My Very Special Dad

A Remembrance on Father’s Day 2022

I remember that warm August evening in 1981. We stood in the Departure Hall of the brand-new modern Changi International Airport which became operational only in July. Just Dad and me. I was en route on a Singapore Labour Foundation post-graduate scholarship to the prestigious London School of Economics (LSE).

Dad was jubilant. He was so proud of me, I could see. So happy that he had been telling everyone in Chinatown, where his business was located at the current Hotel Swissôtel Merchant Court site, of my London trip and post-graduate scholarship for weeks. Usually, only rich kids who failed to gain entry to the only top local National University of Singapore (NUS) could afford to go to overseas Universities as an easier alternative.

I had already graduated from the NUS with 2 undergraduate degrees. He reminded me to keep warm, drink plenty of water and eat right. He knew that we had never traveled beyond neighbouring Malaysia, and did not understand how life in London would be for me. From his confidence, I knew that he trusted my instinct, initiative, and resourcefulness to survive London. I did.

Upon my return, Dad was again at the Changi International Airport, this time waiting for me at the Arrival Hall, when I landed to show him my Master’s degree from The LSE. He was so very proud of me.

Dad was a typical Chinese paternalistic father. There was little outward showing of affections like hugging, kissing, or embracing. Even lesser conversations, until we were much older. He loved all of us deeply, that much we all knew. Every other Sunday, he would lead his troupe of 6 children on a 25-minute walk to the nearby Great World Globe cinema (now Great World City) for the latest movie. Mother preferred to stay at home.

The ubiquitous cane ruled our household, and was used liberally to discipline misbehaviours and disobedience, and the occasional red marks, indicating failed subjects, in our School Reports. Mother is a dutiful housewife, who somehow managed to feed our family of 9 (which included Granny) on a daily budget of Singapore $5. On weekdays, I often accompanied Mother to the nearby, and Tiong Bahru wet markets. Dad would usually bring me marketing on Sundays at the dark unholy 6am dawn, whenever…

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