“Boxing is such an enigma. There’s just something very ironic about it. It’s predictable yet so unpredictable. We fight in a ring even though it’s a square. We try to kill each other for three rounds; but, at the end of it, we respect each other even more.”
People of Legends | “Everybody has their own pace and goals in boxing, so don’t be pressured by what others think you should or should not do. You know where your heart is. Everyone has their own journey in boxing so do what feels right to you.”
“You don’t have to be a bully. You don’t have to act tough just so that people will think you are strong. You can be strong while still being empathetic.”
“I hope people who watch the play go home feeling a sense of comfort. Comfort that you can move on after someone’s death, that there can be reconciliation with a sibling even if the relationship is tense right now, that your angry child can grow up full of compassion.”
People of Legends | “Because I’m dyslexic, I got judged for being very behind in class. I was mentally and physically abused by the other kids in school; but, it doesn’t matter anymore because I’ve worked hard to be at the level where I’m at now.”
Humans of Habitat Singapore | “Coming from Jakarta where you do see a lot of poverty, I always had this image of Singapore being a very clean and prosperous country. But behind that picture-perfect façade, there are actually so many underprivileged people who need our help.”
“I’ve been different all my life. As an artist, I’ve had these weird ideas in my head for so long, and when you’re new, people will question why you do things a certain way. But you have to stay true to your craft and to yourself.”
“I’m an actress by training but my work goes beyond that. My passion lies in education and engaging with the public through the arts. And while I don’t have children because I choose not to, I continue to educate the future generations through programmes like N.O.W.”
Humans of Habitat Singapore | “Some of them are just so happy to have someone to talk to and open up about who they used to be. They feel so isolated because they might not have family members to carry on their memories for them, but I’m interested to hear, and I’m interested to learn.”
“It taught me about the values that mattered to someone in their dying days. Sometimes my aunt got very aggressive and shouty. I was hurt initially, but I eventually understood why. She reached her snapping point when she felt like she had lost her dignity.”
“Sometimes you feel like the path is long, but you need to take things one step and one day at a time. Instead of exhausting your mind thinking about the future, just do your best. If I can overcome all of my hardships and come out stronger, so can you.”
“If I have any message of hope, it’s that cancer is not a death sentence. You have to stay strong and fight. Through overcoming heart surgery and cancer, I grew stronger than ever. You have to believe that there is life after cancer.”
When a youth silently takes his own life, it means that there was no one out there to assure him that his life is worth living. Every youth needs someone to let him know that he matters, that it’s important he exists – everyone in this world does.
“I realised that in Singapore, we’re a bit more reserved, scared and cautious to do things. If you’re passionate about something, have a concrete plan, be consistent and be courageous enough to just dive into it.”
People of Legends | “What’s most important is that you never give up on yourself…You’re limited by yourself; nobody decides what your limitations are for you.”
I’ve learnt to keep working hard, have faith and trust the process. Whether it’s sports or business, believing in ourselves and our journey will help us achieve our goals.
“Still Life” draws from events in my personal life. I’m from the baby boomer generation, and we have a slightly more complicated childhood than, let’s say, the Millennials. I was actually adopted as a baby by my mother who was still single at the time.
People of Legends | “I want my dad to know that I really respect him a lot. We know it hasn’t been easy for him being a dad and a mom at the same time.”