Appoitment as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for MBT

[philiptancl]

I am honoured to be appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for Montfort Boys Town for the period from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2016. What Montford Boys Town is all about is given below:

Montfort Boys Town (MBT) in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia has been nurturing youth from poor, needy dysfunctional families, poor single parents & orphanages since 1959. These youth for many reasons, are outside the sphere of the formal education system. The families and guardians of these children would seize any opportunity to turn around their hard and vicious cycle of poverty. Montfort provides this opportunity to nurture these groups of less fortunate youth in picking up a vocational skill and undergoing a program of character formation to face a more positive future.

The silent cry of many parents or guardians is “What future would my son/daughter have if they are unable to cope with secondary school education?” To write them off as outright failure means we are writing off our hope and future, and giving up on their right to a future. To reverse the situation of those who seems not so attracted to formal academic subjects, Montford Boys Town offer an innovative teenager rebound program. These youth walk into Montfort with no skill, no hope and are not able to see their potential for the future. When they walk out of Montfort after 2 years of residential training, they are armed with skills, discipline, confidence, hope and a job. Since its inception in 1959 to 2013, more than 6,000 less fortunate youth have successfully graduated and are contributing as part of our nation’s workforce.

The existence of Montfort has been made possible with the continuous support from our Benefactors, Donors, Sponsors and Friends of Montfort Boys Town. With the escalating cost of living and many requests from desperate families but with continued generous contribution and support, we at Montford are confident to continue serving God’s poor.

Friends and Donors of Montford Boys Town, even if you can help one dropout teenagers from going down the wrong path, it means a lot of hope and future for the family and the nation.

The Director
Montford Boys Town
Jalan Montford,
Selangor, Malaysia

www.montfort.org.my/section.cfm?id=15





www.montfort.org.my/section.cfm?id=15

[Doug 周]

Congratulations Philip, they made a great choice.

[lachinatown]

Yes, Congratulations indeed.

[FayChee]

What a great thing to do for the future of our Children!

My Sincere Congratulations to you Philip!

Fay Chee

[philiptancl]

Hi Doug 周, lachinatown and FayChee,

Thank you very much for your commendation. It is a heavy responsibility for my slender shoulder to carry to help in ensuring the center is kept going in achieving its objectives within this changing world. Fortunately it is not so difficult so far to find Benefactors, Donors, Sponsors and Friends in supporting Montfort Boys Town. So far we even had people who remembered us in their Last Will and Testament.

Philip

[philiptancl]

Just after I posted the posting above, I read my Facebook. I found a posting just put up by my nephew, Eugene Lee, which I wish to share. It reads:


"GLASS OF MILK

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.


Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water!
She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?"

You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."

He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart."

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.

Many years later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease.

Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.

Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once.

He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case.

After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, and then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...

"Paid in full with one glass of milk"

(Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, God, that your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands."

There's a saying which goes something like this: Bread cast on the waters comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time. If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?"

[douglaslam]

I wish to add my congratulations to Philip for his appointment. I am always impressed by his attention to detail in his pedigree charts amongst other things. That same degree of thoroughness no doubt would shine in his new role as Chairman of the Board. Our Forum is blessed by Philip's presence. Are you serving in a pro bono capacity?

The Glass of Milk story has a similar ring to this Youtube video. It moves me deeply.

You reap what you sow. 種善因, 得善報. It is a universal precept.

Congratulations Philip. Douglas

[philiptancl]

Thank you douglaslam for sharing the story portrayed in video with us. It is heartening to know there are stories of similar nature in every society.

Thank you for your commendation. Yes the appointment is on a pro bono capacity; I would not have accepted it otherwise. To see how the students are transformed is reward enough. To see industries snatching up the graduates upon completion of their courses is very heartening. We do not allow any sponsorship of students to be tied up with any future employment contract. Any future employment of the graduates is strictly on their own free will.

It is amusing that when my Australian daughter-in-law read of my appointment, she asked my son whether I too was a graduate from there. My son replied that I am much older than Montfort Boys Town which is celebrating its 55th year of founding this coming October. Probably what prompted her in asking was my own childhood background when growing up.

[douglaslam]

Philip, I can only guess that you were brought up the hard way, through the school of hard knocks. Thus, you are eager to share the benefit of your experience and expertise. The powers-that-be rightly placed their confidence in you to lead MBT. I'd imagine few jobs would be more rewarding and satisfying than giving children and young people in need a leg-up in securing an education,and a future.

Keep up the good work.

[philiptancl]

Dougislam,

Can growing up without both parents since the age of three in a place, where none before me had gone beyond high school, qualifies me as a graduate from the school of hard knocks? Within such an environment having to know how to manage one life needs to be accelerated. As such it is probably easier to empathize with those of similar situation. Now in my twilight years and when I look back, I often asked myself whether, if I could relive my life all over again and if I could a life I would wish to live through, would I choose a live a life that is different? My simply answer is no. In more ways than one, I am truly blessed.

I am writing this response in a plane waiting to take off for a holiday in Hokaido with my wife and friends.