CNA938 Rewind - Eat, Drink, Singapore - A Taste of Borneo at KANTIN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
NDP performer moved to tears says he felt a sense of belonging despite not being Singaporean
SINGAPORE: Every National Day Parade has its viral moment – an unexpected, heartfelt scene that captures the nation's attention. This year, that moment belonged to 17-year-old Htoo Ank Wai, a dancer whose tearful rendition of the national anthem touched hearts across Singapore. 'I just remembered looking around, it just felt like I didn't want to lose this moment forever, but obviously it had to end,' said the Higher Nitec student from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE). 'It was like post-concert depression, but you're the artist. You don't want to leave this place and you want to continue performing.' Despite being a permanent resident whose parents are from Myanmar, Ank Wai said he felt an overwhelming sense of connection and pride while performing in the NDP. He took part in the pre-parade segment, the fourth act and the finale. 'I was born and raised here. I was grateful to be living in a country where there are many opportunities for me to experience and live from,' he told CNA. As tears streamed down his face during Majulah Singapura, he thought of his late grandmothers in Myanmar, recalling their concern for him. 'I remember my grandmothers asking me: 'Is Singapore really stressful for you? Are you doing well in Singapore?'' he said. 'They always tell me if it's too stressful, can come back to Myanmar and live a life here, go to school here. 'And I just remembered that this is the moment I show them that Singapore has been good to me, I feel happy here, I am comfortable living here.' His grandmothers had hoped to see him perform one day, and he said he believed they did. 'I was thinking hopefully they are seeing it from wherever they are,' he added, recalling how he spotted two butterflies on his way home after the parade. 'I believe that if there's a moth or butterfly that is near me, it's my grandparents that passed on.' The moment also brought back memories of his family's early challenges after moving to Singapore. Standing on the Padang, he said, made every hardship feel worth it. 'I really am proud of myself in that moment and I know I would serve my nation proudly,' he said. Just 10 minutes after the parade ended, his phone began buzzing with messages of support. 'I wanted something like a star moment, but I didn't expect it to be like this specific moment," he said. "But I knew it was a moment that I should own as well, because it was me crying as a performer.' Although his mother initially played it cool, she too could not hide her pride in her son. 'They were really proud because they knew all the struggles I was going through on the way to it.' His friends and dance crew expressed their pride by turning his viral face into Telegram stickers and sharing them widely. DANCING BEYOND LIMITS Ank Wai began performing at the age of three, after teaching himself to belly dance by watching videos of Colombian superstar Shakira. He later joined performing arts CCAs through primary and secondary school, and into ITE. Although this was his second time performing at the NDP, it came with its own hurdles. Ank Wai has thalassemia — a blood disorder inherited from his mother — which often leaves him dizzy while dancing. 'I've been lightheaded and dizzy, which made me feel like I wanted to vomit, but I never had any fainting experiences at all,' he said. To manage the symptoms, he sometimes eats sweets during rehearsals – though during one session, he realised they had fallen out of his pocket. Over the years, he has developed strategies to cope with his condition. 'I'm usually able to catch myself before I even feel lightheaded. I would just go and find a nearby spot to sit down for a while and relax.' Still, he committed fully to the seven months of training leading up to Aug 9. 'I also knew I had to pace myself, because our choreography was one of the more intense ones, and because we're wearing a leather jacket, leather pants with inner wear as well.' He drank plenty of water before every performance. The adrenaline rush on the actual day also kept him going. 'When it comes to the actual day, you really push through further in your performance and you want to show Singapore a good show,' he said. 'You want everyone in their homes to feel the energy that you're bringing to your performance.' Having to balance school, his part-time job as a shift manager at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and intensive rehearsals, Ank Wai's parents were also worried if their son could cope with the responsibilities he had. 'I was really lacking some sleep. But I told them it's just for a while,' he said. 'I also learned how to properly manage my time and how to properly take care of myself.' 'I've been really stressed out in the moment, but as I manage my time, I realised that my stresses go away quite fast and I'm able to continue doing what I love to do.' Though Ank Wai knows his viral moment may soon fade – 'next year there's going to be another person that's going to cry' – he is thankful it allowed him to feel a deeper connection with Singaporeans. 'Even though I was born and raised here, I'm still a PR. I felt really connected with everyone, like I was part of the Singaporean family.'
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Actor Jerry Yan visits tomb of Meteor Garden co-star Barbie Hsu
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Taiwanese actor Jerry Yan has visited for the first time the tomb of late Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu, who died in February at the age of 48 from pneumonia . Yan, 48, and Hsu, who was better known as Big S, starred in the popular Taiwanese idol drama Meteor Garden (2001 to 2002), in which they played the iconic couple Daoming Si and Shancai. Meteor Garden also starred Vic Chou, 44; Ken Chu, 46; and Van Ness Wu, 47. They went on to form boy band F4 with Yan after the success of the show. F4 split in 2009, but they recently reunited again at Taiwanese pop-rock band Mayday's concerts in Taipei and Beijing in July. According to an exclusive report by Taiwan's Next Apple News, Yan went to Chin Pao San Cemetery in New Taipei, where the late actress' tomb is located, on Aug 13. He was accompanied by former Taiwanese actress-host Janet Chia, who is currently the chairwoman of Taiwan's iconic skyscraper Taipei 101, and her husband, businessman Wang Chao-chieh. They were seen reading the inscriptions on Hsu's tomb, as Yan wiped away his tears while Chia patted him on his shoulder. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Ong Beng Seng fined $30k for abetting former minister Iswaran in obstructing course of justice Life How do household bomb shelters in Singapore really work? Singapore Sengkang-Punggol LRT line resumes full service 4 hours after power fault halts trains Asia Johor authorities seize four Singapore-registered vehicles over illegal e-hailing Singapore Owners call for stronger management rules in ageing condos, but seek to avoid being overburdened Asia Japan's PM Ishiba mentions wartime 'regret', toeing right-wing line Chia, 51, was also heard saying: 'Shancai, Daoming Si has come to see you'. Yan, Chia and Wang then pressed their hands together in prayers and spent more than 10 minutes at Hsu's tomb before leaving. Chia and Wang left in the same car, while Yan drove alone to Jinshan District and ate at a vegetarian cafe in memory of Hsu, who was a long-time vegetarian. Next Apple News also noticed an umbrella stand fixed near the tomb. It was believed to be used by Hsu's husband, South Korean musician DJ Koo, whom she married in 2022 . DJ Koo has been spotted by netizens regularly visiting or sitting near Barbie Hsu's grave in mourning. PHOTO: PEICHIU65/THREADS Koo, 55, whose full name is Koo Jun-yup, has been spotted by netizens regularly visiting or sitting near Hsu's grave in mourning. The couple previously dated in secret for a year before breaking up in 1999 due to the no-dating rule imposed by Koo's then agency. They did not see each other again until they reconnected after Hsu's divorce from Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in November 2021.
CNA
8 hours ago
- CNA
The highly anticipated Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle movie is out now and this cinema has tickets for as low as S$4
After months of anticipation, the first movie in the Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Infinity Castle trilogy is finally out in theatres in Singapore. If you're planning to catch Tanjiro and the gang on the big screen within the next few days, you'd better hurry as seats are getting snatched up fast. After all, the movie has been breaking box office records left, right and centre. Easties who want to catch Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle without breaking the bank can now turn to Our Tampines Hub. The lifestyle hub announced on Wednesday (Aug 13) that it is screening the movie at its venue, Festive Arts Theatre, on selected dates between Aug 14 and 27. Those who have watched a movie at Festive Arts Theatre will know that tickets here are relatively cheap, going as low as S$4 for senior citizens (aged 55 and above) on weekdays before 6pm. That being said, do note that Festive Arts Theatre does not accept online reservations, nor does it sell tickets for a different day. Customers can only buy tickets for the showtimes on the day itself and tickets will be ready for sale 30 minutes before each show starts. The Infinity Castle trilogy is an adaptation of one of the last arcs in the Demon Slayer manga. It will pick up directly from the previous season of the anime, which saw series villain Muzan Kibutsuji transporting the Demon Slayers into his lair: The Infinity Castle.
