Honesty speaking, I would like to thank them because I did a surprising breakthrough – wore both my hearing devices — hearing aid and cochlear implant device publicly on our MRT train journey from Choa Chu Kang back to Yishun. Yes, honesty speaking I am also surprised. lol.

To you able-hearing readers, well, it may be nothing but to me, being someone who is self-conscious, it was a “daring” act. I focused on the two gentlemen and on the spot, broke through my pyschological barrier — just threw away self-suspecting thoughts of “after putting on my hearing devices, will people stare at me as if I am an alien?”.

Yup, life is too short for me to bother think about how others may perceive me.
Look, some people are unable to see clearly, so they wear spectacles. The same theory applies to hearing devices for hearing-impaired individuals as well. Humans are not perfect beings afterall. So since I need to wear the hearing devices in order to communicate effectively with the people around me, why must I be looked upon differently?

With my four limbs, I can move around on my own, and communicate fluently with others. Just like anyone of you. Yay! =)

I believe the issue boils down to ignorance, and negative perceptions about hearing-impaired people in Asian perspective, particularly among illiterate elderly folks. Such mindsets are to be changed.

By the way, I foresee that the coming generation of hard-of-hearing Singaporeans are possibly those 20-40 year-olds who have grown up with Walkmans, iPods, iPhones, iPads, MP3 players and insanely loud dubstep in nightspots these days. They will be increasingly hearing-impaired at earlier ages.

Is it time for me to start advocating the importance of hearing care now, than leaving it to commercial hearing aid service providers? Hmmmmm. That is food for thought for me. Hmmm..

I just went for one of those follow-up appointments, seeing my audiologist again at the ENT Clinic 1B @ Tan Tock Seng Hospital yesterday. So far so good. =)

I will be mentoring two Secondary 2 boys – one from Normal (Academic) and the other, Express.

It is a different challenge. Working along side with the teachers involved, I hope I am able to motivate or inspire the 1 or 2 students put under my charge, sharing my experiences so that they will do their best to overcome whatever challenges to achieve good grades in studies this year.

(i)         Boosting Bus Capacity by 800 buses over next 5 years, or a 20% increase – Government will provide funding for 550 buses while the public bus operators will add another 250 buses.

(ii)        Revisions to Vehicle Tax Regime – replace the Green Vehicle Rebate Scheme (GVR) with a new Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme, or CEVS

(iii)      Special Diesel Tax for Euro V Vehicles to encourage the adoption of new and cleaner diesel technologies

(iv)      Removal of Additional Transfer Fee (ATF)

Thoughts:

I am glad to see that our Government have had looked into having more buses, catering to the growing demands of commuters in the coming years.However our transport operators have earned quite hefty profits in recent years, hence I see that it should be the public transport operators themselves who should foot the funding for the purchases of buses.

Still worried about another possible hike in transport fares 1 or 2 years later from now. We should seriously look into matter of nationalizing our public transport services.

Providing the Best Care for our Seniors

1. Expand our healthcare capacity

(i)         Increase the number of acute hospital beds by about 30%, or 1,900 beds by 2020

(ii)        Increase the number of community hospital beds by 1,800 by 2020

(iii)      Double the capacity in long term care services by 2020 including nursing homes, home-based health and social care services, day care and rehabilitation facilities, and Senior Activity Centres.

(iv)      Improve access to polyclinics and introduce new models of care, such as Medical Centres that provide specialist outpatient services in the community.

Thoughts:

Our Singapore population is fast ageing, hence it is likely that we will see even more aged citizens going to hospital for medical services in future years. Yes, more hospital beds. This is a good move.

Yes, there should be more dedicated medical services for our elderly citizens. It is important these services are made affordable for them.

Having said that, to avoid further cost burden in healthcare services in future, we need to start heavily emphasis the importance of healthy lifestyle among senior citizens now. Encourage active ageing, not sick ageing. Am I right?

2. Enhance affordability in our healthcare

(i)       Increase subsidies in our Community Hospitals

1. 75% subsidy for lower-income patients will receive a 75% government subsidy
2. 20% to 50% subsidy for those above the median income, who previously did not receive any subsidy

(ii)     Raise subsidies for nursing homes, day care and rehabilitation facilities and home-based care packages so that more in the middle-income group can benefit.

(iii)    A $120 grant per month to families hiring a foreign domestic helper to help care for elderly family members who have severe dementia, or are immobile and unable to care for themselves

(iv)   Subsidise home modifications such as grab bars and anti-slip treatment for bathroom tiles

(v)     Absorb GST for subsidised patients in Long Term Care sector including community Hospitals to nursing homes and the range of home-care services.

Thoughts:

Good move. I like the part about subsidizing home modifications to make our homes safe for senior citizens.

The $120 monthly grant slightly helps in families hiring a foreign domestic helper to care for an elderly family member who is unable to care for himself/herself. Given our increasingly living costs, it would be good if this grant amount can be increased to say, $200 or $250.

I suggest domestic helpers with right attitude be assessed and be properly trained with the necessary care-giving skills before the monthly grant is given to the families.

To make healthcare further affordable, it will be ideal if no GST tax is imposed for all essential healthcare services for all Singapore citizens. =)

Supporting Singaporeans with Disabilities

1. Pre-school Years

(i)         Increase places in centres for children who need intensive early intervention.

(ii)        Development Support Programme (in mainstream pre-school classrooms) – provide learning support and therapy intervention to children with mild speech, language and learning delays [about 2,000 children to benefit]

(iii)       Enhancement to Special Education (SPED) schools.

Thoughts: 

Great. It is a big policy change with the heart to help these children having an easier start in life.

It is certainly a good move to integrate children with mild disabilities with others in mainstream pre-school classrooms. In my own viewpoint, it is also a good opportunity to expose normal kids, cultivating the perception to “look at each and every individual as equal, and care for others who are physically challenged” at a young tender age.  =)

2. Supporting employment

(i)         Extend Special Employment Credit to employers who hire SPED graduates, regardless of age

1. Get credit of 16% of employee’s wages (2x that for older workers)

(ii)        Extend Workfare Income Supplement Scheme to all SPED graduates who work, even if they are below 35 years olds, and double the Handicapped Earned Income Relief for all persons with disabilities.

Thoughts:

It is important that we help fellow disabled Singaporeans to find employment, so that they can able to support themselves independently, in the event if their parents or caregivers are no longer around one day.

Good move, as it encourages more employers in Singapore to hire them. =)

Uplifting Low-income Families

1. More support for children from low-income households

I am not born deaf totally. Visually, I am able to associate a certain sound to an action; for example: hands clapping. So thank heavens, I can see with my eyes. In addition, being older, I have had accumulated many “memories” of various sounds in my brain (particularly my left brain hemisphere) since birth, having the inborn ability to differentiate different sounds. Also thanks to years of normal schooling, I can speak, clearly expressing my thoughts/feelings in verbal language just like any able-hearing individual.

On the other hand, young kids especially the nearly deaf ones have no concepts of sound AT ALL. They are as pure as white paper. As such if these kids are retrofitted with hearing devices, alot of patience and efforts are required, in the aspect of coaching them to distinguish sounds, teaching them communication skills and do speech training as well.

原来，凤飞飞特地要求律师；说为了避免影响歌迷们的情绪，最好的安排是：应该等过完农历新年后，才公开她病逝的消息。好体贴哦！

昨天下午在网络上收到凤飞飞的死讯时，我真的感到十分震惊和意外。从我大概４、５岁时，就开始听她唱的无数歌曲。她已不在了。

逝者安息，但愿她的歌声永远在天堂回荡。

凤飞飞遗言：”我这一生，过得快乐，活得精采，感谢陪着我一起走过这段精采岁月的彩虹姊妹兄弟们，没来得及唱的歌，下辈子再唱给您们听。”

天后，一路好走。

As expected, a long beeline of uncles and aunties is seen waiting to place their bets at this ‘hot’ Singapore Pools outlet in a 7-11 convenience store near my place this morning. It is said to be a ‘breeding ground for 4D/TOTO winners’.

What else but for the $10million Hongbao TOTO draw tonight. It is the 12th day of Chinese New Year. Everybody wants to buy some hope to “huat” this Chinese New Year.

Are you one of them?

Individually, I sincerely wish you all a very happy prosperous Year of the Dragon. Keep smiling and stay healthy!

May good luck be with you in all your endeavours, be it academic studies or business! ^_^

For singles like myself, well, good luck in search of a girlfriend or boyfriend. Hehe. 

祝福各位：身体健康、学业进步、财源广进、事事如意！

我们大家一起龙年行大运！恭喜发财！发啊！

As someone who has had taken the examination in 1997, I often emphasize this: “No doubt academic excellence is important, exam results are not everything in life. They don’t mean anything. It is not the end of the world if you don’t score well. If you buck up later, anything is possible – in terms of life achievements, you might even surpass that best student in school.”

That nasty feeling of failure can be very overwhelming, crushing one’s self-confidence. I knew it because it happened to me. I repeated once. It  took me 2 years to overcome that feeling when I was in ITE Bishan.

It is about strong will-power, I guess. You just have to pick yourself up, know your strength areas, keep on chanting to yourself, saying “I will not give up…I can do better than others the next time round.” Yes, for those who don’t score well, PLEASE DON’T GIVE UP. Reflect and learn from your mistakes, and start working on your weak areas. It is okay to take a longer time to reach your destination. Keep going. Don’t stop there. Ignore what naysayers said. Think positive.

As long as one is hungry for success, stay humble, help others as he/she perseveres, yes, he or she may not be the best performing student now during schooling years but that individual whom you perceived to be “stupid”, “lousy” or “failure for life” could become the next BIG boss or public figure some 20 years later. Nothing is absolute!

Look at Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. Need I say more?

Standing from the perspective of a former ITE graduate, I am particularly concerned or worried about top performing students becoming snobbish and too elitist in their mindset and the way how they handle people or matters. I hope my worries are unfound.

Pardon me for saying this – To me, “elitism” is a dirty word.

Nevertheless, to students who score outstanding results, this is what I would like to say: “Congratulations. You have had worked hard to deserve such good results. But never ever look down or pre-judge someone who may not have scored very good academic results like yourself. For you may not know what he or she may become in future.”

Anything is possible in this world.
Many people among us could be hidden diamonds or late-bloomers..

Our mass media should highlight more inspiring stories of latebloomers who has beaten all odds to become who they want to be.

(P.S: By the way, I’ve obtained a diploma in Mass Communications, despite my hearing handicap. I am eligible to go for further studies anytime, to improve my social mobility. Yes, university education.)

Need to buck up more when new year comes. Due to fact that I’ve just recovered from surgery, I am at home for a quiet countdown. Will be providing further updates on my 2nd cochlear implant surgery in my next few blog entries.

For now, I am definitely looking ahead to fresh challenges in the coming year. I know at the end of the year, I shall emerge a much better person than what I am now.

I wish everyone happiness, success, good health and think positively always!

Happy New Year!

岁末来临之际，此时此刻，突然想起12年前 － 2000年6月27号服兵役2nd Singapore Infantry Regiment (2SIR)， Bravo Coy Platoon 4的那班朋友。你们现在好吗？

那短短2个月经历成长的大大小小事情和遇见的人，12年后的今天，我难以忘记。I miss you guys!

LATEST!

Here’s a video snippet of the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2012 at midnight, December 31st. The beautiful fireworks display against the backdrop of Marina Bay Sands, was choreographed to the theme ‘Celebration of Life’, a specially commissioned musical score composed by Singapore Cultural Medallion winner, aka musician and composer – Mr Iskander Ismail, with additional vocals by soprano Khor Ai Ming and the CHIJ Primary (Toa Payoh) School children’s choir.

It lasted 8 minutes.

Enjoy!

Hongkong Countdown 2012 Fireworks @ Victoria Harbour

Taiwan Countdown 2012 Fireworks @ Taipei 101 Building

London Countdown 2012 Fireworks @ London Eye ferris wheel, River Thames, Central London