NDP 2009

last SG · 2009-07-03T00:47:27+00:00

cut the thing and save the resources and money to give to the poor singaporeans........

ditzy SG

Its not really expensive or painstaking to use armed forces personnel, coz most of them are full time NSFs, they need not be paid extra at the end of the month, just give them a day off or two, and they will go shiok ar!

Hey, I participated in NDP before, so I know how the system works.

lianamaster SG

Hey, I participated in NDP before, so I know how the system works.

My sentiments too....

I participated in NDP too! It was really memorable.

QX179R SG

Prison Inmates Help Pack National Day Funpack

This year's National Day Parade will have a special addition - bright yellow ribbons.

For parade goers, look out for them in your funpacks.

For home viewers, catch it on your TV screens.

35,000 National Day funpacks will contain these ribbons and parade goers will be encouraged to wear them to show support for prison inmates, ex-offenders and their families.

The funpacks containing the ribbons have been put together by 88 inmates from Tanah Merah Prison.

It's the first time they're doing so under the Yellow Ribbon Project.

The project, started in 2004, as an initiative to create awareness and support for the rehabilitation and re-integration of ex-offenders.

Leonie Tan, Manager of Community Reintegration and Partnerships:

"The theme for the Yellow Ribbon Project this year is to get our inmates to give back to society. This little thing that we do doesn't take us a lot of effort yet it gives our prisoners a sense of ownership that they too can in their own way, play their part to contribute back to society. And hopefully Singapore will remember that there's actually a group of prisoners who're also part of the larger society in general."

One of the 88 inmates, Ronald, who put together the funpacks says he's happy his bosses trusted him enough to take charge of inventory.

"Doing inventory I must have zero error on this because I've to report to the officer taking down the stock, so I feel the officer trusts in me. I feel very encouraged. I just want to tell them that we're also someone who can be trusted. It's only that we showed love in the wrong way - all these mistakes we've done, some of the mistakes are done out of love. I just want to say we're sorry for what we've done and I hope that this NDP parade we're taking part in, we'll be able to earn their trust. "

--938Live

QX179R SG

15-minute Total Defence Display at NDP

Spectators at this year's National Day Parade should not be alarmed when they hear a sudden emergency news broadcast during the event.

It's all part of a 15-minute Total Defence display, which will showcase the operational readiness of the Singapore Armed Forces and the Home Team in defending Singapore.

The fast-paced and action-packed show will start with smoke flooding the stage, followed by the Singapore Police Force rushing in to secure to area.

The performance promises to be a three-dimensional experience, topped with pyrotechnics, sound effects, videos and music.

Chairman of the Total Defence Display, Simon Lee, elaborates.

"We have aerial component, involving the Apache and Chinook helicopters. We also have a water segment, whereby the Chinook will come down low to drop the divers into the water. We also have a boat chase, jointly executed by the Police Coast Guard as well as the Navy to intercept unknown intruders that are approaching the Marina Bay area. And on the land component, you have armoured columns and a lot of SAF vehicles that will be positioned along the promenade."

Lieutenant-Colonel Lee also hopes that through the Total Defence Display, Singaporeans will be reminded of the need for community involvement.

"This is also the 25th year of Total Defence, and since the economy is going through a rough patch, they are in line with NDP's theme this year of "Come Together". I thought it was timely to use this as an avenue to get Singaporeans from all walks of life to come together. And this is actually signified in the concept of Total Defence."

--938Live

QX179R SG

A seamless NDP show

The National Day Parade this year will be woven together as a single show.

The One Show concept, never done before, brings together the various segments of the NDP, including the traditional Parade and Ceremony to create a unified storyline for the audience.

For the first time also, the theme song is composed and performed by local band, Electrico.

That's the theme song for NDP09 titled "What Do You See?" by Electrico.

It's a question directed at Singaporeans, a rousing call to look beyond today, and reflect on the future.

Lead singer and guitarist of Electrico, David Tan, felt priviledged and honoured to be able to contribute this song to the nation.

He tells what inspired him to write it :

"I decided to write a song that was empowering. Instead of a 'Stand Up For Singapore', where you tell people what to do, it's more of a song that challenges people. Empowers them in the sense that, let them know the future is in their hands and challenges them to ask themselves what do they see for themselves in the future. And I think it tied in very nicely with the whole concept."

The concept this year is to integrate the Parade and show segments as one seamless flow through 10 chapters of a story, each based on an excerpt of the Pledge.

Colonel Desmond Tan is the Chairman of NDP09 Show Committee :

"This year we tried to integrate the whole thing so that it is seamless and the message can be conveyed in a more integrated and coherent manner.

Integrating the segments is a challenge for the show's Creative Director, Ivan Heng.

"I felt that I really wanted to create a show that was closer to the hearts and home. I felt that last year's show was good, but I felt it was a bit distant. I think it just comes down to this idea of belonging. Feeling that we are part of something greater than ourselves."

Organisers hope the show would help Singaporeans reflect on the obstacles they've overcome, and view the future with hope and optimism.

First time highlights also include a mobile combined schools choir, puppets arriving on large boats and performers on large high-rise grids.

--938Live

QX179R SG

NDP stage modified to bring audience closer to performers

SINGAPORE: The main stage for this year's National Day Parade has been modified to bring the show closer to the audience. There will also be 24 smaller stages or podiums scattered throughout the venue.

The water gap that used to separate the audience from the stage has been filled and the backdrop has been brought 30 metres forward so that performers can get closer to the audience.

Ivan Heng, creative director of the 44th National Day Parade, said: "Last year's show was good, but I felt it was a bit distant. For me as an artist, I wanted to create a show that was closer to heart and home. I also want to make people laugh... that's when you plant something emotional.

"It's very hard to pin down this idea of emotion. But I think it comes down to this idea of belonging or feeling that we are part of something that is greater than ourselves."

Unlike last year, this year's Combined Schools Choir will move around the stage during its performance. Large puppets will also make a grand entrance from the Singapore River, docking at the Marina Bay floating platform before making their way to the stage.

Besides Chinook helicopters and the Red Lions, stunt performers will also be a highlight at the parade - dangling from large high-rise grids flanking the centre backdrop.

Moreover, homegrown band Electrico will be the first local indie band to perform the parade's theme song, "What Do You See".

Dave Tan, lead singer of Electrico, said: "I was like, 'Wow, we are finally getting recognised by the government'. We are very proud to be representing the local music scene. There was a time they would never let rockers near a National Day Parade, let alone on stage singing the National Day song.

"It's obvious we have progressed a lot and we are very proud to be recognised as the people whom they would like to make the change with, and we are very proud to be making history."

This year's National Day Parade is based on the National Pledge and excerpts of the pledge will be showcased in ten acts or chapters.

- CNA/so

QX179R SG

THIS year's National Day Parade (NDP) will have a distinctly rock vibe.

Local indie rock band Electrico will take centre stage to perform this year's theme song, which it penned.

It is the first time a local rock band has been picked and given the honour of singing for the nation. Solo local pop artists like Stephanie Sun and Kit Chan have usually been the choice.

The band's frontman David Tan said: 'It shows we have progressed...We are proud to be recognised as the people the NDP organisers would like to make the change with.'

Electrico has appeared before at the NDP, but those performances were before the main event. Mr Tan, 33, said it took him two weeks to compose the song What Do You See? The final version of the song was approved by the NDP organisers two weeks later.

'It's a song that goes out to four million people...We wanted it to be poetic as well as simple, so that aunties and uncles in the coffee shops can sing it as well,' he said.

The four-minute song started airing on television on Thursday night.

The performance on Aug 9 will also be the first time Electrico will perform without their keyboardist Amanda Ling, who left the band last month.

The band members said they hope to give goose pimples when they perform in front of 27,000 spectators and more than a million television viewers.

On Thursday, show committee chairman Colonel Desmond Tan revealed more about the two-hour production, titled One Show. It will trace the Singapore story from its start as a fishing village to its status as a metropolis today.

--ST

AEW5001 SG

i think e helicopters n fighter jets would be rehearsing above e platform today onwards..