Aug - Oct 2015 www.republicanpost.sg
Produced by Diploma in Mass Communication students Centre for Enterprise and Communication
WhyweLOVE Singapore
SG50 SPECIAL INSIDE THIS ISSUE!
‘Some friends thought I was CRAZY’
The pioneer batch of SAF Volunteer Corps completed their basic training recently. The Republican Post’s Jacinth Toh speaks to CEC student Kimberley Winona Jeremiah who braved the outdoor elements to be a volunteer. By Jacinth Toh
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hile most students were sleeping in the comfort of their homes during the March school holiday, one girl spent her time digging trenches in the forests of Pulau Tekong. Kimberley Winona Jeremiah, a Diploma in Mass Communication student, took the road less travelled when she traded her everyday wear for green army fatigues. She was among 1,000 people who had applied to serve in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Volunteer Corps, a scheme set up to allow Singaporeans and Permanent Residents to contribute to national defence. Signing up as a volunteer was “the last thing” on Kimberley’s mind, but the 19-year-old was inspired to volunteer as her father, Lieutenant Colonel (NS) Jeremiah Jonathan, had stressed the importance of Singaporeans contributing to a strong defence. “I knew that I would not regret my decision because the only thing I was afraid of was just fear itself,” she said. “Most of my friends were supportive, especially those in poly. But when I told my secondary school friends they were like, ‘What on earth happened to you? Are you alright?’” Kimberley was among the pioneer batch of 226 volunteers who received their service berets in June after completing their basic training. During their two-week basic training, the volunteers were taught how to handle and fire a SAR 21 rifle and attended a two-day field camp. Kimberley said the “toughest part” of the training was not being able to bath after a long day in the mud and rain. “But I overcame it by not thinking too much,” she added. Kimberley, however, had no problems adjusting to army food and said eating combat rations was the easiest part of
LIKE FATHER, LIKE DAUGHTER: Now that Kimberley has joined
the SAFVC, her father hopes that her two younger sisters would follow in her footsteps as well. PHOTO: JACINTH TOH
her training. “I like eating them,” she said. “Some of my friends found it gross.” The experience of firing a SAR 21 rifle also proved memorable. Even though the volunteers had participated in a simulation exercise in preparation for the actual shoot, the actual ‘live’ firing proved a different experience. “When someone first fired the shot and I heard how loud it was, I wanted to run away,” said Kimberley. But with her instructor’s assurance, she calmed herself down and emerged as a marksman – a personal achievement she now bears with pride. Kimberley and the inaugural batch of volunteers would spend a few more weeks familiarising themselves with duties required for one of the 17 vocations they would be assigned to. Asked if she has plans to join the SAF as a regular after graduation, Kimberley replied: “I have no plans yet but if I were to, I think it’d be really cool to be sniper.”
My Kodak moment with a sprint queen An army of volunteers helped out in the recently concluded 28th South East Asian Games. RP student Davinder Singh who was a volunteer Media Relations Officer recounts how he got up close with Singapore’s sprint superstar. By Davinder Singh
SELFIE WITH SHANTI: Davinder Singh with Shanti Pereira
after her 100m bronze medal podium finish. Shanti went on to clinch the gold medal for the women’s sprint 200m sprint final the following day. PHOTO: DAVINDER SINGH
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was assigned to the two most popular sports in the SEA Games - athletics and football. Every day was a 12-hour work day and it was nothing short of hectic. My job was to help out in the ‘mixed-zone’ for all seven days and this is the area where the athletes would walk through after their respective competitions and the media gets to interview the athletes. In other words, it was a crazy place. We were expecting a substantial amount of media channels to be present during athletics but the actual turnout was overwhelming. Regional and international media representatives were present for almost all the events. During the 200m Women’s Final, everyone’s eyes were on Shanti Pereira, who, the day before won the bronze medal for the 100m final. As the gun went off, the atmosphere at the Sports Hub was “electric”. If you had seen the TV telecast you would have seen how the crowd went wild when she clinched the gold medal. As the volunteer on the ground, the response at the mixed zone was wilder. If she was besieged, so were the volunteer media relations officers. Many media outlets shouted at me to make sure I got them an interview with Shanti. Everyone wanted a piece of Shanti. From her coach to her team members and her parents. The challenge was not so much getting her there but getting her out of the zone for the victory ceremony. In the melee, I ended up in the TV frame with her! The experience was something I am unlikely to forget. I did things I never thought I would, like translating for a Chinese-speaking Singaporean athlete and running an entire lap around the stadium just to locate an athlete for an interview. We learn interesting scenarios in class but this stint taught me more. I feel lucky for having that chance.
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Editor’sNote on and on behalf of the team, I would like to thank This is the last issue that my team and I will be working you for taking the time to read The Republican Post. al Day as we give you the scoop on what you can We got a little patriotic this issue in the spirit of Nation s, nostalgic as we brought back our favourite local sitcom find in this year’s National Day Parade fun pack and got movies and items that us 90s kids will remember. t tucked inside. Do check out what local youth say
In conjunction with SG50, we also have a special pull-ou about what they love about Singapore.
National Day. Our photographers ventured into the Hari Raya Adilfitiri has not gotten lost in the spirit of The Golden Rule Barber Co, a nifty little pop-up out d checke r, and heart of the Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaa store for an affordable gentleman’s haircut. e, I hope girls are inspired and boys are impressed by With all the talk about females serving National Servic her home comforts to be part of the pioneer batch of SAF 19-year-old RP student Kimberley Winona who traded Volunteer Corps. nation’s 50th birthday and do continue reading The I trust this issue will get you in the mood to celebrate our al Day! Republican Post for more interesting stories. Happy Nation canpost.sg
Check out our online site for exclusive stories: www.republi
Kulvin Kaur
Republican Post Roll Call Editor: Kulvin Kaur Deputy Editor: Yogaraj Panditurai News Editor: Benjamin Tan Design Editor: Pearlyn Cheu Design Deputies: Dinah Qistina Rozawi Jeremy Lah Kristie Loke Photo Editor: Nur Hidayah Roslan Photo Deputies: Iskandar Rossali Marcus Tan
Multimedia Editor: Nellie Qistina Multimedia Deputy: Christopher Parwani Lifestyle Editor: Rachel Ng Lifestyle Deputy: Woon Jie Min Community Editor: Charmaine Aw Sports Editor: Kumaravel Tamil Selvom REP TV Editor: Shiona Oosha Raj REP TV Deputy: Hasif Hasny
Funpackwithaspecialmessage By Chloe Elizabeth Tang
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his year, a total of 1.2 million SG funpacks were given out to every Singaporean and Permanent Resident household. A small portion of that - 20,000 are quite special. They were packed by a group of disadvantaged Singaporeans who would have added a little note. And residents who get this special fun pack can send a reply back to the organisation – almost like the pen pal system of old. This is part of an initiative called “A Funpack from Me to You” Project which allows Singaporeans to connect with each other, strangers or not. Explaining the rationale behind this engagement activity, Colonel (COL) Frederick Choo, 35, Chairman of the Engagement, Celebrations and Mobile Column Committee said: “This small segment serves to just draw out the elements of connecting with Singaporeans and inculcate the spirit of paying it forward that we do something for a fellow Singaporean not because we know you, not because you are my family but because you are a fellow Singaporean.” Approximately 580 packers from different voluntary welfare organisations such as the Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN), Down Syndrome Association (DSA), Movement for the Intel2 THE REPUBLICAN POST
CAT OUT OF THE BAG: Aside from the unique note, the SG
funpack also comprised of nostalgic items to help bring back memories of the older generation in hopes of connecting Singaporeans of different ages. PHOTO BY: CHLOE ELIZABETHTANG
lectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), Singapore Association for Mental Health and Bizlink came forward to participate in this meaningful exercise. Students from Temasek Junior College and volunteers from the Singapore Soka Association also helped out. How it works is fairly simple. A volunteer from one of these organisations would include a little note in the pack which would detail their name and a
short message. These packs are then distributed and if you happen to open one with a note, you can reply to this person, thanking him for his effort or simply wishing him well. The DSA for instance was involved and its spokesman said everyone involved was excited to be part of it. “All the persons with Down Syndrome who are involved in this project are raring to go and are very enthusiastic to be part of this project,” said Mr Andrew Soh, 44, Manager for Corporate Communications at Down Syndrome Association. “Through this project, we hope that our persons with Down Syndrome can have more confidence that they too can contribute to the community at large and make a meaningful difference in conjunction with the celebrations of our nation’s 50th birthday. It certainly will be something that is not just a wonderful memory for all of them but also one that they can be proud of,” he added. Lisha Yeo, 18, a second-year Media Production and Design student said she would love to get a special fun pack. “If I were to receive it, I would post and share about it on my social media platforms and this would enable other Singaporeans to comment and talk about it, allowing friendships to be better fostered,” said the teenager.
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50 Aircraft to Perform At Golden Jubilee Parade By Cherie Quek
FIRST TO FLY: LTC Chan Ching Hao (Left), will be joined by the first female fighter pilot to participate in the NDP MAJ Lee Mei Yi (Right), to execute the “50” formation flypast comprising of 20 F-16s. PHOTO: CHERIE QUEK
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he first female fighter pilot to take part in the National Day Parade hopes her performance will inspire more women to soar to greater heights.
Major Lee Mei Yi will be among the 20 F-16 fighter jet pilots who will form the number 50 as they fly over the Padang. The 30-year-old, who was awarded the Singapore Armed Forces Merit Scholarship in 2004, joined the air force as she wanted to contribute to the defence of the nation. One of a handful of female fighter pilots in the air force, Maj Lee said: “There’s a growing community of female pilots and female fighter pilots, so I’m not the only one. Hopefully, in the future, we might be able to see more.” In all, 50 aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force will take to the skies at this year’s Parade, making it the biggest aerial performance in close to 40 years. The fleet will include the F-15 and F-16 fighter planes, AS-332 Super Pumas and the C-130 transport plane. The RSAF’s aerobatics team, the Black Knights, will kick off the flypast with the “Five Stars” formation in a tribute to Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, who died age 91 on March 23. The formation represents Singapore’s ideals of democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
While the aerial display at the golden jubilee parade will last four minutes, preparations began more than a year ago. This is due to the complexity involved in accommodating 50 aircraft over Singapore’s tight air space, said Colonel Francis Ngooi, who is the chairman of air participation at this year’s parade. For the 20 F-16 pilots who are flying in the ’50’ formation, the team trains once or twice a week on top of its usual operations. “The main challenge is that every single pilot in the formation has to be very conversant and aware of what their positions are,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Chan Ching Hao, the formation’s flight lead. “It is important for me to make the speed changes as predictable as possible because we are flying at 600 km/h and (reducing speeds) by even 1 to 2 km/h makes a big difference to the person flying at the back.” As the formation involves planes flying within two wingspans of each other, the team has put in over a few hundred hours of flight time to perfect the manoeuvre. “The amount of training has very much ensured that everyone is able and competent to execute this,” added LTC Chan.
Jubilee weekend jaunts for UNDER $20 President Tony Tan declared Aug 7 a public holiday in honour of Singapore’s Golden Jubilee. For those of you looking for something exciting to do, here are some places where you can enjoy the National Day weekend for under $20! By Christine Yeo Khalid
Nothing beats good ole’ picnicking at the Marina Barrage. Bring along a picnic mat and bask in the patriotic atmosphere with your loved ones. Families For Life have organised an array of activities on Aug 7 and 8 in conjunction with SG50. There are lots to keep everyone happy: the Black Knights aerial display, performances by the SAF Music and Dance Company, food trucks, childhood games and inflatable bouncy castles.
For every day during the upcoming Golden Jubilee weekend, Singaporeans can enjoy free entry to Sentosa. Not just that, there are many activities within Sentosa that will make this weekend one of the most memorable yet! Starting with Friday, Aug 7, Sentosa’s Award-Winning Outdoor Night Show – Wings of Time – will be open to the public free of charge. Be prepared to be mesmerized by the multi-sensory presentation of water display, laser show, fire effects and spectacular music. On Aug 8, the famous Merlion attraction will also be free of charge. Have a looksee at one of Singapore’s most iconic mascots. On National Day itself, Sentosa will be holding free guided
tours of Fort Siloso. For those who fancy cable cars but don’t want to splurge on a single ride, this coming Aug 10 is your lucky day. Grab this chance to enjoy free cable car joyrides all day! Last boarding is at 9:30 p.m. so be sure catch this opportunity while you can. If you don’t intend on being at the Padang this coming National Day, these are the reasons to stop by Sentosa for a tour or two!
Singaporeans and Permanent Residents get free entry. Fans of international blockbusters will be thrilled to soak themselves in the Hollywood atmosphere as Dreamworks Animation will be holding an exhibition for only $5. For history buffs, The Straits Times presents Singapore Stories, an exhibition takes you through the pages of Singapore’s history. You can also hop over to Upcycle Art and learn about the different type of plastics that impact our oceans. For those looking for a more hands-on experience, take this chance to mould your characters into a story with Claymation!
Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, there is a big reason for you to visit the Gardens. The Concert In The Park series doesn’t get better than at this beautiful park. Immerse yourself in the tunes of the symphony concerts and bandstand performances. Enjoy acts by local favourites such as Jack & Rai, Olivia Ong, Kit Chan, Broadway Beng and many more for free! And if you are a movie buff, there are free screenings at the park too. Local movie“Taxi! Taxi!” based on the 2010 work Diary Of A Taxi Driver by Cai Mingjie will be shown on both 7th and 8th of Aug. Not to mention, there will be a carnival happening concurrently throughout the long weekend. It is sure to be a good time with good food, great music and a fantastic atmosphere to top it all off! THE REPUBLICAN POST 3
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5 things every 90s student remembers If your IC starts with the number 9, here’s something for you - a quick trip down memory lane in a time when there were no smart phones. By Kulvin Kaur
FRIENDSTER
PHOTO: ADWEEK.COM
Gone are the days where your popularity was determined by the amount of testimonials on your Friendster profile page. The online world was a very different place a decade ago and every 90s kid would remember the popular social networking site, Friendster. It ruled the social networking world in 2004 before Facebook took the throne. If you’re wondering if your embarrassing pictures are still on your Friendster page, thankfully (or not) Friendster has been revamped into a gaming website and has deleted all profiles. Phew!
You weren’t one of the cool kids in school until you until you had a Nike sports bottle tucked into the side pocket of your schoolbag. There was a love-hate relationship between kids and this bottle. You loved spraying your friends and having water fights but you hated getting your uniform and belongings soaked. Friendships were ruined by this bottle yet any 90s kid would love to get their hands on one now. It’s hard to spot these bottles around these days but they are still available online (Amazon.com) at an affordable price.
MSN
M PHOTO:SOFTONIC.CO
Oh, the fond memories of MSN. The chat application will strike nostalgic chords with many 90s kids as we remember logging onto MSN as soon as we got home from school and spending hours typing away in text boxes. This was when emoticons were the thing before emoji’s and getting your crushes attention involved signing in and out to make sure they saw your sign in notification. MSN was the way to socialise before WhatsApp, Facebook and Twitter came along.
NIKE SPORTS BOTTLE
PHOTO:AKASPORTS.CO.UK
PAPERFLIPPINGGAME
PHOTO: 90S-LIFE.COM
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90s kids did not need a fortune teller or a Problem Definition Template (PDT) back then. All they needed was a piece of paper, a pen, and some folding skills to predict the future and solve problems. This game involved picking numbers and colours to decipher issues ranging from which kid in class had a crush on you to solving Multiple Choice Questions.
S. O-BOLOK PHL-B GACRCIA ER G G AUTPHO M O DENTA M OTO: M BLOGSPOT.CO
Every 90s kid will remember passing these books around class and getting friends to sneakily fill it up during lessons. These were done especially before PSLE in Primary 6 as a form of “keeping in touch”. Pages were filled with names, addresses, birthdates, personal preferences and even sweet little notes about being BFFL’s (Best Friends For Life). We even took the time to decorate using multi-coloured pens, highlighters and stickers. But amongst the innocent drawings and badly written poems there were even brutal rankings of friends. Ouch!
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Local directors pay SG5 ‘7 Letters’ film
homage with
By Kumaravel Tamil Selvom
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here is usually keen public interest in their individual works. But when seven award winning local directors came together to shoot a film omnibus paying tribute to the place they call home, the excitement reached fever pitch. The interest for the SG50 film 7 Letters was so overwhelming that tickets were snapped up within the first two hours after sales begun. The film is a feature of seven short films by award winning local directors Boo Junfeng, Eric Khoo, K Rajagopal, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong. Royston Tan, who is leading the project, said each short film is like “writing a personal letter”, and the movie represent “collective love letters to the place we call home”. The film will exhibit themes that play crucial roles over the last 50 years of nation-building and tug at the heartstrings of locals. These include generational family bonds to identity and tales of lost love. Director Boo Junfeng said that while the different short films, or ‘letters’, focus on different time periods, relationships and settings, they cohesively
LOVE LETTERS: Seven renowned local directors will touch on
different journeys Singaporeans have experienced over the last 50 years in the film 7 Letters. PHOTO COURESY OF: 7 LETTERS’ FACEBOOK PAGE
portray a common sense of home. He added: “What the viewer ultimately sees, I hope, is a genuine portrait of what it means to us to be Singaporean.” To further exemplify the Singaporean ‘spirit’, the film was the first to be screened at the revamped 900-seat Capitol Theatre. The theatre was Singapore’s first cinema and screened its last movie in 1998 before it closed its doors to movie-goers. There was no fixed price on the tickets for the three-day gala screening. As the seven filmmakers made an unanimous decision to donate all proceeds to seven different charities, each ticketholder was invited to make a donation of their own accord at the screening. The chosen charities are: Alzheimer’s Disease Association, Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association, Movement For The Intellectually Disabled Of Singapore, PERTAPIS Senior Citizens Fellowship Home, Singapore Buddhist Lodge Welfare Foundation, Student Care Service, and Transient Workers Count Too.
Relive your fondest screen memories! They gave us lovable characters and memorable catchphrases. While they made us laugh at ourselves, some locally produced shows also got Singaporeans to reflect about their society. KARL LIM shortlists five local productions which have been etched in local audiences’ recent memories. By Karl Lim If you’re Singaporean, you must know what ‘kiasu’ 2001 - 2002 means. The word, which means “scared to lose” in dialect, has even made its way into the Oxford Dictionary earlier this year. Based on a comic book series by Johnny Lau, this sitcom is based on the adventures of Mr Kiasu (played by actor Chew Chor Meng) and his brother Mr Kiasee (played by radio DJ Daniel Ong). The show portrayed the “kiasu” trait in different situations, such as Mr Kiasu taking a taxi and wearing two watches on his hand to confirm that they have passed the ERP gantry by one minute just to avoid the extra taxi fare charges.
MR KIASU
PHOTO COURTESY OF: ASIAONE MULTIMEDIA
Famous for his yellow boots, giant facial mole and black curly hair, contractor Phua 1997 - 2007 Chu Kang’s catchphrases, ‘Don’t Play Play!’ and ‘Best in Singapore, JB, and some say Batam!’, won many Singaporeans’ hearts. But the sitcom character, played by comedian Gurmit Singh, also earned the ire of some. Prime MinPHOTO COURTESY OF: MEDIACORP ister Goh Chok Tong had said in his 1999 National Day Rally speech that Singlish-speaking Phua was a bad influence on children. Phua promptly attended English classes in a subsequent episode. The character further redeemed himself when he was involved in public education campaigns, such as the “PCK Sar-vivor Rap” during the SARS outbreak in 2003.
PHUA CHU KANG
PHOTO COURTESY OF: MEDIACORP
UNDERONEROOF 1995 - 2003
This show could be said to be the mother of all English language sitcoms. With the tagline “Singapore’s Funniest Family”, Under One Roof tells the story of families of different ethnicities living in the same HDB block. The sitcom starred an all-star ensemble including Moses Lim, Koh Chieng Mun, Selena Tan, Vernetta Lopez and Norleena Salim. The show’s success also led to the production of future sitcoms such as Phua Chu Kang, Mr Kiasu, and Living with Lydia.
satirical news parody THENOOSE2007-PRESENT This pushed the boundaries with
PHOTO COURTESY OF: MEDIACORP CH5 YOUTUBE CHANNEL
controversial characters such as Filipino maid Leticia Bongnino, Minister Wan Mo Pay, Sarong Party Girl Barbarella and Thai correspondent Pornsak Sukhumvit. Fronted by comedians Chua En Lai, Alaric Tay, Michelle Chong and Suhaimi Yusof, The Noose was one of the longest running TV series on Channel 5 in recent times and ran for seven seasons. In 2011, the show’s third season was nominated for an international Emmy for Best Comedy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF: UNITED INTERNATIONAL PICTURES
story about the I NOT Alives of three Primary Six boys in STUPIDthe EM3 academic
2002
stream, I Not Stupid puts the spotlight on Singapore’s education system. In the movie, the academically inferior students struggle to meet their parents’ and teachers’ high expectations for them to do well in school. They also deal with issues such as parent-child relationships, the pressure on children to do well in national examinations and the social stigma of being “not smart enough”. Thirteen years after its release, the movie is still fondly remembered by many Singaporean youths due to its relevancy today.
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Clean, sleek and on fleek. Nowadays, the gentlemen’s haircut is what most men would go for. With just one hairstyle you could pull off looking casual or smart. The Golden Rule had set up an air-conditioned booth for their patrons at Geylang Ramadan Bazaar, allowing men to escape the excruciating heat while their wives or girlfriends do the shopping. MARCUS TAN and ISKANDAR ROSSALI went behind the scene to find out more about the men behind these incredible haircuts.
TOOLSOFTHETRADE:
Scissors, razors and combs laid out nicely on the table for the next customer. An estimated 35 to 60 customers patronised the pop-up barber stall each day. PHOTO: MARCUS TAN
BANDOFBARBERS: Mr Yanto Aryani Sani (second from left) and his team are the men behind the slick and modern haircuts of many customers who had patronised their booth at the Geylang Ramadan Bazaar during this year’s fasting month. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI
SHORTSNIP:
Mr Yanto, 32, serving a customer. The pop-up stall offers a refreshing cut for tired shoppers at the Geylang Bazaar in a fully air-conditioned booth. PHOTO: MARCUS TAN
6 THE REPUBLICAN POST
RIGHT POSTHEADER PHOTO
DREAM
COMETRUE:
Mr Yanto, who has been a barber for 12 years, has now fulfilled his retirement wish of opening up his own barber shop that does only Men’s haircut. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI
BARBERAPPRENTICESHIP:
Zuhair Bin Syed Ibrahim, 22, a full-time barber at Grease Monkey Barber Garage, styles a hair of his customer. Zuhair was under the apprenticeship of The Golden Rule seniors, which offered workshops for anyone aged 17 and above who are interested to have a career in this industry. PHOTO: MARCUS TAN
BREAKTIME:
As it is the fasting month, Mr Yanto and the rest will seat outside of the booth to wait for the time that they could break fast together. This is the time where they catch up with each other, sharing smiles and laughter after a long day’s work. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI
LATENIGHT
At night, the shop would usually be full of customers going in and out of the shop to get hair products, apparels, and also a fresh haircut to prepare themselves for the upcoming Hari Raya festival. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI
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POST NEWS
School of Engineering team beats university students for top prize By Addin Suraiya
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or the second year in a row, students from Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma in Industrial and Operations Management walked away winners at the Singapore International 3D Printing Competition. Angel Loh, How Shiling, Wong Yun Wei and Gong Han submitted winning team and individual entries in the Vintage Toy and Functional Logo categories respectively. They edged out teams from the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore University of Technology & Design in the Singapore Tertiary Student category. “The logo theme was pretty competitive,” said Mr Lim Boon Hong, the facilitator in-charge. “For the vintage toy, I was quite happy with what has been designed and printed out. It is a simple mechanism but a fun idea which I suppose is one of the winning factors.” In the Vintage Toy category, participants were tasked to come up with designs adapted from traditional toys but with new creative and engineering elements injected into them. The RP team came up with a toy where a mechanism will trigger the birds to peck each time the ball is swung. The students worked through the March semester break as they were given only three weeks prior HARD WORK REPAYS: Despite the long hours they put in during their school holidays, the students felt that the time was well to the competition to come up with the concept and worth it and attributed their success to the dedication and help of Mr Lim Boon Hong. (From left: How Shiling, Angel Loh, Mr Tan design. It was then printed out at RP’s 3D printer, a Heap Jui , Mr Lim Boon Hong, Gong Han.) PHOTO: ZHANG YU LONG scarce resource where students only get to use it for competitions, outside their curriculum hours. Angel Loh said: “We were happy that we won but good experience.” The RP students bagged $10,000 in prize mon- the team felt that if we can give back it’ll feel more The 21-year-old’s winning entry, ‘Global 3D ey but donated a third of their winnings to the RP meaningful.” Centre’, will be considered among other category Needy Student Fund to help students from low inGong Han, whose entry in the Functional Logo winners to be used as the logo for the Singapore Cencome families afford basic expenses for school and category came up tops, added: “I simply wanted to tre for 3D Printing, a $150million funded national retide over financial difficulties. give thanks to the school that had the facilities that search facility for 3D Printing. When asked about their donation to the fund, enabled me to participate. The competition was a
Little But Lethal: Smallest Team Wins BIG in Video Contest By Yogaraj Panditurai
PERSERVERANCE PAYS: Natalie (extreme right), Yusri and Iskandar even had to make time
during their lunch breaks in between lessons in order to edit the video in CEC's MediaLab. PHOTO: DAMIEN TEO
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team of mass communication students from Republic Polytechnic’s Centre for Enterprise and Communication edged out eight other teams to clinch 8 THE REPUBLICAN POST
the top prize in a recent South East Asian (SEA) Games video contest. The team, comprising secondyear students Natalie Ann Fernandez, Muhammad Yusri Jumari and
Muhammad Iskandar Rossali, was the smallest in the competition. Most teams who took part had an average of five members. “Honestly, I never expected our work to win first or have any placing at all, especially after watching all the other competition submissions,” said Yusri, 20. Organised by Singtel, the video competition was open to all secondary and tertiary students. Teams had to create a video to cheer for an everyday Singaporean who was an inspiration to them. The CEC team’s entry was titled “Aspire to Inspire” and told the story of Mr Abdul Alim Mohamed Hanifah, a Singaporean who became the first Asian amputee to complete a triathlon. Mr Alim lost his right leg in a traffic accident but overcame the disability and depression to participate in endurance sports. The video competition was the first time the members were working together as a team and they assumed new roles.
Natalie, 18, said: “It was my first time as a producer and it was a bit of a struggle to make sure everything was running well. From the start, there was already a lot of work to do.” To meet the deadline, the team sacrificed their weekends to complete the video. They also squeezed in time before and after school to work on the project. For their effort, the three students received a $5,000 cash prize and five pairs of SEA Games Opening Ceremony tickets. Inspired by Mr Alim, the team decided to pay it forward. They donated $3,000 of their prize money to the RP Needy Student Fund to help students from low income families afford basic expenses for school and tide over financial difficulties. Iskandar, who was cameraman and editor for the video, said: “As we make the school proud of our achievement, we are also grateful that we managed to help those that are in need the most and our efforts didn't go to waste.”
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returns for eighth year running The biggest all-local music festival returns to Republic Polytechnic in a few weeks’ time. Here’s what you can look forward to at the event. By Rachel Ng
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ree admission, good music and held right in the heart of Republic Polytechnic. If you have heard the sound of beating drums, loud guitars, and muffled singing amplified from the third level of Republic Polytechnic, it is a sign that the school’s signature event, IGNITE! Music Festival, is back. The festival returns this year between Aug 21 and 22, and is organised by The Republic Cultural Centre. Held at the Lawn, this year’s festival boast a promising line-up of acts, such as old-school pop soul Dru Chen, bubbly and effervescent band Take Two, and former Singapore Idol Sezairi Sezali. Some acts performing this year are familiar to the IGNITE! stage, with notable returning acts such as rapper ShiGGa Shay who performed last year, and veterans The Full Pledge Munkees who performed back in 2010. This also includes RP’s very own interest groups, Replug and Jammerz Arena, who have been given a chance to showcase their musical talents. A couple of new faces will also be seen this year – unique alternative soul band The Good Life Project, urban rapper THELIONCITYBOY, and veteran batucada percussion group Wicked Aura. Into its eighth year, IGNITE! had previously hosted some of the biggest names from the local music industry. They included Electrico, The Sam Willows, The Great Spy Experiment, Charlie Lim and Gentle Bones. It is also the only music festival that hosts only Singaporean acts. Beyond this year’s festival, there will also be fringe events such as song writing and gig photography workshops, as well as mini showcases by Jammerz Arena and Replug at South Agora. IGNITING THE PASSION FOR LOCAL MUSIC: IGNITE! Music Festival attracted its biggest crowd of However, the event will not just be about the music. The festival will also 61,000 last year. When it first started in 2008, the event only drew an estimated 3,500 people. have a carnival-style village, with booths set up by sponsors to sell food and PHOTO: BENJAMIN NG/PHOTO IG drinks, lifestyle items, as well as band merchandise.
Momentum scores with everything from ballet to breakdance By Tricia Mak
ELEGANT: Ballerinas displaying their feather like movements as they showcase their set. PHOTO: KELDA CHUA
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or those of you in Republic Polytechnic (RP) who have yet to experience the Momentum Dance Festival – future editions may not have seats left for last minute audiences. This year, the eighth edition of the dance extravaganza that The Republic Cultural Centre (TRCC) hosts was sold out to a cheering crowd who got to sample everything from ballet to breakdance. A week-long programme culminated in the signature showcase, a one-and-a half-hour show held on the 29th and 30th
May 2015 at RP’s TRCC. This year’s theme was “Our Memories” in a nod to the nation’s Jubilee celebrations. Throughout the week, a string of activities were held including dance workshops featuring Malay Dance, Modern Dance, Bollywood and even the ever popular K-Pop. The mass workout with RP’s Capoeira and Zumba Interest Groups (IG) at the W1 Forum witnessed huge crowds. Each day of the week attracted
a different group with students filling the walkways of the ever bustling South Agora. The pre-showcase activities allowed RP students to let loose and dance to the beat as they made their way home or were taking a break from their classes. In the main showcase, the focus was on cultural diversity. This year, the performers included Bukit Batok Secondary School Malay Dance, ITE West College KPOP Dance Wave, Dance Spectrum International, NUS Chinese Dance, NUS Dance Ensemble, Fernvale Primary Indian Dance, CHIJ Toa Payoh Dance Ensemble, Si Ling Secondary School Malay Dance as well as RP’s very own Capoeira, Hip Hop, Tarian, Indian Cultural Group and Modern Dance. At the main showcase, one of the best performances was performed by the ITE West College – their K-Pop inspired piece was a stunning display of strength, agility and sheer energy. The other stand out piece was the NUS Dance Ensemble, choreographed by RP’s dance maestro Zaini Tahir who also made a guest appearance in the piece. Bryan Lim, 22, a Diploma in Pharmaceutical Science student, also a member of the Electronic Music Production IG, attended the main showcase with his group of friends. He said: “It’s not every day that you get to experience a showcase with a variety of dance performances from RP and other schools that took part. I would say that Momentum was really enriching and was a platform for me to appreciate these dancers and their passion for what they do.” Jonathan Chee, 20, an ex-student of RP and exband member for Replug added: “Momentum is a display of the long hours and dedication these dancers put in to creating such a spectacular performance for their audience. Not many can relate to that but as a fellow performer, I understand that a showcase like this is where the appreciation and support for these dancers are displayed and it is very encouraging and rewarding.” THE REPUBLICAN POST 9
LEFT POSTHEADER LIMELIGHT
YouTube stars in the spotlight at Shine Festival
By Woon Jiemin
SCREAM MY NAME: Famous YouTuber Ryan Higa was amazed by the thunderous reception he received from his fans. With videos like Skitzo and Dear Ryan, it’s no wonder he has over 14 million subscribers on his channel. PHOTO: DAMIEN TEO
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nationwide youth festival celebrated its 10th anniversary with a bang, as a busy stretch of Orchard Road was closed to traffic for three nights so that it could be transformed into a giant venue for youths to express themselves. Organised by the National Youth Council, The
SHINE Festival was held between July 10 and 12. Youths were encouraged to learn more about their individual interests and passion, forge partnerships to pursue their aspirations and expand their talents to the world at large under this year’s theme of ‘Build Your World.
Speaking at the event, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong urged youths to chase their dreams. “I am very confident with our youths, that they have what it takes to succeed,” he said. “We want to encourage all of the youths to go for their dreams, and know that there are no boundaries to what they can achieve in Singapore and beyond.” This year, guest celebrities were invited to grace various segments like music and dance, urban sports and pop culture. Well-known names in the local and overseas youth scene like Ryan Higa, David Choi, Sean Garnier, JRodTwins, Charlie Lim, Night Owl Cinematics and many others were also present during the festival. Ryan Doyle, a founding athlete of the World Freerunning and Pakour Federation, showcased his freerunning skills. Asked how youths could be further encouraged to showcase their talents, the 30-year-old Australian said: “Keep an open mind, view your obstacles as apparatus and use them to your advantage! If you use your mind and body to its full potential, then you are essentially living your life to its fullest potential.” The activity that drew the largest crowd at the festival was the Super 24 Open Category competition organised by O School. There were huge crowds present to cheer the dancers, as different hip hop groups took to the stage to compete before a panel of judges. Gladwin Ho, 18, a student from ITE College Central, was present at the festival with his friends. “The SHINE Festival is a form of encouragement to me because it shows that the interests of youths these days are not shunned aside,” he said. “It is actually like a stamp of approval, saying that our dreams and aspirations are valid.”
Being a musician may be tougher than any day job: Charlie Lim By Marianne Louise Das
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is fans consider him a lyrical genius, but singer-songwriter Charlie Lim downplays these suggestions. Instead, the 26-year-old credits his song-writing skills to what he has learned from other musicians.“Sometimes song-writers wear their heart on their sleeve too much and it comes across as being melodramatic, so I try to cover my lyrics with metaphors. I also try to weave in a story that is not cheesy but relatable to listeners,” he told The Republican Post on the sidelines of the recent SHINE Festival. Whatever Lim is trying to do, his recipe has worked. His recent release, a double EP titled Time/ Space, topped the iTunes’ charts within the first hour after it was released in June this year. The road to the EP’s success, however, was not easy. “It took me a long time to write it; almost three years,” Lim said. “It was just me finding my own self. I think I have and it has given me the momentum to keep touring, performing and recording.” With a growing fan base, Lim was a highly anticipated act at July’s SHINE festival – an event for youths to showcase their talents and passion. He mesmerised the crowd by opening his set on the second night of the festival on July 11 with an acoustic rendition of Pedestal, a track taken off his first EP. His fans were so swept away by his performance that they sang along with him and even held 10 THE REPUBLICAN POST
their smartphones in the air to record it. “Tonight was very encouraging,” Lim said. “I was promoting my band show more but people still came tonight and they knew the words to the songs.” Since he first burst on the local music scene in 2011, Lim has impressed many with his music. He plays many of the instruments and also serves as the producer in the studio. A Bachelor of Music graduate from Australia’s Monash University, Lim’s
songs range from indie-R&B to folk-rock and even neo-soul, which is something unique as compared to other artists. “My music shifts between various genres which I personally love,” he said. “I draw inspiration from acts like Joni Mitchell, Damien Rice and John Mayer. I also love R&B and Neo-soul music so D’Angelo is really like my idol.” When asked what advice he would pass on to aspiring youth musicians, Lim said: “I know it seems very glamourous on stage with the lights, but it is a lot of work. Probably more than any other day job. You have to be at your best at all times to stand out. Always put the craft first and the marketing later. A lot of musicians these days focus on the marketing and social media. That is fine, but it isn’t very sustainable.”
SWEET VOICE: Charlie Lim was a crowd pleaser, playing his famous hits like Pedestal. PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
THE REPUBLICAN POST 11
HEADER POSTRIGHT COMMUNITIY
Customised burgers: Yay or Nay? By Pearlyn Cheu
HOMEGROWN FAST-FOOD JOINT: The halal-certified restaurant is located at Yishun 10 Complex, a two to three minute walk from North Point, opposite Yishun MRT Station. PHOTO: PEARLYN CHEU
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he emergence of two new players in the customised burger market has stirred a debate among diners whether the latest food fad is here to stay. BurgerUP, Singapore’s first homegrown fastfood joint, opened its first outlet at Yishun 10 Complex in December, last year. Customers are able to choose their type of patty (beef, chicken or fish), bun (sesame, plain or whole grain) and an array of other toppings and condiments available from the menu.
These include vegetables, turkey bacon and black pepper mayo. Egalite F&B Pte Ltd, the company behind BurgerUP, plans to open five other outlets across the island within the next two years. The move comes as American fast food giant McDonald’s recently launched its customised burger offerings at three locations - Jem, Yishun Safra and Raffles City. Even though customers at McDonald’s can choose from more than 20 toppings and a selection
of three buns – glazed, semolina or lettuce wrap – they have to settle for a quarter pounder beef patty for now. Both BurgerUP and McDonald’s offer self-service touchscreen kiosks where customers can order their burger before collecting them. Ryan Tan Jun Jie, a third-year student from the Diploma in Information Technology (DIT), gave the thumbs up to customised burger he ate at BurgerUP. “The fact that I can add more meat to the burger was a plus point,” said the 21-year-old. “It was one of the more fulfilling fast-food meals that I had.” Muhammad Hisham, 20, a third-year DIT student also shared the same viewpoint, even though he noted customising the burgers can get pretty expensive as compared to the set meals available. He paid $15 for the customised burger, but he could have paid S6.90 for a set meal. While the idea of customising your own burger seems enticing, some feel that the dining option does not justify its hype. Goh Ke Yan, a second-year Diploma in Wellness Lifestyle & Spa Management student, said the end product failed to live up to her expectations. “My friends and I find it a tad bit pointless in customising burgers because it is still a burger ultimately. Besides, these specially customised burgers are way too expensive,” the 19-year-old said. Stanley Yap Jian An, 19, a third-year Diploma in Sports Coaching student, who tried the McDonald’s customisable burger felt that the ingredients used in the customised burgers tasted the same as normal burgers. “Replacing your bun and toppings isn’t worth boosting the price by almost seven dollars,” he said. “I’d prefer my double cheeseburger over customised burgers any day.”
Fate of ‘mama shops’ uncertain By Dimaunahan Karen Grace Salavador
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r Arrulappan Aruldas has operated a ‘mama shop’ for the past 40 years but is now thinking of closing his business. His three children are not keen to take over his standalone kiosk, located at a void deck in Yishun Street 11. In their 30s, they are married and well-educated. “They have all studied in poly,” said Mr Aruldas. “One of my sons even went for higher studies in aerospace engineering, so why would he want to take over my shop?” Mr Aruldas is part of a rare breed of shopkeepers fighting to keep their traditional business alive. The number of ‘mama shops’ peaked at 3,000 in the 80s, according to the Singapore Provision Shop Friendly Association. Today, fewer than 200 of such shops remain. Located at void decks of HDB blocks, these kiosks sell a wide range of items including canned foods, stationery, tobacco products and newspapers. ‘Mama shop’ operators said the changing profile of the residents living in their estate has made business tough in recent years. “Most of the people here have shifted away and mostly foreigners are moving in,” said Mr Aruldas. “They’ve got their own people to buy
from, like the Filipinos who go to the Pinoy shops.” Mr Awallauwin Mohammad Kassim, who has been operating a ‘mama shop’ for 36 years, faces a similar problem in Ang Mo Kio. Younger residents have moved to newer estates, leaving only the elderly residents behind. ““Now people are leaving and going to other places, so the business has become slow,” said the 76-year-old. In an attempt to adapt to changes in consumer habits, Mr Aruldas forked out $7,000 to renovate his shop a decade ago. Apart from a more contemporary look for his shop, Mr Aruldas also renovated a toilet at his store so that his customers could use. But as toilets became more available around Yishun, the one at his store is now only for Mr Aruldas’ personal use.
One of my sons even went for higher studies in aerospace engineering, so why would he want to take over my shop? Mr Aruldas says he also faces stiff competition from supermarket chains. “They go to the supermarket and buy in bulk because it’s cheaper,” he added.
VANISHING TRADE: Mr Aruldas in his ‘mama shop’. ‘Mama shops’ like this are a rare sight in contemporary Singapore, with modern convenience stores taking over its popularity in recent years. PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI
Some ‘mama shop’ owners feel they have a role to play in the community. Mr Alex Chan Kok Kim, 38, owner of a convenience store in Woodlands Vista Point for the past 15 years, said his business provides residents a platform to meet and interact. His shop sells traditional biscuits and toys that
were popular in the 80s and 90s. “Sometimes neighbours either meet up to drop by the shop together, either to buy something or for a chit chat,” said Mr Chan. “Sometimes, I actually join in the conversation, sharing news and information.” THE REPUBLICAN POST 11
LEFT HEADER POST SPORTS
SEA Games success should spur Singapore sports to greater heights As Singapore celebrates its 50th birthday, The Republican Post’s sports editor Kumaravel Selvom speaks to four former national athletes on what to expect in the next 50 years in Singapore sports. By Kumaravel Tamil Selvom
LIVING LEGEND: 73-year-old C. Kunalan has been a continious pillar of strength for the local sports industry since his stint as a sprinter. Despite his retirement from the track, he remains an inspirational figure in local sports. PHOTO: HASIF HASNY
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ingapore’s record breaking success at the recent South East Asian (SEA) Games should serve as a springboard for future success on the international stage, four former national athletes told The Republican Post. They added that more kids should be encouraged to follow in the footsteps of swimmer Joseph Schooling or sprinter Shanti Pereira. Schooling bagged nine gold medals at the
recent Southeast Asian Games while Shanti became the first female sprinter to win a gold medal at the Games since the legendary Glory Barnabas did in 1973. These two contributed to the 259 medals (84 gold medals, 73 silvers and 102 bronzes) won by Singapore at June’s SEA Games – the Republic’s best performance at the biennial meet. After witnessing the SEA Games performance, legendary sprinter Cana-
gasabai Kunalan believes athletes here appreciate the high stakes involved in being a national athlete. The 73-yearold’s 100m mark of 10.38 seconds set in the 1968 Olympic Games stood for 33 years before it was finally broken. “Now they (athletes) are sacrificing much more as there is opportunity cost,” said Kunalan. “You go into a serious sport and it becomes a career and you might lose on time, education and many others.”
Badminton coach Wong Soon Keat, who was the first Singaporean to win the gold medal in the Men’s Single event at the 1983 SEA Games, hopes that there will be more courses to emphasise sports education and sports science. “For boys, allow them a much easier process for army deferment.” added Wong, whose son Derek is currently Singapore’s top shuttler. Swimmer Quah Zheng Wen was granted deferment from National Service to allow him to train for the 2016 Olympic Games, a month after he became the most bemedalled athlete at the SEA Games. Mr Sheik Alau’ddin, a two-time Silat world champion, said the infrastructure exists now to help athletes perform at the highest level. Athletes now have a “red carpet” where they can seek various scholarships, coaches and sports science technology to help them, he added. “For the next 50 years, Singapore can be the best sports city in the world,” said the 48-year-old. “It will be great to see a home born Singaporean win at the Olympic.” Discus thrower James Wong, who won 10 SEA games gold medals, called on athletes to use social media to galvanise the support they need. “With the power of Internet, Facebook, Twitter and all sorts of social media, every athlete can actually promote themselves better,” the 46-yearold said. “Sports marketing suddenly became a huge playground.” Wong, however, had a word of advice to current and aspiring athletes. “Be patient with your sports and learn to grow with your sports,” he said.
Making the nation proud, one medal at a time By G.Buvankumaar
GOING FOR GOLD: National shuttler Loh Kean Yew bagged home the SEA Games Bronze medal for the badminton men’s singles in June. The 18 year old is ranked 139th in the world, and it has been his lifelong dream to win a gold at the Olympics. PHOTO: MARCUS TAN
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e may not be a household name now, but badminton player Loh Kean Yew has served notice of his intent to be a force to be reckoned with. 12 THE REPUBLICAN POST
If the Singapore crowd was not there, I wouldn’t have been able to perform like what I did
The Sports and Leisure Management student at Republic Polytechnic scored one of the biggest upsets at the recent South East Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore where he defeated Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh in a round-of-16 match in the Men’s Singles event. Many expected the Vietnamese, who was ranked 28th in the world, to cruise to victory but Kean Yew defeated his opponent in a close contest. “I was confident and just went all out,” said Kean Yew. “Of course, I really wanted to win as my aim was to win a medal.” The 18-year-old went one better, as he won two bronze medals in the Men’s Singles and Men’s Team events. In all, Singapore won 84 Gold, 73 Silver and 102 Bronze medals at the biennial games, held in Singapore for the first time since 1993. Team Singapore athletes also broke 25 Games records, 29 national records and 74 personal records en route to the country’s best showing at the Games. Student athletes and alumni from RP played
a significant role in helping Singapore achieve this sporting success, as they contributed a total of 11 Gold, 9 Silver and 21 Bronze medals to the haul. Kean Yew said playing in front of a passionate home crowd spurred him on. “I feel that if the Singapore crowd was not there, I wouldn’t have been able to perform like what I did,” he added. “I knew my family, friends, teachers and coaches were behind me so I didn’t want to let them down.” Kean Yew, who was ranked 139th in the world, felt his ‘underdog’ status also helped in his match against Nguyen. “I personally feel that I am an underdog, so I try not to expect too much of myself,” Kean Yew said. Kean Yew went on to defeat Cambodia’s Chanmara Tep in the quarter-finals to proceed to the semifinals where he was guaranteed a bronze medal. He put up a spirited display against Malaysian Mohamad Arif Abdul Latif, who was ranked world No 67, but had to settle for a bronze medal. After his Sea Games debut, Kean Yew has his sights set on a bigger prize. “My main target since young was to win an Olympic Gold, so I will work towards that now,” he said.