By Geraldine Peters
The suggestion to march for the NTUC contingent was planted by 54-year-old clerical officer Mdm Siti Sa’diah Kemat, a Housing and Development Board Staff Union (HDBSU) member who first joined the all-female NTUC contingent 11 years ago.
To show his support, 56-year-old postman Mr Johari Arwaa, a Union of Telecoms Employees of Singapore (UTES) member started marching alongside his wife from 2006.
“I wanted to share the experience with my husband. I also wanted him to be part of the ‘family’ as well,” said Mdm Siti.
The ‘family’ is what they call their fellow contingent members. This year, the couple is joined by their nephew and nEbO member Mr Mohammad Shadiquin Sarnin. The 17-year-old student at Temasek Polytechnic also happens to be NTUC contingent’s youngest marcher. Inspired by his aunt’s and uncle’s participation throughout the years, Shadiquin finally rose to the occasion and applied for a spot.
“We are excited about being a part of the SG50 contingent with our nephew as we are really grateful for the safety in Singapore – that is what makes me proud to be a Singaporean,” said Mdm Siti.
Shadiquin, on the other hand, sees the experiences he is having within the contingent as his National Day Parade highlight: “I get to see another perspective and learn so much through them.”
Work and Passion
Both working at Tan Tock Seng Hospital and Healthcare Services Employees’ Union (HSEU) members, Ms Parameswary, 44, a Patient Service Associate, and her cousin Mr Selvaraj Joseph, 51, a Technical Officer, have been busy juggling their time between work and their involvement with the NTUC contingent.
“Commitment is very high and being shift workers, we are 24 hours on duty and we are always on call. We have to be vigilant and fit,” said Ms Parameswary, affectionately known as Pam.
Juggling their busy work schedules with National Day Parade practice is not always easy, but passion leads the way for both.
Pam started marching in the 90s with Singapore Technologies and has marched ever since. This year, she joins the NTUC contingent.
“I have never had a marching experience like this before, we are all brothers and sisters, we are family,” she said of her fellow marchers.
Mr Selvaraj started marching during his National Service days in 1986. He represented the Public Utilities Board (PUB) and Sembawang Shipyard for over 15 years after before switching to the NTUC contingent this year.
”The NTUC contingent is very caring and genuinely concerned for you. They really motivate you,” he said.
Source: NTUC This Week
