There are infinite ways in which to love Singapore. Some of these ways are soft and unresisting—like craving a piping hot bowl of prawn mee from Berseh Food Centre whenever you’re sick. Or hopping on a long bus ride to the same cafe along the vibrant stretch of Joo Chiat Road, pleasantly retreating into the flock of familiar strangers you see each weekend. It may even look like giving up your seat on the MRT whenever an old uncle walks by you, no matter how much he insists that he doesn’t want it.
Some other methods of loving your country have proven to be tougher endeavours. Holding fellow Singaporeans accountable for prejudiced behaviour is not easy—but only someone who truly loves their homeland would try. Advocating to change minds about sustainable living can seem like a gargantuan effort, only undertaken by those who envision a greater, safer future for our nation. The most meaningful ways in which to love Singapore often come at a cost, and sometimes, they are mistaken for hostility rather than love.
To celebrate National Day this year, Vogue Singapore looks to five powerful women living in Singapore to share their perspectives on the place they call home. These women are different in every way imaginable, varying in their ages, identities and perspectives, but each of them bring something unique to the table—from veteran actor Daisy Irani’s memories of the ever-evolving landscape before her to trans teen and theatre-maker Medli Loo’s undeniably complex relationship with the place she has grown up in. Collectively, their hopes and dreams for our nation represent a valuable fraction of what Singaporeans who truly love Singapore endeavour towards. Here, they each share what they love most about the country they live in and what they most look forward to seeing in the nation’s future.
1 / 5
Preeti Nair, Comedian and Content Creator
Describe the Singapore that you love.
Like with any deep relationship, my love for Singapore is complicated. The parts about Singapore that I appreciate the most include my strong circle of loved ones—and that I know I can, through my work, meaningfully contribute to the peace, prosperity and progress of our nation.
What is one change you’ve noticed that you’d like to see more of in Singapore?
I did a recap video this National Day and noticed a huge decrease in the number of stupid things (and by stupid, of course I mean racist, sexist or xenophobic) people have said or done, especially on the Internet, so that is something I’d like to keep seeing less of. I have also seen a lot more political engagement and community organising by more people around me.
If you close your eyes and imagine a Singapore of the future, what do you see?
Even with my eyes wide open, I do already see snippets of the Singapore I want to live in in our present reality—where people look out for one another and treat each another better. Some examples of this include mutual aid work and community activism.
On top of this, I envision our country being a safer space for various communities and marginalised groups so that more of us can feel like we’re home in Singapore.
2 / 5
Qiyun Woo, Environmental Advocate
Describe the Singapore that you love.
The Singapore I love is one where we look out for each other. During the Australian forest fires in early 2020, I remember many Singaporeans stepping up to lend a hand in ways they could, such as knitted protective gear for animals, fundraising concerts, or selling art to raise funds. This is, of course, only one example. But our creativity extends to so many causes we care about locally and internationally, since our care extends beyond borders too.
What is one change you’ve noticed that you’d like to see more of in Singapore?
I love that we are seeing more people willing to speak up for what they believe in. We give each other courage when we do bold things together. Be it through writing to MPs to save our forests, starting initiatives to reduce packaging waste and redistributing food, or attending events, rallies and town halls—I love that more of us are showing up with our actions. As we tackle more difficult challenges ahead and face the impacts of climate change (alongside its intersection with other social issues in Singapore), I hope we continue to show our care where we can.
If you close your eyes and imagine a Singapore of the future, what do you see?
I see a Singapore where her residents care about making their home a safer, greener, more joyous and inclusive space for all. I see spaces for creativity to flourish. I see us living as a society that prioritises our health and wellbeing over profit and resource extraction.
3 / 5
Daisy Irani, Actor, Director and Producer
Describe the Singapore that you love.
What I love dearly about my country is that it is ever-changing and perpetually evolving. Each day springs a fresh surprise—like when you are driving and you go “Was that building there two months ago?”
I love the delicate balance that we have achieved between modernity and antiquity. I love that I can enjoy the latest technology while eating a curry puff in an old Kopitiam. Most of all, I love Singapore because it gives me a lot of love in return.
What is one change you’d like to see in Singapore?
I would like to see a Singapore where multiculturalism becomes effortless, and where art becomes mainstream instead of staying on the fringe.
When you close your eyes and imagine a Singapore of the future, what do you see?
For my grand children, I see a place straight out of science fiction—created from cutting-edge technology. The Singapore of the future is sustainable, safe, and filled with people who take the word ‘boring’ out of any notions of Singapore.
4 / 5
Medli Dorothea Loo, Singer and Theatre-maker
Describe the Singapore that you love.
Thinking about Singapore is conflicting for me because a lot of the time it feels like the country I love doesn’t love me back, especially as a young queer trans girl. I’ve spent a lot of my life thinking about leaving, but I know as much as I want to go, I’m going to miss Singapore with every molecule in my body.
What is one area of growth that you’d like to see more of in Singapore?
I want Singapore to practise what we preach in our pledge. I want a Singapore that truly stands for justice and equality so that every Singaporean, regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any of our differences can be happy and thrive in our home.
When you close your eyes and imagine a Singapore of the future, what do you see?
I see a Singapore that is happy and liberated. I see a Singapore that looks just as clean and green and polished as ours is, but populated by people who live their lives unapologetically led by joy.
5 / 5
Oniatta Effendi, Cultural Entrepreneur and Business Owner
Describe the Singapore that you love.
The Singapore I love is one that knows no boundaries when it comes to love—our family, our friends, our neighbours in the region and beyond, our tolerance and respect for everyone around us. My life centres around the relationships that we’ve nurtured over the years—including the ones we’ve built in the world of work. We hold these relationships dear to us and it keeps us rooted right here.
What is one area of growth that you’d like to see more of in Singapore?
As a mother of five children, the future of Singapore isn’t very far away at all. It is dependent on the growth of all our children. The idea of opportunities might be regarded as a sensitive issue these days as competition is rife and we tend to hold ourselves to certain standards of the people around us, but I want to be able to see true growth for the youth of Singapore and in order for that to happen, we need to give them the proper spaces to grow.
When you close your eyes and imagine a Singapore of the future, what do you see?
I want a place that allows us to be who we are—a place that truly embodies the values that may already be present but are often overlooked: compassion, kindness, love. It’s a struggle in the modern world that we live in but I’d like to hold on to these other beliefs of kindness and love as we move forward. To have them to continue being the value markers of a Singaporean people.
