By Chew Cheng Yu (16S06L), Choo Shuen Ming (16A01E), Louisa Li (16A13A) and Md Khairillah (16A01B)
Stressed? Depressed? Stressed and depressed? Hear ye, hear ye! The counsellors at Raffles Guidance Center are collaborating with the Community Advocates group Lifeline to bring you “Keep Calm Week” from tomorrow until the end of the week!
By Celine Ng (16A01A)
Photos from 7letters.sg
7 Letters is a collection of 7 short films by Singaporean directors Boo Junfeng, Eric Khoo, K. Rajagopal, Jack Neo, Tan Pin Pin, Royston Tan and Kelvin Tong. Fundamentally a celebration of home, the short films orbit this theme with fascinating coherence and touching individuality, offering one of those rare collections of stories which build off rather than compete against each other.
In all honesty I attended the screening with some ambivalence. ‘Singaporean’ works of art have on occasion struck me as somewhat heavy-handed in their treatment of our national identity and I wondered if the films would come across the way I interpreted some of the publicity: aesthetically pleasing but somewhat pretentious, framed in the token-nostalgic but largely mystifying location with a bright SG50 to boot.
Watching 7 Letters turned out to be an immensely humbling experience for me, for which I am grateful. Each film treated its subject matter with genuine affection and ‘local’ issues were woven into the stories with varying degrees of subtlety but an enduring sense of purpose.
(Note: The audience was asked by two directors who had attended the screening to approach the films with fresh eyes regardless of what we’d read about them before. I was fortunate in that, never having read any reviews, this was easy for me to do. To avoid giving spoilers, the following paragraphs are deliberately conceptual in description, and do not appear in the same sequence which the films do.)
Parting by Boo Junfeng was a deeply nostalgic piece to do with memory and loss. The film is notable for the skill with which it wove personal drama with reflections on what some viewers interpreted as a reference to Singapore’s separation from Malaysia in 1965. Conceptually, the non-linear progression was effective in creating the persistent sense of loss that undergirded the piece as well as lending sympathy to the drama -from demolished landmarks to changed faces, images conveying this sense of loss emphasised the difficulty of the Protagonist’s search for memory in a world that had utterly changed.
Sinema by Eric Khoo was possibly one of the most cleverly conceptualised in my opinion and an affectionate take on “the golden era of Singapore filmmaking”. The strength of this piece lies in its ability to reference familiar tropes -as evidenced by the immediately recognisable low-budget film-in-a-film, complete with word-art-like opening title, jerky cinematography and tacky Pontianak -and re-work them with affection and humor. Keenly aware of the narrative tropes it played off as well, the film as a whole was able to create strong parallels between its plot and construction, conveying across multiple levels the idea that what lends value to stories is a freshness defined not by utter separation from what is past but rather a meaningful engagement with history.
The Flame by K. Rajagopal was a compelling tale of family drama catalyzed by historical currents and the most narratively compact of all seven films. The film precipitated a collision of its four main characters with efficiency and vigour, allowing the key tensions of their struggle to be played out with sustained intensity. This efficiency was also apparent in the dialogue, which was tightly tethered to these tensions throughout, conveying through silences and stilted exchanges the unspoken concerns of each character.
That Girl by Jack Neo opened with a sequence that had me turning to my friend with a whisper of ‘confirm Jack Neo’ which was met with a suppressed laugh and a nod. Plot and thematic concerns aside, the film in itself is capable of evoking nostalgia for those of us who might see in it echoes of films such as I Not Stupid and Homerun. Crucially, however, the ‘local’ elements in this film were able to seem less like gimmicks and more like parts to a comprehensively -if a bit too deliberately -constructed whole, lending heart to a sweet if somewhat predictable story.
Pineapple Town by Tan Pin Pin was another film which audiences saw political undertones in, with some reviewers outright labelling it political allegory. Personally, I admired it for a very clean, down-to-earth style which I felt granted the most autonomy to the plot. The strengths of this piece lie in a complete independence of the story from narrative ‘enhancers’ and subtly balanced depictions of different character types (the middle-class lady and literal coffee-shop aunty, for instance).
Bunga Sayang by Royston Tan was a sweet and heartfelt story of friendship, one of my favourites for its balance of sentiment and humour. Reviewers seem to have mixed reactions to the film’s blend of the naturalistic with the whimsical and at times outright surreal, which was fun if somewhat confusing. I personally felt that the defining aspect of this piece and its greatest strength was a deeply feeling but understated quality to the storytelling. The friendship which emerges between both protagonists is made all the more compelling by the fact that their loneliness elsewhere and genuine fondness for each other is largely implied and at most articulated on occasion by timing and facial expressions.
Grandma Positioning System by Kelvin Tong was remarkable for how well it worked, with my friend and I agreeing that it was “by far definitely the tackiest but possibly the best”. This film managed even to outstrip That Girl in its use of stereotypes and Sinema in its use of tropes, but was nonetheless deeply enjoyable, again for its blending of heart and humor. Most remarkable to me was the skilful construction of the family dynamic which was deeply compelling in the way it lent depth and dignity to a series of tropes that were often simultaneously touching and comical. Perhaps the best way to encapsulate the spirit of this piece would be the reactions my friend and I had to its ending, which we both agreed should have made us cringe but actually had us crying.
On the whole, 7 Letters was a truly admirable show and one that I would recommend. I believe there is something in it for everybody, and as someone who views any art specifically marketed as “Singaporean” art with immense skepticism, I am grateful for this humbling reminder that there is art out there which explores local themes with intelligence and insight.
7 Letters will be having a short run at Golden Village and tickets are available online at their website.
By Vanessa Chia (16A13A) and Sean Lim (16A13A)
Photographs by Hoong Li-Ann (16A03A)
Closing a vibrant week of exciting workshops, dazzling performances and impromptu original poetry by Writers’ Guild, Literature Night 2015 was the manifestation of the school’s long-standing and dynamic Literature scene. Literature Night took the discipline out of the classroom and dreary lecture theatres, where seemingly incomprehensible extracts are tirelessly analyzed. Instead, the audience at the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) last Thursday night was treated to a delightful amalgamation of plays, quizzes and even a fashion show (of sorts, under the moniker of a Character Dress-Up), all composed and created by our very own students. This served to showcase just how far the Literature scene has grown and blossomed in Raffles Institution, as well as how the subject is so much more than what we are exposed to or our preconceived notions of it, from nightmarish recollections of memory work to possible hair-pulling from red-marked exam scripts.
The initial chatter of the audience, comprising largely of the school’s Literature students, immediately died down to a hush as emcees Myko Philip (15A01B) and Lee Chin Wee (14A01B) took to the stage. Livening the evening with light humour and tropes pointed out with panache and good-natured humour (e.g. the cliche-ridden nature of morning announcements and the tendency of Raffles Players’ works to perpetually surround melancholic, dispiriting themes), the audience knew they were going to be in for a treat.
“Chin Wee: But seriously. This ticks every single trope that was featured in RI Dramafeste.
Myko: Like what, dysfunctional family?
Chin Wee: Check.
Myko: Purportedly minimalist set which only looks pretentious and well thought out because it needs to hide the fact that they had no budget?
Chin Wee: Yep.”
As the curtains parted open to a stage swept up in utter darkness, the quiet energy of the audience was palpable for the first play of the night, All Good Things Discarded, directed by Isaiah Lee (16A01A). All Good Things Discarded was a raw, introspective look at how times of adversity can change the family unit, either for better or worse. The context of the play is as such; Bernard, an elderly grandfather has a mental illness which is putting a toll on the family (comprising the father Drake, the mother Grace, and the little daughter Melody), both in terms of medical costs and in terms of their cohesiveness as a family. Arguments emerge between the parents; The mother, Grace flares up at how much of a burden Bernard is to the family and she is worried that as Melody spends more time with Bernard, speaking in a language unbeknownst to anyone besides both of them, the more she will be isolated from the rest of humanity.
As the play progresses, both Drake and Grace explore what Bernard and his late wife Sylvia (mother to Drake) have left them as emblems of a passed down heritage. Once Bernard escapes from the mental institute to seek refuge from the plight of loneliness, the play explores what it means for a family to live together and go through tough times as a single entity. Bernard’s wife Sylvia, though not physically seen, has a presence that resonates in each one of the characters as they recollect memories of their past with her. In the end, Melody reveals her innermost secrets; her emotions and thoughts are a physical expression of the true meaning of what it means to love and be loved unconditionally.
The piece, which was the brainchild of Isaiah who had written and conceptualised the production since Secondary 2, had gone through a deluge of modifications prior to its showing. “The play has undergone multiple changes and variations to reach the standard and stage it is presented as tonight,” quipped Isaiah, whose hard work and intense pursuit of perfection was clearly evident in his production. It was a touching, heartwarming yet thoroughly thought-provoking look at, as Isaiah put it, at ‘what it means to be a part of a family’ and ‘what we should count as the most important part of that family unit’. It was a stellar opening act, a play which resonated with the heartstrings of many amongst the audience, and that was made all the more poignant by the impressive chemistry between the actors who had put in ‘months of hard work’. Perhaps Isaiah put it best: it was simply a piece that was ‘uncomfortably vulnerable, painfully honest and beautifully worth it.’
What followed next was the ‘Poetry Slam’ segment, where Gabriel Ng (15A01B), Wahid Al Mamun (15A01A) and William Hoo (15A01E) each recited some of their original poems, with subject matters ranging from playful themes to sentimental pieces and even some abstract works— a wide variety that kept the audience entertained and captivated throughout. With each poem, the audience seemed to be brought into a different realm, thoroughly invested within the minds of the poetry slammers as they brought their personal, unadulterated experiences to life.
The second play of the night, It’s A Different Model, directed by Celine Ng (16A01A) followed next. The play followed a father-daughter relationship between Mark and Lauren, and their interactions in the face of Lauren’s decision to move out. With commentary on the idea of primarily defining human relationships based on love, it exemplified how even though the nature of love may change over time, it is ever-present.
The piece conveyed how love ultimately overcomes all obstacles in a relationship, such as ‘bitterness, resentment, diffidence and pettiness’ in Celine’s words. She added on that ‘what makes Mark Lauren’s father is not in fact what he does for her because even the final act of pouring breakfast for her is only made possible because Lauren allows it, not because she requires it. What makes Mark Lauren’s father is the love for her that has always undergirded these genuine – if somewhat laughably bumbling – expressions of care. [Similarly], what makes Lauren Mark’s daughter is not the fact that she is nurtured by him, but simply the fact that she loves him, cares for him, and is in some ways emotionally dependent on him. They belong to each other emotionally!’
Literature Quiz 2015 was an exciting affair, with three shortlisted teams from 15A01B, 15A01E and 16S03B out of all Literature classes in Y5-6 competing to clinch the honour of being, unofficially, recognised as the most esteemed literary connoisseurs of the school. Questions ranged from authors to book covers to famous quotes, and the teams on stage fought hard with their scores almost neck-and-neck for the entirety of the competition. Each question drew both excited laughter as well as hushed, infrequent murmurs reflecting the audience’s confusion towards many of the literary excerpts and book covers displayed on the screen which were unfamiliar to them. For the second year running, commendably, 15A01B clinched the champion title.
The quiz was followed on by Nice Things, a play directed and produced by Caitlin O’Hara (16S03A), which played on the unexpected impact two complete strangers can have on each other simply through conversation (humorous at times thanks to the occasional interjections from the resident Kopi-O Beng auntie, and the consistent awkwardness in their exchange). On a deeper level, it showed the irony in how we are often unable to empathise with our family members, despite them being the people we ought to be closest to, but instead are able to make significant emotional and human connections with people we have never met before. As for what Caitlin wanted the audience to take home, “I wanted to play up the struggle we all face in trying to love the people around us as we should, as well as how we are all inherently good people going through difficulties of our own in conveying our sincerity and this was really the message I hoped for the audience to take home.” Truly, the play communicated a warm and heartfelt message about the nature of human connection and relationships to us all.
The next segment, Character Dress-Up, was arguably the most light-hearted and interactive segment of the night. Each Literature class had been tasked beforehand to send up a classmate who would dress up as a famous literary figure and recite a few lines famously said by their characters, in hopes that those in the audience would be able to guess who they were portraying. Some classes came very well-prepared for their performances, such as 15A01A’s portrayal of Forrest Gump which ended in an unexpected fashion as Stefanus Phan (15A01A), accompanied by Marcus Tan (15A01A), broke out into a rap along with their classmates in the audience. Other memorable performances included a re-enactment of Hakuna Matata, which was ultimately crowned the winner of the dress-up tournament and even one of Christian Grey, the protagonist of the renowned Fifty Shades series.
After the light-hearted and humourous parade of characters, the night concluded with a lovely award presentation for the best character dress-up and the proud champions of the Literature Quiz, which nicely summed up the entertaining events of the evening.
Alas, after the curtains closed on Literature Night 2015, we were left behind to pick ourselves off the seats, after witnessing the Literature’s other living side. Nevertheless, we are certain everyone left the PAC with jubilant spirits — if not thoroughly entertained, then at least exposed to a captivating line up of performances that showed just how dynamic, multi-faceted and fundamentally fun, literature can be.
By Collin Teo (16S06Q)
This speech was given by Isaac Leong, outgoing President of the Students’ Council, during the 2015 Founders’ Day Ceremony.
Photographs – they capture moments that are gone forever, impossible to reproduce. We each keep a collection of them – whether in traditional print or on Instagram. Likewise, I keep a small box of old photographs, notes, cards and other paraphernalia, opening and adding to it at every significant milestone in my life. I recently opened that box in preparation for this speech – after all, as my penultimate speech in this school, I hoped to be able to represent and do justice to the 6 years of joy and sorrow, anticipation and regret, and comedy and tragedy that we have experienced in RI.
Inside, I found images of our seniors imparting the Unite cheer during our Year 1 Orientation, of victory at the end of my Year 4 debate season, of my classmates and me horsing around in class back in the time when we didn’t share the same classroom with girls. Each of these photographs brought back a stream of memories and emotions that have crept into moments between my waking and sleep on many occasions this year. I’m sure that each of us has a set of mental photographs that will forever remain etched in our memory.
But as important as these photographs are to us, they aren’t only personal. If there’s anything, what is common amongst our individual photographs is the collective backdrop that is RI. Each photograph is like a story frozen in time and these stories have been inevitably linked with the broader RI narrative. In other words, we have went through what we have went through because things were lined a certain way for us – by our teachers, the school, traditions, circumstances or in some cases, just pure luck. Even though coming from RI may sometimes bestow on us certain self-importance, we are, fortunately or not, not as central and important as we think we may be. It is with this humble acknowledgement that I have come to more deeply appreciate how much RI has shaped us.
However, we cannot just reminisce about the past, especially on a day like Founder’s Day. It is indeed ironic how history ceases the moment we start living in the past. And it is with this paradox that we must look ahead and ask ourselves how do we keep the flag of Raffles flying high. After all, I hope that the photographs I keep and treasure never become a thing of the past, 10, 20, 50 years from now. I believe there are 3 things each of us can do.
First, we must work hard. RI has been the top school in Singapore for many years, but that does not guarantee us, individually or as a school, any success. The success we celebrate today is the culmination of hard work put in by those who have come before us. This means that for us today, we must not shy away from either excellence or hard work. There are debates raging on about “inclusive” and “equal” education, but that should not deter us from working hard and pushing the boundaries of achievement for this school.
The proudest moments I have had as a Rafflesian are of struggle and sacrifice, even when the stakes are stacked against us. The achievements on the field and on the stage that Mr Chan presented often did not come easily and was the result of long training, restrictive diets and sheer discipline in managing the different expectations of being a student and an athlete or performer at the same time. However, we know that it is not just the gold medals that we celebrate. I remember this once when a Year 1 boy rather innocently asked why we were cheering Raffles so enthusiastically even though we were losing the rugby game badly. It was some time ago, but I think my reply went something like “Ah that’s the spirit that never says die. It’s the spirit that is best when we are down and losing – and that is what makes it so unique”. That indomitable spirit is the essence of Rafflesian tradition and is articulated in our school motto – to improve, excel and always reach for the best.
Second, we must look beyond the A-levels. Let’s admit that there is immense pressure for Rafflesians to do well at the A-levels, and certainly, my batchmates and I hope that we can live up to these expectations as well. However, we must broaden our perspectives by continuing to explore and enrich ourselves. Initiatives like the Gap Semester have been effective in exposing and educating us beyond the confines of RI and Singapore. But we cannot just rely on big school programmes for enrichment; it should happen every day in the classroom as well. I remember my Year 1 geography teacher coming into class one day and started forcing us to play with biscuits, jam and milo in order to simulate tectonic movements. In hindsight, it all sounded so childish, but it was important because it piqued our interest in what we thought was a boring subject about things we could neither see nor feel. We were proven wrong. I’m also thankful to have teachers who care more than just the syllabus – exposing us to ideas & concepts that complement or even challenge what we learn in class. As my Humanities tutor Mr Reeves would put it, “life’s more complex than that”. Perhaps, this autonomy to explore outside the scope of exams is one advantage of the IP system and we must continue to leverage on that. In showing us that life is not black and white, RI has encouraged us to be curious.
Finally, we must contribute back to society what we have taken from them. I say this because RI cannot just be excellent, it must have a soul to ground itself. Community work has been a growing focus in RI, but we can still do more to benefit society as a school. Referring to history once more, Singapore has always been the core of RI. We were founded by Sir Stamford Raffles as a school for the children of native Singaporeans and never for the colonialists’ own children. Likewise, we may now be the beneficiaries of an excellent education, but we must never feel entitled to what we have and must continue to benefit society in the work that we do.
Ironically, the future seems to have an ancient heart. As we move forward with time, it is history that grounds us as an institution and memories that offer us some comfort as individuals.
The future will not be handed to us. But with the combined effort of the Rafflesian community at large, we can all ensure that RI will not simply be a school with a great past, but a school that has a great future.
Auspicium Melioris Aevi.
Raffles Press would like to thank Isaac Leong for generously offering to provide the transcript of his speech to Raffles Press.
By Qiu Kexin (16A13A), Md Khairillah (16A01B), Justin Lim (16A01B)
Photos by Raffles Photographic Society
Flooded with Whatsapp messages about TŪHURA? The past few days may have seen you being flooded with messages on your OG or class groups urging you to partake in an IHC sport– to represent your house in an unforgettable endeavour, and also to stand a chance to win some merch with the insanely good looking logo. Indeed, with the official inauguration of the Inter-House Competition (IHC) 2015 this week, the IHC has experienced its fair share of fanfare and excitement. As the first few segments were held in the past three days, the barrage of spectators flocking to the venues have certainly not been disappointed with the intense displays of sporting prowess displayed by the five houses.
On Raffles Press’ end, we seek to bring you some quick insights into the events for the first two days of IHC: Floorball, Table Tennis, and Cricket.
Day One
Floorball
As the first of the IHC matches, the well-hyped Floorball match commenced to much enthusiasm, with driven players from the five houses raring to go as spectators witnessed their first IHC match.
Spectators were also not disappointed as they witnessed many exceptional moments and skilful goal-scoring manoeuvres throughout the match that made the playing field an exhilarating one to observe. Together on the floor, opponents batted with each other’s sticks to wrangle control of one small and sly ball.
Stronger players seemed to dominate the game in terms of leadership and strategic roles in the offence. Despite this, the less experienced players, some of whom were trying out the sport for the first time, were instrumental in the heated fight between the houses, having provided indispensable support mainly in the defensive components of the game, especially whenever the ball was too close to a goal for comfort.
The Floorball IHC saw its fair share of intense play too, especially in the last match of the day between the phoenix-lings MT and wolf pack, MR. MT was about to equalise the score when the final whistle was blown. The match was concluded with thus MR securing the victory for the round.
The event concluded with placings determined by the number of matches won in a round-robin between the five Houses, and HH had the glory of walking away as overall winners.
Placings: 1st: HH, 2nd: MR, 3rd: MT, 4th: BB, 5th: BW
Day Two
Table Tennis
Compared to the inaugural first day of matches, the Table Tennis IHC was a relatively mellow affair that saw us entering a world of easy-going matches over the tables more so than the arena of lightning-speed blasts of reflexive swings and powerful backhand strokes.
The play-offs were, however, definitely not laidback as players were still thoroughly engaged in each of their own matches. It was clear from the the unbreakable focus assumed by the ecompetitors that each of them were still in it to win it.
Additionally, the event also opened up several opportunities for players to interact with each other across houses, with heated face-offs that helped to kindle some kinship between opponents from different houses afterwards. An MT player, who had been a newbie to Table Tennis, quipped that it was a “casual, yet enjoyable” experience where “everyone got equal chances to play, regardless of skill levels.” Sentiments were apparent, that the Table Tennis IHC seemed to have successfully provided participants with the opportunity to forge friendships within the level, amidst the friendly competition.
Standings: 1st: MT, 2nd: HH, 3rd: BB, 4th: MR, 5th: BW
Cricket
Most participants participating in the Cricket IHC were unfamiliar with the sport. However, that didn’t stop everyone from putting up a good fight! Cricket is notorious for its convoluted rules that baffle most newbies. Yet, admirably, most participants had to learn cricket gameplay right off the bat.
Though the rules seemed complicated in hindsight, the training provided beforehand definitely helped players strategise towards their eventual wins for their house. MT managed to gain an upper hand over their opponents, cementing their title as champions.
“It was a smashing good time for those present. Despite our lack of experience, it did not stop us from having a pleasant game,” a player present remarked. He also credited Raffles Table Tennis, stating that “the organisers had been effective and understanding in introducing newbies to the game” and that the game had additionally been an “ample opportunity to mingle with participants from other houses”, as well as “end the day in a fulfilling way.”
Standings: 1st: MT, 2nd: BW, 3rd: HH, 4th: MR, 5th: BB
Just the Beginning
It’s been evident from the past two days that IHC 2015 has gotten off to a good start, with active participation by seasoned players and beginners alike and zealous effort displayed by all players. Stay tuned for next week’s coverage!
