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They bought a $400 package to get their firstborn professionally photographed to chronicle his growth. His last photo shoot took place on March 19.
Last Thursday, Justin, who turned two on March 2, died in a horrific car crash off Tangkak, Johor. His doting parents and maternal grandmother were also killed but his two-month-old sister Jolene survived.
His father, Mr Kevin Bong Kwang Hong, 37, was driving their Mitsubishi Grandis to Genting Highlands and Kuala Lumpur for a holiday that would have ended today.
At 7.30am, less than four hours into their journey, the car careened off the North-South Highway and hit two trees.
Justin, who suffered a cracked skull, died on the spot, as did his mother, Madam Eleane Jane Kor Yee Lin, 36, and grandmother, Madam Magdalene Pang Chee Seng, 69. Mr Bong died in hospital while Jolene was found 10m from the wreck with nary a scratch.
The four coffins were lined up in a row at the wake held at the Church of St Mary of the Angels in Bukit Batok yesterday. It will also be the resting place for their ashes after the cremation on Wednesday.
Justin's teachers from the child development centre he attended and representatives of the modelling agency, Impact Models Studio, were among those who paid their respects.
The latter handed the portfolio of Justin's photographs to his uncle, Mr Jonas Kor.
Mr Bong was a dedicated father, said an employee of the agency, who declined to be named. When father and son arrived for shoots, Mr Bong would meticulously dress the child up in different outfits, she said.
And while the photographer clicked away, he would talk to his son about cartoon characters to keep him smiling. But Justin did not need much coaxing.
'He was a very happy kid, so easy to work with,' said the agency employee. 'Some kids are really mischievous. Others are cranky and keep crying. But Justin, no problem. He was active but controllable and very responsive to the camera.'
His photo shoots were usually completed within 30 minutes, she recalled.
Teachers at Moriah Childcare and Development Centre in Simei also remembered him fondly. They would pop into his class to play with him even if they weren't teaching him.
One of them, Ms Huang Xiu Jun, 40, said: 'Now that I can't carry him any more, at least I can carry his picture in my bag.'
Justin was so adorable he swept awards at baby contests, family members said. Mr Bong and his wife signed him up for them to improve his confidence.
His uncle, civil servant Bong Kwang Sheng, 27, said: 'He often came in champion or second. My mother would proudly tell me about the trophies or vouchers that Justin won. She often talked about Justin, who was very smart and intelligent.'
Mrs Bong, who lost both her eldest son and first grandson in the crash, was a picture of grief when she went up to Tangkak and saw the bodies at the morgue on Thursday night. She did not even know the family had gone to Malaysia.
Mr Bong Kwang Sheng said his mother often visited Justin and his parents at their Simei condominium armed with porridge and herbal tea.
The relatives' sole consolation now is Jolene. Both the Kors and the Bongs would be happy to adopt the baby.
Mr Bong Kwang Sheng said: 'We haven't really sat down together to discuss this yet. We'll probably wait till the wake is over... there are a lot of things to consider.'
