Sad Chinese New Year

Every since I could remember, Chinese New Year has always been one of my most favorite holiday/celebration. It’s the occasion with the biggest pay out (Hong baos). Although I may not look the part, my paternal grandma is actually Chinese. So every eve we gather for a reunion dinner. I call it the red packet session. But as age is catching up with my granny, she decided to cancel the dinner. I was heart broken. Not only about the lost of income but also at fact that I didn’t get to meet my paternal relatives whom I very seldom get together with.

Once a year or twice at most (mother’s day) do I get to rub shoulders with my dad’s side. And boy are we a sight to behold. Like a multi-racial campaign, my dad and his siblings decided to marry into every race. My dad married Sikh (duh), first uncle married Malay, Second Chinese, first aunty Australian (Caucasian), another aunty Eurasian and so on. I’m guessing we are the ultimate Singapore family. We reflect Singapore best if you know what I mean (Regardless of race, language or religion).


Too make an already depressing CNY worst, lady luck decided to dump me at the gambling table. Losing heavily on 3 different occasions, I’ve now been reduced to eating grass and drinking toilet water. So much for new shoes, I’m on the verge of selling the ones I have. Sigh. I should have paid more attention to those gambling ads on TV. Ah well, live and learn right? Besides losing the shirt on my back I was also robbed of all the CNY goodies. Have not eaten even a slice of bak kwa yet. Its not Chinese New Year till you have had bak kwa.

Went for steamboat at Jalan Bahar though. It sucked!! Never thought I would miss Marina south this much. Oh yea, at the steamboat an elder cousin of mine chided me for not wishing her happy new year. She is a maternal cousin but she married a half Chinese (half Indian) guy. I was stumped, if anything I’m the one with real Chinese roots. But hei if it makes her happy right. So I just wished and boy I didn’t regret it. Was rewarded with a red packet for playing along. : P I’m not really sure what the whole fuss is about.

One thing is for sure, my maternal side will never receive a red packet from me on CNY. Firstly its my grandma who is Chinese not me. And secondly Sikhs have their own new year. They will get their “red packets” then. Even if I were to marry a Chinese woman, the rules will still apply. If the missus decides to play Santa Claus then that her choice. I would die if I decided to shower “red packets” on every occasion. Remember the multi-racial family thing. Its financial suicide. Even if its once a year. Hari Raya, CNY, Baisakhi, Diwali, Christmas etc. Catch my drift. ; P

Almost there

Last Thursday, was a huge day in my poly life. It was the day where I show cased what I have learnt, in my 3 years at the school, through my final year project. The open house attracted different people from all over. Other students, families, friends, investors, lecturers, etc. Both local and abroad. It also marked the fact that it is almost over. Our Ngee Ann journey that is.


As I tried to charm people with my 3D vision videos (that’s my project). I couldn’t help but feel over the moon with the compliments of good it was. And yes, I love attention and blowing my own trumpet. But this time I mean it. A big ‘kahuna’ who was being showed around by the DIRECTOR OF ME DIVISION IN NGEE ANN was so impressed by the project he asked if I would consider doing something for him. He was going Houston for some fair and said he would like to exhibit my work. My jaws dropped and all I could muster was a faint ‘huh’ and an award winning “blur like sotong” look. Seeing drool forming in the corner of my lips, the director decided to step in and save me any more embarrassment.


My mind was a little fuzzy by the offer and I don’t remember what the director said but I remembered before the “kahuna” left he smiled and said, “If you are interested, just tell the director”. Again, the only thing that came out was ‘huh’. That aside I also spoke to my dream gal for the first time (since the first day of school). I say dream because I know nothing about her, so everything I think she is, are all made up. Like her love for helping the needy, her support for Liverpool, her bad taste (I wouldn’t have got her if it was good right?), etc. She will never guess how breath taking she is to me. How I can see myself holding her in my arms night after night. That smile. I would climb mountains for that smile.



I didn’t invite anyone for the open house. Truth is I’m not sure anyone would have come. And this being an important event for me (and how proud I am of what we have achieved), I was not prepared to be turned down with things like “so far” or “must I go”. But for what its worth, Samuel’s parents and Lance girlfriend came. Lol, sad man. ; p
At the end we had a great dinner, KFC, pizza and all. My diet went out the window for that evening. It was time to celebrate. The feeling was surreal. It felt like yesterday I was walking into the school for the first time. And with the curtains closed on the FYP, I can’t help but feel so bitter sweet. What has life install for me next? What is my next destination or adventure? Only time will tell. For now I need to concentrate on my final 2 module. Happy new year everyone. May this be the best one yet.

Eye opener

This is written by a 17 year old mass com student from ngee ann poly.. A real thought provoking read.. Enjoy..

Awaiting Singapore’s moment of change
Thursday, 6 November 2008, 8:50 am 251 views
Dhevarajan Devadas / Guest Writer

On November 4, we all witnessed history being made. The US elected its first ever black president. A nation that once regarded its black citizens as slaves has elected an African American to the nation’s highest office. I salute Mr Obama for his inclusive and positive campaign that has invigorated the normally apathetic youth voters to come out in droves to exercise their democratic right to vote.


His victory speech in Grant Park, Chicago, struck a chord in me with its message of inclusiveness and bipartisanship. I find this severely lacking in Singapore. PAP leaders don’t really bother with campaigning really hard and fighting for votes. They appeal to Singaporeans to support them during campaigning and then spend the next five years talking down to us, making important decisions without meaningful consultation (remember the casino issue?) and chiding us for expecting the government to help when we are in a crisis (minibonds and high notes issue).
While Obama vows that “to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn - I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your President too”, former PM Goh Chok Tong openly threatened constituencies that voted for the opposition that their HDB estates would “become slums”. His exact words were, “Your [housing development] through your own choice will be left behind. They become slums. That’s my message”.
He said this on Nomination Day in 1996. He had the audacity to threaten Singaporeans because he was confident that Singaporeans would not complain too aggressively against such blatant discrimination and would vote for the PAP anyway.


Obama also graciously thanked his opponent John McCain for his congratulations and promised to work together with him in the future. I can only dream that PM Lee can thank his opponents for a worthy and challenging campaign. He is highly unlikely to stand in a rally and say, “I thank my worthy opponents from [insert political party] and promise to work closely with the opposition to ensure the progress and prosperity of this nation which we all call home”. PAP leaders are never really gracious anyway.


The PAP titled its 2006 election manifesto “Staying Together, Moving Ahead”. But it has failed to live up to this promise.
1. It has denied our gay community the right to equality.
2. It has failed to ensure that the rights of all Singaporeans to freedom of speech, assembly and association are protected.
3. It has failed to keep the population informed by not disclosing information such as GIC and Temasek Holdings’ full financial records, the breakdown of HDB flat costs and even the financial statements of town councils that invest our money.
4. It has denied the rights of Potong Pasir and Hougang residents to public housing upgrades available to PAP constituencies, violating their right to equality.
5. It has prevented non-PAP politicians from playing a decisive role in Singapore politics by trying to create and maintain political hegemony. This denies Singaporeans our right to take part in public affairs and isolates us from the political space and process.


PAP leaders, especially MM Lee, love to claim that the Western model of democracy is bad for Singapore as it is too individualistic and that Singapore’s model safeguards the welfare of society as a whole ahead of the individual. Barack Obama has shattered this lie. He has shown that when the situation demands it, Americans can and will elect a president who promotes the welfare of society as a whole while at the same time protects their fundamental liberties.
Obama is promising to do in America what the PAP has consistently failed or refused to do in Singapore. As a Singaporean youth who will be eligible to vote in 4 years time, a message of hope, inclusiveness and change appeals to me more than the message of political restrictions, blatant discrimination and threats.


I await Singapore’s Obama and our moment of change.