Produced by Diploma in Mass Communication students Aug - Oct 2014 Centre of Enterprise and Communication www.republicanpost.sg What makes us who we are celebrates its 49th birthday this year and we ask students around campus what makes them Singaporean. BY CHERIE CHEAH

I am Singaporean because I am Singaporean because I study at the airport I play football at the - Muhammad Ismail bin Abdul Majid, 18, Di- void deck ploma in Sports and Exercise Sciences, SHL - Muhammad Asyraf bin Osman, 18, Diploma in Sports and Science, SHL

I am Singaporean because I go chalet at downtown east! - Karthik Kahlaichelverm, 19, Diploma in Media Production and Design, STA

I am Singaporean because I am Singaporean because I LOve durians! I AM KIASU! - Vanessa Leong, 17, Diploma in Integrated - Carmen Yong, 17, Diploma in Biomedical Events Management, SOH Sciences, SAS

The ice-cream man brings joy to RP It is a very Singaporean sight and sound – the colourful umbrella, the sound of the bell as the ice-cream man comes around. We catch up with the seller of delightful cool treats right here on campus.

By Kane Raynard Goh meet some nice people which make your day.” s students, we are sometimes unsure of when Mr Teo traded his job as our own Understanding Tests (UT) and holi- a Guest Service Officer at a lo- Adays are. But one man knows it all – and he cal hotel to sell ice-cream for might know it better than us. a more flexible and carefree Mr Teo Kah Beng, 53, knows the academic cal- working lifestyle. He added endar better than some students do as he has been that the stress and pressure in selling ice-cream outside Republic Polytechnic (RP) the hospitality industry was not since the campus moved to Woodlands. RP stu- for him, as people would do dents are greeted by Mr Teo every day after class as whatever it took to get a promo- he stations himself at the prime spot, right next to tion. the zebra crossing. Despite not earning When asked how he knows when to come much from this job (he de- by, he said: “After selling ice-cream here for a long clined to say how much), the time, I could tell when the UT period is,” he ex- father of three sons said that plained. “Usually on normal school days, every- it is what makes him happy. COOL TREATS: The well-loved sight of the motorcycle and the ice-cream cart greets students one would stream out together at 3:30pm. But when “When people compliment after school every day. Photo by: nur humaira wahab the crowd comes out in a staggered pattern, I know me and tell me that the ice- it’s a UT day.” cream that I sell is nice, that makes me ice-cream, he will remember my favorite order and Mr Teo also added that he occasionally gets up- happy”, he added. have it ready for me.” dates from the students as he often strikes a conversa- One of those singing Mr Teo praises was Deep- Mr Teo doesn’t have plans on retiring soon and tion with them while selling ice-cream. an Raj Valluvan, 19, second year student from the would like to continue selling ice-cream until his age After selling ice-cream for almost 11 years, Mr Teo Diploma in Mass Communication. He said: “He rec- and health forbids him to – so we can still look forward still feels joy and satisfaction in selling a humble piece ognizes me and ask how my day was. His friend- to hearing Mr Teo’s ice-cream bells ringing after school of ice-cream. “You get to meet different types of people liness is what makes him different from other ice- and greeting us with a uniquely Singaporean treat - ice- in this job, people from all walks of life. Sometimes you cream uncles. Also when I approach him to get my cream with bread on a hot sunny afternoon. post news post news Editor’s note SEG student beats the odds to win World- irst and foremost, I would like to thank everyone who has continued reading the Republican Post. We are now at our sixth issue! In this issue, we speak to Mr Choo Chiau Beng, former CEO of Keppel Corporation Skills contest F y adia atasha aperi on the recent endowment fund he has awarded STA and SEG students. August is also a B N N Z Network Cabling cat- time when we stop and think about what being Singaporean is all about. So we went look- egory. He did it within ing for stories and pictures and we hope it makes you think about what you love about this or many students, school break is the time to re- the three days with little city. We also feature a team of SEG students who have kindly donated their winnings wind and relax. Muhammad Mahmoud Abdullah five tasks ranging from from a competition to RP’s student needy fund as well as a food drive that has inspired FNg however, spent his holiday back at school, at- three to seven hours. many to give back, this Hari Raya season. tending intensive trainings to prepare for the World- The journey to RP’s biggest music festival, IGNITE! is back and we have a sneak peek into what Skills Singapore (WSS). success did not come to expect in this issue but we have lots more stories on the festival online. Our newsroom WSS is a skills competition aimed at encouraging easy. A few days was buzzing with excitement when student reporters got a chance to interview some local youths with technical skills to excel in their skill area before the competi- celebrities - spot them in our pages! For movie lovers, we also have special reviews on the and test themselves against demanding national and tion, Muhammad fell much talked about Fault In Our Stars and sci-fi flick Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. then global standards. It is a biennial event, organised sick. Muhammad also As the semester draws to a close, it is time for my team and I to bid farewell to all by ITE in conjunction with the five Polytechnics. For had to fast because of you as we leave for internship. I hope you enjoy reading this Republican Post as much three days, 142 young talents from 17 skills area rang- the contest days fell as we enjoyed putting it together and continue to write to us your ideas. ing from aircraft maintenance to web design battled it during Ramadan. out at ITE College Central and ITE College West. The But none of these Farewell and happy reading, students’ efforts were judged by industry profession- obstacles fazed him. als, to ensure only the best would be selected to rep- “My only goal resent Singapore at the prestigious 43rd WorldSkills for this competition ALL SMILES: Despite many challenges, Muhammad kept to his goal which was to win the Gold medal Competition, held in Brazil this year. was to get the gold and represent Singapore at the 43rd WorldSkills Competition. Photo by: RP Facebook At the end of the gruelling three days, RP bagged medal and represent “Muhammad is very prominent in terms of apti- Ravethi Jeyakumar a total of three medals despite some tough competition Singapore. It was my only target since I joined. It was tude, he takes a very short time to get the important from the other tertiary institutions. Students Brian Lim very tough at some points when I felt very weak. points and he can accomplish tasks very quickly,” from Diploma in Restaurant and Culinary Operations But I just pushed on and it went well for me,” said said Ms Lim. and Jasper Ang from Diploma in Hotel and Hospitality the 20-year-old. His perseverance eventually paid By claiming the gold medal, Muhammad man- Management took home the bronze award for Cook- off the moment his name was announced as one of aged to book a flight ticket to Sao Paolo, Brazil where ing and Restaurant Service respectively. Muhammad the Gold Medallist. he looks forward to proudly represent Singapore at Former CEO gives RP generous donation from the Diploma in Renewable Energy Engineer- Muhammad’s facilitator, Ms Lim Chiew Yen the WorldSkills competition and hopefully fly the RP Mr Choo Chiau Beng, former CEO of Keppel Corporation lends a helping hand to youths in RP who struggle with juggling work and ing emerged as the Gold Medallist in the Information strongly believes that Muhammad has the X-factor. and the Singapore flag. school work by donating $100,000. SEG students donate $2500 IGNITE! 2014: Back to school’s needy fund and bigger than before

By Nicole Ho Mei-En

t is a must-see music festival – not only on the calendar of every student but also for music lovers across the country. Republic IPolytechnic is set to have its 7th IGNITE! music festival this year, on the 15th and 16th August. Consisting of 17 bands playing over the two evenings, the line-up this year displays a range of different music styles – a wider choice of genre; from never before played alternative-indie band Wyd:Syd to hard rocking Caracal. They have one thing in common – they are all born and bred right here in Singapore. The outdoor, free admission and entirely student-driven event which started out back in 2008 has grown from strength to strength. From settling sponsorships to managing the video crew, the team has seen a big increase; from a mere 20-odd student crew initially to COMPASSIONATE: Students (left to right: Phua Hui Cheng, Nor’s Atikah, Rabi’atul Adawiyah, over 600 student organisers and crew this year. Muhammad Amirun and Jeston Yeo) took part in the Singapore International Printing Competition 2014. From emceeing, performing, and finally producing the mu- Photo by: Mr Lim Boon Hong sic festival, Kenny Lim, an RP Alumni is still excited after all these years: “IGNITE! Has grown from strength to strength, and the big- By: Elaine Neo Nor’ Atikah was the only one who gest reward comes when students grow from the experience.’’ was able to attend the event day and was CARING FOR THE YOUTH: Despite being from the pioneer generation of Singapore, Mr Choo worries about the challenges Before the actual event, the IGNITE! team will be holding he prize money was not a very big one to surprised that they won the first prize. youths of this generation face. He has donated $100,000 to students from STA and SEG in hopes of lightening their burdens. fringe activities from the 4th to 14th August, such as IGNITE! The begin with, but a group of Engineering When asked about why they decided to Photo by: REPTV City: busking from Orchard Road to Marina Barrage on the 9th, co- Tschool students decided to donate half of donate half of their winnings, the team By Ravethi Jeyakumar quite easy for kids from all backgrounds to study.” tion, the former RI student was in Republic Polytech- inciding with the National Day celebration. Other fringe events in- their winnings to help fellow needy students. said, “It started out as a small talk before Now, however, he sees a completely different nic recently, to present a cheque to students from the clude a crash course on doodling by well-known art group Band of The Diploma in Industrial and Operations Man- we took part in the competition. We didn’t hen doing background research for an in- world, one which requires students to work and School of Engineering (SEG) and School of Technol- Doodlers, a song writing workshop by Thunder Rock School, and agement (DIOM) students donated $2500. know that we would win but as a team, we terview with the former CEO of Keppel study, when money comes into the equation. ogy Arts (STA) under the Mr and Mrs Choo Chiau many others. Jeston Yeo Boon Yong, 21, Muham- promise that we would donate half of the WCorporation Mr Choo Chiau Beng, one is “For youths from financially challenged fami- Beng Endowment fund. “This year, you can expect a celebration of local talents as we mad Amirun Bin Hamdan, 23, Nor’ Atikah prize if we win the first prize as a way of struck by the very long list of accolades and achieve- lies, the challenge is earning enough or having Having previously donated $62,500 to STA feature singer song writers, rap stars and many more. Also, the Vil- Binte Zainal, 24, Phua Hui Cheng, 23 and returning back to our school since we make ments in his resume. To name a few: he is Chairman enough to paying the fees and expenses and some- previously in 2010, Mr Choo has increased his dona- lage (side-events happening on the days itself) this year would no Rabi’atul Adawiyah Binte Hasn, 23, won use of the facilities.” of the Board of Governors at Raffles Institution and times helping their family, I think many of the stu- tion amount this year to a staggering $100,000. When doubt be something you would not want to miss,” Kenny adds. the first prize in the Singapore Internation- She added: “Everyone understands sits on several other boards. dents both ITE and Poly, they work part time.“ asked as to why he decided to increase his donation Faith Ng, 19, a third year SOH student who is also part of the al Printing Competition 2014, led by their how it feels like to be helped, we ourselves By his own admission, this is a success- This juggling of work and school can however amount after four years he said, “I was convinced marketing secretariat was excited to see specific acts. supervisor Mr Lim Boon Hong. get bursary from school, so might as well ful Singaporean who has reaped the rewards be overwhelming for some. that this is a good course, so I wanted to make a more “I love 53A. They’re my favourite band since I saw them in The team was notified of the compe- extend a helping hand to others who need of meritocracy and he has not forgotten that he “If they work too many hours part time, sac- lasting contribution.” Year 1. They are artistes with amazing attitude and I truly enjoy tition during February which was during the money more than us.” started out like many post-war children – in very rifice their sleep and their studies, in the end if When asked about his most favourite time of their covers. Honestly can’t wait for them to come back this year.’’ the school's semester break. They had three “I heard this terminology from a fa- humble beginnings. they do not do well the three years could be wast- his life, Mr Choo picks his time as a student. “The Be sure to like and follow their social media pages to be in- months to prepare for the competition and cilitator, one day a man saw a starfish on “In my time, Singapore was very poor. So many ed. So I think that it is important to see that they best time of your life is always when you are a stu- formed and updated, and check out their blog for further details: to produce their 3D printing work by May. the beach and decided to throw it back to of us come from poor families but we did not feel are not so financially challenged that they have dent. When you are a student, you don’t have too Facebook: IGNITEMUSICFESTIVAL | Twitter / Instagram: @IG- Mr Lim, 41, said: “There wasn’t much the sea. When asked about why he did many barriers because at that time, tuition was very to put too much effort into work and not much much care other than passing your exams and doing NITEMUSICFEST | Blog: http://ignitemusicfest.blogspot.sg/ time for the team, all of them just had to that, he said, “No matter how small or late rare. Students compete and there was no kindergar- effort into studies.” visibly well, so you have many choices of how you do their part in re-capping what was our help may be, we will just have to try,” ten or childhood education at that time, so it was In an effort to help students caught in this situa- spend your time and with whom.’’ taught previously.” said Jeston Yeo. 2 THE REPUBLICAN POST THE REPUBLICAN POST 3 Post news Post news A small gesture that grew into a Online gaming’s gold rush Electronic sports is a billion-dollar industry which has both perks and problems.

By Lee Joon Lei when it announced that its annual tournament, The the first time this year, another sign that eSports is gar- movement International (Ti), had a prize-pool of US$1.6 million, nering mainstream appeal. s recently as just five years ago, a teenager including $1 million for the grand prize. Since then, Things look rosy for eSports at the moment, but By Nawwarah Abdul Ghani with thoughts of being a professional gamer support for the competition has only gotten stronger, the allure of wealth can also mean an increase in cor- Awould have been roundly dismissed as be- so much so that this year’s edition, Ti4, has a prize- ruption and exploitation, much like in traditional oodForRamadan (FFR) is a non-profit ing naïve or idealistic. The prospects for a 15-year-old pool of $11 million, an almost 10-fold increase from just sports. In 2013, professional LoL player Cheon Min-Ki charity drive which aims to help the less today are not as dim however. And the main reason four years ago. jumped from a 12-storey window in a suicide attempt Ffortunate, both Muslim and non-Muslim, behind this shift? Money. “Tournaments like MLG (Major League Gam- after he was exposed to be an accomplice in a match by providing basic food essentials during the In recent years, savvy revamps and a series of ing) used to be a big deal, but their prize pools never fixing scandal. He, along with four other players, were holy month of Ramadan where acts of service hugely successful titles have grown the financial clout exceeded $100,000. Ti has blown every other event reported to have been unwittingly duped and coerced are encouraged. of electronic sports, or eSports, exponentially. More so out of the water and made the professionals more into losing matches on purpose so that their manager, Established in 2012 by two friends, Ms than ever, gaming is as serious a business as sports, motivated than ever. It brought about whole new era Noh Dae Chu, could win money by betting on the un- Farah Sidek, 28 and Ms Farah Bawany 24, with match commentators, dedicated TV slots and full- in online gaming,’’ said 20-year-old Or Yong Fang, a derdogs they were playing against. FFR started literally in the kitchen. The idea time salaries to boot. And judging by recent trends, the third-year student from Republic Polytechnic and a Though such incidents are currently few and far for it came about from a simple act of spring industry is only going to get bigger. Estimates put the former professional gamer. between, it gives us an insight into how easily the repu- cleaning. Farah Bawany was clearing out her gaming industry at around $67 billion dollars in 2012, Yong Fang pursued gaming professionally af- tation of eSports can be compromised. kitchen cupboard and realized that she had and the figure is expected to grow to $82 billion by 2017 ter his ‘O’ level examinations, moving to Taiwan for a Lennert Yang, a 32-year-old owner of local LAN tons of expired items. “The idea came up that according to financial magazine Forbes. year and living with four other teammates in an apart- shop Versus City, thinks that the eSport’s gold rush why not actually use these food items before One of the best examples of eSport’s growth would ment that also served as their training area. He prac- is a double-edged sword, but it is ultimately the play- they expire by distributing it to those who be the case of the five-a-side strategy game Defence of tised for 12 to 15 hours a day, and even had a dedi- ers and managers who have to uphold the integrity need it more,” she said. the Ancients, known commonly as DotA. Created ini- cated manager that was in charge of peripherals like of the industry. The first food drive happened that same tially as a user-made ‘custom map’ on the fantasy game meals and scheduling. “The money will increase the skill level of play- year, collecting only food items to be dis- ‘Warcraft III’, its finances skyrocketed when it was “You have to practise until the game be- ers and take the games to new heights, but it will also GIVING HEARTS: The Food for Ramadan team started by two friends called Farah (third from left and third from right) has grown in three years. tributed to the beneficiaries. With just a few bought over by gaming giant Valve. The American com- comes second nature. That’s what the pros do, and make the industry more business-centric as the stakes Photo by: nur Hidayah Roslan volunteers, both Farahs managed to distrib- pany improved the game’s production quality and re- that’s the level you must reach in order to take up become higher. We may even see a case whereby the ute to almost 70 families. However, logis- Mdm Latifah Zainul was one of the ben- the beneficiaries’ faces after receiving the hampers. released it in 2011 as a standalone title – DotA 2. gaming competitively.” best teams are able to mix and match players from all tics wise, they realized it was slightly difficult to eficiaries who received the hamper. “I feel very “This is actually my first time volunteering and it’s Value’s business savvy saw them tap into the game’s The money that is being pumped into lucra- the other teams, just like in football, and the imbalance manage in terms of storage, transportation and etc. grateful that there are people out there who really nice to see there are so many volunteers who large community to raise funds by introducing the Com- tive games like DotA and World of Warcraft has also would inevitably lead to wavering integrity.” Thus, future food drives consisted of mainly money take notice of the less fortunate families, includ- actually care about the less fortunate people,” said pendium - a $10 virtual book that allows buyers to receive helped give eSports a greater sense of legitimacy. Last “I think the managers play a pivotal role in the donations, through which food items were bought ing myself,” said the 48-year-old. As a clean- the 23-year-old NTU student. special in-game items over the course of the tournaments. year, Canadian Danny Le, a professional player of team’s cohesiveness as he serves as he is in charge of a from suppliers. er with a family of four, she is happy to get a Both Farahs are hopeful that FFR will continue The concept was a hit and the Compendiums sold in the DotA offshoot League of Legends (LoL), made history lot of the financial matters of a team. If the manager has From a modest start of packing food items into good supply of groceries. to sustain and improve on their success providing millions, which helped push tournament winnings to by becoming the first gamer to be granted a P-1A visa integrity, his close relationship to the players will often plastic bags, today the food is packed in hampers to The current success of FFR has to come down to for the community. “While we will continue to strive amounts that are previously unheard of. to work in the United States, the same visa given to pro- mean that they will remain honest as well.” over 500 families living in Chai Chee area. They have over 70 volunteers who pack, deliver, take registers to make FFR bigger and better, we will not lose sight In a scene where prize-pools rarely exceeded fessional athletes like David Beckham. Sports network Clearly, on or off line, the same sporting vehicles now to deliver to residents too sick to come and do general work. One of them was Filzah Yahya of our primary aim and that is to help the less fortu- five figures, Valve shocked the community in 2011 ESPN is also broadcasting Ti for their US audiences for rules apply. and pick them up. who felt that it was heartening to see the smiles on nate families,” said Farah Sidek.

The Media Lab Team 5 skills to be a good gamer Giving and receiving help Third-year DMC student and former pro-gamer OR YONG FANG takes us through some of the skills needed to be a good gamer. News Desk Chief Editor Ravethi Jeyakumar News Editor Emmanuel Phua ATTITUDE Online & Copy Editor Lee Joon Lei Attitude towards your teammates is especially important in team games. It is important not to blame your Assistant Copy Editor Deepanraj Ganesan teammates when they are doing badly in a game, as that would only bring down their performance even more. The best players know how to keep themselves composed and rally their teammates instead of push- Design Team ing the blame onto them. So the next time your team is up against it, try motivating them instead of telling Chief Designer Zaiba Mohd Noor 01 them off. You’d be surprised at the difference it makes. Deputy Chief Designer Jeremy Lah Web Designer Velda Lim FOCUS Public Relations Team The ability to concentrate and multi-task throughout the entire course of a game is very important. Being PR Cluster Lead Cheryl Wong able to keep on your toes and react just a second faster than your opponent, or spot a game-winning oppor- Deputy PR Cluster Lead Chin Ying Qi tunity from the mini-map, can mean the difference between winning and losing. Consistency throughout Publicity Head Walter Ng the entire game makes you highly-reliable in all points of the game, something that will frustrate opponents no end. 02 Broadcast Team Acting Broadcast Editor Muhammad Falliq Presenter Head Lead Irni Natasha HARDWORK The best gamers in the world spend countless hours working on their game mechanics, which results in near Video Team Head Trudy Tan perfect control of their characters’ skills and movement. This allows them to pull off even the toughest of Cameramen Team Head Marcus Mark Ramos GETTING HELP: Madam Norasiah was a cheerful recipient. Nearly 500 families like hers got hampers with basic groceries like skill shots and push their APM, or Actions-per-Minute, to insane levels. Of course none of this comes with- out hard work, which is why you have to practise for hours every day to achieve such levels. canned food, rice and oil. Photo by: Nur Hidayah Roslan Lifestyle Desk Lifestyle Editor Fateha Sulaiman 03 By Annabelle Lee quitting her last job as an administra- 10 cents to someone who needs it more tive consultant. Her husband is the than I do,’’ she said. Throughout the Community Desk he normally quiet void deck sole breadwinner of the family earn- distribution process, her wrinkled but Community Editor Elgin Chong PREPARATION Good preparation can greatly affect your in-game performance. Many players jump straight into the play- was abuzz with activity as peo- ing about $800-900 per month as a nimble hands were working quickly ing process without reading up on things like game changes or patch notes, something that is important but ple milled about and chatted part-time security guard. to help beneficiaries register to get their Reviews Desk T underrated. By understanding changes to the game and keeping up with the game, it would give you some while waiting to collect their hampers She only receives the leftovers collection cards. Reviews Editor Joshua Kwok advantages, such as making use of new items or characters that other players may not be prepared for. filled with daily necessities like rice, of the hampers which was shared When all the hampers were Reviews Deputy Naren Lee Sankar oil, canned food and biscuits. Many of among some members of the Sen- given out, Madam Noraisah made her 04 those who receive these hampers have ior Activity Centre (SAC) who way home, husband and mother-in- Sports Desk tough lives and difficult situations.. were also helping out. She was just law in tow – glad that she could give Sports Editor Muhammad Haiqal Take Madam Norasiah Bte Has- happy to be receiving something and receive on a special day. SELFLESSNESS As with sports, the primary objective of the team should come before your personal hunt for glory. Getting san, 61, for instance. She lives with her from the event. A cheerful and rather tired Mad- Photojournalism Desk the job done and winning the game is the main priority, not kills. 52-year-old husband and her 72-year- Madam Noraisah joined the am Noraisah chirped: “I just want to Photojournalism Editor Muhd Mursyid old mother-in-law in a one-room SAC so she could help others like her thank the two Farahs for helping us Deputy Photojournalism Editor Humaira Wahab flat. A series of health issues forced too. “I know how difficult life is for me out. At least we have something for her to be a full time homemaker after and for them too, so I will give my last our Hari Raya.” 05 4 THE REPUBLICAN POST THE REPUBLICAN POST 5 POST Photo post photo Sights and sounds of Singapore When tourists come to Singapore, they see the glittery Marina Bay Sands or the sparkling Orchard Road. We see the things that identify us as uniquely Singaporean. A photo-essay by Nur Humaira Wahab, Nur Hidayah Roslan and Sabrina Muhleseddin.

RUSH HOUR: LAUNDRY DAY: It is one of the things we complain about the most: the crazy crowds in the The most eco-friendly way to dry clothes in a jiffy. Bamboo MRT during peak hours. But it is also poles are an essential part of every Singaporean home the best place to see the multi-cultural and a delight to see from a diferent angle. nature of Singapore society. by Nur Humaira Wahab by Nur Humaira Wahab

CUTE CABINS:

Gone are the old reserve seat sign we’re all too familiar with on SMRT trains. Since March this year, LTA has come up with four eye-catching de- sign for trains in the Downtown Line in the hope of encouraging commuters to be more gracious. By Nur Hidayah Roslan

Today’s kids have a range of electronic gadg- It has become a norm for Singaporeans to ets to play with. Not too long ago though, use tissue papers to reserve a table at coffee FLAG ERASER we played a simple game of “eraser-tag”. CHOPE!: shops and hawker centres, especially during These are still sold in shops. lunch hour where everyone frantically looks GAME: By Nur Hidayah Roslan for a seat. by Nur Humaira Wahab

OLD ARCHITECTURE: Spiral staircases used to be a common sight in Singapore in the 60s and 70s. Some of them still survive - if you look hard The Americans have food carnivals while we Modified motorcycles with freezers as enough you can spot them in the back lanes of shophouses. have “pasar malam” - literally meaning night sidecars - these ice cream vendors have by Sabrina Muhleseddin PASAR MALAM: markets. They are delightful because of the ice cream man: graced the streets of Singapore for years, yummy food and knick-knacks you can buy. selling traditional flavours such as durian, by Sabrina Muhleseddin yam and mango on wafer biscuits or bread. by Sabrina Muhleseddin

6 THE REPUBLICAN POST THE REPUBLICAN POST 7 Post Plush post limelight Bend it like Becca Lim! “To know that there are a lot of team that you trust.” Flying the flag for Singapore Rugby people who you have looked up to are When her Mata Mata filming ended in July, Lim happy for you and that they are sending only had a day’s rest before starting work on Channel The upcoming 2015 South East Asian (SEA) Games will feature rugby for the first time. As a sport that lags behind its you messages and gifts to congratulate 8 medical drama You Can Be An Angel Too. But pick- contemporaries like football and basketball in Singapore, Republic Polytechnic (RP) graduate, Jay-Hykel Jailani, is one you, made it very meaningful,” said the ing up more awards or endorsing more big names is man eager to help rugby make its mark. 27-year-old. the furthest thing from her mind. The former Singapore Manage- She said: “There really isn’t time to rest but I By Deenpanraj Ganesan thought it was a joke and I had to pinch myself,” ment University student has close to nine have no complaints because I’d rather work than recalled the Saint Andrew’s Secondary School alum- years of experience in the industry, from not be employed. Awards are great but they’ll nly professional sportsmen know the pun- nus. He is training with the national team in prepa- her debut leading role in a TV series for fade away and people will forget that. I mean, a ishing nature of pressure. Many overcome ration for the SEA Games, but plays in an amateur Channel 8’s The Truth to her award-win- career is a career, but I hope to make it a meaning- Oit but some are so rattled it temporarily league for a club called Saints RFC. ning roles in Fighting Spiders (Actress of ful one so that I can look back on and be proud of knocks them out. Jay-Hykel Jailani knows exactly Jay started all five games for the Dragons’ the Year at the ELLE Awards 2010) and what I’ve done.” what that is like. The Diploma in Sports and Leisure developmental team before losing out in the fi- The Pupil (Best Actress at the 15th Asian Management graduate found himself dealing with nal to the senior squad in what he described as Television Awards). Mata Mata 2 - A New Decade premieres on Sep 1, the stress monster in 2007. a fruitful and eye-opening experience. Yet Lim still doesn’t think she’s tru- 8pm on Channel 5. He was playing for Saint Andrews Secondary “The level of quality and professionalism they ly hit the peak of success yet. School in the final of the National ‘C’ Division Cham- had was something you can’t describe and I hope to “I think with a lot of things in life, pionships. Lining up a penalty to get his side back replicate that in my game,” he said. By Samantha Nelson you don’t get it just like that,” she said. “Some people into the match, Jay miscued his kick, resulting in his Passionate about the local rugby scene, the are just really gifted. There are a lot of gifted actors in side losing the tie to their bitter rivals, Anglo-Chinese speedy winger, who counts former New Zealand hen you switch on your TV to Channel this industry and I’m not one of them, unfortunately. School (Independent). The manner of the defeat left star Douglas Howlett as his idol, championed the 5 or 8, chances are you’ll see her acting I wish I was.” him so dejected that he walked away from the sport, need for more trials and opportunities for younger Win one of its shows. She recently bagged In the upcoming season of Mata Mata, Lim plays albeit temporarily. After quitting the Saint Andrews players. “This will allow more players to know that a Star Award and is now the local face of Uniqlo Margaret Chin – a new addition to the Criminal In- Rugby team when he was in Secondary 2, the former there is a future in rugby,” he said. and Mercedes-Benz. vestigation Department set in post-independent Tampines Rovers Under-16 player turned to football, Having made his international debut against Next up is a leading role in the highly antici- Singapore in the 1970s. But again, Lim downplayed going on to represent the school team in the B Divi- REKINDLED AFFAIR: Since his return to the rugby scene, Jay- the in April, the stage is set pated second season of Channel 5’s Mata Mata in her role. “I don’t feel I’m the leading lady of Mata sion football championships. Hykel Jailani has not looked back and has gone strength to for Jay to parade his explosive pace and win over September. Mata because every day when I go on set, there are However, fate had other things in mind strength in the sport. Photo by: Ili Nadhirah Bte Mansor new fans of rugby in front of the massive crowd at It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that so many people around and there are a lot of team for Jay. After completing his O-levels and enter- the spanking-new National Stadium next year at the Rebecca Lim is a hot commodity in the local en- scenes. Acting is not a solo project, so I don’t feel like ing RP (in 2011), he came face to face with his first otal part of the all-conquering RP rugby team that won SEA Games. tertainment scene. I’m doing it alone,” she said. love again. RP had a strong rugby team and need- three straight Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Educa- “The SEA Games is one of the highest achieve- But the bilingual starlet is anything but the She paid tribute to her cast and crew several ed good players. It helped that he had some old tion (POL-ITE) Games titles from 2011 to 2013. ments a rugby player can get in Singapore and the glamorous celebrity you’d expect her to be. times during the interview, recalling an incident on friends there too. There was more to come. In March this year, he team and I definitely want to put on a good show At Channel 5’s LOCALICIOUS ON 5 roadshow set where the stunt team got her back in a difficult “I saw old friends I played rugby with and was selected to be part of the Asia Pacific Dragons at and show our calibre in front of a large crowd,” he last month, Lim was unassuming and friendly dur- scene where she had to climb two-storey high scaf- against previously like Marah Ishraf and Khor Jia the prestigious 10s tournament, where said enthusiastically. This time, having conquered ing an interview with The Republican Post. folding without a safety harness. Jun and I just wanted to get back to the fun times,” he played alongside top players like former Wallaby the burden of high pressure games, he is more than Recalling her Star Awards win as Best Sup- She said: “I was afraid that I would fall. There the 20-year-old explained with a smile. “RP definite- George Smith and Samoan Alesana Tuilagi. ready to take on the challenge of representing his na- porting Actress for her role in Channel 8’s The were a lot of times where I would slip down and ly made me fall in love with rugby again.” “I was taking care of my granddad when I re- tion in what is the biggest competition in Dream Makers, she expressed deep gratitude had to grab onto something, but thankfully the stunt Photo By: Mediacorp.sg And fall in love he did. Jay went on to play a piv- ceived a call from the Singapore Rugby Union. I Southeast Asia. for her supporters. team was very nice. It’s important to work with a Falling in love with Singapore Final 1 winner Farisha Ishak defers This is the series where we ask our facilitators some questions. In this issue, we speak to Mr Shin Dong Hoon who is the module chair of Qualitative Research Methods for the Centre for Enterprise and Communication (CEC) and who hails from Korea. school for music By: Nuranisha Abdul Rahim By Hanis Shahilla Since winning the competition life has been Tell us more about yourself an endless series of recording, shows and pub- Currently, I am the module chair of B225 Qualitative Research Methods. I or paper-chasing Singaporeans, getting a spot lic appearances – like this one at the Mediacorp used to be the senior brand manager at Samsung for eight years and before that I in the National University of Singapore(NUS) roadshow where she was giving us an exclusive actually worked as the market research manager for five years. Fwould be an opportunity to be cherished interview. What has changed? You worked for Samsung Life Insurance, tell us what was it like working for dearly. But for Farisha Ishak, who won last year’s “I think like what really hits me hard is the such a big brand? singing competition , letting go of her time that I sacrifice with my family and friends I was always excited because when you start working as a brand manager, spot in NUS for now is the best thing to do. The because I’m a very family oriented and playing you will actually treat your brand as your baby. It was almost like raising a child. petite singer, who is currently signed to Hype Re- kind of person so that’s a big sacrifice for me.” What are your impressions of Singapore so far? cords, has decided to take a break from school to Despite so, she added on that it was worth it, I realised that Singapore is kind of like the Samsung corporate culture. I see concentrate on her music career. It was not an easy as she gets to do what she loves doing. that that Singapore is a well-managed society. I really like that. decision for her to make. A supporter of English football club, Chel- What is your favourite local food? A clash of her school schedule with re- sea, the 20-year-old recently launched her first If I take one business backto Korea, it must be the yong tau foo business. I love cordings prompted Farisha to consider mak- album in February. Citing Emeli Sande an Eng- Yong Tau Foo! Actually, Bak Kut Teh was my favourite until I tried yong tau foo. ing a clean choice. Fortunately, a tough deci- lish born, Scottish recording artist and songwriter Now I eat it at least twice a week. sion couldn’t have been made easier if not for as her inspiration, Farisha said: “she strikes me What is the difference between Korea and Singapore in terms of culture? the tremendous amount of support she got from as someone who sings her heart out and people, Korean society is bigger than Singapore and the education system is also dif- her family. Farisha, who proclaims herself as a her fans knows what she’s talking about and ferent. In Korea, 70 per cent of the students probably would go to university to get family oriented person, told the team that she they feel it too and so I want to be, I strive to be degree. After they get the degree, it is very hard to find a job. Because of this the was thankful that there was support from her that kind of artiste”. competition is very high because they are all aiming for the same thing. family which was really nice and that it meant Despite the heat in the small backstage room Can you tell us something about Korea that we may not know? a lot to her to have the people that she really where we were speaking to her, Farisha was al- One interesting thing is that when seasons change, people’s feelings change loved backing her up. ways cheerful and patient. She ended our inter- too. Every spring, people feel their energies rising. They would go towards the The huge decision was weighing heavily on view with practical advice for budding singers. “I ocean and mountains to enjoy their summer holidays. In winter, the energy is less her but now that she’s made it – she breathes easy. think you know it’s always good to sort of push and people stay in, eat and drink more. “Now that I have made the decision I feel so yourself and do what you like…. that if you really What is your impression of RP students? sure of what I’m doing and that’s why I feel like love doing it, you should always do it, you should NUS CAN WAIT: Farisha has deferred her political sci- I think that you guys are very creative. Marketing requires lots of creativity I’m putting in my 110 percent into singing.” always find time to do what you love that’s what I ence degree for a career in music to pursue her passion. and I really like that the students are so creative and willing to think beyond the The bubbly star, a political science under- think and it is all about time management”. Photo by: nurul nabila texts they read. graduate before deferring school, has no definite She adds that her mother used to tell her that National day is approaching, Have you watched the National Day parade answer when asked when she would most likely she has 24 hours in a day – that’s a lot of time not Go to www.republicanpost.sg for more interviews with the before? continue school again, saying she intends to fo- to be doing anything. And that’s her mantra – to cast of Noose, Mata Mata and more! Not yet! Last year, I went to the Chingay Parade. It was wonderful, I realised cus on her music and working to promote her take each day, fill it up with passion and work that Singapore is a beautiful country with the various different type of cultures. So album for now. hard to fulfil her goals. I am looking forward to National Day celebrations. 8 THE REPUBLICAN POST THE REPUBLICAN POST 9 post review Post community ‘The FAULT IN OUR Yishun temple for two (faiths) “The world is not STARS’ By Elgin Chong weekdays. But there are those who would a wish-granting is faultless still visit the temple now and then to ask Author John Green’s hit novel comes alive on the big screen, and the he Hindu priests lit up the pot of fire, for blessings from both Tua Pek Kong a factory.” response has been electric. emanating thick smoke that enveloped nd Muneeswaran. Tthe entire temple. Hindi music started Raveen Kumar, a 37-year-old taxi driver, is By Kelley D’Cruz playing in the background as the priests be- one such devotee. He goes to the temple when- gan chanting to it. The devotees knelt down, ever he has the time in order to seek safe jour- - John Green t might not be your typical block- as brother and sister in “Divergent”. Though the film centres on sick- praying to the shrine of Muneeswaran as neys on the road. buster fare, but The Fault in our Shailene Woodley has been praised ness, it is truly an inspiring story that the priests conveyed the deity’s blessings on “I usually operate around the north so Stars (TFIOS) rose to the top of the for her performances time and again, talks about life, not death. “Some in- them. No, this is not a scene at a Hindu place sometimes, I make a detour here to ask for pro- US box office in its premiere week- but it was Ansel Elgort’s unexpect- finities are bigger than other infini- of worship, but at a Chinese temple known as tection from both deities because I’m always end. Raking in US$48.2m in its first edly heartwarming performance ties”, Hazel Grace reminding herself Hock Huat Keng. driving,” said Mr Raveen. “Although I’m a week, the film trounced the - com that brought the film its charm. Both that the life she lived was far more Nestled in the heart of Yishun Industrial Hindu, I’m quite open to praying to other gods petition, namely sci-fi flick Edge of characters brought vulnerability and important than the death she and Park A, this peculiar temple was founded in because you can get the best out of them.” Tomorrow and Disney’s Maleficent. humour to their roles, but it was Waters would very soon ensue. 1996 as a merger between a Tua Pek Kong Mr Raveen also added that he only knew The movie’s total gross now stands their chemistry that proved to be the ‘The Fault In Our Stars’ was an temple and Muneeswaran shrine. The history about the temple recently by coming across at well over US$200 million. enthrallment in “The Fault in Our incredibly faithful adaptation of John of these two religious centres go way back to a signboard near the vicinity. “I saw the sign- With more than 10 million cop- Stars”. “Maybe ‘okay’ will be our Green’s book, successfully bringing the early 1900s. Originally located off the cur- board, and the temple had a Chinese name. So ies sold worldwide since its release ‘always’”, a line in the movie that his words to life. Fans of the book rent Yio Chu Kang road, they were built for I was quite intrigued to visit it because it hosts in 2012, the original novel has been got the entire cinema going “Aww” could not possibly be let down, but the Chinese and Indian settlers around the Muneeswaran.” this year’s New York Times best when I watched the film. there is a feeling that the film was vicinity respectively. But there are those who already knew seller. The movie continues on with generally unexciting because of that. But soon, the settlers started worship- about Hock Huat Keng for months. Teo Zhi Heartfelt and endearing, “The the pair travelling to Amsterdam to Director Josh Boone could have done ping both deities together as they stood for Hao, 23, makes it a point to visit the tem- Fault In Our Stars” brings wit and meet Hazel’s most admired writer, a whole lot more rather than stay so the same thing – protection against evil. This ple every Friday after his father brought him romance to a film that depicts a Peter Van Houten, the author of a true to the writings of Green. phenomenon eventually forged a friendship there for the first time six months ago. He young girl’s battle with cancer. Con- book the pair discuss on earlier. The Nonetheless, with the out- between the two shrines. When the area was TRUE HARMONY: Hock Huat Keng is a unique Chinese temple that attracts Hin- said that his family’s belief in divinity had tradictory as it may seem, the film’s meeting doesn’t go as planned but standing pairing of Woodley and slated for re-development 30 years ago, the dus by hosting Muneeswaran, a Hindu deity widely worshipped to ward off evil. been ingrained in him. ability to subtly merge the pleasant this proves irrelevant as Hazel and Elgort, the movie is a definite must- two relocated to its current area, taking their Photo by: Geneieve Teo “My family has been strong believers in with the unpleasant was gripping. Gus’ relationship blossoms while see for Green’s fans especially. Just places under the very same roof. God since I was young so since I work around The movie starts with Hazel Grace abroad. be sure to come prepared with lots of Today, Hock Huat Keng is still a popular place man to speak to the congregants. the area, I would just drop by and pay my respects (Shailene Woodley), a chronically ill When they return home, tissue paper. of worship for such devotees, who worship both the “Both the Indians and Chinese would come to the deities here,” said the foreign worker coordi- teenager, meeting a young boy, Au- the story takes a brutal detour. Taoist and Hindu deities whenever they are there. and seek for wealth and advice from Heibai Wu- nator. gustus Waters (played by the ever- The sadness of it all comes head- The caretaker, who gave his name as Mr Ng, said chang,” said the 66-year-old, who served as care- But his regular visits to the temple proved to so-charming Ansel Elgort) at a can- on to the audience. The previ- For those who those who hated this that the temple would be jam-packed with people taker for two years. “I see lots of familiar faces and be more than just that. “Lots of the foreign work- cer support group. ously dreamy and humorous film movie check out an alternate view of from both religions every Saturday because of an frankly, I’m quite surprised the Hindus would come ers I’m in charge of come from India or Bangladesh, It is strange considering that turns into unexpected tragedy TFIOS. Check out republicanpost.sg/ event where Heibai Wuchang, or the Hell God of for the ritual.” and praying to a Hindu god really taught me to re- these two performers just appeared very quickly. reviews Wealth, would be called upon to possess the sha- The temple, however, is usually roomy on spect them and their religions,” he added. No monkey-ing From hotel front desk to cobbler From being at the front desk of a hotel to the front of a bus interchange, Yamaguchi Yoko now fixes broken shoes for a living with around this time her father. By Cheryl Wong to put three meals on the table everyday and not go more about everything, like the customers we meet,” By Joshua Kwok hungry is enough.” she said while smiling at her dad who was sitting he strong smell of glue permeates the air at Yis- More than just keeping her kids in mind, her across the wooden table. Mr Yamaguchi Taro, 66, am not an advocate of the copious amounts of gotiation and under- hun Bus Interchange as the sound of a hammer heart is with her father whom she calls “Daddy” was working on a pair of shoes while listening and CGI we see in cinema nowadays, ironic consid- standing. Oldman’s Tknocks against the sole of a dress shoe. On a with the warmth and affection of a child. occasionally singing along to an old Japanese folk ering the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed Dawn portrayal of Dreyfus is wooden table, next to a worn-out pushcart, lie a roll “In the past, the sentences I talk to my dad can song on loop. of the Planet of the Apes and half their cast is ren- undoubtedly poignant, of thread and a wide selection of tools. At the table, a be counted.… nowadays I get to talk to him a lot "It's good because it's like a tradition, passing it dered in computer effects. but this time he opts to woman fiercely concentrates on her task. down to family is always better and safer" said Mr Dawn of the Planet of the Apes picks up 10 years take the back seat to Ja- It’s hard to imagine that the blistered hands Taro who is originally from Japan but settled here as where Rise of the Planet of the Apes left off, with the son Clarke, whose char- skillfully pulling a thread through the pair of cork a young man. "Teaching her was difficult at first but virus from the first movie having all but wiped out acter gets more screen heels and fixing broken straps belonging to someone she is a fast learner." humanity. The opposite however, seems to apply for time and plays a signifi- who was working as a property agent and a front Having her dad beside her every day means Ms the apes and we are reintroduced to Caesar(Andy cantly role as the cen- Photo By: dawnoftheplanetoftheapes-movie.com desk at a hotel. Yoko gets to learn first-hand everything that has kept Serkis), the same intelligent ape from the last film, tral human in the story. ble of making me empathise that much with a Yamaguchi Yoko, 39, started helping out at her the business going for so many years. now the leader of a tribe of fellow simians who have Through the character of Malcolm and to a certain monkey is deserving of acclaim. But his theatrical father’s cobbler pushcart nine months ago as she pre- “My dad is a very honest man and doesn’t like all, like Caesar, gotten a boost in intelligence. Life is extent even Dreyfus, we can see that although prowess does have its limits, and we are treated pares to take over the business once he retires. The to waste people’s time or money; if a shoe is broken good for the apes, they hunt deer in the forest and often stumbling, humanity is not all bad. Sadly several times in the film to scenes of Caesar regard- business started at this location, 21 years ago. Many and he knows it can’t be saved, he won’t accept the have built themselves a nice little ape community however, by the middle of the film, we see that ing his mate with great fondness. If this were two would say that she shouldn’t give up her past occu- business,” she said. complete with a school. not all apes are all good either. human beings, there would be no problem, but the pations to be a cobbler but she begs to differ. The father-daughter duo serve an average of 30 This Utopia is soon disturbed however, quite The very human drama present in this movie fact is that these are two monkeys, and however “Competition is very high these days; there are customers a day and even though they have regular expectedly, when they come into contact with hu- is undoubtable, but the film’s allegories of politi- hard I try, am unable to disregard the corniness. so many property agents to compete with and no one customers, she express her worries on keeping the mans. Apparently, a sizable human colony has tak- cal and social issues are never overtly obvious, and Fortunately, this blatant attempt to humanize the wants an old lady to serve you at the front desk,” she business going after her father’s retirement. en up residence in the nearby city, and seeks to uti- can be read into as much or as little as you would apes is isolated, and is more of a crease than a tear shared as she picked up a new roll of thread. “With “Nowadays it’s difficult to set up a store mainly lise a hydroelectric dam to return power to the city. like. Most of this, of course would not be possible in the fabric of immersion. your own business, you won’t really go out of job; as to fix shoes; you have to sell other things such as keys The problem? This dam lies smack in the middle of without the very careful handling of visual effects. Despite the unwieldiness of its title, Dawn long as you can work, you can keep it going.” and shoes,” she said. “When my dad retires, I can- ape territory. These humans, in typical human fash- Unlike most of today’s blockbusters, the CGI never of the Planet of the Apes does have great bal- Before learning the ropes from her father, Ms not work at this place since Northpoint only gave my ion, have guns. As you’d expect, this does not bode feels intrusive, with visual panache being applied ance. Well-developed characters, a decent but Yoko was in the hotel line for more than 20 years and dad the license. I have to move somewhere else.” well for relations between the two factions. as a tool not for its own sake, but for the sake of solid plot, capable acting and thoughtful applica- had two years experience as a property agent. As a Despite all the uncertainty, Yamaguchi still finds The human faction is led by two men. The enhancing the emotion of a scene. tion of CGI come together very nicely, and is not single mother of two children, she dedicates her time her job very fulfilling and calls her experience akin to first is Dreyfus (Gary Oldman), whose attitude A large part of credit goes to the talents of something we see very often, and compared to the to spend it mostly with her family. a doctor’s. “The satisfaction of fixing a rotten shoe by towards the apes is of the more violent, although Andy Serkis, the master of motion capture who rest of the cinematic fare this season, you would Quitting her better-paying jobs wasn’t a tough changing its sole and making it as good as new is simi- not unreasonable variety, and Malcolm (Jason brought us Gollum. His performance is expectedly be hard-pressed to do better than Dawn of the decision as Ms Yoko has a very simple mindset to- FATHER-DAUGHTER DUO: In their corner at the Yishun bus inter- lar to a doctor curing a very sick patient.” Clarke), who wishes to settle things through ne- nothing short of impressive, and any man capa- Planet of the Apes. wards life. “I don’t want a luxurious life; being able change, they fix broken soles for a living.P hoto by: Cheryl Wong 10 THE REPUBLICAN POST THE REPUBLICAN POST 11 post sports Glitz 2014: Sweats off, Suits on! On the 27th of June, The Republic Cultural Centre hosted Glitz 2014, an annual ceremony celebrating Team Republic’s finest.

By F Nathasha Lopez

he annual one-night-only recognition ceremony for members of Team Republic saw athletes swap Tsweat pants and jerseys for a more formal and classy wear. With a black and white theme for the night, the men came decked in suits while the ladies brought oozed el- egance in their dresses. The night’s distinguished guests included Republic Polytechnic’s (RP) Principal and CEO Mr Yeo Li Pheow, Director of RP’s Office of Student and Graduate Affairs Mr Ganesh Kalyanam, and Mr Tan Teck Hock, Principal of Singapore Sports School. Glitz 2014 went off to an electrifying start with Team Republic’s very own Rexaz cheerleaders putting on a spectacular routine, while the talented musical duo of Zachary and Dominic hit all the right notes with their two-song set. Eventually, it was time to get down to business. GIRL POWER: Mr. Yeo Li Pheow, Principal and CEO of Republic Polytechnic, presented the Team of the Year 2014 plaque to the Think “Best Actor” for the Oscars and you’ll get the Cap- ladies of Republic Polytechnic Women’s Soccer Team. The team have recently garnered attention from campus after being crowned tain of the Year award. The male and female accolades Champions in Women’s Football for the annual Polytechnic-Institute of Technical Education (POL-ITE) games two years in a row. were handed out to Wong Chong Weng of Ultimate Photo by: Azmi Bin Athni (PhotoRepublic) Frisbee and Mustika Natasha of the Republic Polytechnic Women’s Soccer Team (RPWST) respectively. treasured by the school, especially amongst their peers including the winners themselves, the title went to the The next highlight of the night saw Glitz’s equiva- as they help to raise the standards of RP against other ladies of RPWST. lent of the “Best Supporting Actor” of the Oscars – the Polytechnics in Singapore.” This was the team’s second ever nomination in that Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year award. Jared The night couldn’t have ended without the highly category, with their previous nomination being just a year Wang of Aquatics IG and Nadine Ho of Touch Rugby IG anticipated grand finale, the moment six hopeful teams before. Much more significant was that it was the first took home the honours. had been waiting for the whole night. Think ‘Best Motion time the team clinched the title. “I feel very honored and blessed as 2014’s Sports- Picture’ of The Oscars, or ‘Best Album of The Year’ at The The team’s manager, Juliana Priya said: woman of the Year. It is by far the happiest and proudest Grammys. This would bring us to Glitz 2014’s Team of “The entire team took a few seconds to react and moment of my life,” said a jubilant Nadine. the Year award. process that we were the winners because this She also explained the importance of valuing This award is given to the team that has not only award was everything we were looking forward our athletes’ contributions; “Athletes in RP have com- brought home gold for the past POL-ITE season, but to tonight. We just wanted to put our team name mitted their precious time and hard efforts to bring also exemplified a strong team bond, a professional at- on the map of the school with our hard work on honour and glory to the school. I think the athletes are titude and sportsmanship. To the surprise of many, and off the field.” Living the football dream at 20 This Republic Polytechnic footballer has represented the national team even before he has completed his diploma, and he’s only getting started. ers as I want to have my own style when playing foot- their debuts as 70th minute substitutes, albeit six years By M.Shanjayan ball. However, he is one of my biggest idols,” Anuman- apart. than said of Hariss who, just like himself, had very early Although many have the common miscon- hen the word “football” is mentioned in Sin- exposure to senior international football at only 16 years ception that making it as a footballer in Singa- gapore, people generally talk about foreign old back in 2007. What’s interesting is that both made pore is a tough and arduous journey, Anumanthan Wteams like Arsenal, Manchester claims otherwise. United, Liverpool or Chelsea. To the credit “It is not difficult. If you of the little red dot, Singapore football has want to make it, you are going produced legends like , V to need dedication and focus. If Sundramoorthy and Lim Tong Hai who, you work hard, you can make it in their own accord, have made the nation as a footballer in Singapore,” he proud. And that is exactly what Anuman- said. than Kumar would be hoping to do for this That confidence and dedi- nation in years to come. cation was obvious when Anu- Last year, the tenacious midfielder, manthan spoke of his target for then 19, got his first national team call-up next year’s South East Asian from Singapore coach . He Games, which are to be held worked hard to achieve his dream of playing in Singapore for the first time football for club and country, and friendly since 1993. kickabouts in the void deck of his home in Se- “As defending champi- letar Hills now seem a world away from the ons, we have to retain what bright lights that he has grown accustomed is ours as the games will be to with club side Courts Young Lions and the played on home soil. It will be national team. very difficult but we have to A year on and Anumanthan, a Sports work hard and retain the tro- and Leisure Management student from the phy,” he said. School of Sports, Health and Leisure, has still With National Day around kept his place in the squad. To date, he has the corner, Anumathan had a earned four caps while gaining valuable ex- simple message for the country: perience alongside national team stalwarts “I wish Singapore a happy Na- like and . It is with tional Day, and I hope athletes the latter that Anumanthan feels he looks up and Singaporeans unite as one to the most. GOING FOR THE WIN: Anumanthan (in red) will hope to give the national Under-23 team some Singapore and achieve a sense “I do not try to emulate the senior play- much-needed roar in central midfield at the 2015 SEA Games.P hoto by: Sleague.com of belonging together.” 12 THE REPUBLICAN POST