School days are formative years and ones that we cherish and commit to everlasting memory. Mine were limited to just three schools only namely one primary and two secondary schools between 1962 and 1974.
This coming Saturday 8 July, Saratok Secondary School Alumni Association or Persatuan Alumni SMK Saratok (PASMS) will be holding a reunion dinner gathering at the Kuching Hilton starting from 7.00pm. Its secretary, my classmate in 1971-72, Jasmy Sadan Sagi, a MBA holder, is leading the organising committee with the full support of the main committee led by my cousin Professor Spencer Empading Sanggin. I have been told that another of PASMS member Kabong State Assemblyman lawyer Mohd Chee Kadir will be the guest-of-honour.
Among the invited guests will be the school former principals that include State’s Minister of Education, Science and Techonological Research, Dato Sri Michael Manyin ak Jawong; ex-assistant minister and Machan rep, Datuk Gramong Juna, Encharang Agas, Lugom Mangkil, Stephen Engkabi, Chang Foh Soon. William Baja Jap, Joseph Junting Ressa, Dominic Sullang Majang and few others. I was principal with the lucky number 13; the last three aforesaid names came in before me.
Starting in 1963 SMK Saratok has produced a number of distinguished members of society in politics, business, education, legal, medical, dental as well as the military and other fields. Just my class of Form Five in 1972 alone produced two with PhD, one MBA and a good number with degrees in various fields including three who became senior secondary school principals, two millionaires, a good number of college trained teachers; two bankers (one is now a penghulu), one District Officer (now also a penghulu), one Labour Dept director, one Principal Assistant Secretary, at least two nursing sisters and a few who excelled in business and other fields. Our former teachers included Bishop Aeries Sumping Jingan, Pemanca Edward Gella Baul, Encharang Agas and Datuk Gramong Juna.
It is interesting to note our group became the second batch to continue studying Lower Six in Methodist Secondary School Sibu after the first batch in 1968 (Form Five in 1967). Seven of us made it to Form Six but one went to St Thomas in Kuching and six went to MSS Sibu. In between 1967 and 1972 those continuing to Lower Six were sent to DPTTH Bujang Kolej in Tanjung Lobang, Miri.
Throughout my five years in the school I particulary have fond memories of my Form Three Form teacher, Mrs Kurian who taught us Arithmetic. She was a short woman of about five feet tall in her sandals, a mother of one and always in her sari. What she lacked in height she made up with her girth. Once I fell sick and was absent from class. She took the trouble to see me at Batang Lupar hostel and gave me Milo and biscuit. It was quite rare for any teacher to do that. I remember being sick once while I was in Form 1. The matron came to check on me but coming in empty-handed.
Her husband, Mr Kurian was our Science teacher while in Form Three. A year later he taught us Biology. He was a tall man and if standing side by side, the top of Mrs Kurian’s head was not quite reaching the husband’s chest, making the Kurians a living embodiment of the number 10, one of the reasons they stood out from the rest.
This coming gathering at Hilton is hoped to gather at least 1,000 PASMS members who will get to be entertained by one of their own product who is among the top ten of the country’s Elvis impersonators. This guy has performed throughout the country including in Penang, Alor Setar, Kuala Lumpur, Seremban, throughout the state of Sarawak, Kota Kinabalu and Tawau in Sabah; Kuala Belait, Seria, Bandar Seri Begawan and Temburong in Brunei Darussalam. To find out, come and hit it at the Hilton on 8 July.
Apart from the performance by the Elvls Tribute Artiste, there will be sponsorship songs, lucky draws and karaoke session among others. The event promises to be an interesting one as many of the schoolmates and classmates have not met since they left school for decades. Kudos to Empading, Jasmy and PASMS committee for their time and efforts in making the gathering a reality.
