REUNION ECHOES

Responses on the 28th February, 2015 Reunion Gathering at SMU lounge: 

• "Whilst I hope I would be able to join, regrettably, I have a pre-committed engagement in Hong Kong.  However, I am very glad to learn that a good number of former AIA Home Office colleagues will attend this family function you initiated.  For us the old-timers, the AIA family culture is all over our body.  I do hope we will pass on this good culture to the new AIA Group, now an independent publicly listed company.   Have a wonderful evening - sharing some jokes of the good old days, teasing your former bosses, but above all, enjoying the AIA friendship!  Best wishes to you all for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous Year of the Ram!"

          Edmund Tse - Current Non-Executive Chairman, AIA Group, Hong Kong

• Just a short note to thank you and your staff for an excellent job in making the evening a very enjoyable one, and definitely an evening that is going into one of my "memorable" experiences.  It was so great to reconnect once again with so many old friends.   Mucho gracias, Amigo!!!!!

           Kok Mun Sum, AIA Kuala Lumpur office

• The gathering was a great success and memorable indeed!  The joys of meeting with those whom we have not seen for years or decades remind us of the past of many "happy hours and days" working with them in AIA/AIG

          Choo Chan Fatt, AIA Kuala Lumpur Office

• Thanks for organizing the Reunion Gathering.  It was good to be able to see old friends from AIA and also to meet people whom I know so many years by name and now able to put the face to the name.  I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner, the presentation and the talks.

           Lily Rumjahn, AIA Hong Kong office

• Thank you very much for organizing the reunion, and every detail of it, in our Cantonese saying, we ate, and we had take away (the nice AIA sports bag).  It made a memorable night, with lots of good old day stories, and sharing of life experiences.  I enjoyed every part of the sharing.  The bonding of AIAers were definitely permanent.

           Ann Law, AIA Hong Kong Office

• It is definitely my turn to send in my heartfelt appreciation for your enabling us to participate in your local annual event.  It was thoroughly enjoyable to be able to meet up with those I knew either personally or in name only, and to see that there were so many younger faces as well in this huge gathering.  We had so much to bring away with us - catch-up with our old-time colleagues, the new acquaintances, inspiration from the presentation and speeches, and the gift which I used immediately to hold the shoes in my luggage.  Once an AIAer, forever an AIAer!

          Anna Ho Ka Nar, AIA Hong Kong Office

• Just a short note to thank you for organizing the Reunion Gathering.  It was definitely a memorable evening to meet some old AIA colleagues again.  We enjoyed our stay in Singapore though the time was too short.

           Mary Tam, AIA Hong Kong Office

• I've been busy in sending out photos taken and a short rundown to all those who were not able to attend the memorable dinner on Feb.28th.  Thank you for all the effort in organizing this meaningful event to bring us all together.

           Catherine Yu, AIA Hong Kong Office

• I would also like to chime in with the accolades given.   Thank you for the arrangements and presentations..... the whole evening was brilliant.  To catch up with so many old friends and colleagues at one sitting was remarkable and thoroughly enjoyable.  I wish everybody Great Happiness & Health (& let us not forget Prosperity!!!) during the coming year!!!

           Brian D Anstey, Hong Kong Office & GM of AIA Thailand

• Great interaction with all old colleagues, wonderful setting, fond memories.  Thank you for all your efforts in organizing the reunion.

           Arthur Koo, AIA Hong Kong Office

• I would like to commend you and your ambassadors for a splendid job in organizing the annual gathering.  It's never easy to organize anything of this scale, let alone gathering people from four different cities.  We were glad to have come and be a part of the gathering, to connect and reconnect with old friends or put faces to names.  If I had better planning next year in terms of time and health permitting, I would be happy to take our Hong Kong and Malaysian colleagues around for some good durians and Singapore food!

           Charlie Lau, AIG Hong Kong.

• I had such an exciting time reconnecting with people whom I have not seen all these years since I left AIA 25 years ago!  This reunion has certainly brought back fond memories of my 7 years in AIA and I'm thankful for this privilege of knowing and working along side with many of you then.  Looking forward to the next get-together.

           Maureen Oh, Investment, AIA Singapore

• I'm so glad with the great turnout at the gathering.  Met with so many old friends from far and near.

           Koh Poh Wah, MIS, AIA Singapore

• I was so excited seeing so many familiar faces while on duty at the reception, I didn't know who to talk to first.

          Aw Soke Yee, E&T, AIA Singapore

• Thank you for your organization of the recent gathering.  Judging from the feedback it was a great success!

           Jenny Wong, Human Resource, AIA Singapore

• Thanks for organizing the event; I really enjoyed myself seeing old friends.  I like the sharing especially by Peter Lin.  He reminded me of what is important in life.  This event with all the sharing made it a memorable night.

           Julia Chor, E&T, AIA Singapore

• Thank you for keeping me engaged by sending the photos.  I kept reminding myself of the reunion by telling friends here and elsewhere that I should be in Singapore on Feb. 28.  Soke Yee wrote with her post-reunion impressions and it made me so envious and happy for those who could make it.  So nice to view some of my former colleagues especially Sarah Ong in the group photo after all these years.  Memories of her come flooding back.

           Pauline Toh, Executive Office, AIA Singapore, residing in Vancouver

Reunion Gathering on January 18, 2014 at Sloane Court Hotel:

• Though it's been 14 long years since I last met them, it's like I never left.  The ex-AIA folks were as warm and friendly as ever, and I had a most enjoyable time catching up.  Do keep me in the loop for the next one.       

           Han Kok Kwang, Chief Consultant, Worklife Asia Pte. Ltd.

• I must thank you for such a wonderful gathering that you have organized.  I am sure many people would have told you the same thing.  The interaction was great and I managed to talk to quite a lot of friends/ex-colleagues.  ......  It was definitely a memorable evening!      

          Joseph Lee, Vice President, Centre for Excellence, Great Eastern Life

          Assurance Co. Ltd.

• Thanks for the good organization and the clever way of using "ambassadors" to reach out to so many of us.  I enjoyed the evening very much and look forward to the next round.

           Benjamin Chan, Senior Actuarial Consultant, Life Asia, Munich Re

• Great to have seen many colleagues and be able to connect straight away.  There were no strangers even though there were people I have not met before as we all connected as having been part of a big extended family.  I believe this helps networking and also form communities.  And as Dr. Andrew Goh said, many have taken the form of butterflies - moved ahead in life with grace and fulfillment.  Do look forward to the next opportunity and certainly hope to see more people.  Thank you for taking the lead in helping the family come together.

           Shirley Lee, Head of Human Resource for Asia for the Insurance

           Australia Group

• I share the same sentiments as the rest of the group - it was a happy and memorable occasion enjoyed by all!  Great to just gather at one point and you get to see so many high spirited ex-AIAers.  For me, I was very happy having the chance to chat and reconnect, especially with some of the former colleagues with whom I had work dealings so many years back and with whom I haven't been in touch.

           Serene Chan Hui Hua, formerly from AIA Kuching Office

• Firstly, let me congratulate and thank you and your team for organizing this event.  It is quite a successful gathering for all of us.  I do enjoyed the dinner, especially talking more with Timothy whom I have not seen him for many years.  I look forward for the same occasion in meeting our old colleagues next year.

           Desmond Yong, Director, Able Pack (S) Pte. Ltd.Ltd.

• A great and wonderful gathering of old and new colleagues happily chattering away at the meeting place.  Thank you very much for putting in so much effort in organizing it for all of us to meet one another.  I enjoyed it and believe all our friends did too.

           Hwang Liang Tso, former Vice President of Agency, AIA Singapore

• I am truly glad that I was able to attend the last meeting; even if that meant that I had to re-arrange my trips.  You must have spent quite a lot of effort to arrange all this.  Thank you, I am sure everyone was glad to have made time for the meeting.  As you know, I have lived in China for more than 15 years and have worked there since 1995.  To be able to meet old friends and so many at the same time is truly rewarding and not easy to come by...............

          Kevin Chia, former Vice President, PA Department, now residing in China

• The gathering this year is of utmost meaning to me as it was exactly 30 years ago that I started my working life in AIA Singapore.  I was blessed to have bosses like Douglas and Robert who took good care of me and provided me with guidance in life and the experience I gained in AIA Singapore was invaluable to my career growth.  I am so happy to be able to meet with my old bosses and friends at the dinner gathering.  I would like to wish everyone the best of health and great happiness for this coming Chinese New Year and hope we could meet again soon.

           Vincent Kwo, Chief Executive Officer, Uni.Asia Life Assurance Berhad

  

• It was one of those rare occasions which we can catch up and reconnect with not just one but many former colleagues.

          Tang Weng Liang, Head of Training, Tokio Marine Life Insurance

          Singapore Ltd

• What a resounding success the dinner party was!  It is an understatement to say that I've enjoyed the evening.  It is so amazing to meet everyone who was at one time or another part of the big family at AIA.  From the incessant talking and noise level, one can tell how excited we were to see old familiar faces again.  I liked too, that I was meeting some for the first time, as they had already left the company when I joined in 1985.  With so much to catch up on with one another, the evening just flew by.  I certainly will look forward to the next get-together.

           Aw Soke Yee, Consultant, Learning Culture

• Congratulations to you and your alumni ambassadors for a successful gathering.  Great turnout is a reward for all your hard work.  Mr. Edmund Tse's congratulatory letter makes an interesting read as it brings back fond memories.

           Pauline Toh, formerly from Executive Office now residing in Vancouver

• Thanks again for organizing the get-together for AIAers.  Great job!

           Timothy Chia, Chairman, Hup Soon Global Corporation Ltd

• A big thank you for organizing the gathering.  It's no mean feat to get more than 50 people together.  For me, it was really great to see the delight in everybody's eyes when we greeted each other.  It was a pleasant evening spent with a group of colleagues/friends filled with sharing, not only of food but of our past.

           Margaret Chang, Chief Operating Officer, Tokio Marine Life Insurance

           Singapore Ltd.

• The restaurant was nostalgic and atmosphere of comaradie was excellent.

           Dr. Philomena Tong, Director, Regulatory and Legislation Division,

           Ministry of Health

  

• I enjoyed the fellowship during our reunion dinner.  And to see so many smiling faces of friends brought back those nostalgic moments we once shared.  Also to know new friends whom I haven't met before at all during my AIA days.  Quite remarkable!  Special thanks to Andrew Goh for his refreshing talk.  The moral of the story is as we go older ... we tend to behave younger.

           Michael Tan, former Vice President, Agency, AIA Singapore: currently

           working and residing in China

• Well done and congratulations!  Worth every effort and definitely an encore.

           Charlie Lau. former AIG Regional Auditor, now residing in Hong Kong

• A big congratulations to your effort in gathering so many good old friends for the first time, perhaps the biggest gathering in the history of AIA.  It is so close and cozy to meet each other after such a long absence in a garden filled with flower and fresh air.  Thank you again for making this family reunion so happy for everyone.  All the more touching is to get brothers/sisters coming all the way from HK, Malaysia, Australia, and China.  I must thank Chris for fetching me in every AIA function and Andrew Goh for his every stimulating humour, ending the dinner with satisfaction beyond my expectation.

           Robert Lian, Retired, former Associate Professor at NTU

• I had a wonderful time catching up with our former colleagues.  some of us adjourned for a drink after that, carrying on the AIA "spirit".

           Sajan Raman, former Vice President, Brunei Operations

• It was great to see everyone again after all these years and indeed a great evening of reminiscing and rekindling of comradeship amongst old and dear colleagues.  Thank you once again for the effort in organising and looking forward to staying in touch with the alumnus.

           Ronald Seah, former Vice President for Investment

• Yes, I had a great time especially seeing all our ex-colleagues some of whom I have not seen for more than 20 years!  It was a very fruitful gathering and I look forward to attend such event annually.

           Anna Lim, formerly from POS department

  

• Great positive responses from many who attended the function.  Very appreciative of your effort to organize the event.

           Koh Poh Wah, former Vice President, MIS

• Thanks Douglas for organizing the most memorable for AIAers gathering I have attended, meeting many former colleagues from most departments.  I love the short motivating teaser from Andrew Goh on the caterpillar butterfly story of problem vs solution oriented people.  The choice is ours.

           Daniel Tan, Director, Asset Management, Aquaint Property Pte Ltd

• It was so good to catch up with all present, many whom I have not seen since I left AIA.  Sure look forward to the next meeting again.

           Jenny Wong, Executive Vice President & Global Head, Global HR,

           United Overseas Bank Limited

• It is great seeing so many ex-colleagues, some as long as 20 years or more, like Dr. Tong.  Others like Robert Lian, Goh Siong Chu, Daniel Tan and many more.  It was a nice, pleasant and enjoyable evening for me.  I'm looking forward to meet all again in the coming one.

           Catherine Teng, Underwriting Department, AIA Co. Singapore

• Just a word of thanks for organizing the alumni gathering.  Great sharing and catching up - haven't seen most of the guys since 1995.  Also great to see the different generations of AIA staff.

           Mack Eng, Country President, Ace Insurance Limited

  

• Thank you so much for collecting and compiling all the responses on the reunion dinner.  It gives me goose bumps just reading them..... absolutely nostalgic.  At this point-in-time, I cannot promise but will try to reserve the next reunion date if not simply for an awesome experience at least for wanting to catch up with long-time friends. 

           Pauline Toh, former Secretary in Executive Office, migrated to Canada

• Cannot believe time flies by so quickly since I left AIA in 1985.  Glad to know that through your effort the AIA family gathered recently for a reunion.  Heard from Bei Nai Tong about meeting all of you. .

          Josephine Foo, former Secretary to Douglas Cho, now migrated to

          Melbourne, Australia

• You had a very good attendance.  Well done and I am sorry I can't wait to join you.

           Greg Crichton, former Legal Counsel & Director of AIA Co. Ltd.,

• I am in the UK now and would only be back on 22 January.  It is really a shame that I am missing it by only a few days.   I would love to be there and to meet everyone.  Please send my regards to everyone and hope to be able to attend the next gathering

          Cynthia Ng, former Sr. Vice President, Regional Learning & Development

          Centre, HSBC Co. Ltd

• Just back from abroad - sorry unable to make it to what promises to be a wonderful reunion!  Best wishes to all for the festive season!                        

           Vidyasagar Govind, former Actuary, AIA Co. Ltd., Singapore, a

           resident of Kuala Lumpur

• It is with great disappointment that I will not be able to attend.  However, please send my regards to all at the dinner and I will be with the group in spirit.

           Raymond Neo, formerly Agency Manager, AIA office in Perth, a

           resident of Perth, Australia

• Wow!  That's a huge turnout!  Wish you all an enjoyable reunion and Happy and Prosperous Year of the Horse!

           Anna Ho, former VP of Regional Group Dept., AIA Hong Kong, a resident

           of Hong Kong