SEPTEMBER 2010 A publication of

www.spprimers.com

A Day Out There Coolest Event Voted What’s in July and August?
 SP.PRIMERS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
10/11
SEPTEMBER 2010 Issue 16
President’s Office
Ng Wen Sze (President) Check out P18-19 for exclusive
Maggie Chua (Vice President)
Chong Si Man (Treasurer) contest and upcoming event!
Administrations & NYAA
Sia Rui Ying (Admin) 3 The Editor Writes
Eric Leung Tsz Ho(NYAA)
>> What will be your history?
Logistics & AV
Javier Tan Kheng Yong

Publicity
4 Word From Vimel Rajoo
Joeson Kho Deng Fu
Lim Teck Yi
Shawn Hong Guo Lun 5 NDP 2010
>>Its a clown, its a Red Lion, its a Motivator!

8 NDP Appreciation

A Day Out There!

9 Food Junction
OHANA! is a publication of
SP.PRIMERS, published by 10 Beach Day
the Publicity Department
of SP.PRIMERS EXCO. While
every effort has been made to 11 Photo Hunt
ensure that any representation,
statement, opinion expressed
or implied, in this publication
is accurate, it is presented in 12 Coolest Event Voted!
good faith but on the basis >> Night Cycling
that SP.PRIMERS is not liable to
any person for any damage or
loss whatsoever which has or
may occur.. All rights reserved.
What’s In July?
Subject to the provisions of the
Copyright Act, 1986, no part of 14 Dedication Service
this publication may in any form
or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, microcopying, 15 ORH-lympics
photocopying, recording or
otherwise) be reproduced or
transmitted without prior written
permission from SP.PRIMERS.
Articles of interest are invited What’s In August?
from readers who may send
them to spprimers@gmail.
com. SP.PRIMERS accepts no 16 Amazing Race
responsibility for the return
of all manuscripts or artwork
submitted.
18 Upcoming Events
 editor the
writes
The cover of this issue shows a group of people together as a family as we practise SP.PRIMERS
running towards the center of Padang. Are they values - Care, Share, and Wait, during the various
dancers? Or are they Mass Display performers? No, events.
they are our motivators at the National Day Parade.
Night Cycling, Dedication Service and ORH-lympics
Some of you joined NDP 2010 as a motivator to are also covered under this issue. If you have not
catch a glimpse of the fabulous fireworks; for some, been attending these events, read on and you
it might be that you love the crowds. Others might will realise you have indeed missed a lot. So be
even think of it as an opportunity to get close to the sure to join us for our upcoming events. To the
various celebrities like Gurmit Singh, Dennis Keller motivators of NDP 2010, even though NDP had
or Sezairi Sezali just to name a few. Signing up as ended,but your journey in SP.PRIMERS is just begin.
a motivator once again was because of the past
experience I had last year. There might be many The end of a chapter unfolds a brand new one. Get
different reasons why we have decided to take part to know more fun and interesting people while
in NDP 2010 as a motivator. However different our at the same time build stronger bonds within the
reasons might be and whether or not we are in the SP.PRIMERS family. Unheard and untold, you will be
same NDP group, in the end we all share one thing writing your next chapter at the Boys Bridage Share-
in common - WE ARE FAMILY. a-Gift Campaign 2010.

This issue also covers events that happened over So let the new
the past 2 months. The Food Junction, Beach Day Chapter unfold.
and Photo Hunt were held on Saturdays just after
NDP Trainings. These events bonded SP.PRIMERS Are you up to it?

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 3

 WORD FROM VIMEL RAJOO
NDP Motivators Cluster Head

H
ello SP.PRIMERS! It was really an honour to be your Cluster Head for
this year’s National Day Parade! Being the Cluster Head was indeed a
challenge as I have been a mentor for only a year (2009) and this year I
was tasked with this role. But I really thank God for providing me with so many
wonderful advisors (CPT Danny, Kenny, Yaohan and Ben) to support and walk
with me through this journey. They guided me, helped me and always affirmed
me in the decision that I have to make. They are always there to back me up
thus giving me the confidence in running the program. And how can I forget my
lovely assistant Vincent, wonderful team of Mentors, Team Leaders, and many
more who really made my job so much easier. Without you guys NDP would not
have been such a great success!

Roles of the Motivators

The Motivators are the extension of the emcees to the audience but they
are also involved in a segment in the show. The segment for the Motivators
varies year to year and this year, the Motivators form the X shaped lane
for the entrance of the emcees into Padang. It was indeed a challenge
for the 400 Motivators to coordinate and form up such a wonderful X
formation, stretching from end to end of Padang. I am so proud of each
and every one of the Motivators for attending all the training sessions and
putting in their best in everything that they do. All their hard work was
paid off as we saw the beautiful X formation on 9th of August!
Memories...

I’ve enjoyed myself so much in this year NDP. I looked forward to every
Saturday when we can all gather in Padang and go wild! I also enjoy the
company of the mentors and the wonder new friends that I made through
this NDP. Indeed, the journey in NDP has come to an end but I believe the
friendship we made will last for a life time. All the time we spent together
running, clapping, pumping balloons, screaming, laughing and smiling are
memories that we can never forget. Thank you all for making NDP 2010 such
a great success! I Love U SP! Call Me!

You and me, we are a Family!

From Vimel Rajoo

NDP Motivators Cluster Head

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 4

 NATIONAL DAY PARADE 2010 Story by Teck Yi

T
here was an increased in signups to be a enjoy herself for all the trainings. “Never have I,
National Day Parade (NDP) Motivator from for a split second, paused to regret going for POC,
SP.PRIMERS this year. All were on cloud nine which eventually led to the selection of the NDP
when they were able to take part in this year’s NDP motivators.” said the Year 1 Student from School of
at Padang; everyone who has registered during the Design. “I’ve enjoyed myself so much throughout
NDP Recruitment drive was accepted. However, my journey.” She added
due to the large numbers, priority
was given to Primers who have
attended most of the Primers
events.

First Step Forward

Some were in fact
reluctant to join at first, they
understood that participating in
NDP takes high commitment and
time consuming. Shahirah from
Group 6 said, “When I joined
POC, I made new friends and they
persuaded me to join NDP as a
motivator. I was reluctant to do
so, but in the end, I joined after
much persuasion.” As for Syahirah
from Group 5, she never failed to

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 5


Bonded as One
POC served as a platform for icebreaking
and bonding for Primers who are participating
in NDP. However, when we started our NDP
trainings and rehearsals, new and bigger groups
were formed. Hence the team building continues
with events like Food Junction and Beach Day
planned by the EXCO. It gives the Primers many
opportunities to spend fun and quality time with
each other in the newer groups. “My group mates
all came from different walks of lives. Some of us
knew each other previously so there were cliques
here and there” shared Hudah from Group 8. “But,
after some time, we set aside our differences and
started to mix around. Everyone started to open up
and feel comfortable with each other” she added.
Red, White, Wow!
The colour theme for this year’s NDP
is a combination of red, white and black. From
the costumes to the stage setup, from the screen
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 6
animation to the live lighting effects were all
a choreography of these colours. Some of our
motivators described it as ‘Red, White, Wow!’.
The costume designer of this year’s NDP described
his creations as bold, futuristic and wacky. Our
motivators costumes, when opened up looks like a
star! With their pom-poms waving in the air, if you
were to ask me, I would say that the Motivators
looked the best.
I Gotta Feeling
‘I gotta feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a
good night’. Each time this song is played, you are
sure to see the Motivators moving and grooving to
the music and shaking their pom-poms. If you were
to look closely, you will even be able to spot the
smiles on each and every faces. This is their cue for
getting ready for the ‘show’.
Certainly for every NDP rehearsal, it was a ‘good
good night’ and the Motivators enjoyed themselves.
“There are many things I love about being
this year’s motivator.” said Ying Yi from
Group 8. “We got to be on television live!”
Indeed, what was special for this year’s
NDP, is that the Motivators will be caught
on National TV running in from the four
corners of the Padang field forming a big
and magnificent X. This X creates a path
to usher in the four hosts to the centre of
Padang with the Harleys Owners Group. The
Motivators were awesome doing the wave
in domino effect as the Harleys drove past
them.
I Tried, and I Did It
Shahirah was thankful she had made the
right choice to be a Motivator. As she reflected on
what she has learnt out of the NDP journey, she
was pleased to share how she overcame her fear
of balloons through NDP. “Initially I was scared of
balloons but through NDP, I was able to overcome
my weakness and make it one of my strengths”
she shared. “Being able to acquire the knowledge
of balloon sculpturing and actually did the balloon
sculpture for the audience is definitely a worthy
experience.” she commented.
Farewell
Joel from Group 3 has enjoyed every moment that
National Day marked the end of an
if she was given a chance to do it all over again, she
NDP Motivator’s journey. Some may feel their
would not have done anything differently. “. Every
Saturdays to be empty and a part of them are
week I have a reason to laugh and cheer, every
missing. However, the memories and friendship
week I will have something that I should remember
they had forged during this period of time would
the week for and every week I will have countless
be something they would get to keep for life.
photos uploaded onto Facebook and those photos
SP.PRIMERS will be back for more NDP motivators
are the visual memories of what we have gone
next year for the NDP 2011!
through as a group” she shared.

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010| 7

 NDP APPRECIATION 2010 Story by Teck Yi

N
ational Day Parade Appreciation 2010
was held in Touch Community Theatre.
Although NDP was over, within the four
walls surrounding the Theatre, the spirit of their
love for the nation could still be felt.
The various performances presented by the
motivators themselves easily related us back to
NDP. This brought back many wonderful memories
they shared together. NDP Theme songs which
had been heard many times before felt fresh and
comforting once again this time when they were
being heard.
out.NDP Appreciation, as it said, was about
appreciating and not just about the performances
and fun. The show items being put up on stage
were an appreciation to the motivators as a whole.
For being an NDP Motivator representing TOUCH,
they were also given a thank you letter and gift
from TOUCH Community Services. After the show,
they were being ushered out for a buffet where
they have a feast.

It went to an all-time high when the mentors went

on stage with their item specially for the Motivators
of NDP 2010. Each mentor carried with them a
personal message written on big flash cards. As
the music played on, the thank-you messages
were flashed to the audience, an innovative way
to appreciate their efforts for the past few months.

After which, they marched down the stage waving

Singapore flag in the air swaying along with the
tune of ‘WAVE YOUR FLAG’. The motivators
cheered and the applause was thunderous! They
liked it so much that they spontaneously requested
a ‘rewind replay’ which were then being carried
Motivators and mentors alike, walked home not just
with a bag full of goodies from one another. They
walked home with a box of treasures, treasures of
a special bond, of the special journey shared.

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010| 8

 A DAY OUT THERE!
FOOD JUNCTION
F
ood Junction was the first event planned after
YouCampaign to be held after NDP trainings
at Simei ITE. Food Junction, more commonly
known as “食字路口”in Chinese, is a food-linking
game, where the groups were to start with a dish
name, and linked to the next dish by their letters or
sound. For example: Roti Prata linked to Apple Pie
and so on.
There were groups whose members tried eating
something that they do not like, just to be able to
move on the next station. As the game involves the
dishes to link to the final dish (which will be given
out during half-time), lots of planning was required
to decide the dishes few steps in advance in order
to reach destination dish name.
Game On!
Zhi Hui commented “Planning the food
items in advance and end up changing the food
items as we proceeded. It was really funny seeing
everybody with their mouths stuffed with food
and running around trying to buy more food.” For
some of the Primers, it was their first time playing
Story by Shawn Hong
this game and heard about this game. Everyone
had their story to share about Food Junction, Chee
Sen shared with OHANA! that he remembered his
group was looking for an egg, and they persuaded
the boss to sell them just one egg instead of two as
it was sold in a set.
Joey Su commented “I think that Food Junction is
a very interesting activity as I have never played a
game comprising of amazing race, food, fun and
fellowship. I had a great time laughing and bonding
with my group. I remembered how we were so
happy to be the first team to arrive at the finishing
point and we got to spread wasabi on bread.”
Food Junction ended off with the group which
came back last eating the wasabi bread as forfeit.
Although they ended up being forfeit, the group
had an interesting story behind why they came
back last. In the midst of their game journey, they
found that they misunderstood a part of the rules
and they decided to restart their game. This is one
value called integrity, to be true and honest in what
you do.
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 9
 A DAY OUT THERE!
BEACH DAY
B
each day was kicked off at Sentosa. The
weather was great, the sky was clear and the
sea was calm. Teams were to move around
different areas of Sentosa, to play unique games.
There was one particular game that is pretty
sure everyone remembered, which requires the
participants to brush their teeth with the Oreo
cookies and smile at strangers. Everyone find it
hilarious and members of the public were amused.
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 10
Story by Shawn Hong
Sherileen Han commented: My group was not
particular about being the winner; instead they
were more concerned about the well being of one
another so that we could complete the race as a
group.
Beach Day, again required the members to
complete tasks as a group as their trudge to various
stations around the island. This allowed the groups
to continue to work on their team spirit and identity
after 2 weeks of NDP training, helping them to work
better together in the weeks to come.
The Beach Day experience for some of us involved
having to walk barefooted along the beaches,
‘burying’ the group members in sand and simply
feeling the heat from the hot sun and breeze from
the sea. Beach Day also marked a record-breaking
event, where we crowned our own Primers Limbo
Rock King! OHANA! would like to congratulate
Mykhaelangelo Leo from Group 8, for winning the
title.
Beach Day ended of nicely with everyone coming
back to the start point, OHANA! hoped that
everyone now understands what it means to Care
and Wait for one another, 2 of the 3 core values of
SP.PRIMERS.
 Story by Shawn Hong
A DAY OUT THERE!

PHOTO HUNT out” and added “I remember that everything is in

a rush and we have to complete this and that very
‘Click, click, click’ goes the shutter of the camera. quickly.”
Photo Hunt was not just an event where people to
go around snapping pictures randomly. It requires Keh Zhi Hui, another participant of Photo Hunt
teamwork among group members as they set off recounts “I remembered where one of our group
in their mission to take group shots at as many members, Wilson, was trapped in the MRT train and
destinations as possible in a given time. Clues given
to them were cropped pictures taken at and around
the destination sites. The group is to guess the
destination correctly, locate the place and find the
object specified in the picture to score. The group
which cleared the most destination sites wins.

This event was a great way for them to warm up

to each other as they were to spend the next 12
weeks with. Laughter could be heard everywhere
they went, a tell-tale sign that showed that they
have enjoyed themselves. Fun and laughter were
unlimited, though the time they had was very
limited. the door closed on him, so the entire group had to
wait for him to come back and it was so hilarious!”
When asked about what he remembered most In a nutshell, the event was very enjoyable and
about the event, Low Wei Bin replied “I find it damn exciting despite having a short time for game play.
cool la to get bits of a place and have to figure it

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 11

 COOLEST EVENT VOTED! Story by Teckyi

W
hile some of us cycle often, others do it At the game stations, they were also given time to
only once in a while. rest and hydrate themselves. “We surely shall see
the sunshine soon” was chose by the commitees as
a tongue twister for this overnight event. For some
But to those who joined us in Night Cycling 2010, groups, the Night Cycling wasn’t a smooth journey.
they shared the fun together.Even if you have just
learnt how to pedal a bicycle, you know that you
will be cared for because Night Cycling 2010 stayed
true to the SP.PRIMERS values of Care, Share, Wait.

The slight drizzle around 8pm on 17 June 2010

delayed the starting time of the event slightly. But
that did not in any way dampen the spirits of the
cyclists. Starting off at East Coast Park, our cyclists
made their way to Changi Village where they had
their supper before making their way back to East
Coast Park. Saying so, it wasn’t plain cycling.

While making their way to Changi Village, there

were points where they would stop to play games.
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 12
“On the way to and from Changi village, we met
with some accidents”, said Jasmine Chung, a Year
1 participant. “Two of my teammates clashed with
each other and had some slight injuries. We also
had to change bicycles, fix bicycle chains along the
way.” She is glad that her team waited for each
other, cared and helped one another to move on.
“We had only each other to rely on that night”, she
added.
As the clock struck 12 midnight, yet another drama
unfolded. The lorry that was rented to ferry the
spare bicycles broke down at the traffic light along
Changi Coast Road. And as it was blocking the
traffic along that narrow road, the Police advised
the committee to get the lorry pushed to the side
of the road. With this task in hand, the committee
and some participants rolled up their sleeves and
pushed the lorry to the run-off area on the opposite
side of the road.
Having been deprived of the use of a lorry, the
spare bicycles had to be pushed back to the bicycle
shop at East Coast Park. The exhausted committee
members stood up to the task and pushed the
bicycles back on a return journey that was about 15
km long.
By the time the event ended on 28 june 2010
morning, everyone was exhausted. Even though
most were weary, they were glad to complete the
long journey safely and they enjoyed the company
of their team mates
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 13
 WHAT’S IN JULY
DEDICATION SERVICE
D
edication Service an annual event where
SP.PRIMERS would visit our sponsoring
church, Faith Community Baptist Church
(FCBC) during their Sunday service.
Every year, FCBC sponsors numerous SP.PRIMERS
events, such as the YOUcampaign, Rough-It-Out
Camp and Boy Brigade’s Share A Gift. SP.PRIMERS
will not have sufficient funds to carry out events
without the support from FCBC. On top of financial
support, FCBC also contributes to the development
of the student leaders in SP.PRIMERS by sending
our Officers and Adult Leaders to mold and shape
us into the leaders of today!
On this special Sunday, the EXCO and Officers
of SP.PRIMERS were decked out in their smart
uniforms.
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010| 14
Story by Joeson Kho
Dedication Service is one of the rare occasions in
which members of SP.PRIMERS will put on the BB
uniform. During the service, Ng Wensze represented
SP.PRIMERS on stage to take part in the dedication
ceremony where Primers and Officers dedicated
themselves to upholding the BB values.
After the service, SP.PRIMERS together with the
younger members of DE Tribe played the ice breaker
games planned by the committee of Dedication
Service; both parties had a great fun. Shawn Hong,
EXCO of SP.PRIMERS, commented “Even though the
session with the other members of church is short,
but the mingling and chatting during the ice breaker
is enjoyable.”
As the program draws to the end, the EXCO and
some other Primers gathered to have a sumptuous
lunch reminiscing of the past years activities along
the way.
ORH-LYMPICS

O
RH-lympics, as the name goes, is created
as a spoof to resemble to the Olympic
Games. A series of mini-games were held
for SP.PRIMERS to play against each other in a fun
and non-competitive way. Many of the mini-games
were never played before.
“Even though some there are some delays on
that day, things turned out great. Especially the
weather, it had been raining for the past few days,
fortunately it did not on this special day. Promote
Olympics values, Excellence, Respect and Harmony
to every participants through the sports in different

Boxing, Soccer,
Archery, Swimming
and Wrestling are
some sports in the
Olympics games.
Riding on the heat
of the Youth Olympic
Games (YOG), many
YOG sports segments
were recreated to be
played in a different
way. A participant
commented “I was
fascinated by how
the game masters
associate the
different Olympic
games into miniature
games. It was very
unique and creative.

In addition, I realized that most of the games much aspect is one of the objectives of ORH-lympics. The
more mentally demanding than physical. So it is objectives are achieved this year. This shows that
more similar to a brainy version of the Olympics the hard work of the committee members was paid
games.” off”, said by Joeson Kho, the event head.

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 15

 WHAT’S IN AUGUST
AMAZING RACE
P
articipants have to follow a series of clues
leading them to the designated stations and
completed the tasks given at the stations. The
journey starts from Dover, Singapore Polytechnic
(SP), all the way to Pasir Ris Park using various
modes of transportation.
With the time limitations, they have to solve riddles
and finish the tasks given in the fastest speed that
they can afford to. Everyone started off with full bar
of energy charging to the first station in SP counting
the carpark lots and pillars, and the groups kept on
counting and recounting to make sure that they
made no mistake in their answers.
Just how tough can the stations be, you wonder?
“After half an hour of search I cannot even find one
person holding on to volleyball at Vivo city!” Wen
Sze recalled.
Amazing Race was a physically active and mentally
challenging event. There were stations that required
you to use your mind and solve it or required you
OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 16
Story by Shawn Hong
to walk around in mega mall just to find 1 person.
Tough isn’t it?
What made it tougher was making group decision
when there is a roadblock; one required you to
memorise a tongue twister while the other required
you to complete an obstacle course along the way.
A wrong decision made by the group could result in
time delay.
At the end point, which was Pasir Ris Park, groups
braved the sun to “fly” a plane, dug up sand to find
a piece of paper that was the key to the winning. In
the scorching hot weather, groups soldiered on the
whole day and everyone made it to the endpoint
safety.
Committee Head for the event, Shawn Hong
commented “It was interesting to see how 11
groups proceed to the same area at the same time.
With teamwork and group communication, all
groups managed to clear all the checkpoints. Good
job to all the GLs, and participants who came for
Amazing Race. Without everyone, it will not be a
successful event.”
 UPCOMING BIGGEST EVENT!

BOYS’ BRIGADE SHARE-A-GIFT CAMPAIGN 2010

The Season of Giving is back! Every year, SP.PRIMERS contributes to BBSG by collecting food donations
and fulfilling wishes for the less fortunate. Last year, we collected 665 food hampers which provided
1-month food supplies for more than 330 needy families! This year, SP.PRIMERS aims to collect 750 food
hampers.

YOU CAN help! by:

1) Pledging food hampers
2) Managing the booth
3) Lend a hand at our residential collection
4) Distributing food hampers to needy families
5) Traffic marshalls for vehicles transporting food

JOIN US and SEE YOU THERE!

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010| 17

 OHANA! Back Cover Contest
Be the few to have your pictures to be showcased to
SP.PRIMERS!!

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 18

SP.PRIMERS Facebook Page

Link:
www.facebook.com/pages/SP.PRIMERS/ Note: The FB Page
provides a supplement to the
existing website and is not
designed to replace it.

How:
1. Log on to Facebook and using the search function located on the top right hand corner of your
screen, do a search for ‘SP.PRIMERS’ (note the dot - it must be included)
2. Be reminded that it is a PAGE and not a GROUP and once you get in, click the button right on top.
3. Your key to instant interaction begins!

Start uploading your fan photos, share links and videos, write notes, share your thoughts on the wall
and comment on updates. Invite your friends, PRIMERS and non-PRIMERS alike to become a fan now!

www.spprimers.com spprimers@gmail.com SDC137 (above SPSU)

Credits
This publication is brought to you by SP.PRIMERS EXCO Publicity Department.

OHANA! SEPTEMBER 2010 | 19