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This morning was the launch of this new program by all the 5 CDCs. Each CDC has identified a walking trail within their CDC and embedded parts of the trail with digital components, much like the Pokemon craze.

The launch was at 730am but I was there by 645am. The launch was at the Assumption Pathway School. I have never been here but as I was driving in early in the morning in semi darkness, I noticed that the campus is huge. Then I learnt that is is part of the St Gabriel’s foundation and it comprises 3 campuses in one location, including Boys Town. I was impressed with the cleanliness and the speciousness of the campus.

It was a simple launch and the walk was 5.3 km this morning which I couldn’t undertake because of a course I was taking this morning starting at 9am.

The GOH for the event was Min Edwin Tong and all the 5 Mayors were present. I was told that this was the first event after the GE where all of them have been present at a CDC event.

Today was one of the flagship events of our Lifelong learning Committee at the NWCDC. We decided that we should do an event for SMEs and we chose the topic of Enterprise Transformation; Growth with AI and Digitalization. We did it as a half day event and we had more than 400 participants attending today.

AI is growing in importance daily and companies that do nothing are going to be left behind and will disappear. So we had experts come in and talk about what AI is out there, what AI can do for companies and some real life case examples of how AI helped transform the business outlook for these companies.

I learnt so much. Certainly if I am a business owner, I will be worried with what is out there. But it is good to know that there is help available and resources available.

I had lunch today with Vikram. We have been planning a meal for some time and it finally materialized today.

He had suggested a French place at Duxton or a Pernakan place at the Esplanade. I picked the Straits Chinese at the Esplanade. It’s nearer and French food can be a bit too much.

We spoke about so many things. The elections, the firm, people we know and his family.

I know his father and mother in law well as I have done work for them and I recall speaking to him many years ago to encourage him to join Rajah and Tann, which he did.

The food was decent and the place is nice, but as is the case with all Pernakan food, the rendang can make one feel bloated.

Breakfast this morning was with the former Mayor and the 2 former GMs of NWCDC.

I first became involved in community work at the NWCDC sometime in 2003. I must confess I was lost when I first started. Didn’t know anything about all the grassroot organisations and their structure.

The Mayor then was Dr Teo. I began working on the Cohesion magazine and the manager in charge of this project then was Crystal Teng, who later became the GM.

After Crystal left the CDC to join PA, Mei Ling became the GM. She left at the start of Covid to also join PA.

These are wonderful people I have worked with at the CDC. Thanks to them for encouraging me and supporting me all these years.

Breakfast was at La Lavain at Hamilton Road.

The National Day Reception at the Istana was yesterday evening. This is the first time I have been invited to the National Day event. I have been invited to the CNY garden parties before but this was better. It was a lot less people and you get a chance to mingle and talk with people.

I had so much fun talking to people I know there. It was good to say hello to the President and the PM and some of my favorite Ministers and MPs.

I didn’t eat anything because it’s just so difficult to stand and eat and talk all at the same time.

The getting in and out of the Istana was a breeze because of the smaller numbers.

Today I was invited by Sim Chuan San to the 70th anniversary celebration lunch for Malayan Daching.

The event was at the Holiday Inn Atrium. So kind of him to invite me and seat me at the VIP table.

The event had the usual cake cutting, speech and a lovely rendition of Wonderful World. The host was very entertaining. Good MC and singer.

I didn’t realize that the group was so big and diversified.

Overall a fun event with so many friends for company!

On 30 July, at about 235 pm. I was at Mandarin Gallery. I just had lunch at Straits Kitchen with my mother and my sister and I wanted to come over here to have some tea.

I was sitting in First Luxury, when I received a text giving me some truly wonderful news! Unfortunately I cannot say anything since the news is embargoed till 9 August.

I am so grateful to have been awarded this on the 60th birthday of Singapore. I found out that I was being awarded this award last week but the news was embargoed till today.

I remember when I was first awarded the PBM in 2011. I received a call some 2 weeks before National Day from Crystal Teng, the then CDC GM, informing me about the award and obtaining my confirmation that I will accept it. I was really surprised as I didn’t know anything about these National Day awards then. I just served and did my best.

Then came my BBM in 2015, on the 50th birthday of Singapore and now this.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve and help others. I am also grateful to everyone who has worked with me through all these many years in all the various different committees to make this happen. Thanks so much!

Today’s lunch was to celebrate Kaling’s birthday. Actually today is not his birthday. Its next week but since Virginia was going off on her travels, we fixed it for today.

We had it at Summer Palace. Very nice ambience and the food was good.

Its always nice to catch up with both of them. I got to know Kaling through Virginia many years ago. And of course I then found out that he was a big investor in Razer when it was still a start up. So good to have friends who will remember and celebrate your birthday!

Summer Palace arranged a very nice platter of lotus buns to celebrate his big day.

I woke up this morning to the news that the US will be imposing an additional 25% on imports from India with effect from 25 August. This is to penalize them for continuing to buy Russian oil and supporting the Russian economy thereby enabling Russia to continue its war on Ukraine.

This additional tariff will be on top of the 25% tariffs already announced.

This will be a huge blow to India. They supply, inter alia garments, pharmaceuticals and machinery to the US. Many foreign companies did set up factories in India to pivot from China in recent years and to take advantage of the huge “Manufacture in India” campaign initiated by the government. If the additional tariffs kick in, there is going to be a huge economic impact on India.

India has been complacent and incompetent in their trade talks with the US. Complacent because they assumed that there was a special relationship between Trump and Modi and therefore they will get off with minimal tariffs. Also they believed US needs India as a partner to counter China. Complacent because whilst other countries read the US correctly and carefully, Indian officials were caught with their pants down. I had many Indian friends telling me that the negotiations with the US were done and dusted as of 3 weeks ago with minimal tariffs and only needed Trump’s sign off. How wrong they were.

Well I guess it’s time for India to now wake up and start planning their next steps. Am sure Trump is using the threat of additional tariffs to put pressure on India a d other countries buying oil from Russia, such as China and Turkey to put pressure on Russia to end the war. We shall see.

Perhaps there is magic in the madness after all…