110th Anniversary Reflections: Memories & Tributes from Georgians of 1970 and 1971 (PART 3)
- Malaysia Raja
- Dec 5, 2025
- 5 min read
This article is one of a three-part collection written to commemorate the 110th anniversary of St. George’s Institution, Taiping, Malaysia. Together, these pieces honour the La Salle Brothers, teachers, and values that shaped generations of Georgians. Parts 1 and 2 capture the shared reflections of the Class of 1970, while Part 3 presents the personal tribute of a student from the Class of 1971.
Part 3: A Georgian’s Personal Tribute (Class of 1971)
A deeply personal remembrance of St. George’s Institution and the two Brothers whose kindness, guidance, and unwavering belief helped shape the man I became. In 2025, St. George’s Institution stands proudly at 110 years - an institution rooted in faith, discipline, and service, yet remembered most deeply for its human touch. For generations of Georgians, SGI was never just a school. It was a home, a guiding compass, and a place where boys learned to become men of integrity. Its strength has always been the people who animated its corridors: the La Salle Brothers, the teachers, and the students who gave the school its heartbeat.
Among the Christian Brothers who shaped the character of SGI, two stand out vividly in my memory - Bro. Leo Manickasami and Bro. John de Cruz. Their influence remains woven into the story of my youth, and in this anniversary year, I feel blessed to honour them as part of SGI’s remarkable legacy.
Brother Leo Manickasami FSC: A Director, Mentor, and Father Figure
I first met Bro. Leo in 1967 when I walked into Form 1 - small, unsure, and overwhelmed by the grandeur of this iconic school. From that day until the time I left SGI in 1973, he became a steady and reassuring presence. He was a teacher, mentor, counsellor, and eventually, a friend.
His care extended beyond the classroom. He kept a close eye on my well-being, noticing things others would have missed. After school, he patiently gave me Bible lessons in the Brothers’ quarters, even gifting me my first Bible in Form Three - an act that eventually led me to baptism in 1994.
Even after he retired as Director, his belief in me never wavered. Though I had never once been a prefect, he quietly supported my appointment as Deputy Head Prefect in 1972, and later Head Prefect in 1973. It was an unlikely rise, one I still credit to his confidence in my character rather than my résumé.
His fatherly guidance extended well into my young adulthood. In 1974, he secured for me a temporary teaching job at La Salle Secondary School, Petaling Jaya, arranged my accommodation at the La Salle Provincialate, and even visited me there - accompanied by a few former classmates. When I left for the UK three months later, Brother Leo was there at Subang Airport to send me off. That gesture - quiet and tender, is something I will never forget.
Our bond continued long after my school days. We wrote frequently. He attended my wedding reception in 1984 at the Meridian Hotel in Taiping, joining several of our beloved teachers. And in March 1985, he personally asked me to organise a gathering for former Georgians working in KL / PJ area - a request I eagerly fulfilled, resulting in the very first regional Old Georgian dinner attended by 330 old boys.
Sadly, he passed away a month before the event. The news of his passing shattered me. I rushed back to Taiping to attend his funeral Mass at St. Louis Church and to bid farewell to the man who had shaped me more deeply than he ever knew.
In my quiet moments I look back at old photos taken with him - each one stirring warmth, gratitude, and memories hauntingly vivid after decades. Brother Leo remains part of the architecture of my life, just as he is forever part of SGI’s legacy.
Brother John de Cruz FSC: Teacher, Musician, and a Brother with a Deep Human Touch
If Brother Leo laid my foundation, Bro. John built upon it with rhythm, discipline and joy. I met him the same year I joined the school military band in 1967. Three Brothers guided the band then: Bro. John with the drummers, Bro. Christopher with the flutists and clarinetists, and Bro. Dennis with the trumpeters and buglers. I was with the band until Form 5. When Mr. Vincent Soo took over as bandmaster in 1970, Bro. John remained, marking five formative years alongside us.
Music was his heartbeat. Beyond the band, he co-led the school choir in 1967 - 68 and poured his energy into talentimes and school dramas. His enthusiasm was contagious - he made music feel alive.
He was equally passionate about youth formation. As one of the leaders of the YCS (Young Christian Students) movement from 1969 to 1971, he helped us discover leadership and fellowship in meaningful, faith-inspired ways. Our YCS camps at Klian Pau remain some of my fondest memories of SGI life.
In the classroom, Bro. John brought English Literature to life. Julius Caesar - no easy text - became enjoyable under his guidance. He had a way of turning lessons into conversations and students into thinkers.
He later served as Brother Director of SGI in the mid-1970s before choosing to dedicate himself to educating underprivileged students in centres he helped establish in Sabah, Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Even after health challenges forced him to retire to the La Salle Home in Manila, his mind remains sharp. When I met him at the recent OGA dinner, he recognised me instantly and recalled the year I served as Head Prefect - despite not having seen me for over a decade. That is the kind of Brother he has always been: warm, approachable and thoughtful.
My Enduring Gratitude
SGI’s 110-year story is not carved only in its architecture or achievements, but in the lives moulded within its walls. Brothers like Leo and John exemplified the La Salle spirit - firm but compassionate, disciplined yet humane. Their quiet courage, unassuming service, and unwavering dedication shaped generations of Georgians, including me. As we commemorate this anniversary, we celebrate not just the milestone, but the values that built it: faith, integrity, excellence, leadership, and brotherhood.
Lee Heng
(Class of 1971)
Edited by:
A. Raja Sekaran
(Class of 1970)
Return to Part I: The Historical Narrative – Memories from the Class of 1970:
Return to 'Part 2: Endearing Educators (Tributes from Class of 1970)':
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