Central Mall & The Central

It took great pains to realise that The Central ain't Central Mall. They seem so synonymous that even those in The Central didn't know that it was not Central Mall. Indeed, it was frustrating to have the salesperson insisting that the place she was working at is Central Mall.

It is seemingly impossible for NYAA office to be situated in a shopping centre. After careful maneouvring, the place is finally located at 5 Magazine Road. Situated beside a mosque and in proximity to the MOM building, the Central Mall previously housed a club.

There are so many different staircases that one needs to be sure one's walking the right one to the right place.

都是你 It's all About You

13 May 2009

The Chinese believe that 7x7=49 days after a person dies, the spirit would then either go to the Netherlands or to Heaven.

The first 7th day is the saddest moment for the deceased. He will return back home and find out that he had passed away. All the reflecting surfaces should be covered up to prevent him from seeing his own reflection. The rice container should be filled to the brim so that he can be assured that the family would have sufficient food to eat. Many people would have dreams about their beloved kin.

Everyday leading to the 3rd 7th day (21st day), rice would be served together with dishes on the altar. On each of the 7th day leading to the 49th day, there would be prayers and offerings would be made. Incense papers would be burnt. From the 21st day onwards, cooking utensils, oil, salt and rice would be placed under the altar. The servants in the Netherworld would take over and cook for the deceased.

I dreamt of my Father the very night that his body was cremated. He said he was hungry. When I awoke, I could feel a force pushing me down to the bed. It resembled a hug. Shocked, I tried to yell but apparently no one could hear me. After a minute or two, I managed to wake and immediately rushed to my Mother, who was awake then, but didn't hear me yelling.

Anyway, today's the 49th day. It's 48 to be exact but since Father had 2 sons, 1 day was deducted according to the priest.

The priest added Father to the ancestral tablet. Now he is back with his ancestral family.

It seems naive for me to leave the door unlocked everyday, hoping that he will return one day. Images and memories so afresh.

谁 改变了我的世界
Who has changed my world?
没有方向 没有日夜
Intially without a direction, with no sense of time,
我看着天 这一刻在想你
I look up upon the sky, thinking of you at this point in time,
是否会 对我一样思念
Wondering if you are thinking of me too.

你 曾说我们有一个梦
You said we had a dream,
等到那天 我们来实现
Until that day, we will fulfil.
我望着天 在心中默默念
Looking upon the sky, I mumble to myself,
下一秒 你出现在眼前
Hoping that you appear at the next second.

想念的心 装满的都是你
The heart contains all about you.
我的钢琴 弹奏的都是你
The song I'm playing on the piano is all about you.
我的日记 写满的都是你的名
My diary is all about you.
才发现 又另一个黎明
And then, I realised it's yet another day.

这是我 对你爱的累积
This is the accumulation of Love I have for you...

Aljunied GRC (Eunos Division) Zero Litter Month 2009

10 May 2009

It was a bright Sunday morning. Eunos YEC members gathered at the Community Club to be introduced to a new sport -- called Tchoukball. I couldn't join them as there is another parallel activity taking place at the market.

This year's Zero Litter Month campaign is more extensive than past years'. Mdm Cynthia Phua, Chairman of Aljunied Town Council, was present with Mayor Zainul. They gave away certificates to reward the best cleaners from each zone. Mayor Zainul also shared with everyone that all market stalls are now at least Grade B in Aljunied GRC.

Market vendors and managers from MacDonald's and KFC also endorsed their support behind the campaign.

After the presentation, together with grassroots leaders, NEA representatives and Town Council representatives, Mayor and Mdm Phua visited the market and shophouses.

To ensure that everyone gets the message to clean up their mess, stickers were pasted on tables at the market as well as other eateries around the neighbourhood. The Aljunied GRC MPs also interacted with residents. At MacDonald's, we came across Pristine who expressed interest in becoming a community volunteer.

Also got to know Liyuan, Nicole and Baoyu, the 3 secondary school students who just begun their volunteering at grassroots.

I once came across an article in the Straits Times that questions if Singapore is a "campaign" country and whether campaigns work. In my opinion, I believe campaigns are not just a wayang act. During campaigns, MPs get to walk the ground and get the chance to directly communicate with the people and ensure that the estate is properly maintained.

Celebrating Mother's Day at Plaza Brasserie

9 May 2009

Lin Qiang got his Navy IPPT Gold and was rewarded with an early book out from camp every week. We were planning to bring Mother out for dinner to celebrate Mother's Day, but we didn't have any idea where to go. In the end, we called up a few restaurants and was relieved that Plaza Brassiere @ Park Royal Hotel still had vacancies.

Buffets are always a more superior choice because you get to walk around choosing the food you prefer. Also, you can try out various food which otherwise you would not have the chance to eat. By bringing back "exotic food" back to the table, everyone would be curious and you become proud that you managed to get a good hunt!

Chefs were preparing roti prata, sashimi, laksa, lor mee, and oysters! These must be the freshest oysters I have tried. The poor chef had to keep opening oyster shells for the long queue of diners at his counter.

A photographer was roaming around and helped us snap a family photo. It was the most suitable gift, given the occasion of Mother's Day.

Swine Flu's Impact on Daily Activities

4 May 2009

About 3 days ago, I received a text message from NUS. I was asked to report to the examination venue 1 hour prior to the start of the paper, due to the temperature checking procedures that need to take place.

The morning traffic was slow and I ended up reaching school at 8.45am, instead of 8am. As the bus drove past the Multipurpose Sports Hall, one of the venues for examinations, long queues were seen doving straight to the carpark. I was fortunate to have my exam in a small lecture theatre.

One by one, each student was subjected to checks using the ear thermometer. When the disposable cap was used up, the oral thermometer was used. Invigilators donned the N95 mask. The exam started slightly later than supposed to and invigilators asked us to verify our details for contact tracing purposes as we took the exam.

In the afternoon, headed to Changi General Hospital to visit Grandma. Many exits were sealed to direct visitors to the main temperature screening point. I reached at 2.15pm and was told that visiting time was already over (12-2pm). I couldn't even enter the building.

In the evening, I went to the Meet-the-People Session (MPS) to volunteer. Again, anyone entering the office needed to be screened and to fill a form.

Many people that I have encountered lamented the exaggeration of such precautionary measures. In my opinion, it is best to be safe than sorry. The SARS crisis had taught Singaporeans many lessons and hopefully these lessons enable us to avert the Swine flu pandemic. The measures taken by the Government were swift and decisive. The short-term inconvenience would translate into a happier future.

First New Media Champions Sharing Session

30 April 2009

Went to the new People's Association HQ near Lavender MRT station for the first time. The building was formerly a school building. Overall the building looks stylish and professional.

The purpose for us (Edmund, Hock Rong, myself) being there was to attend a sharing session on New Media initiatives taking place in various constituencies. I was impressed by the spread of food and the welcoming smiles from the staff. This goes to show the emphasis placed on New Media.

If you thought New Media was for the young, then you are wrong. The New Media Champions that turned up were of various ages. New Media is about reaching out to everyone.

5 New Media Champions shared their strategies and experiences. Some placed emphasis on social networking sites, while others focus more on websites. Hence, there was a wide range of lessons being learnt.

I was attracted to a few models. These include the Moulmein website as well as the Joo Chatters. They truly show that community websites done by volunteers can be also professional and interactive. I am greatly inspired by the sharing session and hope to do my part for my own constituency.

Be AWARE!

Weeks had passed since the formation of the new Association of Women for Action & Research (AWARE) executive committee, yet with each passing day, the tensions just get greater. The chronology of events had been so heavily documented, so I would not be reiterating them here. Instead, it would be more meaningful to do some analysis.

Despite the Old Guards' discontent that they were "ousted" from the exco during the AGM elections, it is a hard fact that the new team was democratically elected by AWARE members. Subsequently, the political divide between the new and old exco members in the new term resulted in alienation of the old exco members. As of today, 2 old exco members had resigned from the exco.

I think it is generally unfair to cast all the blame on the leader of AWARE, Josie Lau. In this dramatic saga, all parties are to bear responsibility.

In elections, is the onus not on the candidates to muster support and votes? Many of the exco members of the previous term were voted out because their challengers had their supporters to vote.

To show their support for the Old Guards, many had joined AWARE so that they could vote in the coming EGM. I think it's a structural problem in this aspect. How could members who just joined less than a month have voting rights? They might not even know what AWARE represents and stand for. In this aspect, conducting an EGM with the existing members would be more beneficial as they would be the best people to judge the myths and truths of the various allegations.

One thing for sure, the issue should be settled in a mature manner via proper proceedings as stated in the Constitution of AWARE. Hate mails or groups such as the one below should be avoided.