FATHER'S VISION

Father's Vision

From the time my dad started the family in sembawang, he had known that it was not going to be easy. The odds were clearly stacked against him. His salary was meager. His age wasn’t young. He was already in his 50s. He does not have the technical skill or English language to get a better paying job. In spite of all the handicaps, he did raise a very happy family.

English Education

Clearly he had broad and clear vision. The only way for a better future was english education. He pushed hard and ensure me and my younger brother had English education. My elder brother was denied this due to lack of opportunity. For my elder brother lack of english education, he mitigated it by ennrolling my brother with technical education after his secondary school. With long term saving, he was even able to support my younger brother for overseas university.


I do it "My Way"


As for me, the circumstance was special. Very deep in my heart, I understood the predicament my father confronted. I am confident that I will excel if I stay focus and build my own life independently. After finishing pre-university in Raffles Institution and completing my national service in the navy, I pursue my passion for flying. I made the grade and never since regretted. My education after school was self learning, something I pursue relentlessly to enhance my knowledge in every fields. I have never allow my lack of material wealth to stand in the way of gaining intellectual wealth. I just soaked up knowledge regardless of relevance and without preconditions.

Simple and frugal life

Living condition in my childhood days was simple and rudimentary. We were poor by today standard and definition of poverty. But we had more than enough to eat, opportunity for education and plenty time to play as children. In school, fellow classmates never complain for lack of toys or time to play or too much schoolwork. Even without pocket money, many still content with tap water and snacks brought from home. Our parents were mostly very strict but parental love was abundant. We used hand me down clothes and shoes, but we don’t complain. We had simple rickety bicycles to move around. There was no television. But we still managed to watch some popular black and white programs from Huang Long Community Centre or my neighbour’s house. Electricity came when I was in primary 2 or 3. Drinking water was always from the well. Food was mainly from family farm except for fish and pork. Photographs of my father with younger brother Heng Yow (left) and elder brother Bobby (right).

All family members must contribute

Time was divided amongst school, play and helping in the house works.
Participating in house works or helping out in family business were norms for those living in the countryside. My elder brother helped my mum to deliver eggs to buyers. During the fruit season, he hawked rambutans outside a cinema call ‘Sultan’. He also sells rambutans to school teachers.

Mum tapped rubber for $5 per day

My mum took a half day job tapping rubber trees for latex and was paid $5 per day. She started before sunrise and by 9a.m the latex was ready for collection. My sister or I will go to the plantation to help here collect the latex so as to complete her job earlier. In that way she can be back early to cook lunch for us. None of my friends knew I worked in the rubber plantation as I was rather embarrassed to share my experience. It was really dirty and always stung by swarm of mosquitoes.

Sharing the family loads

At home, my sister and I also helped to tend to the chicken and to collect eggs. During the weekend, I also help collect chicken grass to supplement the chicken feeds. All my brothers and sister also help to collect and cut fire woods for cooking. Those duties were normally reserved during school holidays. During rambutan season, we also plucked them and then bundled them to be sold off. House works like washing crockery, washing and collecting laundry was done by my mum or sister. My brothers help in fetching water from the well.

So that’s how we grew up working together as a family. We shared the loads whereas unlike today, children share the goodies. We don’t questions about fairness of house duties. We just did it. It’s about responsibility, obligation and being useful. When completed, it’s play time. In spite of the doing what we did, I don’t recall we ever complain. Sometimes it’s even enjoyable. There was no problem of child obesity. All of us were skinny. My childhood was truly very meaningful, memorable and happy.

To be continued next post.

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