INTERVIEW | LUMEN
21 same . Faith in God and zeal for others .” It ’ s a great mantra for 2019 as the year of Lasallian vocations , I tell myself .
We probe further ; Was there a favourite moment in SJI when he was Principal from January ’ 91 to 1997 ? “ You were 41 , Brother ,” Eliza says gingerly . “ We did the Maths before we came .” He accesses an old memory : a flurry of exchange between Brother Superior and him in San Francisco . The telegram had stated : “ Please come to Singapore . You have a new appointment .” He was initially in disbelief before the second telegram confirmed : “ Is that direct enough for you ?” I smile and wonder secretly how Brothers communicated with one other under duress . “ Grinning and bearing it makes you stronger for the next part of the journey ,” Brother Paul shrugs , before relocating from Adelaide to tropical Singapore . “ I was a bit late in joining SJI ,” he explains , “ the release of the results in Australia and handling repeat students .”
Almost three decades have passed , but the first memory he dredges up is of the local boys under his charge . “ The Secondary Four kids didn ’ t want to come to school ,” he says of discipline issues . “ So I lined them up till 6pm at night . I call the shots in this school .” It ’ s that grave tone of voice I remember all too well as a student ; he towered over every teenage upstart . We laugh at this now , and he shakes his head as he mentions one name , an Agostino Lim , who was especially problematic . “ I attended his wedding , and his mother burst out crying , thanking me for helping her son . He ’ s turned out to be a successful businessman . Should be contributing to the school .” ( A quick side check on Google reveals that Agostino is now director of business development at Gowell Logistics , if he is indeed said L ’ enfant terrible and first in Brother Paul ’ s crosshairs .) “ Get them through hurdles ,” he tells us precisely , elaborating on the “ greatest kids ” he had , and ensuring they were prepped especially for Mother Tongue , which he couldn ’ t speak at all .
“ We were all pretty weak in Chinese , Brother ,” I say . “ Did you remember Ms . Khoo Cheng Eng ?” “ Oh , don ’ t ask me their names !” he laughs , “ but the “ O ” level results in 1997 were stellar .”
Eliza and I don ’ t have to prompt Brother Paul much at this point . He speaks about the aims of the inaugural RME programme , the Performing Arts Centre of which he is still inordinately proud of . Little details do not escape him : the importance of acoustics and ambience , and how ivory keys on pianos do not change in temperature when pianists are hitting them . “ When you lift the lid , pianists can feel what they ’ re playing .” We are treated to a little anecdote about the 9- foot grand piano he purchased together with the Head of Music at Lasalle College of the Arts in 1995 – the kids ’ “ pride and joy ” which was to be used as part of a concert programme “ It was the best Christmas gift ever ,” he beams . “ I called my mother that day . I bought a 9-foot grand . She went “ my God !””
He also recalls vanished SJI landscapes like the pond near the Chapel Grotto and the ( then complete ) 400m asphalt track . “ It was a really good track ,” he says wistfully . “ Kids need the space . Get them fit and tough . I cried when it was gone .” We reminisce old novelties and how the expensive track made way for the ISH . Nostalgia , I think , is nothing but the pain from an old wound . I share my personal memories of the ( now expunged ) tennis courts and how Michael Chang opened them officially in the early 90s on a stormy day . On architecture , Brother Paul remains fervent to the ideal of living spaces . He talks about the importance of buildings and the sense of belonging they engender , not building for building ’ s sake but to enhance educational outcomes . “ Schools need to be evocative . Creating an environment where all the things we want to do happen .” He lauds the recently installed water features that Fr . Adrian Danker installed , such as the water track that meanders up the slope , as well as Brother McNally ’ s eyecatching sculptures that invite quiet contemplation .
Eliza asks our last question on this brimming afternoon : Does he have any message to the almost 2000-strong contingent of SJI students ? Now including boys and girls , I remind him . He initially says no , saying the school is in good hands , but reminds us about the Tercentenary year of Lasallian vocation . “ The Brothers work in association with lay people . Join us in this enterprise ,” he says , “ but it shouldn ’ t be just a job where you get paid .”
It ’ s been an hour since we ’ ve started talking , and Eliza looks at me in askance when we sense we ’ ve literally run out of steam . Brother Paul stifles a polite yawn and we stand up , thanking him for his time . He ambles down the hallway and opens the door . Outside , time resumes its relentless melt . The sky is a living furnace but there are boys practicing their foot drills on the tartan track . Buzzing in the air are whirring sounds of the remote-controlled aeroplanes as they careen over the school field . They are evocative scenes of the school . His eyes narrow in the bright glare as he drinks these sights and sounds in , a familiar scene to a man who has been running schools for more than 33 years . “ I miss the Annual Parade ,” he confesses . I memorize this moment , unsure if I would ever see him again , this architect who has been responsible for the happiest years of my schooling life . As he says his farewell , he casts his eyes mischievously on some loosened tiles on the alcoves of the covered walkway . “ Those need some fixing too ,” he says .
Facing page : Bro Paul Anthony Rogers , FSC . Principal of SJI from 1992-1997
This page ( top ): Delivering his address at the Catholic Education conference 2019
This page ( bottom ): Together with current Principal , Fr Adrian Danker and Brother President , Bro Paul Ho , FSC