Life lessons from a 100-year-old Malaysian

Aug 22, 2020

By Dr Patricia Martinez
Enid Marks Martinez turned 100 years on August 16, 2020. That is a long time to experience life, to learn lessons,  gain wisdom and to pass it on.

Enid was orphaned at seven, together with her two younger siblings Joan and Mary.

They were placed in an orphanage, then lived with a relative in Kuala Lumpur and were later “adopted” by the nuns of the Holy Infant Jesus (IJ nuns) who educated them until they left to live as adults.

During World War II, because she had a British father, Enid was hidden by the nuns at the convent in Balik Pulau, Penang where she lived on the upper floors for more than two years without seeing much sunlight. Her siblings fared worse: they were interred in a concentration camp.

What follows were lesson learnt from her long experiences of life.

First lesson: Not all enemies are bad or wicked. There are good ones among the worst of us. Have compassion.

Amid the dreadful stories of suf fering during the Japanese Occupation, she also spoke about a Japanese officer who would demand to be let into the chapel at the convent.

Although terrified that he would desecrate the place, the nuns let him in, only to see him kneeling before the altar and praying, sometimes in tears.

Second lesson: An education is paramount, as is a woman’s inde pendence. “You will always stand on your own feet and be independent and you do that through education.”

There were few schools for female children in the 50s in most smaller towns. Most were only for males or were co-educational.

In 1953, the IJ nuns asked her if she would start the Our Lady’s Convent primary school in Sitiawan. Malay parents who wanted an English education for their girls sent them to the school when it started.

Third lesson: Service is also gratitude to humanity. It is incumbent on us to serve.

Enid, the principal then, had to begin the school year on land the nuns bought. She did this alone as the IJ nuns were in Ipoh. School was in the building that came with the land.

She had problems getting contractors to construct school buildings in Sitiawan. But one day, as some men (contractors) saw her with a cangkul (hoe) clearing land, they came forward to help.

Our Lady’s Convent became government aided in 1956. Enid was principal, teacher, clerk and office-boy. It was a challenge.

Fourth lesson: “.. and this too will pass..” One endures, one stays strong and stays the course no matter the obstacles or suffering. Because bad times or suffering are never forever.

The convent principal built up the school in innovative ways. This included taking in boys from the La Salle Brothers’ school across the road (which had no secondary section) in 1960 and 1961 until they completed Form Five in the convent secondary school.

Our Lady’s Convent thrived and used to be placed first often in government examinations for the district. When much-needed teachers were posted from elsewhere in Perak, Enid Martinez taught her children to share their small house with them to ensure they stayed on.

Fifth lesson: GO FOR IT! Think outside the norm, don’t be afraid to try, especially if it serves a greater good.

In those years, as the first principal establishing the school, until her retirement in 1975, Enid worked hard to improve the school. She also started the first Red Cross after the Ipoh Chapter visited, and was its Dindings head.

She was a member of the Board of Visitors of the District Hospital located in Lumut. She and her husband were what was then known as “Returning Officers” in Sitiawan during national elections and she got involved in many out-reach organisations.

Sixth lesson: When demanding good manners have respect for all, “Money is not the same as having ‘class’, or being respectable.”

Again, serving others was a priority. And service, caring and sharing were paramount.

She is now very frail – well, 100 years have taken their toll. She coped with slowly losing her sight years ago, with such fortitude and patience. It has been a full, well-lived life. May God continue to bless her.