NDP 2010 - Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag

QX179R SG

National Day Parade returns to the Padang

SINGAPORE: Spectators can expect a 360-degree view of the dazzling fireworks display at this year's National Day Parade to celebrate Singapore's 45th birthday.

The fireworks will be fired from nine locations, including Padang, the Esplanade, on the rooftop of City Hall and Suntec Towers.

This year, the parade will return to the Padang, with the theme "Live Our Dreams, Fly Our Flag".

It will have the regular crowd pleasers such as the Aerial FlyPast and the Presidential Gun Salute.

Chairman of the NDP 2010 Executive Committee, Colonel Benedict Lim, said: "It is actually a celebration of our achievements and an inspiration to the people to be forward-looking and to build a better future for Singapore.

"What is new this year (is that) because we have done some transformation of the Padang, we will be able to bring more props, more things onto the performance area and at the same time the fireworks will be something of a spectacular display.

"There will also be something new in the show segment and there will be a digital projection against the City Hall - again, that has not been done before."

While the main parade is at the Padang, Singaporeans can also soak in the fun from five other locations islandwide.

Celebrations will also be held in Choa Chu Kang, Bishan, Eunos, Sengkang and Woodlands.

Singaporeans can also get interactive, by going to a website to find out more about the parade, take part in the activities, post photos and share their views.

Major Alan Toh, chairman of NDP's multimedia and communications, said: "In addition, we are coming up with this mobile application that allows people to have the necessary information on the move.

"People can actually download an application through the NDP 2010 website, come June, and you will be able to share all the necessary activities pertaining to NDP 2010.

"The app will be able to bring you to the celebration location. For example, if you are in Yishun now, launching the app, you can actually find out where are the NDP celebration locations and it will show you a map on the location."

Organisers will make special efforts to minimise the inconvenience caused by the parade rehearsals, as well as the opening ceremony for the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), which will take place a few days after National Day.

Colonel Benedict Lim said: "There will be two of the rehearsals which will overlap on two Saturdays and we will have the NDP rehearsal first followed by the YOG, so that members of the public will only need to refer to one set of signs instead of two.

"Otherwise, it will be confusing for the people. So, if you are a shop owner at the Bay area you will only be inconvenienced once and not twice."

The YOG will kick off on 14 August.

- CNA/ir

sbst275 SG

e time for SAF scholars to showcase themselves their talent into getting things done

QX179R SG

Electronic ballot for NDP tickets available for next 10 days

SINGAPORE: Singapore citizens and Singapore permanent residents can apply for this year's National Day Parade (NDP) tickets over the next 10 days.

They can do so over the telephone, through SMS, SAM, AXS stations and the NDP website www.ndp.org.sg

Those who do not have access to the Internet can also apply through the NDP website via CitizenConnect Centres.

Tickets will be allocated through an electronic ballot which will be carried out after the application process.

Applicants can choose to apply for tickets to the Preview on July 31, or the NDP on August 9.

Applicants can choose to apply for either two, four or six tickets.

The chances of obtaining two tickets will be higher than that of obtaining four or six tickets.

Similarly, the chances of obtaining four tickets will be higher than that of six tickets.

There is no limit to the number of applications that each NRIC holder can submit.

However, only the latest application will be entered for the e-balloting on May 26.

Successful applicants will be notified between June 8 and 17 via their contact numbers provided.

They can then collect their tickets at HDB Hub Basement 1, Bedok Room from June 19 to 28.

- CNA/jy

RoyFang SG

Will we see this while we're celebrating our NDP?

QX179R SG

Apply for your NDP 2010 tickets by Monday

Those interested in applying for NDP 2010 tickets have four more days to do so.

Applications will close just before midnight on Monday.

Tickets will be allocated through an electronic ballot which will be carried out after the application process.

Successful applicants will be notified by telephone from 8 to 17 June via the contact number provided.

-- 938Live

Herzog_Zwei SG

National flag will be flown upside down to represent national state of distress in unemployment.

lianamaster SG

Who will be singing the NDP song this year?

QX179R SG

New elements in this year's NDP

SINGAPORE : Organisers of this year's National Day Parade (NDP) have promised to inject something new and refreshing to the nation's birthday bash.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lek Seng Khoon has always dreamed of playing a major role in the National Day Parade.

This year, the 36-year-old will be able to live his dream - as parade commander.

"In the 1980s, I first watched the parade when I was a little child, on television and I remembered vividly that it was a parade conducted in front of the Padang. I can still remember that days after the parade was over, I was still shouting "Baris! Sediya!" and pretending to be the parade commander," recalled LTC Lek.

Like him, 15-year-old Jerome Wong is honoured to be leading the National Cadet Corps Band, which is making its debut as part of the Combined Marching Band, alongside the Singapore Armed Forces and Singapore Police Force bands.

"(I) was a little worried whether I could take up the challenge, and also nervous and excited to be in this role," said Wong, commander of the National Cadet Corps Band.

Organisers have promised many firsts in this year's parade.

For the first time, the presidential drive-past will be on the Padang, so special arrangements have to be made to harden the grounds there with crushed concrete.

It is also the first time spectators at the Padang will be able to have closer interactions with the president, during the drive-past.

A key highlight in this year's parade is the City March.

Organisers hope to make it as impressive as the first march in 1966.

But this time round, the contingents will be marching towards the new Singapore, along a 2.3-kilometre stretch across the iconic developments in the Marina Bay area.

"This march is significant because it really represents how the people - representing Singapore in the contingent - marching towards our new future," said Colonel Loh Kean Wah, who chairs the NDP 2010 Parade and Ceremony Committee.

Perennial crowd-pleasers are also getting a new twist. The ceremonial 25-pounder guns of the Presidential Gun Salute will make their way to the War Memorial Park for the first time in 10 years.

The parade is expected to start at 6.10pm and will last about an hour.

Some 3,100 participants will be marching in NDP 2010.

- CNA /ls

QX179R SG

F-15SG to soar on National Day

THE F-15SG Multi-Role Aircraft and the G550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft will both be making a debut at this year's National Day Parade.

Built by Boeing, the F-15SG is one of the most technologically advanced military airplanes currently available. It can handle both air-to-air and air-to-ground combat.

The G550, a threat detector, can best be described as the military variant of the popular Gulfstream jet which is popular with the corporate jet set.

Both aircraft will fly in various formations during the National Day Parade with The Republic's latest fighter jet - the F-15SG - headlining the program accompanied by 20 other types of aircraft.

Get a sneak peek of these latest additions to the RSAF, plus RazorTV talks to the pilots who man these incredible flying machines.

-- ST

QX179R SG

N-Day parade in 3-D

THE National Day Parade will become the first large-scale event to be recorded in 3-D under a technical trial to bring the format to television here.

However, it will not be broadcast in 3-D - although, in the course of the year-long trial, programmes may become available in the format, said the Media Development Authority (MDA).

News of the launch of the trial came yesterday from Mr Lui Tuck Yew, the acting Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, who was at the opening ceremony of the Infocomm Media Business Exchange yesterday, which incorporates BroadcastAsia 2010 and CommunicAsia 2010.

Together with MediaCorp, StarHub and SingTel, MDA yesterday started the trial to test transmission signals on all platforms - namely free-to-air television, cable TV and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) - as well as other technical issues.

MDA also launched a $5 million fund that will help the broadcasters pay for the trial, as well as selected developers' efforts to create content and services for 3-D. If and when content becomes available, viewers will need to buy 3-D-ready television sets, versions of which were recently launched here by Samsung and Panasonic.

Broadcasters SingTel and StarHub are also shopping for new and existing 3-D TV programmes to bring in.

-- ST

QX179R SG

Padang turf topped with recycled materials for stable platform for NDP

SINGAPORE: For the first time, the Padang grounds have been hardened for the National Day Parade.

This is to ensure that the parade, including the presidential drive-past which will be held on the Padang, takes place without a hitch.

The organisers took about 10 days to complete the job.

First, they covered the field with a layer of plastic membrane. They then added 30 centimetres of recycled material and topped this with 5 centimetres of pre-mix, including tar.

Some 300 lorry-loads of recycled material were used to create a more stable platform for performers.

Ltc Boo Chin Tuan, chairman, Infrastructure & Decoration Committee, NDP 2010, says: "By hardening the performance area, we're able to provide stability for the performers. It means that we can put performances that would have heavy props, each of these props for example like a float that will weigh up to five tonnes per float onto the performance area."

Organisers say the flattened grass will regrow in four to five weeks' time.

He continues: "Compared to previous years, whatever solutions we use, the grass will wither, what was important to us was 'how quickly can we regrow back the grass after the event?', and we're satisfied that by using the recycled aggregate it actually doesn't change the underlying soil conditions." - CNA/jy

QX179R SG

Collection of preview & NDP tickets from June 19-28

SINGAPORE: All successful applicants for the preview and the National Day Parade tickets have been notified.

They can collect their tickets at Toa Payoh HDB Hub Basement 1, Bedok Room from June 19 to 28, between 9am and 9pm daily.

Successful applicants can log onto the NDP 2010 website (www.ndp.org.sg) for more details on how to collect their tickets. - CNA/jy

QX179R SG

NDP goodie bag comes in 7 designs

SINGAPORE : The National Day Parade goodie bags, or "Fun Totes", will come in seven designs this year.

Several local designers played a hand in creating the looks of this year's bags.

They will contain the usual items like snacks, noise makers and the national flag.

Most of the items will be contained neatly in a "Fun Box", which itself functions as a national heritage game.

The parade's organising committee also hopes for people to re-use the Fun Tote items in support for Singapore at the coming Youth Olympic Games. - CNA /ls

QX179R SG

SMRT flying the flag in big way on National Day

SMRT will fly 4,500 flags across the island to celebrate Singapore's 45th birthday on national day.

The public transport operator says it will display flags at some 100 locations at all its offices, train stations, bus interchanges, as well as on SMRT taxis and buses and staff private vehicles.

At 8.10 pm on 9th August, SMRT will also rally Singaporeans to participate in One Voice 2010, to recite the national pledge and sing the national anthem at all its train stations, buses interchanges and four Xchanges shopping areas.

Singaporeans can also look forward to getting into the spirit of NDP 2010 when all SMRT train stations, bus interchanges and Xchanges start playing the NDP 2010 theme song, "Song for Singapore" by Corrinne May.

SMRT is supporting NDP 2010 with close to $500,000 worth of sponsorship.

-- 938Live

QX179R SG

"Human LCD" display to make debut at NDP

SINGAPORE : This year's National Day Parade (NDP) show promises something different.

Instead of the familiar mass placard display, all 1,000 choir participants will be transformed for the first time into what is called a "Human LCD".

It is showtime for the kids taking part in the NDP show on August 9. The way they move or wave their clothes combine to create different images.

Khertan Ramanan, a student from Kranji Secondary School, said: "For example I'm saying "Are", I must open like this - "Are". (For the word) "You", I have to close it like this, so that you can only see the white portion. And they also provide gloves, because we're not all white, right?"

The kids have been practising since April, first in their respective schools and then coming together for combined rehearsals in June. A lot of it is precision work, and because they are all colour-coordinated, any mistake becomes instantly obvious.

Tricia Tan, from Coral Secondary School, said: "Sometimes I do the wrong dance step, and I'll be like looking around thinking, 'Hey, why are people doing different dance steps from me'.

"And I'll ... try to, oh my god, catch up, that kind of thing. So I get nervous, especially if you do a wrong step - it's like, oh my god, everybody is watching me, because I'm the odd one out."

In the holding area behind the Padang, the kids are getting ready for the rehearsal.

It is hours before the show, and the wait - coupled with the mid-afternoon heat - has made them restless.

As the seating stands start filling up, the choir mistress prepares the students for their opening number.

Lim Hwee Sian, NDP 2010 Choir Mistress, said: "I have to build rapport together. And you can see all the energy level. I must make sure they can see me from the back - they can mirror what I do, so I myself have to give 100 per cent so they can give their 110 per cent!"

Once the music starts, the mix of nervousness and excitement melts away, and the students work their magic to give the crowd a show to remember.

- CNA/al

ahtansh SG

Just hope there won't be heavy rain and strong wind 'Act of God' on National Day. As I heard NEA will do all they can to disperse the clouds and reduce the chance of rain.

QX179R SG

'Live' telecast of NDP from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on Aug 9

SINGAPORE : Singaporeans will be able to watch the 'live' telecast of the National Day Parade (NDP) in True HD and 5.1 Surround Sound on HD5, on August 9 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Singapore television viewers can also enjoy the 'live' parade proceedings on MediaCorp's Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Suria, Vasantham and okto.

Viewers in the Asia Pacific will be able to watch the parade on Channel NewsAsia International from 5.30pm to 8.30pm Singapore / Hong Kong time.

Those out and about will also be able to catch the 'live' screening of the parade on the outdoor digital screens managed by MediaCorp at ION Orchard and Orchard Central.

MediaCorp radio stations will simulcast the parade 'live' over 938LIVE, Capital 95.8FM, Warna 94.2FM and Oli 96.8FM from 6.15pm to 8.30pm.

In partnership with NDP 2010 Organising Committee on One Voice 2010, MediaCorp radio stations will break regular programme format before 8.10pm and invite listeners and people on the move to recite the pledge and sing the national anthem as 'One Voice'.

For a more interactive experience, viewers can log-on to http://xinmsn.com/ndp2010 where they can be their own parade director and choose any of the six 'live' videocasts from the different heartland locations from Eunos, Woodlands, Choa Chu Kang, Bishan, Sengkang as well as Padang.

Other features include a 360-degree view of the six locations and Facebook 'live' chat function.

Viewers who are unable to catch the 'live' broadcast can visit xinmsn Video at http://xinmsn.com/videos from August 10 to watch the recorded telecast.

- CNA /ls

Junyang700 SG

'Live' telecast of NDP from 5.30pm to 8.30pm on Aug 9

SINGAPORE : Singaporeans will be able to watch the 'live' telecast of the National Day Parade (NDP) in True HD and 5.1 Surround Sound on HD5, on August 9 from 5.30pm to 8.30pm.

Singapore television viewers can also enjoy the 'live' parade proceedings on MediaCorp's Channel 5, Channel 8, Channel U, Suria, Vasantham and okto.

- CNA /ls

The way the report write seems funny... Its as if its not free and not live the last 44 years... LOL...

QX179R SG

NDP starts with a bang

THE National Day Parade 2010 has started with a bang with much flag waving and shouting at the Padang.

The Members of Parliament take their seats on the steps of the Old City Hall as Blonco dreamers dance to the beat of the YOG cheer song 'You are the one Singapore!'

YOG mascots Lyo and Merly and other Singapore athletes are driven around the parade square while the Red Lions also make their appearance at the Padang.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong have arrived at the Padang to much cheer.

-- ST