NDPeeps

Fallowing and Farewells

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:35:00 +0000

It's been almost a month since NDP'09.

The celebrations of a successful Parade was held in countless places as people sat around and swapped tales, juicy gossips and experiences.

Keen to know our views?

We're going to say it even if you aren't :D

We're glad to be part of this New Media team. We're glad to have the opportunities to speak to people whom we would otherwise never have the chance of speaking to. Most of all, we're glad that many people supported the nation, be it by singing nationalistic songs with more fervor or reading this blog.

The time has come for us to pass the baton on. Next year, a team of dedicated men would soldier on to bring you more blog tales. Do promise to patronise them.

Hopefully, we would be invited back as guest bloggers, to continue to nurture this blog, our shared baby.

Meanwhile, do treat this period of inactivity as a fallowing period for NDPeeps. By resting for the few months, we'll be sufficiently recharged next year to bring even more news to you all.

Fret Not.

We'll Be Back.

Panorama - The bird's eye view of NDP

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 13:02:00 +0000

If we were to ask the Singaporean bird "What do you see?" during the NDP parade last week, perhaps these surreal displays would be the answer.

Didn't get that spectacular view of the platform from where you were seated during the parade? Here are the resplendent pictures (as viewed from above) capturing some great masterpieces of the parade. It's all thanks to the hard work and coordination of the performers and backstage crew. So do enjoy and be awe-struck!

Fitting the pieces together, do you see the Singapore story?
(This scene was on land reclamation, "Fast Forward". haha.)

The Singaporea Heartbeat.

Iridescence

Brilliant red hues?

Or tinctures of sapphire and cerulean blue?

Vermilion red, brimming with life and vitality.

Sang Nila Utama amidst the turbulent waters.

The immaculate formations.

The Singapore flag flies higher than the bird!

The little red ants go marching on and on..

Haha, the bird must be thinking what contingents are these? Well, they're certainly not as nice as those marching in uniform.

Come Together

Our little red dot's inextricably connected to places around the globe.

A breathtaking view of the floating platform.

And so the bird has to fly higher so as not to get caught in the fireworks.

And ahhh, surrealism!

PM Lee's National Day Message 2009

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 02:54:00 +0000

Well folks, here's what our Prime Minister has to say to all of us this National Day. You can find the full message in the four languages here. Haha, it somehow reminds me of the times in school where the principal gets to talk to the entire cohort on various issues concerning the school and education. Just that I realise this message is addressing the entire nation, You, Me and every Singaporean. So here's a short summary of what he wants to tell us and some useful insights.

In a nutshell, 3 main points reverberate throughout his message:

-We have been striving hard in dismal economic times this year and have responded "resolutely and cohesively" to overcome the hardships. We are now less vulnerable and "in a stronger position".

- To always look to the future and prepare for a rainy day. The "outlook remains clouded". We should always aim to turn trials and tribulations into opportunities, difficulties into challenges, adversity into prosperity.

- We have, we will, and will always need to Come Together as we unite to succeed in our Singaporean endeavours. "Let us stand shoulder-to-shoulder, so that whether it rains or shines, we can work together and achieve the best results for Singapore".

Well, looks like we have a busy year ahead of us as we surface from the quagmire we've been mired in for a while. Hmm, this year's theme song's lyrics do ring true. What do we see in the coming years for Singapore? Believe that we will survive the odds together and achieve our hopes and dreams. "Cos the sky's the only limit, when you're not afraid to dream".

Never fear to do your best to overcome hardship in disconsolate times

PM Lee has been talking a lot about making use of opportunities, seeking improvement and to always reach out to others such that no Singaporean is left alone, share the opportunities and endowments we have. In the midst of painstakingly trying to support our families or to earn a stable income, lets not get too caught up in the vortex of a fast-paced life. Yes, we are standing up for Singapore by doing so, but lets do it with a smile. Pause occasionally to relish what's great about our lives and the place we call home.

Perhaps it's an inexorable trend that we will overcome the odds? From our forefathers who used every ounce of energy they had to support the family in those turbulent times, to our people rallying together to fight for independence, to Singaporeans coming together to overcome crisis such as the Asian Economic Crisis, 9/11 attacks and SARS. As PM Lee said, "Each time our people have rallied and prevailed". We have yet another "adventure" to take on now with this crisis, so lets do what we should, and head "UP"!

But lets not get complacent. (Actually, we hardly ever do so cos we're kinda kiasu haha, it's our culture and style.) We gotta open our eyes and explore new and innovative avenues to improve ourselves and what's around us. After all, "We are not just pursuing economic growth, strengthening our society, or remaking our city, but creating a new Singapore".

Ahhh, there are no boundaries. With every step we climb another mountain. With every breath it may seem harder to believe that we may achieve. The road may seem to be going nowhere. But if we do it together as we've seen and heard before, we'll make it through the pain and weather the hurricanes to get to our goals. There are no boundaries. haha, courtesy of the song "No Boundaries"..Was listening to the song earlier on and found it somewhat relevant. I fancy it's a little similar to our our theme song..haha.

So Singaporeans, it's up to you, What Do You See? =)

Post-ndpic!!

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:11:00 +0000

NDP prep was no small feat! But, it's over - feeling both =) and =( !!

The World's Port of Call

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 05:45:00 +0000

Singapore, an island with limited resources - how did we survive? Credits goes to our amazingly efficient port operators dealing with exports and imports 24/7, meeting Singapore's needs via trade :)

Port of S'pore Authority (PSA) international, handling about a fifth of the world's total container throughput, should deserve more than just a word of praise or mere acknowledgement by our fellow Singaporeans :P

Let's hav a peek into the intricate PSA Singapore Terminals, flagship of PSA international. Discover the Human-Touches that made our port worked so successfully!

Container Equipment Specialist - "my office.. is the yard-crane"

Senior Mechanical Engineer - "our mission's to keep PSA's port-cranes working - containers after containers.."

Operations Executive - "..make sure that the operations in our ports ran smoothly"

Senior Systems Engineer - "..computers are now a major part of our lives, here at the port.. is no different"

Each and every individual plays a role! Not just restricted to biz but to life in general. So what is yours?

Funpacking!

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:01:00 +0000

Now that National Day's over, we're having some bittersweet feelings - relief that we've accomplished what we set out to, joy to be part of the nation's celebrations and, of course, a certain amount of sadness that this is going to be the inevitable end of a long journey.

Pardon the emo-ness. Lol.

Anyway, many of you have the funpacks safely in your homes already. Did you enjoy the goodies? Have you used the discount vouchers? And did you see the yellow tab?

(the yellow tab = tab indicating who packed the funpack for you)

These funpacks are packed with love. People from all walks of life - including the deaf, spastic, intellectually disabled, inmates and NSFs - had taken much time and effort to pack the bags so that people who received them would be happy.

Let's take a little look at some photos of our fellow citizens packing:

(view the respective NDPeeps@Flickr photo albums here : Funpacking by the Yellow Ribbon Project, Cheshire Home and Singapore Association for the Deaf)

One good turn deserves another.

Reciprocate their actions with some care and concern, in whatever ways you can, be it by volunteering your time and energy, donating money or simply refusing to judge them.

After all, caring for each member of this society shouldn't be restricted to just National Day.

All of them have their stories... Do listen to them with your heart.

National Day!

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 00:26:00 +0000

930pm update

The show has just ended!! It was amazing and I hope everyone enjoyed the parade this year. The year has been tough for everyone. With the economic crisis looming over everyone, some wonder why so much money is spent on the parade. As Chairman NDP' 09 has said, NDP is not only about NDP. For all Singaporeans, this is the time for us to reaffirm our own beliefs of why we are Singaporeans. Behind the lights and sounds, what do you see? What do you feel? Let the pictures do the talking and enjoy!!

For all watching the show, at the platform or at the comfort of your homes, let us enjoy the parade and do take a look at the video of the fireworks that we have taken!!

-----------------------------------------

610 pm update

The din and excitement here is terrific! Its teeming with red people, all geared up to watch the show!

And these are the SOKA people! Large bags of props for the "Little Red Dot" chapter!

A white dot amongst the red sea of people. Haha.

Ahhh, the favourite Singaporean door gift, the funpacks!

And here we are, all in a frenzy to bring you the latest happenings for today!

The motivators are exceptionally exuberant and loud today!

The place is innundated with people as they pour into the stands to take their seats.

Alright, the show's about to begin! We can here Gurmit's voice resounding in the background! We'll be back to give more updates after the show! Do enjoy the show wherever you are! Happy National Day! =)

-----------------------------------------

5pm update

The Road to NDP, from City Hall that is. Many patriotic souls are dressed in red. All hyped up!

Some guidance to our destiny, where we woud all Come Together.

Families of all sizes have come to have a nice meal at marina square before the parade. A heartening sight :)

We've arrived at the NDP roadshow at marina square! A myriad of booths and exhibits to spice up the day!

What do you see? Heartfelt dreams and wishes for Singapore.

Haha. This cute one wishes that we could have a slower pace of life. :-)

The young and inquisitive mind.

Wishing all a Happy National Day and Happy Birthday Singapore!

-----------------------------------------

1 50 pm Update

The lunch that most of the backstage workers had... Quite filling :)

What's happening at the F1 pit... Some are relaxing, some are queuing up for freebies while some are forming up for rehearsals. :)

Our journey ended abruptly with the sign below. x.x'''

-----------------------------------------

1200 update

Saw the numerous advices at funpack collection booth... Was scared by the prolific number of notices, haha, so please take note!

Even Google's celebrating National Day with us! Hahaha :) Quite a cute banner
--------------------------------------

10 45 am update

Even the coconut tree's waving a Singapore flag to show it's patriotism! (look closer at the bottom of the trunk)

Poor me, had to sit outside the toilet while the laptop's charging. All the sacrifice for this blog... you better appreciate this!

--------------------------------

9 10 am update (the first, and it won't be the last!)

----------------------------------

Today's finally National Day!

We're kind of excited, are you?

To bring you the lastest updates more frequently, we're trying for a photo-blog, with minimal words. Let each image speaks the thousand words it's supposed to, LOL.

Check out the links below for the past rehearsals...

CR1@ our very First Combined Rehersal!
CR2@ How it all CONNECTs

CR3@Come together, come Rejoice 3
NE1@ The very very first NE Show!

NE2@ NE 2, the NExt CHAPTER of our NDP journey

NE3@ The Finale of the NE Show Trilogy

Preview@ We've come this far together

And the reflections by some of the students here :)

It's actually quite interesting, the stuff that we've been through thus far. Now that we're at the end, there's this strange feeling of joy mingled with sadness. The inevitable end of a long but satisfying journey...

Anyway, check back very often for updates on what's happening. Will be glad if you'd share your thoughts and feeling with us too :)

Newsletter from 203 Squadron

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 10:17:00 +0000

The 203 Squadron has kindly shared with us a newsletter that they made for NDP' 09. The newsletter comprises of many reflections from many people within the squadron. One of them shared that he chose the Marina Bay for his wedding photography venue last year when he articipated in NDP.

Everyone has a different opinion on NDP and shares them candidly. Have fun reading through what they have to say for NDP this year! Click here for the full newsletter!!

Sharing by our fellow Singaporeans :)

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:39:00 +0000

Below's a post contributed by some of our fellow citizens... ENJOY!

personally, we felt that it's a very well-thought out blog ;) nice pics too :)

------------------------

Both of us got the unique opportunity of joining the NDP as official photographers. We are very honoured as it allowed us to experience the parade from behind the lens, and also to make a small contribution to our nation’s birthday- by writing this article.

Of course, both of us did not know initially what the job will entail, but after attending the event, we are pleasantly surprised by what we experienced. We were allowed special access to the preparations for the parade near the Singapore Flyer and the Formula 1 pit stop, where we witnessed the amount of hard work and dedication put in by the performers. Three cheers for them!

Army soldiers receiving being briefed
Men and women preparing the 25-pounder ceremonial guns

Preparation at the F1 pit

Getting all hyped up at the F1 pit

Performers having their make-up

Performers receiving a pep-talk- The motivators being motivated!

Before, the show starts, Primary 5 students from all over Singapore converged on the Marina Floating platform. It would definitely be an experience of the lifetime- to be able to celebrate Singapore’s birthday with many other people.

Moving to the platform

On the floating platform. The students looked rather curious and awed at the same time… not surprising, considering the sheer size of the platform- the one and only in the world.

The floating platform, officially known as The Float at Marina Bay, is the largest stage in the world. The location, where the city skyline is clearly visible, will make an interesting experience for the audience.

Before the actual parade starts, there were numerous pre-show segments, meant to build up the atmosphere at the platform and to hype up the audience. The scene was ELECTRIFYING!

Of course, the emcees also played a big role, constantly engaging the audience and leading the Marina Wave (which is the Kallang Wave reborn at the floating platform).

The warmth and sincerity of the motivator- a caring Singapore.

Standing up for Singapore

Emcees

The most exciting part then begins, starting with the display by the Red Lions. The ability of the men to guide the parachute to an area as small as the floating platform shows the amount of practice the unit has put in.

Red Lions in action

The Home Team display is also a highlight of the show, which shows the emergency response capability of various agencies in Singapore. The audience is able to get a close look of Total Defence in action.

Then the show becomes serious- the actual parade and march-past, begins. It is a solemn ceremony and the audience becomes extremely quiet, as a mark of respect for the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Ng Eng Hen and Singapore.

The Colours of the respective units in the Singapore Armed Forces

The parade commander

The state flag fly-past. The Chinook heavy-lift helicopter is flanked by 3 AH-64 Apaches attack helicopters, one of the newest additions of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

The national anthem, Majulah Singapura, is sung simultaneously. The patriotism of all the people on the platform can be clearly seen and felt.

Saluting the state flag

The 19 gun salute for the Guest-of-Honour

As the sky darkens, the atmosphere is transformed. This is when the toys in the goodie bags is put to full use.

The audience lights up their heart, turning the dark sky into a sea of hearts.

This is when the performance begins. They traced Singapore’s development from a small fishing village in 1819 to a modern city today, showing Singapore’s social, political, and economic progress through years, and how we overcame the various obstacles and prospered. The performances also highlighted Singapore’s ethnic diversity and rich cultural history. It included mass performances put up by various organizations in Singapore, intertwined with various pyrotechnics display, thrilling the audience. After watching the show, one can’t help but to admire the resilience of Singaporeans in face of adversity.

The Peranakans and Trishaw, unique icons of Singapore

Fireworks display

The finale

The show culminated in the pledge-taking ceremony. Written by S. Rajaratnam in 1966, it reaffirms Singapore’s unity as one nation. Even though the pledge is recited daily during assemblies in school, taking the pledge at the floating platform, with thousands of other Singaporeans from diverse backgrounds, religions and races, is a different experience. It is indeed touching to see Singaporeans united as one in our goals, which ties in appropriately to this year’s NDP theme “Come Together- Reaching Out, Reaching Up”, Singaporeans coming together and reaffirming our loyalty to the country and achieving greater heights.

Singaporeans reciting the pledge- one united Singapore

Overall, this NDP journey has been an exciting on for us. It has allowed us to experience the warmth and enthusiasm of all the audience and participants. The Singapore Spirit is also clearly shown in the course of the show, where people of different walks of life come together and make this event a resounding success. We are very fortunate to be able to experience the National Day Parade as official media personnel. We would like to thank the show organizers, performers, participants and CPT Ryan Koh for making this possible. Happy birthday Singapore!

Contributed by Jeremy Ang and Jonathan Lau from Hwa Chong Institution (College)

From Within the Parade to Behind the Scenes

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Here, we have the third post from our Dy Chairman 2 Exco. After being a Contingent Commander and a Parade Commander, he had the chance to contribute to NDP, as the Chairman of the Infrastructure twice. He shares with us all the behind-the-scene action building up to the whole infrastructure. Enjoy!

---------------------------

NDP REFLECTIONS AS CHAIRMAN INFRASTRUCTURE NDP 2000 & NDP 2005 AT THE PADANG

By Clement Hendricks, Dy Chairman 2 EXCO NDP 2009

I would like to share the experience of being the Chairman of the Infrastructure at the Padang for both the year 2000 and 2005. The challenges faced for these two NDP events were largely the same, however, the difference with 2005; I had the hindsight and experience of doing it in 2000.

Anyone attending the Parade at the Padang would realise that all the seating for the spectators had to be built. In 2000, we went away from the traditional ‘dixon’ stands that were erected by our own Combat Engineers to the commercially available tiered tubular seats. Although we obtained the tubular seats commercially, we still relied on our own Combat Engineers to assemble the stands for the seating gallery. Our own engineer company from 30 SCE did a fantastic job.

Besides the stands that needed to be constructed on the field itself, the traditional red sector seats along Connaught Drive and the VIP section including the Presidential Dias needed to be constructed in front of Supreme Court, City Hall and St Andrew’s Cathedral with the VIP section built on the City Hall steps. The Combat Engineers who built these stands had to do so in a short time since the Padang was only available in early May and all the seating gallery had to be ready by the National Education shows. On top of that task, the seats across Coleman Street had to be erected overnight before the rehearsal / actual day and taken down before 0600 hrs the next morning to ensure that the road was only closed on the day of the rehearsal / actual day.

Decorating the whole Padang vicinity including City Hall itself was another huge effort as the tubular seating stands were bare, especially the rear section and the ground approach routes were soggy and damaged after each rehearsal by the crowds. Inevitably we had to lay walkways with timber and plywood which needed maintenance work after each rehearsal. Another challenge was to build the CCG1 control room at the rooftop of City Hall building, which had a very high parapet wall. The control room stood at least 6 m above the roof slab and it had to be design such that it was not obvious and blend in with the building facade.

For NDP 2000, we built a ramp down to the field so that the Parade Participants could march on and off the field for the march past. We had a central ramp since the design of the parade sequence required the contingents to march forward towards the President at the City Hall steps and wheel left and right onto Cannaught Drive for the March Past. This was not too difficult.

For NDP 2005, we had floats as part of the Parade and they had to drive past the tubular stands on the Padang as well. This meant that we needed to lower the pedestrian walkway and box drain so that these floats could easily drive onto the field level with the road. This was a big job, which involved URA and LTA, who guarded the Civic District aesthetics and City walkways. We had their blessing and approval and evidence of the lowered walkway can still be seen today where the two sections were re-constructed for NDP 2005.

Another challenge that needed to be overcome when constructing the tubular stands at the opposite end of the Padang was the existing historic trees that line the Esplanade Walk. Even the trimming of trees required close cooperation with NParks who supervised the trimming to the minimum necessary for our tubular stands and backdrop structures for the huge multimedia screens. At the Padang where everything had to be built from scratch, the intimate collaboration with the Authorities at each stage of the built up was necessary and I must add that without the support given by them, many of the ideas and grand scheme of things would not have materialized. There was greater partnership and closer working relationship all throughout the journey, which I am told, was not the same for Stadium or Marina Floating Platform as most of the infrastructure is already there.

For NDP 2000, City Hall was still occupied and a functioning Court. This posed many problems as much of the building was restricted and we did not have much space within the building to house our things that needed to be stored after the rehearsals, example the VIP chairs and other electrical and electronic equipment. Decorating the Grand Old Lady was conceived during our Division Exercise by a designer who was our Bde GFAC and during approval of plan, we presented the façade treatment of City Hall to EXCO Chairman / then Division Commander and currently CDF.

For NDP 2005, City Hall was a shell, the new Court Building was already functioning and we had clear run of the whole building. Infrastructure Committee room was Court 13 and the Judges Chambers were our dining room. We had ample rooms to keep our chairs, equipment and stores. It was easier to manage. Only downside was the elevators were not well maintained and EXCO Chairman and a few sub-committee chairmen were stuck in one of the lifts for almost half an hour. Unless we were going to the rooftop, most of us used the staircase.

For NDP 2005, the then Commander 5 SIB and current Dy Chairman EXCO COL Ho Kok Loke was in charge of the Decorations and true to the task given, adorned the space between the grand columns with scenes and created a beautiful facade. With him taking care of the decorations it helped half the workload that Chairman Infrastructure undertook in NDP 2000.

For both NDP 2000 and 2005, the challenge after each rehearsal was to carry out infrastructure works for the various sub-committees requirements, which had to be fast tracked, as they needed them done as soon as possible to enable rehearsals to take place during the week before the next CR. However, having stated all the challenges and problems needed to complete the infrastructure to support NDP at the Padang, the team that assisted me from HQ 5 SIB for both NDPs carried out their assigned mission excellently. On each rehearsal and especially on the Actual Day when you gaze out onto the Padang from behind the Huge Grand Colonnade of City Hall, you just have to marvel at how everything was going on the very infrastructure base that had been built from zero to the spectacle that was unveiling to the audience at our National Day Parade Celebrations.

As the dust settled on the final day, as you walked away from the Padang, sadly you realise that it is all over and the task of recovery and reinstatement of the Padang was going to start immediately the following day. Part of the tubular stands had to immediately be torn down since they were heading for Sepang Grand Prix. All the stands in front of the Supreme Court, City Hall (inclusive of the VIP section) and St Andrew’s Cathedral had to be removed within ten days after which damage control measures and rectification of the Padang and City Hall landscape had to start before handing back the field to Singapore Recreation Club and Cricket Club. Two weeks after National Day, you could not see any trace of NDP except for the street banners that would not be taken down until the end of August. All in all, you work very hard to set it all up for two and a half months only to tear everything down within two weeks and get the Padang back to normalcy.

The involvement and experience was exhilarating and one be there and do it to feel it. The fact that I am an Architect in private practice helped me a great deal in meeting the task at hand and with the support of the personnel of 5 SIB for both NDP 2000 and 2005; we achieved our mission to build the infrastructure needed to successfully stage the National Day Parade at the Padang.

Hope you enjoyed the post! Take a look at his previous entries, one describing his NDP experience as a school boy and another one posted yesterday on being commanders within the parade.

Malay(SI)a

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 02:25:00 +0000

An Interesting Fact! A Historical Info!

-------------------------

In Collaboration with National Day Celebrations 2009, which also symbolise the independence of Singapore from Malaysia on 9 August 1965.

Here is an interesting post to share with you all about the separation of Singapore from Malaysia.

Many of you might be curious why Malaysia was still named 'Malaysia' after the separation (as the alphabets 'SI' from Singapore were added to 'Malaya' to form the word 'Malaysia' during our merger in 1963).

From the flag of Malaysia, one can see that there are 14 stripes, of equal width, representing the 13 member states and the federal government while the 14 pointed star represents the unity b/w these entities.

However, back in the days when Singapore merged with Malaysia, Singapore was known as the 14th state of Malaysia (tgt with the 13 other states). As such, the flag of Malaysia was designed to include Singapore in it.

Look closely at the flag of Malaysia and one can see 14 stripes of lines on it, the last stripe representing Singapore during the period of merger.

After the separation, Malaysia changed the meaning of the 14th stripe to represent the unity among the 13 different states and the federal government in general. Hence, Malaysia retained its name as 'Malaysia' and not 'Malaya'.

-----------------------

The above entry's kindly contributed by Unchained Memories :)

Was really impressed that he knows this... Sounds very 'sec 3 and 4 social studies' to me but i seriously don't recall reading it (goes to show that i'm not very good in my ss, lol)

hope that everyone enjoys this tidbit of info!

Sharing by our Dy Chairman 2 Exco :)

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:21:00 +0000

Really glad that we get to know what NDP means to this particular commander

(I took the liberty to bold some of the more interesting phrases :)

--------------------------------------

I would like to reflect what taking part in NDP meant to me during my NSR (Reservists) days.

NDP 1984 – Contingent Commander

Venue : Padang

I recall vividly having just taken over my new 1^st year NS Battalion at the end of 1983 upon completing ROSC (Reservist Officer’s Staff Course) and was wondering how to build up camaraderie and unit cohesiveness. The battalion that I had just taken command was a mono-intake battalion that had just gone ORD. I was also informed early in 1984 that my battalion was going to form a contingent for NDP and will be representing 6 Division. The tasking was not in exchange for ICT which was due in the last quarter of 1984 but over an above the normal annual call up.

My decision was to call together the Battalion PSOs and OCs to inform them that we had the honour of representing 6 Division for NDP 1984. The theme for that year was celebrating 25 years of self rule which we had from 1959. I made sure that all the PSOs and OCs were enrolled for the task and made up the first row of the contingent so as to instill a pride of our battalion as an integral contingent. Once they knew that they could not ‘siam’, they in turn volunteered their own men to form the rest of the contingent.

With this collective ‘spirit’, we forged the battalion camaraderie. We had many internal marching sessions in 1 SIR Guillemard Camp twice a week. Attendance was a challenge, but we persevered especially once the combine rehearsals at Paya Lebar Airbase. We established a standing rule that all the contingent participants will be exempted from guard duty during the coming ICT unless they were given ‘extra’ duty.

Those were the days of large number of contingents that formed up at the Padang in the morning hours to celebrate our Nation’s Independence with a Grand Parade. We trained hard all the way during the Military Combined Rehearsals and finally ending up at the Padang for many Rehearsals before the Actual Day. The format back then was to do a Route March from the Padang through the City and end up in the Housing Estates. I remember our route took us to the end of Alexandra Village opposite the old SAFRA Bukit Merah Clubhouse. We always seem to be able to bring out the best when we are in the public eyes. Cannot let 6 Division and our battalion lose to the other contingents is drill standard.

On the Actual Day the hair raising feeling of pride and achievement was at it highest when we all knew that once we reached the end of the route march that morning, it was all over. We were determined to give our best and not let each other down after such a long and tough preparation phase of training … mainly drills and marching in step. The Sergeant Majors did their job well. This was evident that after 3 months of training, we were marching very professionally and proudly bearing the colours of 6 Division and the State Flag. I belief it is easier to march with “rusok senjata” as the swinging of the arms helps provide the kinetic momentum for the next stride. Of course the challenge of keeping the arms swinging in step was the reason for all those preparatory training.

As a contingent commander it was challenging to give the commands especially to halt the column on the Padang or give them the ‘chepat jalan’ order as the noise level was very high and we didn’t have any audio amplifying devices. I was constantly worried that my voice will be the killer of our perfect drill. It was nothing close to that. The battalion was in unison and our drills executed with precision. I guess they listened intently for the commands at the right time and reacted beautifully. Now while watching later parades, I can appreciate the improvements using music to cue the contingents.

The next challenge of being a contingent commander is keeping not too far away from the front of the contingent and in the center while the column is marching. The trick that our Sergeant Major used was simple, the center man in the front row kept calling out to me to ensure that I was dead center and not too far in front. With all the practice runs that we had, we were tight and if you could review those footages of the TV broadcast that year, we were a cohesive unit and did our formation, Army and Nation proud.

NDP 1994 – Parade Commander

Venue : National Stadium

In 1994, we were celebrating 25 years of National Service. This meant from the time the first batch became NSmen (Reservist in those days) in 1969 25 years had passed. It was decided that a NSman be the parade commander for NDP 1994. I was the Parade Commander designate for SAF Day 1994. However, since they were looking for a NSman to be the NDP parade commander, I was chosen and my very good friend COL Johnny Lim was made SAF Day Parade Commander. Incidentally the Parade 2IC for SAF Day that year went on to be the 3^rd NS NDP Parade Commander for 2007, COL See Tow Pak Onn.

It was a great honour for me being very fond of the military and all its tradition to be chosen as the parade commander for National Day. I took the task seriously and knew from the start that it was a great responsibility as well. The entire success of the parade and ceremony segment of the NDP celebrations depended on executed drills called by the parade commander.

I was then Brigade 2IC of 5 Singapore Infantry Brigade. Again there was the requirement to task a battalion to provide the supporting Army contingent from 6 Division. My thoughts went back to 1984 when I was CO and asked one of my OCs back then, LTC Lee Chia Hsing who was a CO in 5 SIB whether he would volunteer. He did and he too experience my own earlier stint as a contingent commander. In fact his then Bn 2IC now COL Lam Charn Whye became the 2^nd NS NDP Parade Commander in 2002. This is testimony to the closeness and camaraderie we have among the NS community, to lead by example and motivate our fellow commanders to take charge when they turn came.

Training to be the Parade Commander was more on an individual basis as the voice training and commands needed to be remembered according to the sequence well before any combine rehearsal starts. The Parade Sergeant Major assisted in training the Guard of Honour and Colour Party while the senior Sergeant Majors helped me out in voice control and sword drill. There were many commands to remember and the whole ceremony sequence. I kept drilling the parade sequence and commands in my head whenever I had spare time. I used to wear my sword belt at home and go through the sequence and commands in front of a mirror. My biggest worry would be to go blank at the wrong time. It would have been an unbearable silence and embarrassment. Fortunately my fears were unfounded. The military training that we all go through prepares us subconsciously to carry out drills. This help me to keep my mental focus which pulled me through the entire parade and ceremony.

On the final rehearsal with the GOH at Khatib Camp, I gathered all the 4 Guard of Honour contingents and gave them a pep talk. In brief I told them that there were going to be 60,000 people at the National Stadium and we will be able to experience what our National Footballers feel when they are on the field performing. We were not going to let this chance of a lifetime slip by with nothing less than a perfectly executed drill by everyone. I promised them that I too will do my best as I urged each one to reach deep down inside and produce the best performance of their lives … and we all DID.

It is such a resounding hair stand feeling when you march onto the field to start the first command for the parade. As I marched through the Military Policemen twirling and throwing their rifles in front of me and hearing the announcement of my name as the Parade Commander over the PA system, the experience was and is still indescribable. The rest was one quick succession of commands and ceremonies that seem to zip by in super quick time. There was never a moment of pause, except those multi-racial songs between the arrival of the VIPs. Before you have time to capture the moment, you are marching down the tartan track with the eyes right cue to the President of Singapore and down and out Gate 2 into an eerie silence outside the Stadium of sudden emptiness that its all over.

In 1994 there was no Route March. Once we marched passed the President and out the Gate 2 to the car park, the parade ended and everyone dispersed. With a quick change I was able to re-enter the Stadium to watch the rest of the Show. There was no time to socialize or wind down after all those months of training. What was lacking was a party for the marching contingents. We should do this so that everyone can let of their steam and high feeling together since we have all peaked on the Actual Day. However, in the name of efficiency and expedient dispersal (so as not to mix with the spectators leaving after the parade) we all part ways immediately after falling out.

I would like to share on brief moment during the inspection when I escorted President Ong Teng Cheong from the saluting dias. I said to him and I quote, “Your Excellency I feel so proud that two Architects are making firsts for this National Day Parade”. He was the first elected President and me the first NS Parade Commander. The other memorable take away from NDP 1994 was the new No.1 uniform which was improved with the removal of the red cumber band and the sword belt tucked under the tunic. We wore the new No.1 for the Actual Day.

I sincerely thought that I had completed the full circle involvement with NDP with the highest point as Parade Commander. But there were other plans which I will share in my next blog when I was roped in as Chairman Infrastructure for the Millennium NDP Parade in 2000.

By Clement Hendricks, Dy Chairman 2 EXCO NDP 2009

-------------------------------

Ever since we started this blog, we've sat down with many people and listened to them as they shared heartwarming anecdotes on their National Day experiences.

Really grew to appreciate the amt of hard work and 'heartwork' that went into every National Day Celebrations :)

Do you?

That Singaporean Smile

noreply@blogger.com (Mr Tinman) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:12:00 +0000

Carefree exuberance

Go the extra mile and put on a smile. Do we Singaporeans practise that? Or are we too caught up with our diurnal activities that we sometimes forget and let the blues get to us?

I was rather troubled one day over certain issues and was walking amidst a large crowd teeming with people rushing about their hectic schedules. While ascending the escalator, I looked up, and all of a sudden a large smiley face materialised before me.

Well, the smile was on a shirt which said "Don't worry, be happy". That ameliorated my bad mood quite a bit somehow. I smiled and thought to myself later on, "That person probably didn't know that by wearing that shirt, it made a difference to someone. That it sort of snapped me out of my reverie".

I guess it's the same with the smiles we can have on our faces. A very powerful expression. If a smile on a shirt can make a difference, what about one that's on a person's jovial face? I've had a gamut of experiences where the other party's smile and kind attitude made my day. It's actually worth reflecting on such things. Singaporeans do smile!

People meet people all the time. So, what's next? The cheery auntie at the canteen always had a smile on her face whenever i came up to patronise her stall. One time, she offered me a glass of warm water as she noticed my lips were cracked and she was concerned. Another time, I was having some buffet and was waiting for the uncle in front to finish taking what he wanted. After he had done so, he grinned and passed me the ladel saying, "Thanks for waiting".

On another occasion, I was at the counter and was about to pay for my licence with cash. I didn't realise that there was a sign stating that payment could only be made by NETs, which i didn't have. Naturally, I became a little agitated when the lady informed me of this. However, she smiled and said that it was ok and that she'd sort it out for me. Service with a smile.

In contrast, I was waiting in the queue at a bubble tea shop. The guy in front of me happened to be a little indecisive and changed his orders twice. The girl who was serving him got impatient and gave a rather repulsive frown. This made the guy roll his eyes in nonchalance.

I suppose boredom will be incipient as we go about doing mundane tasks, daily jobs which seem to be the same each day over time. Perhaps inadvertently, this might affect our mood and we might convey it to those whom we are serving. And so people might feel it's difficult to smile and it's redundant as there's no point in doing so if you only smile on the outside but not on the inside.

Smiles of working people =)

I've learnt that doing mundane tasks and going through similar routines day after day helps in character building. It's vital in building oneself as a person. We all have a role to play in society, in the family etc. So we take pride and joy in what we do and know that this is what we have to do. We appreciate the simple pleasures in life and the familiar new things that we tend to overlook many a time. That makes us smile on both the inside and the outside.

Well, one may think that sometimes people may find it weird that you're smiling at them (Casually). Whether you're a sales person, a stall holder, a business man or even a passer-by, it's always alright to smile. We are all Singaporeans after all, haha. As long as the smile makes a difference to one person, it's worth it. Disregard the fact that some may think it's weird. During the first Combined Rehearsal, there was this young child who noticed I was wearing the red NDP "Come Together" shirt and said "Hello" to me with a grin. "Friendly," I mused, as it reminded me of foreigners who sometimes greet us on the streets when we go to their countries .

So lets give that Singaporean Smile. There's no need to hold back. Lets ruminate on all this as we celebrate our nationhood and as we continue to work for our nation for yet another year (After turning 44). Yes, it will be a busy year for us Singaporeans but I believe we all are capable of sharing that warm attitude, sharing that Singaporean smile.

Smile, it's worth it. It's not an inscrutable concept, but a simple and straightforward one. :-)

Young and elderly can all smile brilliant smiles :-)

If interested, do check out these articles:

Smiles - The Reason Behind this NDP ( A former post )

A Tribute to Maxell Food Centre Hum Jin Pang - An article describing the hard work of people who go about their daily work with pride and joy. ( Contributed by singaporeshortstories)(thanks!)

What Singapore means for him

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 08:38:00 +0000

Today, we have a short write-up by Kishore Mahbubani about what Singapore means for him. He is a renowned academic and is currently the Dean and Professor in the practice of Public Policy at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy. He has authored several books on international issues and has received much acclaim with regards to his insights and critical perspectives.

Here, he gladly gave us a short and sincere passage, candid views and heartfelt reflections. Please enjoy what he has to share with us and maybe, you would like to share what you feel with us too!!

What Singapore means for me - Kishore Mahbubani

The meaning of Singapore is perfectly clear to me because I can easily conceive of alternate paths my life could have taken. Why do I say this? Simple. I could have just as easily been born in Guyana or Suriname, Lagos or Accra, Mumbai or Calcutta. These are the places my first cousins were born in.

When India and Pakistan split in 1947, my Hindu parents and their siblings left Sind. They scattered all over the world. It was a pure historical accident that brought my parents to Singapore. This historical accident saved my life.

I say this because if I had been born in similar impoverished circumstances in the other cities I mention above, I would never have enjoyed the remarkable opportunities provided by Singapore. The combination of Singapore’s social welfare and meritocracy policies saved me and my family.

At the age of six, when I was enrolled in a primary one class in Seraya School, the school principal put me on a special feeding programme because I was technically underweight. Each recess we went into his office to drink from a bucket of milk with a ladle we all shared. After that, I benefitted from bursaries all my life.

When I finished my A-levels in 1966, my mother sent me to work as a textile salesman in High Street. This is what all young Sindhi boys did. I earned $150 a month. Fortunately, I was offered the President’s scholarship. That paid $250 a month. So my mother wisely advised me to take the President’s scholarship instead. That’s how I ended up in University. My life changed forever.

I am confident that if I had not been from Singapore, I would never have gone to University. Indeed, none of my first cousins older than me went to University. Much later a few younger ones did.

But good schooling and a university education was not all that Singapore provided me. For the last 50 years, from self-government in 1959 to 2009, Singapore has enjoyed an enviable record of political stability, economic growth, communal harmony (with the exception of 1964), increased human welfare and ever-increasing educational standards.

As a result of this rapid growth, my life has changed beyond recognition. As a child, my family of six lived in a one-bedroom terrace house. Today, we live in a six bedroom house. If Singapore would not have prospered, neither would have I.

The real meaning of Singapore is always brought home to me when I visit my first cousins. Let me emphasize one thing. They are not suffering. Indeed most of them are far wealthier than I am. But they live in cities or countries which have enjoyed far more turmoil and political instability.
Both Guyana and Suriname are like Singapore. They are multi-ethnic societies. Both have experienced ethnic strife. This strife traumatized my relatives. More recently one of my first cousins experienced a real horror: her son was shot dead while filling gas in a petrol station in Lagos. This is why I truly value Singapore’s stability and safety.

My national day message to my fellow Singaporeans is a simple one: please do not take this stability, prosperity and safety for granted. By all historical odds, Singapore should not have thrived as well as it has. And if we want to continue to beat the odds, we cannot take for granted what we have accomplished.

---------------------------

Thanks, sir, for this personal entry. Really appreciated your insightful reflection :) Some other really cool NDP-related entries below! Go ahead and read them! Find out what our fellow citizens are saying abt this year's NDP !

http://www.terryaki.net/archives/385

http://sylistic.com/main/2009/08/ndp-preview-2009-part-1/

http://claudia.sg/2009/07/ndp-09-roadshows-heartland/

http://xiangyeow.blogspot.com/2009/08/national-day-preview.html

I wish S'pore a H'ppy B'day!!!

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:16:00 +0000

A techno-savvy Singapore, so let it be!

Last sat during the preview, there is a trial run on phone-messaging wishing for S'pore. An invitation to make spectators' greetings known during the parade!

Here r some of the sincere wishes/comments of our fellow spectators at the preview-

Haha! Look below, the blue colour post-it note on the screen. I guess it's very hot for the ppl at the orange sector :P

There is even sms voting! Woah - There r some ppl who actually attended NDP more than 10 times, how lucky... Or perhaps some of these ppl r NDP helpers, just like us :)

U can also broadcast yourselves by sending in videos of your wishes and see them on the digital floating video wall in the Marina Bay! Chk out http://www.wishsingapore.com.sg!

Let's start wishing and leave our marks virtually as part of the show!

Dedication and Perserverance

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Did anyone notice that lately there have been changes to the blog list? Yup! We have decided to create another blogroll exclusively for NDP '09 participants. Since our blog was created, we observed that some of the participants have kindly linked to our blog and we would like to say a big "Thank you!" to you all first.

Personally, we have visited their blogs and read through their entries. It is in fact not easy to have to spend every Saturday on rehearsals. Long hours of training coupled with horrid weather conditions is definitely not one's idea of a relaxing weekend. However, the participants do it gladly and the enthusiasm they exude is definitely contagious. For the post on our visit to the Combined Mass Dress rehearsal at Nee Soon Camp, click here to see them in action.

These participants give it their all for every single rehearsal. For those who had the chance to go down for the Combined Rehearsals at the Marina Platform, you have personally seen the results of their training so far. In fact, they had been practising since morning for some contingents. Take a look at the latest post on the Preview Show!

With the blog list and this post, all of us from the NDPeeps Blogger team would like to salute their efforts and wish them good luck for success in the upcoming actual parade itself!!! Please inform us through mail or shoutbox if you have linked us on your blog. =D

the very first city marchpass! woot~

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The SAF Band all formed up and ready to play some patriotic tunes to lift everyone's morale! :)

The contingents having a quick break after marching off the grand stage. Barely five minutes later, they began their 3.2 km city march! It's seriously draining, trust me! (Was perspiring very badly and I was just strolling alongside! Weather's seriously humid...)

And the marching's began!

Many people were waiting eagerly to take photos of the contingents as they marched past them.

Some vehicles on stand-by, along the city marchpass route... Fret not for the contingents! :)

Some iconic structures the contingents passed...Seriously awed by the image of the building below esp when the white floodlights were on o.o"

Visit this link to view the city marchpass route!

For those who can, do drop by the Marina area to cheer on these contingents!

It would be their second and final march pass for NDP 2009 next sun! Don't miss it!

MUST VIEW THIS VIDEO (esp the end!)

The NDP Preview - We've Come This Far Together

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:32:00 +0000

Update @ 10pm

The whole platform's filled with happy Singaporeans this afternoon!! Everyone's so happy they've gotten themselves places right in the Marina Platform to enjoy the NDP Preview and they have definitely all the reason to, given the show waiting in store for them!

And that is just one part of the platform you seeing here. The show kicked off soon, with the Red Lions descending from the skies!!

It was an exhilarating sight to watch them landing onto the platform one after another. Soon, the show segment started. And we discovered something about the lion dancers that were amongst the crowds. Woah, I wonder what I was doing when I was their age!

Night fell soon and the show slowly unfolded.

Here are some pictures from the different items during Chapter 5.

And one of the hosts actually went on to dance. Guess who it is?? I bet it surprised many to see Suhaimi dancing down there.

Near the end of Chapter 5, we see the performers coming together and how the new stage has made the show more interactive.

Electrico came out to present the NDP Theme Song and I must say the song sounds really good, live in the Marina Platform.

At the end of the show, the performers all come together, united. They have put up a good show today!
And of course, we have the most exciting portion of the show!! The fireworks!!!

Update @ 1pm

The road to NDP

Twists and turns

Sweat, blood and tears

Smiles, laughter, joy

Friendships and bonds made

Experiences unforgettable

Each with his or her own story

Coming Together

To fulfill a common purpose

That pretty much sums up much of the NDP journey! :)

A building like a castle has many components. The brilliant exterior design, the majestic sculptures perhaps, as well as the firm foundation and the robust pillars. All are vital in order for the building to shine. Today's Media Event was about "Behind-the-scenes of NDP". The unsung heroes of NDP, who have been assiduously backing us up throughout this journey, are like the supporting structures of the castle.

But before that, lets share with you our arrival at the heavily guarded castle called the Marina Bay Floating Platform.haha. Seems like security's really warming up in preparation for the real thing next week when all the ministers would be coming down. We have to go through the scans that tourists gotta go through at the airport every time we enter the platform. Haha, times are such that we need to be alert at all times. Haha, reminds me of the latest Harry Potter movie where the characters had to go through certain security measures before entering Hogwarts. Security is important.

These scanners and metal detectors lay dormant for the moment. I presume that in their wake, they will have to tend to a sea of homo sapiens who have come to attend the preview later on in the evening.

Ever vigilant, the police are making their rounds. Nice arrangements of cars :) haha.

The Civil Defence has been called in too! Hmmm, convoy movement?

Alright, and so we proceed on for the Media Event which is to be held at one of the Control rooms upstairs. As you can see, there's the Military Police guarding the lift, ensuring that no one without clearance can make it through.

Ooops, we don't have enough clearance on our pass to enter the golden lift! Thankfully, we managed to obtain clearance from our superiors to proceed on. The more "xx"s one has on the pass as seen at the bottom of the pass, the greater one's ability to roam about the platform.haha.

Okay, the Media Event! This time it was kinda different. The event was held in a restricted section of the platform. Right at the top! That's why we needed clearance to cover the event.

This is Colonel Kenneth, Chairman of Ops and Security, giving a speech. He shares with us about the efforts of the Control team at making sure all is safe and sound via vigilant monitoring of cameras placed around the vicinity. For more information, do check out our post on CR2 where we covered more about Control and security measures. The Colonel also shared with us the hard work of those working behind-the-scenes of NDP.

If you've been following us, we've covered many of these unsung heroes in our previous posts. Here's a tribute to them. :)

Rain or shine, 6am or 11pm, they work hard for us.

The marshallers who direct the traffic so that chaos is kept at bay

The logistics people who bring us the food and water

The Old Chang Kee team who never fails to satisfy our taste buds

The guys from Mr Bean who always help to quench our great thirst

The Medics who ensure we are well taken care of

The Secuirty team that assures us that all is safe

The cleaners who brighten up our day with their hard work

The drivers of the chartered buses who have to wake up at unearthly hours too

The backstage crew who strive to ensure we get the best from the show

The make-up artists who give the performers that sparkling touch

The teachers who have taken the responsibility of bringing the students here

The people who packed the funpacks for whom without the packs won't be fun

The conventional and New Media teams who bring the updates to the masses (haha)

And all who have put their best foot forwrd for NDP :-)

And lastly, lets not forget about the performers for NDP! The many buses have arrived to safely deliver the performers to the stage. The performers have come a long way to bring the show to us! :-)

----------------------------

In the blink of an eye, it's the first of August, what do you See? Do you see many NDP posters around the island rallying Singaporeans to Come Together? Have you seen the "NDP coated" bus? haha. Well, we're all gearing up for the real thing! NDP is just next week and today's the preview. It's been a journey of experiences, a winding road which we've all taken to Come Together to celebrate our nationhood. It's not over yet though, haha.

Today, we'll be glad to share with y'all what happens today at the preview as well as the much anticipated 3.2 km City Marchpass. (Do check out yesterday's post to find out where the contingents will be marching and cool places to station yourselves at to catch the parade) . But before that, we've got an interesting Media Event coming up in about just an hour. This last media event's on "Behind-the-Scenes of NDP", giving tribute to the many unsung heroes. Do check back around lunch time for a morning update where we'll give insight into this event! Lastly, we'll have another update at night.

Trace the footsteps of our very own NDP journey! Here are 6 episodes of the past NDP rehearsals and NE shows for your perusal. Do check it out! =)

CR1@ our very First Combined Rehersal!
CR2@ How it all CONNECTs

CR3@Come together, come Rejoice 3
NE1@ The very very first NE Show!

NE2@ NE 2, the NExt CHAPTER of our NDP journey

NE3@ The Finale of the NE Show Trilogy

Do keep your eyes opened and stay tuned for updates from our blog today! Enjoy!:-)

Places to watch the Parade (particularly when you have no tickets)

noreply@blogger.com (teacherlet) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:00:00 +0000

Hi, everybody! Many people didn't manage to receive tickets to the parade -kind of disappointing - but we see no reason why they couldn't be part of the celebrations simply because they don't have the tickets...

There's such an incredible array of events and activities happening all around Singapore so, take heart, and join them! :)

1) Our Civil and Military Defence - the City marchpass

These determined people have been training ceaselessly, burning almost every single Saturday since March, to rehearse their marching... So watch them move in sync around the city!

Here's a picture of the route they'd be taking, so position yourself along this route on 0809!

2) Jetting waters - Naval display

There will be some nifty maneuvers by some seacrafts along the banks of our Singapore river. Chairman of Show advised - only half-jokingly - for the spectators to bring along their umbrellas... The fountains of waters are magnificent! Whoosh, Catch them in action!

Places to locate yourself: around the waters of the floating platform

3) Supersonic speeding - Aerial displays

I was actually trembling in my seat when the aircrafts tore across the sky in thunderous motions, the shockwaves causing everything - my friends, my seat, even me! - to vibrate uncontrollably. Bet that everyone around the platform can feel it too... so join us and feel this bone-rattling sensation!

Places to locate yourself: around the Marina Bay

4) Showers of golden flames - Fireworks

Fireworks, this year's, are like flares of golden flames, sometimes drifting down in lazy motions, sometimes scattering in explosive actions. Ahh, mes-mer-rising....

Places to locate yourself: around the city, particularly where there aren't any tall obstructing buildings; in the comfort of hotel rooms ard the city (if you can afford it); from your family flat (if you know you can at least see some fireworks partially)

5) All our other online platforms!

I'm sure everyone's been following our NDPeeps@Facebook, NDPeeps@Twitter, NDPeeps@Flickr, NDPeeps@Youtube and our very own NDPeeps@Blogspot. So do continue to lend us your support on that very special day!

There's a spectrum of activities occuring throughout Singapore, beyond what's mentioned above. Immerse yourself in these events with your family and friends; Spread the joy!

Find out more about these events:
everyone Expresses!
everyone Explores!
everyone Cares!
everyone Celebrates!
everyone Connects!

ENJOY! :D

Chairman Exco on What's Up =)

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 08:50:00 +0000

Click on the image above to read the full post!

Have you put up your Flag yet?

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:00:00 +0000

I was just strolling around the estate when suddenly, it struck me that a number of households and buildings have put up the Singapore flags already. Have you?

Update: was very flattered when my cousin told me that he's tasked by his school to reflect on the blog entries. haha :)

TOUCH Motivators

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:00:00 +0000

The motivators are really quite incredible people. Don't understand how they can keep cheering, waving their hands, smiling, screaming enthusiastically and bouncing about. We suspect that it's because they simply enjoy the excitement they elicit from the audience! Who wouldn't? :)

Their limitless energy's impressive. Below's some photos of them at work/play:

Balloons! Free ones for all!

More Balloons!

And even more! Yayy~

One of the many p5 kids who received the balloon sculpture. Look at that radiant smile!

Taking a little break from balloon sculpting to pose fore a photo :)

The enthusiastic cheering :) Everyone's getting hyped up!

Happy Birthday, Singapore!

And here's an interview with them:

Transformation of Marina Bay Floating Platform

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 09:44:00 +0000

As u know the marnia floating platform isn't as it is before hand. Let's have a look how it had gradually tranformed to it's current form!

Now, presenting to u the final product!

Smiles! - the reason behind this NDP

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 09:50:00 +0000

Instead of relaxing in a corner, my friend and I were rushing about to gather material for our next posts. We paused for a while to view the Parade and started chatting about this year's NDP. For some reason, the conversation became quite serious (despite the fact that we were practically shouting at each other over the cheers of the audience).

'Aren't you bored with seeing so many of the rehearsals?'
'Nope, each rehearsal is different.' (gesturing to the audience)

Yes, indeed.

This blog was conceived after hours of planning, hours of meetings and hours of dealing with the dreadful html. To be honest, there have been many disputes, some disagreements, much frustrations.

We were disheartened sometimes, receiving much flake from even our friends and family (esp. during the initial stages). We were irritated that sometimes each photo took half-an-hour to upload (sometimes even resulting in an 'uploading failed' -.-'" ).

It's watching the audience smile that gives us reason to continue working. Their smiles are encouraging, boosting our morale.

Smiling
A language beyond borders
One that connects hearts
Unspoken, silent
But undeniably powerful
It brings Joy, Happiness
A rainbow of colours
to both the party who smiles
and the party who sees the smile

THE REASON THAT KEEPS US GOING:

Each weekend, we look forward to watching our fellow citizens smile. Do you?

The Finale of the NE Show Trilogy!!

noreply@blogger.com (NDPeeps) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 23:56:00 +0000

Evening update @ 10pm

Here we r again to bring u news on our National Day celebrations! We r like the SAF version of MediaCorp, haha!

The sky has not darkened but the traffic has thickened...

"The early bird catches the worm". These early birds get some buns and a Funpack each instead :P And definitely, a choice for seats :D

Wanna know which is the best seat? This is! Unfortunately, u & I will not get to sit there, Awww :O

Ok, everyone in ur seats already?

Why the umbrellas? It's not raining, just that the sun is rather scorching:)

We r indeed reaching out! Not all Singaporean are forgotten, even those from homes and hospices are invited to the parade!

Lets get the show started!

This is just a pictorial sneak peek of the show. If u wanna know more, stay in tuned with us for the National Day Preview nxt wk! One of our focuses during the preview will be on the fireworks, so watch out and be dazzled:)

----------------------------

Afternoon Update @ 6pm

Everyone wants to be a star in some way. Why not be a star and shine for Singapore? :) So who are the stars of this NE show trilogy? Well, there are many bright stars shining for the show! Here are some of them.
Nope, this is not an art room. It's the holding area where the make-up artists are doing their best to make sure the participants look good and radiant for the show!
Punctilious in their work, the make-up crew will miss no spot!

The hair-spray crew. Once the face is done, it's time to do the hair! A galore of red and white hair-spray tubes. Enticing, eh? haha.The TOUCH Motivators never fail to show their exuberance with their "Carebear" garb. These people brighten the atmosphere for the show, haha.

A riot of colours. These stars are getting ready for the show. A lot of chatter goes on backstage before the show actually.
Haha, looks like we have young stars and starlets too! They're beaming away! =)Here're what goodies the participants get. We got them too. It comprises a potpourri of items, ranging from facewash, hair-do, hair spray and other hygiene products! Some measures to combat H1N1? Singapore is a clean city indeed and so are her people, haha.

-------

And now to all you Liverpool fans out there, we're gonna unveil the surprise to you! We thank you for staying with us. We've been talking about the stars of NDP..now just a little deviation..lets bandy about some international stars. Well, the Liverpool team has come to Singapore for a friendly match and they were right here at the F1 pit! Wish you could have been there but weren't? Don't be too disappointed, here are some pictures for you to savour, haha. We couldn't get too close to them as they're afraid we're terrorists dressed in red, lol jking.
The bodyguards of the team. Hunky and burly people to suit the job. Their shirts read "Profitable Protection". Indeed. They get to protect such acclaimed people.
And here they are, the Liverpool stars. They're tall people who tower over us Singaporeans!
Like us, they are all in red too! An uncanny coincidence? haha.
It seems that they went on a leisurely cruise around the Singapore River to Clarke Quay and back. I hope they enjoyed the ride as they basked in the warmth of the gleaming sun. A change in climate for them!

We were kindly asked to distance ourselves from the drop-off point and so here we were posing with the placard with the boats in the background.

Here are some videos for you ardent Liverpool fans. Pardon us for some of the shaky moments of the video camera. The videographer's an avid Liverpool fan and he was probably quivering with excitement upon seeing the stars.

Some time after they left, something equally fascinating arrived! These are the artillery gismos. They will be used to fire off heavy cannon shots during the Presidential inspection of the many contingents.
Back to the platform! The somber Military Police inadvertently smiles to express his heartfelt wishes for Singapore as shown by the placard. lol. (Click to enlarge)

Alright, we have the disciplined stars of the show! The marching contingents are having their usual rehearsals. Well, having come all the way from their schools, or camps, to Nee Soon Camp, and then finally to the floating platform, it has been one odyssey to relish!Being a star isn't easy. You've gotta put your best foot forward at all times in order to shine. The strict Sergeant Major is pointing that out.
But they always have a radiant smile on their faces. They know what they're doing is for the nation and it's worth it. :)

A brilliant array of colours can be seen from the myriad funpacks placed on the VIP seats. A good deal to have in addition to watching the performances!

And so the marching stars continue. Subsequently, they've gotta march back to the holding area to allow other participants to use the stage.

Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the vermilion-coloured Civil Defence vehicle and the robust drummers (Who have to carry such enormous drums that nearly eclipse their line of sight. haha.)
And so they carry on. But they keep their heads held up high and in fact, they're singing Army songs with pride in unison. I guess it's to boost their morale and to keep their spirits up high for the nation!
Check this out. Impeccable precision is observed as they march.

Indeed, the many stars for NDP 09 do shine brightly for Singapore. "Look at our faces they shine brightly in the sun" -Lyrics from our theme song! :-)

----------------------------

Morning Update @ 1pm

This morning, at the Floating Platform, we have had the rare sight of the whole NDP'09 EXCO coming together. They have gathered to recite the Singapore Pledge in unison.

They also took a group shot together, sitting down in front of the screen with the Singapore Flag.

One of the contingents had already started their practice for the morning and the sweltering sun was unrelenting. For those who are wondering what is the coil-like structure in the background, it is the pathway leading to the Integrated Resort that is currently being built. In fact, it is modelled after the double-helix structure of DNA.

At about noon over at the F1 Pit Building, most of the contingents have settled for lunch. While having lunch, there is a television programme projected at the front for them to enjoy.

And here, we have the flag party resting during their lunch break, with the flags neatly rolled up.

Some of the contingents have just arrived and just entered the F1 Pit Building. We can expect much more action in the afternoon and please stay tuned for the surprise we'll be having in store for you all later!

----------------------------

Today we have the 3rd and final NE show! We are going to present to you with more sights and sounds of the parade this year - feast your eyes on the different segments of the show and watch how the kids enjoy the parade. On top of that, we have a surprise in store today!! All we can say now is all Liverpool fans do stay with us. =D Things are only going to get more exciting and for everyone at home or anywhere else following us, we'll bring you nothing but the good stuff!! =D

As usual, we'll be having our updates at the following times:
Morning Update @ 1pm
Afternoon Update @ 6pm
Evening Update @ 10 pm

Want to read our other Combined Rehearsals/ NE Shows posts? Their links are stated below... Enjoy!:
CR1@ our very First Combined Rehersal!
CR2@ How it all CONNECTs
CR3@ Come together, come Rejoice 3
NE1@ The very very first NE Show!

NE2@ NE 2, the NExt CHAPTER of our NDP journey

Find out more in our updates throughout the day!