Hello Fellow Singaporean
Yes, I remembered Year 1968!
I was then a youthful lass of 17 years old and also was my last year both as a police cadre in my school and O Level too. After that I have left school ever since. I was from Upper Serangoon Technical School, 1965 to 1968. My earlier primary school years was from 1959 to 1964 (May South School)
I want to remember my dearest Papa in a very special way as he is the one very involved whenever I am going for the National Day Parade. My dear Papa was a Shanghainese, born in China and at a tender age of 12, he was apprenticed to become a carpenter under the watchful eye of a very ferocious teacher. But sadly to say, my Papa was orphaned at age 7. His life was not an easy one and he had worked hard to support our family of 9, my Papa had got 7 children.
On the morning of 1968, I got up very early about 4am, washed up and tucked into my police cadre’s heavily starched uniform, not forgetting my shining polished black boot. It seems that the weight of the uniform and black boot was too heavy for me as I was then a very petite size for my age. Anyway, as soon as I was ready, my Papa escorted me and walked down the dimly long and winding lane to the main road where I boarded the bus to my school in Upper Serangoon Road. We then waved goodbye to each other and I can sensed that my Papa was really proud of me. I am too, so proud to have a Papa like him. We are poor but he always taught us the right attitude and path to a righteous living. I remembered that he is always updating us on the political scene in Singapore. My Papa was a very intelligent man even though he can only speaks no other dialects apart from his Mother’s tongue.
Our contingent arrived at the Padang, and in additional to the heavy weight, I also have to carry a long pole with a big flag slunged across my shoulder. We have been waiting for a while and soon black clouds loomed above us. We knew in our hearts that a heavy downpour is evitable. True enough, the rain came and ferociously splashed on our bodies. I was drenched almost immediately, from head to toe. My hat was wet, water dripping down my face, my uniform majestically attired before the rain was in complete mess and of course my boot was too filled with water. When is time for us to march, we were like wobbling ducks swimming in shallow water. Well, it was indeed very memorable and up to-day, the memory is still very vivid in my mind.
Till today, I still working, this is my 16 years in the workforce.
Being a Singapore Citizen, I am immensely proud of my Country, Singapore and so was my Papa.
Well done, Singapore and may GOD Bless our Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers and all Leaders in shaping our country to its present time. We have such reputable recognition from countries all over the world. Countries flocked to our nation for investment and many are so eager to know how we have became successful in all area of our development.
Till then, thank you for taking the time to read my love story of our country, Singapore.
Best Regards,
Jane Yong
