Lady Castle

I’ve got to jot this down. Log into YouTube and types in Public Bank’s 45th Anniversary and watch the video. 5 years down the road, when the bank is celebrating their 50th Anniversary, I can make a comparison between the two events and laugh myself out loud all over again. (This clip is very heavy for me to upload in here at this moment of time). I’m sure a lot of money has been invested into this event, the hall was huge, there were big flags & little flags everywhere and I think that the corporate figure himself is in too much of self-indulgent no?

Have you seen the video on YouTube on Public Bank’s 45th Anniversary grand dinner with Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow? If you have not, you have absolutely no idea what you’re missing. Your life is not complete until you’ve watched the extravagance that went into a bank’s birthday celebration.

If you’re stuck on Streamyx and not UniFI-ed like lucky me and the video doesn’t load no matter how many times you refreshed it, I’m going to do you a favor and describe to you in great detail what is in the 7min 50sec video.

Entrance shot zooms into The Mines Hotel so the event must have taken place there. Lots of colorful costumes — both cosplay and cultural. Entering a large hall with a stage up front and hundreds and hundreds of dinner tables at the back. Police escort with their big bikes enters the premise, their blue lights and sirens blaring. All dinner guests were standing up and waving their little flags in the air. A group of singers were at the stage with the costumed peps, singing these words to the tune of K’naan’s Waving Flag:

Oh oh oh oh, Welcome Tan Sri Teh
Oh oh oh oh, Welcome Tan Sri Teh
Cheering loudly for Tan Sri Teh, Man of honor, a living legend
Let’s rise up now and sing out loud, He’s our champion, make us feel proud
He gives us mission, gives us fire, Gives us vision, takes us higher
Celebration it surrounds us, Jubilation all around us
Forthy-fifth anniversary, We celebrate our victory
Come cherish this splendor night, Lift our hearts with great delight
Celebrate!
We’re getting stronger, We’re living in fame
We’re here together, Welcoming you dear Tan Sri Teh
Welcome Tan Sri Teh, Welcome Tan Sri Teh
Today is your day, We welcome you.

You get the gist…

Tan Sri Teh in his tux enters the premise standing at the back of a slow-moving white truck with the car number plate ‘PBB 3′ accompanied by 2 young ladies behind him. If you watch carefully, there is a chair in the truck too. A throne-shape-chair. More girls walked next to the truck. He waves to the 3,000 strong manically cheering employees.

It was like watching Singapore’s orchestrated National Day Parade. Ranks up there with any major games opening ceremony. Only thing that was missing was the torch of flame. All that’s lacking is the fireworks show.

Tan Sri Teh reached the stage. He looked around at his huge empire. Waved. Smiled as the last lyric of “WE WELCOME TAN SRI TEH HONG PIOW” was sung out.

An alien spaceship was lowered to the centre of the stage. Hot young girl bent down and told Tan Sri Teh about the alien spaceship. It came in peace and bearing a huge cake.

Tan Sri Teh was chauffeured nearer to the stage because the few steps he could have walked would have screwed up the choreography.

Then came the most awesome part: in a bid to welcome Tan Sri Teh to go on the stage, all costumed people went on their knees…both hands stretched out facing the Tan Sri as if asking for donations or holy water.

Like…OMG?

Okay I’m going to stop narrating because I just told you the best part.

Want to guess how much time the PBB employees took to learn the lyrics to the amended Waving Flag and Happy Birthday tunes? I don’t know but it must have been one minute too much. And I wonder who came up with the lyrics? The big man himself?

OK I’m jealous; I really wanted to be at the dinner, heh. It’s good to be Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow.

Oh look, fireworks. I wonder how their 50th Anniversay will be like...