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Stars to celebrate unsung heroes at PSC 2015

SINGAPORE — The annual President’s Star Charity (PSC) show returns this year with the theme “Be their hero, change the world”.

Some of the performers for the President's Star Charity 2015 at the press conference. Photo: Chua Hong Yin

Some of the performers for the President's Star Charity 2015 at the press conference. Photo: Chua Hong Yin

SINGAPORE — The annual President’s Star Charity (PSC) show returns this year with the theme “Be their hero, change the world”.

Hosted by Jean Danker and Chua Enlai, the show will tell the stories of unsung heroes who quietly make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate, with 86 organisations to benefit from the donations raised.

This year’s show features a record number of performers — more than 150 of them — and as per previous editions, the show will have international and local celebrities doing their part, including singer Laura Fygi and the Cirque Du Soleil acrobatic act, Totem. Also taking to the stage will be local musicians such as Shabir, Rahimah Rahim, ShiGGa Shay and Jack & Rai, along with Malaysia’s Sheila Majid and Aisyah Aziz.

Special items will feature the participation of various beneficiaries and include an unorthodox Dikir barat performance by Najip Ali and Bryan Wong; the completion of a painting in three minutes by India’s Got Talent 3 speed painter Vilas Nayak; a song-and-dance number by Nat Ho, Eden Ang, ShiGGA Shay, Rahimah Rahim and the hip hop group Redeafination, which is made up of both deaf and hearing dancers; as well as a drum item by Paige Chua, Fauzie Laily, Shane Pow, Darryl Yong, Kimberly Wang, Sonia Chew.

Wong said the best way to describe his dikir barat performance would be to “imagine a Malay Glee”. “Imagine something really traditional, spiced up, made very current,” he elaborated. “We’re talking Madonna or Beyonce. Najip is the funny man — I pale in comparison — so I will try my best to keep up with him.”

For 987FM DJ Kimberly Wang, who is taking part in the PSC for the first time, keeping the beat on percussion is something that she had to wrap her mind around. “I was very surprised (to be asked), then I was very scared, because I never played instruments before,” said Wang. “You have to make sure your hand is playing what you hear. After a while it goes weird.”

Her fellow “band mate” Paige Chua had other concerns. “For me, the challenge is to look cool doing it (playing the cajon),” Chua said. “I don’t think I’m a hip-hop kind of person, so to look good will be a challenge for me. But my fans are looking forward to seeing me do it.”

Besides star power, this year’s PSC will have performance items from the community, schools and interest groups that help the less fortunate. They include Redeafination, as well as a choir from the Pathlight School — the first autism-focused school —which will perform with Benjamin Kheng, Inch Chua and Lorong Boys; and players from Lighthouse School — which caters to children with visual and hearing impairment — who will join Paige Chua and Wang in their percussion band.

“This year, as Singapore celebrates 50 years of nation-building, we also celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the President’s Challenge. Singapore’s success is built on the foundations of a cohesive and caring society. The President’s Challenge provides a platform for every Singaporean, young or old, to contribute to the community in various ways,” said President Tony Tan Keng Yam. “The President’s Star Charity has been an annual highlight of the President’s Challenge and I hope that Singaporeans will continue to give generously to improve the lives of the less fortunate among us. Together, we can make Singapore a better place for all.”

Chang Long Jong, deputy CEO of MediaCorp, added: “Once again, we are very happy to bring this year’s major fund-raising event to our viewers, so that they, too, can aspire to be someone’s hero and donate generously to the less fortunate amongst us.”

Catch the President’s Star Charity 2015 live on Oct 18 at 7.30pm on MediaCorp TV Channel 5, with an encore telecast on Oct 24 at 5pm. For more information, visit http://www.pc.org.sg

Viewers can pledge donations of S$5, S$20 and S$100 until midnight on Oct 24 online at http://www.sggives.org/psc2015, via the Dash app (enter code “7778” from Oct 2 onwards; donations of any amount can be made) and by telepoll hotline: 1900 112 8821 (for a S$5 donation), 1900 112 8822 (for a S$20 donation) and 1900 112 8823 (for a S$100 donation).

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