85 Days to NDP 2009!

For most of my adult life, I had been trying all ways and means to gain entry to the National Day Parade. At the National Day Countdown Show a few years ago, I was tempted to ask PM Lee, who was standing next to me, if he would allow me a ride in his white Mercedes the next day. (I didn’t, of course!) Then, I was given a pair of Preview tickets in 2005, after blatantly begging on air. When the celebrations moved to Marina Floating Platform for the first time in 2007, I got a call from the NDP Committee.
Goal #1 : Attending the NDP. Check.
My heart skipped a beat when I received an email titled, “Invitation to be part of NDP 2009“.
[...] The EXCO is venturing into new media this year. [...] to involve and engage more Singaporeans [...] We thought your blog is very interesting and of course, widely read [...] We would like to invite you for a chit-chat over coffee (or Coke, if you prefer) to share with you our ideas on this year’s NDP.
Goal #2 Hosting the NDP. Not this year. Sigh…
But how could I possibly turn down people who offer me Coke? Hahaha.

I had the privilege of meeting BG Tan Chuan-Jin, Comd 3 Div/ Chairman NDP Exco, and his team the other day. I had imagined that I would be talking to a stuffy old man who can’t tell Facebook apart from Twitter, or who is blindly plunging into new media because everyone else is doing so.
Nope. I was very taken with BG Tan’s conviction and charisma. Sitting in the air-conditioned lounge overlooking the Platform and watching the construction of the stage, I knew I had to be a part of this.
I’m not going to reproduce the meeting minutes online. Essentially, they are granting me access to the Marina Floating Platform. WOOHOO!
Ladies and gentlemen, say hi to one of the Official Bloggers for NDP 09. *flashes dimpled smile/ waves*
I guess I won’t have to submit my name for e-balloting this year. The rest of you should start doing so. *smug grin/ continues waving*
Application begins in 20 minutes.
May 15th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Woohoo~~~ Happy for you oh~~~ Will cont. readin ur blog~~~ keep it up~~ & gd nite oh~
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May 16th, 2009 at 12:33 am
I applied the NDP ticket every yr(from 2006)
Still,i didnt successfully gt it. ><
so,r u suppose to promote NDP thru ur blog?
wow. ur blog is so famous liao.
heh.
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May 16th, 2009 at 12:34 am
heng ahhh u din close your blog~~~
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May 16th, 2009 at 12:41 am
I blogged about the NDP as well, but guess it was too… controversial… for the committee!
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CJ's reply:
May 16th, 2009 at 11:57 am
well, I did think your description was funny though I was not sure what was the point of it
I think the reality of it is that there we all have many different views. On some, we will have to agree to disagree. And I know that in some areas, there will be fundamental differences.
And the beauty of this internet space is that you can continue to blog and challenge and criticise and fair game to all who do so. And I am sure many will continue to do that. And it will resonate with some Singaporeans.
So the reality is that you can continue to blog about the NDP from your perspective. I guess from my end is how we involve different bloggers. No hard feelings of course.
Not even sure if you want to be associated with us in any way given the way we are viewed
We know why we serve and the effort we are putting in, so it’s sometimes kinda disappointing to be denigrated. But it’s ok lah, something we all have to accept and get used to!
Still aim to put on a great journey and event though!
- chuanjin
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Michie's reply:
May 18th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Chuanjin, give those ardent reader of Cruz Teng, tickets to NDP and we all will be very
happy!
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chuanjin's reply:
May 18th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
I am sure all of you will be very happy but bo pian leh, we have to keep to our balloting system!
But there are some competitions being run by Straits Times, ZaoBao, WoBao etc. Where we have made some tickets and other prizes available.
The other option is to register as member on our official website at http://www09.ndp.org.sg/ndp09/home.php
or join as a fan on our FaceBook NDPeeps.
Prizes would also be made available to those who sign in.
But do share your reflections and perspectives on our NDPeeps sites as we build up towards our Pledge moment on the actual day itself.
Tks for the enthusiasm! Hope you understand…
cj
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Michie's reply:
May 19th, 2009 at 10:55 am
CJ,are u sure u from the forces? u really don sound like one! U r so chirpy
Thanks for your suggestions but always no luck at all!!!
and cheerful!!
For FB, how do we find the link?
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chuanjin's reply:
May 19th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
errr, people from the forces can be chirpy and cheerful too actually…(really!)
Go play around our microsite at http://www.ndpeeps.com/
The link to FB is there. Do send in your reflections as well.
Can always read our stuff on our approach, theme, my blog is also there on official site…etc.
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May 16th, 2009 at 12:52 am
so lucky~!!! the NDP tickets are so hard to get! =D but this totally proves your popularity… hahaa~ :p
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May 16th, 2009 at 1:03 am
biangz.. so envy u..
Everytime i ballot also cannot get.. u are so lucky..
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May 16th, 2009 at 9:55 am
WOW! 厉害了lor!
U r so pop sia! Looks like less MJ & more books bring u more luck??? or rather gives you more 实力, of cos u r one 实力派!!
heehee…
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May 16th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
to think that you had the funny idea of closing down this blog the other day!! phew~~
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May 17th, 2009 at 12:07 am
LUCKY WOR!!! MUST buy the number on your tics..who knows… =P
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May 17th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
wah you so heng… when will it be my turn to be the official blogger?
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May 17th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
Wow lucky you.
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May 18th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
I like NDP logo.. looks so friendly and feel so familiar to us….
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May 19th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
envy…………………………..
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