Combined Rehearsal 6 - NE Show 3

It has been 44 years since we have stepped out on our own, and every year since then, our National Day Parade has been an integral part in celebrating our independence and achievements as a nation. However, even as we move ahead, let us not forget the very people who made our country into what it is today. In tonight's NE Show 3, we pay homage to the first generation of Singaporeans – the pioneers who slogged through the early days and braved the toughest of times, so that we might stand where we are today.

Even though the Parade has been held at the Float @ Marina for the past 3 years, Mr Vincent See, 58 and his wife, Mrs Jancy See, 55 still vividly remember the days when the Parade was held at the National Stadium. They shared, “Technology wise, NDP has really changed a lot! And nowadays, there are more people involved!”
 
Regardless of how fast times have changed, the National Day Parade continues to have a timeless allure across Singaporeans of all generations. Nothing can stop one's passion for the Parade, as shown by Mdm Kok Youn Soon, who despite her age, still made her way down to the Float even if it meant watching NDP by herself! She told us, much to our surprise, "This is actually my first NDP!" Even as we tried to find out her age, she kept a tight lip on it and cheekily told us she's "25".

Mr Lee Soo Chai, 68 and Mrs Hoh Sai Hoong, 65 came to support their daughter, who was performing with the Singapore SOKA Association. Their daughter Lee Wai Ying, 34 is very proud of her sister's performance; particularly her sister's age, as she proudly exclaims, “She's the same age as Singapore!”

Reflecting on times in the past, Mrs Hoh shared in Chinese, “就算怎么苦，都比以前好” (No matter how tough times are now, they cannot be as bad as those in the past), which was heartening to hear. “Back during the kampung days, we had to get water from the wells to flush the toilets. There also used to be fireflies everywhere but I guess they've all migrated now.” she adds with a laugh.

Although Singapore has progressed a lot, not everything has changed for the better. Mr Lee elaborates, “Neighbours in the past are more friendly. We used to leave our doors open and everyone would come over for food and games, but nowadays everyone just closes their doors to each other. There's sadly no more kampung spirit.”

Despite the multitude of odds stacked against us through the years, our nation has remained steadfast, striving endlessly to give rise to the successes we enjoy today. The best way to honour our earlier generations and their contributions, is to continue working hard to maintain this accelerated level of progress and not be content with just resting on our laurels.

As we continue to seek new areas of progress, we should also look out for fellow Singaporeans who face personal challenges. As fellow citizens, we should never fail to show compassion towards one another.

Coming to tonight's Final Rehearsal is a very special group of people who truly demonstrate resilience in the face of adversity.

Mdm Daniar, 63 from the HCA Hospice Care, is a first timer at NDP. When interviewed, she was thankful for the rare opportunity to watch the Parade. In her opinion, tonight's NDP had succinctly encapsulated the progress of Singapore in one show. “(Our nation) has changed a lot,” were her exact words when we asked about her feelings towards our country. Despite battling a debilitating illness, she was never short of smiles and laughter throughout the interview. She even chuckled when she told us that her favourite item in the funpack were the hand-shaped drums.

Seeing Mdm Danier's positive outlook on life, we feel deeply humbled by her never-say-die attitude towards life. Together with others from the hospice, they are the everyday heroes that walk amongst us; the true epitome of the strength and resilience that has come to define the Singapore spirit.

Returning to our interviews with other audiences, many could not contain their excitement when we talked about the fireworks! As the show reached its finale, sparks of ember could be seen rocketing through the clouds, before finally exploding in vibrant colours and patterns. Ryan, 16, and Reuven, 13, liked the way this year's fireworks were presented. They exclaimed, “We really like how the fireworks were fired in accordance to the melody and rhythm of the songs played!”

Eunice Tan, 30, rushed back from Johor where she works, just to watch tonight's Parade with her sister Esther Tan, 24. Relating to us her journey, she said, “At 4 pm, I was still at the Immigration Checkpoint!” Despite the road blocks, luckily for her, she managed to reach a mere 3 minutes before the Parade commenced. With many “touching, hair-raising moments”, both sisters felt tonight's Parade was definitely worth the mad rush in the afternoon!

Other than spectators at The Float, crowds were also seen forming along the Esplanade Promenade to catch a glimpse of the Parade. As fireworks rained over the city skyline, many burst out in exclamations of joy and cheer at the rare opportunity to witness a visual spectacle like this. Evidently, fireworks still remain one of the most anticipated segments in NDP.

A picture speaks a thousand words. With that, we end off tonight's Final Rehearsal coverage with photos from the Parade.