Produced by Diploma in Mass Communication students Centre for Enterprise and Communication
Open House scores with interactive exhibits
Feb - Apr 2016 www.republicanpost.sg PP O O SS TT N N EE W W SS
SEG students aiming high for drone competition
Prospective students enjoy an array of interactive games and activities during Republic Polytechnic’s Open House 2016. By Nur ‘Ayuni Bte Abdul Kadir
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extbook theories and classroom concepts were brought to life at Republic Polytechnic’s Open House where students displayed a slew of interactive exhibits aimed at impressing visitors to the annual event. Students from the Diploma in Arts and Theatre Management, for example, set up theatre make-up booths, part of an overall objective to focus on the art and hard work behind any successful theatre production. Graduating students from the Diploma in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (DEEE), meanwhile, rolled out a “portable wellness centre” where a visitor’s body temperature and stress level could be measured. Although it is in its prototype stages, students hope the Final Year Project will be able to help monitor and improve the health and wellness of the elderly in the society. “Engineering may sound boring but actually there is a lot of fun things you can do in engineering itself,” said Stanford Ee, 26, a third-year student volunteer from DEEE. The fun, however, was mostly found at the School of Sports, Health and Leisure exhibits. A mini rock wall attracted many prospective students to try their hand at climbing while student volunteers from the Diploma in Sports Coaching (DSC) were also present to coach visitors who were looking to sink a putt in a golf game. “Golf is not a really popular sport, so a lot of people came to try it out,” said second-year DSC student Aloysius Tham. “But through the process of teaching them how to play golf, they could understand the sport and our course a little better.” Nurul Amelia, 16, was impressed with what she saw. “Republic Poly booths are more creative in a way. It’s more towards hands-on activities like this one (golf) as they taught me how to swing and how to score,” said the Jurong West Secondary School student.
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Three reasons why you should listen to local indie music
CLIMB ON: Students from the School of Sports, Health and Leisure built a mini rock wall which attracted many visitors to this year’s Open House where climbers were supervised by students from Diploma in Sports Coaching. PHOTO: FARAH HUMYRA/PHOTO IG
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The three-day Open House was not just fun and games. Various initiatives were also launched at the event, held between Jan 7 and 9. To meet consumers’ appetite for healthier food options, a new food formulation laboratory was launched. The Nu3Lab is aimed at supporting the growing needs of the food manufacturing industry and introduce new and improved products with health benefits. Two new food products were introduced during the laboratory’s opening – gluten-free soy cupcakes in blueberry and lime flavours for Mr Bean, and a range of low-calorie buns for PAR International Holdings. Both products are in the pipeline for mass market introduction. The Centre for Enterprise and Communication also unveiled its new name at the Open House. From April 1, the Centre will be known as the School of Management and Communication. A new diploma will also take in its first batch of students in the new academic year. Offered by the School of Engineering, the Diploma in Engineering Design and Business aims to help students develop innovative engineering solutions and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset.
24-hour Indian Muslim Eatery Al-Ameen opens near RP
PG 10 POST SPORTS
Celebral palsy soccer player shines on the pitch DOLL UP: Over at the School of Technology for the Arts, the Diploma in Arts and Theatre Management students set up a theatre makeup booth for visitors to get a taste of being a theatre star by getting their faces painted. Make-up for theatre actors and actresses are an essential so that they would be convincing in the portrayal of their characters. PHOTO: FARAH HUMYRA/PHOTO IG
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THE TEAM
EDITOR’S NOTE How fast does time fly? We are in the first quarter of 2016 and final exams are in February. My time in RP has come to an end and I will graduate in May this year. To say that I enjoyed being in RP would be an understatement. I have made some of my best friends here, gone though some hellish weeks with endless deadlines and learnt so many lessons in the process. I hope you cherish every moment you have in school, I know I will miss it terribly when I leave. In this last edition as Editor, I am glad to say we have something for everyone. Since Valentine’s Day is around the corner we went around asking people what love is to them. Our team also went to find out what you can wear for Chinese New Year. But while you enjoy these wonderful celebrations, you would need to keep your eye on exams. We spoke to two of the top students in the school and found out their tips and tricks for acing their exams, which we can benefit from. We also feature the much talked about Al-Ameen Indian Muslim restaurant and highlight the must-eat and must-drink from the eatery that is about 10 minutes away from the school. Finally, we catch up with hat-trick hero Khairul Anwar from the South-east Asian Para Games and find out from the man himself, about his spectacular goals and bronze-medalwinning performance. With that, I would like to say that it has been a pleasure to bring to you both of the issues. For more interesting and exclusive stories, please check us out on www.republicanpost.sg
SHANJAYAN S/O MUNIAPPAN 13003318@MYRP.EDU.SG
THE MEDIA LAB TEAM News Desk
Editor Deputy Editor News Editor
Shanjayan S/O Muniappan Ng Ru Yi Rachel Woon Jie Min
COPY DESK
Copy Editors
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DESIGN TEAM
Design Editor Deputy Design Designers
Azira Khairil Anuar Alex Sanoria Dilys Lee Jia Qian Kentrell Kwek Shiu Teng
BROADCAST TEAM
RepTV Editor Deputy RepTV
Samantha Nelson Nur Atiqah Mustafa Charmaine Maria Jacob
LIFESTYLE DESK
Lifestyle Editor Deputy Lifestyle
Marianne Louise Das Febby Lee Jia Qian
COMMUNITY Desk
Community Editor Deputy Community
Nurul Iiman Said Yeo Yao Qin Renald
REVIEW DESK
Review Editor
Christopher Parwani
SPORTS DESK
Sports Editor
Fasiha Nazren
PHOTO DESK
Photo Editor Deputy Photo Training Photo
Humaira Wahab Iskandar Rossali Teo Kiah Chin Damien Ken Lu Tristan Loh
ONLINE DESK
Online Editor Online News Editor Online Visual Editor Multi-Media Head Deputy Multi-Media
Yogaraj S/O Panditurai Christine Yeo Khalid Marcus Benedict Tan Seri Azilia Khairil Nicole Kam Wei Yu
POST NEWS
Brand new Student Hub to be built at W1 A shared space will be set up to replace rooms set aside for individual Interest Groups.
By Jayme Chong
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new Student Hub will be built on the first two floors of Republic Polytechnic’s W1 block where the Wellness Centre, Student Services Centre, and Interest Group (IG) rooms are currently located. To make way for the new facility, IGs with club rooms will have to give up their current space set aside for them. The IGs affected include the Student Council, International Club, Service Learning Club, Adventure Learning Club and school-based clubs. Instead of individual club rooms, half of the space at the new Student Hub will become a shared space where all IGs can access if they make a booking. The other half of the area will be set aside for students seeking financial and emotional assistance. The idea behind creating a shared space is to encourage IGs to share the facilities. Mr Ganesh Kalyanam, director of the Office of Student and Graduate Affairs, said: “It forces everyone to share. It teaches students the life skills of negotiating with each other.” Anaqi Bin Anzari, 20, the president of Photo IG, is against the change. “The IG room was like a family room for all of us at Photo Republic,” said the third-year Interactive and Digital Media student. “It is a place where strong family bonds were
STILL IN USE: Students from various IG use their assigned IG rooms to hold meetings and plan future programmes. PHOTO: AIMAN ZAKI created. We were saddened by the news, but we got to accomodate to a similar space.” To address this concern, store rooms will be created for various IGs at their individual school pods. New meeting rooms will also be built at the new Student Hub for IGs to hold meetings. Renovation on the new Student Hub is scheduled to begin in Sept, 2016 and work is expected to be completed a month later. The Student Hub will open in 2017 to coincide with RP’s 15th anniversary. Helmy Rozaimi Bin Husaimi, a second-year IT Service Management student and vice president of the Student Council, is supportive of the addition of the new Student Hub. “I believe that we can enhance our One RP spirit through sharing of spaces at the Student Hub,” said the 26-year-old.
SEG students set sights on soaring at drone flying competition Weighing just under a kilogramme, the drone was created in two weeks by a team of five students. By Falliq Asmuni
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team of five students from Republic Polytechnic’s Diploma of Aerospace Avionics programme has been preparing since the start of this semester to compete in Singapore’s largest flying machine competition. Held between March 7 and March 19, the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition is an annual competition which challenges competitors to design and build innovative flying machines. The team from RP is participating under the Semi-Autonomous category where they are tasked to create a drone to navigate an indoor obstacle course. The obstacle course is a room-like area with corridors. It also comprises different elements that are meant to test the speed, agility and handling of the drone. Strong gusts of wind, a dark room and chains are just some of the challenges that the team will have to face during the obstacle course. The team, from RP’s School of Engineering, said it took two weeks to create its drone. Weighing just 750g, the drone is designed to tackle the rigours of the obstacle course. “We took a rather pragmatic approach and not based on what we want it to look,” said Marcus Tay Yi Ming, 20. Organised by the Defence Science Organisation and Science Centre Singapore, the competition has attracted over 6,000 aviation enthusiasts to par-
FLYING HIGH: The team of five students (from left to right: Pulendrarajah Gowreesan, Ameerul Hakim Bin Mustapha Kamal, Lau Qi Xuan, Muhammad Nazri Bin Hazis and Marcus Tay Yi Ming) from the Diploma of Aerospace Avionics has its sights on bagging the top prize at the Singapore Amazing Flying Machine Competition held between March 7 till March 19. PHOTO COURTESY: PULENDRARAJAH GOWREESAN ticipate over the last seven years. In 2015, there were 331 teams, including eight teams from Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia, who participated. Teams from RP had performed well in previous editions of the competition. In 2014, for example, RP students won four awards and clocked the fastest time when tackling the obstacle course. With keen interest in the competition, the RP team has put in extra training hours to ensure they can fly the drone in various scenarios. “The facilitators provide us with the software, simulator and controllers for us to train. Sometimes we bring back the controllers to our home for one week so we just practice at home and whenever we have free time,” said Pulendrarajah Gowreesan, 24. Despite having to juggle multiple things at once, the workload is split equally amongst the five members. “We will keep trying our best to represent our school and win the competition,” said Marcus Tay.
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POST PHOTO
What’s
z
o got to do with it?
Tina Turner asked this question in her 80s hit song. The Republican Post reporters and photographers went in search of what love meant to ordinary people. Happy Valentine’s Day from all of us! 2
LOVE IS FIGHTING FAIR: “ “Love is the playful friendship we share and being utterly comfortable with each other. It is all about knowing that you can be whoever you want to be and this person will still love you just the way you are,” said Fatin Amira Binte Mohamed Fauzi and Qistina Dini Binte Abdul Rahman, both 19. PHOTO: FAEEZAH ADAM
LOVE IS FAMILY: “My grandmother brought me up with unconditional love since I was a kid and it is now time for me to return the favour. I want her to know that I am always there with her. She is my motivation to do my best in life,” reflected 21-year old Nurul Atikah Binte Azman. PHOTO: FAEEZAH ADAM 4 THE REPUBLICAN POST
loVE IS FORGIVING: Best friends for four years and counting, Charles Lim Shou En (left) and Tan Wai Hong (right), both 16, accept each other for who they are despite their occasional arguments. One of their arguments happened when Charles showed off his good results to Wai Hong without thinking about how it would make him feel. Despite that, Wai Hon forgave Charles “because we’re friends, after all.” PHOTO: NUR AMNI AMRAN
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LOVE IS PATIENT: Ms Jacqueline Chan, 30, and her children wait for their father, a swimming coach, to finish his work. “The time spent waiting may be long, but at least we’re still together,” she said with a smile despite the long day. PHOTO: MOUNISNI RAJ
companion for life: Ms Karthika Rajaratnam and Mr Sivakanth Balaraj, both 28, share that the secret to a long-lasting relationship is mutual understanding. They plan to tie the knot soon after a 15-year relationship. PHOTO: MOUNISNI RAJ
LOVE IS A CHILD’S INNOCENCE: “I think love is like, the person you care about and the person you think about!” exclaimed eight-year-old Saissha Gupta. To her, her parents and sister are her world. Together, they spend four to five times a week doing fun activities near their home. PHOTO: NUR AMNI AMRAN
LOVE IS FRIED CHICKEN: Nurhani Khairunnisa, 18, (left) and Nur Maz-izzah, 19, (right) share their love for chicken and the many other things they have in common that they discovered throughout their 14 years of friendship. PHOTO: NUR AMNI AMRAN THE REPUBLICAN POST 5
PHOTO POST LIFESTYLE GET THE LOOK 1. DRESS: LOUIE GOLDEN DAYS DRESS FROM ELLYSAGE.COM, $33 2. DRESS: BELLE IN THE WILD BUSTIER DRESS FROM NATSUKASHE.COM, $32 HEELS: HIGH HEEL SANDALS WITH ANKLE STRAP FROM ZALORA.SG, $23.90 (UP $29.90)
Be fashion forward this Lunar New Year Having trouble deciding what to wear this Chinese New Year? We find out what’s trending to come up with modern outfits that are perfect to show off to friends and family. By Veronica Chin and Elaine Kiew PHOTO: JANELLA ON LOOKBOOK.NU
PHOTO: SHANICE KOH ON LOOKBOOK.NU
3. TOP: CREW NECK JUMPER IN COTTON FROM ASOS, $39.68 BOTTOM: HOMME CROPPED PANTS FROM ASOS, $42 (UP: $126) 4. TOP: SHORT SLEEVE STAND COLLAR SHIRT IN LINEN WITH VINTAGE-STYLE BRONZE BUTTONS FROM YISHU. (AVAILABLE ON ZALORA.SG), $78
#1 THE RISK TAKER
#2 THE PLAIN JANE
Welcome the Lunar New Year with a bareback dress! This daring number is definitely more for the adventurous soul and risk takers who are not afraid to show some skin. This ensemble has a traditional CNY colour, but its sleek keyhole cut-out at the back screams sexy. If you need to visit grandma who may disapprove, simply throw on a cardigan!
What can be more perfect than wearing florals this Chinese New Year? This dress is airy and features watercolour florals which contrast against its white skirt. This dress not only makes you look ethereal and dreamy, it gives off a feminine feel and offers an overall effortless look. Also, the A-line silhouette is a flattering fit anyone can pull off. If you are looking for a statement piece, look no further!
STEAL MORE LOOKS @ REPUBLICANPOST.SG REPUBLICANPOST.SG
#3 THE NOT-SOAVERAGE JOE Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, stuffing our faces with bak kwa and pulling an all-nighter filled with mah-jong. Sounds fun, but it may not be the most comfortable thing to do when you are dressed up in your Sunday’s best. Try throwing on a simple pullover in a colour that compliments your skin tone while pairing it against a dark denim bottom. Colours like maroon, blue and orange go great against Asian skin tones, so why not be comfortable this year and give this look a shot?
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PHOTO: YISHU ON ZALORA.SG
PHOTO: GIAN MARIA ON LOOKBOOK.NU
BOTTOM: DRAWSTRING ANKLE LENGTH PANTS IN RAMLE LINEN FROM YISHU, $118 (AVAILABLE ON ZALORA.SG)
#4 THE TRADITIONAL INDIVIDUAL WHO NEVER FAILS TO GO BACK TO THEIR ROOTS In an era where fashion is constantly being defined and moulded, there is no better way to stand out than going traditional. With a stand collar and vintage-style bronze buttons, this top will add style and sophistication. As the saying goes, clothes maketh the man.
POST LIFESTYLE
Three reasons why you should listen to
?
musiC local indie musiC? By Rachel Ng
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have a confession. When I first saw the two words ‘Gentle Bones’, I had no clue. But after digging deeper and spending a few hours on YouTube, I found myself belting out local singer-songwriter Joel Tan’s songs in the shower and buying his entire debut album on iTunes.
With Tan’s success as a solo act – he was the first home-grown act to be signed by Universal Music Singapore - and local group The Sam Willows breaking into international music streaming service Spotify’s global viral 50 chart, some critics here have argued Singapore’s fledging indie music industry is on the cusp of a golden age. Here are three reasons why we should help fuel its growth.
01 local indie music is accessible The way how indie music is now consumed, distributed and sold online has made it easier for music lovers to suss out new acts. “Facebook and YouTube are great places to start,” said Wong Li Wern, co-producer of RP’s annual IGNITE! Music Festival. Further, a slew of music festivals with an emphasis on local music have been held recently. These included the 100 Bands Festival, Esplanade’s Baybeats and Republic Polytechnic’s IGNITE! Music Festival. Not only are these gigs held at accessible venues where music lovers can come up close with their favourite musicians, some performances are free. “There should always be an IGNITE! There should always be a Baybeats and there should always be Noise (Singapore),” said Paddy Ong, vocalist of local indie band Take Two. “It’s one thing to hear it in your bedroom in a YouTube video, or online, but hearing it live is a different thing altogether. People can come and meet the musicians.”
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WHY #SUPPORTLOCAL?: Paddy Ong, vocalist of Take Two, has urged music lovers to attend the ‘live’ performances of their favourite local musicians. He performed at RP’s IGNITE! Music Festival last year. PHOTO: RACHEL NG
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local indie music is home-grown
Local indie music is more than just national Day songs
To me, local indie music always makes me feel a little closer to home. It is the sense of pride as you’re humming along to the melancholic tunes of Charlie Lim, knowing that the person behind it is a Singaporean, just like yourself. It is the sense of belonging you get when a Singaporean artiste uses their lah, leh, lors in their performances when they’re talking to a crowd, and you think: “Hey, they’re one of us.” Local singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono echoed this sentiment. “I personally seek out local content, and when it’s good, I feel a stronger sense of connection with the product. Because I know its creator walks the same streets I walk, breathes the same air I breathe. Something about that is exciting to me,” said the 25-year-old.
Contrary to popular opinion, local music isn’t just about Stefanie Sun, Kit Chan or any National Day song that is sung by a local musician. There is a wide variety of genres out there to dive into, if mainstream pop is not your cup of tea. From punk rock trio Iman’s League, to alternative post-hardcore band Tell Lie Vision, or even rapper THELIONCITYBOY - there are so many genres out there waiting to be explored. “I think perception and perspectives are something hard to break,” said Li Wern. “But one will never know what is good for them until they try it. Such is local music... We should always open our minds and give them the opportunity as well. If we don’t, who will?”
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PHOTO POST LIMELIGHT
Building a body like his isn’t easy Marcus Chew goes great lengths to stay in shape. Besides exercise and weightlifting, he places much emphasis on his diet. He also counts his calories intake. By Karlo Kalis
COUNTING THE COST: With a daily calorie intake of no more than 2600, Marcus Chew, 21, a student from the Diploma in Health Service Management, cooks his own meals at home to make sure he eats the exact amount of calories he needs. PHOTO: DAVID MARK YIP
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he sound of weights clunking, along with deep grunts from men and women can be heard throughout the gym. As you walk past the water cooler there’s a lingering smell of sweat and Gatorade in the air. “One more!” shouts his workout partner. With his hair pulled back into a man bun, Marcus Chew makes his final repetition at the squat station before doing some stretches against a rack. He then takes a short break before beginning his next set. Marcus is a second-year Diploma in Health Service Management student and spends a lot of time in the gym here at RP. It is his love for bodybuilding competitions that motivates him to keep fit. In January this year, he was placed runner up in the ON Fitness Model Search held in RP. Now, Marcus is preparing for his next competition, Physique War. However, his preparation does not only focus on bodybuilding. A large amount of his effort goes into counting the number of calories he consumes on a daily basis. “The hardest part about bodybuilding is your diet,” explained Marcus. In preparation for the ON Fitness Model Search, Marcus had to “go clean” with zero carbohydrates, fats and sodium content for 10 days. His only source of energy was protein. Most meals had to be bland. “I had cut my chicken breasts and thrown it into boiling water. I eat it as it is. No pepper, no sauce, nothing,” said Marcus. His preparation for the competition pushed him to his limits. The food in RP may not be suitable for his diet but Marcus makes do with what is available. “On my ‘bulking’ days, I eat any kind of meal as long as it is high in protein. An example is chicken chop spaghetti or chicken breast rice with extra chicken and half boiled eggs,” elaborated 8 THE REPUBLICAN POST
Marcus. During his “cutting” period however, he brings his own food because there are not enough options on campus. Marcus also uses an app called “MyFitnessPal” to count his calories. He keys in any meal that he has consumed, inclusive of drinks, and it will automatically record the total number of nutrients and calories found. However, Marcus takes one cheat day a week, three times a month. “Among all three cheat meals, one meal is allowed to be fast food whereas the rest are meals such as teriyaki chicken and deep fried chicken cutlet,” said Marcus.
Support Crew There are times when Marcus wants to give up. However, his supportive girlfriend recently started counting calories for him as well, in order to encourage him. “She is very supportive with whatever I have to do to boost my training. Sometimes she even finds out nutrients found in different kinds of food to help me decide what I can or cannot eat,” said Marcus. “I know dieting is not her interest and that she is doing it out of love,” blushed Marcus. Also supporting him are his friends, the Jacked Monkeys Crew. The crew consists of a group of guys who are passionate about bodybuilding. “We did not know each other at first but we were always at the same gym training and from there we formed a bodybuilding crew,” said Marcus. The crew has members who compete in different fitness competitions involving physique, bodybuilding and powerlifting. Marcus credits his success to the support he has received. “If it wasn’t for them, I would not be where I am now.’’
Jacked Diet
800g of chicken breasts for the day (about 280g of protein) 1 bowl of rice (80g of carbs)
Pre work out meal
4 hard-boiled eggs and 3 chicken breasts (721 calories/109g of protein)
Post work out meal(dinner)
Snack bar, canned tuna and protein shake. (531 calories/72g of protein) After 6pm, no carbs
Only when hungry
Oatmeal and two scoops of peanut butter. (348 calories/12g protein)
POST LIMELIGHT
Tips from top scorers We feature two outstanding students in RP and find out what’s their secret to success. He is Boquiren Joshua Arthur Tambagan, 23, a third-year Biomedical Sciences student from the School of Applied Science and she is Maggie Lim Mei Qi, 20, third-year Events Management student from the School of Hospitality. By Denise Nicolette Ding Liwen
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END WITH A BANG: Joshua Arthur, 23, Biomedical Sciences student (above) struggled in his second year, but is now a top student and pursuing his passion in RP. PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH
hings started well for Joshua when he attained an L1R4 score of 13 for his GCE ‘O’ Levels and could enter Innova Junior college. However, he realised that JC was not his cup of tea. “I quit JC because I realised that I’m not suited for the JC system,” he said. Instead, he took up Biomedical Sciences in RP as he was keen on the topics covered. But he was in for quite a surprise – when he found out that life in RP was just as if not more hectic than in JC. “Second year was the most intense and unhealthy year for me as I didn’t get to have sufficient rest. I felt constantly tired,” he said. Joshua has maintained a 3.8 GPA. “I went for almost every class and was never late for lessons. Doing my own notes and doing my worksheet helped me a lot in class as I understood a lot more concepts while doing so,” said Joshua.
Maggie on the other hand, received a L1R4 of 19 for her ‘O’ Levels and placed RP as her first choice during the Joint Admission Exercise. Initially disheartened by comments from relatives about her score she soon proved them wrong with a scholarship and a GPA of 3.63. However, it was not a smooth sailing path for her either. “Twenty-four hours is never enough as I have to juggle my various IG, family, friends and my boyfriend!” Time was not the only issue. She faced struggles subjects like Maths which resulted in a slight dip in her GPA, “I dropped from 3.7 to 3.6 because I was struggling with my math module but I managed to pull it up to 3.63 by making sure that I know my work well instead of just doing notes, and asking questions whenever in doubt.”
SOS: Asking for her seniors’ notes and combining it with her’s have helped Maggie Lim, 20, a Diploma in Events Management student. In turn, she helps her friends and it makes her happy when she contributed to her friend’s success. PHOTO: SALWA NADHIRAH
Top Scorers’’ Tips: #1: Get to and resources
the pre-readings
Pre-readings are very useful to deepen knowledge. Find a more efficient way of getting through your pre-readings: Divide it up with classmates who are keen to form a group and take notes. Reading everything at one go can be unproductive. While picking and choosing the right materials to study would save you some time, asking for help from seniors did a great deal for Maggie. “I would ask my seniors for their notes, and at the same time do my own notes, then combine them,” she also emphasised on re-doing practice questions, especially for mathematics modules.
#2:
Do the entire worksheet
It is important to complete the entire worksheet as a whole and not just do the parts that you are assigned to. “A lot of people will only do one or two questions each, so they don’t get the whole picture. Everything is tested as a whole and it’s not just one problem today and another tomorrow. It is one big topic under one course,” said Joshua.
#3:
No copy pasting during exams
#4:
Keep good friends
When it comes to acing of the examinations, both scorers adopt different ways and tactics. “I always warm up my brain with simple MCQs as they are considered as ‘easy’ marks,” said Joshua. Maggie uses her own notes and she memorises key points. “I do not “Control ‘C’ and paste from the 6P’s as the answers are not what the examiners are looking for. Phrasing them in your own words will show understanding and thus, help you score better.” Time management is integral while doing your paper and both scorers have proved that managing your time well and understanding your notes will help you ace the exam. “I assign roughly one minute per mark and I will go through my notes first so that I know where to find everything, and yes I do control and paste from 6P’s but I rephrase them,” says Joshua. “I will scroll through the entire exam paper to see how many questions are there to prepare myself and I prefer to do the paper systematically from MCQ to structured questions as I am afraid that I will miss out some questions,” said Maggie.
Both Joshua and Maggie jot down important dates on their personal planners and make sure to have “off-days” where they know they can relax. It is always important to strike a balance between school and having fun. “Surround yourself with people who motivate you to do better. And when I can help my friends, it makes me feel good too. Especially when they come back to tell me that it is because of my help that they managed to do well.”
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PHOTO POST COMMUNITY
Al-Ameen now a 10-minute walk from RP Known for its Thai-Muslim food, popular halal eatery Al-Ameen has opened a new branch in Marsiling. The new outlet is a 10-minute walk from Republic Polytechnic and is opened 24 hours, daily. The Republican Post recently conducted a taste test of Al-Ameen’s three favourites among regular patrons: Cheese Naan, Fried Thai Noodles and Mee Goreng Pattaya (Pattaya Fried Noodles).
Al-Ameen Eating Corner No.35 Marsiling Industrial Estate Road Singapore 739357 Open 24 hours Tel: 63661740
By Fira Natasha Hashim Cheese Naan and Butter Chicken
Filling for two: The butter chicken accompanying the cheese naan is one reason why this meal should be shared by a group. Pros: The cheese naan is thick, chewy and crispy. It tastes even better when dipped in the butter chicken gravy. While patrons can also choose normal curry as their choice of gravy, the butter chicken - which is Tandoori chicken cooked with butter and tomato sauce - provides the extra kick. Cons: The price of the set may be costly for the average student. As a set, a piece of cheese naan and a serving of butter chicken costs $10 while an additional piece of cheese naan costs $3. However, if you share the meal with friends, the costs should be manageable.
Thai Fried Rice
Tantalizing: Although it looks simple, the thai fried rice has a unique taste. Pros: The Thai fried rice is sprinkled with chicken slices, prawns and squid, spring onions and served with chilli padi. Eaten on a cold rainy day, the chili padi can warm you up nicely. Cons: For $4 a plate, the fried rice is $0.50 more expensive than Koufu’s nasi lemak in school where the chicken servings are humongous.
Mee Goreng Pattaya
Hearty Meal: The mee goreng pattaya has yellow noodles buried in a warm fried egg duvet. Pros: This noodle dish has a sweet taste due to the mix of soya and chilli sauce. It also packs a decent serving of chicken slices, shrimp, cabbage and squid. Cons: Considering this is a noodle dish, the $5.50 price may be a bit expensive.
OVERALL VERDICT: The pricey food may not be the most appealing factor about Al-Ameen. However, it serves lovely refreshing drinks such as the ‘Teh Chino’ (Tea with Condensed Milk, $2.20) and the ‘Teh-O Ice Limau’ (Iced Teh-O with Lime, $1.60). While it may not be a place for RP students to have lunch on a daily basis, Al-Ameen is a good spot to chat and hang out with your friends after school.
Picking pottery over passion
By Karl Lim
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f you browse LinkedIn profiles, you will find that the majority of people who look for work say they are driven by passion. “Passionate about communications”, “Passionate about working with people” are some extremely common descriptions on these online profiles. Try finding someone who says they picked a career or job out of obligation or a binding love for family and you would come up empty. This makes Miss Stella Tan, a graduate of Business Information Systems from Republic Polytechnic, a very special young woman. In fact, Ms Tan furthered her studies at the Singapore Hotel and Tourism Education Centre (SHATEC), where she specialised in pastry-making. But she gave up dreams of being a pastry chef in hotel kitchens in 2013 and came home to Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle as a ceramics artist. And the reason? “The reason why I came back to my family business is to repay the love and care they gave when I was young,” explained the bubbly 25-year-old Started in 1965 by her grandfather, Mr Tan Kim Seh, Thow Kwang remains a family business. They possess the last dragon kiln – wood-fired kilns the length of a basketball court – in Singapore, situated next to Nanyang Technological University. “Working here, I get to spend more time with my family, instead of working outside where we’ll get tired and just sleep (and) work again the next day,” explained Miss Tan. 10 THE REPUBLICAN POST
ART WITH A HEART: When her dog died, Miss Stella Tan found solace in pottery and crafted the sky-blue cup and saucer as she believed her dog went to heaven. PHOTO: KARL LIM It is clear that family is central to Miss Tan. Having lived on the premises her whole life – her family owns a kampong-style house on the property – Miss Tan witnessed first-hand the 50 years of gruelling work that went into building the business. “Family is my primary motivation, passion comes second. Even without passion, at least I am working for (people) I love,” she said. “They worked so hard, I don’t want all this to go away,” she added. Her only sibling, Mr Tan Si Lie, is not in the business as he is a national archer and bronze medallist at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games who aims to represent Singapore at the upcoming Olympics. Her interest in pottery began a decade ago,
when she started learning to craft a cup from an employee. With her family’s support, she took up pottery as a hobby and often helped out during her polytechnic days as a part-timer. Her journey has not been smooth-sailing. Having spent more than two years working exclusively with ceramics, Miss Tan readily admits to feeling frustrated with the monotony at times. Also, she feels that there is a faltering appreciation for traditional art in Singapore. To combat the monotony, she makes it a point to use her leisure time to craft fresh pieces to sell at night markets. “When I do my craft and somebody is happy with it, then I’m happy,” she said. Alongside her family, she also conducts workshops and tours for the average Joe to experience the art of traditional pottery making. “Seeing them learn really motivates me to want to share more,” she gushed. However, the fate of Thow Kwang remains uncertain – the land it sits on has been earmarked for development and once its lease expires in 2022, there’s no guarantee that it will be renewed. Despite that, Miss Tan remains optimistic: “I will continue in this business for as long as possible, to spread my love of pottery to Singaporeans.” When asked if she felt any regrets about giving up her baking career, her reply was swift: “At least I can say that I was a part of it, (the business). There are no regrets.”
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: The Battle for Best Actor By Yiew Kai Jie and Christopher Parwani
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the same guy in the suit. We have seen him like that in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), The Great Gatsby (2013), Inception (2010), and many more. The characters all have similar traits (of the smart, flawed hero) and does not justify his talent. This time, he plays Hugh Glass, a 19th century fur trapper who is trying to survive in the American wilderness after being betrayed and left for dead by his hunting party. He manages to convey his character’s hardship in the wild and how he pulls through with his survival skills. It is an environment that we have never seen Leo in before and never seen him look this ragged but it performs so perfectly that it is as if he had really put out into the wilderness. He has put so much work into the movie that he even ate raw bison liver as part of his character’s portrayal. His dedication to his character has also landed him the Award for Best Performance in a Motion Picture – Drama in the 73rd Golden Globes Awards in January. Leo won over Bryan Cranston, Michael Fassbender, Will Smith and Eddie Redmayne. His win at the Golden Globes is said to be a harbinger for the Oscars. The marketing machine is in full gear, the Academy may well want to reward him – finally. DiCaprio should prepare his acceptance speech.
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dm o be awarded the coveted goldendo encrusted trophy is the dream of every actor. While we have seen a slate of astounding performances in 2015 that have captured many hearts, there can only be one. The nominees have been announced and the question on everyone’s mind is if the current champion, Eddie Redmayne, will continue his reign as Best Actor or will Leonardo DiCaprio, finally get his long awaited taste of Source: Focus Features Source: FOX Movies victory. The Republican Post brings you two different views on who will be named The Academy Award Winner for Best Actor, come Feb- Given that Redmayne had no one to understudy, ruary 28, 2016. since Einar Wegener (later known as Lili Elbe) died over 80 years ago, he brought the character back to Eddie Redmayne - The Danish Girl life in this remarkably played role. Similarly, Jared Leto’s performance as a transgender in Dallas BuyThe crowned champion returns to defend his ers Club (2013) was so astonishingly real that it got title as Best Actor. This time, in a dress. British actor him The Award for Best Supporting Actor. Could Redmayne plays Einar Wegener in The Danish Girl Redmayne pull off a back to back victory? His sen(2015), a married man wanting to change his gender, sational performance is what makes him a very good a story based on true events that happened in 1920s contender. Copenhagen, Denmark. A straight man playing a transgender is no easy feat. However, he manages Leonardo DiCaprio - The Revenant to encapsulate the role fairly well. Everything he did from his feminine gestures to the way his eyes Having been denied an Oscar numerous times, blink, you could believe that he was indeed a woman 2016 is the year everyone is rooting for DiCaprio. But trapped in a man’s body. what is so different this time? Well now, Leo has fiBeing a married man, he conveyed his strug- nally broken free of the similar repetitive roles he has gles so flawlessly that it made me feel sorry for him. been playing for the past films he has starred in, as
WHAT DO YOU THINK? REDMAYNE OR DICAPRIO? TELL US WHO AND WHY @THEREPPOST
Point and shoot: cameras worth your money
Inspired to join the photography bandwagon this coming holiday but unsure of which camera to get? Then this review is definitely for you. It is also for you, if you’re a self-proclaimed ‘selfiequeen’ and for those photography ‘senpais’ who are looking for an upgrade. By Hasif Hasny
For the ‘senpais’
For the ‘newbies’
For the ‘selfie queens’
ust like your first love, the first camera you own will always be special to you. The Canon EOS 600D was mine and should be yours too. The 600D fits nice and snug in the hands thanks to its rubber and leathery-like finish on the grip areas of the camera body. Packed with a high-resolution 18 Megapixel (MP) APS-C CMOS sensor, this camera promises amazing imagery results. In addition, the 600D has the ability to record Full High Definition (HD) video footage at 1080p at 24 or 25 frames per second (fps), good starter specs for a beginner. But what won me over was its user interface. Even for someone who has never touched a DSLR before, the 600D’s on-screen feature guide explains each and every function In all, if you are considering picking up photography as your new hobby, then the 600D is a great place to start.
ompact, lightweight and powerful Canon G7X is the perfect companion for those on the go. Equipped with 20.2 MP High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor captures very high quality images even in low-light situations. Imagine taking amazing photos while you are dancing to electrifying tunes at Zouk. Being able to record full HD 1080P videos at 60 frames-per-second on a 180 degrees flip screen is a dream for vloggers and anyone planning on using it for selfies. So expect crisp and clear video quality when you are vlogging and taking photos on your next road trip. Its Wi-Fi capability also makes it easier to transfer photos from your camera to your phone and on to Instagram in no time.
Retail price: $699
Retail price: $749
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f you are a seasoned photographer looking for an upgrade, the Nikon D750 might just be your calling. Given the CNET Editors’ Choice Award and The Best Full-Frame System Camera by Digital Photography Review, here is why this camera deserves its crown. Firstly, the D750 has a lightweight and robust feel because of the balanced structure of carbon-fiber reinforced thermoplastics and magnesium alloy making it comfortable on the hands. Packed with Nikon’s newly designed 24.3MP FXformat CMOS image sensor, shooting events in very lowlight situations will still produce noise-free image quality. The D750 is arguably one of the most versatile fullframe cameras in the market. With the ability to shoot Full HD 1080p videos at 60/50/30/25/24 frames-per-second, camera geeks often compare the D750 with the Canon 5D Mark III in terms of video quality. Being the first full-frame camera to have a tilt-angle screen, capturing shots of high or low angle will be a walk in a park as the tilting screen facilitates better user experience when dealing with such situations. In addition, its Wi-Fi capability will help when covering events.
Retail price (body only): SGD $2949 Retail price (body+lens): SGD $3749 THE REPUBLICAN POST 11
PHOTO POST SPORTS KICK IT By G.BUVANKUMAAR
like Khairul
INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS: Being the first Singaporean to score a hat-trick at the new National Stadium, Khairul Anwar, 29, has overcome disability to become a cult hero in local football. PHOTO: KEN LU
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irst, it was Brazilian superstar Neymar. Then came Arsenal youngster Chuba Akpom. Now, another player has etched his name into the record books. Step forward, Republic Polytechnic student Khairul Anwar Kasmani. The 29-year-old became the first
Singapore player to score a hat-trick at the new National Stadium after he bagged three goals in a 3-5 loss to Myanmar at December’s ASEAN Para Games (APG). Before Khairul’s hattrick, only Neymar and Akpom could lay claim to the accomplishment of scoring three goals at the new National
Stadium. But beyond the goal scoring feat, Khairul won the hearts of many Singaporeans. Alongside RP students Danial Ismail and Shafiq Ariff, Khairul led the Singapore cerebral palsy football team to a bronze medal at the Games. Khairul, who received endless Facebook friend requests and Instagram followers during the week-long Games, played down his new-found fame. Instead, he chose to focus on the cerebral palsy football team’s achievement at the Games. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I prefer to focus on the bronze medal that we have won,” said the second-year Health Promotion and Management student. “For me, playing at the National Stadium and what the team has achieved is the biggest accomplishment.” While clips of all his spectacular strikes have gone viral on social media and elevated him to cult-like status among some netizens, it has not always been plain sailing for Khairul. He was diagnosed with right hemiplegia from a young age which has weakened the right half of his body, making it hard for him to play the sport he loves. “My right hand side is weaker than my left so running or changing direction was
difficult for me,” Khairul said. However, his condition never deterred his passion and love for football. From the age of seven, Khairul would play the game with his siblings and neighbours at basketball and street soccer courts. Inspired by former England captain David Beckham, Khairul would spend hours on the field and in the gym to hone his skills and build up his strength. At the Games, Khairul would stay up for about an extra hour every night to catch up what he had missed out in school. “I have to thank my classmates a lot when it comes to this. They have always been there for me, supporting and encouraging me especially during the APG which was the same time as the exam period,” he said. “Without their help, I don’t think I could have handled the pressure and focus in both directions.” Khairul has set his sights on contributing back to cerebral palsy football after he graduates from his course. He plans to be either a coach or to be part of the sport’s management. “Life is always bumpy but it’s you that makes everything count, that makes your journey a fruitful journey. If we believe ourselves in whatever we do, we can achieve anything,” he said.
A Boon to Singapore Sports School Find out why RP student Benedict Boon continued his journey in swimming even after attaining distinctions for his ‘N’ Levels. By Jenani D/O Selvaraj
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f you asked Benedict Boon four years ago if he had expected to be a national swimmer, his answer would have been a resounding ‘no’. The Singapore Sports School student felt he wasn’t heading anywhere in his sport despite swimming competitively for over a decade. Meanwhile, his peers had already qualified for major competitions like the South East Asian (SEA) Games or better. “I felt inferior to them,” said Benedict. “If you’re not number one, nobody will know you.” Benedict considered giving up swimming. He scored five distinctions for his ‘N’ Level Examinations and had set his sights on entering a local polytechnic. But Dr Irwin Seet, the Sports School’s director of sports, talked Benedict out of quitting swimming. Benedict decided to stay in the Sports School for a year before he joined the Republic Polytechnic - Singapore Sports School Diploma in Sports and Leisure Management programme.
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“I have been swimming for 10 years and I never really hit any good results. I wanted to prove to myself that I have the capability to be a national swimmer,” said the 19-year-old. Benedict achieved the goal last year, when he made his debut at the SEA Games. Swimming on home soil, Benedict finished 8th overall in the 1500m freestyle event. Training under the joint RP and Sports School programme gave Benedict several advantages. The course is held in the Sports School where travel is minimised and he could maximise his training in the pool. “I don’t have to travel to RP to study so it is convenient and I am still able to train from my coach who has been training me for seven years. This helps us work together and understand each other better,” he said. Having made his major Games debut, Benedict aims to do better. “Wearing the swim cap and shirt with the national logo and your name on it, it is small things like these that really make a difference,” he said.
PERSEVERANCE PAYING OFF: Benedict Boon is keen on pursuing his dreams of being a national swimmer despite almost retiring from the sport he has been actively participating in for the past decade. PHOTO: ISKANDAR ROSSALI