For COL Tay Boon Khai, Chairman Show Committee for NDP 2008, the Show segment of NDP 2008 is about “bringing everything to the next level”. Building on last year’s theme of Singapore being a “City of Possibilities”, COL Tay believes that NDP 2008 is about “the people”. Quoting the success of NDP 2003 (where the nation paid tribute to the resilience showed by Singaporeans during the SARS crisis) and NDP 2006 (the last NDP held at the National Stadium), he believes that behind the success of NDP each year is a focal point for the public to relate to.

This year, the focal point is the people themselves. “NDP 2008 celebrates the human spirit, the work that goes on behind the scenes and the human stories behind it. We want to show to both the audience at the Platform itself and the viewers behind the TV that everyone is a star in their own right – there is a star in every one of us, and we will excel in what we do.” COL Tay says. “If you are a taxi driver, you should be the best taxi driver, because you are the first contact that a foreign tourist has with Singapore. If you are a salesman or saleswoman, you too should do your best to serve your customers. Everyone can add value to Singapore just by taking pride in what they do and by feeling good about themselves.” He adds.

Given COL Tay’s emphasis on the human spirit, this year’s theme of “Celebrating the Singapore Spirit” surely resonates well with him. COL Tay raises concepts such as “the balance of familiarity and new, being creative and doing things collectively” as ideas that will surface in the performances. And central to these performances is the multi-tier stage. This year, COL Tay and his committee have gone for “a more elaborate stage effect”, highlighting their belief that “everyone is a star effect”.

With all that has been said and done, what then is the message that the Show segment aims to bring across? Here, the discussion comes full-circle to the “human spirit”. “Every year, NDP is about celebrating our successes and achievements, and the human spirit behind everything. Perhaps the theme itself might not be remembered very vividly. This year, we have taken a bold and daring step to celebrate the Singapore Spirit.” COL Tay quips.

In the Show segment, the Singapore public sees the vibrancy and dynamism of the nation at work. Costumes, props and choreographed movements pay tribute to the energy that thrives in a young country like Singapore. Perhaps there is no more poignant reminder of the human spirit that COL Tay emphasises than the months of hard work put in by him and his team. As much as the Singapore Spirit epitomises this island that we call home, he and his team, in their commitment to their work, truly epitomise the Singapore Spirit.