GIVING LOVE A CHANCE

It's a story they've re-told many times: their big proposal at a National Day Parade (NDP) 2013 rehearsal. Almost three years and a daughter later, the emotions of the day remain strong, especially for ME1 Ng, 26, who still squirms at the thought of hundreds of performers and passers-by watching and cheering just for her. And it all started when ME2 Koh, 29, asked her out by chance.

PIONEER: "By chance"?
ME1 Ng: We were supposed to go out with a bunch of colleagues, but somehow
ME2 Koh: (interjects) all of them just ran off
ME1 Ng: and left the two of us behind.

PNR: Was it deliberate?
ME2 Koh: No, all of them happened to have something on! So after the meal, we hung out. And it started from there.

PNR: What was it that drew you together?
ME2 Koh: Mainly music, but also anime. Huici's into One Piece (a Japanese anime), while I watch all kinds of anime.

PNR: Andy, how did you propose to Huici?
ME2 Koh: It was in July 2013, at one of the NDP National Education (NE) shows. My plan was to lure her from the Singapore Flyer towards the F1 Pit Building, where I would be.

I had people handing her roses along the way - it started with passers-by, followed by her friends and colleagues, and lastly her sister and close friends. The bandsmen also lined the path and played music.

At the end were the musicians standing in a heart formation, with me inside. We were playing songs like Michael Jackson's I'll Be There. As she approached, the "heart" opened up. That's when I got down on one knee and proposed.

ME3 Ong (centre) played a key role in ME2 Koh's surprise proposal.

PNR: How did you ask your colleagues in the Band for help?
ME2 Koh: I told them of my idea, and they were like, "Cool, let's do this!" They were very enthusiastic and spontaneous, and immediately started helping me to plan.

PNR: Huici, what did you think of Andy's proposal?
ME1 Ng: Actually, I wasn't even supposed to be involved in the NDP rehearsals! Andy had secretly liaised with our Band Major (ME3 Ong Wee Hong) to get me to go and help with the rations.

ME2 Koh: Earlier, I asked ME3 Ong, "I want to propose at NDP and get the bandsmen to help. Can you help me?" He said, "Sure, how can I help?" and I told him, "Get her to go to work." (laughs)
ME1 Ng: I didn't know anything! I even told Andy, "Eh, Encik wants me to go to work." And he replied, "Go loh."

PNR: How did you feel?
ME1 Ng: I was touched, but also a bit paiseh (embarrassed). I didn't expect it to be such a big event! (squirms)
ME2 Koh: She felt awkward because it was in a public place.

(From right) ME1 Ng and ME2 Koh with their fellow musicians at the Kremlin Military Tattoo, Russia, in 2012.

PNR: What's it like being married to someone you work with?
ME2 Koh: We see each other almost 24/7. The good thing is that we can go to work together.
ME1 Ng: The bad thing is that sometimes we both have deployments, such as parades, which go on until late at night. Our daughter Andrea would then be alone with my mother, who takes care of her. If we weren't working together, one of us could be home with her.

There are also overseas deployments, such as the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland in 2014, which lasted one-and-a-half months altogether.

I had to opt out as Andrea was still very young. But thankfully, my percussion section had enough manpower. As for Andy, he had to go as he was performing flute solos. These are sacrifices we make since we work together, but we give and take.

PNR: Are your colleagues understanding when you have to take time off work for family?
ME2 Koh: Surprisingly, most of our colleagues don't have children yet, but they understand and are willing to stand in for us.

PNR: So far, has Andrea displayed any interest in music?
ME2 Koh: Not yet, she just likes making noise!
ME1 Ng: When her dad is playing the flute, she will want to join in too. But she's still young, so we are just letting her have fun. I hope she picks up the piano when she's older.