by Dr. Ganakumaran
Photos provided by Low Siak San & Yam Kait Wah

The weather was ideal all day. We could not have had a more perfect day for a homecoming if we had ordered it. Windless, warm, and the sky without a cloud. Only the blue was veiled with a haze of light gold, as it is sometimes in September. It was as if the Gods had organised the constellations to provide a perfect setting for a special day.

6th September 2014, marked the special and auspicious 88th time and 88th year the Paulians of St. Paul’s Institution gathered to give thanks to and celebrate their destiny of having been educated in one the greatest institutions known to them. On reflection, it is nothing short of amazing that the Old Paulians’ Association has been able to keep the homecoming reunion going for so many years. What seems even more amazing is that the union of Paulian brotherhood is getting stronger rather than ebbing. Unlike years ago when one would not be surprised to see a large number of guests as they would Paulians at the reunion, today the Paulian brothers take up almost a thousand seats for themselves leaving a paltry few tables for very special guests. Over the last 10 years the event has been threatening to burst the seams of the largest hotel ballroom available in Seremban. This year the OPA Reunion dinner squeezed in 118 tables into the Grand ballroom of the Royale Bintang, Seremban. This meant that at least 1180 people attended the reunion dinner.

The Old Paulians’ Association is very receptive to Paulian needs. Each year the reunion event is reviewed with the goal of upgrading and refining the homecoming experience for Paulians. In days gone by, the reunion dinner was the single prominent event of the homecoming. Today, however the homecoming is being developed into a day long experience. OPA Golf tournament, the sports activities in St. Paul’s Institution Secondary and the Paulian Homecoming breakfast in St. Paul’s Institution Primary, give the one thousand strong Paulians who congregate for the homecoming, a range of day long activities to participate in. The goal of all these offerings is to provide Paulians with more opportunity for fellowship and a chance to go back into the schools that nurtured them into the wonderful human beings they have become.

The OPA 88th Annual Dinner 2014, had for the first time in many years a life band, which performed pre-dinner at the ballroom lobby and during the dinner on stage. Many who attended agreed that this was a fantastic addition as the band played songs that were carefully selected to meet that taste of every Paulian age group. The evidence of this success could be measured by that greater number of Paulians who remained in the ballroom until the band played the last number.

The 88th OPA Annual Dinner was a remarkable occasion as Paulians got the chance to celebrate with Rev Julian Leow Beng Kim, from the Paulian Class of 1981, the new Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur.

In keeping with OPA tradition, the dinner saw the following awards being presented

TAN SRI DATO’CHAN CHOONG TAK AWARD 2014
FONG KAH ZHEN

NATIONAL AND STATE AWARD WINNER
MR LEE KIM ONG - For being conferred A.N.S. by DYMM Yang Di Pertuan Besar, Negeri Sembilan Darul Khusus

OPA SCHOLASTIC AWARD WINNERS
“A” LEVEL
Andrew Low Chern Hong	4A	Mr & Mrs Low Siak San
PMR EXAMINATIONS 2014
Agneesh Chelvan A/L Malaichelvan	7A	Mr & Mrs Malaichelvan Maniam
Jared Chong Tze Meng	7A	Mr & Mrs Edwin Chong Tze Meng
SPM EXAMINATIONS 2014
Alyssa Mae Liew E-Juin	10A+	Mr & Mrs Liew Sim Fook
Justin Chan Guan Wei	8A+,2A-,1B	Mr & Mrs Chan Wai Choong
Shriniven Ganakumaran	7A+,1A, 1A-	Dr & Mrs Ganakumaran. S
Sofeanna Long Chi Tyeng	5A+,3A,1A-,1B+	Mr & Mrs Long Chee Choon
Tan Wei Zhong	5A+,1A,1A-,3B+	Mr & Mrs Tan Ah Huat
Archana A/P Vijai Kumar	4A+,1A,3A-,1C+	Mr & Mrs Vijai Kumar
Daryll Darshan Kumar	1A+,5A,1A-,3B	Mr & Mrs Santhanasamy
REV.BRO.FELIX DONOHUE STUDENT WELFARE FUND RECIPIENTS 2013/2014
SEMESTER 2 / 2014 (Upper Six)		SEMESTER 1 / 2014 (Lower Six)
Chang Hsi Chen	U6	Chee Yee Being	L6
Choon Yee Yan	U6.	Justin Chan Guan Wei	L6
Bryan Tan Khuan Yeu	U6	Alyssa Wong Sze Minh	L6
Ng Qing Min	U6	Angelina Chui Wan Jing	L6
Yap Kai Wen	U6	Chin Hui Shan	L6
Yap Chai Foong	U6	Lau Weng Hong	L6
Sim Ying Yee	U6	Lee Xyan Yi	L6
Koo Siew Min	U6	Ong Pik Ching	L6
Lee Siew Jing	U6	Tan Sze Ai	L6
Yong Zi Jian	U6	Thugadishani Selvaraj	L6
REV.BRO. JAMES MACKEN SPI PRIMARY STUDENT WELFARE FUND RECIPIENTS 2014
Easwer A/L Gopala Krisnan	6E	Dirvasthha Stembo A/L Boystembo	6D
Servin Kumar A/L Gunalan	6E	Muhammad Hanif B Mohd Faizul	6D
David Sheng Yim Kong	6N	Kavindraa A/L Thayaparan	6D
Theodore Mark Vincent	6G	Muhammad Azmeel B.Mohd.Nor Azmi	6G
Issac Soloman Stephen John	6G	Kartik Raj A/L Raman	6N
Suhen A/L Kunaratnam	6N

Many Paulians have written in to share their thoughts about the dinner. Many expressed gratitude to the OPA for tirelessly organising this event without fail every 1st Saturday of September so that the Paulian family can come together in celebration and fellowship. Here are some of quotes

Yesterday was great, got to meet back many guys from year of 81, see you all again 1st sat of sept 2015. To the OPA committee job well done again. - KS Tan

OPA Always does it best c u in 2015 September ! - John Fernandez
Good job. - Roy Turesh Kumar

Paulians for Life! - Suren Raj

Set up more funds to help our younger Paulians in education especially extra tuition and sports. - Richard A Santa Maria

Make it a real home coming... Have the dinner @ SPI itself - KP Sim

The Old Paulian’s Association always welcomes feedback and suggestions from Paulians. Your engagement with OPA provides greater motivation for the committee to do better.

SEE YOU ON 5th SEPTEMBER 2015

More pictures........