Friday, July 29, 2011

MCYS Conducts Counselling, training for parents reunited with children

MCYS Conducts Counselling, training for parents reunited with children

Singapore- Parents who are reunited with their children after the latter have been placed in foster care may receive parent-ing skills training, counselling and other services deemed necessary, according to Ministry of Commuity Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) spokesperson. The recent case of a Malaysian boy who was send back to Malaysia after being in foster care in Singapore has brought fostering in the spotlight. The MCYS had said earlier that the Malaysian Social Welfare Department would work with the boy's mother on the care arriange-ments. The MCYS had also explained that, since the mother is a Malaysian and the child was born out of wedlock, the child is not a Singapore citizen by birth. His citizenship status follows that of his mother. For Singaporeans, the MCYS Child Protection Service (CPS) works with natural parents as well as the children to prepare them for the eventual reintegra-tion ''Where possible'', the min-istry's spokesperson said in re-sponse to MediaCorp's queries. Before being reunited with their child, and show progress in the care plan. ''After being reunited, the family will be supported through ongoing monitoring by the CPS or through linking up the families with community agencies,'' the MCYS spokesperson added. ''In a small number of in-stances where the natural par-ents and children have to return to another country together, the MCYS makes contact with our overseas counterparts so that they can priovide similar assistance to support transition.'' As a general pratice, foster parents are informed of the estimated length of placement at the start. ''The plans are reviewed periodically, and the foaster parents are kept updated,'' said MCYS spokesperson. There are currently 345 foster children and 215 foster parents registered under the MCYS foster-ing scheme. The MCYS provides different forms of support to foster parents including a monthly allowance to cover the child's expenses, a fostering coordinator to provide necessary support and an emer-gency after-offlice hours hotline to contact their coordinator when there is an emergency. The MCYS said it will continue to review how to strengthen the support for foster parents in dif-ferent areas, including the transo-tion back to the children's natural families. Said the MCYS spokesperson: ''We understand that foster par-ents find it hard and emotionally distressing to part with a child whom they have cared for so much. ''But in managing children's cases, the MCYS also has to balance the rights of the parents to their children and not deny them the responsibility if they show their desire to care for their chil-dren and demonstrate efforts to do so.''

Bus tour takes you places, promotes racial harmony

Bus tour takes you places, promotes racial harmony

SINGAPORE- A tour organised by the People's Association (PA) to promote racial harmony kick off yesterday with about 400 residents from Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC boarding buses which took them to places such as Mustafa Centre and Pulau Ubin. The tours, which will be held this month and the next, will ferry residents around tbe island to rediscover Singapore's ethnic and cultural roots. Residents pay between S$11 and S$30 for the tour which covers up to eight des-tinations. According to the PA, games and activities will also be conducted during the tours ''to allow rich friendship building opportunities among residents''. A pilot tour was conducted by the PA between November last year and March this year. More than 14,000 residents went along for the ride. Following the tour's launch in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC yesterday, the PA said it was considering extending it to residents of other constituencies. Yesterday, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC resi-dents celebrated Racial Harmony Day at the Sengkang Community Centre. In his speech at the celebrations, Dep-uty Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, who is also a Member of Parliament for Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, Recalled how it was ''difficult'' to establish stable racial relations in Singapore's earlier days''. Said Mr Teo: ''But over the years, through policies supported by the peo-ple, we have grown much closer together as one Singapore community. ''We live together in the same estates, go to the same schools, we eat together in the same hawker centres. We get together to celebrate each other's events.'' But Mr Teo stressed that racial relations remain susceptible to external in-fluences. Simgaporeans must be careful not to allow events in ''other parts of the world'' to spill over to the Republic and ''Casuse a problem here when thers is really not a problem here''.

SUSPECTS NABBED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN GANG-RELATED ACTIVITIES

SUSPECTS NABBED FOR INVOLVEMENT IN GANG-RELATED ACTIVITIES

The police arrested 59 people for suspected invement in gang-related activities in an islandwide operation over the weekend. The enforcement biltz - which took place between Saturday evening and the wee hours of yesterday - was led by the cirminal Investigation Department (CID) and involved 40 officers. Last weekend, a similar crackdown netted 144 suspects. In the latest operation, those arrested were aged between 17 to 57. According to a police statement, the suspects were picked up at places such as entertainment outlets, pubs, shopping centres and coffee shops across the island. Investigations against those arrested are on-going. The CID Director, Senior Assistant Commissioner Hong Wee Teck, said: ''Police do not condone gang-related activities and will continue to come down hard on them.''

More employers sending maids for skills upgrading

More employers sending maids for skills upgrading

SINGAPORE- More employers are sending their maids to upgrading their skills, going by the ten-fold increase in the number of foreign domestic workers (FDWs) at classes organised by the foreign Domestic Worker Association for Skills Training (FAST). When FAST started organising such training in 2005, only 300 FDWs partici-pated. The figure has increased to about 3,000 annually for the past couple of years. To date, more than 16,000 FDWs have been trained in areas such as cooking, baby care and computer literacy. There are about 201,000 maids in Singapore, or about one in six households. However, tje task to upgrade their skills-and offer the women better opportunities in life- is an uphill one. The non-profit organisation said yes-terday that it is tough getting corporate sponsors as this particular cause is low on companies' list of priorities when it comes to corporate social respomsibility efforts. FAST president Seah Seng Choon said: ''(Companies have) been approached by so many non-government organisations for worthy causes... we just hope they can give us a part of their donation budget, so we can also do our part to enhance the well- being of the foreign domestic workers.'' FAST's main source of funding is from the Lee Foundation. It is hoping that more companies and individuals will support its cause. Otherwise, the number of courses or classes it offers could be cut. Each course is subsidised between S$4 and S$32 per hour. For example, maids or their employers pay about S$5 for a half- day cooking class and S$47.70 for a one- day computer course. Yesterday, FAST received a S$100,000 donation from Keppel Corportation. Mr Seah said they have identified more corporations to approach for donations but Keppel was the first to come board. The company will also help to raise awareness among its employees to encourage them to send their FDWs for training. Mr William Chew, Vice-president of FAST, said such lessons could enhance the maids' economic opportunities when they return to their homeland. He related the story of a maid who, after attending a fi-nancial training programme, was able to invest in buffalos when she returned to the philippines. ''Beyond learning and training, it also provides the domestic helper opportunities for a better quality of life,'' said Mr Chew.

Is it all about price at centale 8?

Is it all about price at centale 8?

Singapore- After hogging the headlines for the wrong reasons, the first weekend of Centrale 8's (picture) walk-in-and-buy phase got off to a slow start. The Sim Lian Group, the developer of the Design, Build and Sell Scheme (DBSS) project in Tampines, had earlier drawn flak for it's initial prices of up to a record S$88,000 for five room flats, before confirming the maximum price at S$778,000. MediaCorp had reported on Saturday that when doors opened for the walk-in phase at 10am, only about 20 people turn up. at the showroom at around 6pm yesterday, around 20 fami-lies were viewing the project. A board, which listed the availability of the project's 708 units, showed around 35 per cent of the flats being sold so far. Some prospective buyers who turning up at the showroom yester-day told MediaCorp that they were there to check if prices have fallen. Mr Zack Henry, 40, said: ''(Cen-trale 8) is near the MRT and Tampines Mall but the flats are expensive. I might as well go for an Executive Condominium (EC).'' Another potential buyer, who only wanted to be known as Mr Wong, said: ''The price is high but it is not a private property. It is a Housing and Development Board (HDB) project... and there are no other amenities. We like the project because of the loca-tion. But if the price remains high, we'll just stay out.'' Property annalysts said they are surprise at the low take-up rate. They added that the negative publicity about the project's high prices may have affected buyers sentiment. Dennis wee Group director Chris koh said: ''The Govement's announcements to review the DBSS Scheme... And Sim Lian's hgh prices could cause some to take a step back and wait and see.'' SLP International head of research Nicholas Mak add: ''Usually during the first week-end when sales are opened to public, there is an overwhelming response in the showroom.'' Mr Mak said that the developer will ''have to find out why sales is slow and address the problem''. He added: ''If sales slow down, it's difficult to regenerate interest in project.'' Mr Mak noted that when faced with slow sales, developers could reduce prices and increase the value of the flats by providing finishes, such as marble instead of tiles. Mr koh pointed out that if Sim Lian decreased its prices now, those who had already bought the units would be affected. ''It also affect s the creditabil-ity of the company- so it's not about cutting prices. It is about winning back the confidence of buyers,'' he added

MURDOCH ARRIVES AT TABLOID OFFICES, STILL KEEPING MUM

MURDOCH ARRIVES AT TABLOID OFFICES, STILL KEEPING MUM

With a copy of the last edition of Britain's News of the World tabloid in hand, Mr Rupert Murdoch arrived at the offices of his UK newspaper division yesterday to face the growing phone-Hacking scandal that prompted the newspaper's closure. TV footage showed the News Corp CEO being driven into the East London offices of News International. Mr Murdoch, 80, who has long been considered a kingmaker in the British media, is facing a maelstrom of criticism and outrage not just over the new alle-gations of impropriety at his tabloid but also the decision to shut down the paper and put 200 journalists out of work. News of the World's closure is seen by some as desperate attempt by the media conglomerate to stem the fallout and thus save its $12 billion ( S$23.5 billion) deal to take over British Sky Broadcasting (BSkyB). Labour leader Mr Ed Miliband told the BBC yesterday he plans to force a vote in Parliment to delay the takeover until investigations into the hacking scandal is completed. He also urged Mr Murdoch to sack News International chief Rebekah Brooks, who was editor of the tabloid when some of the hacking allegedly occurred. Mr Murdoch has opted to remain largely silent amid the fallout, issuing one official statement describing the allegations as ''deplorable and unacceptable''. On Saturday, He said Ms Brooks had his ''total'' Support.

After 168 years, News of the world says 'thank you and goodbye'

After 168 years, News of the worlds says 'thank you and goodbye'

LONDON- Britain's best-selling Sunday tab-loid the News of the World Signed off yesterday with a simple front-page message- ''THANK YOU & GOODBYE'', in its familiar headline style in all capital letters- leaving the media establishment reeling from the expanding phone-hacking scandal that brought down the muckraking newspaper after 168 years. The final edition's front and back pages were covered with images of passt exclusives and scoops. The 8,674th edition apologised for letting the readers down but stopped short of acknowledging recent allegations that its journalists paid the police for information. ''We praised high standards, we demand-ed high standards but, as we are now only too painfully aware, for a period of a few years up to 2006 some who worked for us, or in our name , fell shamefully short of those stand-ards,'' read a full-page editorial. ''Quite simply, we lost our way. Phones were hacked, and for that this newspaper is truly sorry.'' Allegations that the paper's journalists paid the police for information and hacked into the voicemail of yoiung murder victims and the grieving families of dead soldiers prompted News International, headed by Mr Rupert Murdoch, to shut down the tabloid. The front page bore an epitaph, ''The world's greaest newspaper 1843-2011,'' with the note ''After 168 years, we finally say a sad but very proud farewell to our 7.5m loyal readers''. On the back page were quotes from British literary great George Orwell. Throughout Saturday, journalists at the tabloid expressed their sadness and pride in working for an iconic news brand. Video of the newsroom showed desk-bound journalists tapping away at keyboards beneath television screens broadcastjng images and pictures of their task, and plight. Small clues gave the tone of the London newsroom away, like one staff member's com-memorative T-shirt bearing a ''Goodbye, cruel News of the world, I'm leaving you today''. The newspaper's editor, Mr Colin Myler, offered words of encouragement and sympa-thy to his staff on a ''very difficult day''. It's not where we want to be and it's not where we deserve to be,'' he said in a memo to staff seen by Britain's Press Association, ''But I know we will produce a paper to be proud of.'' tor who offered refreshments to journalists outside the tabloid's headquarters, described an ''extremenely emotional'' newsroom. After sending the final edition to the printing presses, reporters editors and production staff walked out of the last time at around 10pm and lined up before the world's cameras waiting to capture a piece of media history. They proudly help up a mock-up of the final edition, cheering and applauding Mr Myler. Then, before the group headed off to gether, Mr Myler told the gathered press scrum; ''In the best tradition of Fleet Street, we are going to the pub''.


Town Council management report is politically motivated, says Chiam

SINGAPORE- Former Opposition Member of Perliament Chiam See Tong yesterday criticised tnhe latest Town Council Management Report (TCMR)-which showed that the town council of his former Potong Pasir ward had improved in three of the six in-dicators-as being "politically motivated''. Despite the improvements, the Potong Pasir town council remained among the worst performing according to the report, which was released last Friday. For example, while most town councils achieved a Level 1 rating for service and conservancy charges arrears managemnt, the town counils of Opposition-Held Houguage and Potong Pasir fared worst in this area. Mr Chiam, 76, had helmed the Potong Pasir ward for 27 years until the General Election-Which was held in May-when he moved out of the ward to lead a team to contest in Bishan-Toa payoh GRC. Mr Chiam and his wife lina, who had contested in Potong Pasir, were both defeated. The Minstry of National Development (MND) had said that the third TCMR- it was introduce d in 2009-covered the period from last October to March this year and was based on Pre-General Election town boundaries. Despite the MND's pronouncement that the assessment was carried out before the GE, Mr Chiam said in a media statement yesterday: ''The HDB has now decided to award Potong Pasir constituency with a consolation prize after the GE, by reporting that (it s town council) has made the biggest gains with higher scores recorded for three out of six indicators.'' Mr Chiam added that he did not believe the report. ''At all material times, I have been maintaining the estate well. (The report) is politically motivated,'' he said. When asked to repond to Mr Chiam's statement, Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin reiterated that the ''most important thing now is for us to move forward and improve the living conditions of Potong Pasir residents''. ''We also have to... improve the overall maintenance of the town council,'' said Mr Sitoh. He added that a working committee was formed last month to look into ''why the families are in arrears'

Tsunami-weary Japan hit by strong quake

Tsunami-weary Japan hit by strong quake

Tokyo- A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit Japan's north-eastern coast yesterday, prompting a brief tsunami warning for the area still recovering from a devastating quake and killer wave four months ago. Resident in coastal areas were warned to evacuate for about two hours after the quake but there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake hit a t 9.57am local time and a warning of a tsunami was issued for most of the north-eastern coastline. The epicentre of the quake was in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Japan's main island, Honshu, at a depth of about 30km . Japanese officials predicted the quake could generate a tsunami of up to 50cm but the initial waves were only about 10cm. The tsunami warning was lifted after the fore-cast arrival time of the waves passed in most areas without any tsunami being recorded. The meteorological anency initially estimated the strength of the quake at 7.1 but later revised that to 7.3. It also revised the depth estimate from 10 to 30km. Japan's north-eastern coastline was devastated by an earthquake amd tsunami on March 11 that left nearly 23,000 people dead or missing and touched off a nuclear crisis at a badly damaged facility in fuku-shima Official said there were no reports of abnormalities at the fukushima plant caused by yesterday's quake, though worker were instructed to move to high ground. Airports in the area were also functioning normally. Japan is one of the world's most earth-quake-prone countries. Dozens of strong af-tershocks have been felt since the March 11 disaster, which measured a 9.0 magnitude and was the strongest in Japanese history. Sunday's quake registered 4 on the Japanese scale of 7, meaning it was felt as moderately strong. Because of the damage from the March quake and tsunami, however, many buildings om the area are structurally weak and seawalls have been destroyed, making the region more vulnerable to relatively weaker quakes.

Vietnam Cracks down after 5 weeks of anti-china protests

Vietnam Cracks down after 5 weeks of anti-china protests

HANOI- Security forces in Vietnam quashed an anti-china rally in the captal yesterday by detaining protester along with journalists covering the event for foreign news agencies, including The associated press. Demonstrations are rare in vietnam, where the communist government maintains tight controls, but Hanoi has permited groups of up to about 200 protesters to gather for the past five weeks and march through the streets shouting anti-china messages over an ongoing spat involving disputed territory in the South China Sea. Journalists have been allowed to photograph and film the rallies despite a heavy security presence. but officals from Vietnam and China met in Beijing two week ago and issued a joint statement saying they had agreed to negotiate to peacefully resolve the issue. Yesterday, police using megaphone ex-plained to demonstrators gathered near the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi that the South China saa dispute ''has been the subject of talks between the two states'' and urged them ''not to complicate the situation''. More than a dozen demonstrators were later herded onto buses by police. Some protesters struggled with security forces, shouting: ''We did not do anything!'' Associated Press Television New assistant Hau Dinh was filming the protest when he was also forced onto a bus with armed police. Two other Vietnamese journalists- a cameranman from Japanese public broadcaster NHK and a news assistant from Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun-were also detained, police said. Mr Hau Dinh, the other journalists and 5year-old son-were released after being held and questioned for about three hours. The US-based watchdog, Committee to Protect Journalists, said it was ''troubled'' by reports that jornalisits were ''being punished for just doing their jobs''. Several protesters were releaed from a police station later yesterday. The police resfused to comment. Vietnam claims Chinese boats hindered oil exploration activites within it exclusive economic zone, 200 nautical miles off the coast. China accuses Vietnam of endanger-ing Chinese fishermen in a contested area near the resource-rich Spratly Islands, which are claimed in all or in part by both countries and sevral othere South-east Asian nations. Late last month, after sevral weeks of mounting tensions with Beijing hinting that Vietnam be the worse in a possible military standoff and Hanoi staging naval Yesterday, police using megaphones explained to demonestrators gathered near the Chinese Embassy in Hanoi that the South China Sea dispute 'has been the suject of talks between the two states' and urged them 'not to complicate the situation'. drills, Vietnam Vice-Foreign Minster Ho Xuan Son travelled to beijing for crisis talks with China State Councillor Dai Bingguo. The two agreed to resolve their territorial disputes through friendly consultations and negoitiations. No specific plans or further details were given , however. Analysts say Hanoi is trying to balance its relationship with China, by not offending its giant neighbour, while also not apprearing weak before the vietnamese who have a deep distrust of the Chinese.

Najib slams Bersil

Kuala Lumpur- A day after the police and demonstrators clashed on the streets of Malaysia's captial, the country's Prime Minster Najib Razak yesterday ridiculed and dismissed the impact of Saturday's Bersih rally. In a fiery speech in front of $6,000 UMNO members, non-gov-ernment organisations (NGOs) and martial art (silat) groups, Mr Najib mocked the turnout of the rally, claiming that UMNO would have outnumbered Bersih if they had wanted to protest on the streets. He said: ''Don't doubt our strength. UMNO has 3 millon members If we gather 1 million members, it is more than enough. We can conquer Kuala Lumpur. If we want to create chaos, we can. But we upload the laws of Malaysia, we like peace.'' Police estimates put the number of people who attended at around 6,000, while Bersih claimed some 50,000 turned up despite a city-wide lockeddown by the authori-ties. Mr Najib accused the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) of orchestrating the rally in a calculated move to ensure opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim becomes Prime Minster. Alluding to Mr Anwar, Mr Najib said: "He knows that if he does not do anything, we (the Barisan Nasional) will win in the 13th gerneral election. This is the last chance, they will do everything, good or bad.'' Mr Najib told reporters later that the gathering yesterday at the putra world trade center was not a show of force but to demonstrate the strength of the "silent majority'' and that this group was with the government. ''This is just a part of UMNO's strength. we gathered 6,000 members here today in a short amount of thime... they are waiting for a signal, they're willing to do anything,'' Mr Najib said. Mr Najib said the organiser of the Bersih illegal rally and the opposition had wanted to portray Malaysia's government as undemocratic in the eyes of the world. The organiser of the rally had also gone back on their word, he said, adding that they agreed at fiirst to abide by the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and call off the illegal rally but they went ahead with it. Said Mr Najib: ''They said they wanted to hold a peaceful rally. If the police had not monitored it, it would not have been peaceful.'' In an editorial ''The game is over, time for everybody to move on'', Malaysian newspaper The Star questioned whether there was a ''better way of putting across the message, cause or demand for a clean general election? '' The editorial added: ''Whether or not a street demonstration should be the last resort for aggrieved parties, it should seldom, if ever, be the first.'' The New Straits Times also expressed it disapproval of the rally, declaring that there was ''no winner in this madness''. Speaking to reporter at a sepatrate event, Mr Najib said UMNO and the Barisam National were not afraid of facing a clean and fair election. He reiterated that the gov-ernment would ensure that every election was transparent. Said Mr Najib: ''if there are other issues, the rally organisers can discuss with the Election Commission and the government. But illegal rallies and street demonstrations are out of the question.'' The demonstration saw 1,667 people arrested by the police. All were freed yesterday without being charged. One person died after suffering a heart attrack. But the fam-ily of Mr Baharuddin Ahmad, 56, blamed his death on a ''deliberate act of cruelty'' by the police.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

ENTERTAINMENT

DANCING DIVA

TAIWANESE POP SENSATION JOIN TSAI HAS A PENSIVE BUT INSIGHTFUL CHAT WITH JONATHAN FONG ON HER CAREER, CONCERT AND HER SECRET TO CHANGING COSTUMES.

A 10-year career in the chinese music industry may seem like a lifetime for most entertainers. Obligations and expectations from record labels, pressure from fans and constant scrutiny by the media often result in the loss of privacy. Jolin Tsai has weathered through years of those as an award-winning starlet. with a wealth of performing experience, Jolin shares how she remains upbeat in keeping a positive attitude towards work and life.

Hi Jolin! First off, one of the highlights for your concert features costume changes at stunning speeds of up to 20 seconds Yes, it's a costume change per song. The concert's producer thought of this challenge. Was this diffcult to do? Were there any mishaps that occurred during your earlier shows in Taiwan? There were several times where the zipper on my costume got stuck! And on several occasions, I also almost forget to put on some accessories. What's the secret to change costumes at such high speed? The outfit themselves-make sure that the zippers and cladps are generally simple. and it's also important to wear secure and snug layers underneath first. Did you undergo any special training to get in shape and improve your endurance for the concert? I've been taking care of my diet aand watching what I eat, but didn't deliberately eat less or restrict myself to certain foods I need the strength, as most of the songs are dance numbers. Another highlight from the earlier shows in Taiwan was your dance sequence with an extravagant water feature on stage... Yes, we will be bringing the water pipes for the show in Singapore. I will have take extra care to prevent slipping on stage! You mentioned in an interview that while watching the movie Black Swan, you resonated with Natalie Portman's role. Care to elaborate further? I see smilarties between Natalie Portman's character in the movie and myself. During my earlier concerts, I was constantly striving for perfection, so much so that after many concerts, I would often not feel very happy. Instead, I was very fixated on reviewing and reflecting on the little mistakes I made during the concert. But with time, I came to realise that fans wish to see the real me. I'm learning to find the balance, but of course, I still expect perfection in my performances. What was the turning point that helped you in this realization? I had a break after the latt leg and had time to reflect. In retrospect, I've been working hard for the past 10 years and I thought, perhaps it's time to treat myself better.

COVER STORY PAGE 2

miss fashionista

MAKING A COMEBACK WITH A NEW ALBUM, THIS MONTH'S COVER GIRL RACHEL LIANG SHOWS OFF A A CHIC SENSE OF STYLE. BY RAINE KOH.

about two years ago, I met Rachel Liang for the first time. she emitted a cute, girlish charm while decoratingg christmas cookies. last month, I met Rachel at a fashion shoot. this is the second year the singer is the brand ambassador for Casio and she's looking, as Tyra Banks would say, " Fierce!'' teens got up close and personal with the singer for an exclusive interview and discovered that she is just as sweet as ever.

Personal taste

During the photoshoot, Rachel displayed different styles and looked good in everything. So how does she define her own personal style? "It really depends on where I'm going. I am usually quite causual if I am just chilling out. I am not band conscious but when it comes to clothes, I think quality is really what counts.'' ''Whatever I go swimming, I would wear my Baby-G and boast to my friends that my watch can go underwater perfectly fine. If I'm out partying, sometimes I wear a few Baby-G watches in different colours on one hand, because they are so colourful and eye-catching. During more formal events like award ceremonies I'll don the Casio Sheen Ladies Chronograph dress watch; it's so sophisticated and classy.'' How does she feel being Casio's brand ambassador for the second

year running? " I am very happy and thankful that they asked me on board for the second year. The people behind the brand takes good care of me and are very concerned about my needs. I find working with them to always be a happy experience. when I was a student, I always wore Casio watches, so to be able to be their representative now is really a great opportunity.'' Speaking of school, how was the singer like as a student? " My school days were very fun and carefree. Even though exams can be a little stressful at times, I remember always being surrounded by good friends and we help each other out. My school also gave me a lot of opportunities to perform on stage. I believe a lot of my confidence on stage really came from my school days and I am very thankful for that,'' she replied with a smile.

Road to stardom

Rachel's claim to fame came about after she became the runner-up in the second season of the popular talent show One Millon Star. Even though she did not clinch the top spot, her flawless vocals and sweet demeanour earned her plenty of fans. she said, ''Even though I was the runner-up in the show, aspring singers should just try out for such talent competitions. Such shows are great opportunities to help you gain recognition from the public. However the real battle starts after the competition.'' Besides releasing three albums to date, she has also ventured into acting and has flaunted her talent in both movies (Cape No. 7 and Stars) and dramas (Roseate Love). Since the star is always travelling, we probed what is the one item she has to have in her bag. " I would say perfume. I am very concerned with the way I smell and I love to smell good, although I do change my fragrance according to my mood.'' So does that mean her partner needs to smell good as well? She laughed and replied, "For men, I don't think their scent is that important to me. Of course, If he smells nice, it'll be great but more importantly, he needs to be clean!'' She confessed that she likes kinds guys with a big heart and who are not arrogant. Bad boys, stay clear!

Alluring artiste

On the musical front, Rachel has recently released her new album, Soulmate. It includes 10 brand new tracks and features two different versions, "Friend" and "Lover" , each with a different cover art. "I hope my new album will

be well-received by my fans and the public. It has been one and a half years since the previous one and I hope more people will like Soulmate, and will like it for a long time.'' The album, which is her third offering, shows how she has matured as a singer. "I think my previous albums had natural and pure conecepts. however, you will notice that my style for the least album is colourful and there are more experimental looks. Also, the way I sing has changed over the years. After working with so many talented producers and artistes, I think I've eastablished my own personal sound. You'll notice it in this third album.'' Having starred in movies and dramas, the singer is also known for her acting chops. "Maybe it's due to my image and appearance but I'm usually given more bubbly, girl-next-door kind of roles. But I hope to try something completely different than my image. Isn't that the appeal of acting-to try something completely different? Hopefully, you will see a different side of me.''

Friday, July 8, 2011

COVER STORY

Treasure hunting in Seoul

SOUTH KOREA A COUNTRY THAT IS RICH IN HERITAGE AND CULTURE. IN SUCH A PLACE, IT’S NOT HARD TO FIND TREASIRES THERE. IN FACT, WE FOUND FIVE BY THE NAME OF FT ISLAND. BY HIDAYAH IDRIS.

As I briefed my photographer before the interview started, a dashing young man came in. He looks familiar, I thought. A tad too young to be their manager. He politely greeted us in Korean. I returned the greeting. Then it daunted on me. Primadonnas would probably slaughter me but there was FT Island’s Minhwan right in front of me, and I actually took a few moments to recognize him after we were introduced , he stood at the door awkwardly and smiled before excusing himself. After a while, Jaejin and Seunghyun

Came in with arms around each other’s shoulders closely followed by leader Jonghun. Minhwan came back moments later, while Hongki came in last. What struck me the most was how humble and amiable the boys were. Our interview took place at night, right after their first comeback performance on M! Countdown. Yet, the members did not show signs of fatigue. They remained outgoing and joked throughout the interview and photoshoot. After they settled themselves in, we started the interview. Of course, I had to ask about their new mini-album, Return, which was released two days prior. “We came back after one year with a third mini-album, Actually, we have been doing a lot of overseas activities, so our Korean fans have been waiting for us. ‘ FT Island is back’- we wanted to convey this kind of message,’’ Minhwan said.

Members as treasures

Since they’ve been together for four years and even live together in a dormitory, they should know one another’s good and bad habits. Is there something about another member that they wish he could change? Jaejin revealed that Hongki often talks about weird things in front of people. For example, if there was a booger in his nose, the main vocalist would say it loudly in public instead of whispering to let him know. Well, I’m sure the boys love each other monetheless. If they could be another member for a day, who would they want to be? Hongki confidently said he was happy being himself while Jonghun said he wanted to be the magnae, or the youngest. He later added that he just wants to be the youngest in the group, and not any younger member in particular (Minhwan and Seunghyun are the youngest member). I reckon being one of the oldest in the groups, alongside Hongki, has made him yearn for the privileges of being the youngest. Youngest member Minhwan, on the other hand, wants to be leader! I’ll leave it to him and Jonghun to fight it out between themselves. Amongst the commotion, Hongki nudged Jaejin and asked him to say that he wanted to be Hongki, to which Jaejin complised. Seunghyun, however, had something else in mind. “ [ I want to be] Minhwan because he said, much to the laughter of the members. Being the drummer means Minhwan is always at the back, covered by large drum sets. Does he feel disadvantaged? He said being in the background allows him to concentrate on playing the instruments he wanted to play, he revealed that he learnt the piano when he was younger and if possible, wants to play it again.

The best member…

For the next few questions, I asked them to choose a member who’s best at one thing. The first was, the best when jt comes to love. Expectedly, the members chose lead singer Hongki, with the exception of Jongjun who chose himself. It was an answer I anticipated; I was pretty sure behind the strong, emotional vocal was a boy with lots of experience in love. However, I had to probe on their choice. Jaejin answered, much to Hongki’s discontentment, “ Because he’s old,’’ implying that he had more experience in love. The members also revealed that Hongki helps other members and dishes out love advice. The next question called for another expected answer. When asked who was the best looking in the band, each member exclaimed, “ It’s me!” The commotion ensued for next 30 seconds, with each member insisting they were all good looking in their own way, but decided against it.

“I love ladies!”

with the recent surge in group debuts , I asked which was their favourite. Hongki chose 2NE1, while other member spurted out group names ranging from f (x), miss A, after school and KARA. Jaejin insisted he likes miss A when other members asked if he liked Rainbow. He then teased Minhwan, “ Don’t you like KARA?” causing the latter to burst into an embrassed laughter. While Jaejin repeated his choice, Seunghyun countered with saying he likes f (x). They then launched into a short discussion to decide which group they would pick. They finally chose a band each-seunghyun picked KARA, Jaejin chose miss A, while Hongki and Jonghun named 2NE1 as their favourite girl group. Minhwan, however, was undecided between A Pink and After School. The members pressured him to choose quickly, resulting in an After School victor. So which lucky girl group member is the most popular among the members? “Too many,” Hongki said. Names like Sulli and Krystal from f(x) and Suzy from miss A popped out, but they concluded that there were too many to name. During the commotion, Jaejin remarked, “I love ladies!” No Doubt about that!

Seasoned

Hongki, who is currently acting in a Japanese drama, Muscle Girl, talked about his experience acting in a foreign production. " It was difficult because although I acted as a korean, I had to speak Japanese. I received a lot of help from the other actors." FT Island boasts not only one actor, but three. Jonghun, whose has been casted alongside Jang Geunsuk in You're My Pet, said he will continue to pursue acting after the movie. when asked what other the characters he wished to take on, the members suggested jokingly, "Someone who doesn't talk" and "Security". Jonghun revealed that he wants to act as a cold-hearted man who attracts ladies (lit. chagaun namja). however, the quitarist, who is also the rapper in FT Triple's " Love Letter", said that he doesn't want to act in musicals though he enjoys watching them. Apart from Hongki who started out as a child actor, Jaejin was one of the first FT Island members who ventured into acting. Seeing how his bandmates are now active as actors, the guitarist wishes to go back to acting as well. however, he said that now is not the right time and in furture, if he could, he would want to reprise his role as an actor. Having acted in a sitcom for his debut role, Jaejin said that if given an opportunity, he would want to act in a sitcom again. " Actually, the first time I acted was in a sitcom. There was no pressure and i could film it happily." FT Island will be in Singapore on 15 June for Korean Music wave.

Bet you Didn't know!

teens asked the boys to tell us a thing or two about

other members that we don't know of!

Jaejin in confidently

said that he's awesome. We're

sure Primadonnas already know that,

Jaejin!

Jaejin revealed

that when Hongki

sleeps, he likes to

touch the edge of

his pillow!

Hongki said that

Minhwan always

touches he's nose when he's

embarrassed or shy.

YOUR START

Cancer

June 21-July 22

Thing s will get busy and you’ll wind up talking a lot and having endless chatter. Be careful of what you say or you might end up in hot water. You might feel drawn to home more than often, and might prefer staying home than going out. People close to you will support this decision, giving you assurance.

Lucky Day: Friday

Lucky number: 5

Leo

July 23- August 22

Leo is a busy person this month and you could find yourself in a bit of a revamping mood. This could cause problems as people around you may react with resistance to those changes. Just keep your cool and remember that it might take people time to understand. Be cautious about overeating and overindulging. Do try to also avoid becoming overly obsessed with yourself and your own interests.

Lucky Day: Sunday

Lucky number: 9

Virgo

August 23-September 22

This month you are enlivened and will be filled with energy. Your mind will probably be on money matters and how to keep getting more. The cautuin is not to overextend yourself as it may cause health problems. Things indicate they might be difficult to diagnose towards the end of the month.

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Lucky number: 18

Libra

September 23- October 22

You should choose to sit back and relax and take time to reflect on the post year as your energy level is truly at a low tide. There are great chances that romance will be drawn to you this motnth. The energy starts to return towards the later part of the month. This serves as warning as may circumstances cause you to lose sight of your identity for a while.

Lucky Day: Monday

Lucky number: 23

Scorpio

October 23- November 21

July should be a very happy time for you. Imaginations and thoughts of the future and the possibilities it could bring will be dominant this month. Look for superises for they could really be great. By the last week of July, you may feel your energy level slipping and you feel the urge to retreat from life for a time. Don’t be superised to find a romantic interest or two hovering about.

Lucky Day: Thursday

Lucky number: 11

Sagittarius

November 22- December 21

School-wise, your life is great this month, as it’s time for real advancement. Your mind is going with the possibilities for the future with relationship issues probably being a major motivating force for the next year. Lay down some constructive planning and make a road map to achieve these goals.

Lucky Day: Sunday

Lucky number: 6

Capricorn

December 22- January 19

If you are looking for a vacation. now is the time. Pack those bags, don’t look back and plan well. The calling to return will be due to obligation in work-related area. There will be a time for you to shine especially after the 21st , when the sun enters you house of career. Also, watch your wallet this month. A deceiver could have a jolt on you where money is concerned.

Lucky Day: Wednesday

Lucky number:33

Aquarius

January 20- February 18

Have you been watching your budget? If you haven’t you will. It will be your key focus this month. but not in a burdensome way. You may superise yourself a t your own creativity when it comes to juggling your responsibilities this month. A close friend will assist in these matters. Look for that help to continue for a long time. You should go out on the road, as it will get you traveling in your mind as well.

Lucky Day: Saturday

Lucky number: 89

Pisces

February 19- March 20

Committed relationships this month will require ample energy. Problems or old grievances could surface and you will have to deal with them as well. You’ll do just fine if you keep your head. Finances look good but don’t go on a spending spree, especially towards the end of the month.

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Lucky number: 2

Aries

March 21- April 19

You will be blessed with vibrant health in July and could gain some huge personal satisfaction from school or work. Be mindful of your words this month, especially towards the later part of the month; it could land you in trouble.

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Lucky number: 8

Taurus

April 20- May 20

Life is all about romance this month-just be careful it doesn’t get out of control. You may have an interest but it can fall apart just as quickly. Also, be careful about over-spending with regards to these romantic inclinations. You will feel the need to improve your health but it’s better to have a clear plan in mind for accomplishing these plans.

Lucky Day: Monday

Lucky number: 12

Gemini

May 21-June 20

You may feel the need for redecorating your environment but this could work against you. You may also be frustrated with yourself but think things through carefully before taking any action. Romantic apportunities may arise dring the last week of the mont. Anything started during that times will find ample support next month. Count your lucky stars .

Lucky Day: Tuesday

Lucky number:22

OUR SAY

OUR SAY

The Art of Being Concise

In school, my teachers and professors always emphasised on the importance of being concise.

Concise answers would earn more points than others who try to “smoke” their way through without getting to the pont.

Unfortmately, even now, I haven’t mastered that art.

If you haven’t noticed, I tend to drone in my editor’s note. I’ll talk about everything and anything related to the the topic and every issue, I thought, does anyone even read it till the end beside my managing director and designer?

So I’ve made a resolution. You’re probably thinking, what resolution, when it’s July?

Well, the seventh month (not on the Chinese calendar) is the start of the second half of the year. That make it good time to have a resolution too, aye?

Am I droning again? Well , my resolution is to be concise, So you’ll see shorter editor’s notes, hopefully,

And before I start talking about anything and everything under the sun, I’ll leave everyone with one advice.

To those who are sitting for your major exam this year , remember that being concise is important. Giving a long answer that misses the point is a waste of time because you won’t got any point for it. Of course, when it comes to certain subjects, you can drone and hypothesise and still get decent grades. But that is for higher levels of studies,

It doesn’t apply to Mathematics, Science or History.

And seeing that my advice is getting a tad too long, I’ll end (for real, now) with a simple message: Enjoy the issue and have a great year ahead.