Singapore Stories: What does it mean to be Singaporean today ?

ONE of the hardest things I had to explain when I was a student in faraway New Zealand was to explain where Singapore was, what Singapore was like, and what made Singapore different from many places in the world.?

For many outside of Singapore, Singapore existed as the archetypical city state in a cosmic variety of economic textbooks, history textbooks and any book that sought to examine themes like decolonisation, asian democracies, and the famed asian tigers that brought the first world to Southeast Asia. There was even a term for our way of governance; benign authoritarianism.?

It is convenient to look at Singapore from academic lenses far-removed through a myriad of historical or economic models.?Many have also attempted breaking down the various factors that may have contributed to our rise as a country, from a run-of-the-mill third world post-colonial economy to a global financial power in 50 years.?

Over the years, plenty of books have also been written on various facets of governance, education and even attempt to distill the very essence of what makes us who we are.?

For me however, it is just home.?

Yuval Noah Harari describes the growth of humanity as a series of increasingly complicated myths, stories and fairytales that create common bonds beyond the biological family and tribes among humans. It manifests in its many forms, some more recognisable, others a tad esoteric. In the Singaporean context, it is stories, a cacophony of tales amongst us that I guess make us who we are.?

My earliest memory of growing up was the many afternoons spent at my grandparents’ place. Being in a dual-income family meant that I would be at my grandparents’ place five days a week whilst my parents spent the working week in the office.?

I didn’t think too much then, but looking back, I will be forever grateful in how I was raised by my grandparents and how they played such a positive role in spending time with me (and 8 others). They were always there to pamper us, to love us, and also to be stern with us where we strayed out of line. It was a privilege to have spent so many years growing up at “ah gong” and “ah po”’s house, in an environment of tremendous warmth and fun. We were loved, and that was enough.?

Whilst it was sad that they left us eventually, they left so many positive memories that I still relieve, laugh about today, often with a great deal of fondness and love. In the grand scheme of legacies and leaving something behind, these memories are worth more than all the riches in the world combined.?

For many, our growing-up stories are the most poignant and memorable.

Patriotism is an oft-described and overhyped concept; where states and governments all round the world try to cultivate and in many case, artificially inflate.?

Singapore is not immune from the above. Every 9th of August, we attempt to display a nationwide version of such patriotism, from loud and heavily choreographed parades, to having the state flag displayed on HDB flats.

As much as we try to manufacture patriotism, it is easy to forget that true patriotism manifests itself in forms that go beyond the manufactured and trumpeted. It is also in these moments that I feel most proud to be a Singaporean.?

In 2022, the Singapore football team took part in the ASEAN Football Championships. For many outside of Southeast Asia, this is an inconsequential football trophy that bears no relevance to the the World Cup or the Champions League.?

For our part of the world however, it is a massive deal for anyone who watches regional football. It was in this backdrop that I turned up at Jalan Besar Stadium to catch the group stage game between Singapore and Vietnam.?

Vietnam was the undisputed favourite. They were the regional kingpins and had already made a quarter-final appearance in the Asian Cup. Singapore by comparison was (and is still) going through football doldrums, having last won a trophy in the tournament in 2012.?

The game was one where I saw the Singapore team stood its ground, fought extremely hard, and stayed tactically disciplined to frustrate the Vietnamese throughout the game. What also felt galvanising and spectacular was the energy and noise of the supporters. The Singapore fans were kicking every ball, cheering every header, and singing throughout the game to encourage the team.?

That was something that roused the heart beyond what any state-organised pageant can ever do.

Perhaps this was what Harari meant when he said that humans became capable of developing common myths and a sense of belonging, and in those moments, it didn’t matter which walk of life we came from, or what our jobs were.?

We just wanted Singapore to win.

Commonalities are often hard to discern in Singapore.

We are not blessed with natural resources, and we have been inculcated since our earliest days in school that people are our only resources.?

Consequently, life in Singapore can sometimes feel like a hamster running on a wheel. Taking a step back however, we have a lot to celebrate and truly be grateful for. Things like an efficient public transport, low crime, calm days, and being a food haven are hard-earned and deserve their own homage.?

As we march towards another National Day, and while it can be a tad repetitive, there is no better time to ask ourselves what it means to be Singaporean. For me, being a Singaporean is more than holding the red passport. It is about our collective memories growing up, the various stories that we hold in our streets, our homes, and our songs and films. We are infinitely more than what textbooks describe from a 30,0000 feet view. ?

It is also about acknowledging that the “Singapore Story” is not homogeneous,?but that we are simply one story among many.?Collectively, it is these cumulative stories make up the cultural tapestry that we call our life in this little island.?

For me, it is why Singapore is home.?

What is your uniquely Singaporean story?