Christmas!

Now that Christmas is over (or actually, if you are a member of the Eastern Orthodox Church, it just started last Friday), time to put up pictures of the party that took place at the Seng Poh RC....

Wishing one and all a great New Year ahead!

___________________________________


Come to the party pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
At Seng Poh RC pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
They rocked the night for all pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
With carols to sing and sing pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
rum-pa-pum-pum rum-pa-pum-pum

And the folks love it pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Rum-pa-pum-pum

We had carolling pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
The jester gave us joy pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
They gave us gifts and laughs pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
And lucky draws we won pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
rum-pa-pum-pum rum-pa-pum-pum

And Santa came pa-rum-pa-pum-pum
Everyone had fun

(photos by Lawrence, lyrics by Barnie)

Woof woof! Calling all Dog Lovers!

Calling All Dog Lovers!!

Are you interested to learn about responsible dog ownership?

Hear from a vet about how to care for your puppy or an older dog? Pick up tips on grooming and feeding?

Meet other dog lovers in the neighbourhood?

Ask AVA about the latest regulations for dog owners?

If you think you will be keen to participate in a Dog Lovers Talk at the neighbourhood, that covers the above topics, please send an email to:

deanne.tan@gmail.com

with a gauge of interest - it would then be possible to plan for the event!

Do pass the word to your other neighbours!

Mid Autumn and Birthday of the Great Heavenly Sage

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

once again, the Mid Autumn Festival rolls around, where we make time to mark the harvest, enjoy the beauty of the fullest Moon of the year, and make merry with goodies and beautiful lanterns.



While we no longer have most of the lanterns above - which up to the mid 1980s, were commonly on sale in Singapore, we can think of creating new ones of our own! Apparently such cellophane lanterns are unique to Malaysia and Singapore - and are not seen in mainland China itself.

Related to the season is the main Birthday of the Great Heavenly Sage - more popularly known as 'Monkey God'/'Monkey King' or 'Sun Wukong'.

His main temple in Singapore is right here in Tiong Bahru - the Qi Tian Gong Temple at Eng Hoon Street. This year, the temple celebrates its 90th Anniversary, as the street banner and decorations proudly proclaim.



As with each year, a full programme of entertainments for the Deity has been arranged for the 5 days of celebrations - from 24th Sept (16th day of the 8th Lunar Month) to 27th Sept (20th day of the 8th Lunar Month).

Details of the celebrations can be found on the website of the temple:

www.qitiangong.com.

If you are interested in a colorful folk festival, this is the time to come to visit Tiong Bahru with your camera to capture the festivities! Lion and Dragon Dances, Chinese Opera and Getai!

This is also when a tour by Singapore's noted tourguide - Geraldene Lowe - as featured in the National Day special of the Straits Times this year - will be conducted to share with all who are interested, the history of Tiong Bahru.

p.s. as with each year's festival, it is going to be a lively and somewhat noisy event. If this is not your thing as a new resident, the temple seeks your accomodation and understanding on this matter.

Tiong Bahru Mid Autumn Party and Recycling Exchange

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

This Year's Mid Autumn Festival Party will be held once again at the Seng Poh Garden, (next to Block 48 Moh Guan Terrace).

Date: 11 September (Saturday)
Time: 7pm to 10pm

Tickets at $5 per person

Tickets on sale at the Seng Poh RC every Monday and Tuesday night from 8-9pm.

There will be food, games, lucky draws, and a talk on how to avoid Problem Gambling and avoiding Loan Shark activities.

Once again, there will also be a recycle exchange run by NEA - bring your recyclable items to be exchanged for food items!

The more you bring, the more you have to exchange.

We accept the following items:

Cans, Bottles, News Papers, Old Clothes.

Do make sure that the Cans and Bottles are clean though.

See you there!

The festival of the Hungry Ghosts

Today is the 8th day of the 7th lunar month of the Chinese calendar.

Some of you would have seen these altars around the neighbourhood...



They are set out by either individual families, or by trade and neighbourhood associations who band together to offer food and drink for the wandering 'Good Brothers' - the respectful name for those who come back to this world for a month to enjoy themselves with the entertainments available on earth.

These associations often also stage a celebratory dinner for all its members. Tiong Bahru had one last week and it is one of Singapore's oldest recorded 7th Month Celebration Associations - SIN HOCK HENG SEAH:



The red bags on the table are full of useful goods to be distributed once a year to all who subscribe to the association. These would include - Rice, Oil, Sugar, Soya Sauce etc. the necessities of life!

Entertainments that include song and dance on stage - otherwise known as Getai 歌台. If you want to find out where there is Getai each night - and it happens all round Singapore - just by the daily Chinese newspaper - Lianhe Zaobao! And often, a grand dinner and auction!



Sometimes, the offerings take place on a grander scale, such as at the Buddha Tooth Temple in South Bridge Road. Tonight, long tables of offerings were laid out. Don't think that the faith does not move with the times! One of the offerings is of french fries and chilli sauce - can you spot it in the picture?





Finally, to check out the whole programme of events to explain why and how this month is commemorated and celebrated by Chinese who believe in their traditional faith, check out the event at Kreta Ayer Square, by Chinatown Complex Market and just behind the Buddha Tooth Temple. A very informative exhibition has been put up - Hungry Ghost Festival Cultural Exhibition - Free admission.



The Chinatown Business Association with the Singapore Tourism Board and the Taoist Federation, is also organising a series of talks and events for all who are interested. There is also the calendar on the blog - Chinese Temple Event Calendar.



Don't miss out what Tiong Bahru Market has to offer too - there are lots of seasonal goods on offer!

psst. For those of you who do not know, it is not polite to step on offerings or the ashes of offerings. Just walk around them.

The biggest festival day will be the 15th of the 7th month - 24th August 2010.

Happy National Day! I love Tiong Bahru, I love Singapore!

Here's a wish for a Happy National Day to all of us here who live in, or are fans of Tiong Bahru....




Our first ever community banner with the signatures of the residents who came for the tea party. Do add yours in!


(pictures courtesy of Zaihan, of WCS) The Banner will be up on display for the duration of August.

Last weekend, we had our first ever party to mark the 'launch' of our special Community National Day Banner.

Instead of having a typical design that is generic, Seng Poh RC thought to ask if the White Canvas Gallery would consider contributing the outcome of the sketchwalk through the estate, to create a special National Day banner that would have a real local flavour.

WCS and the artists of the walk readily agreed, and it was put together into what you see above. The design of the banner was done by WCS, and we hope you will agree that it is really quite eye-catching!

On the day of the launch party on 1 August, even though it was overcast and drizzled, many residents turned up to see what the banner was all about, and we have to say that all of them were pleasantly surprised to see our home town captured first in an artistic form, and secondly, transformed into a banner!

Young and Old were excited to sign their name on the banner - often looking for that particular sketch that showed their block or their street.






(Pictures courtesy of Barnie Leow)

Even those who did not plan to come to the event, but passed by, were happy to see the banner, and added their name to it, and then joined in to have a cup of tea and a chat with their neighbours.



(Pictures courtesy of Barnie Leow) The little girl at the bottom left of the picture was looking for her sketch.

So, what else is there to say but that, we do love our neighbourhood, and we do appreciate how Art can make us recognize the beauty of our hometown! Seng Poh RC is thankful for the helpful folks at WCS, the 4 artists - Don, Tia, Miel and Paul, and all the other enthusiasts who turned up for the sketch walk and made the banner possible.

Happy National Day everyone - as we so love our hometown, we can then also love our country....



p.s. Seng Poh RC welcomes opportunities for collaborative events between all who are interested in the neighbourhood, especially where the event is an opportunity for residents and friends of the estate to meet. If you have any proposals, do drop us an email here - we will forward it to the RC.

Have you entered the competition yet?

The British Council sponsored Civic Life project is having its 'Where the Heart Is' film competition for all who live on this island of Singapore...




90 seconds is all it takes to get your chance to win a place to the world's most prestigious short film festival later this year...

read more about it on:

WHERE THE HEART IS

All the best!

National Day - Launch of Community Banner & Tea Party

Dear Friends and Neighbours,

Come join in the launch of the 2010 Tiong Bahru Community Banner for National Day! This year's banner is made up of sketches created by sketchers from all walks of life who took part in the Tiong Bahru Sketch Walk on 17 July, that was organized by White Canvas Gallery. You can sign your name on the banner, which will be displayed for the next few weeks, for our National Day. Tea and Cake will be provided... do come! All residents, and friends of Tiong Bahru, are welcome to join us!

The Banner is going to look good!

1 August 2010
Sunday
1-3pm
Seng Poh RC
Block 48 Moh Guan Terrace.

See you on Sunday!

A very meowy night coming up this Saturday!

Dear Friends and neighbours,

This coming Saturday, 5 June 2010,

Seng Poh Residents Committee is pleased to host a very meowy evening that is all about our community cats.

There will be a video about cats and then a slideshow of more cats!
7.45pm to 9.15pm.

Seng Poh RC
Block 48 Moh Guan Terrace

Feel free to bring your own nibbles and drinks.
After the show, there is ample opportunity to stroll around our lovely Tiong Bahru and view some of our own community cats in their habitat!

A show on Art Deco!

If you wanted to find out more about Art Deco interior finishings, - the style which Tiong Bahru Pre-War estate is built in, don't miss this exhibition that is now on at the Alliance Francaise.

A rare opportunity to see the taste of the era.

And perhaps get some inspiration for your interiors!

Alliance Francaise
Societe Generale Private Banking Gallery
Sarkies Road

Till 11 May 2010. Don't miss it!

Tiong Bahru The MOVIE!

Have you ever wanted to be in a movie?

A real film shot on real film stock?

Here is your chance to do so... to share about the neighbourhood that we all love and care for... what are your stories?

LONDON-BASED film-makers Joe Lawlor and Christine Molloy were shocked during their first visit to Tiong Bahru Market when their order of carrot cake arrived. 'It looked nothing like the carrot cake that we were used to. But it's quite good, actually,' says Lawlor in a recent interview with Life! at the Tiong Bahru Market.

picture courtesy of NEA

Now he and his wife are no longer strangers to the market and even know which hawker stalls are the most popular. They have been speaking to store owners and visitors to the area as part of their research for the next short film that they are making.

Set in and around the Tiong Bahru estate, the movie is part of Civic Life: Tiong Bahru, a community arts project exploring identity, memory, architecture, a sense of place and civic space that will take place in the second half of this year. The project is a collaboration between the British Council and the National Museum of Singapore with support from the Singapore International Foundation. There will also be an online film competition for Singaporeans.

'The British Council is a cultural relations agency whose aim is to create meaningful discussions around the ideas of creativity, culture and education. This project involves close collaboration with our Singaporean partners, rich engagement between Singaporean and British artists,' says Mr Dan Prichard, director of programmes of the British Council in Singapore.

He adds: 'Joe and Christine's films are beautiful, but it is their commitment to the community and their engagement with the community at all levels in the project that make the Civic Life films so special.'

Lawlor and Molloy's movie, as yet untitled, is the third in a series of short films involving communities that they are making.

Read the full report in Thursday's edition of The Straits Times' LIFE!.

More from sktechwalk....

Following up from the last post on the sketchwalk in Tiong Bahru, here are more works by one of the participants...

Lovely images of our Estate!
More of Paul Wang's sketches can be seen here.

The next walk is at another of our historic neighbourhoods - Geylang - whose historic buildings were given conservation status by URA in 1991 - check out the details if you want to join - here.

DISCLAIMER - THERE IS NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO NEIGHBOURHOODS!

Walk a Jog is here again!

Some of you may have seen the poster on the notice board...
our Seng Poh RC Walk A Jog is back again.

Date: 4 April 2010, Sunday
Time: 7.30 am to gather, 8 am start.
Place: Seng Poh Tea Garden, at the junction of Seng Poh Road and Moh Guan Terrace

Suitable for all ages.

There will also be a RECYCLING DRIVE after the event, bring 3 plastic bottles to recycle and you can walk away with a prize, courtesy of the National Environment Agency. Learn more about how to become part of the Clean and Green Movement.

A special gift will also be given to all participants....

Come with your family, friends and meet new neighbours!

As with the Walk A Jog last year, it promises to be lots of fum...

See you on Sunday!

Lunar New Year Celebrations Part 3

On the 6th of March, Boon Tiong RC and Seng Poh RC got together to organize the annual Lunar New Year Dinner for residents of these two parts of Tiong Bahru Estate.

We had over 50 tables, a fantastic host, resident talent in various forms performing, lucky draw, residents (old and new) and friends from here and afar - including guests from Britain and a table from the Friends of the Museum group, joining us all in a very lively dinner.

Here are the pictures of the event - they will be posted over a few installments.
Many thanks to all the hard work by the RC members, and equally, many thanks to the residents and friends who supported the event by buying the tickets and turning up to ‘HUAT’ with everyone!


















It was more fun than a wedding dinner.

Till the next year!

HUAT AH!

A GO GO GO GO CHRISTMAS!

The holiday season is soon upon us, and we are glad to announce two upcoming events at the Tiong Bahru CC this coming December.

19 Dec 2009
Tiong Bahru CC Womens’ Executive Committee presents a fun night of A GO GO.
Tickets at $10.
6.30 to 11 pm. Come dressed in your retro best. Food, Games, Entertainment, Prizes and Dancing!

26 Dec 2009
Jalan Membina RC brings you their annual Christmas Carnival.
1 pm to 5 pm.
Tickets at $5

Do bring your family and friends to both events.
Tickets available at Tiong Bahru CC Counter.
The Tiong Bahru CC is open from 9am to 10pm daily.

Tiong Bahru (VERTICAL and HORIZONTAL) Challenge

Hey folks!

Ever wanted to take part in a vertical race?

Well, on 13 December, Tiong Bahru will be host to our very own Vertical Race - up a 30 storey block of flats! There is a horizontal element as well - a 5 km run before we huff and puff up the new flats at Boon Tiong Road....



Online registration for the Challenge is available here.

You can also register at the Tiong Bahru CC personally.

Alternatively, a copy of the registration forms can be requested from TBChallenge09@gmail.com and payment for registration can be submitted via mail of a crossed cheque and duly completed registration form.

Great prizes to be had! See you at the Challenge!

The Birthday of Tai Seng Yah - a.k.a. Monkey God

The flags are up along Tiong Bahru and Tiong Poh Road.... pointing to the up coming birthday of Tai Seng Yah - The Great Heavenly Sage, a.k.a. the Monkey God whose temple is at the corner of Tiong Poh Road and Eng Hoon Street.



Yes, flags along roads are a sure sign of a temple festival in Singapore. These flags have peaches embroidered on them, as they are His favourite fruit (and also the fruit that got him in to trouble with the Jade Emperor and his consort long long long time ago....)

This temple is over 80 years old, and the big birthday, on the 16th day of the 8th Lunar Month, just after Mid Autumn Festival is the major event for the temple.

So, if you want to catch sight, or join in the festivities that is a real local folk festival, do take note of the following schedule of events:

Sunday 4 Oct - 3 pm, commencement of festivities, with lion and dragon dances.
The temple medium may be in attendance.
7pm, Teochew Opera nightly

Monday 5 Oct - afternoon and night, Teochew Opera
8 pm, dinner for temple supporters, lion and dragon dance, auction.

Tuesday 6 Oct - afternoon and night, Teochew Opera

Wednesday 7 Oct - afternoon and night, Teochew Opera

Thursday 8 Oct - 8 pm Getai show

Throughout the days of festivities, there is likely to be visiting troupes of Lion Dances who will come to pay respects (representing other neighbourhood temples) in the afternoon.



To read a good description of the temple in the 50s, check out this link to Dr Leon Comber's pioneering work - 'Chinese Temples of Singapore'.

All in all, its a great event for culture and photo buffs - the opera and dances are a sight to behold. The temple has adherents locally, as well as from Malaysia and Indonesia.



And if you are NOT a fan of Southern Chinese Folk Opera, well, its time to spend a few nights in town... :)