Author: Arman ShahPage 21 of 30
A former travel writer with fond memories of solo adventures in Southeast Asia, Arman is now founder and editor of The Everyday People.
If you ever see him approaching with a camera and voice recorder in hand, please choose kindness and don’t decline his request for an interview.
“Age 15, fascinated by the Pixar movie Wall-E which inspired an idiosyncratic habit of collecting toilet rolls, I kickstarted a national environmental initiative – ToiletRollSG – with the aim of recycling cardboard toilet rolls to be sold…”
A few days shy of Hari Raya 2022 in Singapore, Hafiz Spencer visits the iconic mall during the month of Ramadan to capture the stark difference in activity from 2021.
“A lot of people fail to understand that most of the time, the situation these parents are in is not a matter of choice for them. They are in survival mode. It’s not that they don’t have initiative or don’t want the best for their kids. They’re just trying their best to make ends meet.”
Humans of Sentosa | “If your job isn’t your cup of tea but you still work for financial reasons, then work will feel like a drag. But if you love what you do, you’ll look forward to work everyday.”
“When I was eight, I was fooled by my papa to move to Singapore. It wasn’t an elaborate plan, but he used my fondness for planes to trick me.”
People of Legends | “In the ring, you’re by yourself. You may get punched or knocked down, and regardless of whether you win or lose, you gotta stand up and keep going. That’s how things go in real life.”
The Singaporean artist who does graffiti, street art and murals talks about the hidden meaning behind his works and being an agent of change.
Humans of Sentosa | “So on Mother’s Day four years ago, I brought her here and created a fine dining experience for her. I think she was impressed that her son became someone who was able to cook nine meals for her. I just wanted to make her proud.”
The architectural photographer shares his thoughts on Singapore’s ever-changing urban landscape, the importance of conservation, his photo book that celebrates the 60th anniversary of the Housing Development Board and his exhibition in Berlin.
The Prudent People | “I don’t think you should ever give up on something you love, just because times get hard. After everything you’ve been through, you should have given up a long time ago. So why do you suddenly want to give up now? Keep going!”
Renowned for films like “Ilo Ilo” and “Wet Season”, Anthony Chen talks why he can and only will tell stories that are personal to him.
“When Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un came to Singapore in 2018, Sentosa hosted the Trump-Kim Summit. That’s one world event I’ll never forget. As a gesture of peace, our team decorated the guns at Fort Siloso with flowers…”
In Part 1 of ‘People of the Arts: Stories from Singapore to Germany’, Weish talks about finding her voice through theatre in these dire times.
“I’ve never looked at someone on social media and said that I want her butt or that body. Because firstly, it’s totally different genetics. And secondly, what she does day to day, God knows! How would I ever know whether she’s suffering or really happy?”
Humans of Sentosa | “I used to have no passion for cooking. But now, I think that someone who cooks for a living, will ultimately just cook for a living. Someone who cooks with passion and feeling, however, will be able to raise his passion and everyone around him to another level.”
“I do not condone violence towards women, and I understand why the online community reacted the way they did. But, people do not know the full story, and it’s not their business to know any more than what I – or anyone involved – would like to share.”
Kai: Former National Boxer Steps Back in the Ring to Aid the Fight Against Child Cancer in Singapore
People of Legends | “On days where I feel unmotivated and don’t feel like running, reminding myself that there are people out there who believe we can raise money and fight for a cause really gives me drive. It gives my punches more depth, and my jabs have more meaning now.”
“During those two years, he was sober for only six months. Yet everyday, being sober was a mental battle for him, and I wasn’t aware of it. Whenever he was on edge and I triggered him, it took everything within him to restrain himself from drinking his problems away.”
Humans of Sentosa | “My passion’s always been water, whether it’s fishing, diving, sailing. I travelled a lot at the time and was looking for a yacht anyway. And in my searches, I came across a ship in Chicago, and I thought, ‘Wow, she looks magnificent!'”
People of Legends | “No matter where you are in the world, hearing the sound of jump ropes and people punching bags make a gym feel like a very familiar environment.”