In reflection of the past years, Christopher Wong (1965) deserves the most credit in the formation of the NY/EC chapter of LSCOBA more than 20 years ago. In a short time, the first board of officers was elected and the chapter was formed. The elected were: 

The visit of Brother Henry and Benedict (Tiger) and Mrs. Lim’s to New York on June of 1987 marked the first official function of the chapter. Meeting up with Bro. Henry after all these years, I asked him if he remember who I was. He jokingly admitted he had caned me in P6, and that remark was overheard by my wife, Virginia.   Being a mischievous teenage boy, as we all are, I had to convince her that this was just one of those ‘Bad Hair’ days.

The game of soccer is deeply ingrained in our culture and has become a major event of all of the OBA chapters. In 2003, I attended the second OBA North America Soccer Tournament as a spectator in Vancouver, Canada.  While there, I made a most daring announcement to the other chapters; that New York would have a team participating in 2004 at Toronto, Canada.  I pledged to have a team, even if we had to draft the OBA Ladies Auxiliary.   Upon my return to New York, I executed my presidential power and designated Anthony Chan (67, our current Hon. Secretary) the job of team manager.   The enthusiasm of playing soccer has found many La Salle Alumni to become members of the chapter.  Even though we could not form a full 11-man team, the membership has since grown by the dozen.   And the rest is history.

The development of the cyberspace and internet has made the world smaller and the chapter closer. In the older days, to make announcement or coordination, letters have to be printed and mailed, and followed by the ‘pyramid’ of telephone calling schemes. Today, with a touch of a finger, a message can go to all members in cyber speed.  My prediction ‘I Had A Dream’ in Toronto 2004 during Brother Thomas’ visit to North America that the LSCOBA chapters would become one big family can finally be realized.  All of this will be solidified at the biggest celebration of the school’s 75th Jubilee Anniversary in December 2007 in Hong Kong.

We are anxiously looking forward to the World Conference and Soccer Tournament to be held here in the New York / New Jersey area in 2008.   It is time for the NY/EC Chapter to play host to the other chapters with all the fun and excitement that we can offer.

John Ng (1965)
Past President – 1991, 2001, 2003