I was fortunate to be able to watch this year’s National Day Parade thrice. It was my first time watching the National Day Parade live too. I was only given one ticket for each time I attend the rehearsals or the real thing so… I kinda went to watch the entire thing without my friends. However, I did make some new friends when we were waiting for the long queues and stuff.

Anyways, not relating to the parade itself, I kinda compiled some random pictures I took during this period, kinda related to the whole ‘SG50’ stuff. Most of them were taken around the Bugis and Little India area.

On the parade day itself, Team Nila volunteers (SEA Games Volunteers) meet up to collect tickets at the National Stadium first before making our way to The Float. That was where I met new people and made new friends!

Now, to the parade itself. At the Float, we were given a Fun Pack which consisted of a few nostalgic items like the “stick thing” (I had forgotten what it’s called sorry), a few country erasers that I used to like to collect when I was in Primary School, and also snacks that I loved to spend my pocket money on back in the day.

Well, the parade started with some sing-along session to some old National Day songs, and also some performances by Grassroots’ Performing Arts groups. There were also these cute Nila mascots to entertain us. At all corners of the audience, motivators were there to encourage the audience to stand up and start dancing to the music. Really appreciate their effort to get the audience on their feet under the hot sun. (:

Afterwards, the official parade starts. The parade this year is held at The Padang so we kinda have to watch the entire thing on a big screen. However the best part of the parade, the fireworks, is going to be lighted up in front of us at Marina Bay. So like every other National Day Parade, there was marching and more marching, it’s beginning to become a mundane thing you know, but I really do appreciate the people who were involved in it. Next comes the second best part after the fireworks. The airshow. This year, they made it extra special. There was an A380 with the SG50 livery fly-past, fighter pilots doing dangerous stunts around the city, and also fighter planes forming the number “50” in the sky!

People started waving their flags in excitement when the planes came thundering in, shaking the ground beneath us. I saw some parents who covered their children’s ears too. Haha.

If I remembered correctly, afterwards, the President came in, and all of us had to rise to sing to the National Anthem. It was also the cue for the chopper with the Singapore Flag to come in.

Then there were a couple of different performances of all sorts by different schools and stuff.  …And I’ll just fast forward to the Fireworks bit. This year’s fireworks are supposed to be twice bigger than last year’s. They lighted up the fireworks at two different locations, one at the mouth of the Singapore River, and one at the Marina Bay. I must say this year’s fireworks was spectacular! It was blinding at some points but still, great.

I took part in the One-SG Pledge Moment so all of the Team Nila participants, including me, had to go down to the float to do the pledge… and I was happy to be among the hundreds to reaffirm our loyalty to this country. (:

Overall it was a fun experience! Partly… because it was my first time seeing the Parade live. Anyways, Happy Belated SG50 Singapore!