Hey there PolyDINS! This is a month of celebration for our country, and while we continue to move forward as a nation, we shouldn’t forget our past. Actually, most of us dont really know much about our country’s past, except for the basics that we learn in school. So to help educate you, and to get you kind of in the mood, I’ve prepared a special list of fun facts that I think most Singaporeans dont know or have forgotten.

And if you’re still pondering on an activity for Our Nation’s Birthday, below is some ideas to get you going for partying all day and night and having a great time.

Fun Facts about Singapore

1)    Only the President of Singapore has the power to grant clemency and pardon a convicted criminal from the death sentence.

2)    ‘Dhoby Ghaut’ literally translates to, ‘washerman’s place’, meaning ‘washing place’ in Hindi.

3)    Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC), is the third largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

4)    Bintang Temasek (The Star of Temasek) is Singapore’s highest and most prestigious National Honour.

http://www.pmo.gov.sg/NationalHonoursandAwards/Bintang+Temasek+%28The+Star+of+Temasek%29.htm

5)    Tan Howe Liang is the first Singaporean to win an Olympic Games Medel; He won a Silver Medel for weightlifting, the men’s lightweight category, in 1960 Rome, Italy.

Things to Do for National Day

1)    Go to NDP. Wear a flag around your back, or better yet, make a shirt or dress from a Singapore flag.

2)    Travel to the ECP bridge, that crosses over the connection between the Marina Bay and Marina Channel. Sing Singapore songs or play a game while waiting patiently for Fireworks.

3)    Walk around town with more than red/white clothes. Exhibit an array of other accessories, such as face-paint, fake tattoos and national anthem ringtones.

4)    Organize a National Day Party for your unit, campus, co-workers or army friends, like a barbeque or a karaoke session. You can bring along the Singapore monopoly to play.

5)    Spend quality time with family and/or friends watching the NDP on TV, having a huge feast together with curry fish head and the like.