Month: January 2025

Ushering in Chinese New Year with a twist

In the mood for celebration
 Jan 29, 2025
By Foong Pek Yee
foongpekyee@gmail.com
Concert pianist and teacher Lee Jae Phang says his musical arrangement this year unites the famous Gong Xi Gong Xi (Congratulations, Congratulations) with a variation on it and a new tune, both composed by him.
Combining his musical imagination and creativity , he succeeded in bringing out the month-long festive mood  in the  three-minute arrangement and piano recital.

The upbeat Gong Xi Gong Xi  at one point takes on a hurried character that denotes frenzy festive shopping amidst decorations in malls  and streets flowing with the colours of red, yellow and gold – a symbol of prosperity for the Chinese.

In keeping with the Year of the Snake theme, he says the new melody also coils around itself, recalling the music of the snake charmers of Asia.
Beneath the hustle and bustle, the happier feelings  that comes with the new year celebrations saw the new tune kicks in half way into the arrangement.
“The new tune is lyrical and folklike with a lilting accompaniment that  complements it in character,” says Lee Jae, of the celebrations which placed importance on family reunion,  friendship  and a  thriving community.
An arrangement that befits an auspicious occasion, Lee Jae describes the final section:
“Gong Xi Gong Xi theme returns cautiously at first, and builds to a climax.
“Handfuls of chords create richer harmonies in the piano, a grand culmination of the variety of musical emotions that were explored in the piece.
” You will also hear Chinese drums in the bass rounding off this final section.”
Enjoy !
Happy Chinese New Year

A winter that will never be the same

Hope-turns- despair…Cold and confused, a pet dog named Pudding cuts a lone figure at the entrance to its village in  Yeonggwang County, South Korea waiting for its family’s return.

By Foong Pek Yee

foongpekyee@gmail.com

Jan 4, 2025

Every approaching vehicle brings Pudding  hope that quickly turns despair as they zoomed past with no sight of its loved ones.

But Pudding never give up hope to be with them again.

Just days earlier, Pudding and nine of its family members bade farewell happily before leaving for a holiday in Thailand.

Little did they know that it was their last farewell.

Pudding’s  family members were among the 179 people killed in the Jeju Air Flight 2216 that crashed at Muan International Airport, South Korea in the morning of December 29, 2024.

The plane, from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport with 181 on board,  175 passengers plus six crew members, saw two survivors.  Both were crew members.

While Pudding is still waiting  in vain for their return – the tragedy that unfolded  at Muan International Airport, about 50 minutes drive from its village, also South Korea’s worst aviation disaster in the country’s history-  sent shock waves across the world.

The head of Pudding’s family is  a 79-year-old grandfather.

He, his wife , two daughters,  a son-in-law and four grandchildren were among the 179 fatalities .

Where are you…Pudding longing for its family. 

On new year’s eve, South Korea’s animal rescue group , Care (Coexistence of  Animal Rights on Earth ) posted on social media that they have rescued Pudding who is now under their custody until they found  a home for him.

According to Care, they have received permission from a family member to rescue Pudding found wandering alone in the open amidst harsh weather conditions.

Care has sent Pudding for health checks at a veterinary hospital in Seoul.

The story of Pudding was reported in The Korea Times on Jan 2, 2025,  followed by some  media organizations all over the world.

Photos :The Korea Times captured from Care’s Instagram.

Update: Jan 7, 2025

Photos  at the memorial : The Korea Times. Credited to Yonhap

A picture is worth a thousand words.

On Sunday (Jan  5, 2025) afternoon, a week after the crash, Pudding pay  its last respects to its family members at a joint memorial altar set up in front of Seoul City Hall in Seoul,  reported The Korea Times on Jan 6, 2025.

Clad in a blue outfit and with its gaze fixed on the altar,  Pudding  did not bark even once throughout the service.

Its attention  zoomed in on its family’s  memorial tablet as head of Care, Kim Young-Hwan, read a eulogy.

The Korea Times report quoting a temporary caretaker from Care said: “At home, Pudding often looks at the front door, seemingly listless. The dog gets excited just hearing the leash, wanting to go outside.”