Recently, I celebrated my 75th Birthday celebration together with my daughter’s graduation as Medical Doctor, themed “DOUBLE HAPPINESS” with close friends and relatives on 31st of May 2014. My youngest son spoke on behalf of my family to welcome the distinguished guests and friends. I now release my son’s and daughter, Dr. Phang’s speech. Thank you. God Bless.
Benjamin Phang’s Speech
Ladies and Gentlemen, Tunku Aziz, Tan Sris, Puan Sris, Datuks, Datins and fellow friends.
It is without a doubt, my absolute delight to welcome all of you to tonight’s joyous occasion, my
father’s 75th Birthday.
5 years ago, today, you would have seen me on the stage, cracking jokes after jokes. However today, that will not be the case, as I feel that we have something much more distinguished to celebrate.
Those of you who were present for my father’s 70th Birthday would have seen the brilliant slideshow put together, highlighting the significant moments in his life which has made him the man he is today.
I won’t be going through it in much detail, although I do feel the need to reiterate certain points more extensively.
My father did not have the most privileged of childhoods. Shortly after birth, his father passed
away, leaving his mother to care for him and his two sisters.
Times were tough and his mother struggled to make ends meet, he still lacked the financial means of receiving an education and sometimes even basic nutrition and healthcare.
Despite the hardship and circumstances placed upon him from birth, it did not deter his will to
have a good life and to be able to provide unconditionally for his loved ones.
In fact, the experiences that he was subjected to, has cultivated in him a sense of unparalleled generosity and compassion for the less fortunate, which I am sure is how most of you have come to know him today.
My father has definitely provided my siblings and I, a fortunate life. However, rising above the
occasion, is my sister, Frances.
At a tender age, she was off living by herself in a foreign country and despite my father not being around all the time to give her moral support of advice, she found her own way and excelled in her chose fiend.
And just earlier this month, she graduated from the University of Nebraska Lind with the title MD.
My sister is the pride and embodiment of what the Phang family stands for today and is testimony of my father’s years of providing. Words alone cannot describe the elation we feel for her.
Tonight’s theme is Double Happiness, apart from celebrating my father’s milestone of making it through the third quarter of life, we would also like to celebrate my sister achieving her life-long dream of becoming a Doctor.
Ladies and Gentlemen, without further ado, my sister, Dr. Frances Phang MD.
Dr.Frances Phang’s speech
Hello all distinguished guests, relatives, family and friends—thank you for joining us on this special occasion. As Ben mentioned earlier, I recently fulfilled my childhood dream of becoming a doctor. I will be specializing in General Surgery with an eventual focus on breast oncology.
With the addition of “M.D.” behind my name comes additional responsibilities, one of them is the saying “Do no harm”, so in accordance with that—I will keep my speech nice and short so that you may continue to enjoy your dinner.
There are two things that I’d like to address in my speech. First of all, my excitement about officially entering the medical profession.
Every birthday wish since I could remember was to become a doctor, and now that it has materialized—I can share it freely with everyone.
The last four years of medical school was tough, tougher than I’d ever imagined but it was also the best four years. I was involved in something I loved—I saw patients in clinic, diagnosed them and subsequently applied what I learned, therefor reinforcing my knowledge.
I had excellent doctors as teachers, imparting to me their own nuances in practicing medicine. And along the way, I made great friends—friends that will be around for decades to come.
Looking back, it has truly been the best four years and I have so much more to look forward to—starting residency and learning how to practice independently as a budding surgeon.
Of course, none of this would’ve been possible without the influence of my father. He has served as such an important role model to me.
As you all are well aware, giving back to the needy is something my father is very passionate about.
It will be such an honor and privilege to give back to our society through the means of medicine. I only hope that I will be able to accomplish a fraction of what my father has done throughout my career.
You’re truly an inspiration, Pa—let’s give him a hand.
Secondly, I’d like to give thanks to my father for his love and support throughout the years. He has supported me wholeheartedly every step of my education. He told me that as long as I wanted to further my studies, he will provide.
My father provided so well that all I had to do was focus on studying and nothing else—not many of my classmates can say the same. I am truly a very blessed child to have him as my father.
With that said, I’d like to give a toast to my father. You have provided for and taken such good care of me and I will work hard to continue your legacy in social work as a doctor.
Thank you, Pa and Happy Birthday.
The Declaration of Geneva—
I solemnly pledge to consecrate my life to the service of humanity;
I will give to my teachers the respect and gratitude that is their due;
I will practice my profession with conscience and dignity;
The health of my patient will be my first consideration;
I will respect the secrets that are confided in me, even after the patient has died;
I will maintain by all the means in my power, the honor and the noble traditions of the medical profession;
My colleagues will be my sisters and brothers;
I will not permit considerations of age, disease or disability, creed, ethnic origin, gender, nationality, political affiliation, race, sexual orientation, social standing or any other factor to intervene between my duty and my patient;
I will maintain the utmost respect for human life;
I will not use my medical knowledge to violate human rights and civil liberties, even under threat;
I make these promises solemnly, freely and upon my honor.
