The intermittent showers on the morning of Sunday, 21 October, 2003 did not deter a large crowd from turning up for the Anniversary Celebration of Wan Ching Yuen Centre and Than Hsiang Fund.

It was possible that word had gone around that the event would be worth attending based on previous years’ presentations. The audience filling the Great Compassion Hall (to standing room capacity) was certainly not disappointed with the morning’s programme.

The morning started off with prayers to the Triple Gem led by the Abbot, Ven. Wei Wu. Ven. Wei Wu then took to the stage and spoke about the formation of Than Hsiang Fund 13 years ago with the primary aim to progressively generate activities on education, welfare and cultivation as it was then felt that the original Pure Land vision alone was too abstract in nature.

One of the activities was the formation of Wan Ching Yuen Centre, which had already been in existence for nine years and was home to 65 senior citizens due to the great support from the devotees. Ven. Wei Wu hoped the devotees would unwaveringly continue with such support for the growth of Wan Ching Yuen Centre. He urged more people to become volunteers like Aixin Gege and Aixin Jie Jie, so that together a society of love and happiness could be created.

Ven. Wei Wu added that the actual anniversary date was 1st May, but was later changed. This change of anniversary date presented a great opportunity for practicing the virtue of filial piety. He ended by mentioning that the International Buddhist University in Hatyai still needed financial support from the public.

The Chairman of the Working Committee, Mr. Yew Cheng Keat, in his speech, thanked the sponsors, volunteers, supporters, his Committee, and everyone who had helped to make the anniversary celebration such a success. Hampers were then presented to Cheshire Home, Happy Home Butterworth, Home for the Infirm, Little Sisters of the Poor, Sarana Old Folks Home, and Silver Jubilee Home.

The Than Hsiang Choir started off the anniversary programme with two songs followed by a solo number beauteously rendered by a member of the Choir. The Than Hsiang Kindergarten children then presented two dances. The children certainly wowed the audience with their colorful costumes and cute dance movements. They not only made their parents and teachers proud and happy, but also all in the audience.

A resident, Mr. Yeoh Oon Chye, of Wan Ching Yuen Centre next sang “San Hua Cheow” to the delight of the audience. This was followed by two hand musical numbers presented by the Sunday Dharma group of adults and children. The lovely hand movements in unison with the songs had the audience spellbound.

A short Chinese opera about an Emperor falling for the proprietress of a wine shop was then presented by three residents of Wan Ching Yuen Centre. The Emperor (Lee Phaik Nai) disguised as a commoner chanced on the beautiful proprietress (Tan Yew Mui) of a wine shop. While attempting to court the lady he was stopped by the wine shop assistant (Kua Sin Siew), but love prevailed in the end. The period costumes, exquisitely created by Mdm. Loke, a teacher of Than Hsiang Kindergarten, and the salutary acting under the able direction of Mdm. Chan Soon Lee of Wan Ching Yuen Centre, made the opera such a joy to watch.

Miss Yun Han, a daughter of one of the volunteers, next took the stage and sweetly sang 'Beautiful Eyes of Mother’. The curtain then went up for the play “Believe” scripted by Ms. Ang Lay Choon of Mitra Welfare Counsel. The opening scene showed a boy (Hor Chan Seng) lovingly teaching his younger sister (Huey Ming) how to ride a bicycle. Unfortunately, the little girl fell off the bicycle and the mother (Phaik See Thian), in her anger at seeing this, scolded the poor boy for a wrong not intentionally done. The boy in his misery cried out in despair at the harsh treatment and lack of parental love. (His good acting brought a lump to my throat even though the dialogue, which was in Mandarin, proved to be a challenge to me) In the next scene, the boy came home and presented a bad school report. The mother was so angry that she continuously caned the boy till he fainted and subsequently passed away. The mother then in her sorrow lamented that she should have been more understanding and shown love to her son instead of disciplining him in the false sense of making a good person out of him. She regretted that it was too late for her to tell her son how much she actually loved him. (I must admit this reporter was close to tears at the end of the show.) The play closed with the telephone numbers (04-6477833 & 04-6429429) of the Mitra Welfare Counsel flashed on a screen.

A group of eight from Little Sisters of the Poor next did a Japanese dance. Their authentic costumes and synchronized dancing almost had the audience believing they were actually from Japan. Mr. Chew Hock Poh, a resident of Wan Ching Yuen Centre, next sang two Western songs, “My Bonnie” and “Your Cheating Heart”. He had the audience tapping to the beat of his music.

The last of the morning’s many and varied programme was presented by members of the Senior Citizen Association of Penang. They did two numbers of line dancing, the “I Ching Cha-cha” and “Silver Threads and Golden Needles” in their “cowboy” outfits, complete with “Western” hats. Their lively and synchronized dancing belied their age and had the audience swaying to them.

The morning ended with vegetarian food served to the invited guests and residents of Wan Ching Yuen Centre.