An Animation In The Making

Certainly, Ugly and the Beast is a tale as old as time. With a seemingly complex message that beauty is only skin deep, this animation really is about loving one another – even if one looks and has a character that is unlovable. Director Lewis Charles has it in his blood to present the tale in such a way that it can be easily understood by even the youngest child.

The story unfolds with a fair young lady who was unkind to an enchantress disguised as a starving beggar. Seeing how ugly her character was, the enchantress cast a spell on her, putting a hideous scar which ran across her face. The lady was told she would for the rest of her lifetime remain ugly until she learnt what true beauty was and another could see beauty from within her. The lady’s fate seemed sealed, until one day, when she met a creature more hideous than her – the Beast. Ugly, as many in her village called her, had chanced upon the injured Beast when she ran to the woods in a bid to avoid the mockery of her fellow villagers. Her friendship with the Beast became her only hope of getting back the face she once had.

With the clever twists in the plot and the inclusion of many lively supporting characters, Kevin Langhorne sculptures a cast of characters who offer a sincere heart – something that animation films before it lacked. Together with Steve Mack’s moving music score, Ugly and the Beast brings to light how love can overcome darkness and how true beauty is above physical appearance. The magic in this animation draws its audience into the heart of the story and the sadness and joy experienced by the characters dive deep into their minds, letting the audience forget that they are watching an animation and not a non-animated film. Indeed, it is a film that is moving and takes the audience where they want to go and not where it wants them to go.

Flawlessly rendered, this animation has landed itself a nomination in this year’s Wildcard Film Award. The talented voice cast includes Jasmine Bernard (Ugly), Bobby Williams (The Beast), and many other celebrities from Hollywood. Perhaps, the secret of the film’s success lies in the therapeutically beautiful theme song Ugly and the Beast. Stay for the credits to listen to Ewan Nelson and Jaime Swazi perform the theme song, making the closing experience of the animation show completely surreal and satisfying.

Connecting With An Elderly

As nuclear families become the trend in the establishment of family units in our society today, the interaction between grandparents and grandchildren is reduced. This further widens the generations in a family. The following is an extract of a conversation among teenagers who have had trouble communicating with grandparents whom they do not see often.

“There I was,” Mabel told his friends, Siti and Marian, “Sitting with this ‘ancient’ elderly whom I call ‘Grandmother’. I didn’t know what to say to her! My parents and John had left earlier for his school’s parents-teacher meeting, so I was supposed to keep her company till they returned with dinner. What do you talk about with someone that old?”

“Well, I can understand. I’ve been in similar situations. I can hardly hold up a decent conversation when I see my grandparents at family celebrations or birthday dinners. I mean, what can a 21st century teenager talk about with someone who remembers the Japanese invasion and surrender in World War II?” Siti nodded her head as she gave Mabel a sympathetic look.

Marian shot up her right hand, “This is because we don’t live with our grandparents and are not familiar with them. The elderly do understand us as they have been teenagers like us once. A good way to break the ice is to ask them a question. They have to give a reply and in a matter of time, you have a conversation!”

“But what kind of questions do we ask? We certainly do not want to sound silly or rude,” Mabel quipped as her eyes widened with curiosity.

Marian took a few tips from the fizzy drink she was holding and said, “Most elderly people enjoy talking about the ‘good old days’. Ask about their past, what they dud and where they lived. However, be prepared for some melancholic answers. At that age, they must have had some loved ones whom they’ve lost along the way.”

“On yes, I remember Aunt Fatimah once told us that the elderly do not think of themselves as ‘old’ but just slower in movements and not as agile. It would be quite interesting to ask them the same type of questions you’d ask a friend and hear about their views. There must be some common issues between us,” Siti added, delighted at what she had shared.

“Talking to the elderly isn’t hard once you get started. Start talking, and soon they’ll be telling their friends what a nice young grandchild she had,” Marian encouraged as she stood up and walked to the nearest bin to throw her empty drink can.

TTSH History

In the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic, Tan Tock Seng Hospital became a 'household name' as the hosptial and centre which housed numerous SARS patients. If its founder, Tan Tock Seng, were still alive today, he would have been proud to be greatly associated with this institution that saw to the care of many sick and dying SARS patients.

Tan Tock Seng was born in Malacca in 1798. There were three other boys in the family, two in China and one in Malacca. Tock Seng's father, Tan Whay Teck, could barely make ends meet for the family and poverty drove the young and ambitious Tock Seng to Singapore, seeking his fortune. Tock Seng was a survivor who had no qualms about trying out new things. Not long after settling in a foreign land, he kept his living by purchasing fruits, vegetables and fowl in the rural community and selling them in the town. With hard work and much favor, Tock Seng oepned a small shop along the Boat Quay riverside. He did this all on his own, with savings he had from selling fruits and vegetables.

According to Tan Tock Seng's great grandson, Tan Hoong Siang, his great grandfather was fluent in English and thus could communicate effectively with the Governor of his times, J.H. Whitehead. It was believed that this close-knit relation unlocked a chain of favors that led to Tock Seng's fortune-yielding speculative ventures, making him one of the richest Chinese in Singapore.

Tan Tock Seng was not merely famous for being one of the richest Chinese but also for being a philanthropist. His generosity towards the poor did not go unnoticed. Many Chinese immigrants were particularly grateful to Tock Seng for burying their deceased loved ones as a proper burial was of importance to the Chinese and life was too difficult for poor people then to afford burials. This quality of Tock Seng made him the first Asian to be made Justice of Peace by Governor Butterworth.

It was Tock Seng's generous donation of $5000 to the Chinese Paupers' Hospital that made him an honorable founders. Continued support from his wife and son for the hospital saw the day when the management of the hospital decide to rename the hospital after its great contributor, Tan Tock Seng.

Tan Tock Seng passed away in 1850, leaving behind wa wife, three daughters and three sons. Each child received a substantial sum of money and property and continued to build on the legacy that their father, Tan Tock Seng, had established.

Examinations And Education

In this fast-paced technological society, mainstream modern education still depends on the 'old-fashioned' method - the examination system of testing and evaluation of learning. In fact, it has become more indispensable, being a tool which evaluates pupils' abilities without the presence of textbooks and other 'help buttons'. Every one who has had some form of formal education would have undergone an examination. The result of the examination would then be used the key to assessing the pupil's understanding of a subject. Although its growing importance is recognized by many, the examination system is also subjected to increasing criticism for being an inadequate and unfair tool to measure a pupil's success.

Individuals who want to do away with the examination system reason that its existence encourages the wrong behavior of pupils who focus on getting high grades rather than acquiring knowledge. These pupils will not be motivated to innovate nor strive for creativity. Instead, they become bookworms who regurgitate facts and concepts without knowledge of applying them to work and improving life for humanity. Education is more than a tool that enables pupils to make a livelihood in their later years. It also shapes their characters and the way they live their lives. However, it is believed the present examination system has drawn pupils further away from these sacred purposes.

If there is any regret a pupil should have, it would have to be this: memorizing chunks of information of a subject in preparation for an examination and then forgetting them once the examination is over. Certainly, what can be a greater waste than this?

On the flip side of the coin, examinations must have its set of benefits; even famous scientists of our times such as Marie Curie and Thomas Edison have taken examinations in the course of schooling.

Evidently, what makes people successful is not the examination system but the attitude one has towards learning. There is a temptation for some students to embrace a nonchalant attitude towards the examination system as they are the group of pupils who fare better in practicum than written theory. Of this lot of students, there could be a Marie Curie or Thomas Edison - one who is not apt at scoring in an examination.

A fair suggestion would be for the examination system to be further improved instead of removing it altogether. After all, removing a stone in one's path does not take away the possibility of an accident.

Cancer Is Alive And Active

The term 'cancer' just about instills the greatest fear in people as it is very much associated with the notion of 'no cure' and hence, death. Cancel is a complex group of over 100 different diseases and the formidable aspect of it lies in the fact that it can encroach on any and every organ in the human body. The human body is made up of cells and these cells divide and multiply to keep the body functioning properly. When this multiplication of cells escalates beyond its normal growth rate, growths are formed. These growths, more commonly known as tumors, can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).

The oldest recorded case of cancer to date was made in ancient Egypt, about 1500 BC. According to the eight documented cases written on papyrus, the tumors were found in the breast. Treatment for cancer in those times was by cauterization. Cauterization, a method requiring the use of a hot drill, was employed by the ancient Egyptians to kill tissues. Besides this treatment, there was no other medical aid for cancer. Cancer, in the olden days, was feared as much as it is today.

Surprisingly, although medical advances and technology were absent in ancient times, there were recorded evidence that the Egyptians know how to differentiate the benign tumors from malignant ones. The inscriptions on the Egyptian walls tells us that growths which appeared near the surface of the skin were surgically removed with sharp knives.

People living in earlier times than the ancient Egyptians were less fortunate. The Greek doctors, for example, had little knowledge of the human body and could only treat common ailments. The general belief was the body was made up of four substances: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. For many years, the black bile was thought to be the main cause of cancer. This belief was embraced for thousands of years. Of course, in superstitious societies of those times, the supernatural was the other primary cause. Even in ancient Egypt where treatments were available, many attributed cancer to God's wrath upon the people.

Cancer grew to be a notorious disease, killing millions each year and topping the ranks as the primary killers. The greatest advancements in the treatment of cancer took place in the 20th century. Oncologists have identified carcinogens as the cause of cancer and administered treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation to destroy cancer cells. No doubt cancer continues to prevail today, but man is not about to give up on researching to find a cure for sufferers.

The Surprize

Beyond the edge of the mangrove swamp and a plot of grassland was a most breathtaking pond. It was flanked by neat rows of frangipani trees. Situated on the west of the island, the orange sun set behind the pond's calm green horizon each day. The chirping of sparrows and the shiny clear waters made the pond a heavenly place to relax in. Fishing, in fact, would be the best activity for the environment was peaceful and the waters were home to much marine life.

Unfortunately, something as magnificent as the pond was often exclusive. It belonged to Mr Tan, an old farmer who owned the piece of land right up to the borders of the mangrove swamp. Mr Tan was protective of his pond and put a barbed wire fence around it to stop trespassers from entering it. He had even forbade his own children to go near it.

"Children and nature do not go well. They will dirty the place with litter and their brawling will scare the fish and birds away. No way am I going to let them near it," declared Mr Tan from the first time he set his eyes on the pond.

Thus, for the longest time, no one could enjoy the tranquil surrounding of the pond. Mr Tan himself found the pond too precious to spend time there. He merely patrolled the place from time to time, making sure that no one dared venture into his property.

It was not long before little Peter, an eight-year-old who had just moved to that place, heard about the pond. His curiosity was as great as an elephant and his favorite past time was fishing, The pond was the perfect hideaway for him! Peter had lived beside a pond all his life and such environments were no stranger to him. So one fine morning, Peter grabbed his rod and bait and climbed under the barbed wire fence.

"Hey! How dare you! What're you doing at my pond?" Mr Tan bellowed when he caught sight of Peter in the waters.

In a panic, Peter let go of his rod and ran like lightning, disappearing as quickly as he had appeared. As Mr Tan was getting on in his years and was no match for Peter, he stood guard where Peter's fishing rod was. He was afraid the little rascal might return to get his belongings.

Suddenly, the fishing line jerked and the water near it bubbled. Mr Tan went into the water and tried to make out the creature in the water. Grabbing hold of the rod, he drew the line in with all his might. The task was arduous as the creature fought to break free. Mr Tan's delight became horror when the big 'fish' which he thought had caught the bait turned out to be a gigantic crocodile.

The Jalalpa Bus Accident

A serious road accident took place in Jalapa, Mexico, on 5 July 2005. The main street - the only point of entry to the town of Jalapa - has a blind bend on a sharp slope at the turning into the town centre. This stretch of road is notorious for being responsible for the deaths of many people in accidents which had taken place on it.

That Monday morning, a bus load of passengers were enjoying the morning breeze through the windows as the vehicle made a descent down the Jalalpa slope. The driver of the bus was a young driver who had just obtained his license. Music was blaring as he drove the vehicle as though manoeuvring a roller coaster. A momentary loss of control and the overturning of the bus left passengers seriously hurt and traumatised. Passengers standing near the doorway of the bus were flung out of the vehicle and the very unfortunate ones of these were caught beneath the bus as it overturned. The overturned bus trapped more than 30 passengers, including young children. Passers-by rushed to the overturned bus, calming the passengers down and assuring them of help which was on the way. Some passers-by, on seeing the crushed victims under the bus, became hysterical and had to be pulled aside by the stronger men.

A young witness of the accident, a boy of seven years, sought help at the Armonia Centre where the Transformation Course rescue team was. Members of the team rushed to the scene of the accident and while some formed a human chain to cordon off the area, others got on the bus to pull the trapped passengers to safety. It was a difficult task as the bus had landed on the side on which the doors were. Rescuers had to break the larger windows and roof ventilations to get into the bus. On top of that, many of the passengers were seriously injured, with many of them bleeding and some concussed. The most disheartening part of it was that the reckless driver, who had survived the crash and was among the first people to be rescued, took off for fear that he would be charged for negligence.

The police and ambulance sirens resounded in the streets shortly after the rescue team arrived on the scene. Woefully, these authorities were ill-equipped and were not trained to deal with situations like the one which had happened. Bed sheets from nearby residences were used in place of bandages while discarded planks were used as stretchers. It was hours before all of the injured were taken to the various hospitals. A shocking fact here was that in Jalalpa, a hospital could house no more than ten patients at a time!

Green Speech

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the annual Community Issues Seminar. The topic for today is 'waste'. The definition of waste to Singaporeans today is no longer merely 'garbage' or 'trash'; it now encompasses objects regarded or discarded as worthless and unwanted. These objects include clothes worn no more than 10 times, good furniture which has gone out of fashion and electrical appliances which have some minor faults.

The last three decades have seen a climbing amount of solid waste generated by industries and homes up to as much as six times than 30 years ago. The Singapore Government, in its best efforts to overcome this problem, has increased the number of landfill facilities nationwide where waste can be incinerated. Incineration has helped to greatly reduce the volume of waste by the society. The by-product of incineration, ash, takes up landfill space and a continual increase in the number of landfills is not a permanent solution. The size of an average landfill is about that of Sentosa Island and the scarcity of land in itself is another major concern faced by the government. This problem of escalating amounts of waste spills over onto another problem and the concern is ballooned overnight. Moreover, the construction of incineration plants and landfills runs into the billions - an investment that sees no promising future.

This draws us back to the community. It is obvious at this point that Singaporeans must go beyond incineration. How can we as a community or as individuals, help to ease the burden of this waste problem? The answer is simple - recycle and reuse! By stepping up efforts in recycling and reusing, we can cut down the amount of waste and as such, reduce the amount of incineration ash.

Recycling and reusing not only reduce the amount of waste; they are also earth friendly measures. The recent national update on the progress made in promoting recycling and reusing in industries and communities reported that since its launch in 2001, the number of organizations and households which participated in the program has since doubled in the recent years. If our coming Save by Recycling Campaign were to successfully triple this number, it would mean that the number who recycle and reuse will outshine that of those who do not. This is most encouraging and I urge you to become a part of the former.

Thank you!

Ambassador of Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Replant.

Working Memory

I was born in my family home on 20 October 1942. Singapore was engaged in World War II then and my birth was hardly a joyous occasion. My parents were more concerned for survival than a new birth in the family. I was fortunate that my father was a merchant and had, through means of a black market, obtained cans of expired condensed milk which became my main source of diet in my early years.

My earliest memory of my tender years dated back to when I was a little over two years old, when my family went to a distant relative's estate home to escape the hardships of war. It was a decision my father made after my grandfather and uncle were taken away by the Japanese soldiers in a raid. I recollected some events at the estate home with little distinctness.

My father died in January 1945. To my regret, I could hardly remember anything about it except my mother's uncontrollable sobbing and Father, lying on the wooden bed in his singlet and black pants. In that same year, I was sent away by my mother to a village in Malacca. There, I went to school. The classroom was no more than a makeshift tent with a few splinter-filled tables and chairs. Learning, however, was enjoyable and it took my mind off my family back home in Singapore.

By the time I completed 'school', I already had a good knowledge of herbs and spices for I worked in a provision shop on weekends. The passion for learning the uses and nutrition in herbs and spices was very strong in me, and was clearly innate, as I could tell which was which by just taking a whiff of them.

One even that I remember clearly took place just after I had begun work formally at the provision shop. The afternoons there were relaxed as hardly anyone bothered to come out in the scorching sun just to buy an item or two. Even the stray dog which loitered around the shop took naps beside the ice boxes for some relief from the unbearable heat. One such afternoon, as I was packing some herbs into smaller bags, a man came into the shop. He took out a few paper packets and laid them out neatly on the counter.

"Tell me, what are the herbs in the packets," demanded the tall, bespectacled man.

At once, I reached out, in a bid to open the packets, but was promptly stopped by him.

"Tell me what they are. Smell them," came the response from the man who appeared to be getting impatient.