The longest route to the Parliament House

I have something embarrassing to admit. I had thought Lee Kuan Yew was dead since 16 years ago.

I first came across his name in the world history textbooks that we used in senior high school. The textbook was outdated so I thought the prominent names mentioned were of people who were, well, history, as in long gone history. A provincial lass with no Internet access (because only the few rich in our hometown could afford unlimited dial-up access then), I didn't have an immediate way to verify the information in those books.

When I was 16, I had different dreams and living abroad wasn't one of them. Because a number of my high school batchmates were going to the University of the Philippines for college, I had wanted to study in UP, too. I had wanted to finish with a double major in accountancy and statistics, because I had thought I was good in math. Neither of those two wishes came true (I found out when I was in college that I really suck at numbers.). I graduated with a degree in Computer Science from a different university. And I've been living and working in Singapore for the last six years.

After graduation, there was not really much choice since I was a government scholar for four years so I had to work in the Philippines for at least four years. I got hired by an IT company in Metro Manila and I worked with them for five years. The salary was good but not good enough if one wanted a life outside of the office-apartment routine. 

Unlike other women, I don't have a habit of buying designer clothes, bags or shoes. And unlike yuppies of my age then, I don't dig the club scene and aptly so, because I don't drink and I don't dance, either.* There was only one thing I really like - I like to travel. But there was the rent and utility bills to pay and the daily cost of living in Makati was not exactly cheap. 

Once, I went to Palawan for a few days and I was broke before the month ended. A trip to Singapore of five days, and I ended up borrowing money from my parents so that I could survive before the next salary came in.

That's why when the opportunity for a better salary in Singapore came along at around this month some six years ago, I immediately grabbed it. I told my manager during the exit interview, "If I can't travel because of my job, at least, with this new job, I will be able to pay for my own travel."

Singapore was one of the few countries that had lenient policies on employing foreign workers. Since the 1970s, it has been importing large numbers of immigrant workers, mostly from nearby Malaysia, to augment their labor force. Towards the end of that decade, companies began to look for labor from more non-traditional source (NTS) countries such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines.** Mr. Lee Kuan Yew was the Prime Minister then. 

By the year 2009, 10 years after I came across his name in a history textbook, Singapore has long been a prosperous country in this part of Asia. And by then, I had become a part of the little red dot's workforce. LKY's government was instrumental to opening that door of opportunity for foreigners like me to work in this country and to experience a very different kind of life - that one with an efficient transportation system, a well-planned urban surrounding and a very low crime rate - truly a "First World oasis in a Third World region".

From the time he became Prime Minister up to the time when he sat as Minister Mentor in the Parliament, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew had dedicated his life to transforming Singapore into the First World oasis that he envisioned it to be. I admire his determination. I am astonished by his accomplishments. What he and his leadership team had done, no government leader in the history of the Philippines has ever done, albeit one former mayor claimed he was the Lee Kuan Yew of his city. (Sure, I see towering commercial buildings and condominiums in Makati City but as long as I am seeing floods in Dela Rosa Street, I will forever think it is a sacrilege to LKY's memory to compare yourself to him, Mr. Binay.)   

It is no surprise that many Singaporeans are grateful to him. Young and old, all Singaporeans have benefited from the significant improvements in the quality of life brought about by him and his government. Perhaps, unbeknownst to him, I feel just as grateful as any citizen of this nation, because while he realized the dreams of his countrymen, he had also indirectly realized mine.

Thank you, Lee Kuan Yew!

My opportunity to work in Singapore had opened many more doors for me and my family. I had been able to fulfill more than my own dream of travelling; I was able to take my parents with me on some of my trips. I was able to pay forward the college scholarship that I was given. I was able to provide for my family's needs and save for my future as well. I was able to dream of doing more things and feel confident that I can actually accomplish them.

It was with this grateful heart that I chose to endure the longest route from City Hall MRT station to the Parliament House. A walk that would normally take less than 15 minutes took us - five foreigners and one local - four hours. We were in the queue to visit LKY's wake before the sunrise that Friday.

Waiting in line at the War Memorial Park

By mid-morning, we were standing under the scorching heat of the sun at Padang, waiting for our turn to approach the coffin of the great leader.

A little past 10 AM, we finally made it to the entrance of the Parliament House.

Almost there

The actual time we spent near the coffin was a minute or less, just enough time to make a small bow of respect for the Founding Father of the country I considered my second home.

One of my officemates, a local, asked me afterwards: "Why did you want to queue for so long? You can't even see his face in the coffin."

This guy wasn't the sentimental type. He's probably waiting for a chance to share his political analysis of the situation so to keep the conversation short, I just jokingly replied to him: "It's the Singaporean culture. Singaporeans like to queue."

My application for permanent resident status in Singapore have twice been rejected supposedly for the reason that I have not integrated into their society and culture. Naturally, I felt defensive when I received the rejection letters. I did realize, however, I might never really be "integrated" until I learn to speak their language. (And no, I am not referring to Sing-lish.)

Dead-tired but we made it

But, the language barrier notwithstanding, that moment in the long queue to the Parliament House, that was the moment when I, a foreigner among hundreds of Singaporeans, felt "integrated" with all of them - one in gratitude, one in respect for one man who gave up his one life for one nation.              

His life. This nation.

   

*Lest my good ol' buddy, Circe, reacts violently. let me make it clear: I don't drink then. By the time we became friends, I already do. To this day, I still drink, but not as often, because I believe I'm too old for these things.

**Reference: Singapore's Productivity Challenge: Part I. From the 1961 Winsemius report to the 1985 recession. http://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Productivity-challenges-in-Singapore-Part-1.pdf