Happy Teachers' Day

I must say. Today's Teachers' Day Concert in school has been really entertaining and enjoyable. It has put many wide smiles on the teachers. The two MCs were fantastic and hilarious. I think they can host TV shows in MediaCorp or something. Really talented.

Since this is a season of always being thankful, I would llike thank all the teachers that had taught me before, in all my 16 years of education. Special mention to the following wonderful teachers (without them, I would never have made it to become a teacher myself now):


Primary School (Maha Bodhi School)

Mrs. Teo (My Maths Teacher)
- For believing in me and giving me a chance to take part in the Inter-Schools Maths Olympiad Competition.

Mr. Shue (My Chinese Teacher)
- For teaching me so many life values, including the need for discipline.


Secondary School (The Chinese High School)

Mr. Peng (My Maths Teacher)
- For making Maths really interesting. He inspired me to perform well.

Ms. Mok Lai Koin (My Chemistry Teacher & Form Teacher)
- For being so strict with my class on the surface but actually was extremely caring about our needs.


Junior College (Hwa Chong JC)

Mr. Chan Kwok Leong (My Maths Teacher & Form Teacher)
- For supporting me to run for Students' Council and for making Maths easy to understand.

Mr. Ng Soon Kok (My Physics Teacher)
- For inspiring me to excel in Physics and fall in love with it. He's really really a nice and caring person.


University (NUS)

Prof. Ha Yajun
- For being constantly supportive throughout my Final Year Project (FYP) and giving me valuable assistance and advice.

Hi Sir, I'm from Fraud & Security..

My handphone rang in the middle of the night last Thursday. It was an unknown number.

"Hi Sir, I'm from the Fraud & Security Department of a bank. We suspect that your credit cards had been stolen."

I was like ....

Then after talking to the guy, I realised what had happened. I actually had applied for a credit card 3 weeks ago. However, the credit card never came. Somehow along the way, someone stole my credit card and used it.

That someone used my credit and choked a bill of more than $3000.

I can't believe this happened to me. I lost something that I had never received in the first place. Gosh.

The Fraud & Security guy told me to make a police report. Yes, I reported the loss of something that I had never seen or touched before. Strange right?

Anyway, I was a bit like asking "Why me??" Honestly, I felt a bit resentful that this kind of thing can happen to me.

Last night, someone reminded me of 1 of the key attitudes that I wanted to have in the year 2007. And that is to be always thankful. Looking at this credit card case, I realised that I can learn to be positive about it.

I'm thankful that the Fraud & Security department of the bank notify me that some suspicious transactions had occurred.

I'm thankful that the bank froze the usage of the stolen credit card.

I'm thankful that I do not have to pay a single cent for the credit card bill.

See? There're indeed many things to be thankful about. If you're in a difficult situation, do try to be thankful. You will find more joy and gladness. It's a matter of perspective. =)

Getting Connected with Nature (with 1M)

Raffles Institution Anthem

When Stamford Raffles held the torch
That cast Promethean Flame
We faced the challenge of the day
To give our school a name
The eagle eye and gryphon strength
They led us to the fore
To reign supreme in ev'ry sphere
The sons of Singapore
Come heed the call Rafflesians all
And let our hearts be stirring
We'll do our best whate'er test
And keep our colours flying
Let comradeship and fervent hope
With one voice make us pray
Auspicium Melioris Aevi
With God to guide the way

Composed by E W Jesudason, Headmaster, Raffles Institution, 1963-1966

Well, I must confess. I still can't memorise the whole institution anthem yet. But I'm working towards it. The words of the song are really meaningful.

I really like the last two verses:

Auspicium Melioris Aevi: Our school motto which means Hope of a Better Age.

With God to guide the way: Wow!! Amazing!!

A Faith Goal Revisted..

It's so easy to be caught up with so many things that I almost forgot something that I set out to do right at the very start of the year. It can be found in this post (2007 is a Year of Victory) way back in January 2007.

My faith goal in 2007: I want to complete 21km Standard Chartered Marathon Run this year.



I have to be realistic. At my present fitness, I can't do the 21km run. I need to train up myself physically.

And that means runs, runs and MORE runs!!

Last week, I had my first training. I ran 4km at the NUS track. It's a small but important step for me to get back into shape.

Yep, I hope to be able to train consistently for at least once or twice a week, given my busy schedule.

Why do I want to join this run?
1. I want to challenge myself.
2. A healthy and fit body gives me the alertness, strength and tenacity to press on in life, even when things are rough.
3. I want to train my mind to be determined. A lot of it depends on the mind when we go for long distances like 21km.


Who wants to join me? =)

Take the City Walk 2007

One of the National Day events this year, Take the City Walk was organised by Touch Community Services (TCS). As an active volunteer in TCS, I participated in the walk two weeks. We took a nice walk around the city area early in the morning.

It's really a privilege because the city area has already being cornered off due to NDP 2007 and yet, we were allowed to walk. And on the day itself, God was very good to us. The weather was very good throughout the walk. However, the moment the walk ended officially, there was a heavy downpour!

Happy 42nd Birthday, Singapore!

Yesterday marks the 42nd birthday of our beloved nation. I'm really proud & thankful of how the nation has come so far in a short span of 1 generation.

Someone shared this with me on National Day's eve.

1. We must honour the older generation of Singaporeans. They've worked so hard to build our nation up. Their insights are very valuable & important for us.

2. We must thank the present generation of Singaporeans. They've right now giving the best times of their lives to the nation. Their influence is essential in our continual prosperity.

3. We must be committed to nuture & love the next generation of Singaporeans. They may be young, but they hold the keys to our future success. Their imagination is what that will define tomorrow.

To sum it all,
We must honour those before us.

We must strengthen those around us.

We must empower those under us.

We must mentor those after us.

How Far Will You Go to Bless Someone?

Last Saturday, I had this very interesting encounter. I was queueing up to pay my credit card bill at an AXS machine in Bukit Merah.

"Hello. Can you help me to the toilet? Very urgent." I heard someone asked me from behind.

I turned around and saw an uncle on a wheelchair. I recognized him. He always sell Sweepstake tickets in that area.

I was a bit flustered, to be honest. I didn't know how to respond initially. I half-wanted to just give some excuse and leave. But something stopped me. I almost forgot that I'm on this campaign to be a blessing to people around me. Now, it's the best chance for me to bless this uncle.

I put aside my credit card and plucked up my courage and started to push the uncle towards the toilet. Well.. it is then I realised that the only toilet that can accomodate the wheelchair lies on the other side of the road. I was a bit shocked because I had to wheel him across the road (there was a overheard bridge, but the lifts weren't working). Gosh.. This task kept getting harder.

Nonetheless, I pressed on. I slowly wheel the uncle cross the road. Thank God that there weren't that many vehicles at that time.

When I finally reached the toilet, I was half hoping that I can just push the uncle into the toilet and he can settle the rest himself.

Well, I was wrong of course. I went on to help him relieve himself. I'm not a nurse, I had never done it before and felt quite clumsy and embarrassed about it.

After that, I pushed the uncle all the way back to his original position, next to the AXS machine. Yes, I had to cross the road again. Thank God this time, a SBS bus captain helped me stopped part of the traffic so that I can wheel the uncle across.

Upon reflection, I felt that it's not just the uncle who is being blessed. Actually, I'm being blessed too. I realised that when I overcame my initial fears and discomforts and blessed him, my heart was kept soft.

Every time we see a need,and we ignore it, our hearts become hardened. I prefer to respond to the needs around me, as much as I can. I want to be tender-hearted always.

My Grandpa's Legacy

My grandpa was cremated earlier in the afternoon. Together with many relatives and friends, my family and I were at the Bright Hill Crematorium to witness the cremation. Strangely enough, I don't feel very sad. I think it's because I know that he has already gone to a better place.

Many memories began to stir within me. I can remember the times that my grandpa took me out to play at Chinatown area when I was younger. I can also remember how often he brought me to the hawker centre near my house to eat my favorite Char Kway Tiao. I really miss him.

But was memories the only thing my grandpa left behind? No. My grandpa left behind a great and wonderful legacy - people. He had 1 wife, 2 sons, 2 daughters-in-law, 3 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, 2 granddaughters-in-law, 1 grandson-in-law, 1 great-grandson and 2 great-granddaughter.

He had brought up a great family - 17 people in all (including him). I am so proud of my grandpa.

救世主 - Savior

As many would have already known, my grandfather, who had been staying with me all my life, had just passed away last Sunday. He had struggled for almost 5 months in the hospital.

It was the first time that someone so close to me left. There are mixed emotions in me. They include sadness, relieved, thankful and peaceful.

Sadness - simply because my grandpa is not around any more. And I miss him terribly at times.

Relieved - because my grandpa need not suffer any more. When he was at the hospital, he could neither drink, eat nor talk. He was actually in pain and discomfort.

Thankful - my church family had been supporting me throughout. Their presences at the wake every night really blessed my family and I. Furthermore, I actually had 3 pastors who came down and prayed for me.

Also, I'm thankful for colleagues at RI as well - Mr. Otto Fong, Mr. Joseph Chong, Mr. Ng Kwon Loong, Mr. Chong Han Guang and Miss Caroline Hoong. They helped me so much with my 4 sec 1 classes when I'm not around.

Last but not the least, I'm thankful for my secondary school friends who came down too. As well as some of my NIE teacher colleagues.


Peaceful - because I know that my grandpa is with the Lord. When he was at the hospital, I asked him who Jesus is.

救世主 (savior) - that was what he wrote (he couldn't talk).

My grandpa is in heaven now - which is really a much better place. I know I will meet him one day.