Written by: Ruey Chong-Enanoria

Yin and Marcus told me about their plans around the Chinese New Year last year. They were planning a short visit to Brunei. It would be their first time back in a few decades. It would also be the first time for their children and Isabelle. And many years since Patt Moi Kuku has been back in Brunei. Yin and Marcus wanted to bring their Mum back. They hoped she could share her memories with her children and 4 grandchildren. Together, they wanted to create some new memories in Brunei. Questions were asked – How long should they stay in Brunei? What is there to do? Who can they visit? How long to stay in KB, BSB? What hotels should they book? Are there Orang utans? The most exciting question was – Do you think we could organise a Chong family reunion?

A date was chosen over the next few months. Family members from around the world were notified. Flights were booked. A mini committee was formed in Brunei – Irene Shim, Manda Chong, Jennifer Chong, and Chong Ruey Ru. They vetted BSB venues and menus for months. A few short months before the reunion, they decided to make a quick change. It was moved to KB to make it easier for our Gen 2 seniors.

Let us go back in time. In the late 1920’s, challenging circumstances forced a man and a woman to reluctantly leave their home in China. They made their way to Brunei. They did not know each other in China. To be honest, I don’t even know how or where they met. Chong Wan Thiam and Lim Ah Yapp somehow met in Brunei. They started a family together. I call them our (Generation1)Gen 1. They had 8 children together. These children are our Gen 2: Chong Nyuk Chin, Chong Kyun Nyuk, Chong Min Chong, Chong See Kui, Chong Kui Yin, Chong Kui Lan, Chong Ah Jew (Johnny Chong), and Chong Patt Moi.

Chong Family Group Photo Generation 1 and Generation 2

On the 4th January 2026, over 70 people gathered together for the family reunion. We had 7 from Gen 2. There were 30 from Gen 3. Gen 4 had 31 members present. There were 4 precious ones from Gen 5 – Elyceus Liaw, Audrey & Naomi Wang, and Cyrille (Jenny Liew’s grandson from New Zealand). A small segment of the Chong family tree that Chong Wan Thiam and Lim Ah Yapp planted in Brunei. The Chong family has spread around the world. They live in New Zealand, the UK, and Australia. They may also live in other parts of the world. Many have returned for this reunion. We had a wonderful time that day, reconnecting, reminiscing, and introducing partners/children. Lanyards made the day easier. Each family had a different colour. We also had a number from 2 to 5 on our lanyards. Everyone with a number 4 on their lanyard knew they were cousins. They had to address anyone with a number 3 on their lanyard as Aunty/Uncle. It made navigating the sea of unfamiliar faces a little easier. I will forever cherish the memories of the day I reconnected with cousins I hadn’t seen in many years. I met their precious grandchildren for the first time. I look forward to seeing nephews and nieces that I haven’t seen in person for a very long time.

Enjoy the photos, please do leave a comment – we would love to hear your thoughts.

Thank you to Kevin Shim Sen Chong for this video compilation! You and Edward took some great photos!

From Yin Ching Chen – “We are truly grateful to everyone who came together for this reunion. Seeing our big, beautiful family in Brunei all in one place is something we will always treasure. The photos truly capture the fun, laughter, and joy we shared on the day. These memories are even more special and unforgettable.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped bring this reunion together. It required a tremendous amount of effort. We are deeply appreciative of all the planning and care that went into making it a success. We are also especially grateful to our elders who were able to attend. Their presence was incredibly precious. They represented our second generation. They reminded us of the roots from which our family has grown.

We hope this tradition continues with the next generation. They too can experience the strength and warmth of our family bond. We will always remember the courage of our ancestors. Their brave decisions and sacrifices made this beautiful life we share today possible.

We also look forward to welcoming our family in Australia and sharing many more fabulous and precious times together. Wishing everyone a very happy Chinese New Year, filled with good health, joy, and prosperity.”