I wished that I could be in the audience to get the free goodies (they looked so cool), and I wished that I could be part of the parade.

Well my wish came true in 2002 when I joined SAF MDC and was involved in the post-parade party. And what I learnt was that - the effort needed is tremendous and it is so, so tough to be performing with a huge group of people because if you screw up, people WILL spot you.

Rehearsals went on for many weekends and I felt it was too time-consuming (but it was my job). A typical day would start in the early morning, and then it would be rehearsals until night. KFC had sponsored all performers' meals that year, so we all had at least two KFC meals a day and it's not funny.

With my colleagues Mahmud, Mohtar, Delia and Nuris on National Day in 2002

While waiting for our turn to go on stage, we'd be busy doing our hair or make-up, while others would be running through the routines so that we wouldn't sabotage the group's effort.

I probably was the only one who screwed up as usual, I can't remember but I always end up doing my own thing and effectively pissing everyone off and earning evil glares and unpleasant words. Nonetheless the feeling of being up there on the stage, in the National Stadium, was beyond words.

It made my hair stand, and it made me feel like a major patriot (as with everyone in the audience - until the parade is over and they leave the trash behind).

So let's go back in time a bit - I have fonder memories of Singapore as a kid. No, don't get me wrong, I love my land but admit it - you hardly ever have time to relax and take in your surroundings, to look at your home.

I believe 99% of the working adult population is too stressed with money-making/survival that they no longer can appreciate wholeheartedly what our great governance paved for us.

I'm sure you remember the times as a kid when you never had anything negative to say about Singapore. I remember mine - in the form of SingSingapore.

Let me do a disclaimer: I don't have a habit of double-checking what I write about on Google because I like it straight from how I see things as, and how I remember them as. You can Google on your own.

I think Sing Singapore was an annual talent contest for schools, and I don't think they have it anymore.

In the special interview clip above, I will share with you what I know of it. I had done the ‘traitor' thing back then, by begging my father and sister to beg my sister's teacher, Mr Loy, to let me go to the Sing Singapore Finals '92 (I said ‘93 in the video - that is wrong) and donning the Red Swastika School uniform and supporting their kids (I was a Yu Neng Primary student) but heck, they were awesome and my school didn't take part!

By the way Mr Loy, if you are reading this, thank you for making my sister hold the BIG placard with the letter ‘S' (of RSS) for the entire evening while I get the nice yellow bamboo sticks with blue hologram tape in addition to sitting me with cute boys on both sides.

My neighbour Rahmah and I trespassed to Red Swastika School and placed our golden butts on their nice bridge over the pond.

Ok I'm just kidding I know regardless of the schools we were from, or of whichever background and ethnicity, we are all but the same.

No doubt there is still racism and discrimination swept under the rug in Singapore (as per anywhere else in the world), I am thankful that it is being kept to a minimum, and that Singaporeans are generally a patriotic bunch.

I am proud that I am multilingual and I am even prouder to have my friends of different religions, races, shapes and sizes just like how they are of me.

From what I have heard from my dad and people from his generation - they had to go through the major racism crap back in the 60s and I am glad we don't have to deal with that.

Singapore wouldn't have been, if not for the great man who led us all, who led the Nation and the world. I associate Singapore with MM Lee Kuan Yew and NDP to me, is like his birthday.

And speaking of more associations, I associate NDP with my childhood and that associates with Sing Singapore that associates Red Swastika School that also associates the child star Lai Xiang Hua 賴�� who was from RSS. He had been on several SBC 8 drama serials back in the 80s.

Anyone remembers?