Yvonne Foong

It was an honor for mom and I, for we were invited to attend Her World Women 2007 Gala Dinner, at Hilton K.L. last night. We drove to the train station and took the LRT to KL Sentral. We arrived 20 minutes late.

Outside the ballroom, guests stood and mingled with each other, while newly arrived ones were pulled aside to be photographed against a purple backdrop. You might spot our faces in the next issue of Her World Magazine.

Inside the ballroom, purple and blue-ish hues of maroon decorated from ceiling to floor and tables. Spotlight shone upwards from every corner prepped up the atmosphere with a sense of crowding in.

We sat at the left, front-most table numbered 16. On my left was a lady who finger-spelled her name as Mona. Next to her was Low Ngai Yuen. The both talked incessantly from start to finish. Mona and I exchanged the occasional notes and one-liners. It wasn’t awhile before I asked Mona why the lady next to her looked so familiar.

Yuen was winner of the 2007 Her World Young Achiever award, presented last night.

I seldom watch TV these days, because most channels are without subtitles. So it has been years since I used to see Yuen on the silver screen. Yuen was nice to have volunteered her email and number. But we didn’t speak much. One, because my mind went back in time and sunk into melancholy. I told Yuen that I used to watch her on 3R, her natural presentation and demeanor. It has been three years since I became deaf, and longer since I watched her or thought of her. But her voice, I still remember today.

I was unaware of Yuen’s latest work in movie directing and production, so imagine my puzzlement at the knowledge of a TV host winning a Young Achiever award. Why her, and not others?

I found out why today, all thanks to the internet.

The event last night could be an omen, you know. Because I am in fact, planning something I hope will be big.

And meeting Yuen the winner was like a green light, a kick in the butt from God. Who else could have planned the time and events to correlate so well?

Earlier today, Pinky replied my email unrelated to this blog post. She suggested that, as planners of the project I hope would be big, we should discuss whether we aim to win any more awards.\

Joyce hinted some, okay, suggested, the methods Ringo and Cindy employed to raise their chances of winning Malaysian DreamGirl.

Two days ago, I typed Joel an email detailing the definition of media conglomerates such as Times Corporation, the head honcho of Fox Entertainment and Harper Collins, just to name a few, and how the companies raise profit by shifting revenues among their interdependent subsidiaries. Balik-balik, profit still masuk the same pocket.

So, you spent RM15k to win Malaysian Dreamgirl? Foolish proletariats! Stuck forever.

This blogger was born on 5th June 1986. That makes her a Gemini. Check out my incomplete biodata.

I am in the midst of preparing a non-academic project presentation and decided to introduce a lbit about myself. Yvonne the Gemini kept writing until the list expanded to dominate half the presentation. Oh, this isn’t right. I doubt he would be interested in grandmother’s story.

So I post it here instead. Is my Gemini characteristic telling?

Sorry if you were erased. No, no, I mean if your comments were erased. I just switched to Wordpress 2.5 and shifted to a new host, so there were glitches. And before I got used to this new administration panel, I clicked the wrong button and somebody’s lengthy comment which I have not read, got deleted/ And some might have also been lost as I sorted through the hundreds of spams.

Please write again. I want to read your views, whether you in support or opposition of mine.

I am going through the Democrats platform in preparation for tomorrow’s mock U.S. presidential debate and election. I am running for president with Pei Wen the vice president candidate.

While reading through a list of questions for Democrats, this soundes hilarious. Have a cheek!

Question: Last year, the Senate passed the Secure Fence Act 80-19, the House passed it 283-138, and we saw President Bush on television signing it into law. Now we are told the fence will never be built. Do you intend to obey the Secure Fence Act and order a fence built on our southern border?

- Nobody ever said a fence is a total solution — we also need employee verification and entry-exit tracking. But the fence is part of the solution. Are you going to obey the fence law?

- A fence seems to work quite well around the White House, even though every few months somebody climbs over it. Do you favor getting rid of the fence around the White House because it doesn’t offer 100% protection?

Yvonne and Louis at his home in San Gabriel, C.A. - January 3rd 2008

I’m so tired and stressed even though there is little to worry about. Can you see how relaxed I was then?

One day, I hope to live in smaller towns with good infrastructure, so I can be independent with little stress.

Although the places I went in Southern California were better constructed and the people more helpful than ones in K.L. I still prefer a slower lifestyle than that. But it was good enough to relieve all the stress accumulated in Malaysia.

I hope to be part of slower communities of smaller states in the U.S. They are mostly higher up, colder and less activity.

I prefer visiting the library, reading a book in the park while sipping coffee. Southern California was all about shopping, lifestyle, and recreation. Sadly, many nice people I met there were unconscious victims of Anomie in a mass society. You can see it in their eyes, their temperament, their priorities.

Eddie often said something I found extremely irritating. “Time is money here in the U.S. Money is wasted by every hour lost.” or “I prefer to drive than taking the bus.” Not so much out of convenience, but bus rides take more time and hence, more money lost.

He took the meaning out of life.

Steven Toh leaves for work about 6:30-7am but work doesn’t start till 8am. It then ends at 6pm, but he’s not home until 7:30 and before you know it, it’s bed time and next, he’s gone before the break of dawn. Feels like work is but everything there is in life.

The U.S. being a self-determinant capitalist society says a lot about the people’s priorities in general. However, do not confuse them with the general capitalistic nature of Malaysians.

There is still hope in the rust belt states. I wish to stay there one day. But right now, I have to live here in order to become a Psychologist. Here in big cities where all the psychotics are.

Have you read Nicholas’ Sparks At First Sight? I like that story very much despite the tragic ending. We barely drove by North Carolina on the interstate years ago so I’m curious about the place. It would be nice to become a librarian sometime. Jeremy Marsh’s life transition stirs the soul of people who long for a change.

Take a look at this picture. I like to see these candid portraits that paint a thousand emotions. Do you think this uncle was happy, sad, or apathetic? Is he content or frusrated?

There was this Hong Kong TV series… this doctor, a divorced brought up his son alone. One day his ex-wife came back and wanted the son to live with her abroad. But the father was unwilling to let go, so they went to court. The father was adamant in keeping his son, he must win.

The father has personality problems. His liking for a female colleague proved himself the kind who must get what he wants.

So he won custody. The wife accepted it and prepared to leave. The father was proud to have beaten the wife in court.

Just then, the son was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Anemia, a hereditary illness. Since the father did not have it, meaning the son wasn’t his.

At that point he was willing to let the son go so the wife could bring him abroad where better treatment was available.

He still loved the son he raised, but the less favorable turn of events helped him let go of his obsession in always getting what he wants.

Otherwise, he would have remained self-absorbed. His son would lose the opportunity for better medical treatment.

Can you guess what show that is?

Dear Yvonne,

I am writing here to inform you that a current account name has been opened with the following details on 25th February 2008:

(a) Account name: Rockwills Trustee Berhad—Yvonne Foong NF Trust

(b) Account number: 514235805099

(c) Branch: Malayan Banking Berhad (MAYBANK) of Kompleks Bandar, Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur.

Thanks and regards.
Alex.

_______________________________

Finally! That’s my new trust account managed by Rockwills Trustee!
Rockwills is also my will custodian.

From now on, please direct all your donations to the above mentioned bank account.

If you want receipts
Alternatively, send your cheques written out to Rockwills Trustee Berhad—Yvonne Foong NF Trust, write your name and address behind the cheque. Mail it to:-

Alfin Majid
Wisma Rockwills
No. 62 Jalan 1/31A,
Off Jalan Klang Lama,
58200 Kuala Lumour

Tel: 03-7781 1993. Fax: 03-7781 2993

How does the trust work?

Purpose: My medical fund was previously held in my personal savings account. To provide my supporters more accountability, I hired Rockwills to manage and oversee my funds. The trust is construed and governed by The Trustee Act under the laws of Malaysia.

Protectors: In the event of emergency, or when I am unable to act and decide for myself, my protectors will come in to assist the trustee in
managing my healthcare. eg. when deciding whether to contract hospital A or B, the trustee will seek the opinion of my protectors. I have appointed three protectors. The trustee will contact my first protector. If she is not contactable, then the second protector will be called, and so on.

1st Protector Cordelia Lee/Cordy
2nd Protector Lim Yeeu Jen/Ujen
3rd Protector Aunt Suui Chin (mom’s sister in UK)

Legal Executives: There are three Rockwills employees co-handling my trust. Namely Alex, Alfin, and Tham.

Transparency
The trustee oversees all financial transactions of this account. I will be receiving monthly account statements from the trustee. Since this is a public trust, should any party with good and valid reason request to review the account statements, my trustee will allow it after getting my consent.

Contributions to the trust fund is not tax deductible.

NOTE: This is strictly my medical fund, separated from my personal finances not counted as healthcare.

Social responsibility! After my demise, the trustee will use the remainder of my trust fund to pay off any outstanding debts related to my healthcare and trust maintenance. If there are extras, the trust shall be maintained to benefit other NF patients in Malaysia. But if for any reason, my wish cannot be fulfilled, then the money shall be donated to other charities.

Trust maintenance costs: Only 2% of the total amount managed annually. In addition, there wiil be other costs such as stamp duty and phone bills related to the trust management, but these should be minimal.

What about the webstore? I will still use my Maybank personal savings account in managing the webstore. This is for reasons of mobility. So do get my personal account number when buying stuffs from me yah.

Let me know if there is anything else that needs to be explained or made known ya?