Singapore National Day Parade, 2008

National Day Parade 2008
Organiser HQ GUARDS
Chairperson: Tung Yui Fai
Venue Marina Bay
Theme Celebrating the Singapore Spirit
Event Chronology
NE Show 1 5 July 2008
NE Show 2 12 July 2008
NE Show 3 19 July 2008
Preview 2 August 2008
Actual 9 August 2008
Parade
Parade Commander LTC Mark Teo
Music
Theme song Shine for Singapore (Hady Mirza, Joi Chua)

The Singapore National Day Parade 2008 (NDP 2008) was a national ceremony held on 9 August 2008 at the Marina Bay Floating Stadium to commemorate Singapore's 43rd year of independence. For the second time, the event was held in the Marina Bay area.

Theme

The theme for NDP 2008 was "Celebrating the Singapore Spirit".[1] The theme was inspired by the previous years' Prime Minister's National Day Rally speeches. Five domains of the Singapore Spirit emphasised and portrayed during the parade were: Unity, Determination, Confidence, Dynamism, and Compassion.

The NDP 2008 logo captures Singaporean's celebration of the Singapore Spirit. The children are reaching for the stars, striving for excellence, determined to succeed and confident of a brighter future ahead. They are dancing in step with one another as a show of unity and graciousness. The logo radiates vibrancy and dynamism; inspiring all Singaporeans to shine for Singapore.[2]

Parade and ceremony

National Day Parade 2008, the second one to be held at the Marina Bay Floating Platform

Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Teo Cheng Hai

Lieutenant-Colonel Yeong Chee Meng

Master Warrant Officer Shamsuddin Bin Isnin

Master Warrant Officer Devendran

Master Warrant Officer P. Jegathesan

Second Warrant Officer Roger Koh

Army (1st Commando Battalion), RSN (Naval Diving Unit), RSAF (Air Defence Operations Command & Air Power Generation Command), Singapore Police Force (Combined Police Units)

Singapore Armed Forces Central Band

Second Warrant Officer Brian Lee

Tickets & funpacks

Tickets

As in previous years, Singaporeans had to e-ballot to obtain tickets for the preview and parade. Applications for e-balloting were made through SMS, telephone, the Internet, and self-service automated payment machines such as "AXS" or Self-service Automated Machines ("SAM").

Funpacks

The National Day Parade 2008 Funpacks were made from Tetra Paks, first time in parade history. The bags are waterproof and can withstand loads of at least 3 kg.

The cover of the bags were designed by young artists with disabilities from Very Special Arts Singapore and other artists from School of the Arts.

A total of 135,000 bags were given away to spectators during the three NDP previews, full dressed rehearsal and on 9 August. Some of the highlight items in the bag include a giant inflatable glove with six light-emitting diodes which will blink for six seconds every time the glove is shaken or hit and a 90-page discount coupons booklet.

Highlights

The RSAF Black Knights performing at the National Day Parade, 2008

As with the previous NDP during 2000, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was scheduled the RSAF Black Knights for Aerobatic display in NDP'08.

The pre-parade segment at this year's National Day Parade was expected to be a multi-sensory experience, with performances on land, sea and air.[3]

Some of the parade's highlights include:

Singapore cheer

A Singapore Cheer was introduced in this year's parade for the purpose of cheering on athletes and Singaporeans at sporting and other competitions.[4]

Songs

Theme songs

The official theme song of the National Day Parade, entitled Shine for Singapore, was sung by the winner of both Singapore and Asian Idol Hady Mirza. The music and lyrics were done by local composer Benny Wong. The Chinese version of the theme song, entitled 晴空万里, was sung by Mandarin pop singer Joi Chua.[5]

Other than the theme songs, NDP 2008 featured 4 more songs, each in one of the four main languages of our country.

Additionally, We Are Singapore was also featured in an a capella rendition of the popular tune. Chinese, Malay, Tamil and English – the four songs encapsulate the Singapore Spirit of racial tolerance and friendship.[6]

Flags

The national flag displayed underneath a window

During the celebration period (1 July to 30 September), residents are encouraged to hang the national flag outside their homes. The national flag are also allowed to be flown outside government buildings and private properties.

However, hanging flags on vehicles was prohibited at all times. In recent years, the Singapore Government allowed mini flags to be flown on commercial and private vehicles. In 2006, 10,000 taxis and 2,500 buses from ComfortDelGro (Citycab, Comfort Taxi and SBS Transit) were selected to fly a mini version of the nation's flag on it.[7] Private vehicles are also allowed to fly mini flags or put stickers featuring the nation's flag on their vehicles.

In 2008, the rules for displaying the flag are further relaxed. The national flag now may be displayed on clothes and costumes during the period of National Day celebrations. Decals, stickers, posters or other visual images of the flag may also be displayed freely. The only requirement is the flag must be treated with respect at all times.[8]

Schedule

NDP @ Marina Bay 2008 Programme schedule on 9 August 2008:

9 August (National Day)

10 August

All times indicated are Singapore Standard Time.

Broadcast

For the first time, NDP 2008 was recorded in 3D. However, it would not be broadcast in 3D. Instead, for the first time in local television history, the 'live' telecast of the parade was in True High Definition and 5.1 Surround Sound on MediaCorp TV HD5.

Television channels

As a national event, the parade was broadcast "Live" from 12.00 am to 12.00 am (SST) across MediaCorp for MediaCorp TV channels. The commentary on MediaCorp TV Channel 5, MediaCorp TV HD5, MediaCorp TV TVMobile, MediaCorp TV12 Central (MediaCorp TV12 Kids Central and MediaCorp TV12 Arts Central) and MediaCorp News Channel NewsAsia International was in English, MediaCorp TV Channel 8 and MediaCorp TV Channel U in Mandarin, MediaCorp TV12 Suria in Malaysian and MediaCorp TV12 Vasantham Central in Tamil.

Radio

MediaCorp Radio stations covered the parade "Live" over 938LIVE, Capital 95.8FM, Ria 89.7FM, Lush 99.5FM and Oli 96.8FM in English, Mandarin, Malaysian and Tamil respectively.

Online

"Live" webcast would also be available on the official NDP website, MediaCorp NDP webpage and Channel NewsAsia Live.

Outdoor digital media

'Live' screenings of the parade was available on the outdoor digital screens managed by MediaCorp at ION Orchard and Orchard Central malls. Digital media screens managed by SPH MediaBoxOffice in 313@Somerset and HDB Hub also screened the parade "Live.

Others

At the Padang, three large screens telecasted NDP 2008 'live' as part of Young NTUC's Flag@Padang Celebrations. A large LCD Screen at Merlion Park broadcast NDP 2008 live as the public was expected along Esplanade Walk and Merlion Park to view the NDP Flypast, RSAF Black Knights Aerial Display as well as soak-in the spectacular NDP fireworks.

Security

In the event of a chemical or bomb attack, the Singapore Civil Defence Force and Singapore Police Force had prepared stations outside the stadium as a precaution. Evacuation routes were planned and if such an attack is to happen, spectators were able to evacuate in an orderly manner. Sharp items such as knives and scissors were not allowed into the stadium and were confiscated. For security reasons, X-ray scanners and metal detectors were put in place at the stadium.

Since the parade was held by the bay, waterways in the bay were out of bounds to the usual sea craft and bumboats ferrying tourists along Singapore River.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.ndp.org.sg/articles/theme/theme.html Archived 17 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ http://www.ndp.org.sg/articles/logo/logo.html
  3. ↑ NDP 2008 promises to be multi-sensory experience. Channelnewsasia.com (21 July 1964).
  4. ↑ http://www.ndp.org.sg/articles/singaporecheer/singaporecheer.php Archived 4 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ http://www.ndp.org.sg/articles/theme_songs/theme_songs.php Archived 10 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ http://www.ndp.org.sg/articles/featured/featured_songs/featured_songs.php Archived 10 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "10,000 taxis and 2,500 buses to fly Singapore Flag in run up to National Day". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 26 July 2006.
  8. ↑ "Flag display rules relaxed during National Day celebration period". Channel NewsAsia. Retrieved 17 July 2008.
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