Tony owns a printing firm around the Commonwealth area and I got to know him when I went to him for a printing job. We'd only just set up the Nanyang Image Makers and we were about to publish the very first issue of the NaIMs Magazine.
I got more than I bargained for. On top of the magazines, I got a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Tony life started off on a humble note. Son of a single mother, whom at one time was so poverty stricken, had to place Tony in the custody of the Canossian Sisters.
Because of this, Tony has always been supportive of the Canossian Sisters and to this day have not asked for a single cent whenever their newsletter, flyers and brochures needed printing. On top of that, he has been an active supporter of their various ministries.
Tony did not have a formal education and to be where he is today, was purely hard work. He has worked from sailor to hotel chef to door-to-door sewing machine repairman to owner of a printing firm and a small insurance agency. He has done it all. Tony has come and long way and yet remain a humble man with a big cheerful belly. Respect.
One of Tony's talent is cooking. I remembered him calling me one day.
Tony: Eh, I cooking this weekend. Come over and bring all your friends. *hangs up*
The makan session was done in his front porch and he would bring the gas cylinder, gas stove and wok and he would cook on the spot for us while we all sat around in plastic chairs talking the evening away. Sedap!
At the end of the meal, he would hand out a plastic tub that used to be an ice-cream tub.
Ahh... time to pass the charity tub around. He was collecting money for the Canossian Sisters, which we all gave generously. One cannot imagine a simple and modest white, used ice-cream tub, could be filled with so much love.
I was no stranger to private charity work and as such, when I found out about RunForFunds project, it was like water to a fish.
Tony's kindness didn't stop there. Over the years, Tony, together with his son-in-law, have been collecting unsold bread from our local confectioners and distributed them to the homeless people in the vicinity of Desker Road and Johor Street. I am not sure about now, given that I have been away for so long, but I am sure till this day, they would still be doing it, come rain or shine.
Tony has one hobby that he does every weekend without fail. Taking his boat out to sea. It was him that encouraged me to get a boat license. That way he can drink all the beer he wants and dozed off under the warm afternoon sea breeze while I take the boat safely back to Punggol Marina.
I would say that Tony is probably the oldest friend that I have. He is a grandfather already.
Anyway, today is a short blog.
Thank you Tony. Thank you for teaching me to be a better person. Thank you.
p.s. As I was drafting this entry, it dawned on me that I should connect Tony and RunForFunds together. I think with similar goals, we can achieve more with this synergy.
I got more than I bargained for. On top of the magazines, I got a friendship that would last a lifetime.
Tony life started off on a humble note. Son of a single mother, whom at one time was so poverty stricken, had to place Tony in the custody of the Canossian Sisters.
Because of this, Tony has always been supportive of the Canossian Sisters and to this day have not asked for a single cent whenever their newsletter, flyers and brochures needed printing. On top of that, he has been an active supporter of their various ministries.
Tony did not have a formal education and to be where he is today, was purely hard work. He has worked from sailor to hotel chef to door-to-door sewing machine repairman to owner of a printing firm and a small insurance agency. He has done it all. Tony has come and long way and yet remain a humble man with a big cheerful belly. Respect.
One of Tony's talent is cooking. I remembered him calling me one day.
Tony: Eh, I cooking this weekend. Come over and bring all your friends. *hangs up*
The makan session was done in his front porch and he would bring the gas cylinder, gas stove and wok and he would cook on the spot for us while we all sat around in plastic chairs talking the evening away. Sedap!
At the end of the meal, he would hand out a plastic tub that used to be an ice-cream tub.
Ahh... time to pass the charity tub around. He was collecting money for the Canossian Sisters, which we all gave generously. One cannot imagine a simple and modest white, used ice-cream tub, could be filled with so much love.
I was no stranger to private charity work and as such, when I found out about RunForFunds project, it was like water to a fish.
Tony's kindness didn't stop there. Over the years, Tony, together with his son-in-law, have been collecting unsold bread from our local confectioners and distributed them to the homeless people in the vicinity of Desker Road and Johor Street. I am not sure about now, given that I have been away for so long, but I am sure till this day, they would still be doing it, come rain or shine.
Tony has one hobby that he does every weekend without fail. Taking his boat out to sea. It was him that encouraged me to get a boat license. That way he can drink all the beer he wants and dozed off under the warm afternoon sea breeze while I take the boat safely back to Punggol Marina.
I would say that Tony is probably the oldest friend that I have. He is a grandfather already.
Anyway, today is a short blog.
Thank you Tony. Thank you for teaching me to be a better person. Thank you.
p.s. As I was drafting this entry, it dawned on me that I should connect Tony and RunForFunds together. I think with similar goals, we can achieve more with this synergy.
- Voxeros
1. Gary left...
Friday, 22 September 2006 8:48 pm
wow, your life is so colourful that i read all the series at one go.. from sec sch to NS to working world.. hahaha.. especially the one in your NS where your friend is in the car boot and drive especially long.. i wonder how many more name series you have up in your sleeves..
2. JayWalk left...
This series is a 7-parter with the last 2 under password protection. Email me for the password if you are interested to pursue this series further.
Saturday, 23 September 2006 12:40 am ::
Gary: We all have colourful life. Only difference is that I have a knack for remember details and story telling. That's all.This series is a 7-parter with the last 2 under password protection. Email me for the password if you are interested to pursue this series further.
3. JayWalk left...
Does a search for "School boy series" & "tuition series" in the tags on the right side column, just below the Chat Pad.
Enjoy.
Saturday, 23 September 2006 12:45 am ::
Gary: One more thing. I believe the tag search engine couldn't accommodate all the search results for my series.Does a search for "School boy series" & "tuition series" in the tags on the right side column, just below the Chat Pad.
Enjoy.
4. xcake left...
I wanna help the dancing-bears foundation.
Saturday, 23 September 2006 1:42 pm :: http://xcake.blogspot.com
This kind of stories never fails to bring a smile to my face but it's also this kind of stories that makes me feel like such an evil person. ahaha. I hope Tony lives to a long and prosperous life!I wanna help the dancing-bears foundation.
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