MY FAMILY

HEIRLOOM
BY ASHER SEOW
Good morning, sir and classmates, today I would like to share about a precious family heirloom of
m i n e t h a t b e l o n g e d t o Ta n P e c k C h e n g , m y g r e a t - g r a n d m o t h e r o n m y f a t h e r ' s s i d e . I t i s a b o o k w r i t t e n
b y h e r a n d d e t a i l s t h e h a p p e n i n g s i n h e r l i f e a s w e l l a s t h e f a m i l y ' s h i s t o r y. T h i s b o o k i s i n t e n d e d t o
be passed on to future generations so that we don't forget our roots. It is ver y special because it
f u l fi l l s m y g r e a t - g r a n d m o t h e r ' s g r e a t e s t d e s i r e t o b e r e m e m b e r e d b y h e r d e s c e n d a n t s .  

Titled "My Memories" and written in 2006, the book narrates the special moments and events in her
l i f e , s u c h a s h e r e s c a p e f r o m t h e J a p a n e s e d u r i n g t h e w a r a n d t h e b i r t h o f m y g r a n d f a t h e r. I t s p a n s
about 3 generations, the most recent being my parents, whose marriage is pictured in the last few
pages. The book also details her early life in Myanmar where   she was born to Chines e parents in 1923.
D u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r 2 , s h e e s c a p e d t o C h i n a d u r i n g t h e J a p a n e s e i n v a s i o n w h e r e s h e m e t m y g r e a t -
g r a n d f a t h e r, w h o s u b s e q u e n t l y t o o k h e r a n d t h e i r c h i l d r e n t o S i n g a p o r e .  

T h e y r e b u i l t t h e i r l i f e i n t h i s c o u n t r y, s e r v i n g G o d a n d t a k i n g c a r e o f t h e l i t t l e o n e s . A l t h o u g h I a m
not in this book, I have fond memories of my great-grandmother as a kind, gentle woman who loved
me very much and stayed up praying for me at night even in her old age. This book is about her but is
u l t i m a t e l y a t e s t i m o n y o f G o d ' s l o v e f o r h e r a n d H i s g r a c e t o w a r d s o u r   f a m i l y. S h e d i e d i n 2 0 1 3 , b u t
h e r s p i r i t l i v e s o n t h r o u g h   t h i s f a m i l y h e i r l o o m t h a t w i l l a l w a y s b e p r e c i o u s t o m e a s a t r i b u t e t o h e r.  

   
My great-grandmother
holding my 3-month-ol d
grandfather. (My
personal favorite
picture.)
MY FAMILY
TREE

By Asher Seow
 Seow Peck Tan Peck
Hwee  Cheng
(7/12/1917- (4/12/1923-
27/10/1999) 2013)

Seow Tan Seow Yi

Seow Tan Seow Tan Song  Ng Leow Tin
Hong
Nong Feng (1/22/1949-) (2/12/1955-)

Ian Seow Madeline Tok

(17/11/1979 (18/1/1972-)
-)

Asher Seow
Ian, Madeline and Asher (10/2/2009-)
 Seow Peck Hwee Tan Peck Cheng
(7/12/1917- (4/12/1923-
27/10/1999) 31/8/2013)

Seow Tan Nong Seow Tan Feng Seow Tan Song Seow Yi Hong