Dear All Esplendorian Parents,
Post-Jogging Group Pic at 'The Famous' (A' famosa)
May i first CONGRATULATE each and every one of you for having raised such fine, obedient and respectful children!!! I believe each of them will bring credit and honour not only to our respective families but more importantly to the nation as well.
It was a pleasure and a privilege to have spent a most wonderful weekend with all of them (sans Tengku Azreen whom had a serious eye infection - thankfully his Mum, Puan Noriza has confirmed that he is all well now) at the Holiday Inn, Melaka during the EWE.
The EWE panned out as planned and under the direction of STIFLER and LEGO (the Two Project Managers), almost all the activities went according to schedule.
Briefly,
SATURDAY
Stifler & Lego sorting rooming list
STIFLER and LEGO dutifully went to the Holiday Inn Melaka by 11.00 am in order to ensure that the respective rooming lists and the seminar room were all ready prior to the arrival of the all the participants. I must commend their maturity as the rooming lists selection did not result in any chaos nor complaints by the Hotel management, other guests nor the accompanying teachers.
Mr Tan Cheh Li also kindly turned up at the hotel in the afternoon to ensure that everything was in order and he also attended the first of the day's session (with apologies for being unable to attend dinner).
Encik Hazwandy conducting the first session
Happy Campers
The winner gets to sleep early...
The first session was conducted by Encik Hazwandy which i understood went very well with the participants seen scurrying up and down the hotel facilities (towards the end of that session) in their team building exercise.
In the interim, Parents began to stream in and i was pleased that 15 sets of parents (some with their other siblings) sacrificed their precious weekend in order to be present and give their moral support to all the participants.
Hungry 'Hordes' of Esplendorians
The hilight of the first day ensued with an early dinner at the famous Restoran Ikan Bakar Sungai Duyong - everyone, and i mean everyone joined in - we had 105 pax!!! We occupied almost half the restaurant's capacity and i believe the restaurant's owners pledge was..."kita bagi diaorang makan sampai kenyang!" (For a more interesting quote, kindly refer to GIANT).
At this juncture, I would wish to again extend my sincere apologies to Dr Chia Keng Boon, Cikgu Omar and Mr Rama for the lateness of the dinner invite - it was entirely my own shortcoming and was sincerely unintentional - i am ever so grateful that they managed to reschedule their respective dinner arrangements just so they could join and make the Esplendor dinner more meaningful.
The sated 'hordes' then attended prayers at the local mussola ( i believed one participant said, "Eh, surau ni macam kenal aje...and then proceeded to go pray and visit at her Grandmother's!).
The evening session was deliberately kept 'light and easy' with two Kaisers (The Crazed of 99-03), namely Dr Hazwan Khair (soon graduating as a Medical Doctor at the International Medical University) and Encik Nashraf (an Economics Lecturer at the International Islamic College) - they began with some personal inspirational talks and videos before the Esplendorians were treated to some 'in-house' anecdotes and 'how to survive KYS' tips - by which time the attending Parents were obliged to leave the seminar room (on the premise that the lesser they know, the better it would be for the parents to trust their children's behaviours at KYS).
Melaka River Boat Cruise
Through a unanimous show of hands, it was then off to the (now world famous) Melaka River Cruise! We boarded the last three boats (parents included) and even the local (old) lads amongst us (cue Tuan Haji Abdul Razak, father of FARAH AMANI) was amazed at the transformation of the Melaka River (kudos to Dato' Seri Mohd Ali Rustam and the Melaka State Government) - it was truly a magical night river cruise!
The walk back to the hotel (yes, everyone, including the parents walked!), through the side streets of the new shophouses was made interesting with the presence of a local Pasar Malam - some were generously treated by Tuan Haji Abdul Razak to the simple joys of a cold bottle of 'oren bodoh' (pardon my French, that was what we in Kedah used to call it) and sasparilla ('pulang balik botol, dapat 5 sen...').
It being an 'escapade...', i took the liberty of not imposing a curfew that Saturday night, rather just reminded all participants to be responsible and that the next day's event shall began with a 6.45am Jogging session SHARP!
Some took to their rooms, some stayed to chat down at the hotel lobby, there were a few (chaps?) perhaps that went to explore the local vicinity, some sensible ones, sat at the lobby to watch Man Utd beat Bolton Wanderers at home 3 - 0 !
SUNDAY
The early Birds
All the girls (well almost all...) were exceptional in that they were fully dressed and ready for action by 0645! The majority of the Boys...ha!ha! (Just like shooting fish in a barrel actually!) were predictably late - sauntering, sashaying, down to the hotel lobby past 0655...but credit to all of them (including the three ladies...), they sportingly paid their penance by doing the minimum 30 nos. of push-ups in the Lobby.
Grand Prize = 100 push ups
And credit to the two mums, Puan Hajjah Faridah Hanum (mum of FARAH AMANI) and Puan Dr Adlin (mum of MELON) - who gamely joined the early morning jogging session - from the Hotel to the A 'Famosa!
Morning Jog
Thru' at Dataran Pahlawan
School cheers shocked the very foundations of old Bandar Hilir and it was very gratifying to see the Esplendorians being the youngest set of people going about their morning exercises (which was entirely - without exception - made up of those (lucky enough!) to be in the retired age group) - This was also a central theme we hope Esplendorians will continue to practice throughout their life...to keep fit! Health is the first Wealth!
Anything Boys could do...
The Girls could do better!
Dr Hazwan Khair (being the Ace KYS Sprinter not too long ago) then led the group exercises which constituted all the participants forming a big circle at the very front of the gates of A 'Famosa! The group exercise session ended with all the participants facing 'Jalur Gemilang' in front of the A' Famosa, singing Negaraku, Melaka Maju Jaya, school song and doing the spirited Esplendor Cheer!
So can Mums!!!
Paying homage to A' Famosa
They the jogged back to the Hotel for a sumptuous breakfast before the 'Parent's Motivation' talk session began at 10.30am.
Sunday's session began in the morning with the first of the eleven parents whom had been kind enough to take the podium and engaged with all the participants on matters related to their own respective background, studies, professions and life - ending with their doa's that all the participants would work hard and smart and achieve the greatest of success.
The list of the Parent Speakers are as follows :
1. Dr Anwar Samhari (father of LEE), a "Consultant Rheumatologist & Pain Specialist"
2. Encik Ridza (father of AKHLIL), an "Advocate & Solicitor"
3. Dato' Shahrom (father of ANDO), an "Advocate & Solicitor"
4. YB Datuk Hamzah Zainudin (father of PIZZO), a "Deputy Minister for Plantation Industries and Commodities "
5. Encik Nek Abdul Rahman (father of PUTEH), a "Customer Service Officer" of a Bank branch in Kota Bharu - a special expression of gratitude to Encik Nek Abdul Rahman who drove his entire family down from Kota Bharu on Friday to join EWE and spoke in Bahasa Melayu with poignant reminders of how far his own immediate struggle had been and that the future for each and everyone of the participants still beckons before them - it was humbiling to realise that 'upward social mobility' is still achievable in Malaysia through Education!
6. Dr Fadhlullah Suhaimi (father of STIFLER), a "Physician turned Director of PEMANDU"
7. Tuan Haji Abdul Razak ( father of FARAH AMANI), an "Engineer with EXXON"
8. Puan Noraini (mum of TUCK), a "Senior Manager with PETRONAS"
9. Dato' Dr Samani (father of SYAHIN), a "Thoracic Surgeon and Cardiologist"
10. Encik Zolkifli (father of LEGO), an "Engineer with PETRONAS"
11. Encik Izham (father of YAYA), an "Architect"
I believed the participants somewhat benefitted from the frankness of the speakers (perhaps a few budding 'Architects' were actually also thwarted...) and gets the gist that they still have a long way to go in their quest for excellence - they were also driven the point that the SPM is the first of many steps towards success...(refer to MELON for his "so many steps....bila nak habis? quip).
Lunch was made free and easy (with each student being given RM10) after most students requested some time to shop for essentials at the nearby Mahkota Parade.
Ms Karen's Talk
Ms Karen rolled-out her 'sponsorship' presentation after lunch - and it was timely for the parents to hear that some participants still need to realise that THIS IS THE SPM YEAR!!!
It was also interesting to know that unlike the years past, the numbers of successful scholarship holders from KYS has somewhat dwindled (eg. only two with Khazanah Malaysia) - thus, the only bankable 'promises' were the ones made by the Prime Minister in 2010 which stated, "In July last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said all students who scored 9A+ or more would receive PSD scholarships for local or overseas studies, regardless of their race." and in 2011 said, "The Cabinet has decided that all students who scored 8A+ and above in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2010 will get a Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship."
Thus, it is patently clear now that Esplendor will have to 'up their game' tremendously in order to secure the coveted 'overseas scholarship' - think...10A+? and also work on their 'life's story' which would be an integral consideration for application into the best universities in the world!
The participants were also reminded that the cost of an Undergraduate course at a top overseas univeristy would currently be in the region of about RM 1 million (more for medicine!) - thus Esplendorians basically have their work cut out to 'earn' a post-dated cheque from the Government which works out at RM 90,000 per month / or RM 3,000 per day!!! (from January 2012 till the end of SPM)!
The parents sincerely hope the participants are aware of the gravity of the situation and the literally work their socks off for the next 10 months!
The final session of EWE proved the most endearing and entertaining! Four Esplendorians, MELON, ANNEKA, FIQ and FAZA took the stage to relate their personal experiences at KYS thus far...whilst the girls speech were very eloquent, real and touching, the boys proved 'entertaining' with FIQ had everyone bursting with laughter from his 'monologue...'!!!
The penultimate act was the gift of an 'All Black's' miniature rugby ball - signed by the current reigning Rugby World Cup winning Captain, Richie Mc Caw, Israel Dagg, Ali Williams and Samuel Whitelock - by Batch Leader, Amzar Muzani (KAPOK) to the College, represented by Mr Tan Cheh Li (apart from the significance of the rugby ball to KYS as a rugby playing school, it also served as a symbolic gesture of the first sincere and heartfelt contribution back to the College from Esplendor, which is hoped will inspire a lasting legacy with all Kaisers, past and present).
Esplendor's 1st gift to KYS
The session ended with a 'pledge' by Esplendorians :
The SPM Pledge
"As members of the Esplendor family,
We solemnly swear to treasure and honour ourselves,
Believe in our potential and capabilities,
Dream without limits,
Perform our best at all times,
We solemnly swear to treasure and honour ourselves,
Believe in our potential and capabilities,
Dream without limits,
Perform our best at all times,
We vow to listen,
See,
Feel with our hearts,
Articulate,
Reason before we act,
Conceal courtesy,
We would chase our vivid dreams,
Know no failure,
We will make a difference,
In that we strongly believe.
Esplendor 100% Straight A+!"
Esplendorians making 'The SPM Pledge'
The EWE ended with the pledge...unfortunately, they had also missed the earlier bus pick-up time and had to endure another hour of wait in the hotel lobby - the picture below illustrates the intensity of the EWE over the weekend...
Sleeping Beauties
It is hoped that the EWE succeeded in its objective to serve a timely reminder to each and every one of the Esplendorian's duty to oneself, the family and the nation - beginning with the SPM.
Finally, I must thank all the parents who attended and especially to those who generously donated monies for the event and especially YB Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin for making the early commitment back in November 2011.
I apologise for not reporting on the outcome of the EWE earlier - as i was very, very inundated and was away until last weekend - i am currently trying to do an audit on all the generous contributions received from our wonderful parents and hopefully do the needful asap.
Thank you one and all.
Sincerely,
Izham Ismail
Kuala Lumpur
