What Singapore Means To Me

Remembering Mr Lee Kuan Yew

It isn’t easy building something out of nothing

Especially when the road ahead’s a rocky one

But if we gather all our courage and conviction

And hold our dream up high

The challenge will be won

So now we look around us and we see

A nation built with love by you (Yew) and me

A land to treasure right down to the core

Our home, our heart, our Singapore

This is the first stanza of Our Singapore, the National Day Parade (NDP) theme song this year, written by Dick Lee. I love this part of the lyrics.

It isn’t easy building something out of nothing

Especially when the road ahead’s a rocky one

It tells so much how difficult it was to build our nation, literally out of nothing because we have zero natural resources. The road ahead was rocky, especially when Singapore was expelled from Malaysia 50 years ago.

But if we gather all our courage and conviction

And hold our dream up high

The challenge will be won

Indeed this man whom I so looked up to, our late founder Mr Lee Kuan Yew, garnered enough courage and conviction, proclaimed this day 9th August 1965 that Singapore be an independent and sovereign state and nation separate from and independent of Malaysia; a nation that is forever democratic and independent, founded upon the principles of liberty and justice and ever seeking the welfare and happiness of her people in a more just and equal society.  

So now we look around us and we see

A nation built with love by you (Yew) and me

A land to treasure right down to the core

Our home, our heart, our Singapore

50 years later, we now look and see. Where we are living now is a nation built by Yew with love though hardship. He left us with a land we treasure deeply, a land we call home, a land where our heart is, a land we call Singapore.

Without a doubt, I missed him deeply this National Day. 

How Did We Spend the NDP Long Weekend

We didn’t go trying to catch any fireworks or watch any live NDP broadcast on big screens yesterday. Instead, we shelled up at home recuperating from the fatigue accumulated from the long hours of rehearsal for Sing50 mega concert held on 7th Aug.

AJ had the chance to participate in this concert, which was a great experience for him, I believe. In the sense, we celebrate SG50 by involving in it, which is all the more meaningful and memorable. 

The 2-hour pop concert extravaganza performed by more than 70 artistes, a 1,000-strong choir, 50 pianists, rappers and the 92-strong Metropolitan Festival Orchestra, was well-attended by 41,300 audiences. My favourite performance was the Sing50 finale, a medley of Roses, Singnai Naadu, Kopi O, Semoga Bahagia and Home. Watch AJ practised this piece here.

There was also a tribute to our late founder Mr Lee Kuan Yew which I find emotional and moving. Most people glued their eyes on the big screen that moment when the clip was shown. Lang Lang was playing on the red Steinway grand concert piano on the background. Some misty-eyed, some sorrowful countenance. It was déjà vu, we were brought back to the period when we mourned for his death again.


Here are 2 videos from the big screen of the actual concert a parent has uploaded on youtube: Finale and Concerto in 3 Movements.

The Future

What lies ahead for Singapore after 50 years of nation building, meteoric economic growth and progress? I don’t know. The newer generations are blessed with comfort and safety. Yet the stress they are going to face ahead is very real and very frightening because the environment has become a lot more competitive. I can only pray that the Almighty will continue watching over us, keeping our leaders clean and giving them wisdom to rule this country.

I end this post with another of my favourite NDP theme song written by Dick Lee. The lyrics of the chorus echoed how I feel about this country.

Home

This is home, truly

Where I know I must be

Where my dreams wait for me

Where that river always flows

This is home, surely

As my senses tell me

This is where I won't be alone

For this is where I know it's home

'What Singapore Means To Me' is a blog train initiated by Finallymama. Click on the image or link to read how 12 other mummies feel about Singapore.

Next on the blog train is Cynthia from B.C.D.E. That's Us. A FTWM with 2 boys who are 6 and 4, she blogs about her parenting journey, simple cooking "hacks" and fun activities the family has - basically the forgettable and unforgettable moments as the boys grow up and the adults grow old.