As Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of Chinese, Malay, Indian and European immigrants, the culture of Singapore expresses the diversity of the population as the various ethnic groups continue to celebrate their own cultures while they intermingle with one another. For example, one can find a Malay wedding taking place beside a Chinese funeral at a void deck, on the ground floor of a HDB apartment block. This can be said to be due to the policies of the HDB which tried to make sure all public housing have a diverse mix of races. However, Singapore has achieved a significant degree of cultural diffusion with its unique combination of these ethnic groups, and has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. Dance in Singapore comprises traditional and contemporary forms. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Pan Island Expressway, one of the main arteries in Singapore road network. ... Despite having a flourishing Chinese and Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s, Singapores film industry declined after independence in 1965[1], with the government being more concerned with the bread-and-butter issues of economic nation-building. ... The major public holidays in Singapore reflect the cultural and religious diversity of the country, including the Chinese New Year, Buddhist Vesak Day, Muslim Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha (known locally by its Malay names Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji respectively), Hindu Diwali (known locally by... The literature of Singapore comprises a collection of literary works by Singaporeans in the countrys four main languagues: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. ... Singapore has long had a burgeoning urban musical scene, and is a center for rock, punk and other popular genres in the region. ... The politics of Singapore takes place in a framework of a parliamentary republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Singapore is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... Singlish is an English-based creole language native to Singapore. ... // There are no statistics on how many homosexuals there are in Singapore or what percentage of the population they constitute. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A void deck is a spacious area under a Housing and Development Board apartment block in Singapore. ... It has been suggested that Public housing in Singapore be merged into this article or section. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Diffusionism. ...

Singapore has several distinct ethnic neighborhoods, including Little India, Chinatown and Kampong Glam, formed by the Raffles Plan of Singapore in the early 19th century to segregate the new immigrants into specific areas. Although the population are no longer segregated in distribution, mainly due to the policies of the Housing Development Board and the ruling People's Action Party, these ethnic neighborhoods retain unique elements of their specific culture. The usage of such neighborhoods is mostly commercial or for cottage industry specific to the culture of its ethnic neighborhood, and no longer plays a large part in housing the population, although it was once used for that purpose. Hence, these neighborhoods have patronage of all races who wish to either eat or buy something specific to that culture. Shophouses in Little India. ... The Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street occupies three shophouses in Chinatown, newly restored to house memories and untold stories of Singapore’s early forefathers. ... Bussorah Pedestrian Mall in Kampong Glam, leading to Masjid Sultan (Sultan Mosque). ... The Plan of the Town of Singapore, or more commonly known as the Jackson Plan. ... HDB Logo The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the government agency responsible for Singapores public housing programme. ... Party logo with a symbol of red lightning that signifies action. ... The use of the term has expanded, and is used to refer to any event which allows a large number of people to lalalawork part time. ...

For example, Little India is known and patronized by all races within the population for its thalis-- South Indian "buffets" that are vegetarian and served on the traditional banana leaves. These neighborhoods are accessible by public transport, especially by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT). South India is a geographic and linguistic-cultural region of India. ... A Chinese buffet restaurant in the U.S. A buffet (buh-FAY or /bə.ˈfei/) is a meal-serving system where patrons serve themselves. ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Look up foliage in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A C751B train at Eunos MRT Station. ...

In other parts of the country, such segregation is discouraged by government policy. The policies of the Housing Development Board are designed to encourage a mix of all races within each housing district, with a quota system in place to achieve a minimum of minorities in each block. This effect can be observed in all parts of the country; for example a store devoted to selling Malay food might be right next to stores selling Chinese or Indian goods. The aim is to foster social cohesion and national loyalty, which Lee Kuan Yew felt was crucial for sustaining Singapore after independence when he was Prime Minister. There is a weighty emphasis on racial harmony and subsequent case study of historical events, such as the 1964 Race Riots. Malaysian cuisine reflects the multi-racial aspects of Malaysia. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is 李 (Li) Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; born September 16, 1923; also spelled Lee Kwan-Yew), was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 1959 to 1990. ... The Priminster of Singa pyohbsdg vjhd|Lee Kuan Yew||3 June 1959 || 28 November 1990 || 1968 GE 94. ... The start of the July riot on Prophet Muhammads birthday, that would later injure hundreds and kill 23 people. ...

Festivals

Singapore multi-ethnicity is represented in many ways, including commemorative postage stamps illustrating festivals originated from different cultures.

Main article: Holidays in Singapore

The major public holidays reflect the mentioned racial diversity, including Chinese New Year, Buddhist Vesak Day, Muslim Eid ul-Fitr (known locally by its Malay name Hari Raya Puasa), and Hindu Diwali (known locally by its Tamil name Deepavali). Christians constitute a large minority, and Christmas Day, Good Friday, and New Year's Day are also public holidays. Image File history File links Singapore_stamps_festival. ... Image File history File links Singapore_stamps_festival. ... The major public holidays in Singapore reflect the cultural and religious diversity of the country, including the Chinese New Year, Buddhist Vesak Day, Muslim Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha (known locally by its Malay names Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji respectively), Hindu Diwali (known locally by... Chinese New Year (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), or Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. ... A replica of an ancient statue found among the ruins of a temple at Sarnath Buddhism is a philosophy based on the teachings of the Buddha, Siddhārtha Gautama, a prince of the Shakyas, whose lifetime is traditionally given as 566 to 486 BCE. It had subsequently been accepted by... This does not cite its references or sources. ... There is also a collection of Hadith called Sahih Muslim A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Persian: Mosalman or Mosalmon Urdu: مسلمان, Turkish: Müslüman, Albanian: Mysliman, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of the religion of Islam. ... Eid ul-Fitr or Id-Ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر ‘Īdu l-Fiá¹­r), often abbreviated to Eid, is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting. ... Not to be confused with the Malayalam language, spoken in India. ... The Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) marks the end of Ramadan. ... Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... Diwali,or Deepawali, (also called Tihar and Swanti in Nepal) (Markiscarali) is a major Indian and Nepalese festive holiday. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ... Diwali taking place in a rural area Dīpãvali (also transliterated Deepavali; Sanskrit: row of lights) or Diwãli (contracted spelling) is the Hindu festival of lights, held on the final day of the Vikram calendar, one type of a Hindu calendar that is followed by North Indians. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ... Good Friday is the Friday before Easter (Easter always falls on a Sunday). ... This article is about January 1 in the Gregorian calendar. ...

On August 9, Singapore celebrates the anniversary of its independence with a series of events, including the National Day Parade which is the main ceremony. The National Day Parade, 2005 was held at the Padang in the city centre. is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Parade at Padang in the foreground of Singapores financial district (NDP 2000). ... The National Day Parade, 2005 (NDP) was a national ceremony in Singapore on August 9, 2005 to commemorate Singapores 40 years of independence. ... An aerial view of Singapore, showing the Padang on the right, surrounded by Singapore Parliament building, new and old Supreme Court building and Swissôtel The Stamford. ...

Religion

Sri Mariamman Temple, built in 1843, is the largest Hindu temple in Singapore.

Singapore is a multi-religious country, the roots of which can be traced to its strategic location; after its declaration as a port, a wide variety of nationalities and ethnicities from places as far as Arabia immigrated to Singapore. More than 40% of the Singaporeans adhere to Buddhism, the main faith of the Chinese population of Singapore. Other Chinese are followers of Taoism, Confucianism, and Christianity, including Catholics. Christians constitute about 14% of the population of Singapore. Most Malays are Muslims, who constitute about 15% of the population, while most Indians are Hindus, constituting 7%. There is also a sizable number of Muslims and Sikhs in the Indian population. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 599 KB) Summary Sri Mariamman Temple. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1200x1600, 599 KB) Summary Sri Mariamman Temple. ... Gopuram of Sri Mariamman, by abzolut memento (http://www. ... Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... The Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula is a mainly desert peninsula in Southwest Asia at the junction of Africa and Asia and an important part of the greater Middle East. ... A statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha in Tawang Gompa, India. ... Taoism (Daoism) is the English name referring to a variety of related Chinese philosophical and religious traditions and concepts. ... A Confucian temple in Wuwei, Peoples Republic of China. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      Christianity is... For people named Islam, see Islam (name). ... This article is about the Hindu religion; for other meanings of the word, see Hindu (disambiguation). ... Religions Sikhism Scriptures Guru Granth Sahib Languages English, Punjabi] A Sikh (English: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is an adherent to Sikhism. ...

As a result of this diversity, there are a large number of religious buildings including Hindu temples, churches and mosques, some of which have great historical significance. There are also some Sikh temples and Jewish synagogues. These interesting buildings often became prominent architectural landmarks in cosmopolitan Singapore. Bhavna says there are 300 million gods in Hinduism. ... This article is about the Christian buildings of worship. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... A synagogue (from Greek synagoge place of assembly literally meeting, assembly,) is a Jewish house of prayer and study. ...

A selected list of religious sites in Singapore include

• Hajjah Fatimah Mosque
• Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Temple
• Masjid Jamae
• Sakya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple
• Central Sikh Temple
• Sri Mariamman Temple
• Sultan Mosque
• St. Andrew's Cathedral
• Saint Joseph's Church (former Portuguese Mission)
• Chesed-El Synagogue

In addition, about 14% of Singaporeans do not belong to any religion and consider themselves as "free-thinkers". Masjid Hajjah Fatimah, or Hajjah Fatimah Mosque, was completed in 1846, and represented a mix of local Islamic and European architecture, having been designed by colonial architect J T Thomson. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Masjid Jamae is a mosque in Singapore and a national momument. ... Sakaya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple on Race Course Road. ... Central Sikh Temple Central Sikh Temple is the first Sikh gurdwara in Singapore. ... Gopuram of Sri Mariamman, by abzolut memento (http://www. ... The Masjid Sultan (or Sultan Mosque) is considered to be among the most important Mosques of the Kampong Glam district of Singapore. ... Saint Andrews Cathedral, Singapore The main steeple of the Cathedral. ... Saint Josephs Church The Churchs central octagonal domed tower which is flanked by two smaller towers. ... Chesed-El Synagogue The Chesed-El Synagogue (Chinese: 圣诺犹太庙) is a synagogue in Singapore. ... Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that beliefs should be formed on the basis of science and logical principles and not be compromised by authority, tradition, or any other dogma. ...

Racial harmony

Racial harmony is an important concept in Singaporean society. Briefly shaken by the racial riots in Singapore's history during the 1960s, it emerged stronger after independence and is seen as a cornerstone of Singapore's culture today.^{[citation needed]} Teamsters, armed with pipes, riot in a clash with riot police in the Minneapolis Teamsters Strike of 1934. ... The history of Singapore began as early as the 3rd Century when a Chinese account described the island at the tip of the Malay peninsula. ...

Religious tolerance has been strongly encouraged since the British colonised Singapore; the Sri Mariamman Temple (a south Indian Hindu temple that was declared a national heritage site in the 1980s), as well as the Masjid Jamae Mosque that served Chulia Muslims from India's Coromandel Coast is situated along South Bridge Road, which is a major, and old road that runs through Chinatown. Among other religious landmarks is the Church of Gregory the Illuminator, that was built in 1836, making it one of the oldest religious buildings in Singapore. It has been preserved to the present day, and Orthodox services continue to be held in it. Although orthodox religions are tolerated, some groups are banned, including Jehovah's Witness, which opposes Singapore's policy of national service. Gopuram of Sri Mariamman, by abzolut memento (http://www. ... Masjid Jamae is a mosque in Singapore and a national momument. ... Armenian Church, Singapore The east front of the Church bears an elegant bowed apse with a pediment into which the date 1835 is carved to commemorate the year the churchs foundation was laid. ... National service is a common name for compulsory or voluntary military service programs. ...

Cuisine

A typical open-air kopi tiam (coffee shop) in Singapore.

Main article: Cuisine of Singapore Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2125 KB) Summary An Open-Air Kopitiam in Bendemeer, Singapore. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2592x1944, 2125 KB) Summary An Open-Air Kopitiam in Bendemeer, Singapore. ... The cuisine of Singapore is often viewed by her population as a prime example of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore. ...

Singaporean cuisine is also a prime example of diversity and cultural diffusion in Singapore. In Singapore's hawker centres, for example, traditionally Malay hawker stalls selling halal food may serve halal versions of traditionally Tamil food. Chinese stalls may introduce Malay ingredients, cooking techniques or entire dishes into their range of catering. This continues to make the cuisine of Singapore significantly rich and a cultural attraction. A hawker centre in Lavender, Singapore The Maxwell Food Centre near Singapores Chinatown is a popular food haunt for Singaporeans. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hawker can refer to several things: Business Hawker Aviation (later Hawker-Siddeley) was a British aircraft manufacturing company, manufacturer of the Fury, Hurricane, Hunter and Harrier. ... Halal (حلال, alāl, halaal) is an Arabic term meaning permissible. In the English language it most frequently refers to food that is permissible according to Islamic law. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are a multi-ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

Some favorite local foods include:

• Bak kut teh
• Char kway teow
• Hainanese chicken rice
• Hokkien mee
• Ketupat
• Laksa
• Nasi lemak
• Rojak
• Roti prata
• Satay

Singaporeans also enjoy a wide variety of seafood including crabs, clams, squid, and oysters. One favorite dish is the stingray barbecued and served on banana leaf and with sambal (chilli). Bak Kut Teh is typically served in a steaming clay pot Another picture of Bak Kut Teh Bak kut teh is a Chinese soup popularly served in Malaysia, Singapore and also states of neighbouring countries like Batam of Indonesia and Hat Yai of Thailand. ... Char kway teow Char kway teow, literally fried flat noodles, is a popular noodle dish in Malaysia and Singapore. ... Hainanese chicken rice (Simplified Chinese: 海南鸡饭; Traditional Chinese: 海南雞飯; pinyin: Hǎinán jīfàn) is a rice dish most commonly associated with Singaporean cuisine, although it is also commonly sold in neighbouring Malaysia and found in Hainan itself. ... Hokkien mee refers to fried noodles cooked in Hokkien (Fujian) style. ... Ketupat is a type of dumpling from Malaysia and Indonesia made from rice that has been wrapped in a woven palm leaf pouch which is then boiled. ... Sanskrit name Sanskrit: लक्ष Laksa is a popular spicy noodle soup from Peranakan culture, which is a merger of Chinese and Malay elements found in Malaysia and Singapore. ... Nasi Lemak, here served with fish cake, ikan bilis, egg, and buah keluak chicken. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Roti prata (or Roti canai in Malaysia), in its traditional and simpliest form, is predominantly served with curry in Singapore, with sugar less commonly served, and condensed milk are relative rarity. ... Grilled beef satay. ... Spaghetti with seafood (Spaghetti allo scoglio). ... For other uses, see Stingray (disambiguation). ...

Language

Coxford Singlish Dictionary, a book on Singlish

There are four official languages in Singapore: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Image File history File links source: http://www. ... Image File history File links source: http://www. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Not to be confused with the Malayalam language, spoken in India. ... Tamil ( ; IPA ) is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamils in India and Sri Lanka, with smaller communities of speakers in many other countries. ...

In general, English tends to be the language spoken widely in the business, education and government sector of Singapore. But colloquially, the Singaporean also speaks a diverse and mixed language that can involve English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, depending on the circle one is associated with, the age group, the race and the location.

The English used is primarily British English, with some American English influences. The local colloquial dialect of English is known formally as Singapore Colloquial English (though it is more commonly called "Singlish"), and has many creole-like characteristics, having incorporated much vocabulary and grammar from various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Indian languages. Singlish is basically identical to Manglish (the English dialect of Malaysia), and is the usual language on the streets, but is frowned upon in official contexts, and this matter has been brought up in recent years in the Parliament and the ruling party. English used among the population generally became more widespread after the implementation of English as a first language medium in the Singapore education system in 1980. British English (BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere in the Anglophone world. ... For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. ... Singlish is the English-based creole spoken colloquially in Singapore. ... Singlish is an English-based creole language native to Singapore. ... A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable language that originates seemingly as a new language, sometimes with features that are not inherited from any apparent source, without however qualifying in any appreciable way as a mixed language. ... Spoken Chinese The Chinese spoken language(s) comprise(s) many regional variants. ... Manglish (or sometimes Malglish or Mangled English) is the colloquial version of the English language as spoken in Malaysia and it is a portmanteau of the word Malay and English (also possibly Mandarin and English). ... Educational oversight Minister Ministry of Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam National education budget S$6. ...

Mandarin Chinese is the second most commonly-spoken language among the Singaporean Chinese population. It became widespread after the start of the Speak Mandarin campaign during 1980, which aims to make Mandarin the common speech tongue among the Chinese in Singapore. In 1990s, effort was taken to target the English-educated Chinese. Colloquially (on street), the Mandarin in Singapore is spoken in a mixed way similar to Singlish, in which Mandarin is often mixed with other Chinese dialects, English or Malay words. The accent of Mandarin Chinese language spoken in Singapore is largely influenced by Chinese dialects such as Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew etc and in comparison to the standard Beijing accent, it has no curl-up tone, exhibiting a Chinese accent unique only in Singapore.

Performing arts

Forbidden City: Portrait of an Empress, a production by Singapore Repertory Theatre is one of the most successful original musicals staged in Singapore.

Singapore is emerging as a cultural centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music. As a cosmopolitan and multi-racial society, Singapore is often identified with the "gateway between the East and West". In the past decade, there is an emergence of several performing arts groups in Singapore, especially in theatrical arts. A number of productions were staged successfully and several groups, such as TheatreWorks, have performed in overseas. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x754, 88 KB)source: http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (800x754, 88 KB)source: http://www. ... The Singapore Repertory Theatre at Merbau Road, Robertson Quay The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) was founded in 1993, and is one of the leading English language theatres in Asia. ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... Look up cosmopolitan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... TheatreWorks is an independent, non-profit theatre company in Singapore. ...

The Singapore government encourages a product-oriented arts scene within its master plan to include arts as a commodity for its economy, true explorations and innovation exist but at a level that is not well funded.

Prominent local arts groups include:

• TheatreWorks
• ACT 3 International
• The Necessary Stage
• Singapore Repertory Theatre
• W!LD RICE
• The Theatre Practice
• The ETCeteras
• ECNAD Project
• Singapore Dance Theatre
• Dance Ensemble Singapore
• Singapore Symphony Orchestra
• Singapore Chinese Orchestra
• Orkestra Melayu Singapura
• Singapore Indian Orchestra and Choir
• The Singapore Lyric Opera

Funding for these arts companies are divided into different class, some are government inititiated companies and may received direct funding from the government while others will need to apply for funding through the National Arts Council. TheatreWorks is an independent, non-profit theatre company in Singapore. ... The Necessary Stage is a non-profit theatre company with charity status in Singapore. ... The Singapore Repertory Theatre at Merbau Road, Robertson Quay The Singapore Repertory Theatre (SRT) was founded in 1993, and is one of the leading English language theatres in Asia. ... W!LD RICE is a well-known theatre company in Singapore. ... ECNAD is the reverse spelling of dance, it signify a unique perspective of looking at dance. ... The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO), formed in 1979, is a professional orchestra with 96 musicians. ... The Singapore Conference Hall is the current home of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. ... The Orkestra Melayu Singapura (OMS) was formed in 1991 to preserve and promote Malay music in Singapore. ... The Singapore Indian Orchestra & Choir (SIOC) is one of the few orchestras to have a choir to complement its performances. ...

Singapore hosts an annual Singapore Arts Festival when international and local artists gather in the country to perform in a wide variety of events including music, dance and theatre. The Singapore Arts Festival has become an event for Singapore to showcase its ability to buy international renowned performing arts products. The Singapore Arts Festival is an annual arts festival held in Singapore. ...

In 2003, the Esplanade - "Theatres on the Bay", a centre for performing arts, was opened. The Esplanade is also known as "The Durian", due to its resemblance to the fruit. The durian-shaped Esplanade stands out in front of the Marina Square area The Esplanade at night. ... Species There are currently 30 recognised species (see text) The durian (IPA: ) is the fruit of trees of the genus Durio belonging to the Malvaceae, a large family which includes hibiscus, okra, cotton, mallows and linden trees. ...

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and LASALLE College of the Arts are the two main arts institutions offering full-time programmes for the performing arts in Singapore. Institutions including government schools nowadays receive good funding for their arts programmes. The Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts is a school based in Singapore. ... The LASALLE College of the Arts, formerly LASALLE-SIA College of the Arts, was founded in 1984 by De La Salle brother, Brother Joseph McNally. ...

Movies

I Not Stupid, a successful Singaporean film

Main article: Cinema of Singapore Image File history File links DVD Cover of I Not Stupid This is a DVD cover. ... Image File history File links DVD Cover of I Not Stupid This is a DVD cover. ... Despite having a flourishing Chinese and Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s, Singapores film industry declined after independence in 1965[1], with the government being more concerned with the bread-and-butter issues of economic nation-building. ...

The development of film industry in Singapore has a considerably late start and therefore lags significantly behind that of other countries or economies in the region such as Hong Kong. Before 1990s, it was thought that the local market was too small for the industry. However since then, the industry has sprouted with a number of movies made and released successfully. Two important pioneers in local film-making are Eric Khoo and Jack Neo, both of whom produced several popular movies depicting unique cultural and social aspects of the country, especially concerning the lives of Singapore heartlanders. In particular, the movie I Not Stupid struck an emotional chord among many Singaporeans as its story highlighted many of the issues they face in an increasingly competitive society. Eric Khoo // Eric Khoo Eric Khoo was born in 1965 in Singapore and was introduced to the world of cinema at a very early age. ... I Not Stupid, a successful film by Jack Neo Jack Neo (梁智强; pinyin: Liáng Zhìqiáng) is a Singaporean actor, host and film-maker. ... I Not Stupid (Chinese: ; pinyin: xiǎohái bù bèn) is a film by Jack Neo, among its themes are issues facing Singapore, such as the problems caused by educational streaming or nanny state government policy as well as the social values of Singapore, including the highly competitive kiasu...

On 13 December 2003, 10 year old Megan Zheng became the first Singaporean actress to win the Taipei Film Festival Golden Horse Award for Best New Performer (co-recipient) with her role in Jack Neo's movie Homerun. is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Megan Zheng Zhi Yun (born 8 October 1993) is a Singaporean child actress most well-known for her role in Jack Neos film, Homerun, released in 2003. ... Nickname: Coordinates: , Country Region City seat Xinyi District (信義區) Government  - Mayor Hau Lung-bin (KMT)1 E9 Area  - City 271. ... This article needs cleanup. ... I Not Stupid, a successful film by Jack Neo Jack Neo (梁智强; pinyin: Liáng Zhìqiáng) is a Singaporean actor, host and film-maker. ... A poster advertising the film. ...

Selected list of Singaporean films: This is a list of Singaporean films, including foreign films which involved collaborations or co-productions with Singaporean film makers or artists, marked accordingly in the list as follows: // Singaporean films by chronological order since 1991. ...

• Mee Pok Man (1995)
• Army Daze (1996)
• I Not Stupid (2002) 小孩不笨
• Homerun (2003) 跑吧,孩子
• I Not Stupid Too (2006) 小孩不笨二

Mee Pok Man is a 1995 film directed by Eric Khoo. ... Army Daze is a Singaporean film made in 1996. ... I Not Stupid (Chinese: ; pinyin: xiǎohái bù bèn) is a film by Jack Neo, among its themes are issues facing Singapore, such as the problems caused by educational streaming or nanny state government policy as well as the social values of Singapore, including the highly competitive kiasu... A poster advertising the film. ... I Not Stupid Too (Chinese: 小孩不笨二 Pinyin: xiǎohái bù bèn èr) is a Singaporean film written and directed by Jack Neo, released on 26 January 2006. ...

Notable artists

Siow Lee Chin, violinist

Stefanie Sun won the Best Female Mandarin Singer award in Taiwan's Golden Melody Awards, 2005

• Zoe Tay, actress
• A-do, singer
• Lin Jun Jie, singer
• Tan Swie Hian, artist, calligrapher, poet
• Liu Kang, artist
• Siow Lee Chin, violinist
• Lynnette Seah, violinist
• Kam Ning, violinist
• Lee Huei Min, violinist
• Seow Yit Kin, pianist
• Jeremy Monteiro, jazz pianist
• Lim Chin Huat, choreographer, young artist award recipient
• Tan How Choon, choreographer, dance artist
• Neila Sathyalingam, choreographer
• Elaine Chan, music composer and director
• Liang Wern Fook, writer, musician
• Catherine Lim, writer
• Jack Neo, actor, film-maker
• Eric Khoo, film-maker
• Gurmit Singh (aka Phua Chu Kang), TV actor
• Fann Wong, actress
• Kit Chan or Chen Jieyi, actress, singer
• Stefanie Sun Yan Zi, singer
• Tanya Chua or Cai Jianya, singer
• Michelle Alicia Saram, singer and actress
• Corrinne May, singer and songwriter
• Dick Lee, singer, music composer and playwright
• Jocie Guo, singer
• Huang Yida, singer and music composer

Image File history File links Siow_Lee_Chin. ... Image File history File links Siow_Lee_Chin. ... Siow Lee Chin Siow Lee Chin is a renowned Singaporean violinist. ... Image File history File links Cover for album Kite (2001) by Stefanie Sun source: [1] This image is the cover of an album or single. ... Image File history File links Cover for album Kite (2001) by Stefanie Sun source: [1] This image is the cover of an album or single. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Zoe Tay Hui Gek (Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: Zhèng Huìyù; born 10 January 1968) is a Singaporean actress in MediaCorp. ... Do Cheng Yi, known as A-Do, is a singer from Singapore. ... This is a Chinese name; the family name is Lin (æž—) Wayne Lin Jun Jie (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; born on March 27, 1981) is more commonly known as JJ Lin. ... Tan Swie Hian (陳瑞獻; pinyin: Chén Ruìxiàn) (born 1943 in Indonesia) is an artist, calligrapher, poet and translator. ... Liu Kang (刘抗), (1911 - 2004) is a famous China-born artist who spent the latter part of his life in Singapore. ... Siow Lee Chin Siow Lee Chin is a renowned Singaporean violinist. ... Lynnette Seah Lynnette Seah (born Lynnette Seah Mei Tsing; Chinese: 佘美幸) is an internationally acclaimed Singaporean violinist. ... Kam Ning Kam Ning (born 7th October 1975) is a Singaporean violinist. ... Lee Huei Min is a young renowned Singaporean violinist. ... Jeremy Monteiro (born June 20, 1960, Singapore, died October 27, 2007), is a Jazz Pianist, Singer, Composer and Music Educator. ... Srimathi Neila Sathyalingam (Tamil: ) (born 1938) is a Singaporean classical Indian dancer, choreographer and instructor of Tamil origin. ... Elaine Wan Chan is a composition major from UT Austin started her first composition at age 8, wrote her 1st full length musical score at 18 and toured south of New Zealand with it, won songwriting awards and another for musical excellence: The Wong Yee Hua Memorial Award by 22. ... Dr Liang Wern Fook (Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; born 1964 in Singapore) is a Singaporean writer, musician, and researcher in Chinese literature and pedagogy. ... Catherine Lim (Chinese: 林宝音) is a Malaysian-born Singaporean, a Straits-born Chinese author, born in 1942, in Penang, Malaysia. ... I Not Stupid, a successful film by Jack Neo Jack Neo (梁智强; pinyin: Liáng Zhìqiáng) is a Singaporean actor, host and film-maker. ... Eric Khoo // Eric Khoo Eric Khoo was born in 1965 in Singapore and was introduced to the world of cinema at a very early age. ... Gurmit Ottawan Singh (born March 24, 1965; Chinese: 葛米•星; pinyin: Gémǐ XÄ«ng) is a popular Singaporean actor, host and comedy performer. ... Phua Chu Kang Pte Ltd, also known as PCK Pte Ltd or Phua Chu Kang for short, is a Singaporean sitcom on MediaCorp TV Channel 5. ... Fann Woon Fong (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ; born January 27, 1971), better known by her stage name Fann Wong,[1][2] is a Singaporean actress, singer and model. ... 75. ... Kit Chan (Simplified Chinese: 陈洁仪; Traditional Chinese: 陳潔儀; Pinyin: Chén Jiéyí; born September 15, 1972) was the pioneer generation of Singaporean singers to successfully break into the international market, marked in particular by her breakthrough into the competitive and highly critical Taiwanese market with her hit Mandarin album Heartache (心痛) in... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Tanya Chua (Simplified Chinese: 蔡健雅; Pinyin: Cài JiànyÇŽ) is a popular Singaporean singer. ... Safe in a Crazy World (2005) Corrinne May, (born Corrinne Foo May Ying) is a Singaporean singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. ... For the Australian rules footballer, see Dick Lee. ... Jocie Kok (born March 21, 1982), also known as Guo Mei Mei (Chinese: 郭美美; Pinyin: Guō MÄ›imÄ›i), is a Singaporean female singer who made her first appearance on the entertainment scene in the middle of 2005. ... Huang Yida ( Chinese :黄义达 ; Huang Yi Da, Born August 11, 1980) is a Singaporean singer and song writer. ...

Recreation and sports

Main article: Sports in Singapore

Aide Iskandar, captain of the Singapore national football team, hoists the Tiger Cup in 2004.

Singaporeans participate in a wide variety of sports and recreational activities. Favorite sports include soccer, swimming, badminton, basketball and table tennis. Most people lived in public residential areas that often provide amenities including swimming pools, outdoor basketball courts as well as indoor sport centres that can be used for badminton, table tennis, volleyball among others. Aide Iskandar, captain of the Singapore national football team, hoists the Tiger Cup in 2004 Within the Culture of Singapore, Singaporeans participate in a wide variety of sports for recreation as well as competition. ... Image File history File links NDP Song, Reach out for the Sky video source: http://www. ... Image File history File links NDP Song, Reach out for the Sky video source: http://www. ... Aide Iskandar (b. ... First international Singapore 2 - 3 South Korea (Singapore; April 11, 1953) Biggest win Singapore 11 - 0 Laos (Singapore; January 15, 2007) Biggest defeat Burma 9 - 0 Singapore (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; November 9, 1969) AFC Asian Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1984) Best result Round 1, 1984 The Singapore national football... The Tiger Cup is a biennial international football competition organised by the Asean Football Federation, contested by the national teams of nations in Southeast Asia. ... Soccer redirects here. ... Swimmer redirects here. ... This article is about the sport. ... This article is about the sport. ... “Ping Pong” redirects here. ... HDB Logo The Housing and Development Board (HDB) is the government agency responsible for Singapores public housing programme. ... For the ball used in this sport, see Volleyball (ball). ...

Living on an island, the people also enjoy many water activities including sailing, kayaking and waterskiing. There is also a number of avid recreational scuba divers and one of their favorite diving spots is a southern island called Pulau Hantu, known for its rich coral reefs. For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ... Sea Kayaking at Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Australia Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. ... Recreational skiiers typically use two skis — other techniques abound. ... Scuba diving is swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. ... Pulau Hantu is located to the south of the main island of Singapore, off the Straits of Singapore. ...

The main spectacle sport is soccer where there is a semi-professional S.League. Launched in 1996, the league now consists of 10 teams competing with each other in stadiums around the country. In 2006, the Singapore national football team became the three-time winner of the Tiger Cup, a soccer league involving countries from South-East Asia. The team had previously won the trophy in 1998 and 2004. The S.League is the top professional football (soccer) league in Singapore. ... First international Singapore 2 - 3 South Korea (Singapore; April 11, 1953) Biggest win Singapore 11 - 0 Laos (Singapore; January 15, 2007) Biggest defeat Burma 9 - 0 Singapore (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; November 9, 1969) AFC Asian Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1984) Best result Round 1, 1984 The Singapore national football... The Tiger Cup is a biennial international football competition organised by the Asean Football Federation, contested by the national teams of nations in Southeast Asia. ...

While not a major sporting power, Singapore's sportspersons have performed relatively well in regional as well as international competitions, especially in table tennis, badminton, bowling, sailing, silat, swimming and water polo. Some athletes such as Li Jiawei and Ronald Susilo have become national celebrities. “Ping Pong” redirects here. ... This article is about the sport. ... A bowler releases the ball. ... For either of the songs named Sailing, see Sailing (song). ... Silat or Pencak Silat is an umbrella term for a martial art form originating from the regions of the Malay Archipelago. ... Swimmer redirects here. ... Water polo is a team water sport that combines some elements of swimming and football. ... Template:Infobox Table Tennis player Li Jiawei (Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) (born 9 August 1981 in Beijing) is a Singaporean table tennis player who finished in fourth-place in the womens singles at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. ... Ronald Susilo Ronald Susilo (born June 6, 1979, Kediri, Indonesia) is a Singaporean badminton player. ...

Architecture

The durian-shaped Esplanade stands out in front of the Marina Bay area

The tall business buildings of the Central Area comprise the skyline along the coast of the Marina Bay, which is one of Singapore's famous tourist attractions. The statue of the Merlion is situated there. Since the late 1990s, the government has been striving to promote Singapore as a centre for arts and culture, including theatre and music. This positions Singapore to be a cosmopolitan and diverse society, often hailed as the "gateway between the best and worst". The highlight of this plan is the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, a centre for performing arts that opened in 2003, built at an estimated cost of S$1 billion, is noted for its exterior which resembles a durian to some people. Singapores Marina Square area. ... Singapores Marina Square area. ... Species There are currently 30 recognised species (see text) The durian (IPA: ) is the fruit of trees of the genus Durio belonging to the Malvaceae, a large family which includes hibiscus, okra, cotton, mallows and linden trees. ... The Merlion is one of the most well-known tourist icons of Singapore. ... Serge Sudeikins poster for the Bat Theatre (1922). ... For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... Look up cosmopolitan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The durian-shaped Esplanade stands out in front of the Marina Square area The Esplanade at night. ...

Another distinct feature of architecture in Singapore is the incorporation of water elements such as fountains and water features, examples of which can be found at Bugis Junction and Suntec City. Bugis Junction Tower as seen from Rochor Road. ... Singapore is well-known in Southeast Asia for its urbanism, and shopping is indispensable for Singaporeans. ...

Popular culture

In the recent years, blogging has become an integral part of Singaporean cyber culture. Notable examples of local blogs include Mr Brown, Xia Xue, Mr Miyagi, and Sarong Party Girl. Tomorrow.sg is a local metablog, which highlists interesting posts from local bloggers. The first Singapore Blogger's Convention dubbed Bloggers.SG was held in 2005. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Cyber was a range of mainframe computers manufactured by Control Data Corporation. ... Lee Kin Mun, aka mrbrown, is a Singaporean blogger well known for his social and political commentary. ... Benjamin Lee (born July 21, 1969) is a prominent Singaporean blogger who writes as Mr Miyagi[1], a nickname he acquired playing rugby in Sydney, Australia, where he spent 8 years reading law at the University of New South Wales. ... Sarong Party Girl (also abbreviated to SPG) is a derogatory term used in Singapore, and, less frequently, in Peninsular Malaysia. ... Bloggers. ...

Singapore is also home to Zouk, one of Asia's most famous nightclubs. Zouk is a nightclub in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. ... Laser lights illuminate the dance floor at a Gatecrasher dance music event in Sheffield, England A nightclub (or night club or club) is a drinking, dancing, and entertainment venue which does its primary business after dark. ...

Cultural policy

Further information: Censorship in Singapore

Singapore maintains tight restrictions on arts and cultural performances. Most artistic works have to be vetted by the government in advance, and topics that breach so-called out of bounds markers (OB markers) are not permitted. While the OB markers are not publicly defined, they are generally assumed to include sensitive topics such as race, religion, and allegations of corruption or nepotism in government. Nudity and other forms of loosely-defined "obscenity" are also banned. Singaporean film director Royston Tan has produced movies which challenge these policies, including a movie called Cut in reference to censorship of the arts. ^[1] Censorship in Singapore mainly targets pornography, political, racial and religious issues. ... An OB marker, short for out of bounds marker, is a term used in Singapore to denote what topics are permissible for public discussion. ... Royston Tan is a young Singaporean film-maker. ...

The country's first pre-tertiary arts school, The Arts School, is currently being built at Kirk Terrace. Expected to commence in 2008, the school aims to provide an environment for nurturing young artists aged between 13 and 18 years old. ^[2]

Culture

Enjoying Singaporean cuisine is a national pastime. Hawker centres and kopi tiams are well-distributed throughout the country.

The majority of Singaporeans live in planned estates of high-rise, high-density HDB flats.

Singapore is a small and relatively modern amalgam of an indigenous Malay population with a third generation Chinese majority, as well as Indian and Arab immigrants with some intermarriages. There also exist Eurasian and Peranakan (known also as 'Straits Chinese') communities. Singapore has also achieved a significant degree of cultural diffusion with its unique combination of these ethnic groups, and this has given Singapore a rich mixture of diversity for its young age. One of the prime examples is in Singaporean cuisine, often a cultural attraction for tourists. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 998 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Singapore Culture of Singapore Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 998 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Singapore Culture of Singapore Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera... The cuisine of Singapore is often viewed by her population as a prime example of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore. ... A hawker centre in Lavender, Singapore The Maxwell Food Centre near Singapores Chinatown is a popular food haunt for Singaporeans. ... A Kopitiam or kopi tiam is a traditional breakfast and coffee shop found in Singapore and Malaysia in Southeast Asia. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (667x1000, 547 KB) Summary Woodlands Avenue 9, Apartment Block 878. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (667x1000, 547 KB) Summary Woodlands Avenue 9, Apartment Block 878. ... It has been suggested that Public housing in Singapore be merged into this article or section. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The Malays in Singapore (Malay : Orang Melayu Singapura) constitute 13. ... Chinatown was an enclave for the early Chinese immigrants in Singapore in the 19th and early 20th centuries. ... Most Arab Singaporeans have come in the past from Hadhramaut region in Yemen and are Muslim. ... Eurasian Singaporean is an umbrella term to describe a community in Singapore descended from Europeans who married local Asians. ... Peranakan, Baba-Nyonya () and Straits Chinese (; named after the Straits Settlements) are terms used for the descendants of the very early Chinese immigrants to the Nusantara region, including both the British Straits Settlements of Malaya and the Dutch-controlled island of Java among other places, who have partially adopted Malay... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Diffusionism. ... The cuisine of Singapore is often viewed by her population as a prime example of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore. ...

The English used is primarily British English, with some American English influences. The local colloquial dialect of English is Singlish, which has many creole-like characteristics, having incorporated vocabulary and grammar from various Chinese dialects, Malay, and Indian languages. Singlish is spoken commonly on the streets, but the government frowns upon its use in official contexts. English became widespread in Singapore after it was implemented as a first language medium in the education system, and English is the most common language in Singaporean literature. The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... British English (BrE, BE, en-GB) is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere in the Anglophone world. ... For other uses, see American English (disambiguation). ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος, dialektos) is a variety of a language characteristic of a particular group of the languages speakers. ... Singlish is an English-based creole language native to Singapore. ... A creole language, or simply a creole, is a stable language that originates seemingly as a new language, sometimes with features that are not inherited from any apparent source, without however qualifying in any appreciable way as a mixed language. ... Spoken Chinese The Chinese spoken language(s) comprise(s) many regional variants. ... Not to be confused with the Malayalam language, spoken in India. ... Educational oversight Minister Ministry of Education Tharman Shanmugaratnam National education budget S$6. ... The literature of Singapore comprises a collection of literary works by Singaporeans in the countrys four main languagues: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. ...

Singapore has several ethnic neighbourhoods, including Little India and Chinatown. These were formed under the Raffles Plan to originally segregate the immigrants, but now have a diverse patronage whose main intentions are to either eat or buy something specific to that culture. Many places of worship were also constructed during the colonial era, a practice encouraged by the British to promote religious tolerance. Sri Mariamman Temple, the Masjid Jamae Mosque and the Church of Gregory the Illuminator are among those that were built during the colonial period. Work is now underway to preserve these religious sites as National Monuments of Singapore. The policy for the primarily commercial ethnic neighbourhoods stands in contrast to the housing policies of the Housing and Development Board (HDB). HDB policies attempt to promote a mix of all races within each housing district in order to foster social cohesion and national loyalty.^[3] Shophouses in Little India. ... The Chinatown Heritage Centre at Pagoda Street occupies three shophouses in Chinatown, newly restored to house memories and untold stories of Singapore’s early forefathers. ... Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles (6 July 1781 – 5 July 1826) was the founder of the city (now country) of Singapore, and is one of the best-known of the many Britons who created the largest empire the world has ever seen. ... Gopuram of Sri Mariamman, by abzolut memento (http://www. ... Masjid Jamae is a mosque in Singapore and a national momument. ... The Masjid al-Haram in Mecca as it exists today A mosque is a place of worship for followers of the Islamic faith. ... The Church of Gregory the Illuminator, or the Armenian Church of St. ... The Preservation of Monuments Board (PMB), a statutory board under the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA), has so far gazetted 54 buildings and structures in Singapore as the National Monuments of Singapore. ... It has been suggested that Public housing in Singapore be merged into this article or section. ...

Creative writing

Main article: Literature of Singapore

Singapore has a rich heritage in Creative Writing in the Malay, Chinese, Tamil and English Languages. While there is more emphasis on social and patriotic themes in Malay, Chinese and Tamil, the writer in English finds himself (or herself) more comfortable in the analysis of the individual and his motivations. For the writer in Tamil, Chinese and Malay, a healthy concern with the particulars of everyday life (one could say the minutae of living) and the interweaving of these into the fabric of larger nationalistic, patriotic social events is in no way an offensive experience -- in fact it is expected. The writer in English seems more concerned with discovering an image of the individual self, or extrapolating human experience. The social milieu of the English educated is a middle class one and they have middle class pretensions. The middle class preoccupation with the self has over the years pervaded the consciousness of the modern Chinese and Malay writers and is what made it possible for their identification with writers using the English Language. The literature of Singapore comprises a collection of literary works by Singaporeans in the countrys four main languagues: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. ...

The writer in the English language was a comparatively later phenomenon. Creative writing in English is traced to the establishment in Singapore of an institution of higher education in the arts and sciences, Raffles College, which subsequently became the University of Malaya in Singapore together with the King Edward VII Medical College. One of the high points in writing in English was the early and mid-fifties when a rising anti-colonial nationalism was at play and contributed to the desire to be identified as "Malayan". The poems of Wang Gungwu, Lim Thean Soo and Augustine Goh Sin Tub from this period are in a category by themselves. Except for Wang who managed to move into some detached social poems, the rest are mostly personal and experimental in their use of language. The imagery is for most part forcedly local with rubber trees, durians, laterite etc appearing again and again as do words and phrases from Malay and Chinese. This led to the coining of the word "Engmalchin" to explain the highly rarefied, nationalistic application of such languages in poems in English. Wang Gungwu (Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ) (born October 9, 1930)[1] is an academic who has studied and written about the Chinese diaspora. ...

In the mid-fifties and early sixties there rose a group of writers in English, only a few of whom are alive today--Ee Tiang Hong, Edwin Thumboo, Llyod Fernando and Oliver Seet. A "younger" group among whom Wong Phui Nam was most outstanding arose a few years later and moved away from the conscious Malayaness of their immediate predecessors, but found themselves unsure of direction; though convinced of their interest in writing. Emeritus Professor Edwin Nadason Thumboo (born November 22, 1933) is a Singaporean poet. ...

During this period (1950-1963), prose writing was almost negligible. Herman Hochstadt's "The Compact and Other Stories" is about the only collection. Llyod Fernando, then a short story writer, published his first novel after 20 years. Of the other writers, Awang Kedua (Wang Gung Wu, again) had surest control of language and development of theme. It was however, poetry and not prose that surged forward in the sixties beginning with Robert Yeo, Dudely de Souza, Arthur Yap(died in 2006) and Wong May. The achievements of these writers were consolidated and enlarged by the establilshment of "FOCUS", the journal of the Literary Society of the University of Singapore, so much so that when the next group of writers, Lee Tzu Pheng, Mohd Hj Salleh, Yeo Bock Cheng, Pang Khye Guan, Syed Alwi Shahab and Chandran Nair(now living in Paris) arrived at the University in 1965, there was already in existence within the confines of the University, a micro-tradition of writing and publishing in English. The arrival of Edwin Thumboo to the English Department from the Civil Service was an added impetus. Robert Yeo,Singaporean Poet, Playwright, Novelist, was born Robert Yeo Cheng Chuan(1940), // Yeo is a retired lecturer of the National Institude of Education and Nanyang Technological University. ... Arthur Yap (b. ... Lee Tzu Pheng was born (1946) and educated in Singapore. ... Chandran Nair was born in Kerala, India in 1945. ... Emeritus Professor Edwin Nadason Thumboo (born November 22, 1933) is a Singaporean poet. ...

At around this time too, Goh Poh Seng (now living in Canada), who had actually taken a year off to do nothing but write in Dublin and London (and almost starved as a result), arrived to begin work as a Medical Officer at the General Hospital. He started "TUMASEK" a journal for the publication of Singapore/Malayan writing; the fourth such attempt -- the first being "WRITE" begun by Herman Hochstadt and others in the late 1950s; the second,"MONSOON" edited by Lim Siew Wai in the early sixties; the third, the aforementioned "FOCUS". "TUMASEK" however followed "MONSOON" into death after a few issues but Goh pushed forward undaunted and founded together with Lim Kok Ann, CENTRE 65 which presented the first ever "Poetry and Folk Music Festival" to Singaporeans at the Cultural Centre in 1966. The Centre provided Goh with the framework to develop as a playwright beginning with his "Moon is Less Bright" and going on to "When Smiles are Done". Goh later decided that his particular field was prose; "The Immolation" being his first novel. Goh Poh Seng was born in Malaya in 1936. ...

The poets of the mid-sixties extended their style and techniques in the seventies and published in local and international journals and also in individual collections--Robert Yeo's "Coming Home Baby" and Arthur Yap's "Only Lines" in 1971, Chandran Nair's "Once the Horsemen and Other Poems" in 1972, and "After the Hard Hours, This Rain" in 1975. The impetus of the sixties was carried over into the seventies and among the names that emerged in poetry were Chung Yee Chong, Sng Boh Kim, Ernest Lim, and Geraldine Heng, who achieved a remarkable fluency of style in a single volume work, "White Dreams". Chandran Nair was born in Kerala, India in 1945. ...

Today the younger poets writing in English, Leong Liew Geok, Angeline Yap, Boey Kim Cheng, Heng Siok Tian, Paul Tan,Yong Shu Hoong, Cyril Wong and Felix Cheong, show a more "diffusive" sensibility: rather than treating the self as linked to a core or primal place or time (Singapore before independence, a childhood haunt), their poems are conscious of the change and flux, the dispersions and returns which are appropriate to comtemprorary Singapore society. Cyril Wong (b. ... Felix Cheong is a Singaporean poet who was born Felix Cheong Seng Fei. ...

National symbols

• Flag of Singapore
• Coat of arms of Singapore
• Majulah Singapura - the National Anthem of Singapore
• Singapore National Pledge
• Vanda Miss Joaquim - the National Flower of Singapore
• Symbol of Singapore - the Lion Head symbol

Flag ratio: 2:3. ... The Coat of Arms of the Republic of Singapore Singapores national coat of arms (or state arms) was introduced on December 3, 1959 together with the national flag and national anthem at the swearing-in of the Yang di-Pertuan Negara at the City Hall steps. ... Majulah Singapura (Malay for Onward Singapore) is Singapores national anthem. ... Singapore National Pledge is an oath of allegiance to Singapore. ... Vanda Miss Joaquim flower Vanda Miss Joaquim Vanda Miss Joaquim (Simplified Chinese: ; Pinyin: ), a hybrid orchid cultivar, is Singapores national flower. ... Symbol The Singapore lion head is intended as an easily recognisable national symbol that is less formal than the other national symbols. ...

See also

• Holidays in Singapore
• Cinema of Singapore
• Cuisine of Singapore
• Literature of Singapore
• Dance in Singapore
• Music of Singapore
• Tourism in Singapore

Water and beach activities at Palawan Beach, Sentosa.

Image File history File links Singapore_coa. ... The major public holidays in Singapore reflect the cultural and religious diversity of the country, including the Chinese New Year, Buddhist Vesak Day, Muslim Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha (known locally by its Malay names Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji respectively), Hindu Diwali (known locally by... Despite having a flourishing Chinese and Malay film industry in the 1950s and 1960s, Singapores film industry declined after independence in 1965[1], with the government being more concerned with the bread-and-butter issues of economic nation-building. ... The cuisine of Singapore is often viewed by her population as a prime example of the ethnic diversity of the culture of Singapore. ... The literature of Singapore comprises a collection of literary works by Singaporeans in the countrys four main languagues: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil. ... Dance in Singapore comprises traditional and contemporary forms. ... Singapore has long had a burgeoning urban musical scene, and is a center for rock, punk and other popular genres in the region. ... Orchids at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 369 pixel Image in higher resolution (3276 × 1511 pixel, file size: 819 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Palawan Beach, Sentosa, Singapore. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 369 pixel Image in higher resolution (3276 × 1511 pixel, file size: 819 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Palawan Beach, Sentosa, Singapore. ... The big Merlion statue on Sentosa Central Business District from the Carlsberg Sky Tower. ...

References and notes

v • d • e Singapore topics
History	Timeline of Singaporean history · Founding of modern Singapore · Straits Settlements · Battle of Singapore · Japanese Occupation of Singapore · Sook Ching Massacre · Singaporean national referendum, 1962 · PAP-UMNO Relations
Politics	Government · President · Parliament · Political parties · Prime Minister · Cabinet · Elections · Law · Foreign relations · Counter-terrorism · Human rights in Singapore · Constituencies · List of electoral divisions
Geography	Beaches · Chek Jawa · Conservation · Districts and places · Expressways · Fauna · Flora · Islands · Lakes · Parks · Reservoirs · Rivers · Towns, estates and neighbourhoods · Waterways · Urban planning in Singapore · Urban Redevelopment Authority
Economy	Singapore dollar · Companies · Banks · Singapore Exchange · Monetary Authority of Singapore · Central Provident Fund · Singapore Changi Airport · Singapore Airlines · Biopolis  · Fusionopolis
Demographics	Malay · Chinese · Indian · Peranakan · Eurasian · Arab
Culture	Music · Film · Literature · Cuisine · Holidays · Education · Homosexuality · Languages · Sports
Transport	Mass Rapid Transit · Light Rapid Transit · Bus transport in Singapore · Expressways of Singapore · Driving in Singapore · Port of Singapore · Singapore Changi Airport
Symbols	Flag of Singapore · Coat of arms · Majulah Singapura · The Pledge · Vanda Miss Joaquim · Lion Head symbol · Merlion
Other	Current events · Places in Singapore · Armed Forces · Police Force · Communications · Tourism · National Day Parade · Architecture · Future Developments in Singapore