Today, let’s celebrate the life of a remarkable person who touched each of our hearts in unique ways.
As we remember our beloved Charles Stephen Ramachandran/CharlieBoy who was not only a talented hairdresser but also a passionate yoga instructor and gifted artist (plus a mean sugee cake baker and great tailor) we reflect on the vibrant energy he brought into our world.
In his work, Charles transformed not just hair, but lives—helping people feel confident, beautiful, and truly seen. He had this gift for making others shine, for emphasizing the beauty that exists within each of us.
His artistry was not limited to the salon; it extended into every canvas he touched, leaving behind vibrant and evocative pieces that spoke to the deep emotions we all share. Each stroke of his brush echoed his spirit—expressive, colourful and undeniably full of life.
As a yoga instructor, he taught many of us the importance of mindfulness, balance, and connection. We were reminded to breathe, to find peace within ourselves, and to embrace the beauty of our own journeys.
Charles showed us that strength comes in many forms—sometimes in the quiet moments of stillness and reflection, and sometimes in the boldness of self-expression.
And perhaps most importantly, he showed us the power of love. Love for himself, love for his craft, and love for each of us. In a world that can sometimes feel divided, Charlie Boy taught us to celebrate authenticity and to live fully and unapologetically.
As we grieve his passing, let us also celebrate the joy he brought into our lives. Let us carry forward his legacy of love, creativity, and acceptance. May we remember to support one another, to uplift each other, and to embrace the diverse tapestry of life that Charles so beautifully embodied.
Today, we honour not just a life lived, but a life that inspired. May his spirit continue to guide us as we navigate our own paths.
Fly high with Aunty Margaret & Uncle Stephen, our dear son of Pulau Tikus❤️
Those growing up with Charles in Pulau Tikus remember walking through this field with him and our dear Nigel, in front of the home of their beloved Nanny JoCharles will rest in the parlour of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus in Penang from this evening until his farewell funeral mass tomorrow
On her 117th birthday on Sept 3, 2016, Google honoured Malaysian freedom fighter Sybil Medan Kathigasu with a dedicated doodle.
A doodle by Google to honour Sybil Medan Kathigasu
She is shown in her nurse’s uniform outside her former residence in Papan, Perak.
The patterned ribbon of the George Medal surrounds the doodle, a tribute to Kathigasu’s courageous contributions to the anti-occupation movement.
“On the 117th anniversary of Kathigasu’s birth,” Google said, “we remember and celebrate her tireless dedication to freedom.
“Thank you, Kathigasu, for your courage and the powerful legacy you’ve left behind.”
While we know that Sybil Kathigasu’s “war story” speaks of how her acts of courage during World War II had devastating consequences, not much is said of what her family had gone through.
History tells us she was married to Dr Abdon Clement Kathigasu at St John’s Cathedral in Kuala Lumpur and they had three children, a son (William whom they had adopted) and two daughters, Dawn and Olga.
After her parents had been arrested for resistance activities in 1943, Dawn was suspended over a fire and threatened with death unless her mother Sybil, who had already been tortured in vain, gave information about the guerillas.
The six year old, enduring her pain, implored her mother not to talk and was saved only by the intervention of a senior Japanese officer.
She later went to Britain to study medicine and is believed to have married and settled there.
A heart warming memory of Olga is relayed here by Deacon Dr Leslie Petrus.
Rev Deacon Dr Leslie Petrus (image from the Malacca Johore Diocese website)
“I first met Sybil’s eldest daughter Olga in 1971 when she moved into the house next to Matron Irene Stephens,” he recalls.
Stephens, Dr Petrus noted, was the matron-in-charge of women prisoners in Batu Gajah prison under the Japanese Government and Sybil was under her supervision.
“Matron Stephens, our close family friend, had retired from the Prisons Department in the mid- 60’s,” he added.
The deacon recalls Olga as “the lady in black.”
“She always wore a black dress with black shoes and a black veil and carried a black bag.
“She kept to herself and never talked to anyone or even smiled. I did not understand then, her unique character but I do now.”
His up close and personal experience with Olga was in 1972 when Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, and Princess Anne were on a royal visit to Malaysia and made a stopover at Penang.
“My mother,” he remembers,” decided to go and invited Matron Stephens and Olga to follow us.
“In a cramped Opel Record car, we were in Penang the whole day, and stood for few hours at Dewan Sri Pinang just to see them at the balcony.
“As we waved our handkerchiefs, she had a Union Jack flag, and wore a hat with the flag on it. I can still remember the first and only smile on her face. I sensed then she was proud of her mother as she carried the picture of her mum with the medal of George V for highest bravery. “
Later, that day, Dr Petruse said, Olga had wanted to see the Royal Brittania and he had to follow her into a small sampan boat, at the fishermen’s jetty, where Olga paid a premium price to a local fisherman for the ride.
“I could see her looking so intently and so connected. Even now, I can still remember how she never took her eyes off the ship, probably feeling grateful that her mother and her father were special people.
“As I recall that one day trip to Penang with her, (I was 13 years old then), I then knew why she always wore black.
“She had lost her father early 1972. With all that she had experienced since her childhood, she had kept the faith.
That day trip to Penang with Olga was described as a “blessing” by Dr Petruse.
“She was in deep pain and sadness. But she never showed it. Her silence each time I saw her spoke volumes of God’s grace and love.”
In her memoir `No Dram of Mercy’, Kathigasu or Mrs K as she was affectionately known to the people of Ipoh and Papan, Perak before and during World War II, tells a story of courage, compassion, defiance and faith.
As she offers a harrowing firsthand account of the Japanese occupation of Malaya during the war, she takes her readers into the chaos of the invasion and how her peaceful life as a nurse, wife, mother and daughter was disrupted.
This was a form of disruption which appeared to transcend just mere inconvenience; it becomes a brutal struggle for survival under oppressive Japanese rule.
As a nurse and a staunch supporter of the Malayan resistance against Japanese occupation, Kathigasu’s life is a powerful narrative of sacrifice, courage, and commitment to humanitarian principles.
The push for her beatification within the Catholic Church highlights her exemplary virtues and profound moral integrity, confirming her legacy as a beacon of hope in times of darkness.
“Her faith in God as a Catholic and a disciple of Christ is the primary orientation the Diocese of Penang is pursuing,” its bishop Cardinal Sebastian Francis said in an interview.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis with Sybil Kathigasu’s memoir ‘No Dram of Mercy’ (picture by Boon Tiong)
“Our focus is on her perseverance and fidelity to her profession as a nurse to the Florence Nightingale Pledge,” he added.
The pledge which is named in honour of the founder of modern nursing – Florence Nightingale – states:
“I solemnly pledge myself before God, and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practise my profession faithfully.”
Cardinal Sebastian also said that the diocese will focus on Kathigasu’s courage and valour, to undergo persecution and suffering in her career as a nurse, and being honoured with the George Medal for bravery in 1947.
(She is the only Malayan woman ever to be awarded the George Medal. The George Medal (GM), instituted on 24 September 1940 by King George VI, is a decoration of the United Kingdom and Commonwealth, awarded for gallantry, typically by civilians, or in circumstances where military honours are not appropriate.)
Kathigasu died in 1948 and was buried at the cemetery in the Church of St. Michael in Ipoh, Perak.
Sybil Kathigasu’s final resting place in the grounds of St Michael’s Church, Ipoh (picture by Daniel Roy Santiyagu)
The Cardinal is also appealing to those with any information, photographs or any research on Sybil to forward these to Daniel Roy Santiyagu who is the head for social communication for the Diocese of Penang at: socialcomm@pgdiocese.org
Born in 1910 in Ipoh, Perak, Sybil Kathigasu was a trained nurse who, along with her husband, played a crucial role in providing medical care to resistance fighters during the Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942 to 1945. Kathigasu’s work with the underground organization, known as the “Malayan People’s Anti-Japanese Army,” exemplified her courage as she operated in tremendous danger, often risking her life and those of her family for the greater good.
During the war, she not only offered essential medical assistance but also acted as a source of intelligence. Her contributions were instrumental in the efforts to undermine the occupying forces. Her actions reflect a selfless devotion to her fellow countrymen and a passionate commitment to justice, making her a symbol of resistance against tyranny.
The Diocese of Penang has officially opened the cause of beatification and canonization for Kathigasu, whom Sebastian said continues to inspire people even 76 years after her death.
“I see this as an opportunity to bring together and reflect on her life for us as people of faith,” said the cardinal.
While she was born in Medan, Indonesia, the story of this daughter of Malaysia unfolds in cities and towns in Perak like Papan (where she and her husband Dr Abdon Clement ran a clinic), Batu Gajah (where she was incarcerated) and the her final resting place, which is the cemetery in the grounds of St Michael’s Church in Ipoh.
“Groups are already visiting these places,” notes the cardinal, “including the Church of St Joseph in Batu Gajah, where one of its wings is dedicated to Sybil’s memory.”
Upon her release from prison, Kathigasu’s request was to be taken to St Joseph’s Church immediately to offer her thanksgiving.
Asked on what could be a potentially high cost to pursue her beatification, the cardinal said:
“We will cross that bridge when we get there. We do not start by talking about money.”
In questioning the choice of Kathigasu by some parties for impending sainthood, Cardinal Sebastian said the process itself, with its appointed moderator will question this and other concerns.
“It is normal to expect people to question her suitability (for beatification),” he added.
Cardinal Sebastian Francis, Bishop of Penang (picture by Boon Tiong)
In a world often consumed by the fast pace of life and the blur of trends, there arose an extraordinary individual whose compassion shone brightly amidst the chaos.
Bele Joseph was the driving force behind Lighthouse Feeding Centre, a beacon of hope for the poor and needy. Founded in March 2003 by Fr. Fabian Dicom, the center flourished under Bele’s dedicated leadership.
From a humble beginning with six clients, Lighthouse has grown to serve 120 today, transforming countless lives.
The Lighthouse
Long before the concept of community kitchens became a fashionable cause, the church had the foresight and dedication to address a fundamental human need: the sanctity of nourishment, dignity, and care for the less fortunate.
With an unwavering commitment to those in need, Bele and his team turned the soup kitchen into a beacon of hope for the community, right in the heart of George Town, Penang.
The Lighthouse (situated on the grounds of the Church of St Francis Xavier on Penang Road), was not merely a place to serve meals; it was a sanctuary where individuals were treated with respect and kindness.
From the onset, the team understood that hunger is just one aspect of hardship. They recognized that true support goes beyond a warm bowl of soup or rice, vegetables and curry … it includes the human experience of comfort, cleanliness, and care.
With a heart as vast as the mission they pursued, Bele and team integrated services that were revolutionary for their time: shower facilities that restored cleanliness and dignity, and clean clothes that symbolized hope and respect. In doing so, they transformed the simple act of providing food into a multifaceted approach to uplift the lives of the vulnerable. They gave people not just nourishment for the body, but also nourishment for the soul—a chance to reclaim their dignity and feel human again.
Bele with Ed at a Lighthouse Christmas party
The team laboured long hours, often behind the scenes, forging connections with those in need, learning their stories, and fighting fiercely against the stigma that marginalized them.
Their influence extended beyond the kitchen; they inspired a movement, rallying volunteers and community members to join in this essential cause, cultivating a spirit of generosity and shared responsibility.
As we reflect on Bele’s legacy, we realize that the vision of The Lighthouse – “A Place of Hope” – a Community Service Centre by Caritas Penang (formerly known as Penang Office For Human Development or POHD), the social arm of the Penang Diocese, has transcended mere service.
The team, headed by Bele until his illness in recent years, taught us the true meaning of community.
They have shown us that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserves warmth, dignity, and opportunity. They have challenged us to look beyond the superficial and recognize the humanity in each person who walked through the doors of a soup kitchen.
Bele was happiest among his clients especially at Christmas time Bringing festive cheer to The Lighthouse
Today, as we honour Bele and accompany him on his final journey, let us carry forward the mission, and serve with the same kindness, offer help with the same passion, and advocate for those in need just as Bele and his team did.
His spirit lives on in every meal served, every weary soul comforted, and every act of kindness extended to those who need it most.
Bele and a festive volunteer
To the one who helped open our eyes and our hearts, we say thank you.
May we continue to be inspired by your compassion and commitment to a world where no one is left behind.
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