Happy Birthday, Singapore!

SAFRA members and loved ones enjoyed live screenings of the National Day Parade and celebratory events at five clubs.

By Yong Shu Chiang        14 September 2018

This year, we marked Singapore’s 53rd birthday at five SAFRA clubs and revelled in 2018’s celebratory theme of “We Are Singapore”. The SAFRA clubs in Jurong, Punggol, Tampines, Toa Payoh and Yishun hosted live screenings of the National Day Parade (NDP) on 9 August, and held a series of fun and exciting activities for SAFRA members and their families.

NDP Engagement Fun Packs were distributed to the first 300 members prior to screenings. Members could also take profile images using the #SAFRAcelebrates Facebook frame, flash them at SAFRA customer services counters and qualify for a sure-win lucky dip. ARTS@SAFRA programmes were also hosted at SAFRA Jurong, Punggol and Toa Payoh as part of the National Arts Council’s Art and Culture Nodes Network.

Local-themed activities with an artsy twist, involving performances and craft workshops, kept members entertained. At SAFRA Jurong, a series of “Throwback Thursday” activities started from noon, and “classics” from the 1960s to 2000s were put on show. Offered, too, were iconic “Uniquely Singapore” food, fun games and entertaining activities.

The first 53 pre-registered SAFRA members could redeem a nasi lemak meal for up to four people. And there was a competition to offer one’s own rendition of classic NDP songs. Over at SAFRA Punggol, visitors had fun with activities, including those promoting family fitness, in celebrating Singapore’s birthday. Meanwhile, do-it-yourself workshops at SAFRA Tampines invited guests to get innovative by exploring crafts such as 3D pen printing. This was followed by the Parade screening, which was accompanied by a free dinner.

National Day festivities took participants into the neighbourhood as SAFRA Toa Payoh organised a Heritage Fun Hunt, starting from 7am. From noon, performances and activities provided entertainment in the atrium, right up until the live screening of the Parade. Finally, at SAFRA Yishun, what better way to make it a great day than a kampung-style durian party? It started from 5pm and lasted until the end of the live screening of the Parade.