The Singapore thread

So many little quirks and idiosyncrasies define the Singaporean identity.

It could be the uniquely Singaporean dictionary, with its colourful colloquial phrases and distinct sentence reductions (why say “would this arrangement suit you?” when you can say “can or not”, right?). Or perhaps the wonderful way in which we love our orderly queues, whether it’s for Hello Kitty or Minions or 4D. It could be the food (who doesn’t love the food?). Or it could be the way we can’t seem to get enough of a new thing while holding on to all that has gone before.

We took six Singaporean celebrities to ME@OUE, decked them out in the best of local designs, accessories from Singapore online retailer Reebonz, and asked them to identify just what Singapore means to them. VINCENT LEE

JAYLEY WOO, 22

To up-and-coming starlet Jayley Woo, it feels like a dream to see her face on the movie screen. “I’ve never thought of being on a movie screen before. Oh my god, I’m just damn lucky!” the chirpy MediaCorp artiste said of her big-screen debut in That Girl In Pinafore. Woo will also make her hosting debut in Channel U’s lifestyle programme Style: Check-In, and will begin filming a new untitled drama in September with Thomas Ong and James Seah. “I’m quite excited because it’d be my first time playing a 25-year-old! I’ve always been playing student roles.”

ON BELONGING TO SINGPAORE

When I go overseas, I feel like I just don’t really belong there. It’s just really weird to me. I like travelling but I think I’d cry a lot if I had to work overseas!

ON HER NEIGHBOURHOOD

I do breakfast with my sister and parents at the market and we mingle with the neighbours. It’s quite touching to have this kind of friendship with strangers, like every one knows everyone in the neighbourhood. That’s very hard to foster nowadays. I grew up in a HDB environment and I love it. I mean, regardless of whether it’s the hawker centre or the playground, I love it.

ON THE QUINTESSENTIAL LOCAL BREAKFAST

My favourite breakfast typically consists of fried bee hoon with a bit of chili, mixed curry vegetables and luncheon meat! (Laughs) I don’t know how anyone can dislike this dish!

ON LOCAL DESIGNERS

I love Depression. I got to model their pleated jumpsuit at styleXstyle.com’s Asia Style Collection. It’s black and white, which is very much in my comfort zone! I’ve heard of MASH-UP and their stuff is really quite loud and quirky and it’s very ... I’d say 2NE1-style? To be honest, I feel very young in it. I mean, I’m the youngest (at the photo shoot) but this outfit makes me feel even younger! I feel very bright.

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DAREN TAN, 30

Like Woo, actor Daren Tan can be seen on both the big and small screen. He plays a gangster in the MediaCorp TV Channel 5 series Mata Mata (which premieres this evening right after the National Day Parade), and a ne’er-do-well in the xinyao-themed movie That Girl In Pinafore, which also allows him to showcase his other talent: Singing.

“I’d try to learn how to sing by imitating singers like Andy Lau, Aaron Kwok... and that was the start of my exposure to music,” said the Project Superstar Season 2 winner. “When I was younger, I liked more hip-hop and upbeat stuff. But now, I’m more exposed to other genres like jazz, which is my personal favourite.”

ON MATA MATA

I play a gangster in a secret society. The show is set in the 1950s. A lot of (what happens in Mata Mata) is based on true stories, such as the Hock Lee bus riots and the Maria Hertogh riots. So, definitely, (I’ve relearned) the state Singapore was in before we gained independence.

ON MISSING HIS KAMPuNG ROOTS

I grew up in a kampung that was in Jalan Bahar, Boon Lay. I’m really happy with the way Singapore is progressing but I wish to see more greenery. Now, it’s basically the same everywhere: More condominiums, HDBs, skyscrapers and roads. I miss the green part of Singapore.

ON WHAT MAKES SINGAPORE HOME TO HIM

My family. My friends. It’s the place where I was born and I grew up in.

ON HIS FAVOURITE LOCAL DELIGHTS

Chicken rice, definitely. Carrot cake. Char kway teow. Basically, all the hawker fare!

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JEAN DANKER, 35

Is Jean Danker, the host of MediaCorp Radio Class 95FM’s Cartunes (every weekday from 5pm to 8pm) the most patriotic Singaporean ever? Maybe.

“People always think that I may be too patriotic. I have a mug in the studio that’s of the national flag! But, hey, I love being Singaporean and I’m very proud to be Singaporean!” Danker said. The radio personality says as much as she loves travelling, nothing beats coming back home. “I get goose bumps every time I’m on my Singapore Airlines flight and they say, ‘And to all Singaporeans, welcome home!’”

ON THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL DAY THEME SONG

Gosh, how do I put this? I think it was a good effort. (Laughs) I don’t know what to say about it! I know everyone’s been trashing it left, right and centre ... it’s a good effort!

ON THE MOST PATRIOTIC THING SHE HAS DONE

Ah ha! Hosting the National Day Parade for what seems like seven or eight years? But I’m not doing it this year. The many rehearsals on Saturdays do take a commitment of your time. It’s a great feeling — it’s not one of dread. I always enjoy celebrating with the nation. I mean, the fireworks, when everybody’s singing the National Day song … You’ve got to be there to experience it. It’s different when you watch it on TV. When you’re there, you really feel a sense of pride being Singaporean, and how successful we are as a nation, and how grateful we can be for all the things that we have.

ON HER FONDEST NATIONAL DAY MEMORY

Glenn (Ong, her fellow MediaCorp Radio DJ and other half) and I organised a red and white National Day party for our families. We booked the Presidential Suite at the Fullerton Bay Hotel, had an all-local buffet spread, and decked the place in red and white balloons. We ate, laughed, watched the NDP fireworks right at our balcony and later released the balloons into the sky. It was a magical moment!

ON LOCAL DESIGNERS

I was just talking to Jayley about it because she’s wearing a MASH-UP dress! I hosted the Robinsons opening at Jem, and I came across the MASH-UP label on the level where they stock all the local designers. I actually have pictures of me wearing the dress at the press conference for the Hugh Jackman’s The Wolverine. Love their colours and I’m a big fan. I also adore Ong Shanmugam! Oh, my god! It’s oriental, classy, fitted and beautiful. It’s a work of art. I’m just very proud that it’s a local label. Keith Png’s Hide & Week as well.

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EUNICE OLSEN, 36

Eunice Olsen has been pretty busy lately. She co-produced and acted in 3.50, the first Singapore-Cambodia feature film on human trafficking, and channels her energy to raising awareness on women’s issues. Olsen spent the past 18 months working on WomenTalkTv.Asia, a portal that features women from around Asia with powerful stories to tell. “It’s a self-funded project. We’ve chosen these ordinary women who are trying to do extraordinary things. They’re not that well-known, a little bit like unsung heroes. We’ve got women who are social entrepreneurs, paralympians, political activists and human rights activists. It’s been quite amazing just going around and interviewing these women and just being really inspired by them,” she said.

ON HER FONDEST DURIAN MEMORY

I love to eat durians and my father loves them as well. It’s funny because the two Eurasians in the family love durians, while my Chinese mum thinks it’s just okay! When I was younger, we used to go to Pasir Panjang and buy these big brown bags of wholesale durians. We’d sit on the breakwater, my father would open the durians, and we’d just spend the whole evening there.

ON HER FAVOURITE LOCAL SPOTS

I spent a lot of time at the National Library that got torn down! I was quite affected! (Laughs) I used to go to Plaza Singapura for music classes, and since both of my parents were working, my mum would get her colleague to drop me off at the library while waiting for classes to start. My dad liked to bring me to the offshore islands like Seletar Island when I was younger, and we used to go to Sembawang beach. I spent a lot of time in these little quaint places.

ON HER FAVOURITE LOCAL DESIGNERS

Jo Soh from Hansel and Keith Png from Hide & Seek would be two of my two favourite designers. I know it’s not easy for them as local designers. They’re doing really well! Katy Perry wore Hansel! I’m really proud when you read about things like that. I used to wear a lot of Nicholas, Baylene and Woods & Woods as well.

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ANAND, 28

For MediaCorp Radio Oli 96.8FM DJ Anand, serving the nation is no chore. “I happily go for reservist every year! This is my seventh cycle and I was recently promoted to Staff Sergeant in the police force,” he said. Hailing from a debating background, Anand is a man of many tongues who can speak conversational Malay and Mandarin as well. He’s also the radio station’s music director and hosts the weekday morning drive show, Asathal Kaalai with Asathal Boyz, Anand and Jaynesh, from 6am to 10am.

ON MARCHING AT THE NATIONAL DAY PARADE

In 2003, when I was doing National Service, I got the opportunity to represent the police force as part of the marching contingent. I’ll admit that the process was very draining, but 10 years on, I can still remember that moment. It was the same year Singapore had the Sars outbreak and the parade was held at the old National Stadium. At 6.05pm, we marched in and 55,000 people were clapping, everyone was in red. That moment made me feel very proud.

ON THE SINGAPOREAN SPIRIT

I recently covered the Malaysian Super League — the match when Singapore beat Felda United 4-0. Okay, you can’t compare this to the 1994 Malaysian Cup, lah. But the whole stadium was chanting! Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong was there to give out the trophy and, on top of that, the whole stadium (was filled) with Malay, Chinese, Indian, even foreign fellows wearing red. We do have the Singaporean spirit.

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NADIAH M DIN, 23

As a police officer in Mata Mata, Nadiah M Din’s fashion statements may be restricted to uniforms. But off-screen, her sartorial choices are daring and experimental. “I feel comfortable going out in a luminous top or pants,” the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts graduate said. “You see a lot of kids wearing crazy stuff in school.” Her favourite style icons? Jennifer Lopez and Catherine Zeta-Jones. “It’s very sleek but glamorous. My style is also more bohemian. I love to go simple, yet exotic and vibrant. I wear a lot colours and patterns,” said the actress, who also stars in the MediaCorp TV Suria series Cleoprata (Mondays at 9.30pm).

ON GROWING UP WITH NATURE

I kind of grew up at the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve park. When I was young, my late father would bring my family there to show us the different types of plants, to tell us which plants have health benefits. A lot of memories. When I was four, I was almost attacked by the wild monkeys but my father managed to pull me aside! We would also go up the hill and hike as a whole family, and have picnics where my mum would prepare her kuah bening.

ON LOVING PRATA

The food definitely makes Singapore feel like home. Besides my mum’s amazing food, I love chilli crab, nasi lemak and roti prata. I love banana-cheese prata. I know it’s unhealthy but, yeah, whatever! I exercise, so it’s okay!

ON HER FASHION CHOICES

I like to customise my own clothes. Once, I bought two pairs of bohemian printed pants that looked like the Aladdin baggy pants. I thought it might look nice as a top, so I cut a hole between (the legs), put it over my shoulder and used the pant legs as sleeves. When I went for a shoot, my make-up artist was like, “Eh, your baju very nice, ah!” But it was actually a pair of pants from Bugis Street!

ON LOCAL DESIGNER KAE HANA

I stumbled upon this designer at Millennia Walk. She plays a lot with vibrant colours and it fits me perfectly.

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STOCKISTS

PARCO next NEXT - PARCO Marina Bay Level 2, Millenia Walk

Reebonz - www.reebonz.com

CREDITS

Photography: Jason Ho

Styling: Zhang Weifang and Vincent Lee

Make-up: Larry Yeo using shu uemura lightbulb foundation, assisted by Gwen Tan

Hair: Peter Lee, Hairloom Salon, using Goldwell

Photographed at ME@OUE for the use of restaurant. OUE Bayfront Rooftop, 50 Collyer Quay. Call 66344555 for reservations. www.me-oue.com