Sentosa, Orchard Road are most-shared places with 2,100 and 700 stories, respectively
MATTHIAS TAY Today Online 10 Feb 15;
SINGAPORE — Having spent most of her life living in Toa Payoh, Mrs Chia-Nge Tak Heng, 54, has watched it flourish and grow into the bustling estate that it is now from the time when she arrived at age seven in 1967, when it was still a small town of vegetable and fish farms.
In 1988, she got married and left Toa Payoh for Bukit Panjang to build a new home with her husband. Nine years later, despite the high prices that Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats were fetching at the time, the couple returned, with two young daughters in tow, to the estate that had always felt like home to her.
For Mrs Chia, Toa Payoh is filled with unforgettable memories — such as the days she spent playing along the common corridor outside her family’s rented flat, or those times when she watched the lorries roll by with materials to build the next generation of flats that would eventually replace the farm next-door.
Mrs Chia’s story is among the more than 43,000 stories — and counting — that have been shared by Singaporeans across the island from all walks of life, as part of the SG Heart Map initiative’s efforts to trace and celebrate the nation’s transformation over the past 50 years.
Launched in November, the organisers have been collecting such stories with the help of roving vans that have travelled to 79 locations islandwide in three months. Online submissions can be made at www.heartmap.sg and at booths at MRT stations, shopping malls and community centres.
“The stories showed our common identity and bond as Singaporeans. As each generation showed its preference for special places, we find many common threads that weave our stories into a rich tapestry of an amazing SG Heart Map,” said Minister Grace Fu, who co-chairs the SG50 Environment and Infrastructure Committee overseeing the project.
The initiative received strong support from Singaporeans across generations with close to half the contributions coming from those below the age of 30. Those aged between 10 and 19 made up 30 per cent of the total entries.
One of the most-shared places to date is Sentosa, which was featured in more than 2,100 stories. Orchard Road came in second with 700 stories, while Toa Payoh had 500 to its name.
Toa Payoh literally means “Big Swamp” in Hokkien. Built in 1968, Toa Payoh New Town estate was one of the earliest satellite public housing estates in Singapore and it gained popularity due to its centralised location and accessibility to town.
Mrs Chia’s love for the estate was most evident when she talked about the variety of food available to its residents. Gushing excitedly, she described the stalls that have been selling all-time-favourites such as fried oyster omelette and fried kway teow for more than a decade. “I used to buy from these stalls for my father’s supper when I was younger,” she said.
But the excitement in her voice began to fade when she was asked to name one thing she wished was still around. “I miss my old schools,” she said. Mrs Chia enrolled at First Toa Payoh Primary in Primary Two and later studied at First Toa Payoh Secondary. Both schools have since moved.
“I am sad that I don’t get to see my old school any more. But such changes are inevitable because the country is constantly moving forward,” said Mrs Chia.
More than 43,000 stories contributed to SG Heart Map since launch
Channel NewsAsia 10 Feb 15;
SINGAPORE: Since the launch of the SG Heart Map on Nov 14, 2014, more than 43,000 stories have been contributed by Singaporeans from all walks of life, according to a media release by the organisers on Monday (Feb 9).
The map seeks to "weave memorable past places, meaningful new places and aspirations for future places into a collective map through the shared stories of Singaporeans", they said.
The public can contribute their stories through the web portal, or through roving vans that have travelled to 79 locations island-wide in the last three months.
In the stories contributed to the SG Heart Map so far, three locations re-appear repeatedly, and were revealed to be some of the currently most cherished places so far – Sentosa, Orchard Road and Toa Payoh.
From the stories collected, a selection of 50 places that hold special meaning for Singaporeans will be highlighted in mid-2015, in celebration of Singapore's 50th birthday.
SENTOSA'S SILOSO BEACH
There are more than 2,100 stories from children, youth and even the pioneer generation that say Sentosa is a place of fond memories.
For Mr Tan Wee Kiat, 35, Sentosa is special to him because it was the location of his first date with his wife along Siloso Beach. A year later, they were also back for their wedding photo shoot. Many, like Mr Tan, highlighted the Siloso Beach as a dating hospot for its ambience.
Meanwhile, the younger generation said Sentosa is the perfect setting for family bonding and fun times with friends.
ORCHARD ROAD
Orchard Road is dear to Kelly, 22, because it was where she had many firsts – from her first dress to her first job. While Mrs Poh Kim, 66, says Orchard reminds her of “her grandchildren and seeing their happy faces”.
TOA PAYOH
Toa Payoh town received more than 500 contributions, detailing childhood moments, favourite food hangouts and memories of special occasions. The public library and the Toa Payoh Stadium were among the few listed.
Mrs Chia-Nge Tak Heng, who lived in Toa Payoh Town back in 1973, recounted the times she would sit along the corrector and watch the construction sites. “It was a really pleasant and memorable experience as we watched the building of HDB blocks, from nothing to something,” she said.
CONTRIBUTE YOUR STORY
The public can read more contributions at www.heartmap.sg, as well as share their own. The website also has a schedule if contributors wish to enter their stories through the roving vans.
All the contributions will be curated into a giant composite SG Heart Map, which will be unveiled at the finale in November 2015, say the organisers.
- CNA/ek
