DR NG THANKS NDP PARTICIPANTS PERSONALLY

For the past four months, participants of the National Day Parade (NDP) 2014 have been rehearsing every Saturday in gearing up for the big day.

To show his appreciation and give thanks to them for their efforts, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen visited the participants at the F1 Pit Building where they were preparing for the NDP Preview on 2 Aug.

During his visit, Dr Ng interacted and took pictures with participants from the 14 civilian marching contingents, which included OSIM, SingTel and Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS).

He also met selected participants from the Dynamic Defence Display (D3) and Show segment.

In an interview after his visit, Dr Ng said that the groups had very high morale: "I think the performers find that it's very special for them to celebrate Singapore's birthday. And many of them definitely want to come back.

"I reminded them that this is one last rehearsal before the actual National Day Parade. And I'm sure that they'll put on a very good show and give it their all. I thank them all because they worked very hard - 16 weekends 16 Saturdays all burnt - but they have no regrets and they're very happy that they participated."

Among the participants he spoke to from the show was 23-year-old Elizabeth Tan, who was in her 10th year of participation for NDP.

The final year business student from the Singapore Institute of Management revealed that it was actually her mum who influenced her to participate in NDP. Her mum had been a participant with the People's Association for 12 years.

"There was one year when I went down to Bedok Camp just to watch her rehearse. I saw that she was having so much fun with her new friends so I wanted to join in too," said Ms Tan.

Both mother and daughter are part of the mass display group from the Show segment "Love it" and have been rehearsing their dance steps since April. Through joining NDP together, and Ms Tan guiding her mum on the dance steps, both of them have also grown closer.

Sixty-year-old Tan Geok Choo, who laughed when asked if she was happy that her daughter followed her footsteps, said: "Of course! At least I know her activities outside. Because when she's studying, I wouldn't know her friends outside. But now that I see her interacting with people every Saturday, I know who she mixes with."

The cleaner who works at a kindergarten also shared that her reasons for returning as a performer year after year included the friends she has made and that it was very fun.

Similarly, Ms Tan showed no signs of stopping her participation.

"I've made a lot of friends here and it's very fun to celebrate the nation's birthday together. I feel very honoured and proud," she said.

"That's why I'm coming back every year."