{"id":8657,"date":"2014-02-04T16:23:00","date_gmt":"2014-02-04T08:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/?p=8657"},"modified":"2014-02-05T13:08:38","modified_gmt":"2014-02-05T05:08:38","slug":"my-fathers-dream-fulfilled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/","title":{"rendered":"My Father&#8217;s Dream, Fulfilled"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0By Serene Tan<\/p>\n<p>Not long after my dad passed away in 2011, the government announced plans for an 8 lane highway that would cut through Bukit Brown,\u00a0 and graves in the way would have to be exhumed.<\/p>\n<p>The news of the highway triggered a memory. The last time I visited my grandpa&#8217;s tomb was more than 40 years ago when I was a young girl. \u00a0I could vividly recall my grandpa&#8217;s tomb at Bukit Brown. \u00a0Concerned it might be affected, I realised it was time to visit him.<\/p>\n<p>I arranged with my cousin to visit the grave for the \u00a0&#8216;Qing Ming&#8217; festival the next year, 2012. \u00a0It was a relief to learn that his grave was not staked for exhumation. But to my dismay, the tomb was in a dilapidated condition. \u00a0The tomb had been neglected for more than 15 years after my dad suffered a massive stroke which left him paralyzed and wheel chair bound.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8658\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8658\" class=\" wp-image-8658\" title=\"Grandpa's tomb (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Tomb before renovation _ photo Serene Tan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Tomb-before-renovation-_-photo-Serene-Tan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8658\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grandpa&#8217;s tomb (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>It dawned on me then, that I now had the responsibility to carry on my father\u2019s\u00a0 duty to &#8216;sweep&#8217; grandpa\u2019s tomb \u00a0during the &#8216;Qing Ming&#8217; festival. \u00a0His tombstone spoke to my roots.<\/p>\n<p>Inscribed on the tombstone was my ancestral hometown , Kimen, \u00a0my grandfather\u2019s death date, 1937, \u00a0and the names of his children. My father was the only son. \u00a0For the first time I came to know my father\u2019s birth name \u9648\u5929\u5409, Tan Tien Kiat, \u00a0inscribed on the tomb. \u00a0My grandpa passed away when my dad was only five and dad changed to a simpler\u00a0 name, \u9648 \u4e9e \u65fa, Tan Ah Ong<\/p>\n<p>I arranged with a contractor to renovate my grandpa\u2019s tomb, and before work started, I decided it was also time to visit my ancestral home in Kinmen, Taiwan . Unconsciously, I think I was seeking the blessings of my father and grandfather.<br \/>\nMy grandpa Tan Teow Meng \uff08\u9648 \u671d \u660e \uff09left his home in Kinmen, more than 100 years ago. In Singapore, \u00a0I was told he worked as a lorry driver and died because of a bout of high fever.<\/p>\n<p>My father had attempted to visit his ancestral home, thrice in the 80s. \u00a0\u00a0Kinmen \u00a0is a small archipelago of islands and at that time was under a military administration because of fighting with China. \u00a0The only \u00a0means \u00a0of transport then was by military helicopter.\u00a0 Visitors to the island were\u00a0 restricted but because Dad could claim to be descended from his ancestors in\u00a0 Kinmen, getting permission was not the problem.\u00a0 Each time, it was\u00a0 bad weather which prevented my father\u2019s flight on the helicopter from\u00a0 taking off\u00a0 from mainland Taiwan.<\/p>\n<p>He was so close and yet so far. I felt deeply the pain of his disappointment.\u00a0 Dad subsequently passed away, without fulfilling his dream.<\/p>\n<p>It was in \u00a0my ancestral village of Houshan\u00a0 (\u540e\u5c71), now known as Bishan, that \u00a0I learned my father had contributed funds to two temples.\u00a0 His name was inscribed on the list of donors for both temples. This one is from the smaller village temple\u00a0 \u9648\u6c0f\u5b97\u7960<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8660\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Village-temple-inscription1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8660\" class=\" wp-image-8660\" title=\"I placed my father's photo beside the inscription of his name in temple's donor list (photo Serene Tan) \" alt=\"Village temple inscription\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Village-temple-inscription1-1024x764.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Village-temple-inscription1-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Village-temple-inscription1-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/Village-temple-inscription1-280x209.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8660\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">I placed my father&#8217;s photo as close\u00a0 as I could to\u00a0 the inscription of his name among\u00a0 the temple&#8217;s donor list (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<h4><em><strong><span style=\"color: #999999;\">My heart swelled with pride. There is an old Chinese saying \u201cDrink Water, But Remember the Source\u201d-\u00a0 \u00a0\u201c<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u996e\u6c34\u601d\u6e90\u201d .<\/span> \u00a0My father, although he was not able to visit his ancestral home, never forgot his roots.<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n<p>The family home and land in Kinmen, remains abandoned.\u00a0 But at home in Singapore, my grandpa\u2019s tomb has been rebuilt with \u00a0granite stone and fresh inscriptions in gold dust. \u00a0My grandpa had a humble life\u00a0 his son &#8211; my father &#8211; worked hard and became a successful business man and never forgot his father. \u00a0I have always admired my father for his work ethic and persistence.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8716\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8716\" class=\" wp-image-8716\" title=\"(photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Tomb after reno_ Serene Tan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tomb-after-reno_-Serene-Tan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8716\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Grandpa&#8217;s new home (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8715\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8715\" class=\" wp-image-8715\" title=\"The renovated tomb of my grandfather ( photo by Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Inscriptions _Serene Tan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Inscriptions-_Serene-Tan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8715\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Who we are and from whence we came\u00a0 ( photo by Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>So as I marked Qing Ming at my grandpa\u2019s new\u00a0 \u201chome\u201d after my visit to Kinmen, I felt happy and blessed to have been able to accomplish my father\u2019s dream of visiting our ancestral home.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8718\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8718\" class=\" wp-image-8718\" title=\"Qing Ming at Grandpa's tomb, 2013 (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"tomb after Qing Ming_ Serene Tan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/tomb-after-Qing-Ming_-Serene-Tan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8718\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Qing Ming at Grandpa&#8217;s tomb, 2013 (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p align=\"center\">***<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\" align=\"center\">My journey to my ancestral home in Kinmen in a photo essay.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8695\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8695\" class=\" wp-image-8695\" title=\"Map showing Bishan (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Map showing Bishan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Map-showing-Bishan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8695\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of Kinmen, showing Bishan at top right hand\u00a0 (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8696\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8696\" class=\" wp-image-8696\" title=\"My ancestral home and land, abandoned. ( photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Ancestral home _Serene Tan\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Ancestral-home-_Serene-Tan.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8696\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">My ancestral home and land, abandoned.\u00a0 Relatives I met told me, the home was occupied by troops during the conflict with China and they also dismantled the wooden structures to build their bunkers.\u00a0 ( photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">The village temple\u00a0 \u9648\u6c0f\u5b97\u7960<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8697\" style=\"width: 621px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8697\" class=\" wp-image-8697 aligncenter\" title=\"The village temple nearby which my father donated funds to (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Small Temple external\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"611\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Small-Temple-external.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 611px) 100vw, 611px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8697\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The village temple nearby which my father donated funds to (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">The temple serves residents \u00a0nearby to offer prayers anytime as and when they deem necessary. (\u9648\u6c0f\u5b97\u7960\uff09<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8699\" style=\"width: 624px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8699\" class=\" wp-image-8699\" title=\"A view of the interior of the village temple (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"small temple interior\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior-1024x764.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior-1024x764.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior-280x209.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8699\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A view of the interior of the village temple (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>My father also donated to the larger Tan clan ancestral temple,\u00a0\u9648\u6c0f \u5bb6\u5edf.\u00a0 Unlike the village temple, it&#8217;s\u00a0 opened only for certain festival celebrations \u00a0and entry restricted to only\u00a0 male descendants. I was privileged\u00a0 to be granted permission to enter, as an exception.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-2-.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8701 aligncenter\" title=\"In the courtyard of the Tan Ancestral Temple (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Tan Temple 2\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-2-.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-2-.jpg 240w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-2--225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<dl class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" id=\"attachment_8701\" style=\"width: 250px;\">\n<dd class=\"wp-caption-dd\">In the courtyard of the Tan temple, holding a photo of my father\u00a0 (photo Serene Tan)<\/dd>\n<\/dl>\n<div id=\"attachment_8700\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-3-.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8700\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8700\" title=\"Entrance to the Tan Ancestral Temple (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Tan Temple 3\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-3-.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-3-.jpg 240w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-3--225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8700\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Entrance to the Tan temple (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8702\" style=\"width: 250px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8702\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8702\" title=\"Offering my respects at the Tan temple (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Tan Temple 1\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-11.jpg\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-11.jpg 240w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-11-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 240px) 100vw, 240px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8702\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Offering my respects at the Tan temple (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>My father&#8217;s name \u4e9c \u65fa on the donors list.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_8703\" style=\"width: 330px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-4-inscriptions.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8703\" class=\"size-full wp-image-8703\" alt=\"Tan Temple 4 inscriptions\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-4-inscriptions.jpg\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-4-inscriptions.jpg 320w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-4-inscriptions-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Tan-Temple-4-inscriptions-280x210.jpg 280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 320px) 100vw, 320px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8703\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">4th from left is my father&#8217;s name\u00a0 on the list of donors from Singapore to the Tan temple (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<h4><span style=\"color: #999999;\"><em>Meeting my relatives for the first time, I learned my great grandfather&#8217;s name is \u9648 \u6b63.\u00a0\u00a0 So he is the earliest of my ancestors I have come to know.<br \/>\n<\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n<div id=\"attachment_8705\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8705\" class=\" wp-image-8705\" title=\"Meeting relatives ( photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"Meeting relatives\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/Meeting-relatives.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8705\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Meeting relatives ( photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_8706\" style=\"width: 468px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-8706\" class=\" wp-image-8706\" title=\"Meeting relatives (photo Serene Tan)\" alt=\"relatives\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives-764x1024.jpg\" width=\"458\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives-239x320.jpg 239w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/relatives.jpg 1936w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-8706\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Meeting relatives (photo Serene Tan)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>I will be marking my father&#8217;s third death anniversary at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge, 17-19 Kim Yam Road on 23 Feb 2014 at 10 am.\u00a0Friends and relatives are welcome to join us in prayers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-death-anniversary.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter  wp-image-8722\" alt=\"3 death anniversary\" src=\"http:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-death-anniversary.png\" width=\"461\" height=\"614\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-death-anniversary.png 768w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-death-anniversary-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/3-death-anniversary-240x320.png 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 461px) 100vw, 461px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; \u00a0By Serene Tan Not long after my dad passed away in 2011, the government announced plans for an 8 lane highway that would cut through Bukit Brown,\u00a0 and graves in the way would have to be exhumed. The news of the highway triggered a memory. The last time I visited my grandpa&#8217;s tomb was more than 40 years ago when I was a young girl. \u00a0I could vividly recall my grandpa&#8217;s tomb at Bukit Brown. \u00a0Concerned it might be [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[161,116,88,81],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8657","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heritage-2","category-history-2","category-in-memoriam","category-slider"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>My Father&#039;s Dream, Fulfilled - Bukit Brown: A World Monuments Watch Site in 2014<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"My Father&#039;s Dream, Fulfilled - Bukit Brown: A World Monuments Watch Site in 2014\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"&nbsp; \u00a0By Serene Tan Not long after my dad passed away in 2011, the government announced plans for an 8 lane highway that would cut through Bukit Brown,\u00a0 and graves in the way would have to be exhumed. 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The last time I visited my grandpa&#8217;s tomb was more than 40 years ago when I was a young girl. \u00a0I could vividly recall my grandpa&#8217;s tomb at Bukit Brown. \u00a0Concerned it might be [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bukit Brown: A World Monuments Watch Site in 2014\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2014-02-04T08:23:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2014-02-05T05:08:38+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior-1024x764.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"764\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Adminstrator 1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Adminstrator 1\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Adminstrator 1\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/#\/schema\/person\/7245b22ce498c1ba0e9efbc90cbc58fd\"},\"headline\":\"My Father&#8217;s Dream, Fulfilled\",\"datePublished\":\"2014-02-04T08:23:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2014-02-05T05:08:38+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\"},\"wordCount\":1056,\"commentCount\":4,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/small-temple-interior.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Heritage\",\"History\",\"In Memoriam\",\"Slider\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/bukitbrown.com\/main\/2014\/my-fathers-dream-fulfilled\/\",\"name\":\"My Father's Dream, Fulfilled - 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