Today marks Singapore’s golden jubilee, celebrating her 50th birthday. A huge year-long celebration in Singapore, reaching its climax. Watching the NDP makes me feel proud as a Singaporean too, joining the party and enjoying the performances.
50 year-old seems young for a nation, with many many more countries having much more years of history. However, there are not many countries around the world have achieved what we have done in 50 years, from a developing (3rd world) country to a developed (1st world) country. I am really grateful for being a Singaporean, especially when I have traveled to many countries and also read/listened about the other countries. There are many things I am thankful for, including:
1. a government with brains and the ability to make tough decisions when required. It is especially critical for the country’s progress, for many governments around the world carry out reactive measures or have tied hands and thus unable to make tough decisions, which ultimately inhibit their country’s progression.
2. a safe and stable country. Singapore is one of the rare countries where one can walk around relatively safely at night.
3. a clean and green environment and air. Having been to many countries, there are times when I really miss Singapore’s clean air and greenery. Though it maybe sometimes crowded her, but at least we can still see trees and water around, not all man-made structures.
4. being an equitable country.
5. bring multi-cultural. With many different races and cultures here, it makes us more “colourful”. We celebrate the different festivals and we have a wide range of food which we termed as “Singaporean food” (rojak, roti prata, chili crab, chicken rice, mee pok, etc)
6. being international. Singapore has a strong brand name internationally (though we are also known as the little red dot and mistakenly regarded as “part of China”), but usually people have good impression of the country. Many renowned companies have also set up their companies and shops here. Not only that, Singapore is a place with lots of good international cuisine.
7. her bilingual-ness and Singlish. Most people in Singapore know/understand at least 2 languages, though some may not be fluent in both, but at least they understand both. Coupled with the unique Singlish, we Singaporeans speak in a really different way. We can mix English with Chinese and Singlish, which includes a mixture of Hokkien, Malay, Chinese, broken English and whatevernots. Only Singaporeans (and maybe Malaysians) will understand and it immediately clicks when Singaporeans speak like that to each other.
8. her developed infrastructure, including first class airport, public transportation, housing, public facilities, etc. Despite the recent cock-up of the MRT, we still have one of the better accessibility in the world. My ex-CFO used to comment that he could not understand why Singaporeans complained so much about MRT breakdowns when it was it was pretty common in Germany. Oh well, I guess we are used to a really efficient transportation system and are not used to MRT breaking down.
9. her strong currency, which makes imports cheaper and thus more price-accessible.
10. being high-tech.
With many challenges ahead, I sincerely hope that Singapore will be able to remain strong, and cope and overcome them. Thank you Singapore and Happy Birthday!
Home/家
Kit Chan
Whenever I am feeling low
I look around me and I know
There’s a place that will stay within me
Wherever I may choose to go
I will always recall the city
Know every street and shore
Sail down the river which brings us life
Winding through my Singapore
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home
When there are troubles to go through
We’ll find a way to start anew
There is comfort in the knowledge
That home’s about its people too
So we’ll build our dreams together
Just like we’ve done before
Just like the river which brings us life
There’ll always be Singapore
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home
This is home truly, where I know I must be
Where my dreams wait for me, where the river always flows
This is home surely, as my senses tell me
This is where I won’t be alone, for this is where I know it’s home
For this is where I know it’s home
For this is where I know I’m home
每一次我感到彷徨
不自禁就会回头望
我知道心中有个地方
一定会有一盏灯
照亮每一颗黑暗的心房
指引未来方向
沿着生命河流向前航
就能登陆理想
我的家 收藏
我的欢喜悲伤
只要点燃希望
梦就会自由飞翔
我的家 给我
一双坚定翅膀
我的梦 不论在何方
一生的爱唯有家
再也不会感到彷徨
不会再失意回头望
我要用心中一点烛光
燃放千万户辉煌
要让繁华的城市更灿烂
世界和平共享
全凭生命河流来导航
一起登陆理想
一生的爱 唯有家
世世代代温暖的家