The Engineer Who Became A Musician

Singer-songwriter Jonathan Chong’s resume gives no hint of his artistic side. Trained up to PhD level in robot management, and currently working as a mechanical engineer, Chong, 29, launched his debut album, State Of My Mind on 19 September with a showcase at Bar None, St James Power Station.

The cosy gathering of around 50 fit comfortably into the chic venue. Most were close friends who turned up to show their support for the singer. Chong rose to the occasion and belted out seven songs from his album (which features 10 of his original compositions).

Chong’s music, birthed from a time when he went through a period of depression while pursuing his PhD, offers a refreshing blend of pop, rock, jazz and soul. The song that started it all was ‘Tell Me Why’, written when he was in a period of questioning life and its meaning.

City News spoke to Chong during a set break. The singer revealed that he writes songs almost anywhere. He could be in a jungle, on a cliff, or in his own bedroom. This is testament to the fact that his experiences in life are more varied than most. Born in laidback Kuching in East Malaysia, Chong has lived in cities like Boston, Moscow and Tokyo, and is currently based in Singapore.

Chong’s wife and manager, Belinda, 30, called the album a dream come true. She said that working on Chong’s music together united them in reaching for a common goal and as a result, strengthened the bond between them.

During the showcase, Chong sang ‘The Brightest Star’ — a term he uses to describe his wife. This song “is not a love song, but could be a love song”.

PHOTOS: Jason Lee and Xavier Tan

A close friend of the couple, Joan Ho, 31, a polytechnic lecturer, described Chong’s music as very refreshing and inspirational. She said, “Music is really about the meaning behind the music.”

State of My Mind was produced by Joshua Wan, a renowned producer who has worked with Tanya Chua and Stefanie Sun. It took three years of persistence on Chong’s part to engage Wan.

When quizzed about future plans for his music, Chong said he is open to anything. One thing’s for sure though: he has the full support of his loved ones. As our interview drew to a close, Chong received news that his parents had just flown in from Kuching to show their emphatic support for their son’s first steps into the world of music and entertainment.

Stella’s Mum Gets Others Grooving

Stella’s Mum Gets Her Groove Back may have been published only a year ago, but the inspirational story of author, Elisabetta Franzoso’s personal transformation has certainly gotten others grooving to its life-changing insights.

The book’s first anniversary at The Pod, National Library Building on 16 September 2009 was a celebration of the awareness and action of people who have been touched by Franzoso’s powerful journey. In 1997, she courageously began confronting the pain of childhood abuse to attain wholeness as a mother, wife and businesswoman.

The evening’s guest speaker, neuroscientist, wheelchair marathon champion and philanthropist, Dr. William Tan, 52, reflected on how Franzoso’s mantra of self-responsibility recently became very real to him in his own journey from denial to commitment as he battles leukemia.

Diagnosed with the disease in April this year, Tan shared, “I’ve realized it’s important for me to allow my emotions to be released (in my) difficulty in coming to terms with my cancer, and then move on from there. So I always tell myself, I have to move on, and not only move on forward, but move up to a higher vantage point.”

Others who spoke at the event resonated with the same indomitable spirit the book inspires. Among them was fitness trainer, Lucy Lyon, 32, who related how anorexia controlled her and seemed to make choices for her until she realized how little she really cared for herself.

PHOTOS: Daniel Poh

Performance coach, Marcel Daane, 42, described how he overcame his anger towards his abusive parents, which manifested in substance abuse, by becoming accountable for his own actions.

For Mongolian sportswoman and ultra marathon winner, Anne Qihui Date, 28, Fronzoso’s book was her little “miracle”, helping her unlearn the need to please people, inculcated growing up in a traditional Asian family.

Seeing how her story has influenced people, Franzoso is no longer, “walking towards her dream but living it,” as the book becomes a catalyst for abuse to be addressed openly.

Her continuing passion to help others brims as she shares, “The more you talk about this topic, the more you can take away the darkness and really enter the light. The more you can let go of the denial, the more you can do something about it.”

Stella’s Mum Gets Her Groove Back is available at Borders, Kinokuniya and Popular for S$28.80.

Green Hearts, Great Bods

It was a mix of green and glamour at the Miss Earth 2009 Swimsuit Competition cum Pre-judging held at the Bellini Grande on Saturday, 5 September 2009. Organized by C.T. Hansen International Pte Ltd, the annual pageant’s aim is to be a vehicle in creating awareness for environmental issues, as well as to raise up Green Ambassadors to be role models for Singapore youth. Differentiating itself from other beauty pageants, Miss Earth requires contestants to participate in recycling and conservation events, ensuring that they have not just beauty, but a heart for the environment as well. With plush booths, an in-house jazz band, complimentary house-pours for guests and service staff dressed in white shirts and black vests, the luxurious and glamorous atmosphere provided by the Bellini Grande was clearly apt for the grand event. In-house singer/comedian Gino, whose brand of comedy was brash and bawdy but side-splittingly funny nonetheless, put the crowd in a relaxed mood before the start of the program.

PHOTOS: Xavier Tan

Hosts Genecia Luo and Elliot Danker did a good job keeping the energy going before introducing what the audience — made up predominantly of friends and family of the contestants — had been waiting for. As the bevy of beauties strutted on stage in their baby-blue two-piece bikinis sponsored by Change, the excitement (and temperatures) in the hall were sent soaring. The swimsuit round, a staple in all beauty pageants worth their weight, never fails to pull in the crowds — and this one was no exception. For the 13 contestants who have made it this far, the pre-judging and swimsuit round was their last chance to impress the judges before the Coronation on 17 September 2009 where the winner of the coveted crown would be announced. With the ‘formalities’ dispensed, it was back to serious business as the girls took to the stage in their evening gowns for the Question and Answer segments. With questions posed from the audience and judges surrounding the subject of environmental conservation, the girls’ sincerity and nerves were put to the ultimate test. Samuel Seow, guest judge and Managing Director of Samuel Seow Law Corporation, found the girls’ answers rather ‘refreshing and intelligent,’ showcasing the girls’ beauty and brains.

The excitement of the night over, Miss Earth 2009 contestant Ashley Ng, 19, was delighted with the response from the crowd. On the topic of being in a two-piece bikini on-stage for the first time, “I just told myself not to think about it too much and just get used to it. The support from the crowd really helped as well!” With the 13 contestants whittled down to the top 8 finalists, head on down to the uber-cool club, the Bellini Grande for the glitz and glamour of Coronation night on 17 September to witness the crowning of Singapore’s Miss Earth 2009. For more info, visit their website at http://www.missearthsingapore.com/

ELOHIM Goes To London and New York

Sabrina Goh, designer of hot label ELOHIM has had the honor of being listed on avant garde London fashion directory Not Just A Label. Plus, one of her designs is currently selling on Not Just A Label’s online store.

Malaysia-born, Singapore-schooled Goh launched her line at Audi Fashion Festival in May this year, to great acclaim. She has been hailed one of the most promising young designers in Singapore today, alongside brands like Reckless Erika.

Amanda Lepore is a popular nightlife hostess in New York City who is a well-known style icon and face for M.A.C cosmetics.

For Goh, this is strong confirmation that her designs have appeal beyond local shores. “I’m most honored to be picked by NJAL — they are so well-known in Europe,” she says. “We designers always want to be adventurous and daring, but ‘cutting edge’ or ‘avant garde’ designs just don’t work in Singapore most of the time, I’m sad to say. So that this opportunity has come up is perfect for me — I am able to create something outrageous for outrageous people in a different market!”

ELOHIM is one of over 50 international labels to sell on the NJAL store this season. The piece selected is Goh’s tailored buckle vest. It is currently available on the site.

“Not Just A Label (NJAL) is an online directory for designers and artists,” explains Goh. “I joined their designer listing a few months ago, and uploaded my collection and details on the NJAL website. NJAL sends a ‘blackboard’ message to all designers listed in their website, and the site’s host for August, Amanda Lepore, picked my design to sell on their online store.”

Getting one piece in is just the start, Goh hopes. “I am about to release my Spring/Summer 2010 Collection — in October 2009 — and hopefully, the people at Not Just A Label and other retailers will love the designs and pick them to sell at their stores! And it’s not just overseas I am looking at — I also hope to grow locally.”

But right now it seems that fashionistas across the globe are picking ELOHIM faster than Singaporeans can say “F1”. Even as you are reading this, Goh already has a second deal — this time in the US. “Yes we will also be selling pieces on Pixiemarket, a New York-based fashion store. The designs will be up soon online at www.pixiemarket.com, as well as their stand-alone store.”

Read more about Sabrina Goh and view her designs at www.sabrinagoh.com

F1 Grid Girls Race To Win

“I’ll smack him back on his a**.”

So said Desiree Yong, one of the F1 gird girls in the top 10 (and the one who received the most number of online votes). She had been posed the question: “If Lewis Hamilton touches your a**, what would you do?”

And if you think that was the raunchy highlight of the F1 Grid Girl Finals on 21 September, you could not be more wrong.

The finals got off on a great start with cheers for each girl as they strutted their stuff in front of the judges. Dressed in their grid girl uniforms, they waved the checkered flags as they wove their way through the audience, causing quite a stir.

The noise level in the MediaCorp Studio was overwhelming. “CORDELIA!” One group screamed as they waved huge banners. “CONSTANCE!” Another group blasted back amid a cacophony of whistles and foghorns.

The girls were judged on poise, confidence and good communication. It appeared that most of them had the “poise” part down, especially in the catwalk segments, where they showed off lovely outfits to the sounds of SLEEQ, an R&B duo from Singapore. Then, in what was probably the highlight for both male and female viewers, the girls sashayed in wearing elegant evening gowns, accompanied by the strapping young men from the hotbod series Polo Boys. Poise? Check. Confidence? Check.

Then came the ultimate test: the Q&A. In the wake of the speak-bad-English debacle of recent weeks, the question was on everybody’s mind: Would the girls be eloquent in speech?

Miss Photogenic, Sara Herve was asked: “Which F1 driver needs facial enhancement?” She cheekily answered, “Lewis Hamilton”, explaining that all he needed was a sharp nose to make him even cuter. Lewis Hamilton seemed to be the driver of choice among the Grid Girls; Hazwani Ahmad said he could be described as a chilli padi, before Yong famously revealed she would not hesitate to put her hand on his bottom.

PHOTOS: Gay Sen Min

Low Shu Min, the eventual winner of the competition, belted out a few lines of Bon Jovi’s rock anthem ‘It’s My Life’ to describe her experience in the competition. That, and her intelligent wit and good looks won her  an OCBC Titanium card with $20,000 credit, and the opportunity to hoist the flag at the F1 race.

She said, “It was very unexpected because I usually have stage fright — but I sang on stage, so looks like I’ve overcome that!”

The generous winner will be giving her fellow contestants a treat — a buffet meal for all.

For Low, the highlight of the F1 Grid Girls competition, which was aired as a reality TV show, was making the friends that she did, and of course, all the traveling she got to do as the show took the girls across the globe.

Plus, last weekend she got her “grand prize”: Flagging the F1 drivers off at the start of the race track.

The Singapore Grand Prix took place on 25-27 September. Lewis Hamilton emerged the winner of the Singapore race.

Empowering Single Parents Network Special Luncheon

PHOTO: Gay Sen Min

The Empowering Single Parents Network (ESPN) held a special luncheon for 40 single parents on 12 September 2009. This is ESPN’s second gathering since its inception in June 2009.

Special guest speaker, Susan Ong, a Senior Financial Consultant with AIA, was invited to give a talk on ‘Four Keys Toward Achieving Success’ in a single parent household. In her talk, Ong also addressed common issues faced by most single parents, such as, self pity, shame and stigmatism from being a divorcee. Many of the participants could identify with what was shared, and were seen engaging in heartfelt discussion during the luncheon.

“After experiencing the breakdown of my marriage some five years ago, I have carried the pain in my heart since then. But like what the speaker said today, it’s time for me to put aside my heartache and move on to live a full life for myself and my son,” said Kelly Chua, a single mother with a seven-year old son. Another single parent, Andree Lim who has a 10-year old daughter, attended ESPN for the first time. “This is really helpful, to find friends with whom I can share my thoughts and feelings freely. This is a good place to build friendship and support in life,” said Lim. “I’m looking forward to the next event organized by ESPN.”

The youngest among the group was Joel Ong. At 23 years old, he is a father of a two-year old son and is facing an impending divorce. As he had not been connected with the Christian community for some years now, he commented that the ESPN was good as he ‘felt the presence of God’. After the session, Joel was introduced to one of the ESPN volunteers where he got to learn more on being a single parent and practical advice on some of the divorce procedures in Singapore.

Last year, Singapore recorded a total of 24,596 marriages with a total of 7,220 of them falling apart. That figure translates to one out of every four marriages in Singapore ending in divorces and annulments. With this growing trend of divorces and annulment, these figures look set to climb higher.

The statistics show a pressing need to build a supportive environment for parents and children from these broken marriages. Hence, the ESPN is a quarterly gathering that aims to bring single parents together in a supportive environment where they could share and be empowered to nurture their children with love and wisdom.

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