due;
All that is vile reject, Heaven will e'er protect,
Sons of St. Xavier's, valiant and true.

2. Labour will conquer your motto still bearing,
Forward with courage in ways that are just,
True to your standard be doing and daring,
As faithful Xaverians in Heaven your trust

Free flowing of beer around here and plenty of good food on the buffet spread. So as many of us buddies switching tables with plenty of ‘boozing’ around. The same goes for photo shoot session.

I must say; ‘Yam-pau, sek choi’ (Cantonese translation; Drink till get drunk, eat till enough). And we merry around till the cows come home. So as the cows need to go home, so do us. We bade goodbyes to everybody who is anybody and promises to meet again but the question is when……

My special thanks to Mr. KS and M for making the above big bash a success.
Cheerio……

P/s; Let me absorb this system to post some photographs……see flickr