Shu Yi's Reflections

a. What was your impression of Singapore history and cultural heritage before going on the trail?

To be honest, I do not know much about the culture heritage in Singapore history. All I knew was the famous Chinatown for the Chinese, Kampong Glam for the Malays, Little India for the Indians and perhaps the Singapore River and Clark Quay having significant architects of the British. I had the impression that Singapore History from the heritage point of view was just all about Raffles and Singapore Independence. On the other hand, cultural heritage was just about the history of the 4 main races in Singapore residing in different parts of Singapore. I actually find cultural heritage very boring because all I see were statues and old structures that has no meaning to me. Hence, I wasn't too excited about the whole idea of a heritage trail. When our group is assigned to go to Joo Chiat, I did panicked for awhile because I have no idea where Joo Chiat is despite being a Singaporean. I thought Joo Chiat was just another random district part of a Singapore's town council.

  

b. How has your experience of the trail changed your perception of Singapore

history and her cultural heritage?

During the trial, I do observe that some architects and landmarks are uniquely Peranakan. However, as I walk pass the shop houses and roads, they do not give me a very special feel that I am at a Peranakan district. Other than the landmarks, the rest of the areas are actually quite typical to other districts in Singapore such as Geylang. I came to a realization that cultural heritage is actually not just about the famous places for the 4 main races but it is about every part of Singapore. Every district in Singapore has a history and the district names could hint about the main activities in that area in the past. That reminds me of the increasing number of districts being labelled as heritage areas by the Singapore government. Contrary to my expectations, I actually had fun during the heritage trail. This could be because there were now more information boards at the heritage areas to explain the history of the place. There are also lotus marks on the ground signifying that the area is considered a heritage area. Since we are armed with maps and are walking around the district with a purpose, I feel that the trail was more guided and meaningful compared to my past experiences. The mixture of old and modern districts in one area can tell us a lot about how the type of activities and culture of the area has evolved. Joo Chiat today was not just about a place only for Peranakans. I observe people of different races and religion living at the same area. There were Eurasians living in one of the private housing and there were Hindus having ceremonial worship in their Hindu temple. There are also foreigners lurking around the area. Neither of them signify the Peranakan culture that we expect out of a Peranakan area. I learnt that cultural heritage was not just about the study of the past but also about how the culture of the place have evolved over time to the modern day. It is an important knowledge of how we the present generation have benefited and have built upon what the ancestors have given us.  

c. Share some insights (if any) about Singapore’s past and the way it is represented

(symbolically and physically) that you have gained from the trail.

Although many places are deemed as 'heritage sites', it is obvious that  the internal of the buildings has been renovated and the exterior refurbished in an effort to preserve the building and use it to attract tourist. Although the Peranakan buildings, architects and shops are in place for people to see, touch and feel, it feels like an empty shell because people in the area no longer practice the traditional way of life Peranakans do and there is no sight of anyone wearing a Peranakan costume.  I could not seem to feel the culture of Peranakans like how I feel the Chinese and Indian culture present in Chinatown and Little India respectively. Cultural heritage was supposed to be a legacy left behind for future generations to carry on. I think it is a pity that the Peranakan culture in Joo Chiat was left with more about structures and architects for display rather than culture that people still practice today. Perhaps there are still traditional families around, but I personally did not get to observe or find any of them during my heritage trail.

Jeremiah Seow's Reflection

A) What is your impression of Singapore History and Cultural Heritage before going on the trail?

Having visited different countries such as Europe and China which have so much cultural depth and history prior to entering University, I developed a mentality that Singapore’s history and cultural heritage lacked in richness and depth as compared to such countries which possessed historical background and cultural practices dating back to over a thousand years whereas Singapore’s history and cultural heritage could only be dated back only a few hundred years as population mainly consisted of immigrants from other lands who brought with them the diverse cultures that they had.  

Furthermore, in all honesty, I was not really expectant that I would learn much about Singapore’s culture and history during this heritage trail because I was of the Impression that it was going to be like the National Education tours conducted for school where students are forced to walk around these heritage trails to ‘immerse’ themselves in the culture of that area.

Ironically, my secondary school’s National Education tour was also held in Joo Chiat and the tour was rather fruitless as my class was forced to “immerse” ourselves in the culture of the area which mainly consist of looking out for street signs and listening to a man talk about world war 2 which did not have much relation to the culture and history of this place.

Thus overall, I went for the heritage trail with the mentality that I would not really learn much about Singapore from it due to bad experience in the past.

a.    Share some insights (if any) about Singapore’s past and the way it is represented (symbolically and physically) that you have gained from the trail.

a.

B) How has your experience of the trail change your perception of Singapore history and her cultural heritage? Share some insights about Singapore's past and the way it represented that you have gained from the trail. 

As mentioned earlier, I started the trail with the mindset that I would probably not learn much from it due to the bad experience as a student but as the trail proceeded, my mentality about it started to change as I started to discover new facts about the area of Joo Chiat which caused me to realise that there is so much more about Singapore History for me to learn which are not within the published texts.

I started to realise the reason for the tour guide asking us to look out for street name was for us to discover the historical significance that are tied to the different street names. One good example which I discovered about the significance of street name would be Ceylon Road.

Ceylon Road was named as such because of the Ceylon Tamil immigrants who came from Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to Singapore for better job opportunities and settled in close proximity to the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar temple. Thus, due to the influx of Ceylonese Tamils who came settled in the area, they named the road, Ceylon Road.

Though the Peranakans and Eurasian’s presence was dominant in the Joo Chiat and were often seen to be of a higher social status, I was surprised to discover the presence of the Ceylonese Tamil Community residing among them, though they were a minority group. The presence of the Ceylonese Tamils in the midst of a predominantly Peranakan and Eurasian community is evidence that there was some form of peaceful co-existence among the different racial groups.

The mentality of Singapore not having rich and in-depth culture and history has also changed as I stop comparing Singapore to other countries in terms of the depth of culture but instead examine Singapore in a lateral perspective where despite its lack of richness and depth of culture and depth, Singapore has managed to create a multicultural society that accommodates the various cultures through mutual understanding and tolerance of each other’s differences. The creation of such a society is a feat that not many countries have been able to achieve and for the case of Singapore, this concept of multiculturalism has already surface throughout its history.

Another discovery would be that immigrants viewed places of worship as important monuments and would prefer to settle in close proximity of it as it represents a strong connection between them and their own religious and cultural practices back in their homeland. This can be seen through the building of the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar temple where the Ceylonese Tamil not only resided close to it, they even contributed to the building fund to construct it and the establishment of St Hilda’s Anglican Church which draw many Eurasian to the Joo Chiat area as seen by the number of private properties built opposite the church which are predominantly occupied by Eurasians.

I also learnt that even in the past, there was some form of religious harmony seeing that St Hilda’s Anglican Church which was established for the Christian community which primarily consisted of the Eurasians was built down the road from the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar temple which catered to the Hindu Ceylon Tamil community living around the area. Thus, the close proximity of these places of worship from each other could have helped fostered a form of religious harmony and tolerance between the two religious groups. The placement of two religious places of worship within such close proximity would thus represents the existence of religious harmony in Singapore

I also recognised that I have been believing in a perceived idea of what a Eurasian should be. The Eurasian was often misrepresented as they are always assumed to be part of the upper strata of society as portrayed in Joo Chiat where the Eurasians are often seen to be living in land properties. However, the existence and function of the Eurasian Association caused me to realised that there are also Eurasians who are in the low and middle income bracket and thus the need for the Eurasian Association to give counselling services, scholarships and bursary to underprivileged students. This has caused me to realise that there are underprivileged Eurasian families in Singapore though the idea of a poor Eurasian does not resonate well with many people in Singapore.

I have actually learnt a lot more of Singapore’s history than expected and I am really looking forward to discovering hidden gems that may be hiding in plain sight in the different places in Singapore.

Hui Li's Reflection

   What was your impression of Singapore history and cultural heritage before going on the trail?

I used to have the impression that Singapore does not have a lot of history, or rather, interesting and insightful history as compared to older countries like Russia or Germany. With the help of school curriculum, I am able to learn more about the history of Singapore way before its independence, history since the Sang Nila Utama era. Still, I felt that Singapore history is rather mundane as it does not seem to experience a lot of happenings as compared to other countries.  

However, knowing that Singapore used to be a trading port and a place for settlement of migrates, I am aware that Singapore is a melting pot of different races and religion and it has a very rich cultural heritage given the varying demographics of people living in Singapore.

How has your experience of the trail changed your perception of Singapore history and her cultural heritage? Share some insights about Singapore’s past and the way it is represented (symbolically and physically) that you have gained from the trail.

After going through the Katong Joo Chiat Heritage Trail, I am happy to say that I have learnt to appreciate Singapore history in its own unique way. Like what I had mentioned earlier, I am a person who really likes dramatic ups and downs in history so that it is not boring when I am studying it. However, this trail has transformed me to a person to appreciate the history of Singapore in its own unique and subtle way. Even though Singapore does not really experience a lot of world affairs/happenings due to its small geographical area and sphere of influence, there is still a lot of elements of history present in each and every corner of Singapore and interesting stories from different personalities of Singaporeans. After exploring Katong Joo Chiat, looking at the history of various buildings and immersing myself in the beautiful and culturally rich shophouses, I feel that Singapore has a lot of stories to tell, and a lot of historical meanings awaiting us to discover.

Especially in Katong Joo Chiat, the first heritage town, announced by Singapore Heritage Board in February 2011, I can see why it is so important to preserve this area. For instance, the shophouses there are really very unique to Singapore, showing us the fusion of various cultures, mainly eastern and western. This also makes me rethink that Singapore may be rich in its own culture heritage now, but it is even richer back in those days where migration were rife and people are still heavily influenced by their own cultures. Like in Katong Joo Chiat, the shophouses actually signify the existence of once dominant population in Singapore, the Peranakans, which no longer seems to exist in Singapore today. What is left now is the diluted fusion and integration of various cultures, which is a pity.

Yan Kai's Reflection

Yan Kai's Reflection

What was your impression of Singapore history and cultural heritage before going on the trail?

My initial feeling when i headed for the tour is much of anticipation and excitement. It was rather exciting as it was my first time to go on a heritage tour at Joo Chiat. I never took a liking to heritage tour as it has always been the same places (Kampung Glam) back in primary school. There were no opportunities of sorts when i was in Secondary School. Hence, i was really looking forward to the trip.

Before going to the trail, i was expecting a variety of well preserved, possibly left untouched, architecture along Joo Chiat road and in Katong. I would expect a substantial amount of historical sites which we can explore, as well as in depth explanation and education through the heritage boards along the way. Nonetheless, my impression of Singapore History would be one plagued by difficulties and resistance, which Singapore would have overcome, or a mistake of the past which Singapore ought to learn from.   

How has your experience of the trail changed your perception of Singapore history and her cultural heritage? AND Share some insights about Singapore’s past and the way it is represented (symbolically and physically) that you have gained from the trail.

Upon the trail, we managed to see the rich, multicultural side of Singapore which is enriching for us all. Through the walk, we managed to see the interchanging cultures within one area itself. it did not dawn upon me till i realised that the area alone comprised of four different religious worship grounds. This is truly what makes us, physically, an intercultural country. This is something i thought singaporeans ought to be proud of. Despite our differences, all these different religious buildings can exist side by side, not more than two or three streets apart. This is a great acheivement compared to countries plagued by racial and religious segregation. This is possibly why racial and religious harmony, or multiculturalism, is highly valued. This is evident in the preservation of religious sites with historical values as well.

Moreover, most of the narratives shown during the trail, through the heritage board, has depicted a very strong and prosperous Singapore since the colonial days. This was not what i expected as the narratives seem to undermine the major struggles of those days. As such, many areas targeted for preservation seem to depict the 'positive' side of Singapore history, which ought to be "half the story" that is supposed to be told. But then again, there are possible reasons why these buildings were targeted and why only certain narratives were portrayed in those heritage boards.

As i continued on the trail, the more i come to realise a common trend among the narratives. There tends to be little or no history (be it online or through the heritage boards) on the issues or struggles of Joo Chiat. For instance, regarding the heritage board found outside of the i12 Katong Mall, the narrative places alot of focus on the prosperity of Singapore and the attractiveness of Singapore during the colonial and postcolonial days.

It would seem that the narratives ought to direct Singaporeans, or even to a certain extent the tourists, towards the prosperity of historical Singapore which we ought to identify with. Furthermore, it would also seem that the whole narrative pushed the idea of unity and multiculturalism. This narrative itself presents Singapore as a country that strives and will continue to strive with multiculturalism. The whole idea of showing the variety of cultures within one area would suggest so. Moreover, the areas targeted for preservation seem to show a side of Singapore that is "well to do". Since this is a heritage tour  is highly valued as a tourist site, this narrative presented to the foreigners would also present Singapore as a strong nation, even during the colonial days. If this was what the heritage tour hoping to achieve and educate the young Singaporeans, i would say it has done a pretty good job because i definitely felt proud to be a Singaporean knowing that our strength lies in our differences and it we are meant to be a striving multicultural state since the colonial days.

18) Eurasian Community House

Eurasian Community House

Address                   : 139 Ceylon Rd, Singapore 429744

Opening Timing       : 0830hrs – 1800hrs

Website                    : http://www.eurasians.org.sg/

The Eurasian Community House acts as the headquarters for the Eurasian Association which is the place for Eurasians in Singapore, Citizen or Permanent Resident to seek help in times of needs. The provision of scholarships and bursaries to Eurasian students and counselling services to the Eurasian community are example of the financial and emotional support services provided at the Eurasian Community House.19

The objectives of the Eurasian Association have remained relatively constant throughout its formation in 1919 after the cessation of its predecessor, the Eurasian Literacy Association.19

The objectives of the Eurasian Association are the following:

1) To promote the economic, social, moral, physical and intellectual advancement of all Eurasian Singaporeans and Eurasian Permanent Residents.

2) To promote among the Members an active interest in the affairs of Singapore.

3) Generally, to look after the interests of all Eurasians in Singapore.19

Guided tours are also provided by the Eurasian House to educate the public on the history and heritage of the Eurasian community in Singapore. The two guided tours which will be held in the Eurasia Heritage center which cover two main themes, firstly the heritage and history of the Eurasian community in Singapore and secondly, the social life of the Eurasian community during World War 2.

Due to time constraints, we did not join a group for the guided tour but instead proceeded to explore the galleries ourselves as entry into the Eurasian Heritage Center is free. Thus, even if you are on a budget, you can still explore and learn from the galleries and exhibition in the Eurasian Heritage Center at no charge at all. Independent tour groups leaders are allowed to conduct their tours in the area but are subjected to a fee of SGD $3 per person.

For those who are interested in immersing themselves in the full Eurasian experience, you can refer to the brochure provided below for the available tour packages and prices:  

http://www.eurasians.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/EURASIAN-HERITAGE-Programmes_Brochure-1.4.16.pdf

Please keep in mind that the Eurasian heritage Centre will be opened from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 0900hrs to 1730hrs.  

19“Our History,” Eurasian Association, accessed October 12, 2016, http://www.eurasians.org.sg/about-us/our-history/

17) St Hilda Anglican Church

St Hilda Anglican Church

Address                   : 41 Ceylon Road Singapore 429630

Opening Timing       : 0800hrs – 2100hrs

Website                    : http://sthildas.org.sg/about-us/serve-with-us/

Located 110 metres from the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple, a short distance down Ceylon Road, the two storey St Hilda’s Anglican Church was founded in 1934 when an Anglican Archdeacon named Graham White took over the running of private boy’s school named Bethel English School and started conducting services in the premises.16

In 1936, Archdeacon Graham White purchased 41 Ceylong Road which consisted of two buildings which were used for the running of the boy’s and girl’s schools and the church.

This also showed that even the European religious leaders were not spared during the World War 2 as the Archdeacon and his wife were incarcerated in Changi Prison and were subsequently transferred to Sime Road Internment Camp where he died on 8 May 1945, a few months before the Japanese surrender. However, the church still provided the fearful with a place of peace and solace amidst the chaos of the Japanese occupation.16

At the present, St. Hilda’s Anglican Church ministers to the local Anglican community and has close associations with St. Hilda’s Primary and Secondary school and St. Hilda’s kindergarten. In 1949, the old bungalow has since been demolished and the chapel has been built over it. Especially during the weekdays where there are few people around, the serene premise of the church provides for a great place to enjoy some peace and quiet from the hustle and bustle of the city.

18 History,” Saint Hilda’s Church”, accessed October 12, 2016, http://sthildas.org.sg/about-us/history/

16) Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple

Sri Senpaga Vinayagar Temple (ஶ்ரீ செண்பக விநாயகர் ஆலயம்)

Address                    : 19 Ceylon Road, Singapore 429613

Opening Timing       : 0800hrs – 2100hrs

Website                    :http://www.senpaga.org.sg/guidelines.asp

Walking from the famous Katong 328 Laksa, we soon approached Sri Senpaga Vinayagar temple where there was a procession taking place. The entrance of the temple was barricaded with security personnel stationed at the temple entrance which prevented us from getting close enough to see what procession was taking place.

 

Check out this video about the procession

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65CScZAphak&feature=youtu.be

This video was taken when one of the security personnel momentarily left his post and Jeremiah tried to sneak in but hastily left because the security personnel was soon returning to his post.

Though we caught only a glimpse of what was happening in the temple, some research showed that the procession taking place was likely “Vinayagar Chaturthi”, a Hindu festival made in honour of the Elephant-headed god, Vinayagar. The security personnel who we spoke to and he shared with us that this festival is very auspicious because praying to Vinayagar at this time would ensure that all potential obstacles faced in one’s path would be removed.

We were interested in how the temple’s name came about and we found that the name of the temple consisted of two main word which are Vinayagar which and Senpaga.

Vinayagar     –       the Hindu Elephant-headed god

Senpaga      –       the Tamil translation of the Chempaka tree

After some research, the Sri Senpaga Vinayagar was found to have been named as such because in the 1850s, Ceylonese Tamil labourers discovered the stone statue of Vinayagar at the bank of a pond near a Chempaka (Tamil: Senpaga) tree and the stone statue was eventually installed by a prominent Ceylonese Tamil Ethirnayagam Pillay under the Chempaka tree which it was found under 16.

The temple we now see originated from humble beginning, starting of in 1850s as a simple attap shed covering the stone statute under the Chempaka tree which then expanded in 1923 when the Ceylonese Tamils purchased land which consist of the existing temple site and hired a priest to consecrate the temple and offer daily prayers 16.

It was really interesting that the road which the temple was built along was called Ceylon Road and Ceylon was the name used for Sri Lanka when it was a colony of the British. We discovered that the Ceylonese Tamil came to Singapore in 1870-1875 to take advantage of the availability of jobs in the area of clerical and administrative services in Singapore’s Government service 17. Apart from the Ceylonese Tamil working in the public sector, there also many who came as cattle farmers who would have reared livestock, could have consist of cows.

Based on the temple’s website, the Hindu procession, Abishegam, also known as Milk Anointing, is still practised which is the process of anointing the deities by pouring fresh milk over them. The presence of Ceylonese Tamil cattle farmers might have been to supplement the need for milk used in this religious procession.  

With the influx of Ceylonese Tamils who settling into Singapore and residing in the area surrounding the temple, the area was thus called Ceylon Road. It is highly probable that the Ceylonese would have settled in a place easily accessible to a place of worship as it was a means of connection with religious and cultural roots back in their homeland as well as a place to meet their kinsmen.

The temple has gone through many restorative works by which one in particular was the construction of a main gateway which included classrooms, library, cultural hall and Hindu wedding hall 17. Apart from just being a place of worship, it is now also a place for the local community of Ceylonese Tamils to congregate which inspires and foster a sense of inclusiveness among the Ceylonese Tamils which are seen as a minority group within the Indian minority group through shared activities.   

16“History,” Sri Senpaga Vinayagar, accessed October 12, 2016, http://www.senpaga.org.sg/history.asp

17 “Sri Senpaga Vinayagar” National Library Board Singapore, 2004, http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_626_2004-12-23.html