#HOTH: Veteran NDP Performer on What Makes Heartland Celebrations Unique
For Belle, the performing experience is especially meaningful when the floats journey through neighborhoods near home.
Singer, dancer, stagehand—Belle Pereira has done them all, having been involved in countless National Day Parade (NDP) performances since 1998.
36-year-old Belle is a veteran NDP performer
“I love performing for National Day,” Belle smiles. “It’s a day when Singaporeans from all walks of life gather to celebrate our home. The celebrations are always an emotional experience and the sense of togetherness and belonging is indescribable.”
From stagehand (left) to dancer (right), Belle has been part of many National Day Parade performances Photos: Belle
Marching On as One
This year’s performance will be a unique one for Belle, as the long-time NDP performer will be participating in a role that she has never done before—as part of the marching contingent.
Photo: Belle
To prepare, Belle has been undergoing training conducted by the Singapore Armed Forces, including basic military drills. “This year’s training is definitely tough, especially since we have to train alongside the soldiers and endure all elements of the weather.” Belle laughs. “That said, I’m very honored to have been selected and I’m really looking forward to the parade!”
Photo: Belle
Celebrations in the Heartland
This year’s NDP will return to The Float@Marina Bay, and there will also be celebrations and fireworks in the HDB heartland, similar to the last few years. Belle has had the opportunity to be part of these heartland celebrations, most memorably as a performer on a festive float.
“It’s heartening to be welcomed by the residents,” she says. “They would stand by the barricades and wave the national flag whilst singing national day songs.
The festive floats would journey through the heartland and remain on display for a few days before moving onto their next destination. This offers the audience the opportunity to interact with the performers, and they often share what they like about the performance and how they look forward to the celebrations.
Belle says that the experience is especially meaningful when the floats journey through neighborhoods near home, in her case West Coast, Clementi and Bukit Timah. “It’s always fun to spot familiar faces such as my neighbours amongst the crowd,” she laughs.
New Home, Same Sense of Belonging
Beyond the performances, Belle also enjoys soaking up the celebratory National Day atmosphere by visiting the heartland carnivals with her family and neighbours. “It’s a great way for us to bond! The celebration is like a gathering and nothing quite beats the experience of having everyone come together as one.”
Belle will soon have new neighbours to befriend, as she and her family will be moving from West Coast, into their new seafront BTO flat in Punggol. “I love being outdoors and Punggol is the perfect fit because there are places like Punggol Point Jetty and Coney Island where I can hang out,” she explains. “I also love that we are only a short walk away from Northshore Plaza and the LRT station,” she shares.
Belle’s new seafront-facing home at Punggol Photo: Belle
“In my West Coast flat, I’m always surrounded by nature, with the sea just close by. It will be the same in Punggol as well, so perhaps that is why I already feel a sense of affinity with my new home.”
West Coast Park, one of Belle’s favourite heartland hangouts, is nearby her current home
#HOTH: Heartland Baristas Share What Makes the HDB Coffee Experience Special
Beyond adding variety to the usual spots, many heartland cafés have become favourite haunts for the community to gather.
No longer something found exclusively in the city, artisanal brews have been making their way into our neighbourhoods in the form of heartland cafés.
Beyond adding variety to the usual heartland spots, many of these coffee spots have become favourite haunts for the community to gather and catch up with each other. We spoke to the people behind 3 coffee places within HDB estates to find out why the HDB coffee experience is so special.
Continuing the Heartland Coffee Legacy
Tucked away in the corner of Stirling Road is Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, which has occupied that very spot for more than 20 years. The heartland café started off as a coffee bean roastery and wholesaler, focusing on traditional brews before branching out into specialty coffee. “Tiong Hoe is about brewing quality coffee, and friendships,” surmises Jacob Tan, who now helms the family-run business.
Tiong Hoe initially started off as a space for tasting traditional brews and selling coffee beans before it expanded into a full-fledged heartland café
Despite being located within the mature estate of Queenstown, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, like many other heartland cafés, usually sees a younger crowd. “Our regulars are mostly in their mid-20s to 30s. With work from home becoming the new norm, the café also sometimes doubles up as a co-working space,” Jacob laughs.
The cosy ambience of this heartland café makes it welcoming to all
For Jacob, it was an easy decision to expand Tiong Hoe’s presence in the heartland. “Over the years, we have built such good rapport with our regulars, as well as the residents here. When we first started, the area was relatively quiet. But as more people started visiting the café and with more shops springing up, the neighbourhood has become much livelier.”
“The current café used to be my dad’s office for a long time. I guess you can say that Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is literally built on his business,” Jacob chuckles.
Coffee beans roasted the traditional way are still sold, and can be purchased in the shop next to the café.
From Kopi O to Latte Gao
“The older generation usually prefers traditional coffee, while the younger crowd tends to visit heartland cafés for specialty brews. We offer both types,” say Kenneth Lim and Zender Wong, the founders of Generation Coffee, a beverage stall located in Tekka Market Centre.
Generation Coffee offers both traditional and specialty coffee
“We believe a hawker stall is where we can best realise our coffee philosophy of bridging the gap between the two groups of coffee drinkers,” they explain. “Plus, it’s always interesting to meet and befriend residents from all walks of life.”
By establishing a heartland presence, Zender (left) and Kenneth (right) hope to cater to a wider group of patrons and bridge the gap between the different types of coffee drinkers
While most seniors still prefer their kopi o, Zender shares how some elderly customers, emboldened by the familiar setting of a hawker centre, have taken the step to try out ‘ang moh‘ coffee for the first time.
“Some prefer latte now,” Zender smiles. “However, as they are used to stronger coffee, I would make them latte gao – a latte with a stronger espresso shot.”
Kenneth preparing a latte, which has become popular amongst his older patrons
While the duo’s brews have added vibrancy to the estate, they share how they have, in return, been welcomed by the community that has made the neighbourhood feel like home.
“Regular customers aside, we have also befriended our fellow stallholders. We would take turns patronising one another’s stall. And if we were ever short of ingredients, all we need to do is to pop by the wet market behind us.”
Coffee By the HDB Window
If it’s a novel heartland coffee experience you’re after, look no further than Ground Floor Coffee. This coffee gem is known for brewing and serving coffee directly from an HDB flat that is of course, located on the ground floor.
Ground Floor Coffee serves its beverages from the window of an HDB flat
“It started off with making coffee for friends.” says Adhwa Hasif, a self-made barista. “Over time, they began to provide feedback which kickstarted my experimentation with flavoured coffee.”
A self-made barista, Hasif learnt and honed his craft from online videos
As he progressed on his coffee brewing hobby, Hasif also noticed how some residents would hang out in the common area, often with drinks in hand. “It’s common to see residents catching up with one another at the seats in the void deck; and what better drink to chit chat over, than coffee?”
Hasif prepares the beverages in a dedicated room, with its own coffee bean grinder and espresso machine. He would also personally hand the brew over through the window and chats to customers if the opportunity arises.
“I know many of them because they are our neighbours who come down for their morning coffee. Some of them happened to walk past our flat, and were drawn to the smell of coffee,” he says.
Since its operations, Ground Floor Coffee has seen the support of residents from within and beyond the neighbourhood
“Now we also see residents from different neighbourhoods—and even other towns—popping by,” Hasif smiles.
Looking for a heartland adventure? Here are some top spots to explore in Punggol!
Punggol is a modern eco-town known for its lush greenery and picturesque bridges. Listed below are the top spots to explore in Punggol, such as the bridges along the waterway and its new generation neighbourhood centres, Northshore Plaza and Oasis Terraces.
1. Waterway Wonder
A night view of Punggol Waterway
A 4.2km-long man-made waterway runs through Punggol and is now a key part of the town, made possible as part of the Remaking Our Heartland programme to rejuvenate Punggol. Not only has it helped to realise waterfront living for Punggol’s residents, the waterway is also home to a thriving ecosystem, including numerous species of freshwater plants, mangroves, butterflies, dragonflies, and birds.
Mangroves, native to Singapore, are planted along the waterway, where they help to maintain the water quality
Carefully selected plants add a welcoming pop of colour to the water surface
While admiring the view from the waterway, be sure to look out for the honeycomb-inspired buoyant platforms that facilitate the growth of lush greenery. Approximately 760 of these floating wetlands can be spotted at the waterway, adding life and colour to the water surface.
2. The Famous Five (Bridges)
The Jewel Bridge offers a picturesque sunset view
High on the list of top spots to explore in Punggol, Punggol Waterway is home to not one, not two, but five picturesque bridges: Jewel Bridge, Sunrise Bridge, Kelong Bridge, Adventure Bridge and Wave Bridge.
The Wave Bridge is especially perfect for the ‘gram, as is the Jewel Bridge at sunset. Another note-worthy bridge is the Kelong Bridge that was inspired by the kelong, a fishing platform that’s built on wooden stilts.
The design of the Kelong Bridge pays homage to Punggol’s history
This unique design is also a reflection of Punggol’s history, where the town used to be home to several fishing villages.
3. Green Developments and Seafront Views
Oasis Terraces, Singapore’s first new generation neighbourhood centre
Designed to capitalise on the waterfront location, Oasis Terraces is Singapore’s first new generation neighbourhood centre. The 7-storey development offers a wide range of amenities and sports and recreation facilities.
The rooftop features a play area that is surrounded by lush greenery
As part of HDB’s efforts to build greener neighbourhoods, smart and sustainable features such as motion-sensor lighting and sensor-activated fans are utilised, to encourage green living. Extensive green terraces and landscaping are also incorporated within Oasis Terraces, to bring nature closer to home.
Northshore Plaza is a seafront new generation neighbourhood centre that is enabled with smart technologies
Northshore Plaza is HDB’s first seafront new generation neighbourhood centre. The development comprises two connected buildings Northshore Plaza I and II that offer a variety of retail and dining options, as well as a supermarket and childcare centre. The neighbourhood centre is also connected to the LRT and surrounding residential blocks, and provides direct access to the waterfront for residents and visitors to enjoy the seafront view.
The seafront neighbourhood centre is directly connected to surrounding housing blocks
To create a sustainable living environment, smart and green initiatives were incorporated within the planning, designing and building of Northshore Plaza. These include using naturally-ventilated corridors, smart fans, solar panels and rooftop greenery to regulate the ambient temperature.
Pockets of greenery can be found within Northshore Plaza
A sheltered community plaza is also designed for communal events, while community pods function as resting points. Digitally interactive directories and the ShopperLink App are also used to enhance the shopping experience.
4. Punggol Discovery Cube
Overlooking the iconic waterway, Punggol Discovery Cube is a first-of-its-kind visitor centre in an HDB town. With the help of multimedia showcases, you can discover the rich history of Punggol and the developments that have defined its distinct Waterfront Town identity.
An interactive architectural model of Punggol will give you a bird’s-eye view of the entire town, including its 7 signature waterfront districts.
Head to the second floor for significant moments of Punggol’s development and planning. Here, learn about the smart and sustainable initiatives implemented at Punggol, including the use of modelling tools to simulate environmental conditions such as wind flow, solar radiation, shading and noise, to create the best possible homes.
Before ending your visit of the Discovery Cube, step out to the open-air viewing deck at the top of the centre and enjoy panoramic views of the estate!
5. Date Ideas and Family-Friendly Activities
Punggol is also home to an array of recreational activities. For instance, hop on your bike and explore the scenic sights of Punggol along the park connector! Spots to visit include the waterway, its bridges, and Coney Island.
Take a cycling trip to Coney Island
Fitness junkies will appreciate Arkbloc, a recreational space that combines fitness and bouldering, a form of climbing. Fancy a more laidback weekend? Visit Hai Bin Prawning and master the art (or try your luck) at fishing and prawning.
Photo: Arkbloc Try out a new activity or chalk up a workout session at this new fitness space
6. The Punggol Settlement and @Punggol
Photo: The Punggol Settlement
Feeling peckish after a walkabout of the top spots to explore in Punggol? Punggol Settlement offers a wide culinary spread, from fresh seafood to Thai cuisine. Located next to the Punggol Jetty, Punggol Settlement also provides a unique dining experience with a view of the sea.
Dining with a view Photo: The Punggol Settlement
Craving for some Tom Yum? Pop by Trunk at Bay, an eatery that serves classic Thai food. Tuck into dishes such as Green Curry and Phad Thai while enjoying the cool breeze.
Otherwise, head to @Punggol, a hidden gem at Tebing Lane offering restaurants, cafes and recreational activities. Visit Whisk and Paddle, an industrial-themed café that offers a diverse menu, ranging from the classic mac ‘n cheese to an innovative sambal seafood pizza. There are other eateries in the area too — some housed within shipping containers!
Especially so if you’re craving for a breath of fresh air, embark on a discovery journey of Punggol and you may be surprised at what you’ll find.
