Festive treat for orphans and old folks
By MAJORIE CHIEW
After the guests were feted to a buffet vegetarian dinner, the children headed to the nearby playground. Despite dark clouds looming, the children nonchalantly queued up at the game stalls to play various free games such as mini-hoop throwing, mini basketball and pinning the clown’s nose.
Ooi Chin Lin, 11, Fang Tyang Ting, 11, and Ooi Wei Leng, 13, from Ti-Ratana Children’s Home in Desa Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, anxiously lined up to play mini-hoop throwing. While waiting, one of them asked: “Will we get to play with lanterns?”
Festive goodies: Senior citizens helping themselves to snacks and mooncakes.
Earlier, the temple’s chief abbot Ven. Seck Boon Tian, 52, had distributed multi-coloured paper lanterns to the children.
Luke Christopher, 17, from Step-ping Stones Living Centre in Taman Seputih, Kuala Lumpur, felt he was too old to play with lanterns but was happy just to hang out with friends.
The senior citizens chatted with their friends after mealtime. Just watching the children having a good time lifted their spirits.
Ho Kong Weng, 62, of Ampang Old Folk Home, Selangor, came with his wife Tham Mui Ling, 64, and other residents of the home.
“My wife and I enrolled into the home two years ago, thanks to a good Samaritan,” he said.
Tucking in: Children having their meal before playing with lanterns.
Ho, of Setapak, said that with age catching up and after injuring his leg in an accident, it was hard to eke out a living.
“Life in the home is good as we've no worries,” he said. His wife used to work as a domestic help. After suffering a miscarriage when she was in her 40s, she could not bear any children. “It's fate, what to do?” said Ho.
Chow Thye, 76, of Puchong, said the festival brought back old memories. “In the 60s, we had all kinds of food laid out on a long table. We also savoured mooncakes with Chinese tea,” she said.
Wu Thye, 82, and Lai Sow Chan, 79, were joining in the celebration for the second time.
“Meeting so many people here is better than sitting at home in front of the television,” Lai said.
Time for games: Children trying their hand at the mini basketball game.
“Our temple is seven years old and this year, we are organising this festival for the fourth time. Each year, we invite residents of different homes to celebrate the occasion. In our first year, we invited 100 residents from three homes but this year we're able to invite 200 residents,” organising chairman Ang Yiaw Kim said.
Rev Seck said the temple organised such charitable activities to bring people together to spread some cheer. The temple also donated RM500 to each home – Taman Megah Handicapped and Disabled Children's Home, Padmasambhava CLA Klang, Stepping Stones Living Centre, Rumah Hope, Ti-Ratana Community Centre and Ampang Old Folks' Home – and gave ang pow to the old folks and children.
There were goodie bags for the guests, too.
“Oncologist Dr Tan Meng Kuan and Maggie Tan donated goodie bags to the old folks and children. The children were given T-shirts, snack foods, mugs and towels while the elderly were given Milo packets, health supplements and toothpaste,” said organising committee member Datin Christina Lau:
A drizzle during the distribution of the gifts did not dampen the spirits of all those who came. After the shower, folks converged near the stage to watch the performances. The temple's 10-member choir rendered three songs while the Ti-Ratana children, aged 10 years and below, performed song and dance routines.
One little girl fell and cried while performing on stage and was helped down. However, the show went on despite the mishap.
There was also a clown and a magic show to entertain guests. And those who love to sing went on stage to belt out their favourite songs. The weather was kind and the party ended with happy memories for
As the children bade goodbye, one was heard saying: “Thank you. See you again next year.”
