The National Day Parade (NDP) organising committee has released the NDP2020 theme song “Everything I Am”, performed by local musician Nathan Hartono.
An ode to the Singapore spirit of togetherness, the song and its accompanying music video draw a strong focus to community and family ties.
One of the stories featured in the music video is the “Cheer Up” campaign, initiated by the owners of a chicken rice stall, OK Chicken Rice.
When Daniel Tan and his wife Clara Loh heard of the struggles that healthcare workers faced in the fight against COVID-19, they started their online campaign to collect donations from the public, to cover the operating costs of delivering free chicken rice to healthcare workers.
Tan explained that the free deliveries were an “encouragement of love” from Singaporeans to healthcare workers, to appreciate them for all their sacrifices in keeping us safe. The public response was overwhelming and with the help of the community, the Cheer Up campaign delivered over 10,000 packets of chicken rice to healthcare workers in around two months.
Another scene in the music was inspired by the “Come Makan With Me” Initiative, which was started in 2018 by Dr Mohamad Farid, a volunteer at the Migrant Workers Centre (MWC).
This is a story of inclusiveness, as we expand our perception of “community”, one person at a time, taking time to show our appreciation to those who toil alongside with us in Singapore.
Through the MWC, Singaporeans are connected with migrant workers, whom they can invite for a shared meal in their homes, where such interactions can bridge divides and contribute towards building a more inclusive society.
