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• Family
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1
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MCI (P) 114/08/2013
Making His Mark
Cogent Holdi shadow of ngs Deputy CEO Bens his highly successful on Tan on emerging father and from being his own the man May 2014
We get down and nutty with the TAI SUN FAMILY Win DERMAL THERAPY & PAMPERS hampers! Details inside! MEDIA VIOLENCE How it’s affecting your children
• Family & Life
Educat ion in Singap is an ARM ore S RAC E LEGALL Fam Y VIOLEN leave ily laws thaT you won deringt
1
The W ee St Gre
Pleasu res Of Life
gory CE O around Wee Wei Singap Ling wa nts ore’s less-p to bring you rivileg ed are on a tour as Jun 2014
• Family
& Life
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Us Take A... But First,mostLet YAM KENG popular politician BAEY
Singapore’s arguably family and political gets frank about all things
PUBLISHED BY COGENT MEDIA
Jul 2014 • Family & Life
1
MCI (P) 114/08/2013
Everything you thought you knew about SHARK FINS is a big lie The GROUPON SINGAPORE brothers want to revamp your grocery shopping What Is Your MUMMY STYLE? Find out in our simple quiz! 100 WAYS TO COOK AN EGG and more fun food facts
Rolling With The Punches
The straight-talking charismatic Serge Pun, Chairman of Yoma Strategic Holdings, sets the record straight Aug 2014 • Family & Life
1
Contents SNIPPETS
4
4
Break New Ground
Products, News, Giveaways & More!
to the people who dare to his month, we dedicate this issue there are better ways to that ve belie think out of the box, who tested, and who dare to stand up do tasks rather than the tried and s are against the wall. Take back their gh for themselves even thou the Chairman of Yoma Strategic our Cover Personality Serge Pun, had five dollars in his pockets. only he ago, Holdings. Four decades st men (page 7). Now, he is one of Singapore’s riche
T
COVERSTORY 7
ImPUNetrable: The Story of Serge
Grit, not graft - that is the mantra of man of the hour, Serge Pun
’t come easily for the him, much like how success didn But, success didn’t come easily for now, after leaving and ed ever Singapore. Yet, they pers brothers and founders of Groupon (page 12). e gam -up start the in back ’re pany, they the ubiquitous group buying com ver the truth into the depths of the ocean to disco In an exclusive feature, we also dive d shark stoo nder misu the ed in our country, and behind shark fins, so often demonis from the box away er furth bit a ure Vent it. ll love fishermen (page 14). We think you’ sleeping aids, a Singaporean inventor of SleepEzy and you’ll find Dr Richard Chua, the g the power of essin harn by ly simp er easi p slee e you revolutionary device that will mak 19. biomagnetism. Check it out on page
FOCUS
10 The Medical Power Couple
Meet Singapore’s medical power couple, Dr Soh and Dr Siow
12 The $tart-Up Millionaire
10
Darlings Are Going Fresh
The founders of Groupon Singapore are back in the game
ing to supplements ted and fast paced, we start turn As our lives become more complica in 24 hours. The with done e mor get to 20) e (pag es (page 18) and new surgical procedur question is: are they safe?
EXCLUSIVEFEATURE
example, our writer also added a few fun stories. For On a more lighthearted note, we over more of such food Disc it! vom bee from es ally com recently found out that honey actu facts on page 29. apy for this month’s the fine people from Dermal Ther We’re also glad to collaborate with 31. page on k it out giveaways of great products! Chec free to drop us an , opinions and more, please feel If you have any questions, thoughts s. view your ish as we will love to publ email at editorial@cogentmedia.sg
14 Tracing The Shark Fin From
Ocean To Wedding Plate
Forget everything you think you know about shark fins
NURTURE
16 What Is Your Mummy Style?
14
What kind of mother are you? Find out from this quiz!
y reading!
We hope you enjoy this issue. Happ
HEALTH
Managing Editor Gerald Woon
18 Running On Drugs
Are we ruining our lives with the supplements we take?
19 Better Sleep Is Just A
Magnet Away
No more snoring with this unbelievable sleep aid device
20 A Surgically Assisted Life
RELAX
16
21 What’s Happening?
We check out some amazing medical advancements
Upcoming events for you and the whole family!
The sevent lunar month is here, so we give you an entertaining primer
24 Designer Furniture For A
Fraction Of The Price
Meet the locals who are shaking up the food industry their way!
18
A family recipe from an esteemed Nyonya chef
2
What happens when Dad is left in charge of the house for a week?
Family & Life • Aug 2014
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You’ll never guess what honey is actually made up of too
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29 100 Ways To Cook An Egg &
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MCI (P) 114/08/2013
28 Kueh Pie Tee
SALES & MARKETING
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Beautifying your home need not cost an arm and leg
26 Singapore Food Mavericks
MANAGING EDITOR EDITORIAL
22 The Hungry Ghost Festival
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Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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SNIPPETS A list of choice products, interesting news and cool developments, handpicked by the Family & Life team that will interest parents and families!
A DIAPER BAG MAKING DESIGN WAVES A diaper bag doesn’t have to be frumpy-looking or unfashionable, if Lässig has anything to say about it. The makers of baby and mummy products have always strived to design and create environmentally-friendly and stylish goods, and its Green Label Neckline Bag (which we are really big fans of) is the epitome of this creed. And we’re not the only ones who enjoy the Green Label Neckline Bag. It recently bagged top honours for Product Design at the Red Dot Award, one of the world’s largest and most renowned product competitions! To put it into perspective, only 48 entries out of 4,815 products submitted received the coveted top award. Check out what the fuss is about at the Red Dot Museum Singapore. Green Label Neckline Bag will be showcased for a year from now until 31 July 2015.
The Green Label Neckline Bag is available for purchase at all Mothers Work stores and is priced at S$269. For more information, head on over to www.lassig.sg.
50 YEARS OF PORTABLE POWER AND COUNTING
Believe it or not, Duracell batteries have been around for 50 years and counting. The ubiquitous bronze and black energy cylinders have been powering our electronic gadgets for so long, we’ve already started taking them for granted. The folks at Duracell have made massive strides in the power industry actually and this year, just in time for its 50th anniversary, Duracell has recently introduced the latest CopperTop batteries with DuraLock Power Preserve Technology. In layman’s terms, a new pack of Duracell batteries can last six times longer than ordinary zinc carbon batteries and guarantees a whopping 10 years of power preservation storage. That means that unopened pack of Duracell batteries can still be used a decade from now!
Check out the new Duracell batteries at your nearest leading supermarket. These long-lasting energy giants are available in 2- and 4-packs.
YUMMY ASIAN DINNERS FOR A STEAL When you and your significant other reach home after a long day in the office, all the both of you want to do is to slump your tired bodies on the couch. Then, the two of you remember that little inconvenience named dinner, and you get nudged gently by your rumbling stomachs and the children. You’ll be glad to know then that Yamie (pronounced yummy and no relation to Yam Ah Mee) has introduced two new Asian flavours to its ready-to-cook rice product range – Sambal and Black Pepper! Dispense with your notions that flash-frozen dinners are bland and tasteless. We’ve tasted these two new offerings and are glad to say that the blend of authentic ingredients and Thai jasmine rice would give many chefs a run for their money. Each pack serves two to three people and is incredibly easy to prepare. Just add water, cook and serve. The best bit: the Sambal and Black Pepper rice dishes are free of preservatives and artificial colouring, making it a convenient yet wholesome alternative. Grab one (or three) the next time you’re at the supermarket!
The Yamie Ready-To-Cook Sambal and Black Pepper rice dishes are available at NTUC FairPrice, FairPrice Finest and FairPrice Xtra outlets. A pack goes for an affordable S$2.95.
4
Family & Life • Aug 2014
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BEST IN BEAUTY THE SINGAPORE
Aug 2014 • Family & Life
2014 5
SNIPPETS ONE IN THREE SINGAPORE WORKERS ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED According to a global research study conducted by Regus, an international provider of flexible workplaces, one in three Singaporean workers are sleep-deprived as they struggle to strike a balance between personal and work commitments. This results in stress, which keeps them awake at night. The problem with sleep deprivation is that it’s a vicious cycle, as you become even more stressed that you’re not able to sleep! Now, if this sounds like you on a nightly basis, you’ll be glad to know that the popular Clinicians REM Sleep supplement has finally made its way to our shores. One of the top sellers for sleep support in New Zealand, the capsules are, best of all, non-habit-forming due to its unique formulation and action. So, if you’re worried that you’ll become dependent on them, well, those worries are unfounded. The Clinicians REM Sleep supplements are made from specialised ingredients and calming herbs too, so there are no unnatural funky stuff in those little pills.
MIDDLE BRAIN ACTIVATION COURSES FOR KIDS 儿童间脑启动班 Improving and Developing Children's Study Skills: Memory Retention Self - Confidence Concentration Reading Ability Intuition Focus Unique Blindfold Technique: Colour, Number and Word Recognition
The Clinicians REM Sleep supplements are available at selected Guardian, Watsons and Unity stores and are priced at S$36.90 for a bottle of 60 capsules.
YOUTH AND RADIANCE IN A BOTTLE We love NUXE skincare here in the office due to its long-lasting effects and philosophy of using natural ingredients and its latest product – Nuxellence, a youth and radiance revealing antiaging skincare – doesn’t disappoint. Made with passionflower, poppy, cocoa cells and many other good stuff, Nuxellence helps to stave off the effects of aging while giving your skin the radiant effect that will make you magazine-cover ready! A group of testers who tried out the product have reported enjoying smoother, more luminous skin with just the first application.
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BECAUSE THE MAN (AND HUSBANDS) DON’T GET IT Women, rejoice! Thomson Medical has opened a medical centre exclusively for women, providing comprehensive health and wellness services and programmes in one location. Located at the new Scotts Medical Center at Pacific Plaza, the Thomson Well Women Clinic offers a range of services ranging from preventive care and early health screening to medical aesthetics and wellness services. The Thomson Well Women Clinic is also working with Bobbi Brown and La Mer to enhance the overall wellness and beauty of every customer, by extending pampering treats which every women deserves. So, the next time you’re looking to book your next medical check-up, we highly suggest the Thomson Well Women Clinic.
The Thomson Well Women Clinic is at 9 Scotts Road #10-02 Scotts Medical Center at Pacific Plaza. For more information, drop them an email at contact@thomsonwellwomen.com or give them a call at 6735 0300.
Recently, Singapore’s Health Science Authority has approved the use of Epiduo, a popular topical gel used to treat acne in older teenagers and adults, for the treatment of pre-adolescent acne in children as young as nine though. According to the HSA, the manufacturer Galdema had demonstrated to them the safety and efficacy of the gel to treat acne in children nine years old and above.
Family & Life • Aug 2014
H/P: 90279902 E: xiaoru.li@mltsg.com Skype: li.xiao.ru W: www.mltsg.com
Course times and dates by arrangement - for your convenience
THE FIGHT AGAINST PRE-ADOLESCENT ACNE GETS A NEW ALLY
6
Ms Li Xiao Ru
Course Duration: Two x 5 hour days plus five x 2 hour refreshers
Nuxellence is available at all Beauty by Nature stores, Robinsons, John Little, BHG and selected Watsons, Guardian, Sa Sa, Metro and Unity outlets.
This is great news for many concerned parents who are increasingly seeing children as young as eight developing acne but with limited treatment options. Early treatment of pre-adolescent acne is important as research has shown that if left untreated, the early onset of acne is associated with increased severity of the disease later in life.
Contact Head Teacher:
punetrable:
COVERSTORY
Im
The Story of Serge (Grit, not Graft)
In Myanmar, an Yet, Pun has managed to build a sprawling business with interests in real estate, banking emerging economy empire and civil aviation among other industries. Most with a corrupt past and of these ventures are either parked under the a new leadership who Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings or its wants to reconnect Myanmar affiliates, the SPA Group or First Myanmar with the world, Serge Investments. These ventures are three defining symbols telling the world that entrepreneurial Pun is an anomaly. The success in Myanmar need not be bought or bartered bespectacled, silver- for money and favours. haired businessman has carved out a squeaky CORRUPTION IS CANCER To understand Pun’s distaste for corruption and clean reputation over cronyism, you’ll have to go all the way back to 1973, the decades as a man when a young 20-year-old crossed the Lowu Bridge at of principle who will Shenzhen and walked into Hong Kong with just HK$5 not stoop to grease the in his pocket and a head full of dreams to sustain him. young man would go on to work on board berthed palms of a government That ships in the Hong Kong harbour so that he could afford official in order to his next meal. Later on, he would land a job selling air secure a business deal. sanitizers door to door. When he knocked on a door that belonged to a real estate broker named Elmer Busch, it launched him on a trajectory that would see him set up Serge Pun & Associates Group of Companies in 1983 before finally returning to Yangon eight years later. For Pun, the idea of reaping rewards without putting in the hard work – the essence of corruption – is discomforting. “When I see people benefit in an unethical way, it bothers me. It pisses me off,” he says. “I think that [corruption] lacks the mutual respect that every human being should give to others.” He compares corruption to cancer. Just as how a body ultimately succumbs to cancerous cells if not treated, a country beset by corrupt bureaucracies will eventually break down. “If you look at the emerging markets in our society today, you’ll notice that there are lots of successful economies. But yet, you find that a large majority of the country’s population is still poor,” asserts Pun. “The main reason is because the economic benefits do not trickle down. The money is being siphoned sideways into the pockets of a small number of people. That causes the rampant poverty you see around you.”
The consequence of my choice is seated across from me as he shares his views was that I had to Pun about corruption and I can see the veins in his neck be prepared pulsating as he gesticulates with his hands to bring to lose business his point across. It’s clearly an issue he is incredibly concerned about; Pun is a regular participant in deals. I am World Economic Forum events that centre on the prepared for that topics of business transparency and corruption. consequence MISTRUST AND ALLEGATIONS and my choice is Despite his well-documented views on the subject and something that I his global reputation as Mr Clean, Pun still gets thrown remarks from a few detractors who disbelieve that he am happy to is able to get to his lofty position without greasing a live with. few palms. Continued on page 8...
Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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We took it as a challenge and we were not going to give up!, thunders Pun. He set out to revolutionise the remittance system, using satellite communications so that he could give his customers the option to remit money to even the remotest areas. In a conversation with Tony Ong, Chairman of Northern Mining Limited, someone who knows Myanmar and Pun well, says: “Myanmar is still a fairly closed market with a relatively small number of prominent players. Unfortunately, sometimes, diplomats and foreign investors rely on a grapevine that comprises a very small circle of people for commercial intelligence. Depending on who you listen to, this grapevine may be inaccurate that it may cause lost opportunities. Worst still is when one relies on misinformation that is tainted by old biases under the old regime”. “So should one believe this misinformation, or the number of successful global players and conglomerates that are convincingly looking to partner with Pun? Surely their assessment must carry more weight. We all know that the due diligence process undertaken by multilaterals and global MNCs are very rigorous to say the least.”
Recently too, a Thomson Reuters Foundation article highlighted the efforts of a few activists who are urging IFC, the financing arm of the World Bank to reconsider a $30 million loan to Yoma Bank, owned by Pun. The article references a supposed US embassy cable released by Wikileaks six years ago that recommended that Pun be subjected to US financial sanctions, alongside other known cronies of the regime. That alleged recommendation was never applied on Pun. Pun speculates that the activists’ main target might be at something far bigger than him personally. He remains unperturbed by the allegations, saying “I know what I have done in the past and what I am doing today, and I am totally at peace with my actions.” There are no skeletons hiding in his metaphorical closet. Businessmen who know Pun laughed off the suggestions that Pun might be a crony of the regime. Caterpillar’s
Khin Maung Win finds the accusations absurd and says that Pun “would be the last person in the world to qualify as a crony”. Khin continues with a chuckle: “Pun doesn’t really socialise well with government officials.” In fact, Pun’s pursuit of transparency occasionally steered him and his then-burgeoning businesses towards danger. He recalls how his refusal to “play ball” in the past meant that he constantly had to deal with the possible threat of the junta taking over or closing his businesses down. The man, however, does not bow down easily and had planned for that possibility. If his businesses were to fall into the hands of the regime, he wanted the ownership of his companies to be distributed among his employees. “I want to see them try to take the business from them!”
BACK AGAINST THE WALL Dramatic? Yes. But Pun is a fighter and when you back him into a corner, he comes out swinging. For the best demonstration of this incredible tenacity, you only need to look back a decade ago. In 2003, during a financial crisis The Economist cleverly dubbed the Kyatastrophe, Pun openly disagreed with the decisions made by the general who was handling the fiasco. He thought the actions the general was taking would lead Myanmar to irrecoverable financial ruin. Pun was right and Myanmar plunged into an economic abyss. Two of the largest
private banks were shut down and rumourmongers were speculating that Pun’s Yoma Bank was next. The knock on the door did come but the messengers bore different news. Pun could keep his banking licence but was not allowed to take in deposits or give out loans, the main bread and butter of any bank. Instead, his bank could only carry out domestic remittance services. To any other bank, such a move would have marked the beginning of the end. Pun, as expected, came out swinging. “We took it as a challenge and we were not going to give up!” thunders Pun. He set out to revolutionise the remittance system, using satellite communications so that he could give his customers the option to remit money to even the remotest areas. He shortened the waiting period for remitted money to reach the intended receiver to an amazing 10 minutes. He motivated his branch managers to be customer focused and treat it as a fight for survival. They did not let him down. With the largest branch network in the country then and the unrivalled zeal to survive on just remittance fees, Yoma Bank captured the bulk of the domestic remittance market. “The volume of the remittance business that we were doing amazed even myself.” Looking back, Pun reckons the strange decision by the powers to let him keep his banking licence but disallowing him to do any banking business, was a calculated move to make him bleed enough so that he would surrender. “They disallowed us to take deposits or make loans but insisted that every of our 41 branches remain open without any layoffs.” Pun recalls. Pun’s admission of defeat would have been a Pyrrhic victory for the generals, but a victory nonetheless. Pun would have none of that. Finally, in 2012, under the new government, Pun’s banking licence was fully reinstated. Shortly thereafter, allegations of Pun’s links to the regime surfaced, mainly because Yoma Bank was conspicuously missing from the list of top 100 corporate taxpayers issued by the country’s taxation department, while other smaller banks were included.
Balloons over Bogan, a luxury tourism business of Yoma Strategic Holdings
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Family & Life • Aug 2014
“How do you expect Yoma Bank to be on the top taxpayers’ list in 2013 when our full banking licence was only reinstated in November 2012? We were simply not able to compete with any other bank when our hands were tied behind our backs for a good
nine years. Our profits were of course meager compared to other banks.” rebuffed Pun. “When I got my licence back at the end of 2012, our deposits stood at zero, our loan book stood at zero!. Today, we have about 400 billion kyats in deposits. To put that number into perspective, the largest privately owned bank in the country has approximately 2 trillion kyats in deposits. You can appreciate how far behind we are and how much more work we need to do to become part of the top taxpayers’ list.” If there is one thing that Pun does admit to, it is that a few high-ranking officials within the regime at that time had his back and helped him to prosper, not because they were given money but because they genuinely believed in Pun’s vision and felt his passion for the country. “Not everyone in the military was void of conscience. There were good generals within the leadership who knew the difference between good and bad, and who would do the right thing. They allowed me to carry on with my business without any unethical demands,” Pun shares. These military officials would permit Pun to engage in a variety of different real estate projects because they knew that he could deliver. And he always did. Now, as Myanmar opens her doors to overseas investors under its current reformist President Thein Sein, Pun is already starting to reap the benefits of his staunch anticorruption stance. Many of these investors are beating a path to Pun’s door for his knowledge of the local market, above-the-board business ethics, amazing track record and immense capabilities.
ANGEL OF NARGIS But, there is more to Pun than just savvy business acumen. When Cyclone Nargis made landfall on 2 May 2008, it devastated the country. The cyclone laid waste to the densely populated Irrawaddy delta and caused at least 138,000 fatalities and US$10 billion worth of damages. It was a huge catastrophe, made worse by the junta’s initial refusal to accept foreign aid under conditions set by the donors. Relief efforts were hindered by the blockage of supplies coming in; for the whole month of May, the United Nations, through no fault of their own, could only schedule one flight of supplies into the affected areas.
View from an apartment in Pun Hlaing Golf Estate, one of Pun’s signature property projects in Myanmar
I want to contribute my own bit to the global agendas that have a big impact on the world. Top on this list, predictably, is tackling corruption. Andrew Kirkwood, the then country director of Save the Children, which was one of the few charities allowed to operate in Myanmar, was becoming desperate. One of Kirkwood’s associates gave him Pun’s number and told him that he was the man that could help. Kirkwood approached Pun and told him, in no uncertain terms, that tens of thousands of people would perish if Kirkwood could not fly in the emergency supplies and aid. Pun didn’t need convincing. “Let me tell you, Pun is the unsung hero of the Nargis relief efforts. While the UN could only arrange one flight in May, the man somehow managed to arrange 16 flights to come in and distribute US$65 million worth of supplies,” says Kirkwood. It was a dangerous move by Pun due to the political climate back then. Pun could have potentially upset the ruling military government, who were already not his biggest fans, to the point that they would shut him down permanently. “He put all his big business interests at risk to do what he thought was right,” states Kirkwood. Doing the right thing did not come easy. Pun stayed in the shadows, seeking out his contacts and quietly negotiating for landing permits. And once he did all he could do, Pun disappeared as swiftly as he came. The torrent of news reports and media
coverage never once mentioned Pun’s central role in the relief efforts. And the silent angel of Nargis never craved for it. He chose to help. That was it. Today, there is an Environmentally Sustainable Pilot Village at Aw Pyone Wa located at the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, fully rebuilt after its total destruction, by Pun with the support of the Singapore Red Cross and other donors standing as evidence of what he did in relief and reconstruction. The more than 1,000 relief volunteers that Pun organised from his rank and file within days of the disaster have long tales to tell about their Chairman during those challenging months, but they were never used it as self serving or promotional fodder.
LEGACY OF PUN Choice. It’s a fitting word to describe Pun’s pragmatic approach in life, whether he’s battling corruption, running his business or raising his family. As Pun eloquently puts it, participating in corruption was a choice and he elected not to play it. “The consequence of my choice was that I had to be prepared to lose business deals. I am prepared for that consequence and my choice is something that I am happy to live with,” says Pun.
It’s an attitude that he has passed on to his four children. One of his four sons, Cyrus, remembers a childhood filled with lessons about morality. “My dad never said that he wanted us to be successful or to be rich. He just wanted us to do the right thing. He set the perfect example that you can still be successful in Myanmar without being corrupt.” And now, as Pun approaches the golden years of his life and with his sons making a name for themselves in the business world, Pun is starting to contemplate retirement, though not in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, Pun has set his sights on a mission grander than the advancement of his business interests – helping to improve society. “I want to contribute my own bit to the global agendas that have a big impact on the world,” says Pun. Top on this list, predictably, is tackling corruption. Just a bit further down is advocating for more transparency in government. It is Pun’s little way of penning his name down in the history books. Everyone must leave something behind when they pass on from this life, whether it’s a painting, a garden or the life of someone they touched forever. For Pun, you can see his handiwork in the gated community of FMI City, the Pun Hlaing Golf Estate, the Star City project, the Irrawaddy Literary Festival and the Yoma Yangon Marathon which he sponsors, the relief efforts of Cyclone Nargis and most importantly, the lessons he has taught his children. He is no longer penniless. He has achieved his dreams. He has blazed a trail. Pun is a game-changer. Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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FOCUS
Medical P wer Couple
The
We hear of power couples all the time; Hollywood’s Brangelina, the all-powerful Barack and Michelle Obama, our very own Fann Wong and Christopher Lee. Now, meet the medical power couple of Singapore.
By Neu Weetee
What does being a successful couple truly mean? Not just successful in the practical sense – being wealthy, holding fulfilling jobs or living in an expensive house – but in all other less tangible aspects like balancing work and personal life, keeping the flame of romance alive, raising children effectively, and most importantly, staying happy.
We have a healthy mutual respect for each other. However, I’m still a bit traditional and would rather go for someone whom I could trust and respect to lead the house.”
Power couple Dr Karen Soh, newly appointed President of the Association of Women Doctors and aesthetics specialist, and Dr Siow Hua Ming, a medical director who majors in sports and orthopaedics, is the perfect example of such a successful couple.
Interestingly, Karen and Siow initially only wanted three kids. However, Karen somehow got pregnant in spite of the presence of an intrauterine device within her. Seeing it as God’s grace, they worked hard to make sure that they could support four children, financially, socially and academically, especially in a competitive environment like Singapore.
TWO BECOME ONE Young people in this era seldom settle down with their first serious sweetheart but not so long ago, that was the case for Dr Soh and Dr Siow. They got engaged soon after meeting, barely a year into dating.
If you want your children to be independent and fully functioning, you by the same extension cannot be beholden to them in the sense that you exist because of your children. 10
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Dr Siow explains with a laugh that the relationship progressed swiftly after the both of them realised how compatible they were; they shared similar interests and beliefs. Dr Siow was attracted to Karen’s grounded character. As for Karen, she was looking for a man with strong values to lead the household and the serious Dr Siow ticked all the boxes on her checklist.
Four children and more than a decade of marriage later, Karen still gushes about her husband.
STARTING A FAMILY
Karen worked around her demanding schedule, squeezing all her patients into a small window so that her children were not neglected. Karen proudly summarises her parenting, which sees her packing lunch boxes, checking homework and setting schedules with the family drivers despite her demanding work hours. “I’m a full-time doctor and a full-time mother.”
“As a woman, I think it’s important to marry up in terms of these characters. He is supposed to be the head of the household and if I’m the best person in the house, that’s not good!” says Dr Soh.
The duo has strong views about Singapore’s education system and its leanings towards parentocracy, whereby a child’s education is influenced more by the parents’ wealth and social status rather that the child’s ability. “It’s not a good thing. A bright kid who is not given the support that we give to our children will find it hard to beat an average kid with the right support system,” Karen says.
“Don’t mistake it for a dominantsubmissive kind of relationship though.
That’s why Siow sincerely believes in the concept of stay-home mothers. He says
that this very traditional concept has benefits in terms of the discipline and learning of the child, because there’s always someone there. He reminisces that full-time mothers were a common thing in the past but due to the rising cost of living in Singapore, it is quickly becoming much harder to be one. Even so, he realises that families who have made the conscious decision to survive on a single breadwinner with one full-time housekeeper are the ones with the most optimum studying environment. In fact, he finds that the children in these families do better than those with tuition!
ON SINGAPORE’S EDUCATION SYSTEM On the subject of the system, Siow reckons that Singaporean children today are far too stressed. “I find that when I was growing up, I had enough time in primary school to enjoy myself, to be a kid. PSLE wasn’t a make-orbreak exam. The rest of my generation was like that as well,” he says. He adds that while Singapore education system seems to have been improved with more and more components over the years, students definitely experience more stress nowadays. Dr Siow admits that he applies more pressure on his children than what his mother used to give him, and he explains that this is because of the compulsory CCAs, piling project work and the generally tough curriculum. Karen feels sensibly that school hours should be changed because she understands the genetics and wiring of many children who tend to be more active at night. To her, starting an hour or two later than the normal
flag raising sessions at 730 am can potentially increase the quality of life of most families.
PASSING ON THE RIGHT ASIAN VALUES Don’t expect Siow to be the only disciplinarian at home. Karen also plays an integral role when comes to discipline. Also, none of the Westernesque styles of punishment for Siow; it’s the cane that he believes in, especially for boys. “The soft touch doesn’t work, it’s just mollycoddling them. I caned them when they were young and needed to be disciplined. Sitting in the corner and reflecting on the mistakes will not work.” And don’t expect them to spoil their children either. The couple believes in budgeting and saving. The children are given a reasonable budget and are constantly reminded that money is hard to earn, and the latter (which Siow calls financial sense) is particularly important when the family is well to do. Recounting a recent example, Karen notes that the allowance of their Secondary One child was halved after he failed to present a proper account of where the money went. “They’re expected to save for a rainy day, so we won’t give them more allowance if they run out of money before the week is over,” Siow comments.
Their children are also inculcated with the sense of social responsibility, where donating to charity are encouraged. Practicing what they preach, Dr Karen is a volunteer at various nursing homes while Dr Siow volunteers as Chairman of Basic First Aid, Adult First Aid and Occupational First Aid Courses in the St. John Ambulance Association. Dr Siow and Dr Karen share the same hopes and expectations for their kids, which are both refreshing and heartening to hear, in competitive Singapore. They simply yearn that their children will grow up to become good people with the right values. They further note that academic qualifications are secondary to the children’s personal passions. In line with the instilling of social responsibility, the couple anticipates that their children can and should contribute to society in everyday life.
extension cannot be beholden to them in the sense that you exist because of your children. You should always be your own person and have your own interests, so that your children can see that they can have a rich and fulfilling life too with children.” The couple conscientiously takes breaks from their brood and have date nights. “Every year, we will go off just the two of us on a trip, usually not very far. We used to do it about two to three times a year, even when they were in primary school,” says Dr Siow endearingly. Reflecting on parenthood and how come couples choose not to have kids because of the heavy financial and
emotional demands, Dr Karen jokes that if they didn’t have so many kids, they would be living out their dreams of travelling the world and driving Ferraris. On a more serious note, Dr Siow notes that people regret not having children when they reach their 40s or 50s. “They feel like they’re missing something,” says the father of four. For the power couple, however, nothing seems to be missing. If anything, other couples and families alike are now no longer missing the sensible and sagacious advice these two doctors have to offer. Hopefully, from these two wise minds, more than one successful and happy family will emerge.
KEEPING THE FLAME ALIVE Many parents revolve their entire lives around their offspring but with their modernistic approach to child raising, you would not be surprised that this was not the kind of life the couple wants. Dr Siow elucidates his theory: “If you want your children to be independent and fully functioning, you by the same
Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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FOCUS
The $tart-Up Millionaire Darlings Are Going Fresh By Farhan Shah
First, they disrupted the At the end of last year, Christopher together with his older way we searched for Chong, brother, Karl, took a long, hard look the best deals around at the Groupon Singapore office, a Singapore. Now, they space teeming with life and replete want to change the with opportunities. The space way you shop for fresh represented close to four years of hard work and sweat, of realised produce, seafood and dreams and secure futures, and they meat. No more one were going to turn their backs on it dollar coins and long for their next start-up fix. queues. All you need is INSTANT MILLIONAIRES a mouse and a working Before it was Groupon Singapore, the Internet connection. island’s largest e-commerce site was Beeconomic, a lean start-up that, in the beginning, relied on spotty food court WiFi and a dodgy hostel in Little India. The company’s meteoric rise, at a time when group buying sites were sprouting like mushrooms, caught the eye of Groupon in America, who then decided to acquire Beeconomic for a reported US$24 million, as part of its expansion plans in Asia. Overnight, the Chong brothers became millionaires and the darlings of Singapore’s burgeoning dotcom industry. They did their work from a spanking new office, had a blazing fast Internet connection and ended their working day at 5 pm, just like in any other corporate organisation. Christopher, however, began to miss the bootstrapping days of yore and when Groupon Singapore finally reached the stage where it could function and expand independently, Christopher and Karl decided that it was time to move on. “We might be looking back at that time with rosetinted glasses but we really missed the whole adrenaline rush of cranking out a new start-up, working at cafes, using the free WiFi, the works,” says Chris.
meat produce directly to consumers and bypassing the middlemen. He set up a Facebook fan page specifically for this purpose. His fans would drop him a Facebook message with their orders and mailing addresses and Julian would go about fulfilling their requests. It was, however, a time-consuming and disorganised process and Julian knew he needed to rope in people with e-commerce and marketing expertise. That was when Karl and Christopher came into the picture. “Julian had already made so much headway into the online seafood shopping space but was trying to find the right partners to propel the business even further. It was the perfect match – Julian had the experience in seafood and meat, which was what we needed, and we had the experience in selling online, which was what Julian needed,” says Christopher.
GoFresh is more than A CHANCE ENCOUNTER siblings wrote out 10 new just an online The business plans, all of which revolved supermarket. around the topic they knew best – It’s still early shopping. Unfortunately, all of them A MATCH MADE met the same fate – the bottom of days but they IN HEAVEN their trashcans. They didn’t make have a few In any partnership, chemistry and any headway until they had a casual vision are two key characteristics dinner with Julian Lee, a mutual exciting plans that can make or break a fledgling friend of theirs. Julian supplies simmering on restaurant-grade seafood and meat to business. The three of them, being a variety of high-end eating joints like start-up veterans, knew this better the stove and most and had sat down for a about ready to Crystal Jade and Seafood Paradise. than pow-wow to trash out any possible be served. differences in personalities and At that time, he was flirting with the idea of selling the same seafood and 12
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working styles. Karl is a self-
professed straight shooter, a quality that Julian wholly welcomed. “He told me that he can be very blunt because he wanted it to work and I was thinking: ‘That’s great because that’s how I approach things as well!’” remembers Julian. Christopher, having worked with his older brother for three years, already knew what to expect from him. And while he admits that it occasionally gets a bit weird because “it’s hard to keep family emotions out of the business, no matter how much you try”, there was no one else that Christopher would rather work with than Karl. “My brother is a real inspiration to me because he always takes the time and the energy to cultivate me,” says Christopher, alluding to the earlier days of Beeconomic when he was a brash, wet-behind-the-ears entrepreneur with a lot of latent but unfocused energy. Karl tapped on Christopher’s enthusiasm and channelled it in the right direction. He gave Christopher pep talks whenever the mountain of rejections from potential clients got to him and pushed Christopher whenever he needed a slight nudge. They even bonded over a shared Boyzilian, the male variant of the Brazilian wax, session! “So, before
we put up the merchants’ products or services on the site, we would try it out for ourselves first as part of our quality assurance process to our customers,” chuckles Christopher. “The proprietor of this waxing salon along Orchard Road that shall remain unnamed wanted to push his Boyzilian services and because we wanted to keep our business promise, we decided to put our man bits on the line!” Christopher remembers being led into the fairly spartan room by the business owner and was waiting for him to walk out so that Christopher could get undressed. The man never left. Instead, he briskly told Christopher to get undressed. Turns out the person doing the waxing was the owner himself. “I felt victimised. I recall staring into the bright light hung at the ceiling while the man did the first pull of the wax and thinking that this was the worst thing I had ever done in my life,” Christopher shares. Dinner later on was a silent affair. Neither of them uttered a word throughout the meal.
BECOMING SEAFOOD AND MEAT MAESTROS On the bright side, there are no longer anymore awkward experiences or services to test-drive with GoFresh, Christopher notes with relish. Instead, he and the team get to try all sorts of beef and seafood, in the name of quality control. Christopher’s and Karl’s taste buds aren’t complaining though. They’ve also garnered a wealth of insider knowledge about seafood and meat that the normal lay person would never have known. During the photo shoot, Christopher correctly identified three different cuts of meat that were being used as props simply by eyeballing them, an impressive feat for someone who had only been in the business for four months.
in the way humans feel, is a matter that’s still being debated.
CONQUERING FEARS AND THE COMPETITION
Nevertheless, the GoFresh team does gets calls from many bewildered customers who did not realise that their seafood would literally be fresh out of the water. “I have a lot of interesting conversations with people who have bought our seafood! They’ll call and say: ‘Your lobster is still alive’ and I would laugh and say: ‘Yes, we intended it to be that way’. Then, they will ask how they’re supposed to kill it,” says Julian.
Now, the next step in their adolescent GoFresh journey is to convince the Singaporean public, weaned on physical supermarkets like Cold Storage and NTUC FairPrice, to make the switch to buying their meat and seafood online. Christopher and Julian understand that hurdling the mental barrier is a challenging task but they have made significant progress since they first launched in June. In the first month alone, their sales grew 300 percent week on week.
For those genuinely interested to know, the most humane way to kill a crab is to stick a shark skewer between the eyes at the front, where the brains are, and stir for a bit. Lobsters are a trickier proposition due to their larger claws, which makes grabbing their bodies a potentially painful experience. Julian recommends going from behind, out of sight of their vision, to hold the lobster. Then, put them in a freezer for 10 to 15 minutes – lobsters are cold-blooded creatures and being in a cold environment results in a lower body temperature and a deadening of the nervous system. Take the lobster out after the period of time has passed, put it on a chopping board and aim the point of your sharp knife between its hindmost legs before plunging in. Slice through until the head to split the lobster into half.
Their two advantages: restaurantquality ingredients delivered at a time convenient for you (no more hassle!) and the GoFresh Promise, a guarantee that if for any reason, you are unhappy with your purchases, the team will replace the produce for you at no extra cost or provide you with store credit. By doing this, Julian, Christopher and Karl want to convince
sceptics and people sitting on the fence that the entire experience is as risk-free as it possibly can be. “So far, we’ve never had a customer utilise the GoFresh Promise,” beams Christopher. But, as the team tells me, GoFresh is more than just an online supermarket. It’s still early days but they have a few exciting plans simmering on the stove and about ready to be served. Recipe cards with pre-selected ingredients for budding chefs; a community of cooks and foodies exchanging ideas and recipes; tailored grocery lists based on your dietary preferences and restrictions. They’re also looking at the next frontier of fresh produce – fruits and vegetables – and, following that, overseas expansion. The future is indeed intoxicating for Karl and Christopher Chong and while they no longer have to worry about scrimping and saving, they still possess the drive and passion that is required to make their new start-up work. It’s a challenge that they relish, with a side of black pepper sauce.
My brother is a real inspiration to me because he always takes the time and the energy to cultivate me. - Christopher, alluding to the earlier days of Beeconomic
Seafood, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish. GoFresh customers have the option of buying live seafood; the lobsters and crabs actually show up at their doorsteps still alive and swimming, so the founders needed to know how to handle the different types of seafood as well as the variety of methods one can employ to kill them painlessly. You’ll be glad to know that our delicious crustacean friends have no nervous system and therefore, technically cannot feel pain. However, there have been a few contentious research studies indicating that crabs and lobsters have a working memory of unpleasant events. Whether this translates to feeling pain, just not Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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EXCLUSIVEFEATURE
Tracing the Shark Fin By Farhan Shah
From Ocean to Wedding Plate
Shark fins are quite the emotive issue in Singapore, with both camps slinging harsh words and misguided facts at each other. In an exclusive feature, we talk to people in the seafood industry and the environmental crusaders to discover the true story. What we found will genuinely surprise you.
You have been lied to and misled all this time. I kid you not. Do you know how you’ve always thought that the fins you’ve been eating at wedding dinners was forcibly removed from a group of sharks before they are thrown back into the ocean, still alive, only to slowly die? That story is as true as the tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. “Most of the videos that you see is either really old footage, we’re talking 10 to 15 years ago, or deliberately construed. The environmentalists pay a poor fisherman from the Philippines to rip the fin off from the shark so that they can film it,” declares Executive Officer Anthony Ciconte from the Southern Shark Industry Alliance. But, perhaps I should start from the beginning. A large number of Singapore’s shark fins come from Australia and the most common shark species fished in the land Down Under is the gummy shark. The fishermen – shark or other species – are governed by a strict set of regulations, most of which are designed to keep the marine population at healthy, sustainable levels.
Top: The shark was caught using a method called gill netting, which reduces a lot of by-catch. Right: Seafood supplier Spiros Argyros holds up the body of a blue shark.
One of the most hotly-debated but grudgingly-accepted measures is the quota system. Every fishing boat is given a certain amount of tonnage of fish that they can catch per trip. If a boat returns to land with far more sharks than they’re allowed, the owners suffer massive penalties. The law also commands artisanal shark fishermen to bring back their ocean catch whole i.e. for every shark body that they have on board, they must also have a fin. A fisherman that breaks the law will not only be fined an amount dependent on how many fins are missing but will also lose his fishing licence. It’s basically career suicide. The fishing regulations are watertight, impermeable and constricting, but they have also been very effective. According to Ciconte, “the shark stocks are in the best shape that they’ve ever been for the past 30 years”, as proven by the consistent rise in the gummy shark quota over the past decade.
Everything on or in the shark, from the pectorals to even the bone, is used for pet food, jerky and medicine.
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On the other side of the finning argument stands an environmental juggernaut with arguably only pure motives. According to the CEO of the World Wildlife Fund Singapore Elaine Tan, “the world’s oceans will be depleted of fish stocks by 2048 at the rate we are fishing”. As for sharks (and most other marine species actually), the main enemy is widespread illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. Sharks are particularly
Fisherman Jimmy Pappas and his two colleagues display their catch.
A row of gummy sharks in a fresh fish store get ready to be sliced and sold to consumers.
vulnerable to overfishing due to their relatively slow maturity and low rates of reproduction. In 1997, the WWF founded the non-profit organisation, the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), together with one of the world’s biggest buyers of frozen fish, Unilever, in an effort to “change the way fish are caught, marketed and bought” to ensure that future generations can enjoy seafood as well. Fisheries around the world can write in to the MSC to use its eco-label on their seafood products for a small percentage (0.01 to 0.05 percent) of the price of the product. The MSC eco-label signals to shoppers and consumers that the fish was harvested from sustainable and traceable sources. When it comes to sharks, at the moment, there is only one certified dogfish (a type of shark) fishery in the MSC programme, which “uses every piece of the shark including the fins”. “A fishery that performs shark finning, the practice of taking the fins off a shark and then discarding its body, does not meet the requirements of our certification for sustainability,” says Kelvin Ng, the Asia Pacific Regional Director for the MSC.
Gummy sharks are very popular in Australia and is mainly used for fish and chips.
It’s hard work, but you can still have fun while you’re at it.
However, that doesn’t mean that the other fisheries around the world are engaging in these barbaric practices. Rather, it just means that they’ve decided to forgo the eco-labelling for a multitude of reasons. For example, the strict regulations governing Australia’s fisheries regarding finning and fishing mean that the seafood catch is already sustainable and traceable. And indeed, the MSC applauds any and all the environmental efforts by the people in the seafood industry. “I commend any retailer who is making moves to be more sustainable in their seafood supply and am more than happy to work with them. No matter how small a step someone or a business makes toward sustainability, we should be recognising and rewarding them along the journey,” says Ng. Folks such as Tony Hoyer and Con Panayides are the ones leading the charge. Hoyer, a seafood industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, specialises in using all the non-meat parts of the sharks. On top of the fins, which he exports to Singapore, Hoyer uses the bones, the tails and almost everything else for pet food, jerky and even medicinal capsules. “We even use the head of the shark! Apparently, it’s quite popular in China,” says Hoyer.
Hailing from Greece, Jimmy owns and operates a shark fishing boat that deals in gummy sharks.
Panayides, television host and owner of a popular fish shop, too acknowledges the changing attitudes of today’s catch of fishermen. “The young people care a lot about sharks. They pay a lot more attention now and believe that the act of finning itself is an inhuman and barbaric practice,” he says. As Barbara Konstas, the CEO of the Melbourne Seafood Centre, a thriving wholesale fish market, shares: “It only makes sense for the fishermen and other people relying on the seafood industry for a living to continue sustainable fishing for their future generations.” It’s easy to paint the honest fishermen making a living from the sharks as the bad guys but the truth is far more complicated than that. Yes, the WWF has noble intentions of sustaining the environment, but when it comes to the shark industry, they’re possibly losing sight of the forest for the trees.
While everyone is asleep, the fishermen are hard at work unloading their daily catch at 4 in the morning.
Ciconte encapsulates the shark fin argument perfectly. “People are not eating shark fins because it is a protest vote on how the animal is being treated. I respect that but if I were to tell you that the fins you are eating are sourced from a sustainable fishery recognised by the Australian government and that they were being harvested under a proper management regime, would you eat shark fin soup again?” You have to admit it’s a compelling argument.
A worker boxes and marks the gummy shark meat to be sold as flake to fish shops.
However, ultimately, even if the two warring factions might not know it yet, or perhaps they’re just being far too stubborn to recognise the benefits of working together, their interests are very much aligned with one another – ensuring a future for both people and nature. Aug 2014 • Family & Life
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NURTURE
What Is Your
Mummy Style? Oh, it’s tough to be a mother in this day and age, isn’t it? You have to juggle your career together with the well-being of your children (because, let’s face it, Dad is always letting the kid eat dirt). But, which type of Mummy are you? Check out this quiz brought to you in conjunction with Similac Gain to find out!
The Mummy Style quiz consists of ten simple questions. Upon completion of the quiz, the total points added from the questions will reveal which particular Mummy Style you belong to. Let us know what you got on our Facebook page! This quiz can also be done online at www.abbottfamily.com.sg/mummystyle. M – 1 point
I
Points system T – 2 points I S – 3 points
I
Y – 4 points
Quiz Questions 1. What do you think is the most important thing you can do to stimulate your child’s cognitive development? a. Provide him with educational books, toys and videos (M) b. Enrol him in top notch enrichment classes (T) c. Spend quality time with him playing outdoor (Y) d. Allow him the freedom to explore on his own (S) 2. You’ll be missing breakfast today to run errands/ prepare for an important meeting. Before you leave, you make sure your child has ________ ready for his breakfast. a. Formula milk that contains all the important nutrients (M) b. Milk and cereal (S) c. A well-balanced breakfast of bread, eggs, fruit and formula milk (T) d. An assortment of foods at home to choose from (Y)
3. It’s bed time but your toddler refuses to go to bed. How will you react? a. Allow him to stay up and fall asleep when he is tired (Y) b. Strongly enforce bedtime rules and lead him back to bed (M) c. Let him sleep in your bed with you (S) d. Stress out because you’re worried he is becoming dependant (T) 4. How do you decide what to give your child during mealtimes? What is the one nutrition rule you follow at home for your child? a. You make sure that he has complete, balanced meals and receives all the key nutrients needed for developmental growth (T) b. You’re happy to let him choose what he wants to eat at mealtime (Y) c. You plan out all meals a week in advance and follow the food pyramid closely (M) d. You depend on recommendations from family and friends on the best type of food (S)
You are free spirited and place trust in the motto – life is for the living. This is a mantra that you also apply to motherhood and the raising of your child. You don’t believe in constricting your child with strict rules and an inflexible schedule. 16
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5. Your toddler is running a fever. Do you: a. Take him directly to your regular paediatrician (M) b. Research online and ask your friends what you should do to bring the fever down (S) c. Try all the remedies from medication to sponging to help give him instant relief (T) d. Use natural remedies such as sponging or drinking lots of water to bring down the fever (Y) 6. Your little tot just started to walk. Do you: a. Take lots of videos to share this milestone with friends and family (S) b. Find out what shoes and toys help toddlers develop their walking skills and make sure you have them (T) c. Celebrate the milestone and let him explore his surroundings (Y) d. Make sure the house is fully baby-proofed to avoid any accident (M) 7. What are the two life skills you strive to instil in your child? a. Discipline and confidence (T) b. Positivity and adaptability (Y) c. Perseverance and determination (M) d. Communication skills and acceptance (S) 8. Your little tot falls while playing at the playground. How will you react? a. Tell him it’s part of playing and having fun (Y) b. You’ve thought ahead and made sure he is wearing the necessary padding to avoid wounds (M)
c. Ask him if he is okay and if he wants to continue playing or go home (S) d. Run to him immediately with your first aid kit (T)
d. School can wait a few more years as you prefer to let your child learn from his surroundings (Y)
9. It’s time to start thinking of playschool/ kindergarten for your child. What would you do? a. You will do whatever it takes to enrol him in the top ranking playschool/kindergarten regardless of distance (T) b. Ask your friends for their advice on schools and programs (S) c. Conduct extensive research to compare and analyse various criteria before reaching a decision (M)
10. Your child is getting frustrated by his inability to do something, e.g. feed himself or hold a toy. How will you react? a. Ask your mummy friends on the parenting forum for their advice (S) b. Step in and hold his hand to show him how to do it correctly (T) c. Allow him to learn through trial and error (Y) d. Refer to books or online resources for tips (M)
As your child grows, support your child’s active mind and body not just by filling his day with activities, but also by nourishing the soul.
Calculate Your Scores! 10 – 12 The High-achieving Mountaineer Mum
when perfection is elusive. Do remember to take the time to reward yourself and appreciate the fun moments with your child. As your child grows, support your child’s active mind and body not just by filling his day with activities, but also by nourishing the soul. You can do this by finding opportunities for both you and your child to relax together.
Mountaineers are known to be goal-oriented and meticulous planners. You too embody these qualities in life and in parenting your child. You track your child’s developmental goals religiously. You know all about enrichment classes to maximise your child’s talents and give him that added advantage. You read the latest research on parenting and try to incorporate these insights into your parenting style. In short, you make very concerted efforts to give your child the greatest chance of success.
23 – 32 The Easy-going Sailing Mum Relaxed, easy-going and chilledout describe your parenting style best. You appreciate the opinions and advice of others as and when you need to make important decisions regarding your child. Because of your easy-going nature, you are socially in demand and enjoy organising play sessions for your child with other children. You like the idea of community and make every effort to include your child in community activities.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT While it’s great to plan and be prepared for everything, know that it’s okay to sometimes take a step back. Not every outing needs to be about learning and development. Do find opportunities to have fun with your child. Remember that every child is different. As your child grows, it can get challenging to get everything 100 percent right, so give yourself and your child plenty of opportunities for unstructured fun.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT Acknowledging your child’s individuality at a young age is important as it reaffirms his confidence in himself. However, it’s equally important for you to believe in yourself and be confident in the decisions you make for your family. Use playtime with others as an opportunity to talk about sharing with and learning from peers.
13 – 22 The Goal-Getting Tennis Mum
33 – 40 The Zen-like Yoga Mum You are free spirited and place trust in the motto – life is for the living. This is a mantra that you also apply to motherhood and the raising of your child. You don’t believe in constricting your child with strict rules and an inflexible schedule. Instead, you believe in helping him develop by encouraging him to explore the world. You see yourself as your child’s best friend and want nothing more than to raise a happy and healthy child. You believe in empowering your child to negotiate and make choices from an early age. You are partial to good quality products and place your trust in pure and great-tasting ingredients to support your child’s optimal growth and development.
As with any tennis pro, you are quick on your feet and trust your instincts when making decisions. Taking advantage of every opportunity is a way of life for you, and this strongly applies to your parenting style. You are focused and leave nothing to chance. Everything, from your child’s food, toys, storybooks etc. is carefully and thoughtfully prepared and selected. You do your research on the leading brands and will only invest in the best for your child. FOOD FOR THOUGHT Life can get hectic and stressful when you are constantly striving for perfection. You may also experience guilt
P h o to
FOOD FOR THOUGHT It is important to remember that children do need some structure and discipline to thrive. At times, you may need to fight your natural urge to be flexible and it may be necessary to take charge and exercise your authority as mum. What’s important is that they understand that they are responsible for their actions, even at a young age. Your ability to have open, calm conversations with your child will really be helpful in this regard. @ S i m il a c. G a i n Aug 2014 • Family & Life
17
HEALTH
Running on Drugs By Nasri Shah
further research on their effectiveness and safety.” Customers therefore rely on the complete responsibility of manufacturers and sellers to stick by their claims of “100% safe!” and “completely natural” products with “no side effects”.
cautions: some natural ingredients may be contaminated with heavy metals and undeclared ingredients, whereas ISO logos and the sort are only an indicator of the supplements’ compliance with safety procedures, but not their effectiveness.
GETTING THAT EDGE
The key to choosing the right supplements, as Deborah advises, is to seek out professional advice. Nutritionists and physicians can recommend nutritional products based on one’s diet and medical history.
Even if customers were quick to sober up to checking WebMD and Google Answers, they find themselves overcompensated with information from various, often conflicting sources. The rabid eye of social media doesn’t help much either, with health scares and hoaxes circulating quicker than a flu bug.
You see them on pharmacy shelves, purporting to make you sleep better, to fortify your inadequate diet, enhance your mental acuity, etc. We investigate the phenomenon of using non-medicinal supplements to enrich our lives.
Multivitamin capsules, non-surgical slimming products and muscleboosting protein; these are just some of many supplements that pave the yellow brick road of today’s consumer society. These demands aren’t exclusive to just women any more. A plethora of choices now appeal to men and children, with the common promise of cushioning the blow from a fast-paced and poorly fed lifestyle. It’s easy to forget how this modern day fairytale of quick results and over-thecounter health fixes is entrenched in some horrors of their own. After all, it was not too long ago when the Chinese company behind Slim 10 – a brand of diet supplements – was hauled to court in 2002 over claims that it was responsible for several instances of liver failure and deaths in the region. Indeed, the moral of that story – as they say in fairy tales – was the need for consumers to remain savvy about their options. Today, the market for health supplements continues to burst at the seams with unprecedented growth, and Singaporeans are estimated to fork out a tidy sum of at least S$100 on such products in each visit to a health store. Nutritionists, however, are quick to caution against such enthusiasm. Ms Sharina Nogot, a senior nutritionist at MyKenzen, says: “Most supplements on the market actually still require
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Family & Life • Aug 2013 2014
What’s more, between waking up at three in the morning to catch a World Cup match and slipping into work by 8 am, it’s easy to turn to supplements to correct the inconveniences of modern life. According to Deborah-Dale Young, a nutritionist at Clinicians, people become reliant on such products to make up for lack of sleep and a poor diet. It’s therefore tempting to approach nutritional supplements with abandon, in line with the adage that “the more, the merrier”. In this case, however, less is in fact more. Sharina cites several instances in which the ruthless consumption of supplements can be detrimental; the overconsumption of vitamins A, D, E, K and Iron, amongst others, can result in excessive toxicity levels in the body. A person, depending on his or her diet, can also react badly to some supplements, particularly if he or she has a history of medical problems. In scouting for supplements, another adage comes to mind: if it’s too good to be true, it probably isn’t. Speaking from experience, Deborah offers the rigorousness of product testing that all Clinicians products undergo as an example of qualitative measures that have to be set in place before a nutritional supplement is ready for consumption. This isn’t to say, however, that manufacturers are always found to be in compliance with these. Even if a product were in breach of these protocols, it’s nothing a flourish of the digital wand can’t fix. Supplements are often marketed as having “100% natural ingredients”, and stamped over with GMP, HACCP, ISO logos. To these claims, Sharina
SUPPLEMENTING, NOT REPLACING Both Deborah and Sharina affirm that nutritional supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet or lifestyle. In some cases, supplements may be recommended by nutritionists to individuals with certain needs: these include vegetarians, people suffering from malabsorption or those on medication that may interfere with their diet. For others, the draw of a pill is mostly the wrong fit for problems that broadly relate to a mismanagement of diet and health. Indigestion and fatigue – common culprits arising from a hectic lifestyle – are wrongly vindicated by nutritional supplements. To tackle these issues, Sharina recommends an improvement of one’s diet based on food sources. Prospective parents are also advised to seek out the expertise of a physician before subscribing to any nutritional supplements. “I recommend that any women planning a pregnancy undertakes a pre-conceptional care and pregnancy planning regime for at least three months before trying to conceive,” says Deborah. Additionally, Sharina recommends that pregnant women see a physician who can best determine the nutritional needs of both mother and child. Men are also urged to maintain a healthy diet in order to meet their family planning needs. Finally, it’s important to remember that supplements do not contain any therapeutic or medicinal value. Often, it’s tempting to feed the excess of life with even more excess: more supplements, more vitamins and more money. Perhaps, it’s no longer a case of fighting fire with fire, but turning it down to a crackle just enough to keep the family warm.
Better Sleep
Is Just a Magnet Away
No more sleeping pills. No more psychotic drugs. No more tossing and turning in bed. Healthy, quality sleep can be yours with just one simple device.
The average adult Singaporean sleeps for about six hours at night. If you’re wondering whether that’s enough sleep, most researchers are of the consensus that it is not – most adults who are not Nikola Tesla (who apparently only snoozes for two hours a day) or Margaret Thatcher (who survived on four hours of sleep daily) require between seven to eight hours of sleep to function optimally the next day. Our high-powered lifestyle, though, tends to make dozing off for that amount of time tricky. Even if you do manage to get seven hours of forty winks, only snatches of it might be good quality sleep while the rest of the time, you’re tossing and turning and surviving on fragmented snooze. Sleep is one of those important characteristics of our lives that are only sorely missed when it disappears. Dr Richard Chua has dedicated almost a decade perfecting a drugfree solution for quality sleep. The culmination of his hard work? The SleepEzy sleep aid device, a simple contraption consisting of a magnet embedded in soft foam. Using it is simple – pop it under your pillow just around your neck area and then lay your head down.
The SleepEzy also helps with sleep apnea, or snoring. The magnet provides a slight amount of tension in the water in your body, which helps to open your passageways.
The SleepEzy device works on the premise of the Magnetic Interference Cloud technology. In layman’s terms, the magnet within the SleepEzy device helps to boost melatonin production by drawing the heat out of your body and into the air so that your internal systems are cooled down. Before you dismiss it as hogwash, the aforementioned MIC has its roots in the field of bio-magnetism, the study of magnetic fields produced by living organisms – bio-magnetic scientists recently found that “dogs preferred to excrete with the body being aligned along the North-South axis”. There are no repercussions or side effects with the SleepEzy device, unlike other sleep aids that require you to pop a pill or be on a cocktail of drugs. In fact, since it was first launched last
year, more than 10,000 of the sleep aids have been sold, purely through word of mouth alone. Dr Chua is so confident of his patented invention that he’ll give you your money back if you’re not happy with the device for whatever reason during the first two weeks of using it. Besides sleep problems, the SleepEzy also helps with sleep apnea, or snoring. The magnet provides a slight amount of tension in the water in your body, which helps to open your passageways. Dr Chua recalls visiting the house of one of his customers; the husband slept on the couch because he snored badly and his wife couldn’t sleep with his snoring. He gave the both of them the SleepEzy devices and now, the two of them are happily sharing the matrimonial bed together. The SleepEzy sleep aid devices are available in selected Guardian Health & Beauty, Home-Fix and OG outlets. For more information, head on over to www.esmotech.com/ sleepezy. Aug 2014 • Family & Life
19
HEALTH
A Surgically Assisted Life By Farhan Shah
The medical Water Colonoscopy technological First presented to the international community during a advancements we’ve endoscopic conference about four years ago, water made in the past few colonoscopy is simply a colonoscopy years are nothing short using water instead of air to inflate the of amazing. Now, we are small intestine. able to live longer and During a traditional colonoscopy, the fuller lives unaffected by doctor inflates the collapsed colon with the troubles of ageing. air so that he or she can easily insert We explore three new an endoscope – a flexible imaging surgical procedures device – and inspect for any physical irregularities that indicate a developing that you might want to medical condition such as colon cancer consider when the time or inflammatory bowel disease. calls for it. The problem with traditional colonoscopies is that the patient usually has to be sedated during the process and that he or she might feel discomfort and bloating after the colonoscopy is done. In fact, 20 to 40 percent of patients in Singapore report minor abdominal discomfort. Water colonoscopy was apparently first used in a hospital that had inadequate funding for sedation and therefore, had to think up of a technique to improve the comfort of un-sedated patients during the procedure. Necessity is the mother of invention and a smart endoscopist came up with the idea of using water to make things easier. It worked. In Singapore, Dr Jarrod Lee of Gastroenterology & Live Clinic is one of the few doctors to practise water colonoscopy. He reveals that it’s his default technique mainly because it’s more comfortable for both sedated and awake patients and is more effective at picking up growths due to “the additional cleansing effect”. Water colonoscopy is still a relatively new surgical procedure in Singapore and is not taught in medical training programmes but Dr Lee is working hard to rectify that, teaching the technique to young trainees in endoscopy.
Ultherapy Previously, plastic surgery was laced with stigma and negative social connotations but over the years, it has slowly become an acceptable component of the fabric of society. The problem with plastic surgery was the long downtime and the potential health risks associated with a botched procedure. Ultherapy, a new lifting procedure that doesn’t involve any cutting or incisions, aims to revolutionise the medical aesthetics business. It’s an FDA-cleared, non-invasive treatment to lift the skin above the eyebrow, on the neck and under the chin a la face lifts without the mess. It does this by using focused ultrasound to stimulate the growth of new collagen deep within the skin and is the only procedure that can actually see within the layers of skin tissue to ensure that the energy reaches precisely at the area where it will be most effective. People who go through ultherapy are able to pop in during lunch time, get ultrasound waves to their face and head back to the office – that’s how quick and effective it is. There is no after-care requirement and patients can see the results within three
months, if not shorter. The results, unfortunately, are not permanent and usually last from six months to a year. The procedure is also relatively painless and costs between S$1,600 to S$5,000 depending on the treatment area.
MAKOPlasty
r ago, MAKOPlasty is an alternative Introduced to Singapore about a yea that is more precise and accurate. treatment to total knee transplants These factors mean that the surgical roved outcomes of most patients are imp tyle lifes and they can return to a normal oes erg much faster than someone who und ts. conventional total joint replacemen trolled The treatment uses a surgeon-con ct exa robotic arm that can calculate the down to the incision that it needs to make right d to the arm millimetre. Then, the burr attache machine the of n does the work. “The precisio e done hav is better than a surgeon who might says Dr Siow Hua Ming, Medical the operation thousands of times,” s. Director for Providence Orthopaedic procedures that affect the whole Also, unlike other knee restoration targets the parts of the knee knee, the MAKOPlasty procedure only uring that healthy bone stock is that is affected by osteoarthritis, ens there is less blood loss and pain preserved. “The procedure is quick, ’ll recover and be able to get back during and after the surgery, and you e transplant. You’ll also be able to on your feet faster than a total kne ion,” says Dr Siow. maintain your leg’s full range of mot cedure is only available at Mount At the moment, the MAKOPlasty pro d news is that all health insurers Elizabeth Novena Hospital. The goo cover the treatment.
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Family & Life • Aug 2014
RELAX
WH? T’S
HAPPENING
SINGAPORE LYRIC OPERA GALA CONCERT Opera is not dead! This August, Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO) presents Gala Concert, which will see the debut of two Asian singers who have made it to opera houses in Europe and America. Local conductor, Joshua Kangming Tan returns to lead the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra at this concert. Comprising virtuosic pieces, this performance promises to enchant the audience with various celebrated opera excerpts such as Faust’s The Jewel Song, Lehár’s Vilja Lied, Puccini’s La Bohème, Lehár’s The Merry Widow and Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto, to name a few. The SLO has also made sure that the Gala Concert is youth-friendly and will not only appeal to the young but also to those not familiar with the art of opera.
When: 22 August 2014 Where: Esplanade Concert Hall Price: From $20 | www.sistic.com.sg Prices exclude booking fee and discounts available for school and corporate bookings
SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS – DISABLED THEATER
GREAT EASTERN WOMEN’S RUN 2014 Singapore’s largest women-only race – Great Eastern Women’s Run 2014, commissioned by Great Eastern and organised by HiVelocity Events – is a run for every mother and daughter! The race features 5km, 10km as well as 21.1km race distances making the run accessible to female runners of all levels. The race is also the largest women-only half marathon in the region.
Brave and compassionate, Disabled Theater brings you into the world of professional actors with learning disabilities in a transformative and emotional performance. Directed by renowned French choreographer Jérôme Bel, performers from Swiss company Theater HORA are placed on a bare stage. Through a series of questions and simple tasks, the actors introduce themselves and their extraordinary abilities. As they perform personal solo dances which they choreographed, Disabled Theater exposes their vulnerabilities — yet it also reveals remarkable capacity, joy and freedom. Sparking debate and praise since its 2012 debut, Disabled Theater confronts common perceptions about mental disabilities. Disabled Theater raises important questions in you and your children about the representation of disability in the public domain and presents a wonderfully alive, brutally honest and highly provocative performance.
When: 3 – 6 September 2014 Where: SOTA Drama Theatre Price: $30 - $40 - $50 | www.sifa.sg Discounts available for students and seniors aged 55 and above
The race will be flagged off at the TheFloat@Marina Bay and the route will take runners past Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, Merlion Park, Esplanade, Singapore Flyer, F1 Pit Building, the Sports Hub and end off with a picturesque finish at the TheFloat@ Marina Bay. It’s a great way for the women in the family to get fit and healthy while forging greater bonds at the same time! Registration has started and ends on 30 September 2014.
When: 9 November 2014 Where: The Float@Marina Bay Price: From $41 | www.greateasternwomensrun.com Discounts available for group and corporate registrations
THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR & OTHER ERIC CARLE FAVOURITES Act 3 International is bringing back the family-favourite The Very Hungry Caterpillar & Other Eric Carle Favourites this September! This magical work of black light theatre brings together the beloved tales of awardwinning children’s book illustrator and writer Eric Carle and is suitable for 3- to 6-year-olds. Featuring stunning visual effects, innovative shadow puppetry and vibrant choral music, this triple bill will enthral children with its magical transformation of well-loved tales into a larger-than-life piece of theatre. Three meaningful stories will be presented – The Very Hungry Caterpillar follows the adventures of a tiny and hungry caterpillar and its eventual metamorphosis into a beautiful butterfly. Little Cloud is a charming little tale of how it decides to stray away from his fellow mates to go on
an adventure that finds him turning into various objects such as a sheep, clown and even a shark! And finally, in The Mixed Up Chameleon, toddlers will be able to associate colours and meanings to objects through the reptile who eventually embraces his uniqueness after an identity calamity happens.
When: 27 September – 5 October 2014 Where: Drama Centre @ National Library Price: From $25 | www.sistic.com.sg | Prices exclude booking fee and discounted family packs available
Aug 2014 • Family & Life
21
RELAX By Farhan Shah
Also known as Yu Lan, the WHERE DID IT START? WHO IS THE FIRST While the historical beginnings HUNGRY GHOST? Hungry Ghost Festival is There are many stories of the origins the Hungry Ghost Festival is celebrated in the seventh of of hungry ghosts, most of it from an somewhat intermingled with myths month of the Chinese and folklore, most historians are early third-century book titled Sutra calendar. To put that into the of the consensus that the Ghost of One Hundred Selected Legends. It Gregorian calendar context, Festival originated with the canonical usually revolves around a kind man, a the Festival is happening on scriptures of Buddhism and has been monk and a greedy women although there have been other stories blended with different aspects of the 10 August 2014 and will last ceremonies present in Chinese folk involving unkindness. for a month! We break down religion and other local traditions. “A rich man who travels around the this traditional Chinese country selling sugar cane juice was Interestingly, the Chinese community event for you.
The
y r g n u H
Ghost Festival
is not the only one to have a festival celebrating the annual opening of the gates of Hell. In Cambodia, the Pchum Ben 15-day festival also has references to the gates of Hell and food offerings to the dead.
SO, WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENS DURING THE HUNGRY GHOST FESTIVAL? The Hungry Ghost Festival falls at the same time as a full moon and the start of the fall harvest. At this time, the gates of hell are opened up and the hungry ghosts are free to roam the earth to seek food and entertainment. Contrary to its name, the hungry ghost isn’t actually a famished supernatural being! Rather, a hungry ghost is an unfortunate ghost – in many Chinese-based religions, they believe that all people become regular ghosts when they die and would slowly weaken and eventually die a second time. A hungry ghost is believed to come about if the whole family is killed, when the family no longer venerates its ancestors, if their deaths are violent or unhappy or if the person commits evil deeds such as killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. A hungry ghost usually has a long, thin neck because he or she has not been fed by the family.
resting at home when a monk come to the house looking for some juice to cure an illness. The man had to leave, so he told his wife to give the monk a drink in his absence. Instead of doing that, she secretly urinated in the monk’s bowl and then poured sugarcane juice into it. The monk was not deceived, pouring out the contents of the bowl and leaving the house. When the wife died, she was reborn as a hungry ghost.” “Once, there was five hundred men who were sons of elders of the city they lived in. When monks came into the city begging for food, the sons denied them because they thought the monks would keep coming back and eventually take all of their food. After all the sons died, they were reborn as hungry ghosts.”
ARE THERE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPIRITS THAT WANDER AROUND DURING THIS MONTH? Yes, according to the Chinese, there is! There are two types of ghosts, detailed below:
1
E gui (饿鬼) Literally meaning hungry ghost, the e gui are the people who committed sins out of greed when they were alive and are now condemned to suffer in hunger after death. Their mouth is too small to consume food and their skin is green or grey. They also occasionally sport a potbelly. The e gui suffer from insatiable hunger and haunts the streets and kitchens in search of offerings and decomposed food. They literally consume anything, including excreted waste and rotten flesh.
2
You hun ye gui (游魂野鬼) The e gui are a subset of the you hun ye gui, which means wandering spirits of the dead. The other ghosts in this group include vengeful spirits seeking revenge and playful supernatural beings who are just looking to have fun and cause trouble. Some of these spirits have no living relatives or have no resting place, while others are unable to return to the underworld in time, so they continue to roam the world of the living after the Hungry Ghost Festival.
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Family & Life • Aug 2014
Practices around the World
In general, most Asian countries celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival by burning Hell bank notes and other forms of joss paper, which apparently can be used by the ghosts as a form of currency in the afterlife. Occasionally, there are people who also burn specially-made paper houses, vehicles and servants to please the ghosts. Families also offer prayers and food and drink to the deceased relatives. There are some slight variations though. Singapore & Malaysia Getai concerts are held around the country, featuring performances by a group of singers, dancers and entertainers on a temporary stage specially erected for this purpose. The front rows of the seating arena are usually left empty for the hungry ghosts. Taiwan The gates of a temple are opened on the first day of the seventh lunar month to signify the gates of hell being cracked open.
On the 12th day, lamps at the main altar are lit and on the 13th day, a procession of lanterns are held. During this month, many Taiwanese avoid going for surgery, buying cars, swimming, and going out after dark. They also take extra care to not reveal addresses to ghosts. Japan On the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, people will give gifts to their superiors and acquaintances. The Japanese version of the Ghost Festival is called O-bon and has been transformed over time into a family reunion holiday. People from the big cities return to their home towns and clean the graves of their ancestors. Vietnam The festival is usually seen as a time to pardon the condemned souls who have been released from Hell. These homeless souls should be fed and appeased with food offerings. In fact, the month of the festival is known as the Month of Lonely Spirits
and is believed to be haunted and particularly unlucky. The festival also coincides with Vu Lan, or Mother’s Day. People whose
mothers are still alive would bear a red rose and give thanks while those without can choose to bear a white rose and attend services to pray for the deceased.
S u p e r s t it io n s
d can take many ught to be dangerous an tho are ts os gh ry ng hu The en a beautiful , wolves, tigers and ev ds bir , es ak sn ing lud forms inc man or woman. be home before dark ed by family elders to vis ad lly ua us are n re Child ry ghost might at night in case a hung ts ee str the er nd wa t and to no possess them. s time because the oid swimming during thi av lly ua us o als le op Pe also avoid driving drowned people. They ve ha to d ve lie be are spirits ich can then t physical collision, wh no l, ua irit sp a of r fea at night for rtune. lead to illness or misfo Ghost Festival o celebrate the Hungry wh se tho , nth mo s thi as backdoor During instead use terms such d an t os gh rd wo the avoid using s. as not to anger the spirit God or good brother, so for the spirits rned on the sidewalks bu en be s ha ing er off pping on or After an , many people avoid ste w) no s bin of nt ve ad (before the as an opening to the cause it is considered near the burned area be rson to be possessed. ing it may cause the pe ch tou d an rld wo irit sp
Aug 2014 • Family & Life
23
RELAX
esigner D Furniture By Farhan Shah
for a Fraction of the Price
“Everyone deserves beautiful homes, not just the wealthy.” Roland Toh, Managing Director, OM
Furnishing your home with designer furniture doesn’t mean a large hole in your bank account, if OM has anything to say about it. For the past two years, the industrious merchandising team at our favourite furniture store has painstakingly picked out a range of elegant and contemporary furniture collections by Sean Dix, Mario Mazzer, Gal Tevet, Vincenzo Vinci and Silvia Marlia, five of the most sought after furniture designers in the world, which will turn your home from humdrum to hubba hubba!
Sean Dix Born in Kansas, Sean Dix has been all over the world, living in Fiji, Micronesia, Philippines, Europe and Hong Kong. He specialises in the creation of retail concepts for luxury brands and high-impact interior projects for bars, restaurants and domestic interiors. His furniture range is titled Dix Collection.
Silvia Marlia Raised among Italian designers in an architectural environment, it is no wonder Silvia Marlia’s passion for design and aesthetics began at a young age. She combines the Steiner and Montessori approaches to her educational children furniture collection, sand furniture.
Mario Mazzer The architect from Milan has won many awards such as the Red Dot Award, the Good Design Award and the IF Design Award for his work. An industrial designer, Mario has worked for a variety of esteemed companies such as Bolnado and Cappelini. His furniture range is named Entune Living.
Gal Tevet An Israeli architect, Gal Tevet started his design studio in 1998 after leaving his job as an architecture professor in a design academy. He works alongside Mario Mazzer to craft the pieces in Entune Living.
Vincenzo Vinci Founder of grado, Vincenzo Vinci started Collectivo, a network of designers across several capitals of design. He has worked with companies such as Tissot and the Palladium Group. He’s also won several design awards and been published in many design magazines.
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Family & Life • Aug 2014
We talk to Silvia Marlia, the designer of sand furniture, about her thoughts, her inspirations and her views about education. 1 In a previous interview, you mentioned that you had a passion for non-traditional education. Here in Singapore, our education is rigid and traditional, but also supposedly world-renowned. In your opinion, how do you think the country’s education system affects the design culture? I don’t know enough about Singapore education, but I do believe that an education that promote the individuality and freedom of expression with in the respect of the others, is going to offer to young individuals a better life and happiness in life. We need to raise people able to imagine the future and to be able to solve problems and be flexible. The unpredictability of the future requires that we are able to do wrong and by doing wrong we can explore different solution. 2 I understand that you were a Steiner student. Could you share with me how your childhood influenced your sand furniture designs? In Steiner school, I learned respect for nature, art and beauty, and I learned a lot about colours. I think that all smooth and round curves comes from a typical Steiner environment, but I learned a sense of spirituality and when I see all these small furniture, proportioned well in a space, to me there is something magic. 3 When you were growing up, how big of a role did design play in your childhood? I grew up with architects, designers and artists and I think that was the vocabulary I learned to read. I then studied more poetry and literature from the ancient world, but I was still concerned about proportions and beauty. 4 What are your design tenets, guidelines and philosophies when you’re designing furniture for children? What do you adhere to? Think small and to be purposeful for young people.
I think that you can stimulate imagination and creativity, but by giving it directly you are not offering the possibility to create it. So I think furniture and accessories, should be plain, and useful, and then children will think about decoration eventually and use of it. But the function should be easily understood.
5 In your professional opinion, how do you think a country like Singapore, who is still struggling to forge a design identity, can forge its own design DNA and ethos? In time, as it happens all over the world. Nourish more art and creative events and at the same time, keep the nature and tradition of the country. For Singapore, I think the city is blessed with rich traditions. If you do not homologate this city, everything will come out.
The OM store is located at CENTRAL: 177 River Valley Road Liang Court #02-24 S179030 T: 6837 0060 EAST: 16 Tai Seng Street Level 8 S534138 T: 6235 0777 www.extremelyfashionablefurniture.com | www.facebook.com/omhome Aug 2014 • Family & Life
25
RELAX
Food Mavericks
s ’ e r o p a g n i S It takes cojones to decide, one day, to go toe to toe against some of the biggest food brands in the world, with their multi-million dollar budgets and high-tech production kitchens. The four local food mavericks featured here have decided to do just that because they think families deserve better items on the dining table.
By Farhan Shah
Eastern Granola
“Being as resource scarce as we are, it’s inevitable that we rely on imports. But I think, on some level, people crave a real connection with their food. They like to know what exactly goes into it and who makes it.” Eastern Granola, the brainchild of former dining editor Hui Wen, is a homage to iconic Asian dishes such as rojak and Thai mango salad, with the exception that they are broken down a la molecular granola-my. The ingredients are from different parts of Asia and Hui Wen blends all of them together in a central kitchen in Macpherson. She’s even thinking of crafting a chicken-rice flavoured granola too!
“Local produce doesn’t have to travel for long periods of time to reach you, so it’s fresher. Also, less petrol is wasted on vehicles to transport the produce, so there’s less pollution. Besides, tropical fruit and flavours are so unique, so why not make full use of our easy access to them?”
“I have nothing against kaya toast! I love it. In fact, I’m coming up with a kaya toast granola next.” Mass produced commercial cereals, with their additives and preservatives, are not exactly the ideal breakfast food for growing children, yet many parents regularly serve it in the morning. Hui Wen hopes to pep up bland morning breakfasts with her funky flavoured granola so that kids and families don’t get bored with their meals. It’s a noble and delicious cause. Eastern Granola www.easterngranola.com The funky flavoured granola by Eastern Granola is available at Active Life Center, JuicyS, Mondays Off, Naiise.com and HipVan. com. You can also order it from the menu at Cafe@The Showroom.
Hui Wen admits that the market for local food is at the moment somewhat a niche industry but she foresees a rosy future for local food producers. Having been in the industry, first as a journalist and now a maker, she wants to help other small scale handcrafted food businesses make the transition from flea markets and independent cafes and supermarkets. She’s already on that path; she’s selfpublishing a biannual indie journal coming out in September about everyone’s two favourite sins – food and sex.
The Hunters’ Kitchenette “My wife and I always loved eating nuts. So, after knowing that nuts have been an important part of human evolution, we started incorporating them into our daily meals and tried to make our own nut butters.” It started as a quest to lead a healthy lifestyle, which led to the discovery of the Palaeolithic diet, an eating plan centred on the foods that our huntergatherer ancestors eat. Herbert and his wife Natalia began roasting their own nut butters, the antithesis of Skippy peanut butter and the Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread, and sold 10 bottles on a whim at a farmers’ market. The response was amazing and they decided to rope in a few more friends to turn it into a business. That was how The Hunters’ Kitchenette was formed.
“Most commercial peanut butters are mixed with hydrogenated oils, which is fat derived from seeds oil and exposed to extreme heat and hydrogen, changing its molecular structure to become solid at room temperature. It 26
Family & Life • Aug 2014
does not exist in nature and is highly toxic to the human body.”
to dispose of a batch worth thousands of dollars.
Herbert is a huge advocate of the Palaeolithic diet after he personally went through it and experienced a significant improvement in his quality of life – his body fat percentage dropped to 11 percent after losing seven kilograms of fat. Producing the nut butter is a tough process and is different with each batch of nuts due to the differences in oil content, humidity, texture, etc. If Herbert and his team fail to treat the nuts correctly, they might end up with a rancid batch that has to be thrown away. Just recently, they had
“We want to inspire everybody to take full control of their own health and be responsible for it, just by knowing what foods are meant for humans.” Herbert is on a mission to change the world Singaporeans look at food. Achieving a lean healthy body doesn’t require complicated diet programmes or an expensive gym membership. Rather, all you need is knowledge on the effects of different types of food on the body, information which Herbert wants to spread.
“It’s a problem that is impossible to solve without the correct information and therefore, it’s impossible for people to take control of their health. Other than producing nut butters, we also hope to spread the correct information about nutrition and health.” The Hunters’ Kitchenette www.hunterskitchenette.com The healthy range of nut butters is available at Strictly Pastry, The Bread Project and Naiise.com. You can also pick them up yourselves at their commercial kitchen in Macpherson. You’ll need to order first though!
The Edible Company “Who’s sick of the stale flavoured, over-processed boxed cereals that taste like cardboard? Us!” The Edible Company is a purveyor of handcrafted granola, a popular Western baked breakfast food consisting of rolled oats, nuts, honey and the occasional puffed rice. Started by freelance documentary editor Genevieve about six months ago, The Edible Company is a culmination of
her frustrations with the “crap that was lined at the supermarket aisles and all the mass media on fast food and quick food” and the realisation of the mortality of life. About nine years ago, after my father went through a triple heart bypass, Genevieve decided to revamp the type of food her family consumed. The first order of business: breakfast.
“I started feeding my family with one granola flavour for a couple of years as well as giving it as Christmas gifts to friends and family.” That was how her first flavour was formed – an Almost Perfect Cranberry Almond mix. After all, cranberries are a Christmas tradition. Her granola concoction proved to be so popular that Genevieve decided to come out
with another flavour – Maple Honey Nut – at the behest of some friends who wanted a version without fruits. The third flavour – Coconut Gula Melaka – came about when she looked in her fridge one day and realised the massive amounts of Gula Melaka, or coconut sugar, she had inside.
“Being a small food producer in Singapore has more obstacles than victories. The red tape is incredible and, I think, very unique to a country that probably has lesser restrictions for overseas brands than local.” Genevieve’s major bugbears are the high rental costs for kitchen space and the strict licensing requirements. What that means for The Edible Food Company is that they cannot purchase ingredients in bulk, which eats into their margins. Genevieve genuinely hopes that the government supports and backs small food producers so
and condiments, Joey was working in the National Parks Board as a conservation officer. Working so close with nature reawakened a latent interest in him Man’s relationship with nature. Blend this with a drive to start his own business and that was how GSH Conserves was catalysed.
GSH Conserves “I have always been fascinated with nature and in the last few years, I also started to become interested in how food gets on our tables, especially how the food affects the earth’s biodiversity and societies. It got me thinking about food production.” Before working on GSH Conserves, a producer of Asian-flavoured jams
that the local food industry can grow and prosper.
“Everything is handmade right down to the hand-chopped almonds and handshaved coconut chips! Freshness is key. Having things made just a few days or a few hours ago will only mean that there is no to lesser crap being put into it.” The Edible Company is a one-woman show and while her husband, a full-time chef, occasionally lends a hand, Genevieve handles all the backbreaking work herself, whether it be prepping for a pop-up store or juggling stockists and online orders. She admits it is overwhelming but she’s definitely not complaining. The Edible Company www.theediblecompany.com The Edible Company granola is available at Wheat Baumkuchen, The Cereal Pantry, Strictly Pastry and Naiise.com.
“Eating locally produced food usually means fresher produce. Choosing local produce also supports local businesses. Finally, producing and eating locally improves our food security as it reduces our dependence on imports.”
“I want to play a small role in renewing our respect for the food we eat. The fruits that I use to make my jams and condiments must be growing in our region.”
Singapore imports over 90 percent of our food around the world. The remaining 10 percent is mainly focused on three main areas: eggs, leafy vegetables and fish. Shifting the scales towards the local food production side helps to boost our economy and reduces our reliance on external sources at the same time. Having said that though, more and more food growers and producers are emerging in the country, which can only bode well for the future. Joey wants to lead the charge in changing the way Singaporeans view their food choices.
Joey sources his ingredients as close to home as possible and enjoys using tropical fruits from Malaysia and Thailand, the sort uncommonly used in jams, to craft his produce. It’s tough work – after the fruits come in to his rented kitchen, Joey cuts them up, cooks them down and then bottles them while they are hot.
GSH Conserves www.gshconserves.com The range of jams and condiments by GSH Conserves is available at The Gardens Shop, Overdoughs, Strictly Pastry, The Bread Project, Tyrwhitt General Company, Mondays Off, The Redundant Shop, Cat Socrates, SPUR Hauswerks, D-CAF @ AFDC Boutique, Naiise.com and HipVan.com. Aug 2014 • Family & Life
27
BITES
Kueh
Pie Tee
At Family & Life, we believe that cooking can, and should be, a family affair! This month, we present a fun dish that children will love making and eating – the Kueh Pie Tee, also known as Top Hat Pastry Cups.
The simple beauty of the Kueh Pie Tee is how everyone in the family gathers around the dinner table to stuff the pastry cups with the delicious filling while having fun at the same time. That’s something you can hardly replicate in a stuffy restaurant.
Singaporean palate. If you want to experience the other ingenious delights of Chef Heng, he helms the kitchen at INDOCAFE at 35 Scotts Road, one of three dining gems within the area.
The culinary genius, Chef Heng Eng Ho of INDOCAFE, is a Penang native who has brought his hometown sensibilities and infused them into the sophisticated
So, we hope that you’ll enjoy creating the Kueh Pie Tee. Do share your pictures of the finished creation with us at our Facebook page!
INGREDIENTS PREPARATIONS SERVES: 4 people for appetisers or 2 people as mains DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy enough for kitchen newbies! PREPARATION TIME: 15 minutes COOKING TIME: 10 minutes
Pie Tie Cup Shells...............8 to 10 pieces Garnish Fried Shallots Chopped Spring Onion Steamed Crab Meat Filling Cooking Oil Chopped Garlic..........................10 grams Sliced Red Onion........................50 grams Minced Pork...............................80 grams Shredded Sweet Turnip...........300 grams Chopped Shrimp........................80 grams Shredded Carrot......................100 grams Sliced Dried Shitake Mushroom.50 grams Chopped Tofu.............................50 grams Sesame Oil............................1 tablespoon Salt, sugar and white pepper.......To taste
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Family & Life • Aug 2014
1. Heat up cooking oil in a wok and add chopped garlic, red onion, pork and shrimp to be stir fried. 2. Add sweet turnip, carrot and mushroom to the wok and continue to stir fry. 3. Add remaining ingredients before adding a little water. 4. Cover and cook till the sweet turnip turns slightly transparent. 5. Add seasoning to taste. 6. Garnish with steamed crab meat, chopped spring onion and fried shallots.
100 Ways to Cook an Egg & More Fun Food Facts Food is such an important component of our everyday lives. Yet, you’ll be surprised at how little you actually know about food! We’ve whipped up some interesting facts about our Asian grub, with some help from YES Supermarket, which you can use to impress the family at the dinner table.
There are more #1 than 100 ways to cook an egg! Did you know that, at one time in history, a chef’s hat was pleated 100 times to signify the 100 ways he knew how to prepare eggs? We kid you not; there really are more than 100 ways to prepare an egg although a lot of it involves combining with other ingredients to make custards, soufflé, etc. This is on top of the usual scrambled and over-easy variety!
Bananas are #2 a man-made invention! The banana fruit is actually a manmade creation to replace another type of banana that went extinct due to disease! The typical yellow bananas you see hanging inside supermarkets is called the Cavendish banana from the Cavendish tree. The Cavendish trees are not allowed to reproduce normally and are instead, in a way, cloned in farms and laboratories.
Strawberries, #3 raspberries and blackberries are not berries!
On the topic of bananas, our yellow fruity brethren, tomatoes, pumpkins, watermelons and avocados are considered berries! On the flipside, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are not considered berries. The botanical definition of a berry is a fleshy fruit that is produced from a single ovary.
is made from #4Honey bee vomit!
Technically speaking, honey is made from two ingredients – nectar and bee vomit! The industrious bees head out of their hives to extract the nectar from flowering plants before storing it in their stomach. Back at the hive, they regurgitate the nectar into another bee’s mouth and this goes back and forth until the partially digested nectar is deposited into a honeycomb. Finally, after the water from the
nectar has evaporated, the bee seals the comb with a secretion of liquid from its abdomen.
ketchup #5Tomato used to be medicine!
The tomato ketchup sauce used to be marketed as patent medicine for diarrhoea and indigestion back in the 1800s! A physician named Dr John Cook Bennett declared that tomatoes were great for treating the aforementioned diseases and began publishing recipes on tomato ketchup. In fact, tomato ketchup originated from China and never had tomatoes in them until the 17th or 18th century, when it was introduced into the recipe by the English.
Chocolate was once #6 used as a form of money! Chocolate, or at least the cacao seeds used to make chocolate, were once used as currency by the Aztecs between the 1300s and 1500s! Interestingly, the cacao tree could not be grown in the dry highlands where the Aztecs lived, so they would trade with the Maya and other tribes so that they could receive a steady supply. The Aztecs even paid their taxes and tributes with cacao seeds!
$
$
$
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kiwifruit isn’t #7The from New Zealand!
The kiwifruit, or Chinese gooseberry, is actually native to China and is so important to the Chinese that it is the country’s national fruit! The New Zealand-esque name came about in the early 1900s when an American importer named Norman Sondag wanted to avoid paying the high tariffs that were then in place for berries just so he could market the Chinese gooseberries. Eventually, he settled on the kiwifruit, as suggested by New Zealand grower Jack Turner because it resembled the brown, furry-looking national bird of New Zealand. The name has stuck until this day.
YES Supermarket is at Blk 433 Tampines Street 43 • Blk 201B Tampines Street 21 • Blk 138 Tampines Street 11 Block 829 Tampines Street 81 • YES Marketplace @ Tampines Mart 7 Tampines Street 32 • 35 Hougang Avenue 3 Aug 2014 • Family & Life
29
LASTWORD
Mom’s Time Out By Christopher Pang
What happens when the woman in the household disappears for a week and the man takes over? Christopher Pang pens down his experiences after his wife goes on an allexpenses-paid getaway, leaving him in charge of the children, all this with cameras in the house recording his every move!
WHEN my wife, Julie, and I were presented with the opportunity to appear on Lifetime’s new local production, Mom’s Time Out, I was initially hesitant. Images of The Osbournes and The Kardashians, with cameras in their faces ALL THE TIME, and everyone screaming at each other and flashing their tonsils to the whole world, ran vividly through my mind, and panic started to well up in my throat. Granted we were nowhere near the fame and fortune of these two families, but I was near hyperventilation at the thought of being on television nonetheless. What would my mother say?!
Julie, on the other hand, was raring to give it a go. She was looking forward to the allure of an all-expenses-paid fiveday vacation with the other two mothers who would go through this experience together as she needed the timeout. After much discussion and thought, we barter traded and compromised with her agreeing to let me venture off on a fishing trip when she returned home from my ordeal, I mean social experiment. When we learned we were selected as one of the three families, the weight of how real the entire situation was began to set in and I eventually came to terms with it. I thought, how tough can it be? These are, after all, my children I was stuck with for a week. I should have known better. The moment Julie packed her bags and left, I was immediately handed the dual roles of Mother and Father. This meant that I had to cook, clean, do the laundry, feed the kids and ensure that I did not burn the house down. As an introvert who values my privacy greatly, it took a while for me to be comfortable with having strangers in my house all the time, and lights and cameras following our every move and documenting our every word. As cliché as it sounds, I learned not to take things for granted. Doing the laundry and housekeeping, while challenging, was a walk in the park compared to when it came to dealing with the children. One of my first challenges at meal time was when at an impromptu birthday dinner with a neighbour’s son, none of my three sons, fiveyear-old Matthew, nine-year-old Michael and 12-year-old Marcus, 30
Family & Life • Aug 2014
wanted to touch the pancakes I had painstakingly prepared from the pre-packed box, much less eat it. I decided to lead by example and took a bite, which I nearly threw up. So I fed that to the dustbin instead of the kids. I also learnt that bringing my three sons and their friends out on a big field trip to the theme park is no small feat, but what was important is that I got to spend time with them. Given today’s hectic landscape in our cosmopolitan city, it is getting increasingly challenging to juggle a career, family and even individual growth. In some ways, Julie and I are blessed with some sort of flexibility when it comes to work and family; we run our own business together so we have more pockets of time to spend with the boys. Being part of this programme also reminded me that I had put two important lessons on the back burner as I focused on building the business and family with my wife. First, the way we manage something when we have nothing builds character in all of us. When Julie was away, I had “nothing” in the aspect of help. It was all on my shoulders to ensure that the household was run smoothly, and that my children were safe, warm and fed. Second, how we behave when we have everything is sometimes lost on us. When Julie was around, she did the housework, she cooked, she cleaned, she did all the laundry and all that seemed insignificant to the kids and me, and it was taken for granted. It’s human nature to do so, but it was a humbling reminder and experience for me especially. As fathers, I feel it is important that we need to consciously work on our relationships – with our spouse and with our children – and constantly think about how to keep the spark going, the momentum moving and the love flowing. It is not an easy ride, and no one ever said it was and will be. But I think these are things that we really need to make extra effort for and to make it work without taking it for granted. Now, I just need to work on my pancake-making skills and all will be perfect!
Mom’s Time Out, an original production by Lifetime, premieres 28 August, Thursdays, 9pm on Starhub Ch 514.
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The essential free monthly companion for every Singaporean family, Family & Life aims to inform, educate and inspire the contemporary urbanite parent. With hard-hitting personality profiles and a creative editorial team that is unafraid of pushing the envelope and tackling controversial topics related to family living, Family & Life hopes to get families talking and bonding at the same time.
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