Today's a reason to celebrate because it's Singapore 43rd Birthday!
The things that u MUST never do without on Singapore's national day.
a) National Day flag - Nope i didn't hang one outside my window. If u stay near me, u know that we are having an exterior upgrade, so hang for who to see?? Anyway, to show my *ahem patrioticism, here's a Singapore flag.
Yes, i know how the Singapore flag differentiates itself: the 5 stars and the 1 moon.
Never just think that they are just there for show.
The Singapore flag got significance as such:
- Red stands for Universal Brotherhood and equality of men (no matter what race you are)
- White stands for pervading and everlasting purity and virtue (er... i dunno what that means though)
- the moon, the CRESCENT Moon represents a young nation on the ascendant (we are young as compared to many other nations, the crescent won't turn into a full moon even when we are 100 years strong)
- 5 stars stands for: democracy, peace, progress, justice and equality.
See, having a national flag is not just about having 5 stars and a crescent moon. Every element has a significance in itself.
b) National Day Parade
It's going to be at the floating stage near to where the Integrated Resort is built. And yes, being there, you will see the Singapore Flyer too.
c) National Day Songs
Here's a list of the songs that i can remember off my head right now.
- Stand Up For Singapore (u mean u don't know??? are u Singaporean??)
- Count On Me Singapore (starts with "There was a time where people say that Singapore can't make it, but WE DID.... *paiseh paiseh, it's a 'ministerial' hazard)
- One people, One Nation, One Singapore
- Chan Mali Chan (can this count???)
- Home - IMHO the most patriotic song i can relate to, seriously (by Kit Chan)
English Version
Chinese Version
(Specially for my fren whom i informed yesterday afternoon that today's National Day, hope this song will bring you to your remembrance that Singapore is your home, no matter where you are =) )
每一次我感到彷徨 不自禁就会回头望
mei yi ci wo gan dao pang huang bu zi jin jiu hui hui tou wang
我知道心中有个地方 一定会有一盏灯
wo zhi dao xin zhong you ge di fang yi ding hui you yi zhan deng
照亮每一颗黑暗的心房 指引未来方向
zhao liang mei yi ke hei an de xin fang zhi yin wei lai fang xiang
沿着生命河流向前航 就能登陆理想
yan zhe sheng ming he liu xiang qian hang jiu neng deng lu li xiang
Chorus:
我的家 收藏 我的欢喜悲伤
wo de jia shou cang wo de huan xi bei shang
只要点燃希望 梦就会自由飞翔
zhi yao dian ran xi wang meng jiu hui zi you fei xiang
我的家 给我 一双坚定翅膀
wo de jia gei wo yi shuang jian ding chi bang
我的梦 不论在何方 一生的爱唯有家
wo de meng bu lun zai he fang yi sheng de ai wei you jia
再也不会感到彷徨 不会再失意回头望
zai ye bu hui gan dao pang huang bu hui zai shi yi hui tou wang
我要用心中一点烛光 燃放千万户辉煌
wo yao yong xin zhong yi dian zhu guang ran fang qian wan hu hui huang
要让繁华的城市更灿烂 世界和平共享
yao rang fan hua de cheng shi geng can lan shi jie he ping gong xiang
全凭生命河流来导航 一起登陆理想
quan ping sheng ming he liu lai dao hang yi qi deng lu li xiang
I couldn't remember what was last year's song, which i guess should be quite a forgettable one.
This year's National Day song is in 2 languages.
Chinese Version
Sung by Joi Chua, the song title is 晴空万里 (translated as clear sky over ten thousand miles)
English Version
Sung by Hady Mirza ,Singapore Idol Yr 2 and 1st Asian Idol, the song title is "Shine for Singapore".
*****
Even though i don't have a Singapore flag hanging outside my window, i know that in my heart, i am a true-blue Singaporean and i know that the crescent and 5 stars are on the top left hand side of the flag, red on top, white on bottom.
Even though i have never been to the NDP live, i know that i still feel proud watching it Live telecast on television, and not to forget waving to the Singapore flag when it made it's all-around-Singapore rounds, even though i know that the pilot can't see me waving, and feeling very proud when the National day songs are being sung.
Even though i have not recited the Singapore pledge for the longest time since i've graduated from Secondary School, it has been in my heart for as long as i know it.
We, the Citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as ONE united people
Regardless of Race, Language or Religion
To build a democratic Society
Based on Justice and Equality
So as to achieve Happiness, Prosperity
And Progress for our nation.
FYI, i typed it word for word. I didn't google it to copy it here.
Even though i've listened to the new National Day songs year by year, and forget it the next year, i'll still remember the "Stand up for me Singapore", and "Count on me Singapore", because i can STAND up to defend my country, verbally when i need to, and Count on me to defend it.
Even though we are a young nation, but we are a properous one, because of the foundations built by our Minister Mentor, Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Without his determination, we won't be an independent nation, and we won't even be celebrating National Day every 9th August 2008 *Salutes to MM Lee.
Even though the ERP rates and Taxi rates are suffocating us like never before, and pay doesn't rise as fast as these rates inflate, but we still pay, because ... we HAVE to. But despite that, we are, as always, counting our (5) lucky stars that we are in Singapore, a place of stability and constant improvement.
For the wonderful, and the one-that-burns-our-pockets, i wanna say is.
I LOVE YOU SINGAPORE! And happy birthday!
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