Chingay Press Conference ~ Suraj Singh

Being Shortlisted as one of the Chingay Blogger, other than excited, anxious, I’m totally ecstatic about it. Being apart with Chingay can be one of my wish, and now I’m writing as a blogger for Chingay 2009.

The Chingay Parade traces its origins to a float decorating competition held in Penang in 1905. This practice of float decoration spread to the rest of Malaya by the 1960s, and eventually became associated with the Chinese New Year.

This Year 2009, Chingay will be held on 30 & 31 Jan 2009. Why is it held on this date? When normally Chingay is held on Feb? I think it’s because this year’s Chinese New Year is held on 26 Jan 2009.

The largely Chinese parade became a multi-cultural one from 1977 when Malay and Indian groups started joining in the performances, which was to mark a major precedent in the overall flavour of the parade into one which has become largely multi-cultural in character, despite the continued presence of traditional Chinese acts such as lion dances and stilt walkers till this day.

In 1985, the parade marched down Orchard Road for the first time, a move which was to prevail for much of the parade's subsequent history. Although the change could be attributed to the desire of organisers in bringing it closer to tourists along the major tourist belt and for ease of organisation on a relatively long and straight stretch of road, it also further signified the increasingly desensitized character of the parade. This is further evidenced when in 1987, an international flavour was added to the parade when a group from Japan participated for the first time with their float sponsored by The Straits Times.

I was invited to the Press Conference on 10 Jan 2009. In the press conference, there are people from PAYM, STB and Singapore Pools. They are the Principal Founding Sponsor for Chingay. They were there to speak on what will happen for this coming Chingay and also their wonderful Floats.

Before we entered the Press Conference Room, everyone was given a Media Kit, and I was given one too.

The media Kit contains:

1. A Chingay 2009 Poster

2. Factsheet on Proposed Media Angles

3. Media Releases
-Singapore Totalisator Board
-Singapore Tourism Board

4. Chingay of the Year Awards
-Categories
-Judging Criteria

5. List of Spokespersons

6. Brochures

One of the Principal Board Sponsor Tote Board spoke in the Press conference about their float they presenting, Wonderland of Dreams. The Tote Board Family, comprising Tote Board, Singapore Pools and Singapore Turf Club. They had been a part of Chingay since its inception. This year, the Tote Board family will be participating with a difference perspective by conceptualizing and creating its own float.

“Wonderful of Dreams” is a showcase of dreams that is realized by people from the Tote Board Family. The people that are participating are Paralympian swimmers Yip Pin Xiu and Theresa Goh who distinguished themselves at the Beijing 2008 Paralympics’ games. Paddlers Zena Sim and Pang Xue Jia (Commonwealth
Youth Games 2008) and sailors Koh Seng Leong and Terence Koh (Beijing 2008 Olympic Games).

“Wonderland of Dreams” is created by Mr Chong Tze Chien, Artistic Director of Finger Players, a leading theatre production company, which is also a beneficiary of the Tote Board of Arts Fund.

The Performance will be Choreographed to the inspirational song “Reach” which encapsulates the notion of reaching for the stars in the midst of support from family, friends and the society.

Together with the performance, the music and the heart contingent, the Tote Board Family hopes the “wonderland of Dreams” will leave the audience with the message of hope in their hearts, perseverance in their endeavours and kindness in their thoughts.

As Mention in the Press conference that other than the sponsors are making their own floats and participate in Chingay 2009, there are many other organisations calling in, to request in the participation in Chingay 2009 with their own floats.

With the Final decision, this year’s Chingay opening items promises to break the number record in Chingay history as it presents the biggest scale Chingay Opening with an impressive entourage of 750 performances from 9 Organisations which will showcase the best of Dragons From China And

Singapore, Phoenixes, Golden Ox General and Flags Display. A uniquely Designed Crouching Lion Float Ushering in The President and an 8-Metre Tall Float “The Trio Of Dragon Float” Designed by a team of 6 NTU Professors.

I and the other 3 bloggers were excited to see the floats, and we have been anticipating throughout the press conference to enjoy the Full dress rehearsals after .

We managed to get the reserved seats in the middle of the “stage”, as the full dress rehearsals are held in PA Head quarter, the space for seats are limited, however we still managed to get lots of photos from the first rehearsal.

They are the other two bloggers in this Chingay Blogger competition and there are namely Juliet and Karl.

Look at their facial expression, they are enjoying as much as i do.

We were firstly greeted by the dragons, one is actually made of Straw. The intriguing traditional straw dragon were by (Mun San Fook Chee) which is involved in the Chingay for the first time and local dragons by Singapore Dragon and Lion Athletic Association.

The black air produces on the photo were produces by this man in the middle that is holding a stick with fire on it. Of course, the bag he is carrying contains probably some kind of fire hazard powder that will enlarge the fire. Because whenever he pull his hand out from the bag and throw it towards the fire, the fire enlarged.

I know you guys would want to know how it looked like. I’ve taken Video of it, because i couldn’t capture the enlarged Fire with my Phone, because the timing is not so accurate.

Here is the video i took.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LztwkTYtCeU

The one on the stage are the host for the Chingay Parade.

Cultural Medallion and renowned Poet Prof Edwin Thumboo will write a poem for Chingay and the lyrics for the Grand Finale entitled “Banquet” and cultural Medallion Winner 2008, Iskandar Ismail will turn the lyrics into a singing piece; George Chan (famous theatre Artiste), Nancy Yuen (well-known Soprano) will act as “King” and “Queen” of Chingay Wonderland at Banquet at Chingay 2009.

So many things to see, so many things to “wow” about, that are the main thing Chingay were supposed to be. I’m Proud as a Chingay Blogger and at the same time as a participant.

I’m Performing as an Ant as one of PAYM members, that was two months ago, after i decided to join Chingay to gain the exposure and experience as a Dancer and also as a participant.

This year Chingay theme is “Wonderland” and so PAYM are presenting the “Garden of Youth”.

The “Garden of Youth”, is presented by a 300-youth contingent and themed as a parade within a parade, is set to become the highlight of the Chingay parade 2009 with the loads of colours, excitement and fun it brings to the YOUTH at wonderland segment at the annual street parade.

The Garden of youth includes flowerbed, Elves, Ants, Bees, Wasps, Flower Petals, Butterfly and most importantly the Caterpillar Float.

I’ve made an Interview with PAYM regarding why they chose the Caterpillar as a float? They said that the vibrant mass display of the garden community and its residents busy at work is a celebration of the metamorphosis of the young caterpillar into a graceful butterfly that stands ready to contribute to the community.

It’s like a Youth, turning into an adult contributing back to the society and its best represent by the Caterpillar to the butterfly process.

Other than all the mentions creature and insects i had also interview them on what other consideration they had and they told me that they had considered Grass hopper as one of the insect. It’s kind of lucky that they never put in the grass hopper; i can’t imagine me wearing the grass hopper costume.