Chinatown Mass Reunion Dinner 2013

Following the previous blog to share the Singapore Memory Project campaign "iremember Chinese New Year" here , can we imagine to have an innovative, modern ways having reunion dinner to celebrate Chinese New Year in Singapore almost 60 years ago as shown in the juxtaposed photo with the credit of the National Archives of Singapore.

Would it be possible to have a three generation reunion dinner from a crowded wooden cubicle in Chinatown to a constructed tent located at the F1 Race Track at Singapore Flyer, 30 Raffles Avenue on Sunday, 3 February 2013 at 6.30 pm?

This is like the dream come true for many former Chinatown elderly residents who attended the Chinatown Mass Reunion Dinner for 1000 underprivilaged and elderly.  Many of them were visiting the venue the first time in their life. They just couldn't believe that this is our homeland ... Singapore.  It's awesome!

As part of the series of community outreach initiative of Chinatown Chinese New Year Celebrations 2013, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consulatative Committee (KA-KS CCC)  organised this first ever Chinatown Mass Reunion Dinner 2013.  Working in collaboration with Select Group, KA-KS CCC aims to share the Chinese New Year festivities for everyone in the community, including our fellow Malay, Indians and other ethnic groups who are non-Chinese Singaporeans.  The food served was halal so that our Muslim friends share and enjoy freely in the Reunion Dinner. 

The traditional spirit of the Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner in Singapore-style which was impressed by our invited foreign guests and the TVB Hong Kong team which filmed the unique celebration.

Dr Lily Neo (梁莉莉医生),  Grassroots Adviser and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC (基层组织顾问兼丹戎巴葛集选区国会议员) said: "We hope this mass reunion dinner for about 1000 of our residents will enable them to enjoy a heart-warming and health dinner as we celebrate the festivities with them like one big family.  We are heartened by the efforts of our grassroot leaders, volunteers and generous sponsorship of corporate partners like Select Group and Singapore Flyer who have come together to spread the festive cheers to the underprivileged and elderly in our community."

Where is this famous place in Singapore which everyone must know?

The new places of interest in Singapore to show off to our foreign friends, visitors and tourists.

Inside the Main Tent

Mother's Love is great...baby's feeding time cannot wait  ; )

The VVIP Table

An "early bird" waiting for his friends and neighbors to arrive

Arrival of guests by chartered coaches

Filming by the Hong Kong TVB Team

An Army of  Friendly, Courteous and Efficient Select Group Volunteers

To prepare for the mass reunion feast, KA-KS CCC has mobilised all of its grassroot organizations and volunteers while Select Group has also involved over 300 of its management and staff to prepare the 8-course Mass Reunion Dinner.

A Masterpiece  of  Art - The Main Attraction

Arrival of Dr. Lily Neo and VVIP to the Chinatown Mass Reunion Dinner 2013

Address by Mr Vincent Tan, PBM

He said that the feast features 8 auspicious dishes – Select’s Copious Harvest “Yu Sheng”, Conpoy and Crabmeat with Fish Maws in Superior Broth, “Sam Sui” Ginger Chicken, Pacific Dory Fillet with Fragrant Garlic and “Chye Poh” in Cantonese Style, Golden Prawn Coated with Salted Egg Yolk, Prosperous “Fatt Choy” with Black Mushroom in Nonya Style, Fragrant Oriental Chicken Sausage Lotus Leaf Rice and Lotus Seed with Orange Peel Red Bean Dessert.

Select Group has collaborated with Dr Lily Neo and two elderly residents in the menu design. The menu has been specially designed for the elderly and hence, healthier choice cuisines with less salt and oil are offered. Dr Neo has shared one of her personal healthy recipes, Prosperous “Fatt Choy” with Black Mushroom in Nonya Style. Two elderly octogenarian residents, a former majie (妈姐)  and  a former red head scarf Samsui woman ( 红头巾) have shared their personal recipes  Lotus Seed with Orange Peel Red Bean Dessert and Sam Sui” Ginger Chicken respectively.

Welcome Address by Dr. Lily Neo, Grassroots Adviser and Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar

"Lo Hei" (Toss for Good Fortune)

Not to be missed is the momentous Lo Hei, “Toss for Good Fortune” as Dr Lily Neo, sponsors, grassroot leaders, volunteers and celebrities gather together with over 1,000 residents and elderly to do a mass Lo Hei, tossing an array of rainbow-coloured ingredients in the air whilst shouting auspicious words or phrases for good health, fortune and luck, a must-have customary tradition for every celebratory reunion feast for the Lunar New Year.

Guests were enthralled by the appearance of popular TVB artistes from Hong Kong including Ron Ng (吴卓羲), Kenneth Ma (马国明), Nancy Wu (胡定欣) and Mimi Zhu (朱咪咪) who joined in a mass tossing of “yu sheng”.  

Dr. Lily Neo giving the thumb-up sign to start the "Lo Hei"

 

A delighted Dr Lily Neo completed the successful "Toss of Fortune" with blesssing of Prosperity, Good Health and Good Luck, wishing everyone present and share them the "lo hei yu sheng" for distribution at their tables.

Entertainment Show Time - Carry On With Your Dinner

During the mass reunion feast, guests were treated to an entertaining programme of acrobatic performances performed by Oriental Arts Acrobatic Troupe (东方艺术杂技 ), music and songs performed by a glittering line-up of celebrities from Singapore and Hong Kong and hosted by Marcus Chin (陈建彬). The cast of Singapore movie, “Ah Boys To Men” (新兵正传) led by renowned homegrown director, Jack Neo (梁智强) comprising Noah Yap (叶荣耀) , Joshua Tan (陈伟恩), Wang Weiliang (王伟良), Maxi Lim (林俊良) and Tosh Zhang (张智扬) entertained the guests with Chinese New Year songs.
        

This happy lady sing-along while other guests carry on with their sumptuous feast

An unforgettable evening with family, friends and everyone in the community to remember the Chinatown Mass Reunion Dinner 2013.

Thanks to Dr. Lily Neo, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng Citizens' Consultative Committee, the organisers, generous sponsors,  many helping hands and everyone to make this special occasion possible.

[Source:  Ms Rennie Loh of Catalyst Communications Consultancy with thanks and acknowledgement].