Suzuki Cup

The excitement of the Suzuki Cup has died down and it's time to look forward to the new S-League season. Meanwhile, moments of my journey with the Lions thru Suzuki Cup on iPhone5 and MovieLooks.



 

Singapore 3 - Thailand 1

19th December 2012. The first leg of the finals of the Asean Football Federation Suzuki Cup: Singapore 3 - Thailand 1. Fantastic results for the Singapore Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium. Tickets were so hot they were snapped up within a couple of hours. The queue even snaked all the way up to the 4th level of the stadium's multi-storey carpark. I joined the queue too late so needless to say, I couldn't get any tickets. But all thanks to my buddy, Jeremy, who managed to squeeze out a ticket from his contacts. Watch the game alone? No problem!

Arrived early at Jalan Besar. Had a plate of seafood Pad Thai. Exchanged friendly glances and acknowledgements with some Thai fans who were dressed to the occasion.

Entered the stadium, met a couple of old friends and familiar faces. Singapore is a small island after all. Watched the entire first-half at the third level beside the VVIPs section. But the mood was a bit solemn, being separated from the singing fans and the terraces below. So by half-time, I moved down to the second-level. I couldn't find any seats so I stood throughout the second-half. No regrets because when you're watching a match such as this, you should be jumping out of your seats at every moment. When Amri and Bai scored, I nearly climbed over the parapet to celebrate.

 

I like how football matches like this bring the people together. I celebrated both Singapore's goals in the second-half with the Chinese and Malay uncles standing beside me, as if we were friends. There were even new citizens from China and Westerners with local partners donning the Singapore jersey cheering on the team that is representing their adopted country.

All the President's Men. President Tony Tan celebrates with the team.

 

I've been following the Lions in the campaign since Day 1. Traveling all the way to Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, to catch the opening game against Malaysia.  So it's without a doubt that the campaign should end fittingly for me to watch the Lions lift up the cup (hopefully) for an unprecedented 4th time, this Saturday, in Supachalasai Stadium, Bangkok.

Got my match ticket for the second leg of the finals and excitedly tried to book a last minute flight over to Bangkok on Thursday night. Unfortunately, vital commitment at work on Friday morning meant that I could not fly off on a Friday morning when the ticket is affordable and the only remaining flights are on Saturday afternoons which cost too much of a bomb (especially since I'm putting in half of my hard-earned savings into making a movie). By the wee morning of Friday, I was still frantically searching through the websites of the various airlines for any affordable tickets that might have "miraculously" popped out of no where but to no avail. I should be in Bangkok right now if only my stars were aligned. For now, I can only relish on a once-in-a-lifetime experience gone past by. Hopefully, we make it again in the finals of 2014, perhaps with the likes of Swandi and Lightfoot?

Some criticism I have read online like to argue that prior to our independence in 1965, Singapore was already a thriving developed port city and its people were already affluent, thanks to our former colonial masters. It is Lee Kuan Yew and his party's propaganda that suggested otherwise (that we were a sleepy backwater/fishing village). Singapore definitely had a developed central business and administrative district, thanks to the British, but the entire island too? Hardly convincing.

Today, my dad met up with his old friend from school, a Canadian. He described Singapore in the 1960s as "swampy" and full of "smelly and unhygienic shanty towns". We do not have to go far, just speak to our grandparents. Let's not be too quick to discredit the hard work and foresight of our pioneers and founding fathers even if we have different political inclinations today.

ASEAN Football

South-East Asian football fans are known for their display of affection to their leaders while cheering on their national teams. Most notably the Thais and the portraits of King Bhumibol:

 and the Vietnamese with Mr. Ho Chin Minh.

Not to be outdone, here's myself with the digital image of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, Founding Father of independent Singapore, on my iPhone right from the terraces of Bukit Jalil.

iPhonegraphy Today

On course the past 2 days. "Keep the country united and resilient." Well said, Mister.

 Heroes, the new additions to the car.

Ah Boys to Men

Looking good. Though I can't help but wonder if it will be more tasteful for the trailer to do without all the "accolades". By the way, shouldn't it be "Singaporean movie" instead of "Singapore movie"? Which brings to mind, "Singaporean Idol" instead of "Singapore Idol". I don't know. School is a distant memory since graduation. In working life, no one gives two hoots about your grammar and vocabulary, as long as you make sense.

In any case, support local films. No matter how bad they are. Yes, I do it all the time. I sat through the likes of Here, Pleasure Factory and Aunty Lucy, what you think leh?

Fine gentleman

I remember the time when I was a young soldier serving my national service when Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean drove his car into the military complex (yes, he drove his own car then), wound down the window and exchanged greetings. Yesterday's event only reminded me of his humility. A fine and respectable gentleman.

Happy Birthday Mr. Lee

 

16th September, the 89th birthday of independent Singapore's founding father, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Thank you Mr Lee for your courage, wisdom and selflessness in leading this country. As Hossan Leong sang, "PM Lee lead country / build Jurong and HDB."

"I love this guy. Happy 89th Birthday Mr Lee! Thanks to your transformation of Singapore, I'm now an educated, intelligent citizen who can complain about First World problems and have the space and resources to do something about it ;)" 

"Happy birthday Sir. We will forever be indebted to you for your vision and tenacity."

I posted this photo up onto Facebook and am heartened by the response it had gathered. Glad to be reminded that despite all the noises on the Internet, most Singaporeans (or at least my peers) are appreciative and grateful of the hard work of Mr. Lee, regardless of their current political inclinations.

The Ninth of August

"Every time we look back on this moment when we signed this agreement which severed Singapore from Malaysia, it will be a moment of anguish. For me it is a moment of anguish because all my life ... you see, the whole of my adult life ... I have believed in merger and the unity of these two territories."

 

 "Now I Lee Kuan Yew Prime Minister of Singapore. Do hereby proclaim and declare on behalf of the people and the Government of Singapore that as from today the ninth day of August in the year one thousand hundred and sixty five Singapore shall be forever a sovereign democratic and independent nation, 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."

 

 I am not here to play somebody else's game. I have a few million people's lives to account for. And Singapore, will survive!

Happy 47th Birthday, Singapore.

We Live in Singapura

The Iron Man

"Whoever governs Singapore must have the iron in him or give it up. This is not a game of cards, this is your life and mine... and as long as I'm in-charge, nobody's going to knock it down."

The Original Ironman

Lion-Hearted

 

"Your parents' and grandparents' generations had hard lives in shanty huts with no running water or modern WC, not knowing what the future could bring. They simply concentrated on hard work and built the foundation for the Singapore of the 21st century...
 ... Your generation can take Singapore forward to become one of Asia's most vibrant and beautiful cities... ...
The success of Singapore came from the hard work, resourcefulness and ingenuity of your forefathers and their leaders.

You are the descendants of these lion-hearted pioneers."

because we love making movies

When I chose law enforcement instead of going into the media industry upon graduation, I told myself that it's only going to be a 2-year sabbatical from my first love (i.e. film & video). I rejected an opportunity to produce a drama serial and convinced myself really hard that it was the right thing to do. The trauma of not doing my best during national service have haunted me in university, coupled with the disappointment of meeting people with some of the most outrageous criticism of the country and its system (yes, there is room for improvement but no, it's not doomsday and there is no spawn of the devil). Let me earn my right to call myself a Singaporean.

Joining the bureau gave me another chance to serve my country and to contribute in a platform which I have never done before and which I will probably never have the chance to do so again. It has been an honour serving with some of the most dedicated and respectable people I have ever met. In another 4 days time, I would have spent 2 years with the public service. My training bond will only end in December. After which, my time here will come to an end as planned. I'll miss this place, the fine people and the values it stand for.

It will be a leap into the unknown. I'll lose that monthly paycheck, which has been quite attractive. But I believe it's the right decision to make. Hopefully someday, I will say it loud and say it fine with conviction the way Quentin Tarantino did,

"because we love making movies!"

"free forevermore"

National Day is around the corner but whenever the radio station plays the good ol' National Day songs from the 90s, I can't help but feel a tinge of sadness. I worry about the future of our Singaporean society and the "strawberry generation" of my time. I can only wish that my worries are unfounded. That this young nation will stand the test of time and be "free forevermore".

45 years of National Service

2012, celebrating 45 years of National Service. On hindsight, I wished I could have done better during my 2 years 2 months with the military. That regret is one major factor in my current career choice. Never mind the Internet trolls with a vendetta. Thank you all, generations of Singaporean sons.

This one, I heard, shot entirely on a 5DMkIII.

The Man Who Saw It All

Mr Lee Kuan Yew made the cover of TIME magazine back in December 2005. This was when I was still serving my NS in the military. I specially kept this copy. Took it out again this evening during a mini 'spring cleaning'.

Always There For You

Housing

Housing in Singapore is expensive but still affordable. I graduated from university with little savings but still managed to purchase a 5-room BTO flat with my gf (and future wife). After deducting govt grants, down payments and etc, we have to pay about $380, 000 within 30 years, of which would be funded by our CPF monies. As long as both of us remain employed for the next 20 years (and assuming pessimistically that our salaries remain stagnant for the next 20 years), the loan will be paid off by our CPFs within 15 to 20 years. Compare that to young couples in major financial centers like HK, Tokyo, Taipei etc who cannot even afford to have their own apartments we definitely have it easier (though they have the hinterland to escape to and we only have Pulau Ubin).

Easy to be an armchair theorist on the Internet than to actually govern a small country.

Total Defence Day

“多少人用生命鲜血和理想，换来一线和平的曙光。
多少人的生命鲜血和理想，写成一篇血泪的诗章。” - 和平的代价

The British surrendered to the Japanese on this day 70 years ago. WWII is a reminder of the heroism of our pioneers. May we continue to face challenges as courageous as they did. 

A personal reminder of the original plan, which was to graduate penniless and make a low-budget indie war flick about the Dalley's Desperadoes. That plan has taken a 2 years hiatus now, the script a mere quarter done.