12 July 2008
Media Release
1. For the first-time in Singapore’s history, more than 400 married couples watched a movie together under the starry sky at the Fort Canning Park. The event, “Pak-tor with U @ the Movies”, is organised by the U Family of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
2. Setting aside couple time to unwind and relax together, and give undivided attention and pampering to each other, improves communication and strengthens relationships. According to a recent study from the University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA), working mothers benefit from an evening decline in stress hormone cortisol if they spend happy evening hours, away from domestic chores, with their husbands. The downtime gives working mothers a health advantage over stressed-out working mothers juggling work and home commitments by protecting them against depression, burnout, diabetes and heart disease.
3. Another US study also shows that happy marriage improves a company’s overall financial health as employees in failing relationships cost employers money with substantial decline in productivity (with high rates of absenteeism and presenteeism ) and increase in health expenditure (due to undesirable health consequences such as anxiety and stress). A Singapore study also found a positive correlation between work-life harmony, and engagement and retention at work, leading to a positive impact on the organisation’s productivity and bottom-line.
4. Married for 33 years, 60-year-old Administrative Assistant Madam Evelyn Quek, who participated in the event, keeps her marriage strong by spending couple time with her husband. She shared, “We make an effort to watch movies or dine out together, just the two of us, even when our children were young. It helps us to relieve work stress, even now, as we are both still working. We travel, do volunteer work and exercise together as we have grown to enjoy each other’s company. And our strong relationship has kept us healthy and happy.”
Pak-Tor with U @ the Movies
5. Recognising that a happy marriage is the foundation for a happy family life, and it contributes to a better work-life harmony which leads to more engaged and productive workers, the Labour Movement organised the “Pak-tor with U @ the Movie” for married couples to recapture the romance of their courtship years. Through the event, it hopes to remind married couples of the importance of romance in their marriages and encourage them to spend more couple time together.
6. Today also marks a special day for two couples who celebrated their wedding anniversary together at the event. Madam Fazlinda Abu Bakar, a 27-year-old Shipping Executive who was married five years ago and has three children of age four, two and one, said, “We had our first boy soon after our marriage, and since then we have never gone dating. I read that it is important for couples to spend time alone but our children like to stick to us everywhere we go. Tonight was our first time celebrating our anniversary, and spending a weekend together without our kids.” She added, “We have the movie CD “Fool’s Gold” at home but my husband told me not to watch it so that we can enjoy watching it together tonight. Well, this could be the start of more dates for us in the future.”
7. Besides surprising couples who celebrated their wedding anniversary with gifts, prizes were also presented to the couple with the longest marriage, and the wining couple with the best outfit by the Guest-of-Honour, Mrs Josephine Teo, Assistant Secretary-General of NTUC and Co-Chairperson of the National Family Council. Attending the event with her husband, Mrs Josephine Teo said, “My husband and I have been a couple for over 20 years. Today, like many working parents, we are often tempted to devote all our non-working hours to our children and extended families. But that would not be healthy. So we make efforts to have private time to chat and do things we enjoy together, such as catching a movie. We share the commitment to continue to nurture our relationship and not to take it for granted. I'm glad to say we are still each other's best friend!"
8. Officials from the Singapore Book of Records were present to tally the final number of married couples who attended the event, and presented the Certificate of Record for the “Largest Number of Married Couples Watching a Movie Together” to Mrs Josephine Teo.
Toh Hwee Tin
Designate Director
Family Development Unit
