Memories of TPJC -part 4-: BATO

04 January 2005

Formation of BATO
As part of the Civic lesson syllabus, we had to complete a General Project. Without doubt, HL, Joanne, Tian An and I would form a group for this project...

While brainstorming for the group name, I wrote down our names and extract alphabets from each of our name to make a word. Suddenly HL burst into laughter, saying that our names can form "BATO", which I contribute B, A from Joanne, T from Tian An and O from HL. As usual, the group started laughing madly and we confirmed this name immediately. The laughter last throughout the whole lesson. After class ended, HL still laughed so crazily until she squat down (like a frog) while we walked out the classroom.

Roll-A-Phone
Regarding the project, HL comes up with an idea of inventing a vehicular hands-free set named "Roll-A-Phone" (something rare and innovative during time of inception) and with no better ideas, we decided on this. During group discussion, I came up with an idea of using TV-CM to promote our product. BATO started throwing stupid thoughts together which lead to explosive laughter again. As a result, the final idea for our TV-CM was an innovative one. The content of the TV-CM is as follow:

"Set in the rustic countryside of India, the TV-CM begins inside an obsolete non-aircon ivory Mercedes (same model as one of our classmate's father), with a Tamil tune playing from the radio. The owner of the Mercedes is a middle-aged Singh, who wears a white turban and Pringles moustache. The car drives through a coconut plantation and the camera starts drifting from the inside to the outside of the car. Attention is now focused on an Indian teenage couple, who are playing the typical Bollywood hide-and-seek among the coconut trees. At this moment, the camera is filming from a high spot, showing the car driving slowing towards the village and the couple run parallel with it. At the village centre, the couple joins all the villagers who are dancing in unison to the same Tamil tune played in the car (another typical Bollywood scene), and the car drive past them. After driving through the village, the car continues through the coconut plantation and Mr Singh's handphone rings. He stops the car, pull out "Roll-A-Phone", turn around to face the camera and shout "BATO" (with the typical Tamil accent). At this point of time, the image of the TV-CM freeze and details of our product starts showing on the screen"...

The "BATO" Stone
HL picks one of the stone from a garden behind the foyer for use as a paper weight in the Art Room. Because BATO is the Malay word for stone, the stone was fast in becoming the mascot of BATO and it takes on the same name as our group. With nothing better to do, I started painting the "BATO" stone with multiple colours...

TPJC Library
Besides the Canteen and the Art Room, the cosy Library is another favourite hangout for BATO, especially when we are waiting for the next class, or when we skipped lessons. There are many interesting BATO incidents that happened in the library. Being another important base for BATO in TPJC, BATO has our exclusive table, which is located at a far deserted corner of the library and each member had our respective seat...

An unforgettable incident in TPJC Library would be the "3h laughter incident" which happened around 1pm at our exclusive table. We were already laughing at something funny. When we just sit down, the 4 of us can't control ourselves and begin laughing madly. Whenever 3 persons stopped laughing, there would always be a joker who is still laughing, or someone did another hilarious action that lead to another round of crazy laughter. This process repeats itself several times for about 3h until the library walk to us to give a warning then it gradually ended...

"BATO Sports News"
As our exclusive table is besides the windows that faces the stadium, we get a full view of what is happening on the tracks and fields. It is an alternative enjoyment watching our schoolmates being tortured during PE. This slowly evolved to become "BATO Sports News" (BATO 体育新闻), which the 4 of us would take turn to be sports news anchor by presenting tortures that are happening at the stadium in Chinese and we will laughed at our horrid reporting...

"BATO Crime Scene"
TPJC Library is located at a new block. The library is linked to the rest of the building by a long corridor. Whenever we passed through this long corridor, Tian An, HL and I will joke about filming our imaginary murder drama or prank reality show "BATO Crime Scene" (案发现场) here. We even planned to ask Tian An to lie down on the floor, then we would use white chalk to draw a perimeter around his body and spray some tomato ketchup. After which, we will hide to watch and filmed the reactions of other students...

TPJC Canteen
The Canteen is another place where BATO and friends frequently hangs out. BATO's favourite store would be the western food and the wanton mee stores. As seats are limited during peak hours, the 4 of us would always split the tasks of chopping seats, buying food and drinks. HL never fail to amuse me with her clumsy look whenever she grips 3 cups of drink using both hands without a tray... However, nothing can ever beat her "laksa incident"!

TPJC is situated at an open area, where the canteen is always windy. One day, while we are eating laksa, the wind is so strong till it blew HL's un-tied shoulder-length hair into the laksa gravy... HL started using tissue to wipe her hair and immediately after she finished wiping, her hair would dipped into the gravy again... Encountered with such stupid situation, HL had to hold on to her hair in order for her to finish eating the laksa, resulting in an awkward eating posture. Needless to say, there was merciless laughter from the 3 of us...

As BATO always like to ask "what are we eating today?" (今天要吃什么?), it is quick for this question to become the name of our "variety show" about food...

BATO anthem "o-lu-lu"
One morning after assembly, BATO followed HL to collect Geography notes before going to the library. After we left the photocopy shop, the 3 of us realized that HL did not tagged along when we reached the 2nd storey, so we retraced back to the photocopy shop to find HL. We found HL laughing and squatting outside photocopy shop (the infamous froggy squat position) again. Equally curious, Joanne asked her what happened and HL tried to control her laughter and struggled to say something. However, none of us understand what she was saying.

After calming down, HL starts singing "o-lu-lu, o-lu-lu, an zua an ni o-lu-lu, wo ma um zai ya an zua an ni o-lu-lu, li be ka gin ga wa gong" (very black, very black, why is it so black, I also don't know why is it so black, will you tell me asap). While singing, she keeps pointing to the dark copies of notes fresh from the photocopy machines. Now everyone understands what she was trying to say earlier and everyone burst into laughter.

The "o-lu-lu" song is a cover of the Barney's "I Love You", which was very popular with BATO at that time. The "o-lu-lu" song is fast to become the anthem of BATO and members started creating remix variation of "o-lu-lu" (e.g. rap version, house version, gospel version etc).

BATO even choreographed dance step for the song! The dance begins by pointing to our black file (the TPJC file issued to us during Orientation) and is followed by dance steps that narrates the lyrics.

BATO performed "o-lu-lu" to close friends in the Art Room, Eugene and during gatherings...

Skipping Classes
The school hours of TPJC started from morning assembly till 1pm. Within this period, students are required to remain in the school compound, even if lesson starts later in the day or ends earlier than 1pm... During this period, the side gates will be locked and a discipline teacher will be station at the main gate driveway pouch during recess to stop students from escaping...

BATO always pong Economics lectures... One morning, BATO can no longer tolerate Economics lecture and we decided to pong (for the 1st time). However, we were seated in the middle of the last row of the lecture theatre. Leaving the lecture theatre abruptly will catch the attention of the whole lecture group. Therefore, this leads us to brainstorm for several (nonsensical) ideas on how to leave the lecture theatre quietly. Finally, we decided on our final escape plan. Lady luck was on our side. When Mr Mahtani goes to the toilet, we proceeded with our plan...

First of all, Tian An will walk down the stairs and directly out of the door, while HL will sit at the seat nearest to the entrance. Joanne will sit at a seat halfway along the aisle, while I will shift to the last seat of the aisle. Then HL will leave the lecture theatre, while Joanne replaced HL seat and I substituted Joanne's seat. Joanne will then take her leave while I will follow next.

The initial reason for us to adopt this escape arrangement was to reduce the chance of all of us being caught to the minimal. This is because, if Mr Mahtani was to return at anytime, he will at most caught one of us, instead of all 4. But never did we expect that this strategy would attract unwanted attention from everyone, because it is even more obvious than leaving together. Ironically, we received applause when each of us leaves the lecture theatre.

When I leave the lecture room, I saw Mr Mahtani stepping out of the toilet, so I ran downstairs and immediately burst into a loud laughter. Now then I realize that we actually forgot to decide on where we shall meet! After buying some snacks from the bookshop, I try my luck at the library and found the 3 of them at our exclusive table. Of course, all of us burst into laughter again to commemorate our successful pong...

As the thrill achieved from skipping lessons slowly diminish, BATO decided to up one level by trying to escape out of TPJC during school hours...

I had long heard that faking MC from polyclinic is an extremely easy and inexpensive task, so one day, I decide to give it a try. I reported "sick" at the Staff Office and was endorsed by our Discipline Master Mr Chew. After a long administration process, I finally get to see the doctor. I act a pale sickly look and lied to her about a fake stomach upset. I managed to obtain a MC easily. Initially I intended to collect the medicine from the pharmacy to finish the act, but the queue was really long, which does not worth the wait. I also do not wish to waste the medicine and most importantly, I only need the MC... Although I can easily afford a MC by paying $4, it isn't ethical and it is not a wise long-term strategy to skipped school...

Therefore, BATO decided to escape school right under the nose of the discipline mistress... Plan like the classic Economics lecture pong, BATO was divided into 2 teams for this recess escape (HL & Joanne and Tian An & I). We took turns walking from the carpark and exit from the 'Out' main entrance... Like the previous pong, it is another success and BATO frequently use this technique. As time goes by, our courage increases and BATO even dares to walk out the school from the driveway pouch...

BATO secret base
While waiting for the next lesson, BATO might escape school to buy snacks at Esso across the road. We would usually buy a Walls ice cream cake and treat ourselves to a relaxing ice cream party at a void deck nearby (Block 371 – 374).

BATO spotted a quiet playground at Block 372 and we had a fun time there, where we vandalized the playground using liquid vapour... BATO regularly returned to the playground every other day to check whether our vandalism work is still intact and we took photos there...

Sometimes, BATO might made surprise house visit! There was once when I didn't attend school and Tian An, HL and din suddenly raid my house that morning... They accidentally discovered that I am not that tall when I didn't wear my sports shoes...

When BATO lost our way @ Bedok
Economics requires us to submit a project, but as none of us has PowerPoint. Therefore, we decided to seek help from our friend Geraldine (din), who stays at Bedok Reservoir. We decided to meet on Sunday to complete the project at din's house. HL lives close to din, so she will be going straight from her home.

Tian An, Joanne and I were supposed to meet at 1pm at Bedok Bus Interchange, but Joanne and I were late for 45min and 1h respectively. As none of us have din's address, Tian An took instruction from HL on how to go to din's house while waiting for us... When Joanne and I finally arrived, Tian An told us he had forgotten what is the correct bus to take. We tried calling HL, but failed to reach her.

Tian An only remembered that the bus ended with the digit 6 and we had to alight after the mosque. So the 3 of us made an educated guess and perceive the bus should be #226, as it is a feeder service that loops at Bedok Reservoir Road. We boarded the bus. It is only now that HL returned us a call and she exclaimed that we should had boarded #66 (afternote: actually #66 plies a longer route than #226); but HL continued that #226 can also reached din's house and reminded us to alight at the bus stop immediately after the mosque, which is where she will be waiting for us.

As we are busily taking instruction from our BATO leader, we did not notice where was our current location. Suddenly, Tian An noticed a mosque and he told us to hurry down the bus. After we alighted, we waited for very long and we still didn't see HL. Tian An called HL again, who firmly affirmed that she is at the bus-stop. It is only now then we realized that there are 2 mosques in Bedok (to our surprise)! We were at the first bus-stop immediately after the bus left the interchange, and the mosque we saw is Chai Chee Mosque. Whereas HL is at the 2nd mosque at Bedok Reservoir. Knowing that we had made a huge misunderstanding and there are actually 2 mosques along the way, the 4 of us laughed madly in public and the 3 of us boarded the next #226. When we arrived, HL gave an exaggerating slam on her forehead, with a hopeless expression on her face...

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