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Babes sings for kids with Aids Babes Conde to reunite with 1970s Filipino band The New Minstrels to raise funds for charity
By Samuel Lee
SHE teaches stars like Fann Wong, Christopher Lee, Donita Rose and Kit Chan how to sing.
A teacher of stars, Babes Conde hopes to raise $50,000 for Aids kids in a concert with friends. -- Wong May-E Her name pops up on the programmes of most homegrown musicals like Beauty World, Chang & Eng and Sing To The Dawn, appearing in roles like Choral Mistress, Arranger, Musical Director, Pianist and Songwriter.
But do you know that Singapore-based Filipina Babes Conde made her debut here at a Christmas gig at the Goodwood Park hotel in 1975 with a showband called The New Minstrels?
The five-piece band was the Filipino showband of the 1970s, with a slew of best-selling albums to its name. Beyond the Philippines, it was also popular in the region until it split up in 1978.
'There were even TV specials made about The New Minstrels by the BBC and a Hongkong TV station,' recalls Conde, a bubbly, laugh-a-minute woman in her 40s who is divorced with a teenage son.
In Singapore, its gigs at the now-defunct Barbarella disco at the Ming Court Hotel - now known as Orchard Parade Hotel - attracted singer-songwriter Dick Lee, designer Alan Koh, actor Ivan Heng, the famous Chan siblings - swimmer Pat, singer Mark and doctor Roy - and socialite Tina Tan of The Link group.
To raise money for the KK Outreach To Kids Fund, which treats and conducts research on children with HIV, she is staging babes & friends... the reunion - a concert on Saturday at the University Cultural Centre.
The show will reunite her with three original members of The New Minstrels - Louie Reyes, Eugene Villaluz and Ding Mercado.
This is the third consecutive year that she is staging the babes & friends fundraiser.
Featuring homegrown talents such as Sheikh Haikel, brothers Dick and John Lee, Jacintha Abisheganaden and a capella ensemble Es' Choir, her gigs last year and in 1999 raised $20,000 for the Breast Cancer Foundation and $25,000 for The Substation respectively.
'This year, we are a bit ambitious. We are aiming for $50,000 to help these kids with Aids,' she says.
But ticket sales have been slow.
It does not help matters that the gig will be held on the same night as concerts by pop sensation Robbie Williams and world famous baritone Bryn Terfel.
Corporate sponsorship has also not been forthcoming.
About 40 letters have been sent out, says law graduate Marilyn Goh, 22, who is helping Condes with the concert.
'But most companies are more concerned about the bottomline, given the state of the economy,' she says.
'They are also more careful with their charitable expenditure this year. Some cite smaller budgets and the fact that they have been contributing directly to the charities themselves.'
Arts Central presents babes & friends... the reunion, in aid of the KK Outreach To Kids Fund, at 8 pm on Saturday at the University Cultural Centre of the National University of Singapore. Tickets at $31, $51 and $61 are available at Sistic (tel: 348-5555 or www.sistic.com.sg ). For donor tickets at $100, call 9878-9359
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ADOPT A DUCK AND HELP A CHILD...AND STAND TO BE A MILLIONAIRE
The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race 2001Yes! The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race is here again. Adopt a duck and do your part for charity.
The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race is a key event under The Straits Times "Got Heart Campaign" which was launched on 1 Oct to raise funds for needy children. The Straits Times Duck Race Press Conference at the Conrad Hotel, with children from The Spastic Children's Society of Singapore & CARE (Children-At-Risk Empowerment) -- JAMES HODSON.
Starting this weekend, members of public can start adopting a derby duck at $10 (for a adoption certificate) or $15 (for a certificate and souvenir duck). 100,000 ducks will be up for adoption from 13 Oct to 19 Nov 2001.
Proceeds will go towards The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund, the Spastic Children Association of Singapore and CARE (Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association).
Every adoption makes a difference in the lives of the children in need.
Mr Leslie Fong, Editor of The Straits Times, said, "This is the second time The Straits Times is organising the Million Dollar Duck Race, a fun charity event. The support we received last year was overwhelming, and we sold all 100,000 ducks before the race - smashing the world record. This year, we hope to raise as much as we can for the beneficiaries. In these difficult times, there are more in the community who need help. Every adoption means a lot to the children."
Said Mr Edmund Wan, Executive Director of the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore, "We are grateful to be selected as a beneficiary of this very exciting and meaningful charity event. Part of the funds raised will go towards meeting the needs of over 200 children with cerebral palsy. Many of them have multiple disabilities and require special needs to lead a life of independence."
Added Ms Lan Teo, Director, CARE, "This year, CARE staff, volunteers and clients will actively do our part to have all the 100,000 ducks adopted. The money raised will help build a youth center and fund preventive programs designed to combat juvenile delinquency."
True to the spirit of the "Got Heart" campaign, the Adopt-a-Duck charity drive marks the coming together of a people movement towards giving help, support and consideration to society's less fortunate members. We are glad to have partners like Samsung, Citibank and Millenia Walk who share strongly our commitment to the cause.
Said Mr J.S. Park, Managing Director, Electronics SET Division, Samsung Asia, "One of the key cornerstones of Samsung's corporate culture is contribution to society, particularly children and youth. We are pleased to be able to contribute to the Million Dollar Duck Race, where the monies will go towards the SPH School Pocket Money Fund and childrens' associations. This cause is particularly close to Samsung's heart as we believe that children and youth are the future of our society."
Added Mr Eddie Khoo, Business Director, Citibank, "Citibank is proud to be one of the key sponsors. With our participation, together with SPH, we hope that this event will be able to raise the necessary fund for the charities. This is certainly the time that the charities will need public support."
Ms Rose Tong, Vice President, Retail, Millenia Walk, said, "Apart from making shopping here at Millenia Walk a pleasant experience, we want to make it more meaningful by having shoppers (and diners) 'gently' reminded about the needy and underprivileged through our involvement as a corporate sponsor and the various promotional activities lined up. And making it more convenient for them to support this charitable event by being a main Adoption Centre."
The Million Dollar Duck Race will kick off with a public launch along Orchard Road this weekend. There will be road shows at Orchard Road over the weekend and at different venues over the next few weeks.
Highlights for the public launch this Sat include a duck trail which will start from Pasir Ris MRT and end at Orchard MRT, a duck parade, and performances by MediaWorks artistes and the beneficiaries.
The event is also supported by Singapore Tourism Board, NorthEast Community Development Council and Temasek Polytechnic.
Mr Edmund Chua, STB's Deputy Director of Thematic Development, said, "The STB is pleased to support The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race, which has been a regular event on Singapore River since its inception in 1998. This race adds colour to Singapore's events calendar, and is also for a meaningful cause. It is something both local residents and visitors can appreciate and enjoy."
Volunteers also play a big part in making the event a success. Volunteers from North-East Community Development Council and Temasek Polytechnic will be part of the duck trail from Pasir Ris MRT to Orchard MRT on the day of the public launch, and will be putting up performances and helping out with sales of the certificates.
This year's Duck Race is organised by Diakonos Productions. Mr Hugh Yii, its Managing Director, said, "It's great that The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race continues to benefit the less fortunate children in Singapore, and bring some wholesome fun for all."
Indeed, the Duck Race on 2 Dec 2001 will be a day of wholesome fun for the entire family. There will be carnival from 10am to 5pm, with a host of activities to keep you entertained. The race itself is at 2pm. So come on down to the Singapore River on that day and be part of one of world's largest duck races.
As in the previous year, there will be 1,000 red ducks amongst their yellow-feathered competitors, vying for the bonus prize of $1million. If one of the red ducks beats the rest to the finish line, the owner will receive a bonus prize of $1million, in addition to the regular first prize of $10,000. If the first duck is yellow, no bonus prize will be given out. Last year's race won the International Race of the Year Award conferred by GAME, the creator of the Duck Race around the world.
DETAILS OF ADOPTION:
- Adopt a duck at $10 (for an adoption certificate) or $15 (for a certificate and souvenir duck).
- Receive an Adoption Certificate with a serial number
- Keep your Adoption Certificate
- The number on your Adoption Certificate will be matched with the number on one of the racing ducks. If your duck is among the 1st to 50th to cross the finish line, you will win a prize.
- You can adopt a duck from 13 Oct 2001 to 19 Nov 2001 at the following:
- Millenia Walk Service Desk
- SPH Sales and Service Centre (Specialist Shopping Centre)
- The Paragon (Basement 1)
- All Swensen's Restaurants
- Selected Bus Interchanges (between Mon - Fri, 5pm - 8pm) : Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Tampines, Boon Lay
- Weekly mobile adoption centres at Temasek Polytechnic, Caltex House, Far East Square, The Heeren, Scotts Shopping Centre, Suntec City, Marina Square and Bugis Junction. Details of exact venues and dates will be announced in The Straits Times every Friday.
- Adopters will not be able to choose the colour of their race ducks.
- You stand to win $10,000 if your yellow duck comes in first on 2 Dec 2001.
- If your red duck comes in first, you win $10,000 and a $1million bonus
- You also stand to win attractive prizes if your duck is among the first 50 to cross the finish-line:
- 1st prize: $10,000
- 2nd prize:$5,000
- 3rd prize: $3,000
- 4th - 20th prizes: $500
- 21st-50th prizes: $300
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Duck race launch off to quacking start
By Lorna Tan
and Denesh DivyanathanAS HE took the stage to sing at the launch of The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race in Orchard Road yesterday, 15-year-old Stephen Williams held dear a thought entirely in tune with the cause.
Stephen, whose mother is Singaporean and natural father Australian, believes everyone can play a part in making this world a better place.
Echoing the title of his song - a Michael Jackson number called Heal the World - Stephen hopes that more people here will rally to help the less fortunate.
The duck race aims to raise up to $1 million for Singapore's most needy children. Each duck costs just $10 to adopt and offers a chance of winning $1 million in the big race on the Singapore River on Dec 2.
Stephen, whose parents divorced when he was very young, is one of those who will benefit through the Children-At-Risk Empowerment (Care) association.
The association runs a school-based programme that helps disadvantaged youths.
Care, the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund are beneficiaries of this year's race.
Like Stephen, the majority of Care's clients are from the Normal (Technical) stream. He attends St Gabriel's Secondary.
Yesterday's launch programme started with a duck parade comprising volunteers from Temasek Polytechnic, NorthEast Community Development Council and beneficiaries. The 200-strong parade drew curious stares from commuters as it travelled from Pasir Ris MRT station to Orchard MRT station.
The action then moved to the main stage outside Wisma Atria where the afternoon's line-up included performances by MediaWorks stars Evelyn Tan and Darren Lim.
Despite the recession, Singaporeans adopted ducks without hesitation.
Said father of two, Mr Ho Chin Khong: 'I hope that others who are able to help will also donate money for this.'
Apart from The Straits Times, this year's race is also sponsored by Citibank, Samsung and Millenia Walk.
Launch activities continue from 1.45pm today in front of Wisma Atria. Young Stephen will perform his song at 2.30 pm.
Feathered fun in store
HIGHLIGHTS of today's duck race launch:PERFORMANCES
(from 2 pm)FRINGE ACTIVITIES
- By MediaWorks artistes Michelle Chia and Ix Shen, games, dancing and more
GOODIES GALORE:
- Henna Tattooing, balloon sculpting and lots more*
ADOPTION CENTRES:
- Free souvenir ducks courtesy of Citibank*
- Samsung promotions
- $20 Harvey Norman vouchers for all duck adopters today courtesy of Millenia Walk
Today (from noon):Permanent centres:
- Wisma Atria
- Wheelock Place
- Shaw Centre
- Scotts Shopping Centre
- Faber House
- Orchard Point
- Somerset MBT
- Plaza Singapura
*conditions apply
- Paragon
- SPH's sales and service centre at the Specialists Shopping Centre
- Millenia Walk service desk
- Ang Mo Kio, Boon Lay, Bedok and Tampines bus interchanges (from tomorrow)
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Down, but not out
[Picture] - Marketing manager David Tse, 30, fell as he was running in a relay yesterday at the SingTel Charity Vertical Challenge, held at Comcentre in Exeter Road. His team eventually came in third, winning $30,000 for the charity it represented. The winning team's charity received $100,000. The race marked the completion of Comcentre's major facelift. Singapore Telecom presented a total of $760,000 at the event to various charities, including the National Council of Social Service.
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Duck-race launch promises fun for all
A CARNIVAL-LIKE atmosphere will prevail outside Wisma Atria shopping centre in Orchard Road this weekend as The Straits Times launches this year's duck race.
Each duck costs $10 to adopt and offers a chance of winning a cool $1 million at the duck race on Dec 2.
The three beneficiaries of this year's race are the Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association, which runs a school-based programme helping disadvantaged youths, the Spastic Children's Association of Singapore and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.
The first 100 duck adopters today will receive a free limited-edition T-shirt commemorating The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race.
In addition, the sponsors of this year's duck race - Citibank, Samsung and Millenia Walk - will be giving away freebies such as souvenir ducks, balloons and shopping vouchers to people who adopt a duck.
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Get set for $1m duck race On Dec 2, 100,000 rubber ducks will race to raise money for needy children. Adopting one could net you $1 million
By Denesh Divyanathan
TECHNOLOGY REPORTER
The mascot with kids from SCAS and Care at The ST Million Dollar Duck Race press conference yesterday. -- JAMES HODSON COME Dec 2, 100,000 rubber ducks will take to the Singapore River in The Straits Times Million Dollar Duck Race, to raise up to $1 million for Singapore's most needy children.
Adding high drama to a great cause, someone who 'adopts' one of these rubber ducks could walk away more than $1 million richer if it crosses the finishing line first.
The Straits Times is organising the race for the second year running.
Last year it smashed the world record by selling all 100,000 ducks and raising $1 million for charity.
This year, proceeds go to the Children At Risk Empowerment Association (Care), Spastic Children's Association of Singapore (SCAS), and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.
Despite the gloomy economic outlook, Mr Leslie Fong, Editor of The Straits Times, was upbeat.
'Despite the grim times... we aim to sell another 100,000 ducks. Our message to Singaporeans is very simple: When you adopt a duck, you help a child,' he said at a press briefing.
Mr Fong also paid tribute to the other race sponsors - Citibank, Samsung and Millenia Walk - for having a heart during tough times.
'In times like these, it's so easy for companies to scratch off spending on events like this as discretionary spending. But these sponsors have been very supportive,' he said.
Citibank business director Eddie Khoo said charities needed help even more during such tough times.
'Citibank has benefited from operating in Singapore... So this is our way of showing and saying thank you to the community,' he said.
Samsung Asia managing director (electronics SET division) J.S. Park said: 'This cause is particularly close to Samsung's heart as we believe that children and youth are the future of our society.'
Millenia Walk vice-president (retail) Rose Tong added: 'Apart from making shopping here at Millenia Walk a pleasant experience, we want to make it more meaningful by having shoppers and diners gently reminded about the needy and underprivileged.'
This year's race is also supported by the Singapore Tourism Board, NorthEast Community Development Council and Temasek Polytechnic.
It is licensed and organised by Diakonos Productions.
Adoption tickets for the ducks will go on sale from tomorrow at $10 each.
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Got a dollar to spare?
JUST one dollar a month from you can mean an extra million in six months for the 300,000 disadvantaged and handicapped people here who need help.
The Community Chest (ComChest) said that more people are expected to need its help because of the recession.
On Wednesday it launched the Just One campaign to encourage the 290,000 donors in the Share programme to contribute an extra dollar a month, and to sign up new donors.
Donors contribute through payroll deductions, credit-card payments or Giro.
They account for 40 cents of every dollar raised each year by ComChest, which is the fund-raising arm of the National Council of Social Service.
This year, it needs to raise $40 million to help people with disabilities, the lonely elderly, the terminally ill, families in distress and delinquent youths.
To contribute, call the Just One campaign hotline on 210-2594 or 210-2596, Mondays to Fridays between 9 am and 6 pm.
You can get more information at www.ncss.org.sg/comchest/share
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Beading a handicap
Setting up a jewellery stall was her dream. And she's done it, even with a hearing disabilityBy Michelle Ho
Like many figure-conscious women, Shalini Gidwani heads for the gym three times a week.
Like some daughters, she contributes money - about $200 - from her salary as an administrative assistant to her family each month.
Gidwani, 27, has delicately chiselled features, gracefully arched eyebrows and big sparkling eyes that dance even when she's silent.
She dresses so colourfully, often adorned with multi-layers of exotic bead accessories, that she has been likened by many a kopitiam uncle to Bollywood screen princess Kajol Mukherjee.
But when people talk to her a while longer, an awkwardness will creep into the conversation. The seemingly shy Gidwani speaks in halting sentences, and it soon becomes apparent that she is partially hard of hearing.
Yet that has not hampered her from running a flea market stall every weekend for the past four years at Far East Square.
At her stall where a kaleidoscopic spread of ethnic garb and jewellery is on sale, she readily communicates with her customers, sometimes with the help of a notebook and pen. She is also an expert lip reader.
Gidwani runs the stall with her hearing-impaired fiance, Johnny Goh, 34, who is a supervisor in vehicle repair in the army. She also teaches sign language twice a week at the Singapore Association for the Deaf.
In fact, she wrote these words faster than LTW could read them.
I was approached by some people to be a model once at Raffles City. I rejected the offer because they became cold towards me after noticing that I was hearing-impaired.
But I don't blame them. I feel that hearing people and hearing-impaired people are all the same. We are all human after all.
I was actually born normal until a high fever took away part of my speech and hearing abilities when I was four.
I can't remember how the world sounded like back then, but I remember that my family used to go to the beach for picnics, and I loved the sound of sea waves.
I can still hear some sounds, but not as clearly as hearing people do. I have a hearing aid to help amplify the surrounding sounds.
But my condition has not stopped me from doing what I want to do in life. I've learnt to accept myself for what I am as a gift from God. I have hands and legs. I can do everything except hear.
I studied with normal hearing people at Upper Serangoon Secondary School which accepts hearing-impaired students. I was also at Mount Vernon Secondary School, but it has since been demolished.
I went on to do accountancy at Ngee Ann Polytechnic. Not that I wanted to be an accountant. Actually, I wanted to do business studies, but I was only allowed to take accountancy as some of the business studies classes required lots of communication skills.
When I was 22, I started working at Autoscan Technology, which provides data-collection services. I still work there as an administrative assistant.
I got into the flea market business when I met Johnny in 1995. I noticed that he had a talent for making necklaces and bracelets with beads. He had made a necklace for me.
I thought if we could get some interesting beads, we could work out something and take a chance in running a small business.
I met Johnny at Far East Plaza when I was having dinner with a friend. He is also hearing-impaired and he came over to ask for my name. Later, I found out he was fascinated by my big eyes.
We've been together since then. It's better for me to have a deaf partner as I find it easier to communicate in sign language. We also share the same opinions and problems.
Not everyone would learn signing for my sake. I used to date a hearing guy. But when we went to functions for deaf people, he felt uneasy. Also, if we were in the dark and he wished to speak to me, I wouldn't be able to read his lips; things could get frustrating.
But I'm happy with Johnny. We will be having our wedding dinners next month. There'll be two - a Chinese and an Indian one.
I have thought about our children. If God should give us a hearing-impaired child, we'll accept him as a joy and take care of him.
Deaf people enjoy going to pubs to feel the loud music. Just as normal people can sing merrily to their favourite songs, it is nice for deaf people to sign a song.
One of my dreams is to have a cafe which will have a screen with lyrics for people to sign to. It can also be a place where hearing people come and learn sign language.
I like interacting with hearing people. I'm not offended by their questions about the hearing-impaired. It is better for them to be curious and learn more about us. Better this than people who dare to ask me things like "Do you know how to read and write?"
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Fewer suicides now among elderly
Number falls by half since 1996, but the elderly is still the group most likely to take their own livesBy Sharmilpal Kaur
THE number of elderly Singaporeans who commit suicide has been halved since 1996 but they continue to be the group most at risk, particularly among the men, according to the latest available figures.
Professor Kua Ee Heok, who heads both the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) and Woodbridge Hospital, said the suicide rate among the elderly peaked in 1995 but has since fallen dramatically.
'In 1995, the suicide rate was about 60 elderly people per 100,000 and that was a very, very high rate - much higher than the United States or Britain,' he said.
In 1999, it was 38 per 100,000 elderly men and about 11 per 100,000 elderly women - working out to an average of almost 25 per 100,000.
He said there is a greater awareness among doctors and social workers in detecting depression, seen as a common prelude to suicide.
This has been achieved through a series of talks given by psychiatric experts on how to detect early signs of depression, how to manage them, and when to refer people to psychiatrists.
'The main profile of suicides among the elderly is often those who are depressed, lonely or have physical health problems,' he said, adding that in most countries the elderly tended to have the highest rate of suicides.
'The message I tell GPs is that if an elderly person who lives alone comes to see you with either a stroke or fracture, then that person is at risk.'
Suicide rates among elderly men are high because they tend to be in worse physical health than elderly women who also seek help more often and interact more in the community, he said.
In a bid to lower the rate of suicides among the elderly, the Singapore Action Group of Elders formed the Golden Life Workgroup in 1999 with the objective of educating the community about suicides among the elderly.
'In terms of absolute numbers, it may not be high but the rate is significant enough to warrant attention,' said Mrs Helen Ko, chairman of the workgroup.
She said that with an increasing greying population here, the numbers could shoot up if rates remain the same, as there will be more elderly people.
She also added that it was better to study the trend over the past few years, rather than concentrate on the results of just one year.
'The fall is definitely very heartening but we should monitor it for a couple of years more,' she said. 'Sometimes one year's statistics may not be very accurate.'
Suicide rates differ among ethnic communities here, with Malays having the lowest suicide rates, followed by Indians, then Chinese, said Prof Kua.
'Elderly Malays have one of the lowest suicide rates, about three people per 100,000', which could be due to strong community support, their religion and attitude to life in general.
'With the overall population in Singapore, the suicide rate hovers between 10 and 12 people per 100,000, which is lower than in most developed countries,' said Prof Kua.