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Cogent Holdings Deputy shadow of his highly CEO Benson Tan on emerging from successful father the and being his own man May 2014 • Family & Life

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AUGUST 2014 SINGAPORE ISSUE 11

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What Is Your MUMMY STYLE? Find out in our simple quiz!

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Rolling With The Punches

Serge Pun, The straight-talking charismatic straight Holdings, sets the record Chairman of Yoma Strategic

Aug 2014 • Family & Life

MCI (P) 114/08/2013

AN UNKNOWN ENEMY A family grapples with a rare disease THE BOOK BANS HEARD AROUND THE WORLD What is the definition of family in Singapore? PLANNING FOR YOUR RETIREMENT Financial experts lay out a clear plan for you MUMS CAN BE STYLISH TOO! Humdrum to glam with our fashion spread

Serving Behind The Scenes

DESMOND CHOO is known by many as the politician who lost twice, but that has never stopped him from helping the people Sept 2014 • Family & Life

Contents SNIPPETS 4

Products, News, Giveaways & More!

Living in Singapore

de an incredible month back and boy, was the para ational Day recently passed us a decided to explore ur. With this in recent memory, we spectacle of lights, music and colo l stalwart Desmond r Personality is none other than loca issues of national concern. Our Cove the Houngang ward, the the politician who fought twice in Choo. While he’s usually known as e about him (page 8). opposition party, we find a lot mor stronghold of Singapore’s leading fiasco (page 14) and the ary Board Singapore book banning We also explore the National Libr their teachers (page 16). hip that many parents have with increasingly antagonistic relations

COVERSTORY 8

Serving with Heart

He might have lost twice but that won’t deter Desmond Choo

FOCUS

10 The Litmus Test of

recent CPF changes in the country, especially with the Retirement is also another hot topic a few financial iShield scheme. We touch base with and the upcoming ones to the Med nt (page 18). We’ve of action to plan for your retireme experts and show you a clear plan rial team always digs controversial issues and our edito never been one to shy away from of a Singaporean family glad to present to you this profile deep to find the stories, so we’re ng a daughter who was of The Great Spy Experiment) raisi (you may know them as members ts (page 10). ase. Their story will warm your hear born with an incredibly rare dise

Parenthood What do you do when your

daughter is the only child in Asia to have a rare disease?

FASHION

12 Dote - Style for Mums

Pregnant and new Mums can still look stylish with the right clothes!

NURTURE

ted for one of the k out the fashion spread we’ve crea On a more light-hearted note, chec sure of partnering. - Dote - that we’ve ever had the plea most stylish nursing wear brands aesthetics and beauty, stylish (page 12)? On the topic of Now, who says Mums cannot be worth S$500 this nning aesthetics treatment vouchers we’re also giving away 10 award-wi details can be found icipate in a short survey to win! More month. All you have to do is to part

14 The Book Bans Heard

Around the World

on page 21.

We talk to two authors and get their views on the NLB fiasco

free to drop us an email , opinions and more, please feel If you have any questions, thoughts we will love to publish your views. at editorial@cogentmedia.sg as

16 This Is War

y reading!

We hope you enjoy this issue. Happ

The antagonistic relationship between the parent and the teacher has reached boiling point

Managing Editor Gerald Woon

HEALTH

18 Retirement Planning

Demystified

It’s the topic on everyone’s mind, so we make it easy for you

20 The Dirty Guide to Clean

familyandlife.sg

Eating for Kids

Get your kids to start eating healthy with these awesome tips

24 RELAX

22 What’s Happening?

Upcoming events for you and the whole family!

23 Furniture So Beautiful It

Should Be Illegal

There’s always a reason to buy beautiful furniture, right?

24 A Primer on Deepavali

With Deepavali coming up, we tell you more about this festival

26 The Living Art Form

Beautify your home with natural, life-giving art

BITES

28 Beef Tenderloin Steak

Tartare with Pan Fried Egg

A fun French recipe from a fine dining chef

29 A Chateau of Dining Delights

We scope out family-friendly, hidden restaurants for you

LASTWORD

30 Tales From a Young Scientist

Family & Life • Sep 2014

The worlds needs more female scientists — she’s leading the way!

MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL CREATIVE SALES & MARKETING

Gerald Woon gerald@cogentmedia.sg Writer | Farhan Shah farhan@cogentmedia.sg Designer | Zach zach@cogentmedia.sg Senior Marketing Executive| Emily Choo emily@cogentmedia.sg Sales Administrator| Michelle Lee sales@cogentmedia.sg

CONTRIBUTORS

Florence Oh Jade Tan Sharina Nogot Tim Meijers

PHOTOGRAPHY

Daniel Chan Glenn Lim

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE CONTACT US

Manager | Jessica Ong jessica@cogentmedia.sg Editorial Enquiries editorial@familyandlife.sg Advertising Enquiries +65 6704 9271 sales@cogentmedia.sg

MCI (P) 114/08/2013 Colour Separation & Printed by Times Printers Private Limited 16 Tuas Avenue 5, Singapore 639340 Tel: +65 6311 2888 Fax: +65 6311 2801 Licence No. L021/09/2012 Distributed by Region Periodicals Distributor Pte Ltd 20 Bedok South Road Singapore 469277 Tel: +65 6846 0797 Fax: +65 6846 0798 All materials printed within Family & Life are Copyright 2014 © and protected under the Copyright Act. All rights reserved 2014.

Family & Life is published monthly by Cogent Media Pte. Ltd. 100 Beach Road #32-01 Shaw Tower, Singapore 189702 Tel: +65 6704 9266 Fax: +65 6396 3045 Registration No: 201231255H No material of this publication can be reproduced in any form or means – graphic, electronic, mechanic, photocopying, recording, videotaping, etc. – whether in part or in whole, without the written consent of the Publisher. Family & Life will not be held responsible for any infringements of Copyright material in articles submitted by contributors. While every reasonable care has been taken in the compilation of information contained in this publication, the Publisher, editors or their employees and agents shall not be liable for any errors, inaccuracies, and/or omissions howsoever caused. All views expressed in all articles are solely those of the authors, and are not necessarily those of the Publisher and editor. Family & Life reserves the right to refuse any advertisement or advertorial for any reason and are not liable for claims made by advertisers. The information provided in this publication is solely for reference only. Readers are advised to seek the professional advice from the appropriate advisors, professional or institution for advice and instruction with regard to their personal health issues.

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Sept 2014 • Family & Life

SNIPPETS

A list of choice products, interesting news and cool developments, handpicked by the Family & Life team that will interest parents and families! YOUR BREAKFAST JUST GOT A HEALTH UPGRADE Singapore’s award-winning Straits Asian instant coffee and food favourite OWL recently introduced a new product range – Nutrifield Soy Cereal – to the supermarket shelves. Containing nine types of vitamins, calcium, and fibre, the popular breakfast soy cereal is getting an instant upgrade with a 4-in-1 instant oat and 6-in-1 instant grain variant! That means making a healthy breakfast is just a cup of hot water away.

Get hooting every morning. OWL’s two new instant Nutrifield Soy Cereal products are available at all major supermarkets.

READY, GET SET, EAT! We love our food in Singapore, so we’re always glad to have new excuses, I mean new places, to pig out. Welcome a new kid on the eating block then – SET, a new restaurant that offers a tantalising array of contemporary cuisine with Asian and western influences. Located at PoMo, SET is opened by the same people behind the former Tao’s Restaurant and has a five-course lunch and six-course dinner at S$28.80++ and S$38.80++ respectively. Executive Chef Erick Chun has prepared original creations such as the Mushroom Velouté with Peanut Butter and Miso Soup with Sake, interestingly named and tantalisingly tasty. Of course, there are also the usual favourites like Baby Pork Back Ribs, Roasted Beef Tenderloin and Poached 60 Degree Salmon, which will satisfy any carnivore. SET is offering a 20 percent discount in the month of September for all diners, so we recommend you make haste to PoMo with your family and pig out!

SET is at PoMo #02-01 Singapore 188306. Check them out at www.set-sg.com and www.fb.com/2014set.sg.

THE BABY WIPE JUST GOT EVEN FRESHER

GUILT-FREE BREAKFAST PLEASURE The editorial folks here are crazy about chocolate, and truthfully, who isn’t? The product of cocoa seeds is irresistibly delicious and makes for such great comfort food. Unfortunately, chocolate can be quite the unhealthy calorie bomb, so imagine our happiness when a box of the new NESTLÉ FITNESSE Chocolate Cereal showed up at our office doorstep! With as low as 110 calories per serving size, our favourite new breakfast food provides the ultimate guilt-free pleasure with its whole-grain flakes, eight vitamins and minerals, and healthy amounts of fibre. Of course, those crispy flakes are covered with delectable chocolate. Now, who says healthy can’t be tasty as well?

The new NESTLÉ FITNESSE Chocolate Cereal is available at major supermarkets for a recommended retail price of S$6.70 per pack. Check out the breakfast giant’s Facebook page at www.fb.com/ NestleFitnesseSingapore for simple and fun fitness tips.

Family & Life • Sep 2014

The well-loved, multi-purpose Tollyjoy baby wipes just got an awesome upgrade. Now with vitamin E and aloe vera extracts, the new Fresh & Clean Baby Wipes is gentle on skin and does not contain fragrance, alcohol or parabens. Your baby’s skin will thank you for leaving it refreshed and moisturised, and we’re quite sure your battle-hardened adult skin will also appreciate the softness and freshness of the new wipes.

The new Tollyjoy Fresh & Clean Baby Wipes comes in packs of 30 and 84 sheets, and is available in leading departmental stores, supermarkets, hypermarkets and baby speciality stores. The wipes start from S$3.00.

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BEST IN BEAUTY THE SINGAPORE

Sept 2014 • Family & Life

2014 5

SNIPPETS

START YOUR MORNINGS RIGHT WITH YES SUPERMARKET Everyone’s looking to get healthy, and the best step that you can immediately take to significantly improve your life, according to many dieticians, is to start drinking freshly pressed vegetable juices. How significant? Drink one cup and you’ve already fulfilled more than 50 percent of your daily recommended fibre intake. At the same time, you’re enjoying a wide variety of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients that can protect your cells against premature ageing and disease. The key to making healthy vegetable juices is to ensure that the bulk of your drink is made up of green vegetables. About a third can be made up of sweet vegetables such as carrots and red beets for their flavour. After a few rounds of experimentation, here are two of our favourite recipes that we created together with YES Supermarket. LETTUCE-CARROT JUICE • 2 carrots • 2 ribs of celery • 8 leaves of romaine lettuce Romaine lettuce is one of the best green vegetables you can juice because it doesn’t spike your insulin levels and keeps you full. The carrots are there because, well, carrots are delicious!

TOMATO-CELERY-LEMON JUICE • 2 tomatoes • 3 ribs of celery • 1 carrot • Squeeze of lemon If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, you can try this tomatobased vegetable juice that’s based off the alcoholic drink, Bloody Mary, just without the downsides. Add a bit of lemon for that sour kick that definitely leaves your mouth craving for more.

YES Supermarket is at Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 • Blk 201B Tampines Street 2 • Blk 138 Tampines Street 11 • Block 829 Tampines Street 81 • YES Marketplace @ Tampines Mart 7 Tampines Street 32 • 35 Hougang Avenue 3

KIDSFEST 2015 Our favourite children’s theatre festival is coming back in January 2015! The folks at ABA Productions are collaborating with heavyweights such as The Birmingham Stage Company, ERTH Visual & Physical Inc., etc. to bring a literary smorgasbord of world-class performances that will appeal to children and families of all ages, shapes and sizes! Enjoy the performances of compelling characters brought to life and scenes from well-loved books enacted vividly on the stage. The 2015 edition will feature returning favourites such as The Gruffalo and The Snail and the Whale as well as new shows such as The Princess and the Pea and ERTH’s Dinosaur Zoo. Our personal pick is The Tiger Who Came to Tea, a popular production that recently ended its run at London’s West End and is now coming to Asia to enthral viewers with its brand of magic, sing-a-long songs and clumsy chaos. The show starts off innocently enough – Sophie and her mummy are sitting down for tea when the doorbell rings. Lo and behold, a tiger is at the door! Absolute fun for the whole family, this one.

Tickets for KidsFest 2015 are now on sale at SISTIC outlets, with discounts available for each additional production you’re going for. Bulk bookings for schools are also available at discounted rates. Check out www.kidsfest.com.sg or www.fb.com/Kidsfestsingapore for more details!

Family & Life • Sep 2014

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Strengthening your midbrain provides a lot of benefits, including enhanced concentration, higher confidence and better memory retention. It is incredibly beneficial for school-going children who will experience improved academic results. One of the leading midbrain activation institutes in Singapore is Mental Literacy Training Pte Ltd, which has expanded their operations to Malaysia and Philippines. Working with children in a stress-free, easy-going environment, the teachers at Mental Literacy Training Pte Ltd ensure that their charges have fun while still achieving the objectives set out in the course programme.

Check out Mental Literacy Training Pte Ltd at www.mltsg.com. For more information about the schedule of classes, give them a call at +65 9027 9902.

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Sept 2014 • Family & Life

COVERSTORY

HERT

Serving with You might know him as the PAP candidate who challenged the leading opposition party and lost. Twice. But, there is more to Desmond Choo than what you read in the papers or see in the videos.

It’s hard not to like Desmond Choo. The soft-spoken 36-year-old possesses that rare ability – one much sought after by numerous politicians – to put you at ease with an imperceptible nod of his head and a sincere, welcoming smile. The rimless glasses that perch precariously on his nose accentuate his kindly eyes while the rest of his features tells the

story of a typical Singaporean boy who grew up in an environment just like you and me, studying hard, working harder and finally making good. His face is tailor-made for kissing babies and shaking voters’ hands, for the cauldron of politics.

And yet, despite being backed by the might and extensive resources of the country’s dominant political party, Desmond lost in two successive elections – the 2010 General Elections followed by the 2011 by-election – in the same constituency. Granted, he was contesting in the Hougang ward, a stronghold of the leading opposition party for more than two decades. But that fact did little to soothe his wounds. The former civil servant admits that the defeats were tough to deal with. As if failure was not a bitter enough pill to swallow, it was made more difficult because the aftertaste of the first had barely left his tongue when he had to down another. Desmond shares with me how he wrestled with his internal demons when news of his loss finally reached him. “It’s not easy,” he says quietly. “That it could be some of the same people whom you tirelessly served who decided to tell you with their votes that you are not the one they want makes

it worse.” He started questioning whether he should return to the ground of his defeat, to continue helping the same people who had turned their backs on him. As he surveyed the group of volunteers working alongside him, the answer soon became clear. “I asked myself: was I there to genuinely help or to merely canvass for votes? If I’m there to really make a difference to the people, then I had to return. It is only right,” says Desmond.

Between 2011 and 2014, Desmond and his team still diligently helped the people of Hougang with their everyday struggles. Along the way, he’s happy to have made many new friends, a large majority of whom, he shares with a laugh, viewed him with suspicion when he first walked the ground. “A few years back, I had gone to a coffee shop when three middleaged folks called me over and asked me to sit down with them because they wanted to order coffee for me and chat with me,” recalls Desmond. Hot coffee in hand, the three of them told Desmond that they could never vote for him out of principle. However, they were more than happy to advise him on how to improve in the political field. Now, whenever Desmond pops by that coffee shop and spots the three of them, he happily sits down for a chat. Sometimes, they talk about politics but most of the time, they talk about everything else under the sun. After all, that’s what friends do. Don’t forget the coffee.

CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE A year ago, Desmond left the labour movement and headed to the private sector, becoming one of the righthand men of Singaporean tycoon Peter Lim. Remember the much-publicised deal that Lim agreed with the Valencia CF Foundation to buy over Valencia CF, the Spanish football club, a few months ago? Desmond was part of the team working behind the scenes to broker the multi-million Euro agreement. Theirs was not the only offer on the table. There were a few other groups looking to take over the storied football club with the centuryold history that had fallen on hard times. They promised more money or a rosier future, yet the trustees of 8

Family & Life • Sep 2014

where all the members of the family can thrive,” says Desmond.

the Foundation of Valencia CF decided to plump for Lim wholeheartedly. Their decision perplexed Desmond. “I asked the Spanish people why they picked our offer and they told me: ‘Yours might not be the best package financially but we believe that you can deliver whatever you put on the table. Sometimes, we don’t even believe that our government will deliver on their promises. But, we trust that Singaporeans can achieve what they say they will.’”

Ironically, the people he was helping also helped him to find out more about himself and about the qualities of life.

It was an honest admission that both startled and excited Desmond. We always hear words of admiration from tourists and travellers who marvel at our efficiency and clean streets. A trip overseas yields approving nods from the learned locals when we tell them that we’re from Singapore; they’re always wishing that their country is half as organised as our Little Red Dot. On the outside, we puff our chests in pride but on the inside, we silently dismiss their statements as a form of aggrandisement. Yet, for an organisation to willingly hand over the ownership of its beloved sports institution to a Singaporean entity, one with a limited record of sporting success, speaks volumes about the faith and trust it has in the Singapore brand. And now, as our young country begins to grapple with questions about her identity while trying to conceptualise public policies that can guide her people through an increasingly turbulent world, it’s more imperative than ever for the same people to have faith in each other to do the right thing. “The first 50 years have been a miracle. But the next 50 years is going to be tough,” says Desmond. He leans forward in his chair and his voice goes up a couple of decibels. It’s clear the patriot loves his country and as he articulates his thoughts about the future, the skies turn dark and ominous, as though the Gods themselves were trying to lend credence to his words. “Our generation,” begins Desmond, pointing to this 27-year-old writer and himself, “has the responsibility to shape the nation in the way that we want. We are becoming more diverse and with diversity comes differences. That is only natural and is a good thing! We need as many diverse views as possible for us to navigate the

uncertainties and to move forward. I want to encourage the young people in our country to step up to the plate and to serve.” According to Desmond, serving does not necessarily mean joining politics. Rather, he hopes to hear the different voices of Singaporeans. “Give a substantial bearing to your views. Let us know what solution makes sense to you. Your voice will be heard. It must be heard. I can promise you that the government genuinely and sincerely wants to hear your thoughts and opinions. While they may not be able to take everyone’s views on board, they will create the platform for you to succeed,” Desmond states.

THE FUTURE: CROWD-SOURCED POLICIES But, perhaps, the platform is already here. Across the Straits of Singapore, in Indonesia, the winner of the country’s 2014 presidential elections – Joko Widodo – took the unprecedented step of asking the public to nominate who they thought should make up his new Cabinet. While the final decision still remained with Widodo, the move was applauded by many as a step in the right direction for the corruption-plagued country. The website conducting the online polls on behalf of Widodo was overrun with visitors on the first day, causing it to temporarily crash for a few hours. Could this concept work in Singapore’s policy space? Desmond doesn’t see why not. In an era of crowdfunding and social media, it’s only a matter of time before policy “changes will be generated in a crowd-sourcing manner”. Our increasingly diverse world means

that good ideas will no longer be a governmental hegemony. To identify blind spots, expand our collective creativity, and generate meaningful policy breakthroughs, we must listen to diverse views. In the near term, he admits that such a move might possibly sacrifice expediency and efficiency, the hallmarks of Singapore’s roaring success, but he believes that it’s for the better. “As we get more comfortable with conversation and dialogue, we will learn how to consider different views and still move forward as quickly as possible,” says Desmond. The time spent working the ground has taught him one thing – given freedom and encouragement, the people will surprise you in a good way. When Desmond first stepped foot into the field of politics, he was brimming with ideas and thoughts about the best ways to run events and to create new policies. Reality though was a cruel, humbling mistress. Desmond came face to face with people and families from across the spectrum saddled by a multitude of social problems. There was the man battling nasal cancer who had to support a family and thus, kept delaying his treatment. There was the single mother who wanted to upgrade her flat so that her teenage son could have more space to grow up in. Their problems, Desmond began to realise, could not be solved with a theoretical template. Rather, the solution was to empower them instead. “We began adopting a family-centric approach to helping people. If a member of the family comes to us asking for assistance, we look at how the issues he or she is facing is also affecting the family. We want to create a good support network

“The more I worked with the grassroots movement, the more I realised how little I knew.” So, in true Kickstarter-esque fashion, Desmond let go of the reins, giving his fellow volunteers the platform and the opportunity to realise their own vision, whether it be for a social programme or a community event. They say a true leader is someone who empowers the people under and around him. If that is true, then Desmond ticks all the right boxes.

HIS STEADY ANCHOR With the amount of time Desmond spends on his exacting work responsibilities and with the people of Hougang, it’s amazing how the man manages to have time for his family. Desmond and his wife, Pamela, have been married for three years. They first met in the office pantry of the Ministry of Manpower, when Desmond was introduced as the new colleague. It was a serendipitous movie moment – she regaled him with her recent travel experiences and he stood there and listened, entranced by her beauty. It was almost love at first sight. They went on their first date within a month and two years later, Desmond popped the question. “I’m lucky,” Desmond says, turning around and giving an adoring look to his wife, who had showed up halfway during the interview. I immediately asked him about children – they have none – and Desmond lets out a hearty chuckle. “I want three! But, I don’t know about her. Let’s see what the future brings.” The future. It’s the topic on everyone’s minds, concerned with the direction that the country is heading to. Desmond is not blind to the laundry list of grouses put forward by the hordes of people on the streets and online platforms. But, he cannot promise immediate solutions or answers that might satisfy everyone. But, he can promise to understand, to listen and to offer a helping hand, as much as possible until he can give no more. After all, that’s what friends are for. Sept 2014 • Family & Life

FOCUS

The Litmus Test of

Parenthood

Litmus, the latest hit A ROCKY START album of popular local The joy of pregnancy turned into when Magdelene started indie band The Great anxiety bleeding heavily seven weeks Spy Experiment, is a into pregnancy. At 32 weeks, she melodic unravelling of stopped feeling Kyra’s kicks. Ten its members’ darker days into hospital supervision, hours. For keyboardist Kyra’s heartbeat flat-lined. Magdelene was hurriedly ushered Magdelene Han and into undergoing an emergency bassist Khairyl Hashim, Caesarean birth, where the the romantically doctors worked their magic. intertwined half of the Amidst the chaos, Kyra was miraculously revived. band, it soulfully echoes of the dark hours after TATTOOED AT BIRTH giving birth to their baby The triumph of Kyra’s birth was girl Kyra. This is their short-lived. turbulent journey. She was prematurely born with a

lopsided head, her delicate skin tattooed with a port wine stain indications that something was not quite right. After a series of medical examinations, Kyra was found to have pressure in her brain and

Never, ever give up hope. And after all that’s done, don’t forget to YOLO!

Family & Life • Sep 2014

was tested for hemihypertrophy, a condition in which physical asymmetry is caused by extensive cell-growth on one side of the body.

A friend and dermatologist who had seen Kyra’s red birthmark pointed out that Kyra exhibited a few symptoms of MacrocephalyCapillary Malformation (M-CM), a rare disease that has only struck 150 patients in the world. In Asia, Kyra was the only one to suffer from it; she was diagnosed at eightmonths-old. The new parents were dealt their next blow when Kyra emerged motionless from a surgery that was meant to lessen the pressure in her brain. “For two whole days, Kyra didn’t move at all when she first came out,” recalls Magdelene. “The doctor said that it might be due to the general anaesthesia but we kept waiting and she still didn’t move.”

By Jade Tan

Apparently, the first operation had caused major internal bleeding, resulting in a second operation to drain the blood and a third to include a shunt (a thin tube that drains excess fluid from the brain to another part of the body). Although the hardy sixmonth-old pulled through the three surgeries, done over a span of just 10 days, she was left with partially impaired psychomotor skills. During this whole period, Kyra was warded in the ICU. The perseverant couple were not allowed to stay in the unit overnight, so they would come in the morning at 8 am and only make the long trek home 14 hours later at 10 at night. Then, the process would repeat again the next day. After a month, when they had picked up the skill – and the nerve – to insert a feeding tube through their daughter’s nose, the family was eventually allowed to return to living their lives at home.

GLOOM AND DOOM The news of Kyra’s condition hardly came as a shock, but that didn’t make it any more palatable. The most difficult pill to swallow, the couple confided, was the sense of utter helplessness that had enveloped them. Sending them spiralling further into despair was a pessimistic doctor whom they dubbed Doctor Doom. He was an unempathetic man of science, and a bountiful source of hope-crushing medical imagery. “This is how your daughter will turn out,” while pointing to Elephant Man photos. “He even used Google to find the photographs right in front of us!” exclaims Khairyl. Disheartened, the two eventually had enough and sought hope elsewhere, highlighting the importance of perspective in dark times. Determined to understand Kyra’s condition the best they could, Magdelene and Khairyl sought social support from a Facebook group comprising families whose children had also been diagnosed with M-CM. Fortunately for them, even though Khairyl had taken half a year off work without pay, the family was able to tide over the dark period with the savings that they had accumulated since their graduation.

YOLO! In an interview generously peppered with the term YOLO (acronym for ‘you only live once’), Magdelene and Khairyl have vowed to live and die on their own terms. Both of them admitted that they would occasionally break down, but never at the same time. “When I get really depressed, I go full on depressed, then just get out of it. I always go by the philosophy that this, too, shall pass,” Magdelene says. During her extended stay in the hospital, she folded paper cranes and when she had to hold an art exhibition as part of her graduation, she decided to turn the paper cranes into a symbol of hope. That symbol totalled up to 1,000 red (Kyra’s favourite colour) paper cranes – in Japanese culture, folding a thousand cranes supposedly grants one’s wish for health and recovery from illness. The exhibition, with its emotional touch, ended up drawing other inspired parents who came forward to share their own stories. As for Khairyl, he would turn to longboarding to vent his anger, carving the streets with fellow boarders in an attempt to calm down.

Despite trying times, the unwavering duo had never even considered giving their child up. Instead, they turn a well-trained blind eye to stares from the public due to Kyra’s apparent abnormalities and practise what their four-year-old has taught them – to simply enjoy the present. Reflecting on how life has changed for them, the spirited parents feel thankful that Kyra had brought them even closer, and taught them to focus on what really mattered. “Before her, we were so organised and planned, but when she came, it was God’s message of telling us to chill,” says Khairyl.

PARENTING Khairyl and Magdelene are learning sign language to communicate with Kyra, who already knows how to sign. Their next wish is for Kyra to learn to walk. Physical abilities make up only part of their concerns, as they recognise that building character and grit in Kyra will be an uphill task. Because she is different, Kyra’s childhood will inevitably be tougher when she comes to realise that society treats her as such. Thus, moulding Kyra’s perception of society and outlook on life is a big item on their to-do list. “We’re going to teach her to be tough. You can’t change society,” Khairyl states matter-of-factly, understanding that not everyone will be accepting of Kyra. Ultimately, they want a family governed by love. They believe that strength in character will shield Kyra against life’s thorns, but love is what will sustain and allow her

We want to pass this to Kyra, to have no fear when there is love. Our long term hope is for her to be independent and to know that she’s always loved, and even when we are gone, she has her roots. to grow. Says the mother, “We want to pass this to Kyra, to have no fear when there is love. Our long term hope is for her to be independent and to know that she’s always loved, and even when we are gone, she has her roots.” Even though Kyra is special, her parents don’t treat her that way; like any other kid, Kyra gets scolded when she gets up to mischief. The cheeky child is smart enough to sense it coming though, and often pulls an endearing silly face to avoid reprimand! When asked if they were considering giving Kyra a sibling, Khairyl doesn’t completely dismiss the idea. “If our grandparents can have ten kids on peanuts salary, then why not us?” However, a second child is not on the cards in the near future. Kyra’s disease has a genetic element and while the geneticist has calculated the chances of their children getting M-CM at just a mere one percent, Magdelene and Khairyl don’t want to take their risks. The resilient couple also reckons that

cost is a concern, not an atypical response in Singapore.

THE NEXT DECADE It has been four years since Magdelene and Khairyl had Kyra, but they are still learning to cope. Asian Women’s Welfare Association (AWWA), where Kyra goes for physiotherapy, has connected them to big, loving families of other strong souls who have managed to find happiness amidst rough times. “The first time I went to AWWA, I cried. The love they give to their children, I never knew was possible or existed. The families there are going through so much more but they’re laughing. (What is important) is to be better than you were yesterday,” Khairyl recounted. A friend once told them that Kyra was a gift, sent to open their eyes to that message, and Khairyl agrees. Drawing inspiration from the other parents at AWWA and reflecting on his own experience, Khairul shares their simple philosophy with parents who are going through similar circumstances, “Never, ever give up hope. And after all that’s done, don’t forget to YOLO!” Sept 2014 • Family & Life

FASHION

NADIA DRESS We love the polka dotted tulle panel at the bodice and the skirt for that touch of whimsical sophistication. Here’s your summer dress, fashionable nursing Moms. Nursing access is via two hidden openings along two vertical seams at the bodice.

Dote is a Singapore-based nursing wear label founded by a fashion-trained mother of three and is available globally in 18 countries.

STYLING Emily Choo and Farhan Shah PHOTOS Glenn Lim

Retails at dotestudio.com, Maternity Exchange and MODEL Pupsik Studio Becky Lo

TWINKLE DRESS Make heads turn no matter which trimester you’re in. This empire style dress is made from rayon spandex and features an empire band to allow you to discreetly nurse your bundle of joy wherever you are.

Family & Life • Sep 2014

NOIR DRESS Company event or day out with the girls, we reckon this versatile chic option with its beautiful mocha colour will be something you’ll be taking out from your wardrobe again and again.

HAYDEN TOP Say hello to weekend brunches together with your baby with this comfortable top that goes well with your denim jeans or shorts. The cleverly hidden nursing panels also elevate the Hayden Top from humdrum to yum yum.

9TH STREET DRESS Here’s something we picked out for the career Moms who want to look professional while still remaining comfortable. The devil is in the details and the double ruffle hem is definitely a fantastic detail. Sept 2014 • Family & Life

NURTURE

The Book Bans Heard By Farhan Shah

Around the World In July, the National Library Board Singapore removed two children’s books – And Tango Makes Three and The White Swan Express – after a concerned parent emailed the Chief Librarian, complaining that the titles were not “pro-family”. The decision sparked a maelstrom of furious debate and divided the nation. We explore the issue.

It started out as a Facebook post, triumphantly written by Teo Kai Loon in the “We are against Pinkdot in Singapore” group. In his post, Teo mentioned that he had lodged a complaint regarding two children’s books titled And Tango Makes Three and The White Swan Express on the basis of their homosexuality undertones. In the same post, Teo posted an email response written by Tay Ai Cheng, Chief Librarian of the National Library Board Singapore.

The email went viral, as the people of Singapore started drawing lines in the sand and taking pot shots at each other. Many people questioned EMAIL RESPONSE the role that the Thank you for your email. I would like to assure you NLB had seemingly that NLB takes a strong pro-family stand in selecting adopted – becoming books for children. We take a cautious approach in a moral watchdog identifying titles for our young visitors. Besides going of sorts in secular through the contents, we also refer to synopses, Singapore – reviews and other books written by the authors. while equally as many, dubbed We have withdrawn the books Tango Makes Three the conservative and the White Swan Express following your feedback. majority, applauded We have a collection of more than five million books. NLB’s resolution While we try to sieve through the contents and to protect their exercise our best judgement, it is an arduous task to children from the ensure complete adherence of details in the books to social and moral our pro-family stand. However, when library visitors ills that the two like yourself highlight to us any conflicting content books apparently within books, we review such books thoroughly and perpetuated. withdraw them from circulation.

Warm Regards, Ms Tay Ai Cheng Assistant Chief Executive & Chief Librarian Public Library Services Group National Library Board

The issue even made international headlines, as media outlets such as The Guardian and TIME covered the story.

WRITERS REACT TO THE BANNING Interestingly, Singapore was not the first country to consider banning the two books. The American Library Association (ALA) reported that And Tango Makes Three was the most challenged book between 2006 and 2010 in America, except for 2009 when it was the second most challenged. Lauren Myracle’s Internet Girls series – ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r – made the top spot in that year. However, unlike Singapore, the story about the two male penguins was never banned, just re-shelved in an attempt at compromise. “What helped And Tango Makes Three remain available 14

Family & Life • Sep 2014

in school and public libraries in some cases was the precedent set by the decision in Island Trees School District Board of Education vs Pico in 1981, which ruled that a Board of Education’s decision to ban certain books from its school libraries violated First Amendment protections,” the ALA wrote in a blog post. The NLB even went to the extent of making the radical decision to pulp the books in question, which led many Singaporean writers and literature heavyweights to voice their concerns. Playwright and novelist Ovidia Yu was one of them, choosing to resign from the steering committee of the 2014 edition of the Singapore Writers Festival. She made it clear that her resignation was in protest against NLB’s decision to remove the books. “I love the NLB libraries and I am always discovering new books there serendipitously that I would not have come across otherwise,” says Yu. “But while there are cultured librarians and genuine lovers of books and knowledge working there, there are also high-handed administrators who make knee jerk decisions to respond to certain emails that fall in line with their own beliefs.”

Poet Cyril Wong reckons that NLB’s abrupt reversal was obviously a reactionary move, “not unlike the initial move to pulp the books in the first place”. The award-winning author, tired of the bigotry that regularly rears its head whenever an LGBT topic enters the sphere of public discussion, says that he is going to “stop publishing, stop working with governmental organisations, [and] even stop writing”. Wong tells me that he has been denied publishing grants, turned away from giving talks and readings in schools, and told by past publishers that what he writes about is too “unacceptable”, and has had enough. When I ask him whether he would change his mind in the future, he says: “I won’t contribute to a generally self-repressive culture that hasn’t progressed in supporting what I attempt to stand for – diversity of representation and the honest portrayal of real-life ambivalences and uncommon relationships through my writing. Society has to change; people must change and become more enlightened before I backtrack on anything.”

The great thing is that a good many more children will be reading And Tango Makes Three and The White Swan Express, which are both lovely and heart-warming books, with their parents’ full support. And for the parents who do not approve, at least they will be paying more attention to their children and what their children are reading, which is always a good thing.

that things have changed and that while the Singapore government is secular, it did not operate in a vacuum. “We also look into community norms, we have to see how society is shaping,” the Minister says. It’s a trend that is causing poet Wong to furrow his brows in consternation. With religious fundamentalism on the rise not just in Singapore but around the world, Wong is worried that compassionate and balanced discussion in Singapore’s public sphere might be replaced with irrational hate speech and unthinking censorship. “Positive change begins with the flowering of discursive minds in our education system…and the liberalisation of our media,” says Wong. “Censorship must not be allowed to progress unethically and unthinkingly, but be up for continual debate and adaptation in the spirit of greater inclusivity.” Fortunately, the NLB, in response to the controversy, has taken the step to finetune its book selection and review processes and to introduce a new advisory panel that will assess the suitability of any addition to the library.

CENSORSHIP AND THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF SINGAPORE

FAMILIES IN SINGAPORE At the centre of the discussion is the definition of what constitutes a family in Singapore. The books’ opponents maintain the argument that a man and a woman, joined in holy matrimony, with children is the only viable and correct classification of a family. Any relationships involving two similar genders are perversions of nature and therefore, should not be encouraged lest it confuses the impressionable children.

It’s important to note that diversity is one of the building blocks of Singapore’s disparate, non-homogeneous societal fabric. Chinese folks live peacefully alongside Malays and Indians; foreign workers squeeze into public transport together with the locals; churches, mosques and temples share real estate space without intruding into each other’s practices. Similarly, contrarian views and dissenting, unpopular opinions also have the right to exist in a forwardthinking society such as Singapore. As writer Evelyn Beatrice Hall succinctly said, “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it”. Disagreements are definitely par for the course but the voices of the marginalised groups in Singapore are increasingly being drowned out by the cacophony of blind righteousness, which is why Wong is becoming pessimistic about the state of affairs in Singapore.

This stance, while admirable in certain circumstances, completely misses the mark. The sobering reality is that families come in all shapes and sizes. There are single-parent families working hard despite the odds, orphans who have grown up in homes, adopted children loved by their foster parents, and more. At the same time, there are traditional two-parent families with two-point-one children who have strayed away from the script, constantly at loggerheads with each other. Ultimately, the glue that binds the members of a typical or atypical family together is love, compassion and understanding, and the two books responsible for the hoopla are promoting these three qualities. What is worrying though is the snowballing impression that the authorities and the government should also be involved in the responsibilities of parenting. At the end of the day, the parents should be the ones educating the child on the themes and ideas presented in books and other mediums. Allowing the state to interfere in and dictate communal and social norms sets a dangerous precedent. At the same time, it teaches the impressionable child that differing opinions in society can and should be quashed without any considerations.

SOCIETAL NORMS One good that has emerged from the fiasco which Yu is thankful for is that parents are beginning to pay more attention to the books that their children are reading and not reading. “The great thing is that a good many more children will be reading And Tango Makes Three and The White Swan Express, which are both lovely and heart-warming books, with their parents’ full support,” says Yu. “And for the parents who do not approve, at least they will be paying more attention to their children and what their children are reading, which is always a good thing.” To NLB’s credit, it has boldly reversed the pulping decision, choosing instead to move the two controversial books to the adult section of the public libraries. During a press conference held to update the media regarding this move, the NLB reiterated that it has never decided what books children can or cannot read, and that this “decision remains with parents, as it has always been”. Worryingly, the two books in question actually went up for review in 2009 and were passed by the committee at that time, only to be removed from the shelves, albeit temporarily, five years later. When questioned, Minister for Communications and Information Dr Yaacob Ibrahim noted that the consensus

“The story of censorship in Singapore has been like a nightmarishly surreal dance: always three steps forward (in the direction of liberalisation, inclusiveness and open-mindedness), then two steps back into the Dark Ages. These days, I think that we’re gradually stepping all the way backwards until this once-promising dance of progress might come to a standstill.” And in a country obsessed with quantification and numbers in an effort to measure the progress she has made, a return to the cultural and religious Dark Ages in a globalised, borderless world will definitely blunt not just our competitive advantage but stunt our growth as a country. Religion and science, heterosexuals and homosexuals, and conflicting ideas can co-exist peacefully with each other. The existence of a different way of life does not mean that the survival of the majority will be threatened. To err is human, to forgive divine. It’s not too late to teach our children to think and realise that progress can only come from having open minds. Sept 2014 • Family & Life

WAR

THIS IS

NURTURE

By Farhan Shah

Education is an incredibly emotive issue among Singaporean parents. In an increasingly competitive society, the typical parent sees education as not just a stepping stone but the golden ticket to a secure, stable and lucrative future for his or her child.

s In the past, a teacher’s authority wa m sacrosanct. He ruled over the fiefdo ing that was the classroom without be parents questioned, and both students and nged. would get in line. Lately, that has cha thority All over Singapore, the teacher’s au ationship has deteriorated and today, the rel t is between educator, child and paren becoming increasingly antagonistic. We investigate this phenomenon.

The school has become not just a zone place of learning but a corporate populated by jargon, meetings and of key performance indicators, on top ts cep con tor sec the teaching. Private such as deliverables and customer satisfaction have proliferated these aim academic institutes, and while the of n ctio odu intr and objectives of the y these concepts were almost certainl without any ill intents, the results r have been a mixed bag. Every othe bers mem ily fam week, your friends, or the papers share tales, stories and anecdotes of teachers burning out and throwing in the towel due to the amount of stress they face daily from Since the local the their supervisors and the parents of school system children they teach. Conversely, you is intolerant nts read letters written by the same pare of failure within l isica ada lack edly berating the suppos the youthful ranks, the parents are lty. attitude of the school’s teaching facu say placing a demanding, some would absurd, amount of pressure on the expected, tal Tan says: “Teachers are now teachers to groom their child’s men to live so, ly ifiab just some might argue faculties and prepare them for the s of term in up to the demands not only rigours of the world. s term teaching and learning, but also in r of character development and othe THE SCHOOL: A PLACE s.” ome non-academic outc IS

OF LEARNING AND KP

“Over the past few decades, the relationship between parents and teachers has evolved from one of h merely ‘teachers are there to teac my children’ towards ‘teachers are a there to provide me and my child or fess service’,” says Associate Pro itute Jason Tan from the National Inst of of Education. “A growing number t dse min the parents have adopted that they are the customers and the teachers, who are the service r providers, are there to meet thei needs and wants.” More importantly, these needs and wants have evolved with the times and the changes in the academic e landscape. Previously, it was mor d than sufficient for teachers to hea r to school, teach to the best of thei the ay, Tod e. ability, and return hom and educational stakes have changed ed, demands on teachers have escalat mainly due to the “growing number of academic and non-academic programmes offered by schools to provide holistic education”, Tan reasons.

Family & Life • Sep 2014

You must admit, teachers are er battling stacked odds that are nev in their favour.

THE POWER STRUGGLE

preFiona Walker, CEO of a popular t tha ds ten con , school in Singapore tion rma info the easy accessibility of e on the Internet has made everyon a a so-called expert, thus making it n tha der har n teacher’s job eve ents already is. At the same time, par lnowadays tend to be rather wel educated and no longer place the teacher on a pedestal. the “The explosion of the Internet and dge consequent easy access to knowle role s viou pre s’ her has meant that teac oms sro clas as the sole authority in ,” has been considerably diminished ce says Tan. “The knowledge imbalan ject pro to s her teac that once enabled their personal authority has been considerably eroded, even as the demands on them to respond to have students’ and parents’ feedback escalated.”

Now, parents constantly question their children about the lessons and activities going on in school and hav e strong opinions about the best way to educate their kids, some of whi ch might run contrary to what the teac her believes in. This is when the power struggle begins, leading to the strained relationship between parents and teachers. Walker doesn’t blame the parents ; in fact, she empathises with them . “Parents are under a great deal of pressure to ensure that their chil dren are getting everything they need so that they can succeed later on in life,” she says. “Then, these parents become more aggressive and star t fighting for what they want.” This includes demanding a greater say in matters that are usually left up to a teacher’s professiona l judgement such as marking schemes, appropriateness of punishments, volume of homewo rk and even the objectives of a lear ning trip. The former rigid boundaries between parents’ and teachers’ roles, suggests Tan, have become increasingly blurred. Some of the more demanding par ents have even gone to the extent of contacting the teacher after school hours, made easier due to the adv ent of 24-hour communicability tools such as email, social media and the smartphone. “Teachers are often expected to be contactable even after school hours (though individual sch ool heads may set their own guidelin es for teachers on this matter) and to provide prompt, courteous and efficient service,” says Tan. Naturally, teachers may feel at tim es that their hard work is unapprecia ted. As Tan shares, “there are few sanctions or costs to parents, bes ides disapproval from netizens, if they do not live up to the same high stan dards they expect of teachers”. He continues: “There are numero us official and unofficial channels for parents to express their opinions about teachers, but fewer similar channels for teachers to do the same with respect to their students or parents. This situation probably leads some teachers, rather unfortunat ely, to view parents as being antagonist ic towards them instead of being receptive partners.”

STARTING AT THE FOUNDATIONS

For Walker, she believes in the valu e of open, two-way communication between parent and teacher. For example, in her pre-schools,

Walker is adamant in setting clear expectations so that no misunderstanding arises. Every potential parent who is enrolling his or her child in the school will have to come down for an interview so that Walker and her colleagues can explain what they expect from parent and child and vice-versa. “From the very beginning, we must agree how to manage the child. So, if an incident occurs, there are no mixed signals,” says Walker. Ultimately, Walker feels that parents want to know that their concerns are being heard and that teachers are doing something about a problem. She says: “Some parents might think that their issues are just being dismissed and that nothing is being done. At the end of the day, the parent is the main teacher and we have to respect that.”

Tan fully agrees with Walker’s assertion and also notes that a parent’s attitude and belief system will have a degree of impact on his or her children, so it becomes even more pertinent for the parent and the teacher to have a healthy relationship, lest the children lose their respect for educators too. In fact, this is already beginning to occur, as seen in a couple of viral videos on YouTube of students shouting at teachers during a class.

Instead of tussling over who gets to hold the decision-making reins, Tan advocates for parents and teachers to be partners in education, just as what the Ministry of Education Singapore preaches for in its framework. While any parent will naturally want the best for the child, he or she, stresses Tan, must reconcile these feelings with the realities of studying in an education system where teachers work with large numbers of students.

classroom, whether it is reading to a group of pre-schoolers or coming along to help during a field trip. This allows the parents to see first-hand the challenges and difficulties in teaching a big group of children and usually leads to the parent having renewed respect for the teacher. At the same time, the teacher will also appreciate the efforts of the parent. It is a long, hard slog and the journey is filled with many obstacles but a healthy parent-teacher relationship is one worth working towards that will benefit everyone involved.

“Teachers too need to be judicious in weighing parents’ legitimate concerns alongside their professional beliefs and judgements, and in communicating these beliefs and judgements to parents,” says Tan. Communication – the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Walker recommends, if possible, getting the parents involved in the

FOSTERING A HEALTHY ACADEMIC RELATIONSHIP

So, what then can teachers and parents do to ensure that their relationship gets off on the right foot? Walker believes that a healthy amount of respect for each other’s role is required. Being a parent is hard. However, being a teacher is hard too. Both parties need to understand that they are essentially working towards the same objective – grooming and teaching the child to succeed in school and academia and, in the end, life. The other quality, besides respect, that Tan believes is absolutely essential in a healthy teacher-parent relationship is trust. “I suppose a lot of teachers simply desire that their professionalism as educators be respected by students and parents, and that they be trusted to get on with their work,” says Tan. “Teachers probably recognise, too, that parents’ decisions about their child’s educational choices need to be respected.”

Sept 2014 • Family & Life

HEALTH

Retirement Planning

Demystified

Retirement is something STEP ONE: that many young Decide on your planned age Singaporean families retirement According to an independent study aspire towards. Yet, many conducted in 2013, a large majority of of us associate a leisurely Singaporeans have inadequate savings life in our golden years like and are not saving early enough for a mythical phoenix – non- their retirement. As the cost of living rises, coupled with our longer life existent. We speak to a few expectancies, retirement planning financial experts and plan takes on even greater importance. a course of action for young families to put up their Currently, Singapore’s statutory minimum retirement age is 62 feet when the golden years with re-employment opportunities come around. available until the age of 65 based on

performance. But like everything else in Singapore, this is expected to rise in the future. Earlier this year, Lim Boon Heng, former NTUC secretary-general, went on record to say that he believes that the retirement age should be upped to 70. What does this mean for you? Simply put, you have until the age of 62, or 65, to earn and save enough so that you can live the rest of your life from the savings you’ve accumulated.

By Farhan Shah

Of course, you may also choose to retire earlier if you think you have enough funds to tide you through the rest of your life.

Alex Lee, the Chief Actuary for Tokio Marine Life Insurance Singapore Ltd, highly recommends that you start planning for retirement as early as possible, perhaps in your late 20s or early 30s, and the first thing that you can do is to decide the age that you wish to retire at. Alex provides four common benchmarks – 50, 55, 60 and 65.

STEP TWO:

Choose the retirement lifestyle that you would like to enjoy, followed by a targeted monthly retirement amount you will need to fund such a lifestyle Are you aiming for the same lavish lifestyle that you are now enjoying in the prime of your life? Or do you not mind adopting a more prudent approach? Perhaps you’re aiming for somewhere in between. It’s important to choose a retirement

lifestyle that you’re most comfortable with. A 2013 global report regarding retirement compiled by HSBC found that 70 percent of the respondents in Singapore viewed spending more time with friends and family as one of their most important retirement aspirations. A close second was taking frequent holidays, with 63 percent of respondents hoping to pack their luggage as often as possible during their golden years. The average Singaporean, Alex shares, requires 70 percent of his or her last drawn salary to maintain his or her current lifestyle during retirement. If you’re more prudent though, 50 percent of your last drawn monthly wage is more than enough to take you through the rest of your years. Thanks to Tokio Marine’s retirement calculator, we’ve put together a simple table that you can use to calculate the estimated monthly amount you need based on your age and current wage.

Assuming a retirement age of 65, an income stream of 20 years, and an expected yearly increment of 2 percent (based on average wage increase before inflation) CURRENT MONTHLY INCOME

CURRENT AGE

TOTAL RETIREMENT GOAL YOU REQUIRE

TARGET MONTHLY INCOME AT RETIREMENT

AMOUNT YOU NEED TO SAVE ANNUALLY

S$2,500

S$864,000

S$3,600

S$23,351

S$816,000

S$3,400

S$23,314

S$1,032,000

S$4,300

S$31,272

S$984,000

S$4,100

S$31,741

S$1,176,000

S$4,900

S$37,935

S$1,128,000

S$4,700

S$38,896

S$3,200

S$3,800

As you can tell from the table above, retirement can be a rather expensive exercise, which is why it’s important to start as young as possible. Do understand though that the table is a guideline. If you reckon you can live happily with a monthly income of S$1,800 for 20 years, then your total retirement goal will definitely be lesser than the amounts stated. The best thing that you can do when you’re in your 20s or 30s is to become financially literate so that you can start exploring investments, whether alone or together with your family. “Investing early makes your savings work harder…and the power of compounding would potentially give you better returns to offset inflation, which will help to meet your healthcare and other unforeseen expenses in your later years,” Alex advises.

STEP THREE:

Calculate the different financial sources of retirement that you have A large majority of Singaporeans, according to the HSBC report, are mainly relying on cash savings to help fund their

Family & Life • Sep 2014

retirement, supplemented by their life insurance pay-outs and the CPF LIFE programme. Unfortunately, the amount they receive might be woefully short of their targeted retirement monetary goal, which is why we highly encourage you, dear reader, to include secondary sources of income – property rental, financial instruments such as shares and bonds, etc. – in your financial portfolio. Having a guaranteed monthly income, whether it be from the dividends you get from your share holdings or rental property, makes it easier for you to plan your retirement. Take note that with inflationary trends, your targeted retirement income might possibly be inadequate in the future, which is why it’s important to periodically review your financial portfolio. The best investment you can make for you and your children’s future is to attain financial literacy and responsibility as soon as possible. Acting early, especially when you still have the mental and physical capabilities to make a difference, will greatly lessen the burden during the later years.

COMMON RETIREMENT MYTHS BUSTED

• “CPF Life pay-outs will be able to provide enough for my retirement.” As Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong illustrated in his 2014 National Day Rally speech, the income stream from your CPF funds is most likely not enough to fund a retirement that many Singaporeans would consider comfortable. While certain policies, such as the extension of the Lease Buyback Scheme to four-room flats and the property pledge for the Minimum Sum, are being revised, you will still require additional streams of income. • “I am a disciplined saver.” If your savings sit solely in a bank account, the effects of inflation and the rising cost of living will actually reduce the value of your savings over time. Hence, Alex recommends that personal savings should only form a part of your retirement funds. • “I am still young and there is no need to plan ahead for my retirement now.” As we have illustrated clearly in the earlier part of the article, the amount of money you need for a comfortable retirement can be rather staggering, so it’s best to start as early as possible. Leaving it until later will only exacerbate the problem and while we understand that you want to enjoy your youth, we don’t believe that it should be at the expense of your old age.

STAYING HEALTHY AND THE NEW MEDISHIELD LIFE Healthcare expenses tend to be the main reason our retirement savings are depleted quickly. After all, old age can be rather unkind to our body. We start experiencing mysterious aches and pains, and our joints begin breaking down more often, leading to frequent clinic visits and hospital stays. In response to rising healthcare costs and longer life expectancies, the Ministry of Health Singapore will be enhancing the iconic MediShield scheme at the end of 2015, and will rename it as MediShield Life. We’ve reached out to the Life Insurance Association Singapore to break down what the new changes mean for the average Singaporean. Key changes of MediShield Life MediShield Life will provide all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents with health insurance coverage for life, regardless of changes to their health over time. The three key changes of MediShield Life are: • Life-long coverage • Coverage for pre-existing medical conditions • Higher claim limits and lower co-insurance to cover more of large bills Common misconception regarding the changes of MediShield Life Following the MediShield Life Review Committee’s (MLRC) recommendations for MediShield Life, a common initial response amongst many Singaporeans is that they no longer see a need for Integrated Shield Plans (IPs).

Integrated Shield Plan to meet those needs and preferences. As charges for the higher ward classes are more expensive coupled with lower or no Government subsidies, IPs provide Singaporeans who wish to stay in such ward classes with additional coverage above and beyond MediShield Life. The effects of MediShield Life on those with existing IPs • MediShield Life to provide life-long coverage Most IPs currently provide coverage for life. MediShield’s enhancement to provide life-long coverage will align MediShield Life with IPs over the lifetime of the policy. • Higher MediShield Life claim limits and lower co-insurance to better cover large bills IPs are designed as a single product in terms of the premiums and benefits offered under MediShield and the top-up portion of IPs. Hence, IP policyholders will enjoy both the benefits of MediShield Life as well as the additional benefits under the top-up portion of IPs. The top-up benefits provided by IP insurers can include: • Less out-of-pocket expenses under as-charged benefits or optional riders • Adequate coverage for Classes B1, A or private wards • Coverage for pre- and post-hospitalisation treatments

An IP comprises two parts - the basic MediShield plan and enhanced benefits provided by IP insurers.

MEDISHIELD LIFE TO PROVIDE COVERAGE FOR PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS

The MediShield Life plan and IP benefits are meant to be complementary and they both serve different needs. MediShield Life only pays for large hospital bills of up to Class B2 wards. For people looking for adequate financial coverage for stays in Class B1 or A of public hospitals, or private hospital wards, they should consider purchasing or retaining their

For the IP insurer, the decision to provide coverage for pre-existing medical conditions will depend on the risk management strategies of the insurer. Regardless of the underwriting outcome by the IP insurers, Singaporeans and Permanent Residents are assured of basic life-long coverage under MediShield Life, even if they have pre-existing conditions at the time of joining MediShield Life. Sept 2014 • Family & Life

HEALTH

The Dirty Guide

By Farhan Shah & Sharina Nogot

to Clean Eating for Kids Nutrition and diet play important roles in your child’s physical and mental development. However, there is so much conflicting information surrounding this topic. We dispel the myths and dish out some good advice with the help of MyKenzen’s Senior Nutritionist Sharina Nogot.

HOW TO READ THAT LABEL

The best way to know what you’re feeding your children is through the mandatory Nutrition Information Panel on the back of all food items. The numbers and names might be quite confusing to you, so we’ve simplified what it all means in this handy graphic.

THE MOST COMMON

NUTRITIONAL MISTAKES BY PARENTS

Children must be persuaded to try new foods

Children start to assert their independence when they get older, which might cause problems at the dinner table, especially when parents attempt to control every aspect of their diet. When children are forced to try new foods, they are less likely to try those foods than if you let them to decide for themselves. Try to introduce new food options at the table one at a time in smaller amounts but more frequently than usual.

Restrict children from eating high-sugar, high-fat and sugar sweetened beverages

If children are not allowed to eat their favourite food, the more they are likely to want them. Instead, limit the amount instead of overly restricting. A power struggle can set a resistance pattern and permanently close the child’s mind.

Snacking will lose your appetite during your meal times

Instead of telling your children not to snack, teach them how to snack healthily. Provide nutritious snacks such as cereals with fruit & yogurt, bananas & peanut butter, tuna on crackers, or nachos with salsa. Snack times can be a good opportunity to introduce other food groups such as fruits, vegetables or dairy instead of having all of them at once on one plate which may not be finished.

Eating out frequently at fast food chains

More often than not, a trip to a fast food restaurant is an easy way to treat the children. However, the family’s decision of which restaurant to go can have an impact on the child’s food choices in later years. It is imperative that parents know how to balance the food choices by guiding their children and frequently exposing them to healthier options.

Family & Life • Sep 2014

START HERE

Nutrition Facts Serving Size 1/2 cup (114g) Serving Per Container 4

CHECK

Amount Per Serving Calories 90

LIMIT THESES NUTRIENTS

GET ENOUGH OF THESE NUTRIENTS

The Health Promotion Board Singapore has also made things simpler when you’re at the supermarket. Just look out for the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) imprinted on selected products if you’re still not sure about what all those numbers mean!

Calories from Fat 30

Total fat 3g Saturated fat 0g Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 300 g Total Carbohydrates 13g Dietary Fiber 3g Sugars 3g Protein 3g Vitamin A 270% Calcium 2%

• •

% Daily Value* 5% 0% 0% 13 % 4% 12%

5% OR LESS IS LOW 20% OR MORE IS HIGH

Vitamin C 10% Iron 4%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs

QUICK GUIDE TO % DAILY VALUE

Calories 2,000 Xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx

FOOTNOTES

xxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx xxxxxxx

NUTRITION MYTHS

COMMON

CHILDREN’S

Sugary food causes hyper behaviour! Parents mistakenly blame food such as candies, chocolates, cookies or sweetened beverages for causing hyperactivity in their children. However, studies have consistently found no evidence that sugar causes hyperactivity. All children are naturally active at this stage and many of them become overly active on certain occasions. Therefore, restricting the amount of sugar in their diet to treat this behavioural problem is groundless.

Children burn energy faster, so they can eat as much as they want! Many parents mistakenly believe that it is fine for children to be big-sized since they are still growing and have faster metabolisms. These parents trust that the kids will eventually lose those baby fats. However, overweight children have the potential of becoming obese adults as food choices,

eating habits and physical activity patterns developed at an earlier stage can have a big influence on how they will lead their adult lifestyle.

Brain food supplements will help improve my child’s academic performance! So often, it is easy to rely on products that claim to improve your child’s cognitive efficacy and memory functions hoping to boost his or her performance at school. However, you can find these same benefits from foods that are rich in Omega-3, specifically DHA fatty acid, which is important for brain development and functions. Also, these are essential fatty acids that cannot be made by the body but rather must be obtained from the diet. Fatty fishes such as salmon, canned tuna or sardines, mackerel, or other sea foods such as oysters, prawns and scallops are excellent sources of Omega-3.

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The essential free monthly companion for every Singaporean family, Family & Life aims to inform, educate and inspire the contemporary urbanite parent. With hard-hitting personality profiles and a creative editorial team that is unafraid of pushing the envelope and tackling controversial topics related to family living, Family & Life hopes to get families talking and bonding at the same time.

Sept 2014 • Family & Life

RELAX

WH? T’S

HAPPENING TEOCHEW FESTIVAL For the first time in Singapore, you will have a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the heritage of one of the country’s largest dialect groups at the exciting Teochew Festival. Organised by the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan in conjunction with its 85th anniversary, the large-scale festival will feature 30 vendors offering unique food products, scrumptious fares and gorgeous merchandise. You can also look forward to an authentic taste of Teochew life from food vendors, specially invited artistic talents, and craft-making and colouring competitions.

When: 25 September to 5 October 2014 Where: Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza Price: S$5 per person

HOP AND HONK What happens when you weave two classic fairy tales into one? You get Hop and Honk! A year in the making, Hop and Honk is a blend of two seemingly different stories – The Ugly Duckling and The Frog Prince – that become an original brand new family musical, complete with toe-tapping music, spectacular sets, glittering costumes, magical lighting, and jaw-dropping puppetry. “It’s unusual, but it is a very fun challenge – and the result, we think, will be double the entertainment value, throwing new light on some interesting aspects on both stories,” says Brian Seward, the writer and director of Hop and Honk. Seward has carefully crafted a story that will appeal to everyone in the family, from the young tadpoles to the adults, so you can be sure that you will be fully entertained.

When: 29 October to 15 November 2014 Where: Drama Centre Theatre, National Library Price: From S$27 for early bird individual tickets | Early bird ends on 17 September 2014 | Family packages available from S$102

AUTUMN FAIR We’re blowing our own trumpets here a bit but check us out at the Autumn Fair, a seasonal bazaar offering gourmet food such as wine and cheese and an unparalleled selection of gifts and ideas for the holiday season. Whether you’re looking for something specific for the family or just want to enjoy a day out, we’re certain that the more than 100 vendors presenting their wares and services at the Autumn Fair will tickle your fancy. There are also S$1,500 in lucky draw prizes to be given away. Of course, there’s us too! We’ll be there giving away our magazines and goodies bags filled to the brim with some awesome stuff from our sponsors.

DON’T LET THE PIGEON DRIVE THE BUS! Once upon a time, there was a friendly bus driver who had to go off. But before he leaves the scene, he tells the audience one simple instruction – “don’t let the pigeon drive the bus!” Sounds simple enough, right? This award-winning interactive show encourages audience participation, as the eponymous pigeon pleads, cajoles and bribes the audience in an attempt to get the opportunity to drive the bus. Written for two- to eight-year-olds, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus 22

Family & Life • Sep 2014

features original music and promises to delight children and adults alike. The production, which has been thrilling audiences in the UK for over three years, will be showing at the Alliance Française Theatre from 18 to 28 September.

When: 18 to 28 September 2014 Where: Alliance Française Theatre Price: From S$30 for individual tickets | Family packages available from S$114

At the same time, the Autumn Fair is also supporting a few charities including the SPCA and the Riverkids Project, so the money you spend at the fair will be going to a good cause.

When: 14 to 15 October 2014 Where: Raffles Town Club, Dunearn Ballroom Price: Free!

RELAX

It’s almost the end of the year, the time when you’re considering a couple of new furniture items for your house. Well, we’ve picked out a few of our favourite pieces together with OM that we think will fit nicely in your home.

BEND CHAIR BY GRADO DESIGN FURNITURE Think origami, but with steel instead of paper. That was the concept of the Bend Chair from Grado Design Furniture, and we dare say it is one of the most stylish and modern chairs we’ve ever laid our eyes on. It also comes with an optional magnetic polyurethane cushion for additional comfort.

NEW DAYBED BY DIX DESIGN+ARCHITECTURE With its clean lines and attention to detail, the New Daybed from the creative geniuses at Dix Design+Architecture can blend seamlessly into any home. It’s unobtrusive but still a conversation starter, and is the perfect place to crash during a heavy night out when the bedroom just seems a bit out of reach.

STILO FAMILY BY GRADO DESIGN FURNITURE

NEST OF THREE SIDE TABLE BY ENTUNE LIVING Giving the ubiquitous side table a different spin, Entune Living has really outdone itself with this creative interpretation. We love how the insides are actually curved for stability. It can also be pulled in and out depending on how much space you need, a much-appreciate feature in space-starved Singapore. It also comes in a variety of materials to match the theme of your home.

On the other end of the spectrum is this classic Stilo Family chair from the same people who brought you the Bend Chair. Framed in painted or polish tubular steel, this sitting apparatus is available in a range of colours. If you have a lot of soft edges around your house, we highly recommend this piece to give your room that dash of balance.

Sept 2014 • Family & Life

RELAX

A Primer on

Deepavali By Farhan Shah

The most important THE ORIGINS festival in Hinduism, OF DEEPAVALI Deepavali, which literally The first few recorded instances of Deepavali were mentioned in means “row of lights”, is a few Sanskrit Hindu scriptures the celebration of good like the Padma Purana, compiled over evil. We take you sometime between the fourth on a lighted journey and and 15th century, and the Skanda In the texts, Deepavali is a tell you more about this Purana. festival celebrated after the end of religious holiday. the summer harvest in the Hindu month of Kartik. Depending on the religious school of thought, the spiritual origins of Deepavali varies from group to group, but the most common tale is about the battle between Narakasura – tyrant king or malevolent demon, depending on your perspective – and Lord Sri Krishna. When Narakasura was finally defeated, Lord Sri Krishna returned to the town and the people lit lamps to celebrate his victory 24

Family & Life • Sep 2014

and to welcome him home. That was how the tradition of lighting oil lamps started. The Deepavali festivities actually last for five days, with the actual day of Deepavali landing on the third day. On the first two days, offices and houses are cleaned and decorated, families start preparing homemade sweets and decorating the floors with rangoli, and women paint their hands with henna. The day after Deepavali is designated as the day for a husband and his wife to celebrate their love and mutual devotion to each

other through gifts and special meals. The last day of festivities is dedicated to promoting the loving relationship between siblings. Sisters would pray for the wellbeing of their brothers and viceversa. Food-sharing, gift-giving and conversations are the hallmarks of this day.

INTERESTING DEEPAVALI PRACTICES & HAPPENINGS AROUND THE WORLD

THE BORDER OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN Last year, during this festive occasion, at the international border of India and Pakistan (two countries who traditionally have tense relations between each other), the Indian forces gifted different types of traditional Indian sweets to their Pakistani counterparts. In return, the Pakistani commander Asheer Khan returned the gesture with an assortment of Pakistani sweets. May this practice continue in the years to come! UNITED STATES Diwali was first celebrated within the White House in 2003. Four years later, in 2007, the then president George W Bush officially recognised the religious and historical significance of the festival in the country. Interestingly, it has only been recently that Diwali celebrations started becoming more widespread in the United States – in 2009, the AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, played host to a Diwali celebration while in 2011, The Pierre luxury hotel held a function celebrating the day.

way for tourists, migrants and expatriates to experience the rich cultural tapestry of the country. During this festive period, there are street light-ups in the enclave of Little India, multiple cultural performances and exhibitions, and even a large countdown concert to usher in the Festival of Lights. A week before Deepavali, the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple, holds a fire walking ceremony. • The Sri Mariamman Temple Founded in 1827 by a government clerk from Penang Naraina Pillai, the Sri Mariamman Temple initially served as a place of refuge and worship for new immigrants. Historically, the temple also acted as a registry of marriages for Hindus and for a period of time, was the only place authorised in Singapore to solemnise Hindu marriages. Interestingly, there are some components of the existing brick structure now that date as far back as 1843. It is named the Sri Mariamman Temple after its principal deity, the South Indian mother goddess Mariamman who is said to provide protection against diseases.

FIJI Believe it or not, the period of Diwali in Fiji is often said to be observed on a larger scale than in India, as the people start blasting fireworks and holding Diwali-related events as early as a week before the actual day. A third of Fiji’s population are made up of Hindus, which explains why Diwali is celebrated so grandly on the island. Also, Diwali signals the beginning of the holiday season in the country and the different religious groups use it as a time to celebrate with friends and family. AUSTRALIA The title for the biggest celebration in Australia officially belongs to the weeklong annual Diwali festivities at the iconic Federation Square, with the locals and people of Indian origin coming together to enjoy the performances, food and camaraderie. The event has even become part of the Melbourne arts calendar. During this period, a few buildings such as the Victorian Parliament and the Melbourne Airport are also specially decorated for the occasion. SINGAPORE Widely celebrated not just by the Hindus but by people from all walks of life, Deepavali in Singapore is a gazetted public holiday and is a great

• The fire walking ceremony Red hot coals, bare feet and loyal devotion are the hallmarks of the famous fire walking ceremony that has made its way into popular culture. In Singapore, the celebrations usually start at 10 pm at the Srinivasa Perumal Temple at Serangoon Road, where the priest will lead a grand procession of devotees to the Sri Mariamman Temple. Here, the priest will commence with the ceremony by being the first to walk through the pit, which is filled with hot coal, while carrying a “sacred water-filled pot” on his head. Then, he is followed by the rest of the male devotees.

THE ANATOMY OF THE RANGOLI Commonly appearing during Diwali, the rangoli is a form of decorative folk art made with a combination of coloured rice, dry flour and flower petals. It is thought to bring good luck to the occupants of the house.

 The rangoli is often created on the floor near the entrance of a house to encourage the Hindu goddess of wealth, love and prosperity Lakshmi to enter the home.

 The designs of the rangoli can range from simple geometric shapes to elaborate

deity impressions. The ones you see in Singapore also feature floral and petal arrangements.

 The basic colour of rangoli is white and is traditionally created by the women in the family.  In the past, the different colours of the rangoli were made with natural food ingredients such

as sindoor and turmeric but now, there are a few manufacturers who create chemical colours specifically for this occasion.

 Rangoli is usually created on square, hexagonal or circular grids but the more talented artists are able to conjure up a work of art without the assistance of grids. The rangoli art is also usually symmetrical.

Sept 2014 • Family & Life

The Living ArtForm

RELAX

Misunderstood and dismissed in the modern era, bonsai is an old art form that occurs when man and nature bond together to form a beautiful sculpture. We speak to a bonsai enthusiast who reveals many surprising things about bonsai.

Before he became the director of Bonsai Gallery, a bonsai garden, nine years ago, Jack Lee was a bonsai enthusiast who enjoyed buying and keeping these works of art. He and his father, Lee Liak Kwang, would travel overseas just to indulge in their passion simply because the bonsai market was almost non-existent in Singapore, save for one garden that didn’t stock many of the varieties they wanted. “I realised that there was a big gap in the market for bonsai enthusiasts such as myself that I could capitalise on,” says Jack. And so, he co-founded Bonsai Gallery together with his father, L. K. Lee. Today, the garden welcomes people from all walks of life, who wander in out of curiosity or who searched for him online – Jack fondly remembers a five-year-old boy interested in bonsai who found his garden on the Internet and asked his parents whether they could bring him to Bonsai Gallery. Lest you think that only the Chinese are interested in bonsai, Jack reveals that a large majority, “50 percent”, of his customers are expatriates. “A big portion of them are French!” he says. “They appreciate the beauty and aesthetics of bonsai.” Even American television dramas such as White Collar have featured the bonsai in the show.

Therein lies the appeal of this old art form that for so long has been shrouded in folklore and myths – natural beauty moulded by human hands. The first historical mention of bonsai was from a Japanese work of fiction written in 1970 titled The Tale of the Hollow Tree: “A tree that is left growing in its natural state is a crude thing. It is only when it is kept close to human beings who fashion it with loving care that its shape and style acquire the ability to move one.”

A tree that is left growing in its natural state is a crude thing. It is only when it is kept close to human beings who fashion it with loving care that its shape and style acquire the ability to move one. 26

Family & Life • Sep 2014

Contrary to popular belief, bonsai does not necessarily have to be a miniature version of an existing plant species. Rather, bonsai is about growing small trees from regular stock and seeds. Some bonsai trees, though, can grow

rather large; the Bonsai Gallery has a 120-year-old podocarpus that towers over four metres. From Japan and China, the bonsai art form started spreading to Europe and America in the 19th century when the Japanese participated in various international exhibitions and brought along the bonsai trees. At the closing of the fairs, many of these trees found their way into Western hands. It was only after World War II though that the art became more accessible, penetrating deep into the suburbs of Western neighbourhoods, thanks to a glut of prominent bonsai exhibitions. Jack reckons that the straightforward care one needs to display to a bonsai plant helped to accelerate the art form’s popularity – a bowl of water once a day, the occasional prune and a dash of fertiliser once a month. “It’s a simple hobby and is also rather therapeutic, especially for the older people in the family. Take for example my Dad who is turning 70 soon, yet who is still very healthy. Taking care of the bonsai plants actually keep his mind sharp and his body active,” says Jack. Bonsai plants are also incredibly hardy, even hardier than cactus according to Jack. And while bonsai used to attract an older crowd, Jack now reports welcoming younger and younger customers. The average age of his buyers range between 20- and 30-years-old. All of his customers have also become his friends as they repeatedly come back for help and advice to extend their plants’ longevity; bonsai plants are a long-term investment and can outlive most people – one of the oldest-known living bonsai trees is over 1,000 years old and can be found within the confines of the Mansei-en bonsai nursery in Omiya, Japan. Bonsai Gallery, which recently won a silver medal at a 2014 bonsai competition, is the only garden to sell the Ponamella, a species that can last for up to six months without sunlight, making it ideal for homes and offices.

Bonsai Gallery has the largest collection of bonsai for sale with 3,000 trees spanning over 30 species from Japan, China, Taiwan and Malaysia. An entry-level bonsai goes for as low as S$48 and can go up to S$88,000! Check out www.bonsaigallery.sg for more.

n elegant addition A to your home Come and see the largest collection of Bonsai for sale in Singapore. With some 3,000 trees in 30 species from China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam to choose from! Also featuring the only indoor Bonsai species in Singapore, which is ideal for apartments and offices.

Open Tuesday to Sunday 1pm - 7pm (including Public Holidays) Tel: +65 6763 1180 24 Bah Soon Pah Road Singapore 769968 (Inside Ban Nee Chen)

www.bonsaigallery.sg Sept 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ Family & Life

BITES

Beef Tenderloin Steak Tartare with Pan Fried Egg They say that there are two types of vegetarians – those who have beef with chicken and those who are too chicken to have beef. Well, here’s a beef recipe from fine dining chef Tim Meijers that we are certain will make you courageous. SERVES: 4 people for starters DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy enough for kitchen newbies! PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes COOKING TIME: 10 minutes

First served in French restaurants early in the 20th century, the steak tartare with raw egg is a meat dish made from finely chopped or minced raw beef mixed with onions, capers and fresh ground pepper or Worcestershire sauce. The secret to a delicious steak tartare is in the cut of the beef – Tim recommends beef tenderloin, which is the tenderest

Tim Meijers is a globe-trotting chef with more than a decade of experience working in Michelin-starred fine dining restaurants. In Singapore, he worked for Saint Pierre before starting Tim’s Fine Catering Services, bringing the luxury of fine dining to offices and homes all over the island. Visit him at www.timsfinecatering.com

Olive oil

Beef tenderloin ................480 grams . Shallots............................... 2 . Gherkins...................15 grams . Cappers.................... 6 grams

Mustard............. 2 teaspoons

Ketchup...........2 tablespoons Eggs................................ 4

Materials

Ring cutter Knife and chopping board Mixing bowl Frying pan Flat plate

Family & Life • Sep 2014

Many people are afraid of handling and eating raw beef due to health concerns but when basic hygienic rules are followed and fresh meat is used, the risk of bacterial infection is incredibly low. Nevertheless,

we do not recommend this dish for pregnant women. Preparing a steak tartare is quite fun for children and is a good way to teach them simple rules and guidelines when handling raw meat. We hope that you’ll enjoy creating the Steak Tartare. Share your pictures of the finished creation with us on our Facebook page!

INGREDIENTS PREPARATIONS

ABOUT THE CHEF

part of the animal and therefore, exceptionally soft. A good steak tartare also has no sinew fat in its beef.

Beef Tartare 1. Chop the beef tenderloin until it is very fine (the finer, the better). 2. Cut up the shallots, gherkins and cappers. 3. Mix the minced beef and the cut vegetables with ketchup and mustard. 4. Finally, season the tartare with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Pan Fried Egg 1. Break the eggs and cook it over low heat in a pan. 2. After the egg is complete, use a ring cutter or a normal knife to cut the egg, making sure that it is approximately the same size as the mound of beef tartare.

Plating 1. Carefully place the beef tartare in the middle of the plate either in the shape of a circle or square. 2. Lay the egg on top of the tartare. 3. Finish the presentation by grinding some pepper around the beef tartare.

u a e t a Ch of Dining Delights

BITES

By Farhan Shah

Towards the end (or the BUENO TERRA ra is to come with a purpose. beginning, depending on To come to Bueno Ter tewashed one accidentally saunters into its whi where you are coming No is both tion loca colonial bungalow. Bueno Terra’s dine from) of Scotts Road lies a its blessing and its curse; a blessing for rs ds row of rising restaurants who prefer not to be interrupted by unruly crow e for the very same diners in Singapore’s dining walking in and out, a cursthe distance to sample the to travel quite landscape that are still who havtee fare . exquisi thankfully below the radar of most families. Not for So, the question is: does the food live up to the long though. physical journey?

impatience, For those short on time or long on warm and the answer is yes. The service was , and the food ired impeccable, the plating was insp home was a evoked fond memories of home, if savoury truffles. farmhouse in Sicily, Italy that grew ut the interior of the The first thing that strikes you abo ch is long and narrow, as restaurant is its peculiar layout, whi to build a hallway instead though the architect was planning solved when I was told but ran out of ink. The mystery was e’s home. that the building used to be someon as many seats as possible Fortunately, instead of cramming forking tagliatelle into into a space definitely not built for manageable 24-seater your mouth, the owners made it a free to wiggle around eatery so that your elbows would be ample space on the tables. and your wine glasses would have ations may or may not be Unfortunately, your dinner convers Children too have little overhead by the table next to yours. be advised not to in any space to run around but you would cost an arm and a leg. case. The dinnerware look like they back of the restaurant There is a private dining room at the r family would like some that can seat six, so if you and you ne and you could well privacy, tell the maître d over the pho ornate chairs and enjoying be on your way to sitting on plush, settings. your meal in reasonably luxurious

recommend skipping the Once you’re comfortably seated, I ic focaccia bread, usually bread bowl entirely, save for the garl to garlicky perfection butchered in other places but baked the chef de cuisine, here. Perhaps it’s an Italian thing but is Lucchi, certainly a tall Italian bloke by the name of Den pasta. The homemade knows his way around garlic, and also boo clam with a side tagliatelle, served on an opened bam d caviar, is heady and of bottarga, a type of ancient presse sonnets and evokes flavourful, the kind that inspires love at home, only to fail the chef inside you to cook the dish miserably. the lamb is another tricky On the subject of miserable failure, most experienced of proposition that can topple even the llenge, delivering the chefs. Denis, though, rises to the cha sure of chewing together tenderest loin I’ve ever had the plea ping the plate in search with a side of potato that left me scra ned. of more, fine dining etiquette be dam them terrific in taste and The rest of the courses, while all of to the pasta and the lamb. presentation, paled in comparison I doubt Bueno Terra A blessing and a curse, perhaps, but . would want to have it any other way

KI-SHO

Singaporeans love their plates of sushi and sashimi, their bowls of hot ramen, and their cups of green tea. Japanese restaurants are a dime a dozen on our island; you cannot walk through a shopping mall without hearing shouts of “irasshaimase” from service staff welcoming diners into the eating joint. Keeping this in mind, what then does Ki-sho bring to the overflowing

table?

The renowned Chef Hamamoto, a culinary maestro who has undoub tedly mastered the nuances of Kyoto cuisine after spending years honing his

craft in the top culinary restaurants in Kyoto and Singapore. At Ki-sho, there is no menu for you. Rather, you sit down and entrust your dinner to Hamamoto who will craft an experience based on your reactions to each and every dish he prepares and serves you. It’s an experience called Omakase, which simply means “I’ll leave it to you”, or in this case, the capable hands of Hamamoto. There were no missteps at Ki-sho, as Hamamoto gauged my reactions and body language before preparing the next dish. The restaurant’s commitment to quality and freshness – all ingredients are specially handpicked according to the season and air-flown twice weekly to Singap ore – also meant that every bite offered a cornucopia of immense pleasur es. The only sticking point might be the price, which clocks in at a pricey S$300++ for the six-course Omakase menu, and a more exorbitant S$450++ for the nine-course smorgasbord. But, we assure you, it’s worth every dollar. So, when your wedding anniversary or significant other’s birthday rolls around , leave the children with your parents and make a reservation at Ki-sho. You deserve it. Sept 2014 • Family & Life

s e l a T Young

LAST WORD

MDM LAI – Florence’s Mother

How did the programme help to bring you closer to Florence? The Abbott Young Scientist programme has brought both

By Florence Oh, Mdm Lai and Jackson Ng

from a

Scientist The world needs more FLORENCE OH female scientists and – Young Scientist Florence, a Primary Four student Florence is leading the I’m from Bukit Panjang Primary School. charge, thanks to the Abbott Young Scientist For my Abbott Young Scientist Programme. She pens her programme project, I wanted to experiences for us, with a observe live insects and find out more about their characteristics such as their bit of help from her parents feeding habits and natural habitats. and mentor. After reviewing a few options and

discussing with my mentor, Jackson Ng, I decided to observe caterpillars because I can easily find different types of caterpillars in the garden and they are not poisonous. I wanted to explore how they live and the food they eat. When I first entered the leaf litter in the garden at Science Centre, I remember I was quite scared to dig around for insects. Nevertheless, we went around trying to catch different types of caterpillars for investigation. I caught tiger and lime caterpillars! My mentor suggested a box to keep the caterpillars and we can introduce different conditions to investigate my theories. I wanted to investigate the ideal conditions of the habitat and feeding habits of the caterpillars. For example, do caterpillars prefer darker places or areas with more sunlight? What kind of leaves do caterpillars feed on? I put four different types of strong smelling leaves in four corners of the box and covered half of the box with dark paper to block out the light. I came up with the design of the box and I drew pictures and made models of different insects to be put on the box. My mentor suggested putting LEDs in the model eyes to make it more attractive. My mentor also suggested placing a bedding of sand and leaves for the caterpillars to walk around as the hard surface of the box might damage the legs of the caterpillars. We discussed creating a poster and a game for visitors. I did research for the design and drew the pictures needed. We also discussed creating a science journal to keep track of the information that I researched and the daily activities that I have done for my project. I wrote down my information and my mentor helped me to check and asked me to add in or change any information. My father helped me build a wooden box to house the caterpillars and my mother helped me to decorate it. After this project, I have learned more about insects, and have more courage to touch and feel insects, especially caterpillars. 30

Family & Life • Sep 2014

the family closer. We will discuss about her projects as a family. Whenever she had questions or faced challenges with her projects, we will improvise and come up with a solution together. I have also spent more time with her during the programme as we always make trips to the Science Centre together to try out new experiments. Florence is very enthusiastic throughout the programme and was excited that we could showcase her experiment together.

Did you learn anything new about your child thanks to the programme? I am very proud of Florence when she completed the Abbott Young Scientist programme. I have also discovered her interest in Science and her hunger for knowledge. She is a curious girl and is pro-active when learning new things. Most importantly, she is also a very determined child. She was able to juggle her dance classes and her performances alongside the Abbott Young Scientist programme.

JACKSON NG – Florence’s Mentor

What was it like working with a young scientist like Florence? It was a very happy, satisfying and enriching experience for me. Florence was very enthusiastic. We worked together to discuss ideas on how to make the project more interactive for the visitors. She is quite receptive of ideas that we shared and is very hardworking. Her family members are also quite supportive and helped her to do up her box to place the caterpillars for observation.

What did you learn from the experience? Given the right environment, I learned that there are really no limits when it comes to a child’s learning and creativity. Florence’s workrate and her detailed project designs really astonished me. She told me that she learned a lot more about caterpillars by doing her project.

What astonished you most about Florence? She is curious and very daring. I feel that these are the desirable qualities of a scientist-to-be. Although she was fearful of the caterpillars, she still went around with me and her family members to hunt for the caterpillars in the garden. She managed to overcome her fear of caterpillars by feeding, taking care, and even touching them towards the end of the programme. I was astonished that she got over her fear so quickly.

The Abbott Young Scientist programme aims to engage and inspire students to conduct scientific explorations outside the classroom. 2014 is the fifth year that Abbott has worked with the Science Centre to run a creative programme to make science education more engaging for children.

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