Family Fun Under The Sun

Music and dance performances livened up the bright Saturday afternoon for many families on Sep 18 at East Coast Park.

Highlights of the day included a book launch by MediaCorp artiste, Edmund Chen as well as a donation ceremony for the Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (STPMF).

The events were a part of the “We Are Family” campaign launch, which served to highlight the importance of family values and ties to the public. It was organized by International Paradise Connexions Pte Ltd’s (IPC), a travel agency which has conducted over 200 overseas tours for local and international schools.

Their event kicked off to a great start with dance performances by FDC Groove Unlimited.

Edz Solis and the Voiz@Work showed off their vocals as did Robert Sunga who also made an appearance at the event.

The finalist from singing competition, “Live The Dream” charmed the audience with popular hits like “Break Your Heart” by Taio Cuz.

At the book launch, Mr Edmund Chen signed copies of his latest children’s book, Dino Rulez! which he both illustrated and wrote.

This being his fifth book in Chinese, the youthful-looking celebrity described it as an “accumulative experience of my 19 years of parenting”.

“There are so many things I want to share with my children but not in a difficult way, so naturally, it’s best to gel it into a story with characters that they are familiar with.”

The story follows his son and, for the first time, his daughter, as they discover values like family ties, friendship and integrity.

To be present at the event, the passionate family man had cancelled a work engagement in China.

Mr Edmund Chen also joined the IPC onstage during their donation ceremony to the STPMF.

This was in spite of recent news that Mr Peter Khoo, organising chairman of the STPMF, had been dismissed due to dishonest acts such as taking shopping vouchers meant for The Straits Times’ branding or promotional activities.

Sharing a family anecdote in his opening speech, Mr Raj Kumar, the director of IPC said, “A month ago, my son told me, ‘Papa, you have been donating a lot of money to community endorsement projects in Cambodia, Vietnam and China. Why don’t we do it in Singapore?’”

He expressed the IPC’s continued support for the STPMF and presented a $2,000 cheque out of the $10,000 they had pledged to the fund, which is in line with their Corporate Social Responsibility objectives and family values in their workplace culture.

Ms Bertha Henson, Associate Editor at The Straits Times, who now helms the fund, assured everyone present that “the pocket money fund is secure”.

Muhammad Rusydi, 23, a student, was hanging out with his friends when they joined the event.

“Family is one of the main institutions where kids first learn how to socialize. The book is a great way to share family values and experience,” he says.

Best of all, “the entertainment is great.”