'I want to be a role model for my children, to be proud of S'pore just like my parents were,' says man who cried at NDP

SINGAPORE — He was crying freely as he sang the national anthem at the National Day Parade (NDP), but it was not a surprise to the people closest to Mr Azuan Tan to know that he is proud to be a Singaporean. When he was growing up, it was a tradition for Mr Tan’s family to set aside time and celebrate the nation’s independence day together.

Now, he continues that tradition with his own family. 

The 41-year-old father of three explained why he could be considered a patriot: “My mother would tell us how she had a difficult life and was not privileged when growing up, but as Singapore progressed, more opportunities came up for their generation, so they really appreciate how far we’ve come.”

These stories he had heard from young had instilled a sense of pride in him for his country and the hardships his parents faced.

“After I had a family of my own, I fully understood my parents' struggles. I want to be a similar role model to (my children) for them to emulate, to be proud of their country just like my parents were.”

Mr Tan’s three children are four to 10 years old. His wife, 39, is a hairstylist. He himself is a teacher at Bedok View Secondary School.

This year, when he managed to get tickets for his family to be part of the 25,000 spectators at the parade on Aug 9, he was ecstatic. It was the first time they were attending the parade live together.

The parade was also the first time Singapore was celebrating its independence day in full force after the Covid-19 pandemic kept celebrations muted for two years.

As dancers and singers performed on Tuesday on The Float@Marina Bay, against a backdrop of a screen showing a video of the sacrifices made by front-line workers while fighting Covid-19, Mr Tan’s emotions ran high.

By the time everyone at the venue stood up to recite the national pledge and sing the national anthem towards the end of the show, Mr Tan could not hold back his emotions and cried.

He told TODAY a day after the parade: “I’m not an emotional person on most days, but yesterday was a different ball game… Watching the parade live and soaking in the atmosphere with everyone, being in the moment and singing the national anthem, it was amazing.”

He then said with a laugh, referring to his teaching job: “I sing the national anthem every morning during our school’s assembly and I don’t cry.”

Caught up in the moment at the parade, Mr Tan was unaware that his tear-filled face was being filmed and beamed live to households and everyone watching the show live.

In less than an hour, he had become a viral sensation online.

His open and heartfelt display of emotions prompted Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to later call it an “iconic” image of this year’s celebrations.

For some online users, screengrabs of Mr Tan’s teary face kept them busy creating memes, with funny captions such as "me when I check my bank account balance". 

Mr Tan said that he considers himself a “strict” teacher, so he felt “embarrassed” at first.

“We had left the parade when we bumped into a family friend who nudged me to check my phone and my wife also asked me to check then. When I did, it was full of notifications from apps and I saw my teary face… I was so shocked,” he said, adding that he was recognised by other parade attendees as they left the venue.

“I didn’t even know the camera was on me, I was just in the moment, looking at the flag and singing the anthem with everyone around me.

“My wife has been laughing and teasing me… she had a good time laughing because she knows how emotional I get during National Day.”

RECALLING WORK LIFE DURING PANDEMIC

Mr Tan told TODAY that aside from being proud to be a Singaporean, which is almost second nature to him due to his upbringing, some of this year’s performances and the footages that were being screened struck a chord with him as a Physical Education and English teacher.

“My colleagues and I went through a lot during the past two years of the pandemic… I’m sure many resonated with the film shown, of how teachers had to conduct online lessons during the circuit breaker, the partial lockdown.

“In addition, watching the nurses and volunteers depicted in (the film aired during) the parade made me really appreciate their sacrifices and how far we’ve come as a country.”

These thoughts also added to his emotions and made him cry in that moment.

Wanting to continue his parents' ritual of celebrating National Day as a family, Mr Tan continues the annual tradition of watching the parade with his own family. 

“Some years, we’ll find a place where we can see the fireworks and watch the parade from our phones while outside. Other years, we’ll watch from home,” he said.

“But whenever the pledge and national anthem start, my children, wife and I will stand up to recite it and sing the anthem together with the rest of Singapore.”

AN EXTRA IN A TV SHOW

Mr Tan is not new to being a subject in front of the camera.

As a student hoping to earn some extra pocket money, he acted as a police officer in an episode of the television series Incredible Tales — though he told TODAY that his performance in the show is not something he would want others to know.

He was also a semi-finalist in music competition Talentime.

“Music is a passion of mine. When I was younger, with a couple of friends, we tried to join the competition and were surprised to make it to the semi-finals,” he recalled.

“I still play the guitar and love to listen to music. Maybe it’s a working hazard, but I listen to a lot of pop music that is trendy with my students, though I also love listening to songs from the 1990s from time to time because those were what I listened to in my youth.”

During the pandemic in the past two years, there were occasions when Mr Tan worked as a grassroots volunteer with the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, giving out masks and care packs to residents.

He has continued to do so because he wants to continue helping others.

“It is quite difficult (to volunteer) during weekdays, but my philosophy is that every bit counts, even if it’s an hour, so I do it with my wife and children and we can also spend time together.”

Mr Tan is bracing himself as he heads back to school on Thursday — Wednesday is a day off for schools — and face his students, certain that they will talk about him crying at the parade.

“This is a good opportunity to instil some pride for our country in the students, just like my parents did for me, and I'm proud that they have nurtured me to be proud of my country," he said.

“I really don’t deserve this fame, it should be for the performers who put their effort into this year’s parade and all the front-line workers who made sacrifices so we can celebrate together again as a nation.”