Celebrating Francis at 73: A Journey Through Life and Legacy

We kicked off Friday night with an exciting surprise as Francis, our birthday celebrant, walked into the Canary Room at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel and discovered all the FT folks gathered for his birthday bash! Francis greeted everyone with a big, appreciative smile lighting up his face.

Aison gave an opening speech filled with wonderful memories about his dad. The energy quickly ramped up with a lively warm-up game where each table crafted a creative cheer for Francis. The competition was thrilling as tables vied to outdo each other with louder and more enthusiastic cheers. Prizes awaited the table with the most booming cheer!

A nostalgic montage video whisked the guests away on a delightful journey down memory lane! Mrs. Tan also delivered an absolutely wonderful speech.

The guests were delighted with a scrumptious buffet that kept hunger at bay throughout the entire celebration! Friends and relatives joyfully shared beautiful memories about Francis. Mr. Kwek, who has known Francis for three decades, enthusiastically recounted how they met and when Francis started FTIS. Mr. Cheing and Ms. Joyce brought smiles with their wonderful stories from their school days. Ms. Pauline and Mr. Pengpeng also shared heartwarming words about Francis.

The excitement didn't end there as FTIS had more surprises in store for Francis! Candles were blown out, the cake was cut, and heartfelt birthday wishes filled the air. The guests joyfully sang a lively birthday song, and the surprises kept coming when Cai Sen Ye appeared, bringing good fortune to Francis and everyone present. Toto tickets magically emerged from the cake, and the Cai Sen Ye handed out Angbaos to every guest, taking pictures with everyone to capture the unforgettable moments!

Even more gifts were prepared! A family portrait was commissioned as a cherished keepsake to capture the joy, laughter, and love shared during the event. Every department in the FTIS crafted a handmade birthday card for Francis, who had a blast reading each heartfelt message!

The guests dove into an exciting game of Kahoot! to test their knowledge of Francis! With ten thrilling questions about him, everyone was eager to see who knew him best. In the end, it was Alice, one of the newest members of FT, who triumphed as the winner. Francis playfully remarked that Alice knows more about him than he does himself!

As the party came to a thrilling close, the moment everyone was waiting for arrived—the announcement of the most creative birthday card winner! With excitement in the air, Mrs. Tan proudly declared every department a winner, recognizing the heartfelt effort each team poured into crafting their masterpiece.

With hearts full and memories made, guests left the Canary Room carrying not just angbaos and keepsakes, but the joy of having been part of something truly special. And as Francis waved goodbye, his radiant smile said it all—this was a night he would never forget.

Here’s to many more years of laughter, love, and legacy. Happy birthday, Francis!