DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
IS S U E 25
                                                                                                Jan/Feb 2020

             DRAWI NG INS PIRAT ION F R O M T H E H E A R T L A N DS
                                Read about the journey of a local lecturer-turned-illustrator

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
CONTENTS                                        ISSUE 25 JAN/FEB 2020
                                                                                       EDITORIAL ADVISERS
                                                                                       Eileen Neo, Shivvonne Wong,
                                                                                       Jeremy Choy, Peh Yang Yu, Keegan Lim
        Dear Readers,                                                                  PUBLISHING AGENT
        Happy New Year! We hope you kick-started 2020 with an amazing time with        ThinkFarm Pte Ltd
        your family and friends!
                                                                                       Managing Director
        This issue, we continue to focus on community-driven events and initiatives    Christopher Tay
        in the heartlands. We joined participants for a series of workshops marking
        the launch of a new season of the Lively Places Challenge 2020 (previously     Editor
        known as HDB Build-a-thon). Find out what we discovered about ideation         Dang Hui Ling
        processes in Talk of the Town.
                                                                                       Head, Creative
        There are more landmarks and storied history to Toa Payoh, other than          Sean Lee
        the iconic dragon playground. Check out the shops and eateries that you
                                                                                       Art Director
        shouldn’t miss when you are in the area! In addition, follow our journey
                                                                                       Lee Lily
        around Punggol’s Explorer Trail and learn more about this vibrant
        eco-friendly town in Around the Block.                                         Contributors
                                                                                       Fiona Chen, Jasmine Alimin, Cheryl Sim,
        To help seniors better understand the benefits of the Merdeka Generation
                                                                                       Ahmad Iskandar, Justin Loh, Mark Lee,
        Package and promote engagement with their community, a string of
                                                                                       Vernon Wong, Gina Ang, Lee Kow Fong
        roadshows was organised islandwide. Also featured in Our Life Stories is
        Singaporean artist Lee Kow Fong (Ah Guo), who shared about his leap of         Head, Client Relationship
        faith to pursue his passion for children’s book illustrations.                 Jessie Kek
        After all the Chinese New Year feasting, we offer tips on how you can          Life Storeys is a quarterly
        expend the excess calories from the festive goodies in Livin’ It Up.
                                                                                       community publication by the Housing
        Last but not least, stand a chance to win shopping vouchers by participating   & Development Board, bringing you
        in our Readers’ Survey at http://hdb.gov.sg/lifestoreys!                       stories and happenings from your
                                                                                       neighbourhood. Join us in creating
        We hope you enjoy reading this issue of Life Storeys.
                                                                                       a gracious and harmonious living
                                                                                       environment for all! You can also
                                                                The Editorial Team     access the electronic version at
                                                                                       http://hdb.gov.sg/lifestoreys or
                                                                                       scan the QR code below.
        TALK OF THE TOWN
        01 Designing for Change

        AROUND THE BLOCK
        06 Touring Toa Payoh
        08 Eat, Drink & Shop
                                                           01
                                                                                       Copyright ©2020
           Merry in Toa Payoh!                                                         Housing & Development Board
                                                                                       All rights reserved. No part of
        10 A Walk Down the

                                                           06
                                                                                       this material may be reproduced
           Eco-friendly Lane                                                           or transmitted in any form or
                                                                                       by any means.

        OUR LIFE STORIES
        12 Ageing with Benefits
        14 Drawing for Keeps
                                                                                       This publication is printed on
                                                                                       FSC™-certified paper. The paper
        LIVIN’ IT UP
                                                           14
                                                                                       choice and printing methods
                                                                                       are green and environmentally
        16 Belly Happy
                                                                                       friendly, leaving behind a smaller
                                                                                       carbon footprint.

                                                                                       Printed by KHL Printing Co Pte Ltd

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
Talk of the Town

                                   DESIGN
                                   -ING
                                   FOR
                                   Change
                                   THE LIVELY PLACES
                                   CHALLENGE 2020 KICKED
                                   OFF IN OCTOBER 2019
                                   WITH A SERIES OF
                                   WORKSHOPS GEARED
                                   TOWARDS HELPING
                                   PARTICIPANTS TURN THEIR
                                   COMMUNITY-CHANGING
                                   IDEAS INTO REALITY.

                                   Living in one of Singapore’s
                                   many HDB estates is very much
                                   community-centric, and the Lively
                                   Places Challenge aims to foster a
                                   stronger community spirit in the
                                   heartlands by encouraging residents
                                   to be active contributors to the very
                                   environment they live in.

                                   This islandwide initiative began as
                                   the HDB Build-a-thon, which was
                                   launched in 2014 to invite residents
                                   to conceive projects that would add
                                   vibrancy to their neighbourhoods
                                   while fostering a stronger sense of
                                   identity and belonging.

                                   This year, residents from eight towns
                                   were invited to participate in the
                                   initiative, now renamed as the Lively
                                   Places Challenge, namely Bishan,
                                   Bukit Panjang, Choa Chu Kang,
                                   Punggol, Sengkang, Tampines,
                                   Toa Payoh, and Yishun. From
                                   the get-go, the participants, who
                                   included representatives from
                                   Residents’ Committees (RCs),
                                   residents and schools, were guided
                                   by a comprehensive Learn, Engage
                                   and Co-create process that aimed to
                                   bring their ideas to fruition.

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
A series of Training & Engagement workshops was           and conducting their own research methodologies,
        conducted across five zones in October and November       could help them progress with their initiatives.
        2019 — a Design Thinking workshop, followed by a
        Check-in Session several weeks later.                     “Design ideation plays a big part in creating
                                                                  functional outcomes. It is important to ensure that
        The learning advantage                                    research of the end-users is a key part of that process.
        The Design Thinking workshops were led by mentors         There are methods that range from participatory
        from the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Ngee    design to co-design, which are different ways that
        Ann Polytechnic (NP), National University of Singapore    designers can engage with the users on a deeper
        (NUS), and Singapore University of Technology and         level," said Dr Teo.
        Design (SUTD), with different methods and practices
        imparted to each zone.                                    This was followed by an idea refinement session,
                                                                  where the groups filtered out the unfeasible ideas by
        During the North East Zone’s workshop at Sengkang         applying what they had learned, with Dr Teo and his
        Primary School on 2 November 2019, SIT Assistant          team providing input on the teams’ plans.
        Professor Nicholas Teo walked the attendees through a
        lecture on the design thinking process, explaining how    Next, the participants visited the actual sites where
        fundamentals, such as developing a user journey map       their projects would be executed to garner residents’
                                                                  feedback about their ideas. Over at Waterway
                                                                  Cascadia, conversations with residents allowed the
                                                                  team to gather useful opinions from the people
          By integrating                                          who would directly benefit from their project.
          games and                                               This allowed them to refine their prototypes of
                                                                  transforming two unused void decks into vibrant
          rewards into                                            community spaces.
          the workshop,
          we managed to                                           Over at the East Zone’s session conducted at
          get more energetic responses                            Tampines Changkat Community Club on 23
                                                                  November 2019, participants were given a crash
          from the participants. Some of                          course on Asset-Based Community Development
          them came with preconceived                             (ABCD) concepts, and Mapping and Engagement
          notions but after the session,                          Strategies, facilitated by Ngee Ann Polytechnic
                                                                  lecturers Mr Javihn Chan and Mr Daryl Chan.
          they realised that their ideas
          need to be refined and more                             During the first half of the day, Mr Javihn led the
          grounded. Public engagement                             introduction into ABCD. Using various group
          and observation is crucial to                           discussions and case studies to fuel understanding,
                                                                  Mr Javihn explained how the ABCD framework
          identify if their project is                            galvanises the community into action by drawing
          suitable for execution.                                 on the strengths of its people, whether physical or
          - SUMMER HA, 29, RESEARCH ASSOCIATE, ARCHITECTURE AND   personal. Empowering the community in this
          SUSTAINABLE DESIGN FACULTY, SUTD                        ground-up manner fosters stronger bonds and

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
Talk of the Town

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
motivates everyone to create new opportunities for                 “I think this is a very good platform for people from
        themselves in the process.                                         diverse backgrounds to create a better community. It’s
                                                                           also interesting to see how different the ideas are across
        Mr Daryl’s segment focused on the importance of                    the different age groups! For example, the younger
        community mapping in identifying and strengthening                 generation prefers using technology to connect people,
        project goals and objectives. In addition, he explained how        while the older participants are more into hands-on
        community engagement is critical for participants to form          activities,” shared Mr Wang Yam Peng, deputy general
        better insights into how their proposed project can meet           manager at Tampines Town Council.
        the needs of residents and members of the public.
                                                                           Armed with new knowledge and these fresh perspectives,
        “We teach our students how to frame their projects by              the participants will be implementing their ideas through
        looking at the data first, and how to synthesise it and use        to March 2020. Their efforts will culminate during HDB
        it to create better ideas,” said Mr Daryl.                         Community Week 2020, where these projects will be
                                                                           showcased and the winning teams announced in an
        To grasp a better sense of the community mapping                   awards ceremony.
        techniques, the groups conducted mock site inspections at
        nearby void decks. While one group focused on a fruit and
        herb garden maintained by residents, another was invited into
        the home of a resident who embraced their plans for a tech-        Urban planning has
        driven event. With this feedback, the groups were ready for        always been a very
        the actual site inspection, which was held later that afternoon.
                                                                           top-down approach,
        Time for an update                                                 so it’s good to see
        Reconvening a few weeks later, the groups presented their          that the authorities
        final ideas to the resource persons from various agencies,         are receptive to letting the
        such as the Town Council, as well as the facilitating
        schools like SUTD. The Check-in Session at the East
                                                                           community create their own
        Zone on 30 November 2019 was a particularly rousing                identity and people-places.
        one, with participants, facilitators and resource persons          - FATHIMAH FATHAH, 26, URBAN PLANNING POST-GRADUATE
        all adding to the lively discussions that ensued.                  AT NUS AND HEAD OF “THE URBANIST”

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
Talk of the Town

                                                                     LIVELY PLACES
                                                                     PROGRAMME
                                   WHAT IS IT?
                                   The Lively Places Programme is a joint initiative by HDB and URA to support
                                   community-led efforts in enlivening Singapore’s public spaces.

                WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FUNDING AVAILABLE?
                Project Fund                  Building Fund                                                Street Closure
                (up to $5,000)                (up to $5,000) - Implementation period of 6                  (up to $5,000)
                This is for event             months or less after installation; and Building              This is for projects
                initiatives that activate     Fund (up to $20,000) - Implementation period of              that transform
                spaces or bond                more than 6 months after installation                        streets into active
                neighbours in HDB             This is for projects involving installations that bring      public spaces for
                neighbourhoods.               about a physical transformation of existing public spaces.   the community.

                Who can apply for                     How do I ensure that my ideas get funded?
                the funding?
                • Singaporean Citizens
                  and permanent
                  residents
                • Individuals or as
                  a team

                For more information, visit
                https://www.hdb.gov.sg/
                cs/infoweb/community/
                getting-involved/lively-
                places-programme.

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
TOURING                                               Toa Payoh
H
                 TOA PAYOH IS ONE OF
                  SINGAPORE’S OLDEST                       Toa Payoh, the first estate developed    Today, Toa Payoh remains one of
                ESTATES THAT HAS THE                       by the HDB and the poster town           the busiest estates as well as among
                DISTINCTION OF BEING                       for being a public housing model, is     the most coveted, thanks to its
               VISITED NOT JUST ONCE,                      famous for a few milestones, such as     proximity to the city. Besides the
                     BUT TWICE, BY HER                     being the location where the MRT         iconic Dragon Playground, here are
                ROYAL MAJESTY QUEEN                        held the inaugural ceremony that         five more landmarks to discover in
                          ELIZABETH II!                    kick-started operations back in 1987.    the area.

            Block 53, Lorong 5
            Back in the day, Block 53 at Lorong 5 formed a distinct
            part of the skyline as one of the neighbourhood’s                     My best memory of
            tallest blocks and was the only high-rise with a unique               living in Toa Payoh
            Y-shaped design. There are iconic buildings and that
            status certainly belongs to Block 53 — after all, it is               has to be receiving Queen
            Singapore’s first block of public housing apartments                  Elizabeth II at my old home.
            that Queen Elizabeth II visited during her maiden visit
            to the country.
                                                                                  I remember my parents making
                                                                                  sure that the flat was spick and
            Accompanying her on this momentous occasion on                        span, and that we were dressed
            18 February 1972 were other dignitaries who included
            Singapore’s second president Benjamin Sheares and
                                                                                  appropriately to receive the
            Sir William Goode, the last British governor of                       VIPs. Of course, there was a
            Singapore. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II visited Toa Payoh              lot of anticipation building up
            again, for a second time.
                                                                                  towards the big day!
                                                                                  – JEROME LIM, 54, SELF-EMPLOYED

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
Around the Block

                                                       I’ve lived in Toa
                                                       Payoh for more
                                                       than 20 years.
                                                       Although I don’t
                                                       really remember
                                                       using the facilities
           Toa Payoh Sports Complex
           In 1973, Singapore was abuzz at the         at the Toa Payoh
           prospect of hosting the Southeast           Sports Complex
           Asian Peninsular Games (now
           known as the Southeast Asian
                                                       back then, now that
           Games) for the very first time. Four        I have children, I
           residential blocks in Toa Payoh were        find myself going                      Dragon Pillar
           chosen as the Games Village for                                                    While Toa Payoh’s most famous
           visiting athletes and officials.
                                                       there a lot more.                      dragon resides at the playground
                                                       My children enjoy                      on Lorong 6, another dragon
           Constructed specially for the event,        swimming there,                        can be found elsewhere in the
           the Toa Payoh Sports Complex                                                       estate — specifically, in front
           comprises a stadium, a swimming             and it’s just super                    of Block 91 at Lorong 3. Here,
           complex, and a sports hall. Since           convenient for us to                   the mystical creature is curled
           then, the Complex has been                  visit as a family, as                  around a red pillar, which is
           maintained for the community. It has                                               thought to have been built to
           also served as a venue for other major      it is located in the                   enhance the fengshui of the
           sports events, such as the 2009 Asian       neighbourhood.                         area (in Chinese culture,
           Youth Games and the inaugural               – AZMAN IVAN TAN, 41, CEO OF A
                                                                                              dragons represent wealth and
           Youth Olympic Games in 2010.                LOCAL START-UP
                                                                                              good fortune).

                                                                             TOA PAYOH TOWN PARK

           Chung Hwa Medical Institution
           At a glance, the palatial Chung Hwa Medical Institution
           seems uprooted from a bygone Chinese dynasty.
           Fittingly, visitors can expect to receive exemplary
           services at the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
           clinic in its premises.
                                                                             Thanks to its beautifully landscaped grounds,
                                                                             the verdant park was one of the most
           The building also houses the Singapore College of
                                                                             popular wedding photoshoot venues in the
           Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Chinese Medical and
                                                                             1980s. It is also home to a diverse population
           Drugs Research Institute, and the Chinese Acupuncture
                                                                             of flora and fauna — in fact, more than 20
           Research Institution. It is also the headquarters of the
                                                                             species of damselflies and dragonflies have
           Singapore Chinese Physicians’ Association, the country’s
                                                                             been spotted here!
           recognised authority in the TCM field.

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DRAWING INSPIRATION FROM THE HEARTLANDS - ISSUE 25 Jan/Feb 2020 - HDB
Eat, Drink & Shop
              Merry IN TOA PAYOH!
        IT IS NO SURPRISE THAT ONE OF SINGAPORE’S EARLIEST HOUSING ESTATES IS ALSO
        WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY THESE NATIONAL PASTIMES TO THE FULLEST.

        Toa Payoh’s dining and retail landscape features an
        eclectic mix that leaves both residents and visitors spoilt
        for choice, with a handful of notable establishments
        worth travelling for.

        Chey Sua Carrot Cake
        Blk 127, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #02-30,
        Singapore 310127
        Chey Sua’s history dates back to the 1960s, when founder
        Tay Hoe Seng first started selling homemade chai tow
        kway (carrot cake) from a pushcart in Serangoon Gardens.
        Although his daughters now helm the stall in Toa Payoh,
        they still insist on making everything from scratch — from
        steaming the carrot cake to preparing the chilli.

        The steamed carrot cake is cut into cubes, fried with
        a huge serving of eggs and caipoh (preserved radish),
               then spread with a thin layer of chilli. Unlike the
                     usual chai tow kway, Chey Sua’s version
                          is flatter and resembles a pancake.
                                Beneath the crisp brown outer           The Larder Cafe
                                    layer is the moist and soft         Blk 177, Toa Payoh Central, #01-124,
                                       carrot cake, while the           Singapore 310177
                                           chilli adds an extra kick.   A stone’s throw from Toa Payoh MRT station, The
                                              The Tays’ delicious       Larder Cafe is still going strong after four years in
                                               treatment of this        business. With its concrete screed flooring, industrial-
                                                 humble dish earned     style decor, and abundance of natural light, it’s hard to
                                                    their version a     imagine the cafe being located at an HDB shophouse.
                                                      listing in the
                                                      Singapore         The biggest draws for the cafe’s returning customers
                                                      Michelin Bib      are its friendly service, extensive menu, and generous
                                                      Gourmand two      portions at affordable prices — most of the mains are
                                                      years in a        priced below $20. According to the staff, bestsellers
                                                      row, in 2016      include the Honey Baked Ham Eggs Benedict, Black
                                                     and 2017.          Mama Pork Burger, and BBQ Pork Ribs. During our
                                                                        visit, their wide selection of homemade ice cream
                                                                        was also a hit among the full-house crowd.
          DID YOU KNOW? Chey Sua sells only the white
          version of carrot cake. The stall is open from 6am            DID YOU KNOW? You can save on
          to 1pm daily (except Mondays), but drop by early              service charge and GST at The Larder Cafe.
          to avoid disappointment!                                      Advance reservations are recommended.

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Around the Block

           BNC Retail @
           Toa Payoh
           Blk 178, Toa
           Payoh Central,
           #01-226,
           Singapore 310178
           A frontrunner
           in the gardening and landscaping industry for over
           50 years, Ban Nee Chen has diversified operations
           islandwide with its sprawling nurseries and now, retail
           shops that cater to the needs of gardening enthusiasts
           in the heartlands. Its retail store in Toa Payoh Central
           opened about a year ago, and offers an extensive
           selection of indoor and outdoor plants, flowers, and tools
           to indulge all levels of green fingers.

             I go past the shop every Sunday.
             I’m happy to have such a
             comprehensive shop in the
             neighbourhood. There’s no need
             to go to the nurseries anymore!                            Creamier
             – MDM WONG, 61, RETIREE                                    Blk 131, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #01-02,
                                                                        Singapore 310131
             DID YOU KNOW? Apart from retail, Ban Nee
                                                                        One of the pioneering cafes that ushered in the first
             Chen also provides a wide range of professional
                                                                        wave of ice cream and waffle parlours in the HDB
             landscaping and design-and-build services for both
                                                                        heartlands back in 2011, Creamier is famous for
             consumers and industrial users.
                                                                        its generous scoops of handcrafted ice cream. New
                                                                        branches have since opened at Gillman Barracks and
           Phoon Huat                                                   Tiong Bahru, but it is the original location at Toa
           Blk 107, Toa Payoh Lorong 1, #01-270,                        Payoh Lorong 1 that has the lion’s share of loyalists,
           Singapore 310107                                             who formed long lines before the shop’s closure in
           Despite its well-earned reputation as a go-to for all        June 2019.
           baking needs, Phoon Huat offers a bigger treasure trove
           that goes beyond its core offerings of cake mixes and        Thankfully, Creamier’s absence from the
           dairy products.                                              neighbourhood was short-lived, as the cafe made
                                                                        a comeback with its new space located just across
           The surprise is in discovering ingredients for Western       the road from the former outlet! To our delight,
           dishes are sold here, with myriad options for pizzas,        the richness and taste of their ice cream remain
           pastas and soups available. Although there is no artisanal   gratifyingly good. We recommend crowd favourites
           cheese, the outlet does stock soft types such as brie        like Earl Grey lavender, sea salt gula melaka (palm
           and camembert, sliced sandwich cheeses, and breaded          sugar), and pulut hitam (black glutinous rice).
                                                     mozzarella
                                                     sticks. You can    DID YOU KNOW? Creamier has partnered with
                                                     even customise     The Food Bank Singapore (FBSG) to dedicate a
                                                     your own muesli    section of the store named PIKO (short for “pick
                                                     with ingredients   and go”) to host The Food Pantry 2.0, a concept
                                                     such as rolled     featuring fully automated smart vending machines
                                                     oats, nuts         that dispense donated food at $2 per item. The
                                                     and cereal!        machines also serve as a collection point for
                                                                        beneficiaries with issued RFID tags. Those who
              DID YOU KNOW? On top of prices that are on                wish to donate non-perishable food can do so at
              par with or lower than regular supermarkets,              PIKO, which also offers products such as frozen
              Phoon Huat offers 10% storewide discount every            meals, snacks, and household items to bring
              Wednesday and Sunday.                                     greater convenience to residents.

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A WALK DOWN THE
        Eco-friendly Lane
        ONCE HOME TO AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES FROM
        PIG FARMING TO FISHERIES, PUNGGOL’S CHANGING
        FORTUNES AND FACELIFT HAVE CULMINATED IN A
        SHOWPIECE OF MODERN ECO-LIVING.

        Punggol may be one of Singapore’s               and the use of self-cleansing paint
        newest housing estates, but don’t               on wall exteriors.
        let its modern facade trick you into
        thinking that it is just another concrete       “I joined the Explorer Trail because
        jungle. Earmarked as Singapore’s first          I was interested to find out more
        eco-town, Punggol’s once rugged                 about the sustainable features of
        coastline has steadily transformed              Punggol,” explained Ms Maisie Koh,
        into a waterfront oasis primed for              24, who was there with her partner,
        sustainable residential living.                 Mr Tan Wei Hao, 27. “But what I
                                                        really liked most about the activity
        In particular, Punggol Waterway                 was the stories that our guide shared
        and Treelodge@Punggol precincts                 of his childhood.”
        represent the hallmarks of a vibrant
        eco-friendly town with lush greenery            Besides personal anecdotes, the
        as well as innovatively designed                tour’s programme shed light on
        recreational spaces and infrastructure.         how to fashion self-propelling toys
                                                        from tapioca leaves, and the various
        To learn more about these iconic                types of edible plants grown at the
        developments, Life Storeys joined               community garden.
        the Explorer Trail, part of HDB’s
        Eco Learning Journeys, which offer              We headed next to My Waterway@
        participants a free 2.5-hour guided tour        Punggol, a riverine park a stone’s
        to discover the green pulse of Punggol.         throw from Treelodge@Punggol.
                                                        Punggol Waterway is Singapore’s         Crossing the picturesque Kelong
        Led by a professional tour guide,               longest man-made waterway. The          Bridge, we arrived at our last stop, a
        our 40-member group headed to                   4.2km-long waterway meanders            160m-long preserved stretch of Old
        Treelodge@Punggol, HDB’s first                  through the heart of Punggol,           Punggol Road, where information
        eco-precinct that harnesses natural             allowing visitors to enjoy              panels outline Punggol’s history,
        elements to promote green living.               water-based leisure activities or       including descriptions of the wild
                                                        take a stroll along the promenade       animals that once roamed the area.
        The precinct, which brings eco-                 surrounded by natural foliage.          An old bus stop serves as a rest
        friendly amenities closer to residents                                                  area and a throwback to a time
        while fostering closer community                Here, the group paused to learn         when most bus stops sported these
        ties, was completed in 2010. It is              more about several types of trees       distinctive orange and white stripes.
        also a winner of the Green Mark                 growing at the park, such as
        Platinum award, a prestigious                   “Singapore’s cherry blossoms”           Although she did not grow up in
        recognition for environmentally                 (Trumpet Tree or Tabebuia rosea,        Punggol, Mdm Chua Heok, who is
        friendly buildings. This is evident             which in full bloom, cascades a         in her sixties, recalled her visits to
        from how the blocks are oriented to             blanket of pink blossoms), and the      the area when she was younger — in
        maximise natural cross-ventilation              rubber tree.                            particular, the pig farms, the last

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Around the Block

                                                                                                             I joined the Explorer
                                                                                                             Trail because I was
                                                                                                             interested to find
                                                                                                             out more about the
                                                                                                             sustainable features
                                                                                                             of Punggol.
                                                                                                             – MS MAISIE KOH, 24

                                                                                                           of which closed in 1990. “Things
                                                                                                           have certainly changed but I can
                                                                                                           almost still ‘smell’ the stench from
                                                                                                           the former pig farms here! Punggol
                                                                                                           is so nice and green now, and I will
                                                                                                           definitely come back to visit with my
                                                                                                           family,” she added.

                                                                                                           To find out more about the Eco
                                                                                                           Trails, visit https://www.hdb.gov.sg/
                                                                                                           cs/infoweb/ecolearning.

                         The guided tour allows participants to gain a better understanding of the history of and the eco-friendly features in Punggol

                                                                                                                                               11
10-11 Around The Block - Eco-friendly lane_V2.indd 11                                                                                           13/2/20 4:42 PM
AGEING
           WITH
            SENIORS NOT ONLY LEARNED
            MORE ABOUT THEIR BENEFITS,
                                                        Benefits
            BUT ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
            TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR
            COMMUNITY AT THE MERDEKA
            GENERATION ROADSHOWS.

        Born in the 1950s, the Merdeka             package, which serves to defray        set up by People’s Association (PA),
        Generation was raised during a             healthcare costs and promote active    Health Promotion Board (HPB),
        tumultuous period before and after         ageing, will be offered to some        and Sport Singapore (SportSG)
        Singapore’s independence. This is          500,000 eligible Singaporeans.         aimed to encourage seniors to join
        the generation that went through                                                  active living programmes.
        the struggle against colonialism and       Starting from June 2019, a total of
        communism; they witnessed the              23 community roadshows have been       Event-goers had the chance to take
        racial riots and were instrumental         progressively organised islandwide     part in workshops, such as DIY
        in Singapore’s survival after the          to educate and engage the seniors on   body scrub, basic Pastel Nagomi
        separation from Malaysia.                  the benefits of the MGP and other      Art and air-dry clay art. Those
                                                   care schemes.                          who signed up for PA courses on
        To recognise their contributions,                                                 the spot could also redeem
        Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong             A wealth of information                exclusive collectibles.
        first announced the Merdeka                Held in the heartlands, the
        Generation Package (MGP) during            roadshows were met with huge           Silver Generation Ambassadors
        his National Day Rally in 2018. The        turnouts. At each roadshow, booths     were on hand to provide

       12
12-13 Life Storeys -Ageing with Benefits.indd 12                                                                             14/2/20 4:04 PM
Our Life Stories

                                                                                           5
           I heard about the roadshow
           on the radio, so I came to see                                                     BENEFITS
           Rahimah Rahim. It’s a good                                                         OF
           opportunity to mix around.
           I chatted and made friends
                                                                                           MERDEKA
           with people around my age.                                                      GENERATION
           JAMIAH BTE SHAN, 61, PRODUCTION OPERATOR                                        PACKAGE
                                                                                           1 PAssion Silver cards
           one-to-one consultation for those                                                 One-time $100 top-up to
           who required clarifications or had
           feedback. Visitors could also pick up                                           Use it to pay for activities
           a comic book based on the theme                                                 at community clubs, utilise
           of Lao Fu Zi (Old Master Q), with                                               ActiveSG pools and gyms, make
           essential details on the MGP. The                                               purchases at selected merchants,
           book also lists resources, such as                                              take public transport, and more.

                                                                                           2 MediSave top-up
           career support and lifelong learning
           programmes, and care services,                                                     $200 annual
           which the seniors can tap into.
                                                                                           Get the top-up every year
                                                                                           until 2023. This can help to pay
           In addition, the seniors were
                                                                                           for health screenings, chronic
           rendered digital literacy tips, such
                                                                                           disease management, outpatient
           as downloading of useful apps                                                   treatments, hospitalisation,
           (Wireless@SG and Healthy365, for                                                care scheme premiums,
           example), signing up for MGP’s                                                  among others.
           WhatsApp service to receive             Game for golden years

                                                                                           3 care subsidies
           updates, and registering or resetting   It wasn’t all serious, however. One        Additional outpatient
           a SingPass account.                     event highlight that attracted long
                                                   queues was the Spin & Win booth,        Enjoy special Community
                                                   where participants snagged useful       Health Assist Scheme (CHAS)
                                                   goodies, such as water bottles,         subsidies for common illnesses,
                         The                       umbrellas, cooler bags, and             chronic conditions, and dental
                          roadshow                 airtight containers.                    procedures. Get an additional
                                                                                           25% off subsidised bills at
                          helps                    The seniors particularly enjoyed        polyclinics and public Specialist
                         raise                     the games where they could win          Outpatient Clinics.

                                                                                           4 CareShield Life
                       awareness                   prizes by demonstrating their
                                                   understanding of the MGP, as well          More incentive to join
            about the MGP.                         as interact with local celebrities,
                                                                                           Receive an extra $1,500
            Those who only                         including Rahimah Rahim, Marcus
                                                                                           “participation incentive” — on
                                                   Chin, Kym Ng, Mastura Ahmad,
            knew of some of the                    and Pornsak. The latter proved to be
                                                                                           top of the previously announced
            benefits previously                    a hit with the crowd at the Clementi
                                                                                           $2,500 — when you join
                                                                                           CareShield Life. This can offset
            can now have a                         roadshow as throngs formed lines to     your annual premiums for over
                                                   snap a shot with him at the Lao Fu
            better idea of the                     Zi photo booth.
                                                                                           10 years.

                                                                                           5 Life premium subsidies
            package by coming                                                                 Additional MediShield
            here. I also had                       Other stage activities, which varied
                                                   according to the different locations,   These subsidies start from 5% of
            fun collecting the                     included a skit on dementia by HPB,     MediShield Life premiums, and
            freebies, and the skit                 a sketch on cyber safety and scams      will increase to 10% after your
            performances are                       by the Media Literacy Council,          75th birthday. This translates
                                                   exercise demonstrations by              to a discount between $31.50
            very informative!                      SportSG, and performances by PA         and $918, depending on the
            MR TAN, 66, CLEANER                    interest groups.                        premium amount.

                                                                                                                     13
12-13 Life Storeys -Ageing with Benefits.indd 13                                                                      14/2/20 4:09 PM
Draw ng FOR KEEPS
                      SINGAPOREAN ARTIST LEE KOW FONG DRAWS INSPIRATION FROM THE
                       HEARTLANDS TO INJECT A LIVELY LOCAL SPIN INTO HIS WHIMSICAL
                                      WATERCOLOUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

        We may get on in years, but our               reputation and a strong following with     endowed the 48-year-old with a rent-
        inner child still resides within              his distinctive works. Besides authoring   free studio for his tenure as its first
        us. Embracing that childlike sense            and illustrating four series of picture    artist-in-residence. Life Storeys paid
        of wonder can help us rediscover              books for children, he has also ventured   him a visit at his cosy workspace,
        life with a fresh perspective. That’s         successfully into merchandising, with      where he shared with us more about
        what Lee Kow Fong, better known               his illustrations adorning items from      his extraordinary journey.
        by his pen name Ah Guo, seeks to              tote bags and towels to cushion covers,
        accomplish with his works.                    stationery, and more.                      How did you acquire
                                                                                                 your moniker?
        A prolific columnist, illustrator             In February 2019, Singapore Press          When I was in junior college, I used
        and author, Ah Guo has earned a               Holdings’ Chinese Media Group              to submit my writing to the Chinese

       14
14-15 Our Life Stories - Celeb Next Door v2.indd 14                                                                                     6/2/20 10:47 AM
Our Life Stories

           papers. The trend then was to use a            like look. If you look at the works of        way of life through my works. This
           pen name and I wanted one that didn’t          different illustrators around the world,      prompted me to start on a nostalgic-
           sound too “artistic”. Aptly enough, the        you’d realise that some of their styles are   themed series depicting traditional
           “Fong” in my name represents good              actually very sophisticated and meant         playgrounds, old bus stops and heritage
           harvest, and indeed, I hope to reap            to be appreciated by adults. During           buildings, which turned out to be very
           fruitful results in whatever I do.             my visual storytelling, I use my own          well received.
                                                          imagination liberally and this results in
           When did you discover                          boundless possibilities. My vision is to      These days, my drawings are related
           your passion for drawing?                      create picture books that are not only        to daily life. I’m currently working on
           I’ve enjoyed drawing since young               enjoyed by children, but also adults.         a hawker centre series, which is so fun
           but I didn’t attend any art classes.                                                         to draw! Kopitiams and hawker centres
           Although I took Art Elective                   There’s a distinctive local                   are places that I pass by every day, and
           Programme (AEP) as an O-level                  flavour in some of your                       where I make interesting observations.
           subject, my subsequent endeavours              works. Why is that so?                        When I witness heartwarming
           still focused more on Chinese studies          When I first started watercolour              moments, such as an elderly man and
           and writing, rather than art. Drawing          painting, I didn’t incorporate any local      his grandson having breakfast together,
           was more of a personal hobby. Then             elements. It was in 2015 when                 I’ll record these down to recreate in my
           came the rise of blogging, which               Mr Lee Kuan Yew passed away that              illustrations later.
           spurred me to create one to share              I painted three portraits of him that
           my writing. At the time, most people           deviated from my usual style. It struck       What’s your favourite part
           were posting photos but I wanted to            me then that I could convey the local         about living in an HDB flat?
           include my own drawings.                                                                     I lived in a kampung until I was five
                                                                                                        years old, and I’ve been residing in
           How has your                                                                                 an HDB flat ever since. It is my living
           professional journey as                                                                      space and it provides me with a lot of
           an artist been like so                                                                       creative inspiration. In particular, I find
           far, given that such a                                                                       the void deck such an intriguing space:
           career is not exactly                                                                        sometimes, you see the elderly chit-
           common in Singapore?                                                                         chatting or playing chess; kids playing;
           I joined Ngee Ann Polytechnic as                                                             or weddings, parties and wakes being
           a lecturer in 2007. Along the way, I                                                         held there. Despite its name, the void
           had opportunities to freelance as an                                                         deck is not empty at all; rather, because
           illustrator, before I took a 1.5-year                                                        it is “void”, anything is possible.
           break in 2009 to obtain a Master of
           Arts (MA) degree in children’s book                                                          Any advice for
           illustration in the UK. Although                                                             aspiring artists?
           I returned to Singapore in 2011,                                                             When I meet illustrators in their 30s, I
           it wasn’t until two years ago that I                                                         envy them as, unlike myself, they have
           finally decided to resign from                                                               the luxury of time to explore, make
           full-time teaching.                                                                          mistakes, and develop their talent.
                                                                                                        Time is of the essence; so if you are very
           Initially I felt insecure and wondered if                                                    certain that this is what you want, go for
           I could survive. In fact, I still do adjunct                                                 it while you are young. However, before
           teaching at Ngee Ann, while working                                                          you take that leap of faith, do consider
           on commissioned assignments. I also              I find the void                             building a sizeable portfolio first, which
           collaborate with my friend’s company             deck such an                                will help convince people that you can
           to produce merchandise that feature                                                          produce quality work.
           my illustrations. I’ve put up several            intriguing space.
           original paintings for purchase, too.            Despite its name,
           Why children’s book                              the void deck is                             GET YOUR ART FIX
           illustrations in particular?                     not empty at all;                            Visit Ah Guo’s (@kowfong)
           I like writing original stories and                                                           ongoing art exhibition
           complementing the words with                     rather, because it                           Whimsical Reality at Singapore
           drawings. There’s a misconception that
           illustrations for children’s picture books
                                                            is “void”, anything                          Flyer. Open daily from 10am
                                                                                                         to 8pm, with a selection of
           require a certain kiddy or Disney-               is possible.                                 merchandise available.

                                                                                                                                           15
14-15 Our Life Stories - Celeb Next Door v2.indd 15                                                                                          13/2/20 4:48 PM
237

          Belly                                                                         kcal
                                                                                        per slice

                                                                                 KUEH LAPIS
                                                                                  (multi-layered
                                                                                   butter cake)

         Happy
                                                                                WORKOUT
                                                                                • Walk 73min
                                                                                • Swim 35min
                                                                                • Household chores
                                                                                   90min

                                                                          56
        THE AVERAGE ADULT WOULD                                          kcal
        CONSUME AN EXTRA 500 KCAL                                       per piece
        A DAY FROM FESTIVE SNACKING.
        HERE IS A GUIDE ON HOW MUCH                                      LOVE
        EXERCISE YOU NEED TO EXPEND                                     LETTER
        THE EXCESS CALORIES.
                                                                   WORKOUT
                                                                   • Walk 17min
                                                                   • Stair-climbing
                                                                       8min
                                                                   • Household chores
        Workout: recommended duration varies                          20min
        based on intensity

        EAT YOUR WAY THROUGH                      CNY goodies are usually low in             stimulates the release of peptides
        FESTIVE SEASONS WITHOUT                   nutrients and therefore should not         in the gut, which then signals to
        RISKING UNHEALTHY                         be meal substitutes. Avoid skipping        your brain that you are full. If you
        REPERCUSSIONS.                            your regular meals before visiting         are at a buffet or potluck party, be

        1
                                                  — foods that are rich in fibre and         more selective and not pile some of
              LOAD UP ON                          vitamin C will help you stay full over     everything on your plate.

                                                                                             3
              FIBRES FIRST                        longer periods, so you naturally
             Research has shown that people       cut down on snacking.                             PACE YOURSELF

                                                  2
        who go supermarket shopping                                                                Did you know it takes about
        while feeling peckish tend to make             PRIORITISE PROTEIN                          20 minutes before your brain
        more impulsive and calorie-laden                At the dining table, identify        registers that you are full? Avoid
        purchases. Visiting your relatives on           the lean protein (such as            overeating during this lapse by
        an empty stomach is likely to trigger     skinless chicken, fish, and soy-           chewing your food slowly, which
        the same behaviour, with all the treats   based foods) first. Protein is a           aids digestion, too. To trick your
        becoming even more irresistible.          satiating macronutrient that               mind, try eating off a smaller plate

       16
16-17 Livin It Up - Belly Happy v3.indd 16                                                                                      14/2/20 9:48 AM
Livin’ It Up

                                                                   23
                                                                  kcal
                                                                 per piece

                                                            SPICY DRIED
                                                            SHRIMP ROLL
                                                           WORKOUT
                                                           • Walk 7min
                                                           • Skip 2.5min
                                                           • Household chores
                                                              7min                              15
                                                                                               kcal
                                                                                              per piece

                                                                                              KUEH
                                                                                             BANGKIT
                                                                                          (coconut cookies)
                                                                                          WORKOUT
                                                                                          • Brisk Walk 5min
                                                                                          • Carry a baby
                                                                                             5min
                                                                                          • Household chores
                                                                                             5min
                                                                                                                     93
                                                                                                                    kcal
                                   370                                                                             per piece
                                   kcal
                                  per slice
                                                                                                                PINEAPPLE
                                                                                                                   TART
                               BAK KWA                                                                         WORKOUT
                            WORKOUT                                                                            • Walk 28min
                            • Walk 113min                                                                      • Jumping jacks
                            • Jog   47min                                                                         25min
                            • Household chores                                                                 • Household chores
                               140min                                                                             30min

            or nibbling smaller pieces of bak        rough amount of time it takes for       nuts or chia seeds in place of
            kwa (sliced barbecued pork).             food to fully digest.                   deep-fried crackers.

           4                                         5                                       6
                    AVOID EATING THREE                    DON’T SNUB                              QUENCH YOUR THIRST
                    HOURS BEFORE BED                      HOMEMADE GRUB                             We may sometimes mistake
                   A sore throat in the wake of            Preparing meals at home                  thirst for hunger and end up
            the holidays could be a result of        is not only economical and cosy,        snacking when we really should
            laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR),          but you are also in control of the      be drinking. To tell the difference,
            which happens when stomach               amount of salt, oil and sugar that      reach for a glass of water first.
            acid travels up the oesophagus and       goes into every dish. Consider          If the hydration makes you feel
            causes inflammation of the larynx        making your own healthier               better, then you probably weren’t
            (voice box). To minimise LPR from        version of the prosperity raw fish      hungry in the first place. Water also
            occurring, stop eating when you feel     salad (yusheng) by substituting         contains zero calories, while soft
            nearly full and at least three to four   plum sauce with a lime and              drinks and alcohol have at least 150
            hours before sleeping, as that is the    honey mixture, and using crushed        calories per serving.

                                                                                                                            17
16-17 Livin It Up - Belly Happy v3.indd 17                                                                                    14/2/20 9:48 AM
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                   Readers’
                   Survey

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                     Log on to http://hdb.gov.sg/lifestoreys for the questions and
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18 OBC AD.indd 6                                                                     6/2/20 11:01 AM
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