Part 1 – The area about the Jurong Industrial Estate
• It is mind blowing to know the stories that the older generations of Singapore hold within them such as the story of Chiau Fong Fa. She worked as a cleaner in NTU. She recounted the time when she used to work in the plywood factory in Jurong despite the unsanitary conditions of the place. She did this to earn some extra money.
• The industrialization of Jurong was needed for the progression of Singapore. Yes, we had to get rid of the swamps – a native natural landscape of Singapore – but it is a necessary sacrifice. It provides job opportunities for the citizens and enhances Singapore's relationship with other countries as the factories built in Singapore are often joint venture with countries like Hong Kong and the United Kingdom.
As I watched the 3 videos provided from this section, the quote that got me off guard was one from Video 3:
"Girls working in those times are deemed to be an embarrassment hence we had to work in secret" – Quote from Video 3
It was surprising for me as the previous video before it was Fong Fa recounting her time back then working in the factory without any giveaway of it being taboo/working in secret.
Take-aways
• This period of Singapore, with industries being built and cleaning of the Singapore River was a chance for Singaporeans to step out of their comfort zone despite the societal view of the time – that of being a time of uncertainty and breaking of social norms. Anxious whether or not the local government was communist, if they should pack up and head for a different country or stay and believe in where the country is heading no matter how scary it is.
• Do whatever you do with confidence. Trust in yourself and others will trust in you.
Part 2 – A Singing Singapore
I really liked this section as I could sit and browse through the radio and listen to the tunes that Singaporeans enjoyed over the time. I imagined how they would have listened to it albeit while they did house chores or during sleepovers. Here are some of my short reviews on it:
• 1991 – Why U So Like Dat
o I didn't know Singlish went that far back in our history that local pop music used it. ~~The song was kinda cringy for me though~~
• 1998 – Home
o Immortalized Classic! Still a bop till now.
• 2003 – Mashkuh Ada Cinta (Is there still love?)
o It is a pretty classic early 2000s bop in general, not really my cup of tea.
• 2003 – PCK: The SAR-vivor Rap
o It's a Singlish pop with one-liners that has stuck with Singaporeans throughout the years. Lines like "Don't play play" and "Use your brain".
• 2006 – Usah Lepaskan (Don't let it go)
o Another classic bop for early 2000s
• 2015 – Nee Indro Kshatriyar (The way of the Warrior)
o Very epic sounding reminds me of believer by imagine dragons for some reason.
• 2016 – Call me (not maybe)
o What the heck?
• The National Day Song Mashups
o I realized there was some musical progression of it, it starts off with a very classic Chinese song and it slowly became quite Disney sounding song and ambience, it suddenly gives off an American feel (from the moment they said "5 Stars arising~~") to Singapore trying to find their sound and finally finding it when they created Home.
Part 3 – Multiculturism in Singapore
The recreation of the hawker center with the scent diffuser was actually pretty neat. I realized how the hawker center became our new kampung, a place where people from different cultures can come together and learn each other's cultures through everyone's favorite language – food!
My favorite part of the exhibit was this segment titled Open Doors.
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I sat down at the table and chair provided and attempted to answer the questions.
1. I hope Singapore becomes more accepting as they claim to be.
a. Abolish Section 377A Law of the Penal Code.
b. There is a clear Chinese bias. People tend to see them in a higher light compared to other races.
c. PRs and Singapore Citizens do not share the same treatment. PRs are basically a middle ground between foreigners and citizens of Singapore. Where they do get privileges that foreigners don't get to enjoy but at the same time that status bars them from getting certain privileges like scholarships or rewards like the Re-discovery Vouchers that Singaporeans get to enjoy.
2. Singapore is not really focused on changing their societal views. It rather works on preserving the past than modernizing it. It is a land of stability rather than the land of change. I suppose Singaporeans should step out of their comfort zone by opening their minds more and be more accepting to new modernized ideals in order to progress forward as a society.
Take-Aways
The stories that affected me the most were those from the people that grew up in Singapore and called it Home but was then forced to leave it / was not really seen as a Singaporean. I too grew up here and called it home, despite living most of my life here, I was never really considered a citizen. I remember a time back in primary school, I was often asked why I sand the national anthem and the pledge so loud and proud when I'm not even "one of them". It rocked me to my core to the point where I had a mini existential crisis and I stopped singing the national anthem and saying the pledge and just either sat down or just stood and waited for it to be over.
