Search for happiest person in Singapore narrows to 30

Chen Meiyue, Straits Times 6 Apr 08;

Singapore's happiest person is out there among us all, and by midweek, the search will have been narrowed down to three people.

It all started last month when the appropriately named businessman Philip Merry began his quest. By last Sunday, when nominations closed, he had received over 190 names. The list is now down to 30.

Singapore's Happiest Person will be introduced at a conference, New Science Of Happiness And Well-being, from April 16 to 17. Mr Merry is the chief executive officer and founder of Global Leadership Academy (GLA), the gathering's organiser. Topics will include how happiness affects health, education and work.

The Sunday Times got a peek into how the list was narrowed to the top 30. For starters, everyday acts of kindness done with a smile must come easily. 'They can't be happy one day, then down the next,' Mr Merry said.

Among the top 30 contenders are a jolly bus coordinator, a vivacious hospital worker and a sunny side-up technician.

The Sunday Times spoke to the trio on their secret 'happy recipe'.

A 'poor memory' helps, said bus coordinator Ho Choon Phak, 63, with a laugh. 'Erase all the unhappy things from your mind.'

He was nominated by human resource executive Priscilla Kumari, who is in her 40s. 'He can get grumpy people to smile,' she said. 'He goes the extra mile in service.' She has seen him getting a bus driver moving off to wait for a commuter coming from afar.

Senior technician Tay Bijun, 24, makes people laugh just by 'opening her mouth', said her colleague Lina Hee, 21, who nominated her.

But because Ms Tay is always upbeat, her colleagues did not know that within the past four months, both her parents have had to undergo operations. Ms Tay rationalises: 'The day will pass whether you're happy or not, so I'd rather be cheerful.'

As for patient transport assistant Stella Fernandez, singing songs and playing practical jokes keep her spirits up. The 43-year-old, who works at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, goes out of her way to make sure patients are comfortable and has earned praise from patients to supervisors.

Her biggest fan is her daughter Sharon Pereira, 20, who nominated her. The student declared: 'I think my mum is the happiest person I've ever known.'

All nominees and their nominators will get free entry to the conference. The $1,388 ticket price for each seat will be paid for by Mr Merry and his wife. 'There are a lot more happy people in Singapore than you think,' said Mr Merry.