[Insight into digital media]
I am currently doing a module on Digital Media in Asia and in one of the classes, Prof. Michael Netzley mentioned that one major aspect that the young have to deal with is flaming. It is even more important that monitoring objectionable content.

Apart from controversial posts online, things such as letters to the forum pages can cause this. For example, in the early years of blogging, I had written a letter to the press to address the issue of expletives being used in blogs.

Within days of the letter, Ephraim Loy was probably searched on search engines many times. For days, I had received up to 500 comments and hits - many of which were vulgar. I had even received death threats. On hindside, I should not have written that letter but that lesson was a classic case of flaming.

This was also brought up by the Advisory Council for the Impact of New Media on Society. During a sharing, it was mentioned that the act of flaming is a reactionary measure for teens. They cannot debate properly, so they flame.

These days, there are various channels of communication - msn, Facebook, blogs and a host of other social media applications which I am experimenting with.

One important point that I had discovered at a discussion on New Media is that blogs allow people an outlet to express themselves and to fill a void. I also agree that anonymous blogs allow the sharing of things that are not socially accepted by society or viewed by society as deviant. This leads the reader into the bloggers' world. And that is where the interest sparks.

[Let's Reunion at Hougang Mall]















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[Chilling out on the eve of Chinese New Year]
I went to Zouk for Marco V last night to do an assignment for Youth.SG. That was just after taking photos of a two-and-a-half hour musical at Victoria Theatre. It is based on Hans Christian Andersen's story The Ugly Duckling and an adaptation of Honk! by Stiles and Drewe. The tickets for the stall seats were all sold out. Plus it was a great meeting of friends. I will leave my thoughts open on this for now and will blog about it again soon.



It's been long since I last went clubbing. At my age, I think, I prefer to sit down amidst wine and maybe Martinis. The Marina Mandarin has been my choice of comfort of late.



After uploading the photos at 5am in the morning, I went to bed. I filed the story this afternoon.

It is almost 12 hours later and I am still feeling drained. But it was all worth it. I'm looking forward to Chinese New Year. It's gonna be a long road to recovery for the world. Not exactly the best of times to celebrate but nonetheless, it's Chinese New Year.



Hope the slow ox will turn into a charging bull.

[When the city comes alive]
I was at a volunteer briefing for City Alive! this evening and was conveniently arrowed the position of Sector D Volunteer Manager. Not that I am complaining though. It's my first time being part of Chingay (City Alive! is held in conjunction with the annual Chingay Parade for the uninitiated) after some miscommunication in the volunteer arrangements last year. And it will be better organised this year according to the organisers.

According to the organisers, City Alive! promises to be the biggest and funkiest street dance party in Singapore. It will unite thousands of party revellers and music enthusiasts from around the world (from Japan and the United Kingdom) at the entire street in front of City Hall which will transform into a mega dance floor. The last time I partied at City Hall front was in February last year after Singapore won the bid to host the First Youth Olympic Games.

There would be DJs on open top buses to add to the adrenaline rush as the city comes alive. Funkamania, a hip hop dance extravaganza will take place "live" as well. Also catch DJ Sassy Pandez, DJ Sarasa, Singapore’s very own DJ KoFlow, and Celebrity Dance Choreographers from Hong Kong in action.

Adding to the atmosphere will be a host of fringe activities such as Strike Force Percussion, Mega Stilt Walkers, Dance Ambassadors and Party Mascots. These activities can be found at my sector, Sector D.

[Social commentary about love]
This week, my theatre class examined Kuo Pao Kun's play The Coffin is Too Big for the Hole. It is a social commentary about Singapore. And this leads to what I am blogging about today.

If Kuo Pao Kun is the doyen of Singapore theatre, then Jack Neo can be his equivalent in movies.

At the gala premiere of his latest movie Love Matters on Tuesday night, I was humbled to meet him in person. While I did not speak to him (I used to be in awe of celebrities but not anymore after meeting and interviewing many), he appeared sincere alongside the main cast of the show Henry Thia and Yeo Yann Yann.

The entire film was shot in Malaysia (perhaps due to lower costs) and what I laughed out loud to most was the Malaysia-Mandarin accent that Yeo Yann Yann had adopted for her character. It seemed like acting to me. And it was natural.

Jack Neo's adaptation of several daily woes in real life to reel life is commendable. There is a lot of fun in laughing about oneself. Although I have not experienced some of what was narrated, I could identify with several.

One lesson throughout the entire movie was about doing things at the spur of the moment. I must say that it drove home the message about thinking carefully before doing anything. Because, most of the time in the movie, rash decisions ended up having unthinkable consequences.

After talking through the lessons, it is also important to discuss the main theme - love. The title is apt because love really matters.

It is not about how you love or who you love, but after a long relationship love tends to fade. The issue here is about assurance of love. You have to say you love and make your loved ones feel loved.

There is also frivolous love. The playboy kind of love. And if you are that sort, this movie could make you change.

The final one is on experimenting with love. Don't go in too fast when you fall in love because sometimes it can be deadly. You'll never know what forces are behind that love. It could just be a game of manipulation.

It isn't easy to grapple with the truths about love. But love is part and parcel of life. Love matters.

[Feeding the Poor]
Since April last year, a kitchen to serve free daily breakfasts and lunches to poor people has been set up at the side of Punggol's Nativity Church. I was informed of this by Fr Henry Siew a few months ago and dropped by last weekend to see the heartwarming operation for myself. There were many volunteers chopping vegetables, cooking the food, serving and washing, packing boxes for home delivery. No one was paid. All donated their time and love out of the goodness of their hearts. A few were non-Singaporeans including a Chinese national and a Taiwanese. One lady would bring boxes of food everyday to Hougang and distribute them to poor families living there. For Chinese New Year, a special buffet would be served on Monday. Anybody could come for the free food. I saw a number of foreign workers eating there.







The group is called Matthew 25. It is assisted by an NGO called Willing Hearts which helps operate similar free food facilities in other parts of Singapore. I chatted with the leader of the free kitchen Joseph and offered to help in whatever way we could.





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[Meeting the Aga Khan in Paris]
I was hosted to lunch at the Aga Khan's residence on the Isle de la Cite in the River Seine. It is a charming old property located on the same island as the Notre Dame Cathedral. Our conversation followed on our last meeting in Singapore last December. The Aga Khan has since decided to establish an Ismaili base in Singapore for his Foundation's work. I welcomed it and promised to facilitate its materialisation. There are a number of areas where Singapore and the Aga Khan Foundation can work together to develop capacity in developing countries. He thanked Singapore for our dental team's contribution to the government hospital in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, which is funded by the Aga Khan Foundation.







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[PAP losing touch?]
Last month several youths had met up with a closed-door discussion. Many times, I have had people come up to me to blow trumpets of why the like the PAP. Some of my friends at SMU are very critical. But that discussion last month was the ultimate. I felt it was the most honest discussion I've had so far.

Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo once taught me about leadership. It is 60% IQ and 40% EQ. And perhaps the ruling party has been doing so well in developing the 60% of the system that it has neglected the 40%.

I was looking back at one of my interview transcripts (I always record down what I say) and I had mentioned a caring Singapore Government. But the flaw of the system was that too much is concentrated in top-down policy making that seems to make it "imposed" on the people.

I have no doubts that the Singapore Government cares - and I am not saying this because I am in part of the party. I say this because I have seen what has been done for people who have fallen through the cracks of policy making. The only contention that I have is that perhaps sometimes, this caring side of the Government is seldom seen.

Sometimes we have to take the "bitter medicine" to prepare ourselves for the future ahead. But somehow, there is a tinge of sweet aftertaste which I hope will exist.

So instead of continuing to develop the 60%, effort should be taken to harness the 40%. If only.

[Production]
I had a long day so I couldn't blog last night. I was too tired after a long day at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University.

The design of the building is really unique especially the glass facade. It reflects everything around to the extent of creating an illusion.



I was in one of the studios there behind the scenes of a short film production - some eight hours. The rest had been there since 8am in the morning.

It is not easy to make a short film because there are so many factors that have to be controlled in one take - sound, camera framing, the actor's lines, lighting, positioning, facial expressions, shadows and the list goes on. A perfect take is the epitome of good teamwork.

A film reviewer watches a film and puts a star-rating on it. But how much effort did the production team go through? It is so easy to criticise a film void of all the hard work that has been put in. However, that is the job of the reviewer.

Hopefully this upcoming short film will be intriguing - the story pushes the boundaries. I think it can and hope it would receive rave reviews from beyond our shores.

No details on the short film yet because I am unable to say too much.

[Entertainment on omy.sg]
Mainstream media or new media for entertainment news? I will choose new media if I want to watch moving pictures. The computer screen is fast becoming the "second screen" for many. I don't have to walk to the hall to turn on the TV or get the newspapers. I just have to switch on my computer. Plus, online entertainment news can come out so much faster than print media. Oh my, what are you waiting for?



Visit omy.sg for your dose of the latest entertainment news

[Why is everyone talking about elections?]
It seems that there has been a lot of talk about elections in Singapore this week. But first, let's examine why there could be and why not.

I've been reading various blogs and being a party member, I know the official rhetoric. A plausible reason why there could be elections in such bad times is that society pulls together in tough times. Common examples cited by party members are in times of crisis like when there was SARS or economic downturn.

But to counter that though, a Prime Minister will call elections at times where he thinks he will get the best mandate. Usually, these are periods of good growth and when the fruits of labour can be tasted. If following such an argument, it would be unlikely that elections are on the cards unless the economy worsens.

Having been through the process of elections in 2006, several signs suggest to me that it may not be soon. For one, although there was a briefing for civil servants on elections last year, the electoral register to allow citizens to participate in elections has not been opened for scrutiny. Secondly, the final map of electoral boundaries has not been released. These are sure signs of impending elections. For now, talk about the ordering of party flags from overseas may just well be rumours of impending elections. I think we should wait for more concrete evidence before jumping to a speculation that elections are round the corner.

[Red Cliff 2]
War is a zero sum game, one wins and the other loses. In Red Cliff 2, the conclusion was that there is no victor even though it was clear who won the war.

I guess why there was no victor was because it was an internal war - between the Prime Minister and so-called rebels. Such situations result in both parties worse off than before.

Clearly, Red Cliff 2 was a show that is filled with emotional high points - of newfound love and attachment, of sacrifices for love, of the breaking of alliances. But the strategies that relied on interpreting nature's changes made me respect Zhuge Liang. Shows that warfare goes right down to even the slightest detail - the weather.

I found certain parallels to the notion of preparedness. I did not understand why I had to "rush to wait" then "wait to rush" in the army. It all boils down to preparedness. At least before they are deployed, they are prepared and ready to go for a battle.

[Seng Han Thong]
I visited Seng Han Thong at SGH yesterday. He was in good spirits, nodding his head and gesturing with his thickly bandanged right hand when I greeted him through a glass window. His wife said that the swelling had improved although it still looked pretty bad to me.

It was a calculated vicious attack for which there can be no possible justification. To burn someone deliberately in this manner is cruel and wicked. Reading some of the comments on the Internet justifying the action and minimizing Han Thong's injury makes me sick.

Mr Aw who tried to help him was also burnt but not as badly. He smiled broadly when I waved to him, showing me the affected parts. He is an old warrior who will doubtless soldier on when he is well again.

I don't know how long Han Thong will take to recover fully. It will take time because the burns affected various parts of his head and body. Good thing we have good doctors and nurses. Han Thong is a stout-hearted leader with a great fighting spirit and will pull through. Let us pray for him and cheer him on!

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[Honouring Ancestors]
My wife and I took a short trip back to my ancestral town at Anbu (庵埠) near Shantou to take part in ancestral temple ceremonies. This was my seventh visit to the place where my parents married in 1937. When I visited the first time in 1983 with my parents to visit my maternal grandparents who were in their 90'sat that time, the people living there were desperately poor. I stayed in the village for a week, doing my toilet outdoors and learning how to draw water from the well.


Drawing water from my mum's old house

Over the years, the transformation in the area has been truly dramatic. Taking the Silkair flight to beautiful Xiamen, we travelled along a first-class highway to Shantou. Anbu has become a suburb of Shantou even though it is administratively under Chaozhou City. My older relatives have all passed away. Now I am addressed by nephews and nieces as 'pek pek' (伯伯). Some of my cousins have done well. One lives in a luxurious house in a gated community with waterways all furnished in western style.


Nephews and nieces

On the first day, I was given the honour to lead the ceremony paying respect to a branch of the Yeo ancestors going back to the Song Dynasty. It was an elaborate affair with all kinds of offerings including a beautifully disembowelled pig and a similarly prepared goat, innards carefully placed below. We were dressed in long robes and had to stand, kneel, bow, process and pour libations of wine countless times. The joss smoke was suffocating. Every ancestor's name in the temple was read out including my parents. After that, the place was cleared for a feast, toasted with endless goblets of white spirit. Five years ago, I took part in a similar ceremony when the temple was re-opened for the first time after 1949.


Suiting up


Much kneeling


My wife and I before Yeo ancestors

On the second day, two of my brothers and I took part in another ceremony to bring our parents' names into the main Yeo ancestral temple (进祠). My paternal grandparents names were entered in the rolls many years ago before Liberation. It is considered a great honour to be inscribed. All proceedings were in formal Teochew to a few of which I gave short replies in my rusty colloquial Teochew.


Parents' names


With my brothers and others


With my second brother Jim


Clansmen bowing


With my second brother Jim and fourth brother Harry

Some Christian friends asked how I was able to take part in these events as a Roman Catholic. In fact, these are Confucianist rituals which are not considered religious. A long time ago, different orders of Catholic missionaries in China debated this point all the way to the Vatican with the Jesuits arguing that honouring ancestors was not against church teaching. It was called 'the rites controversy'. Anyway, during the three-hour ceremony, I had plenty of time to pray for my own parents and grandparents.


Chatting with most senior Yeo


My wife and I before my parents' bridal chamber


With kids at the kindergarten my father built in honour of my mother


Sons honouring parents

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[Digital Media in Asia]
I am blogging in my Digital Media class now. It is interesting that not all of the people in this class have a blog.

[Frozen Angels]
I went to watch Frozen Angels last night at the National Museum and I must say it was awesome. At the dialogue after the 60 minute theatre play, director Alvin Tan had called in an "inter-media" performance rather than a "multi-media" one. Indeed it was.

Instead of human-to-human interaction, there was human-to-video interaction. A huge screen provided the backdrop of the various stories. I enjoyed and paid special attention to what was on the screen.

The broad theme was about stem cell research and technology as how humans would respond. It also had narratives about relationships - parent and child and couples.

It was awesome because of how the stories were interspersed. There were three stories in all and the scenes are all mixed up. It reminded me of Sherman Ong's film at the Singapore Biennale last year titled Flooding in times of Drought.

The two actors had played at least three roles each in 60 minutes! It presented various ways in which humans can deal with technology of stem cell research - cloning and living longer. But, there was also the other side that it showed. The last story showed the lack of using technology which ended up with a death.

To me, the stories symbolise three aspects - birth, death and technology. And it will be good material when my Post-Modern Theatre class does our final class play.

[How to REACH out using new media]
There were several insights shared yesterday during a PAYM Policy Forum on New Media. I was facilitating one of the eight groups which had various topics. I was assigned the group New Media and Politics.

It was an engaging discussion. But first, let me state my overall comment on the recommendations that have been adopted. I feel that it is a cautious approach that the Government is taking. Why is that so? I think if the changes had been too drastic, it would become too difficult to pull back what they have earlier accepted. Then it would really seem that the Government had taken two steps forward and one step back. Another participant had likened it to taking one step when we could have taken three.

Yesterday, Seelan Palay (he was involved in making the film One Nation Under Lee which I had blogged about in the past) was one of the participants at the table which I was facilitating. Another filmmaker Ho Choon Hiong was there too. Choon Hiong raised valid points with regard to political films. He also talked about the open discussion of films in public instead of an outright ban. He was referring to the Government's ban on the film Said Zahari's 17 Years during the question and answer session.

Seelan Palay had asked if Lee Kuan Yew's teary announcement was emotional in response to Ms Irene Ng's classification of political films. She had mentioned that political films are factual accounts with no dramatisation. Seelan Palay also asked about the liberalisation of the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act.

I asked how REACH has contributed to policymaking in Singapore and the effectiveness of REACH so far. I further asked if there are considerations for engaging beyond REACH in the future. Ms Ng's reply that the Government will be looking for ways to engage creatively beyond REACH in the future.

Apart from those thoughts, Mr Cheong Yip Seng, Chairman of the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society had shared further about harnessing new media as a tool for the elections. He cited the then new media which was TV. Mr Cheong had an anecdote about how the use of "live" TV had swayed opinions in the US elections in 1960. Kennedy appeared confident and tanned on TV in contrast to Nixon. He added that Nixon was not attuned to new media and that had contributed to his loss.

Another example was in Philippines where anti-Estrada forces were mobilised using new media which led to the toppling of the Government in 2001.

What Mr Cheong was saying was that the Internet is a "neutral" platform which favours no one and is non-partisan. But the key is how well one uses new media.

Ms Irene Ng also challenged us to test out the REACH system which I did today. Immediately, I had more thoughts and I drafted a letter to the mainstream media.

I think one big problem about not engaging beyond REACH will create the impression of an unresponsive Government.

[Election advertising allowed after two-and-a-half years]
On 16 May 2006, I wrote about political blogging which in turn can engage apolitical youths. I sent it to The New Paper and emailed our Prime Minister.

This was what I wrote:

Now that the General Election is over, I would like to suggest that the section on election advertising under the Parliamentary Elections Act be reviewed so that blogging about politics is encouraged instead of being stifled.

I feel blogs may just be the platform to engage apolitical youths. Most of the discussions on blogs during the GE were light-hearted and this may just get youths interested in politics.

But some bloggers did flout the election advertising rules by posting video clips of rallies.

Other blogs may give untruths that may take time and effort to refute.

But having read a few blogs during the GE, I find that most bloggers are credible.

The downside is the anonymity that the Internet allows. Anyone anywhere can put defaming remarks and get away with it, and it is hard to track these irresponsible people down.

With proper control of political discussion on the Internet, more objective views can be heard. I hope that after the GE, youths can play a more active role in political discussion.

Yesterday, after almost more than two-and-a-half years, the Governement has responded through the Advisory Council on the Impact of New Media on Society (AIMS). The Straits Times reported today that the Government would also allow individuals to "participate in Internet election advertising" by "blogging or posting election materials".

The Government's stand cited in the AIMS report is cautious nonetheless. Although individuals can participate by blogging or posting election materials the Government is still studying how safeguards to maintain accountability and responsibility can be implemented to allow the people to participate freely and responsibly in Internet election advertising.

I'll be sharing more of my views at a PAYM Policy Forum on New Media later this afternoon.

[Behind the scenes at SMU Visual Art Exhibition]
Close to two weeks of efforts paid off tonight as my collaborative work with Singapore artist Kai Lam opened tonight at the SMU Visual Art Exhibition titled Welcome to the Real World.

Days before school re-opened this week, I was hard at work at the SMU Gallery installing the work. Prior to that, as Singapore counted down to 2009, the artist and I were busy at work. Even the days before New Year's Eve were not spared.



The idea is about freedom of expression and once you step into the work, there are many questions one may ask. The good thing is that there is no one correct answer. That is if you think along the lines of active and passive forms of expression. What happens when there is air? What happens if there is wind? And what do these difference scenarios mean?



I have to specially thank Kenneth who took time off during his holidays to help to make the kites. He also contributed to the formation of the title - I hope it was an enriching experience.

The piece titled Sticks and strings and plastic bags too. Is it wind or air? is not just about freedom of expression. It is also about creating a non-existent site in the real world and has a recycling stance to it too.

It will be on display till 7 February 2009 from 11am to 8pm daily at the SMU Gallery. Admission is free and feedback on the work is much appreciated.

[The political elements of Milk]
If you want to watch a film on real politics that is passionate, Milk is a great film to catch. I didn't watch Brokeback Mountain so I can't compare the cowboy trysts with the brief sexual scenes in this one.

But nonetheless, one has to admire Harvey Milk's courage and the determination to fight for the oppressed. I never studied American politics in depth and never knew that such a politician existed.

When I was first asked to go for the premiere last night, I did a check on the movie. It was the political aspect that made me say yes. Still, it is not surprising since I like to catch movies earlier than others.

The story is a biopic - it's a biographical movie - so you would expect to see real life footage of the characters, demonstrations, gay parades and confrontations with politicians from opposing camps - all of which you may not see in Singapore. It incites memories of the 2006 General Elections in Singapore.

The action begins with a scene of Harvey Milk, played by Sean Penn, speaking into a recorder. He is taping a speech which is only to be revealed if he is assassinated. Essentially it is a flashback and this scene provides the backbone or you might in facilitation aspects call it the road map or route map.

In Barack Obama's acceptance speech after winning the US Elections on 4 November last year, it was about democracy. But what he said was a mass appeal message: "It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America."

In that sense, I guess Harvey Milk had been less of an Obama but still had strains of that blood in him as he fought hard for gay rights in America.

It is powerful because the case of gay rights is not one that is fought at the local level. Initially it was. Then it became a uniting force as Milk used the power of the media to rally his message around the whole of the US.

One can see the sadness of a politician losing a loved one because of hectic commitments in political office, the use of media to debate with opposing politicians where sarcasm and sharp words are exchanged on "live" TV nonetheless. And also the newspapers. Several aspects of politics - backstabbing and cooperation, are seen through the eyes of MILK. And that is not an easy thing to deal with but something that is real in politics.

It all ends with several piercing gunshots. An assassination and a vigil. A remembrance for a man who really believed and fought for what he stood for. Time and time again, he fought to be supervisor. Time and time he lost. But he never gave up.

And I think that is one strength the makes politics passionate: the strength never to give up.

[Ang Pow and Groceries Distribution]
I've been handing out angpows and food parcels to needy families at all the RCs. We are fortunate to have benefactors who have been generous with money, rice and other necessities. In the coming year, with increasing retrenchment, more families will need help. The RCs are keeping an eye out for those who need help. Some families are reluctant to ask out of pride. We must make sure that they have a safety net and doubly sure that the kids' education are not affected.









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[Edusave/CCC Scholarship and Bursary Ceremony]
It is always a pleasure to give out Edusave/CCC scholarships and bursaries every year. At the Damai School ceremony, over 300 students received awards. I reminded them that the greatest relief they can give their parents in these challenging times is to study hard and get a good education. Under Wong Kai Yeng's charge, the proceedings were well-oiled lasting no more than half an hour. I'll do two more ceremonies at Hougang weekend after next. When children do better than their parents educationally, the future is full of hope.





















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[Assault and Flattery]
What happens when a hard-nosed, acid-tongued lawyer-to-be is forced to confront the realities of life outside of her cases and textbooks?

Inspired by Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, Assault and Flattery dishes the dirt on the ever-so-brilliant Margaret, the intellectually-gifted but emotionally-stunted eldest daughter of the Mok family. Margaret Mok, 24, knows everything she needs in order to succeed in court but never enough to get through life.

Who would have known her mother was so desperate to find her a husband? And that her pretty little sister, Sophie, would find someone before she could, despite strict rules that the daughters marry in order of seniority? Will Margaret really have to spend the rest of her life as a lonely, shrewish (albeit well-paid) spinster rotting in the office?

The SMU School of Law takes you back to your university days with Assault and Flattery, a charity production in support of Club Rainbow. Share her laughs and shed her tears as Margaret Mok, our favourite and most intelligent heroine, explores all the best memories and worst fears of our youth!

Come watch us at Jubilee Hall 30th or 31st January 7.30pm. Tickets are selling fast - at $25 or $20. Please contact Cia Ai at ciaai.eng.2007@smu.edu.sg



Visit the official website and join the Assault and Flattery Facebook group