Friday, September 22, 2006

Paved with good intentions

It's the end of another work week and for those of you who are feeling blue coz you've had a shitty work week and wonder why the hell you put up with it, here's something to remind you that life is DEFINITELY not about money, getting rich, getting a car, a condo, nice shoes, a great wardrobe, that Prada bag, etc (you fill in the blanks). It's an article I read, was it 5 years ago???, that was forwarded to me by a good friend.

"However, invariably once people attain success, they start to canonize the steps they took to achievement. This is how Dreams become Plans, and how one hegemony replaces another: the search for peace and liberty becomes get into a good school, then a good university, then a stable job, then buy property and stock. The problem is, then what?" - Colin Goh
Click here for the original, extended version.
Well said.
Have a good weekend, everyone. Lots of love...

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Don't label our girls "easy", say angry convent schools

I was an IJ girl for 10 years, and so were some of you who read this blog. So let me know what you think.
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Sunday Times article tarnished our image: CHIJ chairperson

Wednesday • September 20, 2006
Ansley Ng
ansley@newstoday.com.sg

ELEVEN convent schools in Singapore have threatened legal action against Singapore Press Holdings (SPH) for an article that allegedly defamed convent schoolgirls.

Today has learnt that a lawyer's letter has been sent to the media company on Monday, demanding an apology and costs and damages to be paid for a "defamatory" article that was published in last week's Sunday Times, which described convent girls as being "easy" with members of the opposite sex.

Three days ago, The Sunday Times, the weekend edition of The Straits Times, published a story titled "Singapore A-Z … once more, with feeling", a "tongue in cheek" look at Singapore icons and subjects which coincided with the recently-launched Singapore — the Encyclopaedia.

Under the alphabet "I", the newspaper ran a short description of "IJ girls", term for girls who study in CHIJ (Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus) Catholic mission schools.

"IJ girls" is a generalisation for girls who study in CHIJ schools and who like to hem their school uniforms real short, wear their belts real low on their hips, and are allegedly easy when it comes to the opposite sex," a paragraph read.

A cartoon above the paragraph also showed a girl in blue lighting up a cigarette.

"Singaporeans perusing our pages should note that this is done in tongue-in-cheek," one part of the article read.

According to sources, a letter of demand was sent to SPH on Monday, asking for an apology to be published in this weekend's edition of The Sunday Times.

It also demanded that costs and damages to be paid to the Infant Jesus Board of Management, which manages the 11 schools.

The board comprises 14 members, including two nuns, eight former students and four men, who are linked to the schools.

The story upset many alumni and parents and the board members were believed to have received more than 50 phone calls and email messages of complaint between them.

Yesterday, The Straits Times letters pages published a letter written by Donne Marie Aeria — the board's chairperson — rebutting the story.

Ms Aeria called the article "an ill-conceived idea and done in bad taste".

"Was there a need to tarnish the image of thousands of students, past, present and future, including girls as young as six years old in Primary 1, with an image that they are 'allegedly easy when it comes to the opposite sex'?" Ms Aeria wrote.

"It has caused much distress, pain and embarrassment to ladies of all ages, that hail from our CHIJ schools."

There are currently about 16,000 girls studying in the 11 primary and secondary CHIJ schools.

SPH declined to comment when contacted.

Aljunied GRC MP Cynthia Phua, who studied in CHIJ Secondary School (Toa Payoh), called the generalisation "insensitive".

"Eleven schools are all wearing the same uniform. It's too much if you see one case and generalise," said Mrs Phua, whose daughter is studying at CHIJ Primary School (Toa Payoh).

"If (The Sunday Times) wants to stick to its comment, they should clarify who their sources are."

Sunday, September 17, 2006

Mmmm


Hey ho, all! It's a Sunday afternoon and what am I doing in the office? I'm working, of course...covering the IMF-World Bank talks for the paper.

Yesterday we almost wanted to go down to the Speakers' Corner to "kaypoh" but decided against it. Why? I have no idea. But Dr Chee got his day in the sun as the BBC had parts of his speech in a story that was played on the world service's news bulletin.

As usual, we didn't cover the story properly. And both of us are getting rather demoralised and browbeaten, especially after the General Elections earlier this year.

A plan is brewing....;)

Saturday, September 16, 2006

As good a time as any

This morning I saw a counsellor. He works for the Prisons Service here.

Why am I seeing a counsellor, you ask? Coz I really want a change.

And it starts now.

P.S. I have nothing to say about the IMF-World Bank talks even though I am covering it for the paper and see first-hand the security surrounding the event.

I just think we really need to loosen up.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

I need another holiday

I just came back from Cambodia a month ago, but now, I need to do absolutely nothing for a while.

*tired*

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Singapore Dreaming

I'm doing my part to promote local film.

I must say I haven't watched that many local movies; I haven't seen a single Jack Neo work and the last local movie I saw was Eric Khoo's Be With Me. It wasn't that great, imho, despite the accolades and hype.

So I was pleasantly surprised by Singapore Dreaming, a very decent effort by the husband-and-wife team of Colin Goh and The Wife (Those of you who read his Sunday Times columns will get the reference. And sorry, Mrs Goh aka Woo Yen Yen!).

The plot is nothing new and there are no surprises, but you'll be touched by the heartfelt story-telling and just how sincere the whole movie came across. It wasn't artsy-pretentious. There was no Singaporean pretending that he/she has spoken American/British English all his/her life. There was a whole lotta Hokkien and Chinese thrown in. And yes, a lot of Singlish. (If you don't know yet, I l-o-v-e Singlish.)

Please go and watch it...to support local film. If not, just go and see a glimpse of yourself on the big screen.

Monday, September 11, 2006

I gotta re-register my IC now

Ok, I've been so incredibly lazy but I don't know why. I guess it's coz I've been incredibly moody and lethargic and lackadasical too! Was just in a kind of rut and funk. But I think it's high time I got out of it. It's all in the bloody head.

And thanks, guys, for your messages. I'm still thinking about it, but I probably won't do it....

Today feels like any other day, mainly coz I've been angsty and "struggling" with it for so long!! I'll spare you guys the "what I have learnt and achieved in the past 30 years" sorta entry. heh. But I really think the next few years will be better than the past few years (and not because some fortune-teller told me so).

Here's to another 30 years.

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

To do or not...

Hello!!!!! Yes I have been away for a while and I still haven't posted pictures from our Cambodia trip. I should just stop making promises, shouldn't I?!!?!?!?!?

Anyhoooo let's just say that it has been an emotional roller-coaster for the past couple of weeks. I'm too tired to elaborate. Right now, there's a big question for us to answer: to move in together or not?

I'm too tired to think or write. All I can say is: why do I sabotage the best thing I've got going?

Do you think it has got anything to do with my screwed-up childhood, or my supposed liberal upbringing, or inherent insecurity, or the need for attention, or my not wanting to get (too) hurt?

I need help. Or a beer.