NEW YEAR GREETING SENT OUT @ 1.11 AM ON 1.1.11

To download PDF version of Nov-Dec 2010 bumper issue of BBGS OGA eNewsletter for printing, please click on http://www.box.net/shared/tybyldy3l4

FESTIVE GREETINGS FROM BBGS OGA

BBGS OGA Facebook - Significant Milestones

OUR 1000th FACEBOOK FRIEND CAME IN AT 1.31PM ON 15 NOV 2010

Gaik-Li Che, who is now based in Vancouver, studied at University of British Columbia. As she has not replied to our query, our guess is she is from the Class of 2002 (probably BBGS-SBU).

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OUR 2020th FACEBOOK FRIEND CAME IN AT 12.56PM ON 24 NOV 2010

Nor Shariza is a BBGSian from the Class of 1995. A graduate of Universiti Putra Malaysia, Shariza is the third generation in her family to have studied in BBGS. Both her sisters, Nor Sharikin and Nor Sharini are also BBGSians. In fact, Nor Sharini was even more excited than her and commented on her status even before Shariza added: "So glad to be in touch with all of u...Proud to be the 3rd generation in the family of BBGSians!!!"

Nor Shariza with her niece, (Sharikin's daughter).

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OUR 3000th FACEBOOK FRIEND CAME IN AT 11.31AM ON 17 DEC 2010

Sian Mei Yeoh confirmed: "Hi, I was in BBGS for primary school (1992-1998) and since my family moved to PJ, I transferred to Sri Aman in the middle of Form 1. She studied Chemical and Biological Engineering at Northwestern University and is now living in Chicago, Illinois in the United States.

Dinosaur Meets the ‘Last of the Mohicans’ and Newbie

by SY Phang

Photo caption: (L-R): Dinosaur Sow Yoong, Newbie Ebbe and Sasha, the ‘Last of the Mohicans’. Isn’t it wondeful that the BBGS culture has united three people of different ages, races and religions?

Sometimes I wonder if it is really worth getting ‘emo’ over BBGS. My maiden trip to Pavilion resurrected memories that I thought were buried with the school’s demolition.

Fortunately, I came across Joanna’s blog which was therapeutic. Listening to the school song once again gave me goose bumps while answering the questions in “How BBGS Are You?” evoked nostalgia. Blog stories of successful BBGSians around the world made me proud of our alma mater.

Soon, I was networking with BBGSians of all ages to find out their sentiments about reviving our alumni. Through Facebook, I learnt that Sasha Lyna Abdul Latif is trying to start a BBGS-SBU Alumni.

Sasha, the “Last of the Mohicans”, completed Form 5 in BBGS just before the school was relocated to Seri Bintang Utara (SBU) in 2000. She has been asked to start the alumni and be its first president.

“You must meet Ebenezer Abel Paul who is helping me to register the alumni. He is passionate about BBGS!” enthused Sasha, a busy young lawyer.

“Did you say he? How did the guy come into the picture? Why is he so passionate about BBGS?” I asked Sasha not knowing that SBU is a co-ed school. From the centenary magazine, I learnt that there were boys studying at BBGS during its early years—notably the late Mr David Boler, a former headmaster of Bukit Bintang Boys’ School.

“Wait till you meet Ebbe,” replied Sasha who arranged for a meeting at Deli France in One Utama on 28 May 2009.

I was simply bowled over by this SBU guy when he answered my pointed question: “What makes you so passionate about BBGS?”

“Strangely, I fell in love with BBGS when I joined SBU in 2003. Even though there was only 20 per cent of the BBGS culture left in SBU then, I was overwhelmed by its rich heritage,” explained Ebenezer (Ebbe).

“Hey, I was not the only one who felt that way. My sister loves the school motto which inspires godliness in her. We would frequent the BBGS museum to soak ourselves in the history of this great school,” he added.

Formerly a SBU School Captain, Ebbe is now doing his A-levels at HELP University College. He was among the first batch of 77 boys to be admitted into SBU. Goodness, did the girls bully the boys?

“Oh no! The girls took good care of us and made us feel welcome. I was so happy in SBU that I turned down an offer to go to Victoria Institution,” replied Ebbe.

Awesome! Ebbe was smitten by just 20 per cent of BBGS culture while studying at SBU. No wonder those of us who got the full blast of this amazing school never got over it. Do you blame us for wanting to keep the BBGS values alive?

Ebenezer wonders if the BBGS Old Girls’ Association would admit SBU boys as associate members while they wait for the BBGS-SBU Alumni to be registered.

Note: This article first appeared in Joanna Yeoh's blog www.back2bbgs.blogspot.com prior to the grand reunion at Pavilion on 4 Aug 2009. During the AGM held on 11 July 2009, the BBGS OGA has decided to modernise and change its name to BBGS Alumni. We also want to admit former BBGS teachers and former SBU/ SBS students as associate members. We are still waiting for ROS approval for our constitution amendments.