Public Education On Herbs ?

Some resident(s) or physician(s) staying near block 410, Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10 are probably anxious that traditional chinese herbal plants might slip into oblivion. I stumbled upon these small plots of herbal plants with their chinese names written on plastic strips this afternoon.
























I recognised some of the plants because of my childhood experience with herbal plants whenever my mom brought me along to her colleague's house in my neighbourhood. Her father was a chinese physician, and tended his clients' wounds with the wide array of herbal plants in his garden.

I had been treated with the leaves and flowers from herbal plants, and fully recovered from the cuts and other wounds during my childhood days. To these days, I always stop by any familiar herbal plant; and reminisce about the good old days.

One Faith Holds The Ultimate Verity Of Religion ?

Amazingly, mom was the first person that introduced me to the catholic church when I was probably 3-year-old. It was on a Sunday morning when mom walked me up Kim Chuan Road to a white-painted catholic church, and sat with me in the sanctuary. I could not remember what actually went on around me, but I remember a nun dressed in white attire moved over to engage me. Probably on her suggestion, mom encouraged me to move forward to join the other children. I backed off. Mom chuckled at my shyness. The nun probably sat with us for a while before moving on to others. More importantly, I was impressed with the rich colours of the card depicting Mother Mary that the nun gave to me, and that deeply-felt experience had, somehow, stayed with me ever since. I was too young to readily identify the portrait as that of Mother Mary until many years later. First and last visit !

Within walking distance from my house was a very popular temple at Lorong Koo Chye, and I used to accompany my mother and first aunt to pray to the deities and watch the marathon chinese operas (Hokkien and Teochew).

They used to stretch for weeks on end. I was barely 10-year-old then. Businessmen and hawkers from all over Singapore offered giant joss-sticks and candles that burned for days and nights during the temple's anniversaries and deities' feast days.

The temple is more popularly known as Koo Chye Pa Sheng Hong Temple. The name bears reference to its original location in the village (Pa) of Lorong Koo Chye. Sheng Hong refers to the deity (popularly known as the City God by the Hokkien devotees) that the temple is dedicated to.  The temple had since moved to Arumugam Road, off Paya Lebar Road; and the site given up for private development.

I was probably 10 years old when mom dreamt of the Buddha, and shared the details with her supervisor at Hiap Hong Pottery, Upper Paya Lebar Road. Through her suggestion, mom paid regular homage to the Buddha at The Thousand Lights Temple on the first day of every lunar new year. It is located at Race Course Road.

My brother and I would tag along with her. We never failed to try our hands on the Wheel of Fortune, and were anxious to learn what the divine predictions had to advise for the ensuing year.
Two brothers, Aw Boon Har and Aw Boon Par who founded the popular Tiger Balm ointment were the patrons who saw to its completion. The temple has a huge concrete tiger (the name, Boon Har was supposed to be the epitome of the animal's characteristics) on one side, and a leopard (Boon Par) on the other.

     

               

During my secondary school days, I was involved in the Youths for Christ activities. My classmate, S J Han had approached me to join the group for morning prayers at the basket-ball court once, and I followed up with their regular Friday fellowship at Upper Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church. About twenty of us would start off the session with Praise and Worship, followed by Testimonies and sharing of other experiences before breaking up for fellowship over simple snacks and drinks.

There was once when a more senior member, Aaron Ang invited me over to his house at Lorong Koo Chye, and asked me whether or not I was ready to receive Christ after some evangelization efforts. Reluctantly, I recited some simple prayers of repentance of my sins and receiving of Jesus Christ into my life, after him. He offered me the christian name, Timothy; but I preferred on adopting the name, David.

That was all about it. No further development after I left the school. I love hymns and christian songs, but I was fearful of giving up all my traditional practices of worshipping my ancestors, and abstaining from other non-christian values and customs. Besides, I was respectful of all other religions, customs and beliefs then; and I had no wish to discontinue my disposition and orientation.

I did not attend any church, instead I continued to go to temples occasionally and kept up with my other pursuits.

In my mid-twenties, I decided to learn more about Buddhism; and approached my contemporary in the government service for some materials on Buddhism.

She offered me a book which I found great interest in reading, and appreciating the precepts and other fundamentals of Buddhism.

My interest in Buddhism intensified, and soon I found myself attending Buddhist temples and libraries for talks, dialogue sessions, etc. Over time, I realised that my values and convictions about life and the divine were perfectly in line with Buddha's teachings.

It was about the same time when I took an interest in finding out more about God's will on my future. I took a great interest in divination, and it was this pursuit that led me to many other temples and faiths.

Around 1985, my career was in jeopardy when my employer was beset with financial difficulties.

The ebb and flow dragged on for more than a year until 1987 when a white knight came to rescue the company from receivership.

The economy was not doing well, and finding an alternative job did not come easy then.

It was divination that set my mind at ease each time the fate of the company went before the court for a decision on possible receivership.

Depending on one deity was not sufficient to appease my apprehension, and I consulted one deity after another for verification of what was likely to be the outcome of the court's decision.

There was one deity that I was particularly grateful of - the 'Nenek Kong'. She was a legendary princess of muslim origin, and her brother, better known as 'Natoh Kong' is more widely worshipped at local taoist temples.

Although a muslim, she was able to converse in any language or dialect through a chinese medium - a teochew aunty residing at Hougang Avenue 5.

Her divination was comforting and reliable. Her divination of what would happen to my career on the arrival of the white knight was spot on - I was transferred from the internal audit department to retail operations.

On one occasion, she had left instructions for me to 'process' a talisman that she had prepared for me to be 'consumed' on a certain date in the ensuing month. I was puzzled by her pick of date, but I realised on the appointed date that it was the first day of assuming my managerial position in the retail operations.

As if that was not enough, I continued to seek out other deities; and chanced upon the Chee Tong Temple, then located at Bukit Timah Road - within walking distance from Newton circle.

I was thumbing through the Yellow Pages in my office when I chanced upon the temple's listing. It was raining then, but my colleagues (two of them) and I decided to trace the temple from its listed address during lunch-time. The caretaker came out to receive us when my colleague's car pulled into the premises. We made some enquiries, and took some cursory look at the relatively small (about 1-foot tall) dark-wood sculptured deities.

I followed up subsequently on my own visits to the temple on nights (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) when there was consultation before the presiding deity. I enquired on the background of the deities and temple, practices, beliefs, philosophy, mysteries and mystic symbols, ceremonies, and the likes during my mingling around with the devotees and disciples. I learned fast, and was able to help them in selected chores.

Soon, I was approached by a committee member to register for a 'baptism of sort'. It was a rare opportunity, but one was forthcoming then.

I remembered asking for more time to consider the offer of brotherhood under the three deities or grandmasters as all devotees were called upon to recognise upon acceptance.

Many years had lapsed since the last recruitment, but the presiding grandmaster had decided on another intake to coincide with the happy occasion of moving into new premises at Hougang Avenue 3. I am proud to witness the moving over. It was meticulously planned and implemented with precision as instructed by the presiding grandmaster with regard to timing and procedures.

There was a strong feeling of kinship between the disciples, devotees and volunteers. I did not hesitate any further when the reminder on registration came once again at the new temple.

Prior to the above, I used to queue up at the popular Kwan Yin Temple (see above photo) at Balestier Road before 5.30 am to seek the 'Goddess of Mercy' divination when the medium was alive.

The 'Goddess' had once advised me to pray to the popular Earth deity (more popular known as Tua Peh Kong in Hokkien) at Balestier Road (see photo on the left) to help me avoid the many obstacles that my life would be fraught with.

The Ubin Island Buddhist Monastery now located at Sengkang West Avenue.The Pulau Ubin Buddhist Monastery derived its name from its original location on the island.

I used to take the ferry at Changi Village to seek divination from the popular monk, 'Boonsu' when he was staying at the monastery. He walks with a limp, and has since left the monastery.

The Chee Hwan Kog Temple, formerly from Flower Road, now located at Anchorvale Walk.)

Consultation used to be held on Monday evening( Sunday's afternoon nowadays), and had to be preseded by some 5-minute chanting in Teochew.

Next, the appointed disciples would gather in groups of 5's around a 2 feet x 2 feet square shallow wooden-box to attend to the residing deity and visiting deities.

The leader would partner another disciple to hold a 1 - 2 feet long catapult-like wooden branch to write onto the sand in the wooden-box whatever chinese characters that the presiding deity might dictate to the leader.

His partner merely held onto the wooden branch to facilitate the writing. Another disciple would read aloud the character for the recording disciple to jot down on a piece of paper which would eventually be pasted on the notice board for the information of the disciples and guests.

Together, the characters would form a poetic message of whatever that the deity might want to convey to the organising committee, Honorary Secretary, the public about some current trends, etc.

A short interval would ensue before consultation was to be opened to the public. For every consultation, the reading disciple would have to read aloud the name, age, address and subject-matter before the deity could proceed to give his divination, character by character.

Amazingly, the deity would use the name of the enquiring person or devotee to form his divination. It might be vertically, horizontally or diagonally! I heard that there was once when a professor from a local university challenged the deity to some poetic exchanges, and left in great admiration of the unbelievable.

It was a progression of sort when I started making efforts to engage in sutra-chanting around 1987. Through a fellow disciple from Chee Tong Temple, I tried a group who gathered at Lian Shan Shuang Lin Monastery at Kim Keat Link, Toa Payoh on Sunday morning to chant the sutra in Hokkien.

With the confidence gained through participating with this Hokkien-speaking group, we went on to join up with the Mandarin group; and eventually to other Buddhist temples. In the main, these would include the Bright Hill's Monastery at Bright Hill Drive, off Upper Thomson Road; the Buddhist Lodge at Kim Yam Road, off River Valley Road; and the Ponggol Buddhist Monastery then at Jalan Woodbridge, off Yio Chu Kang Road (now at Anchorvale Walk, off Sengkang East Road).

I was never far away from the Lord even when I decided to seriously embrace Buddhism as my faith way back in 1979. The inner stir to celebrate each Christmas Eve at Novena Church was unmistakenly strong. Came 1998, I decided to give it a try for a hopefully better life as a christian.

Half of my liveable life has gone past without much of an improvement !

Obstacles !   Frustrations !   Desperation !

As a buddhist/taoist, I used to consult and receive divinations that my life would be strewn with obstacles. On reflection, I have had a good share of them.  Self-prophecy ?   Why bother to disconcern the truth when time could be running out !

Submit to the Lord might be the better way to go for the remaining half of my life on earth, I thought. I started attending regular Sunday evening mass at Novena Church, and felt invigorated through the process.

I decided to sign up for the Rite for Christian Initialization for Adults (RCIA) classes at Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea when I was posted by my company to the neighbourhood. I did not quite enjoy the first few sessions, and when I was posted away to another workplace; I abandoned the course as well.

But, I did not abandon the church. The calling had, probably, begun; and there was no turning back.

When I chanced upon an invitation like the banner on the left, I went ahead to sign up with Novena Church for the RCIA for a second chance to know the Lord better.

The once-a-week deliberation was just as boring, but the fellowship was great. I soldiered on, but skipped several sessions and the retreat at Mount Vernon, Singapore when my moonlighting schedule stood in the way.

I probably did not qualify for the baptism because of my absenteeism. Father Simon Tan called me once toward the end of the course, and probably to ascertain whether or not I was ready to be considered for the baptism.

He probably felt more assured of my readiness to accept Christ after the telephone-conversation because I was duly baptized together with my cohort at St Joseph Church on 31 March 2002.

Why have I given so much more space and efforts to 'Before Christ' ?  Simple.  I spent most of my past years indulging in non-christian faiths.  I still hold fond memories of the rich experiences of indulging in the other faiths.

As to whether or not one faith has all the answers to what we seek to know or for in this secular world, I believe that I never will know the outcome as far as my conscious could fathom ...... 


P.S.   ST April 9, 2011


Journalist Terence Tan shared in Faith in tolerance ......

"On the first day of the Chinese New Year 2011, I lit a joss stick for my late grandfather, more than two decades after he passed away.

Like my mum, I no longer have any reservations about visiting Taoist shrines or offering joss sticks to dead relatives.

I still attend church regularly but in my household, we will serve a 'more inclusive' interpretation of Christianity."





Read Changing Mindset on Religion

Food For Thought On What Could Become Of Singapore

Our forefathers who migrated to Malaya and Singapore in the late 1800s and early 1900s fended for themselves.  They built their own businesses and social organizations; they established schools.

.............Most stayed in their adopted country. ...........Today, migration is economics driven.  The best and the brightest move around the world searching for higher paying jobs.  We risk having them use us as a stepping stone.  Foreign fathers may advise their sons born in Singapore to leave when they reach the national service age of 18.

Singapore will be left with the second tier of average people.  Educationally, they would hardly measure up to the Singapore average.  When they are given citizenship and the right to vote, they will use their new-found electoral power to demand equal access to social services as other Singaporeans.  The difference is existing citizens would have paid for those social services over a lifetime of tax payments; the new citizens would not.

The population planners need to remember that international economic competitiveness is now knowledge-based.  It is no longer a numbers game.  Why the haste in adding to the population?  Do we have the absorptive capacity to accommodate a million new people within a decade?

I believe we should make haste slowly.  We should avoid repeating the 1960s mistake of "stopping at two" - but this time in reverse.

The above is an excerpt from a "fireside chat" delivered by former senior civil servant, Ngiam Tong Dow to the Singapore chapter of the World Presidents' Organization; and published by The Straits Times, titled "Lest we become strangers in our own land" on Sept 24, 2009.

There are now a total of 4.84 million people living in Singapore.

Of these, 35 per cent are foreign-born: new citizens, permanent residents(PRs), and non-residents. In the first six months of this year(2008), Singapore granted citizenship to 9,619 foreigners. The total number of new citizens since 2001 is 81,553. There are 478,200 PRs here.

Figures from the National Population Secretariat (NPS) indicate they tend to be better-educated than born-and-bred Singaporeans. Take those granted PR and citizenship this year, for example: 77 per cent of the new PRs and 62 per cent of the new citizens aged 20 and above have post-secondary education. The corresponding figure for existing Singapore citizens is 36 per cent. The NPS says most are from South-east, South and East Asia.

Public data shows that the number of new immigrants from South Asia is so significant that it has caused a shift in the ethnic make-up of the population.

Ethnic Indians now comprise 8.9 per cent of the resident population, which is made up of both citizens and PRs, up from 7.1 per cent in 1990. The bulk of foreigners here are non-residents. Their numbers have risen to 1.2 million - an all-time high.

Within this pool, there are two groups.

• 
  
  The first is here on a transient basis. This group is made up of work permit holders here to work as construction workers and maids. As of December last year, there were 757,000 work permit holders.
  
  
  

• 
  
  The second group of people are regarded as potential PRs and new citizens. There are 143,000 such foreigners here on employment passes and another 85,000 foreign students. NPS stresses that the criteria for securing a Singapore passport are "no less stringent" than before.
  
  
  

But, Rikvin Consultancy which helps facilitate immigration here, observes that the time it takes to obtain permanent residency has fallen. In the past, employment pass holders would apply for permanent residency only after working here for two years.

"Now, they can apply after just six months - and about 60 to 70 per cent will get it."

If Singapore stopped accepting immigrants right now, deaths among citizens and PRs would overtake births in 12 years, says veteran demographer Saw Swee Hock.

Prof Saw stated emphatically: "We need foreigners, forever and ever." Singapore Management University economist Hoon Hian Teck said that with the growing prominence of the services sector, the shortfall in skilled labour has become more acute.

"In addition, the economy has undergone an important shift from being a technology follower to one that also creates new technologies." That means placing a high value on skilled researchers, both local and foreign.

In an interview last year, National Population Committee chairman Wong Kan Seng calculated that for the economy to grow at 6 per cent annually, Singapore needs an extra 87,300 workers each year.

Some experts said that one way to keep the economy growing is to increase labour productivity.......... Government leaders have sought to remind Singaporeans that Singapore has always been an immigrant society.

Prof Saw, however, draws a distinction between the first-generation immigrants and today's. "When our grandparents came here, they were pushed by poverty. Though some went back, many stayed on to make a living, and their children were brought up as locals," he said. "Today, we don't know how many of those who come in will continue to stay," he said, noting that many are highly mobile. A crucial factor is how these immigrants raise their children.

With PRs making up an increasing share of the population, the government will need to relook various policies, he said. For instance, PRs now do not need to send their children to local schools. But encouraging them to do so will help the integration process. "But if a high proportion of those who settle down here go to the international schools, they don't grow up as true citizens. "Then, will the second generation stay?"

Yet, there must be a balance between measures to aid integration and the need to ensure Singapore's rules are not so onerous as to turn off would-be PRs.

The resident population - citizens and PRs - now stands at 3.64 million. That is projected to go up to 4.8 million by 2030. "For Singaporeans to remain as the core, we must have more babies and encourage more suitable immigrants to become Singapore citizens" - NPS.

ST Political correspondent Li Xueying on "Foreign Bodies", ST October 4, 2008

".........we need a liberal and accepting society. We need people to feel at ease here, to be willing to settle down here and bring their families. To do that, we must provide a liberal, peaceful, law-abiding and systematically organised nation."

"In 10 years, we hope to see a different Singapore. We hope it will be a Singapore possessed of greater culture, with a transformed economy and a new generation of political leaders who understand the wants, needs and habits of a new generation of voters."

Running the 'endless marathon' by PM Lee Hsien Loong, ST September 4, 2008

" In a Straits Times survey of 413 Singaporeans aged 21 to 34 in March 2006, six in ten said they would not be disappointed if they didn't get to vote in the May election that year if there were walkovers in their constituencies.

More than half of those polled did not know who their Member of Parliament was, while only two in 10 could name the three political parties in Parliament.

If we are that apathetic, can we claim to be patriotic ? Surely not.

What has given rise to this situation ?

One reason is the good life that many Singaporeans today - especially the younger generation - have enjoyed, thanks to an efficient Government that has taken good care of almost every aspect of their lives.

Many have become content with building up careers and families, leaving matters of governance and politics to players in the political arena. Such mindsets may seem harmless in peaceful times, but what happens if bad times hit Singapore ? "

Kor Kian Beng on "Patriotism wilts in apathy's harch glare", ST August 8, 2008

"Every year, 1,000 Singaporeans are
withdrawing their citizenship.

This poses economic, social and
political costs for Singapore."

MP Denise Phua, "Youth Forum Discusses How To Stem Brain Drain," ST July 14, 2008

"We have made him (Singaporean)
viable, employable anywhere in the world."

"This outflow (of Singaporeans) is
more than offset by an influx of 'even larger numbers of bright people from the
region'."

"But a majority of 'born and bred Singaporeans' is
still needed to ensure the new immigrants are rooted here."

"You need 65 per cent of the
population to be born and bred Singaporeans, steeped with the culture, steeped
with instincts of what a Singaporean is.

They will slowly influence the
migrants who join us to become like us."

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, ST July 12, 2008

"While this (Sweden's fertility rate of 1.88 last year) is below the 2.1 replacement rate for a population to maintain its current size in the long term, it is far above Singapore's rate of 1.29 last year..."

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, ST July 11, 2008

".....if we have more immigrants than genuine Singaporeans, you become a different people."

"We must have that core, at least 65 per cent of people born and bred who understand this place, who are part of this society and who know how we got here and why we must do these things."

"With globalisation, our Gini coefficient (measure of rich-poor gap) has widened. The people at the top are getting more because their skills, their knowledge, their abilities, their expertise command a premium.

The people at the bottom have to fight against the cheap labour costs of China, Vietnam, India and the region.

I do not see this problem being solved quickly because I think it will take some time for wage rates in China, Vietnam and India to go up and not be so devastingly competitive.

Maybe it will take five, 10 years."

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, ST July 10, 2008

Left: Nee Soon East Community Club

Right : Yishun Ring Road, Block 807

"It found that divorces rose in
tandem with marriages - which swelled to a five-year high of
23,967.

There were 7,226 divorces and
annulments last year, up from 7,061 in 2006, a far cry from the 4,888
dissolutions a decade back."

Report based on figures released by Singapore's Department of Statistics, ST July 10, 2008

Displays at Cheng San Community Club, AMK GRC

"It's a spirit which will hold us together as one united people, each one doing his part, each one contributing to remaking our nation and building our home and, together, we will make it a vibrant, global city called home."

PM Lee Hsien Loong on Singapore Spirit in his National Day Rally speech in 2005, ST June 19, 2008

"What the Singapore
Spirit captures is the nation's resilience, its can-do attitude, and the will to
build a nation where there was none."

"Defining a nation and its people", ST June 19, 2008

"In fact, if the economy continues growing on the back of such open immigration and living costs hit the level of global metropolises, Singapore could become like London - a cosmopolitan city with prices to match, a yawning rich-poor gap and immigrant enclaves that resist integration into the wider society."

".....particularly striking to me as I recall the city (London) of my post-graduate days, full of economic and cultural buzz but also unliveably expensive, snooty and fractious in its class and racial divides."

"I dare say Singapore cannot afford to become a London because it has no hinterland to absorb less affluent or struggling workers."

"The Government is in a bind because it needs foreigners to plug labour shortages, bring down business costs and keep the economy growing. But Singaporean jobs are displaced in the process, particularly among the older, less-educated workers."

"An underclass of our own may well be emerging, warned Mr Yeoh Lam Keong, vice-president of the Economic Society of Singapore, in a paper published at the end of last year."

"His is one of no small number of voices urging a rethink of the Government's ideological objection to too much welfare spending for fear of eroding the work ethic or draining the budget. Mr Yeoh has also called for a review of outsourcing policies."

Previously, the public sector was a source of employment for many lower-educated workers, who worked as cleaners and service staff in hospitals and airports.

However, to cut costs, the Government outsourced the hiring of these workers to private contractors, who found foreign workers that were willing to work for less.

Noting this development, blogger and retired NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian has called for legislation to ensure that local workers be paid an 'adequate salary for a hard day's work', one that is 'commensurate with the cost of living' and enough to feed a family 'in a frugal way'.

There is also the matter of civic identity and belonging.

The country has been built, thus far, on the assumption that economic growth is necessary and sufficient to hold the country together.


Signboard at Upper Thomson Road, near Lakeview


Now, in these inflationary times and with discontent and envy festering among people unused to economic hardship, there is the real danger of Singapore sinking into a quagmire of every man for his money-grubbing self.

Such cynicism and disillusionment are rife on the Internet.

Who will stay on to rebuild the country if the economy collapses - and you never know, because there are forces in the global economy much bigger than us.

Will Singaporeans - and the foreign talent in their midst - simply pack up and head for other shores ?

In the language of governments, what this means is that we may need to rethink our growth-at-all=costs economic model, because that is no longer the only thing needed to build a resilient society and engaged citizenry.

In you-and-me-speak, we have to work harder at creating the conditions where people are proud to be Singaporean, and not just residents of some global Anyplace.

ST Journalist, Clarissa Oon on "What discontent on the Net says about growth policy, ST July 11, 2008

Read more on http://davidsiabs.blogspot.com/search/label/Interesting%20Encounters%20-%20Will%20Citizenship%20Become%20A%20Commodity

Will Citizenship Become A Commodity

Some time back, I chanced upon a foreigner who was clearly very excited in breaking the news to his mother back home on his readiness in taking up citizenship in Singapore.

I was elated at the good news for Singapore too. But, my initial reaction was short-lived as he rumbled out the rationale underlining his decision.

He would surrender his natural or inherited citizenship in exchange for Singapore's to facilitate his frequent travelling to the United States. As a Singapore citizen and holder of a Singapore passport would expedite immigration formality and clearance as compared to his status quo.

Prima facie, his taking up Singapore citizenship is one for convenience. What about his allegiance ? Only over time will one know for sure as he has decided to apply for permanent resident status back in his country of origin upon surrendering his present citizenship.

While we express joy over more foreigners taking up our citizenship, let us not be lulled into a false sense of security. We take pride that they prefer our citizenship, but whether or not they eventually sink roots in and for Singapore is anybody's guess.

In highlighting this possibly isolated incident, I wish to openly acknowledge that there are genuine applicants out there who sincerely and wholeheartedly wish for the switch-over for a win-win relationship.

This posting was published on ST Online Forum titled, "Singapore Citizenship A Convenient Stepping Stone ?" on 14 July 2008. By 1 August 2008, there were 1,493 visits and 37 comments.


Excerpts from ST September 20, 2009; "What it takes for foreigners to integrate in S'pore" by senior correspondent Radha Basu reflect best my other concerns over this issue of transicient citizenship:


"Sadly, some permanent residents (PRs) may opt to trade in their old passports for bright red ones (Singapore passports for citizens) for the sake of convenience, not commitment.

I have spoken to several Asian immigrants who admit privately that visa-free access to the Western world is a key reason they take up citizenship here.  Yet others, who work in prominent positions in Singaporean companies, do so to climb the corporate ladder."


"Taking up Singapore citizenship should not merely be about making use of benefits this country has to offer.  It should be about love, loyalty and responsibility; about believing in the values of this country.........."

"I fear that a zeal to mint as many 'instant citizens' as it can may lull Singapore into a false sense of security that most new citizens are here for the long haul."

"........some immigrants have the option of returning permanently to the land of their birth even if they become Singapore citizens."

".......I once met a Caucasian PR, who had lived here for three years, but had never visited any place 'where the MRT was above the ground'.  His little world revolved around Raffles Place and Orchard Road."

Read my other post: http://davidsiabs.blogspot.com/2008/07/food-for-thought.html

Tweet

Teochew-style Home-cooked Food

This Eng Kong Eating House is tucked away in the midst of a private housing estate - Eng Kong Park.

It is located at the junction of Eng Kong Terrace and Upper Toh Tuck Terrace, behind Bukit Batok Secondary School (former premises of Millenia Institute).

No accreditation certificate on display. But, the fact that it could clear almost all its food items by about 2.00pm goes to testify its quality of food preparation. Bearing in mind that depending on your picks, a meal like above costs me S$ 8.50

Archbishop Emeritus Gregory Yong Sooi Nghean - My Dedication

Former head of the Catholic community in Singapore passed away on Saturday, 28 June 2008 at about 2.45 pm at St. Joseph's Home in Jurong West.

The 83-year-old died of heart failure.

The well-loved Archbishop led the 200,000-strong community in Singapore from 1977 to 2000 (when he reached the compulsory retirement age at 75).

At least 7 church leaders from around the region and 120 priests took part in a 2-hour mass at 1.30pm, led by his successor (and former student at the minor seminary), Archbishop Nicholas Chia. About 200 mourners followed his hearse to Mandai Crematorium for cremation at about 4.30pm.

I first saw him in person when Pope John Paul II visited Singapore in 1986. I remembered vividly on how he went round the altar with the incense in preparation for mass at the National Stadium. I was a staunch Buddhist then, but I was determined to witness the memorable visit by the Pope to Singapore.

A great man worthy of our respect. They called him the people's archbishop. Thousands of people had poured into the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd in Queen Street to bid their final farewell on the day of his funeral. Many more had paid their respect when his body was placed at the St. Joseph's Home on Saturday and Sunday. By the time the church bells pealed to announce the start of the funeral mass, the catheral was packed to capacity. Hundreds of people spilled out onto the church grounds, and others huddled on the pavement surrounding the church. Several messages of condolence were read out during the mass. They touched on the man's generosity and love of the simple life. And while he was frugal, he spent freely on friends and family. A rich man, not in money - he had not a penny to his name - but in all of the people who chose to be there to bid their final farewell.

His Life And Times

• 1925: Born in Taiping, Malacca, on May 20

• 
  
  1930s: Educated at St George's Institution and St Michael's Institution in Ipoh
  
  
  


• 
  
  1941: Entered seminary
  
  
  


• 
  
  1951: Ordained as a priest and posted to the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hougang
  
  
  


• 
  
  1953: Further studies in Rome
  
  
  


• 
  
  1956: Earned a doctorate in Canon Law, the first priest in Malaya to do so. Posted to Singapore as assistant parish priest of the Sacred Heart Church in Tank Road
  
  
  


• 
  
  1968: Appointed bishop of Penang
  
  
  


• 
  
  1977: Succeeded Michael Olcomendy* as archbishop
  
  
  


• 
  
  2000: Stepped down as archbishop
  
  
  


• 
  
  2008: Died of heart failure
  
  
  

*The Archdiocese of Singapore was formed in 1972 when the Archdiocese of Malacca-Singapore split up.

"Those who have taught many people

to do what is right will shine like the stars forever"

Daniel 12:3