What is wrong here?

Recently there was a result after a survey on the average home income of singaporeans. Which had increased over the last five years. 92% of singaporeans owned their home in singapore.

I wonder how many of us really see that report as something worth celebrating for. I wonder what it means to be the owner of a HDB flat. Will I feel proud of it when deep down I know I can be relocated almost anytime the government wants the piece of land my flat is situated on?

Everyday I lived, yet I feel like I am not living. I don't feel excited over things around me. I feel like travelling to other countries all the time. I wonder what does singapore mean to me actually. Do I feel for it at all? Perhaps I am just taking things for granted over here. Is that the problem of me only or everybody around me? If it is, what is wrong? Sigh.....

Is that our money?

I refer to the program telecasted on national television on the 12 june 2006. The only female speaker said something like that," ... the government's money does not consist only of taxpayers' money..." She's refering to the "surplus" revenue that our government managed to earn after investing in the GICs. The question is, are those taxpayers' money too? OR do they belong to our government? Are we that separated, the people and the government?

Singapore is transforming

I happened to venture into a few exhibitions this weekend. The NUS city exhibition at Marina Square, the NUS architecture year one studios' "Still" exhibition at SAM. Finally got myself more actively going to exhibitions which happened to be more nowadays in singapore. Perhaps still living the life in London. Just a different place...

There were of course a few forums too. I don't know why but it seems more happening this week. Went to the one at SAM, the TAP! forum of "Architect in a bottle" and lastly the "Save the buildings" series of Rojak.

Out of all these, the more notable ones are the forums of Rojak and TAP! Perhaps more notable because they reminded me of the current book that I am reading, "Multitude". Both forums, despite different in topics and nature, were equally informative and raised a certain awareness of what-goes-on in our society. Perhaps our society is really changing for the better it seems.

The forum at TAP! started at the National Library at around 7pm with 3 guest speakers and one moderator. All are architects. Of course, with a topic as "Architect in a bottle". Responses from the floor came from a variety of members from the public, there were practising architects, students, professor from NUS economics department, foreigners from India, engineers etc. All questioning the role of Architect, especially in the context of Singapore.

On the other hand, Rojak was more of a presentation of 10 creators from different fields of design, be it architecture, film, graphics, product design, etc. It was more of a sporadic nature and attracted a larger number of crowd in an old-fashion event room at the modernist building Golden Mile Complex. It was a very informal sharing sessions. Sharing ideas, process, jokes and of course drinks.

Upon comparison, TAP! appeared to be very open and appraochable to the public with a strong agenda as compared to the adhoc and less publicised ROJAK presentations. However, internally, it seems otherwise. The forum of TAP! involved mainly architects who are still very much concerned with a more elitist approach of architecture, despite their emphasis of architects as a facilitator. The speakers did not fully explore the opportunity of inviting ideas and participations. In fact, speakers from the floor seemed to be more aware of the situation and in sync with the agenda of the forum. ROJAK, despite its appearing elitist nature, seemed to be more open and approachable. Different presentors shared their creative works and feelings towards their works in a more honest and direct way. Such sincerity was felt in most of the speakers and most ideas are communicated freely with no barriers of social responsibilities. Questions flew across the room very casually between the presentors and the floor audience (literally FLOOR audience). ROJAK in a way seems to have more potential as compared to TAP! in achieving a participatory approach to social activism.

Anyway, kudos to both. For at least they are doing something in Singapore. For at least they dare to speak and dare to act. Singapore is transforming.
*visit www.farm.sg for ROJAK and www.reallyarchitecture.blogspot.com for TAP! a.k.a. RE:ACT

What next?

The cure for cancer?

For some people cancer is like the end of the world. To me its the beginning of a journey to a new knowledge.
I set myself upon the path of knowing about more of this new enemy of mine (other than that of the invisible plague that's been around since society's birth), ever since my dad contacted this new found battlefield behind his nose.

After a introduction into raw food, I realised that we had been doing vegetable injustice by eating them cooked. it seems that they are able to keep us healthy forever if only we eat them RAW. yes. RAW. Till now I still can't really imagine eating brocolli raw though. Perhaps its a matter of habit.... Apparently, there's this alternative treatment for cancer. Eating vege RAW. Someone told me to eat a piece of RAW garlic a day and the doctor keeps away. That reminds me of the apple. Perhaps, it is true for the apple as we never eat cooked apple? hmmm... even though I remember I ate cooked apple to cure myself of the asthmatic problem I had as a child.

Anyway, dad keep up the good fight. Even though I know you might never venture this far into the virtual world to read this. I will and can only feed you this new knowledge I know. The rest is up to your body.