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Taufik featured in The Sunday Times Prime: 15 November 2009
Fun Hospitality, S’pore Style
Singapore’s vibrancy and multiculturism are put on display during the finale of the Singapore Evening at the Esplanade show, themed “One World, Our World”.
And so yes, that traditional photo opportunity of all the leaders of an Apec gathering clad in a costume of the host, did get to take place.
For the record, The Prez wore a blue version of the Peranakan-inspired outfit created by Singaporean designer Wykidd Song.
However, while he got to wear a Singapore silk shirt, he missed the opening part of the glittering evening, a 30-minute musical gala, One World Our World, at the Esplanade. It was put together by showbiz veteran Dick Lee and featured more than 300 performers.
Afterwards, the leaders were ferried to a special tent near the Esplanade’s Floating Platform by old-fashioned trishaws.
While they went by pedal power, Mr Obama was jetting in on Air Force One.
His arrival may have been rushed but all appeared well later once he mingled with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Chinese President Hu Jintao and other leaders, who were treated to a scrumptuous feast as they took in the scenic waterfront view and the magnificient skyline, and the dancing lions, prancing pugilists and melodious songbirds.
The Little Red Dot pulled out all the stops to make Singapore Evening a grand affair for the thousands who had flown in for the annual economic forum, which started last Sunday.
Amidst tight security, VIPs, delegates and other guests started arriving at the Esplanade - which had been cordoned off for the occasion - from 6.30pm
PM Lee, dressed in his special red Apec outfit, arrived with his wife Ho Ching at a special cocktail held in the lobby shortly before 7pm to receive guests.
By 7.30pm, the reception was abuzz with animated chatter. All the leaders came in their special Apec outfits. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and Mr Hu wore red ones, while Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang favoured the olive version.
Their female counterparts, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, turned up in elaborately embroidered red V-necked blouses.
The wives of the leaders were equally glamorous. Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of Datuk Seri Najib, stood out in an electric blue caftan, while South Korea’s Madam Kim Yoon Ok looked classy in a chic black cocktail dress with see-through puff sleeves.
The evening’s entertainment began shortly before 8pm with One World Our World, whose line-up included star turns by decorated viiolinist Min Lee, songbird Kit Chan and Singapore Idols Taufik Batisah and Hady Mirza.
There were two segments to the 30-minute show, the first depicting the birth of Apec and the second, the growth of Singapore.
With a montage of mages projected on a giant screen as backdrop, some of Singapore’s finest voices performed songs such as Louis Armstrong’s What A Wonderful World and Michael Jackson’s Heal The World, as well as original numbers by Dick Lee including One World and Our World.
Singapore’s rich heritage was showcased as an army of performers from the People’s Association and children from talent school Kids Performing took to the stage to accompany the singers.
They included vaulting Chinese pugilists, energetic Indian dancers and boisterous Malay dikir barat performers dressed in colorful costumes designed by local designer Yang Derong.
Creator Dick Lee had told The Sunday Times beforehand that he wanted the show to be “no-brainer”.
“I just want the delegates to be entertained after an exhausting week of meetings. Nothing avant garde or taxing on the brain - just a joyful celebration of Singapore’s culture.”
The fun atmosphere continued when the VIPs rode in trishaws to their dinner.
Mr J.Q. Cai 25, a security officer, got to ferry Mr Hu. He said: “I recognised him as he came to my trishaw, directed by his security officials.
“I was quite nervous as I rode towards the (dinner) tent, as there were many photographers taking shots of him and I was almost blinded by the flashes. His supporters were cheering as he passed by.”
In the giant white marquee, the leaders dined on a four-coursed dinner featuring local fare such as soto ayam with scallops, braised beef fillet with edamame mash and cheng tng terrine, serenaded by local jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro and his band.
Mr Obama made an appearance at about 9.05pm. The tent lit up with camera flashlights as he hugged fellow VIPs and pumped hands.
Singapore Member of Parliament Jessica Tan told The Sunday Times:”There was a lot of excitement and things were really abuzz when President Obama came in.
“Many delegates at the dinner were trying to get pictures of him, and with him, and with Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew. President Obama went round shaking hands, as did MM Lee. The mood was comfortable and everyone mingled freely.”
His arrival caused a stir, not just in the tent.
On a grassy patch about 10m from the tent entrance, Professor Charles Zukoski, 53, the chairman of A*Star’s Science and Engineering Research Council, stood with a Tiger beer in his hand, waiting for the US president’s exit.
Asked if he was going to wait till the end of the dinner, he said:”Of course. In the US I would never be able to get this close.”
Meanwhile, other delegates enjoyed themselves at the Theatres On the Bay.
Nearly 20 bars serving a free flow of wine, beer and ais bandung, as well as stalls dishing out the best of local delights such as buah keluak, chicken rice, roti prata and ice kacang, were strategically positioned along the 200m stretch.
There were also pavilions showcasing the best of Malay, Indian, Chinese and Peranakan cultures, and dance and vocal performances at the two amphitheatres.
Delegates could amuse themselves with activities such as having their fortunes divined by a Chinese astrologer, or have their picture taken with a family decked out in Peranakan finery.
Mr Kim Sang II, deputy protocol secretary to South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, extolled: “I enjoyed myself tremendously. The show was so well organised. The performances embodied Singapore’s delight in its diversity while maintaining its harmony.”
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