Thousands turn up in Punggol for 3rd anniversary of Jack Neo's walking group Pa Pa Zao, Singapore News
An estimated 3,000 participants attended the event, which kicked off at about 8am with warm-up exercises followed by a walk — naturally.
Organised in partnership with the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC), the theme for the event was Life Unstoppable, and featured games, performances and appearances by around 80 celebrities and personalities.
The event was also graced by Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Minister for Law Edwin Tong.
Speaking to AsiaOne this morning, Tong, who's also the Second Minister for Home Affairs, called Pa Pa Zao a "great initiative".
"It marries fitness with community and you have people from all walks of life coming together, motivated by fitness," he remarked.
However, he noted that "fitness alone can't be done when you don't have friends", lauding the initiative for bringing together individuals' friends, family, neighbours and people from their social networks, and using music and fun as the centre of the event.
When interviewed by AsiaOne, Jack expressed surprise that the initiative, which he started in 2022 following the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, has continued for as long as it has.
He shared in another media interview that he'd started the session on a whim, inviting people on a livestream to join him on a walk at Bukit Timah Hill.
"I thought nobody would come to see me, but at the first session, 58 people turned up," he told AsiaOne, adding that the number of participants just grew from there.
The 65-year-old added the event's "trademark" is walking and singing together, and the emphasis is on positive energy.
"The best part is, after walking for about 5km, we sit down and sing. The atmosphere is hard to get," he elaborated, thanking the approximately 100 volunteers each week, "from the captain to group leaders, block leaders, medics and traffic controllers". Long-time supporters
Among the well-known names spotted at Sunday's event included local actors Henry Thia, Aileen Tan, Lin Ruping, Yao Wenlong, Terence Cao, Joey Swee and Mayiduo.
Attendees at Sunday's event ranged from newer Pa Pa Zao participants to long-time supporters.
Retiree Francis Cheang, 75, shared with AsiaOne that he'd participated in Pa Pa Zao "26 times" - and maybe even more, as they had been attending the meetups regularly since April 2023, his wife Jessie Chia, 64, remembers.
"We like to keep healthy and connect with other people, and help each other to be healthy," he shared, with Chia chiming in that they enjoy getting to know like-minded people who like to keep fit.
Another couple whom AsiaOne met, retirees Lee Swee Guat, 67, and Teo Yit Huat, 72, took time out amid the former's birthday celebrations to sweat it out at the event.
They told AsiaOne that they'd participated in Pa Pa Zao a handful of times because they hope to live a healthy lifestyle and to "make new friends".
Participant, 65-year-old retiree Tan Soh Buay, also shared the same sentiments, adding she has attended the walks regularly over two years, while her niece, operator Fam Nyeok Heong, 55, has gone for the walks more than 10 times.
Fam added that it is hard to make time for exercise as a working adult and Pa Pa Zao offers a good way to fit in some exercise during the week.
Additional reporting by Ho Jia Fen
candicecai@asiaone.com
No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'My grandma and mum's recipe': Li Nanxing collaborates with Nan Yang Dao for hae bee hiam dishes, Entertainment News
As a child, veteran local actor Li Nanxing was woken up in the morning not by his alarm clock but the grinding sounds of mortar and pestle. "That was my alarm clock. When I heard it, I knew that my mum was cooking something and was pounding chili, and it would be time for me to get up and help her," the 60-year-old recounted to AsiaOne yesterday (July 14) at the eatery Nan Yang Dao in Jurong Point. He also recounted that every time he helped pound chili, the task would definitely last a few hours. These nostalgic memories motivated Nanxing, affectionately called Ah Ge (big brother), to venture into selling dried scallop hae bee hiam — a familiar flavour in his childhood — since 2019. "It's my grandma and mum's recipe. We are Peranakan and would have this chili paste every meal," he shared. In celebration of the official opening of Nan Yang Dao in Jurong Point and Jem on July 25, Nanxing and the eatery collaborated on two dishes — Hae Bee Hiam XO Penang Char Kway Teow with Double Egg ($12.80) and Ah Ge Fried Bee Hoon with Tiger Prawns ($12.80) — both with the chili paste as a key ingredient. The two dishes will be served exclusively at the two outlets, while stocks last. Nanxing shared that he loves eating bee hoon and kway teow and would frequently have it for breakfast. About the two collaborative dishes, he said: "The hae bee hiam can enhance the flavours and texture of the dishes and most importantly, at Nan Yang Dao, you will be able to taste the wok hei [in the dishes] and their head chef is skillful in controlling the heat which gives the stir-fried dishes a good flavour... the traditional taste." He also hopes that those who have eaten the two dishes will think about coming back for more and even introducing them to their friends. "Customers are like this, there are a lot of good food everywhere and once they have eaten something good, they would share it with their friends. For me, I really like dishes with a traditional taste, like mum's home-cooked food. Once I have eaten something like that, I would want to share it with somebody and introduce them to it," Nanxing said. AsiaOne was at the food tasting session yesterday, where we tried a variety of dishes, including Ah Ge's collaborations. The fried bee hoon and char kway teow — with just the right amount of wok hei — had a generous amount of ingredients including fish cake, eggs, vegetables and Chinese sausage, and tasted well with Nanxing's dried scallop hae bee hiam paste. Nanxing also specially went into the kitchen and collaborated with the chef to fry a plate of char kway teow. Happy to pursue this career for 40 years Nanxing, who debuted in local showbiz in 1986, will be celebrating his four decades in showbiz soon. He is currently filming Mediacorp's first dystopian-thriller series The Leftovers. When asked to reflect on his years in the entertainment scene, he told us: "I'm very happy that I was able to do this for 40 years. To many actors, 40 years is neither a long nor short time. In Western countries, there could be actors who only understood what acting is after 40 years. There are also actors who acted for 60, 80 years and even continue when they are over 100 years old. "As an actor who is able to continue acting after 40 years, I have learned in many aspects, such as conducting myself and dealing with people, and I grew up on this stage." To celebrate the occasion with his supporters, he will be meeting them in Shanghai on Nov 29, as part of SA Tours' eight-day Jiangnan Gourmet Autumn Tour, which will be led by actress-host Vivian Lai. Nanxing also told us that he has arranged for a series of activities with them, including cruising along Huangpu River to enjoy the night view together, cooking dishes using his dried scallop hae bee hiam paste and bak kut teh spices, and will be bringing artistes from his management company LNX Global to perform for them. [[nid:720208]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Straits Times
‘The integrity of the story we tell is paramount'
Interactive graphics editor Rodolfo Carlos Pazos says the goal is to create visuals that complement and enhance the written word, helping to tell stories that inform, resonate and inspire action. Rodolfo Carlos Pazos, 42 Portrait Mr Rodolfo Carlos Pazos was born in Argentina and trained in Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy. He worked in newsrooms across Europe, Australia and Singapore before joining The Straits Times as creative director in 2015. As technology evolved, he built up the digital storytelling and interactive graphics team, pioneering new approaches to visual stories, data visualisation and immersive formats like augmented and virtual reality. 'Our effort has been to push the boundaries of how we tell stories,' says Mr Pazos, 42. Under his leadership, the team has earned global recognition, including 11 Society for News Design awards in 2023 and 51 in 2024, with multiple golds. At the 2025 Wan-Ifra Digital Media Awards Asia, the team won five awards, including golds for Best News Website and Best Data Visualisation. Their digital work has kept readers engaged through major events such as Mr Lee Kuan Yew's death, general elections and the Covid-19 pandemic. Recollections 'Visual stories allow us to break down complex issues into digestible, engaging pieces that invite readers to explore and learn at their own pace. It's about transforming data into stories and creating a visual language that anyone can understand, regardless of their background. Whether it's explaining the spread of a pandemic, breaking down election results or visualising a complex economic trend, the visual element often makes these stories more accessible, memorable and impactful. At the core of everything we do is the belief that the story matters most. A compelling story not only informs, but also connects with the audience. While the medium we use – whether it's data visualisation, animation or 3D visuals – is important, the integrity of the story we tell is paramount. As visual journalists, we are entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining accuracy, especially when presenting data. An incorrect figure or misleading visualisation can lead to confusion or misinterpretation. In today's fast-paced digital world, misinformation can spread quickly. Accuracy is the foundation of any good visual story, and our responsibility is to present the facts clearly, ensuring that the narrative is truthful and supported by solid data. Innovation is one of the key pillars of modern journalism. As technology advances, so must our approach to storytelling. Interactive graphics, data visualisation and augmented reality are just some of the tools that allow us to push the boundaries of what's possible in visual journalism. By creating immersive experiences, we not only inform, but also evoke emotions and spark conversations. Presenting news in innovative ways ensures that our work stands out, making each piece memorable for our audience. In the newsroom, collaboration is key. Journalists, developers and designers come together to tell stories that are greater than the sum of their parts. Each person brings a unique perspective and expertise to the table, ensuring that the final product is not only visually compelling but also accurate and relevant. Our goal is to create visuals that complement and enhance the written word, helping to tell stories that inform, resonate and inspire action.'
AsiaOne
a day ago
- AsiaOne
'Wow, who is this girl?' Pierre Png and Cynthia Koh recall first time they met at water park as teens, Entertainment News
Local actors Pierre Png and Cynthia Koh are no strangers to one another in the entertainment industry, with their first on-screen collaboration dating all the way back to Holland V in 2003 as siblings Mo Yangyang and Mo Yanyan respectively. Since then, they have played spouses and even ex-spouses, but "seem to have skipped the girlfriend-boyfriend stage," joked Pierre, who turns 52 this October. Now, the two have taken up the role of husband and wife yet again in the upcoming thriller series Decalcomania, which is a collaboration between Singapore and Thailand. Pierre plays Mark, a policeman who is a doting husband and emotional "punching bag" to his domineering wife Sue (Cynthia). The latter runs a restaurant with her bitter mother Granny Lu (Hong Huifang), who suspects Mark is in an affair with socialite Leia (Mookda Narinrak). [[nid:720074]] In a recent interview with AsiaOne on the set of Decalcomania, they revealed that their history dates even further back to their pre-showbiz days. Their first meeting was in a water theme park when the duo was in their mid-teens, one year apart in age. Pierre recounted the series of events: "My version of the story? I met her when I had a friend who was interested in her in secondary school. They went out, and I tagged along kind of as a plus-one. Funnily enough, my first memory of Cynthia was that we were all at some water theme park. "So she was there, my friend was there, and I was like, 'Wow, who is this girl?' And many years later, I'm working opposite her." AsiaOne asked if they still bring up the moment, to which he said: "Oh, all the time. She teases me and I choose to remember a few things, while I want to forget a few things as well." Cynthia, 51, recounted her perspective: "I was from a convent school, and Pierre and his good friend Daniel would always come by our school. Back then, we would always hang out with the boys who hung around our school, or rather, camped out there. "So me and my good friend Elizabeth — who ended up dating Daniel for a short while eventually — went out together with him and Pierre to the water park and that's how I knew Pierre. I can't remember which water park it was or the white swimwear he keeps teasing me about, but it's been so many years. I was only 15 or 16 back then." Pierre reportedly went to Holy Innocents' High School while Cynthia was in Saint Anthony's Canossian Secondary School. "And then after that, obviously I was not interested in him so I didn't get his number," she joked. "And the next time I saw him, he was at the Fame Awards and I was in Mediacorp too." The Fame Awards was a Channel 5 talent competition which Pierre won in 1998. Cynthia joined showbiz in 1992. So when it comes to working on set, what's their dynamic like now? Cynthia, who recently won Best Supporting Actress at Star Awards 2025, told us there are perks to their bond. "I'm quite glad I'm doing this together with Pierre, because we don't have a lot of time on set to build chemistry this time round. And to work with someone that I've built chemistry with over the years in projects like Zero Calling (2014) and I Do, Do I? (2023), the chemistry is already there — I understand him. "And although sometimes he can be a bit troublesome, being a guy with many, many questions, he just likes to clarify things. And that's something I've kind of come to work with and accept over time in our work relationship." Pierre added: "It's really great working with Cynthia — we have a very comfortable relationship. I trust her, and she's also a very giving actress. And I've said this many times before, but I think acting has a lot to do with trust. When you come to the set, there's trust with the director, your co-stars and the crew." He elaborated: "Because the actors are giving their all and putting their emotions into a scene, so you trust that the actor acting opposite you will reciprocate your efforts. You need a safe space to create and to play." In Decalcomania, two women with identical faces (both played by Thai actress Mookda Narinrak) — Neungdeaw, a hardened owner of a nightclub in Bangkok and Leia, a sheltered Singaporean socialite — suddenly have their souls swapped after a car crash. Neungdeaw must now learn to survive a world of high-society manipulation, while Leia must navigate a criminal underworld unknown to her. The series is set to debut on Thailand's TV channels One31 and OneD application streaming worldwide in December 2025, with its Singapore broadcast on Mewatch to follow. [[nid:720135]] No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
