Mr. Siong Lieng Ong

Ong Siong Lieng was born to a family of eight in Kulangsu, Xiamen, Fujian, China on August 18, 1922. He was brought up in a non-Christian home, but wanting to learn English, he attended the Anglo-Chinese (Eng Hua) High School run by British Missionaries, where he heard the gospel and became a Christian.

He started teaching after graduating from high school, moving to a nearby town with childhood friends. He would often relate stories of hardships experienced under Japanese occupation during the war years.

In 1948, just before the Communist takeover of China, Siong Lieng migrated to the Philippines. With the help of his eldest sister, who had married a local Chinese, he settled in Manila. He arrived in the Philippines, practically penniless. He worked hard, lived a frugal life and eventually prospered. He later became a naturalized Filipino citizen.

Initially, Siong Lieng taught at a local Chinese school as he had done in China. He taught Math, History and even Physical Education classes. After a couple of years, his sister convinced him that there was no future in teaching so he got a job with a shoe distributor on Carriedo Street, a bustling retail center in the fifties. He later sold luxury goods from Hong Kong such as transistor radios and electronics.

He continued to be active in church, and it was there that he was introduced to Yao Kin Ti. After a brief courtship, they were married on July 28, 1956. They were blessed with five children - four boys and a girl.

With hard work and determination, he became very successful. Siong Lieng was able to purchase the family bicycle store from his in-laws. He turned it into a thriving and successful business. He also went into partnership with friends and opened a busy restaurant in Santa Cruz, Manila. A filial son and generous brother, he shared the fruits of his success and supported his parents and relatives in China and the Philippines.

His love for Christ and the Word was always alive in him. He served as a treasurer for the church consistory board at UECP (United Evangelical Church of the Philippines), and was often involved with missionary trips to the provinces on Sunday afternoons to help with the satellite churches. He was also active in the UECP Youth Council serving in counselor and advisor roles. In addition, he was active in the Eng Hua Alumni Association (Philippine Chapter), and participated in community service projects and charitable works such as the upgrade of the facilities of the former Eng Hua High School in China.

He loved spending time exercising in the early morning, always setting aside time to go to the local parks in Manila to join Tai Chi exercise group classes. He also enjoyed collecting stamps and loved reading. He loved history and current events and would save articles of interest.

On Oct. 10, 1979, his beloved wife, Kin Ti, died of renal failure, and left him widowed with five young children. Heartbroken, he wrote an eloquent and loving farewell to express his deep love. He never remarried, although there were a lot of opportunities, as he was a handsome and capable man. He devoted the rest of his life to raising their five children on his own.

In 1988, Siong Lieng immigrated to Canada with his family. They settled in the beautiful city of North Vancouver, British Columbia. He was active in their bicycle store in North Vancouver. The family established ties to the growing Filipino Chinese community and the Fujian Evangelical Church.

He liked to travel and to cruise - his passport was always fully stamped. He frequently traveled to the Philippines and China to visit friends and family, and to pay respect to his parents and older siblings who were buried in Kulangsu, China. He often visited Charles, David, Ester and their families in Pennsylvania.

Siong Lieng went through quadruple bypass and knee replacement surgeries in his seventies. He enjoyed a relatively healthy life. On November 4, 2015, he passed away peacefully in his sleep onboard the Star Princess cruise ship to be with the Lord in heaven. He was blessed to have lived a full and interesting life.

He is survived by his five children and nine grandchildren, his younger brother and two younger sisters.

Beloved father and grandfather, Siong Lieng will be dearly missed by family and friends he left behind. He is now reunited in heaven with his beloved wife, Kin Ti, and safely in the hands of God.