Meeting the President, His Excellency

It started as a thought and before I knew it, I made a hasty plan to meet again the President of the Republic of Singapore and took the chance to pose with him. How did this happen? Let me tell you the story...

Last 22 October, our school, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy had organized an international conference of public policy researchers, academe and studentry. Part of the conference was a dinner at Istana. Istana for those of you who are not from Singapore is where the President of the Republic of Singapore holds office. He is also supposed to be staying there but he opted not to and only goes there for work and official functions. Having lived near Istana for the past two years, I never had a chance to really see the inside of it. I only pass by it almost everyday on my way to and from work or during the weekends, but never dared to step inside it. Not that we can really do that on an everyday basis but only during special publc holidays here in Singapore. But because it is always a long queue, I dare not.

Until 22 October 2007, when two busloads of students, faculty members, staff and international guests/delegates from different public policy schools in the world went inside Istana to have dinner with the President. Well the dinner was not really meant for us students but for the international delegates and the faculty members. In fact, we were separated from the main dinner hall and could only hear from the loud speakers stationed in another room where all the students were asked to go. I thot since we were in another room, the President would not even bother to go to where we are. I was proven wrong when all of a sudden I saw my classmates and schoolmates lining up and queueing up to apparently meet the President. Suddenly, we were told His Excellency will be going to the room where we are. So I quickly lined up as well and did introduce myself to him. Well actually what happened was he looked at my name card and asked me, 'you must be from the Philippines.' To which of course I said yes, tho I did mention to him that I have been living and working in Singapore for 7 years now. Not that it would interest him really but more to engage him I guess in a conversation. I have been out of touch in this kind of thingy. The last President I met was President Ramos, when he was already not in power and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, when she was still Vice President. Both ocassions I was not a student and it was an informal cocktail events so not really as 'formal' like what has happened at Istana. The sad part of that night was I did not bring my digicam thinking that it will not be allowed inside only to find out that it is actually okay to bring it. So these pics are courtesy of a classmate who knows the official photographer of the school. But this is not the end of my meeting him. The more interesting part happened on the other side of the room. As there were lots of students that night, of course the President took some time to go around and meet each of my classmates and schoolmates. When he was still at the back of the room shaking hands, suddenly this 'crazy idea' took hold of me and I thought, why not go to the other side of the room, line up behind one of the students and ask one of my classmates to take a pic of me near the President. I really was not interested to have another go at meeting him but the idea came into as I remembered my babe teasing me that I seem to be 'posh' now as I will be having dinner at Istana. I thought, hmmmm...would it not be fun if I can show him a picture of myself with the President to prove to him that I really had dinner at Istana. LOL! Anyway so there I was trying my best to be conspicuous at the back of one schoolmate, when suddenly, President Nathan just took hold of my hand and shook it. I have never felt more embarrassed in my life. I had to gather enough courage to admit that I have actually met him already on the other side and the main reason why I was still there at the back was because I wanted to have a picture taken near him. Surprise of all surprises! He gamely held me to his side, and said, then we should pose for the camera. And he told me that the official photographer will give me a copy of my picture. Phew! I survived my blooper without being told off.....LOL! Anyway, after me, the next in line had more courage to ask Mr President to pose with them. Well maybe it was not such a blooper no? Good thing I was there as a student. LOL!

Watching the sun sets in Sentosa island

Yehey, this time I managed to get some nice shots as the sun sets in Sentosa island last 27 November when I went there with my nephew and my sis' friend and her daughter. I hope to see more sunsets like this again soon.

Little Carl around Singapore (at the Botanic Gardens for Kids)

Little Carl around Singapore (at the Jurong Bird Park)

Little Carl around Singapore (in East Coast Park with Auntie Sussie's close gals)

Little Carl around Singapore (in Sentosa part 2)

Little Carl around Singapore (in Sentosa part 1)

Little Carl around Singapore (at the Esplanade)

Little Carl around Singapore (at the Zoo part 2)

Little Carl around Singapore (at home and at the Zoo)

Little Carl in Singapore, a week of fun filled touring of Auntie Sussie's new adapted country

My dear older sister and her youngest son, little Carl (i call him that as the other Carl in my life is big and the one and only love of my life). They visited Singapore from 25 October to 2 November. Theirs was a dream holiday for me as well as I have always wanted to bring little Carl here but one way or another he was too young before to fly or Auntie Sussie is not around to host them. But then Auntie Sussie thot that as the big Carl will be arriving soon, maybe little Carl can come over already so that the next one will be the big guy himself. We will see soon if Auntie's prayer and wish will come true.

Anyway, my dear nephew was such a charmer that he managed to charm even people we just meet on the street or inside MRT. He has a ready smile and a wink for people, even those he just met or do not even know. That is why he was able to get away with having a seat in the MRT, having a nice cowboy hat from Auntie Mei Mei and Auntie Linda, toy and candies from Auntie Cici and a gift of cash from his godmother who was also with them when they here. But they only stayed for a few days.

Having a 3 year old is always an amazing experience for me. I learned again to look at the familiar sites of Singapore in a different light. From the height of a 3 year old boy. After 8 years, I visited again the Underwater World in Sentosa and went to the dolphin show and was amazed at the big difference now. I enjoyed every moment with him and my dear sister and his godmother and godsister, Lyca. We also visited Jurong Bird Park and realized that little Carl indeed has a v independent streak and cannot stand 'smelly' places and things. He could not stand the swan pond as it was very smelly. But he liked the parrots section and even posed charmingly there.

He hardly had tantrums though my sister would always ask him every morning if he would be okay to going out that day. If he says yes, then we heave a sigh of relief. If he says no, then we needed to allow him to do what he likes to do everyday, which is to watch his favorite film, 'The Cars', and hope that once we ask him again at some point while he is watching, he then would say yes to going out. LOL! Yes, he has such an independent mind for a 3 year old. I am amazed to see how much independence is in his veins, as if he is not only 3 years old. When at some point, he had to use the EZ link card as he needed to pay already for going on the bus or the MRT, we saw how he easily navigated 'the tapping in and tapping out process' of public transport system of Singapore. And he felt so happy to be paying for his own fare, tho Auntie Sussie was hoping his height would not have reached yet the maximum height allowed for free fares. LOL! But after seeing him happily trying to reach the machine to tap his card and how keeps the fare card to himself and take care of it, I was more than happy to have to pay for it. LOL!

In all, his journey and visit here with his mom and godmother and godsister was such fun, especially for Auntie Sussie. It is something I would always remember and I am sure he is now bragging to his brothers and to his friends how much fun he had in Singapore. And when he was about to leave, he cried for a while, prompting me to carry him (I know babe I should not have carried him as my back cannot take it) to assure him that I will be seeing him again soon in Manila. Only then he stopped crying. And seeing him waving bye bye to me at the airport was such a sight I will always keep in my heart. Love you little baby. I do hope your big counterpart will be next in coming here.