Category: Humans of Sentosa
An island resort situated on the southern coast of Singapore, Sentosa has been a fantastical tourist destination offering pristine beaches, luxury hotel and amusement park rides that will send your adrenaline on overdrive.
But what is a land of fun without its people? In collaboration with Sentosa, we present Humans of Sentosa, a brand new interview series celebrating the men and women who keep the wheels turning on the island.
From the lifeguard scanning the beaches for signs of danger to the Service Ambassador who tirelessly ushers you in the right direction, their stories will inspire you and lift your spirits. Enjoy the read!
Humans of Sentosa | “Just remember that you are not less than anybody. Know that nobody can be you, like nobody can be me. It might come late, but just be patient, believe in yourself, and you will get recognition. Just do your best, and you will shine in time.”
Humans of Sentosa | “What ignites a fire in me when I play golf? That’s a good question. I’m not competitive anymore – in the sense that I’m not a professional who plays for money now – but when you’re playing against anybody, you play to win. And I’m a terrible loser. I hate to lose.”
Humans of Sentosa | “For a period of my life, I woke up early, got on the train in sub-zero temperatures, and worked in an office in London all day. I have to pinch myself when I consider how lucky I am to be working on a tropical resort island, surrounded by dramatic scenery.”
Humans of Sentosa | “We have 84 figures currently, and we ensure they stay pristine. I’ve memorised how all of them should look, from their hair and nails to their clothes and jewellery.”
It’s very important to have interests outside of work because, ultimately, what are you doing if you don’t have a passion? Whether it’s baking, collecting stamps or dancing, it’s good to be passionate about something that makes you feel alive.”
Humans of Sentosa | “That’s the great thing about iFly Singapore. It’s for anyone who wants to do anything extreme yet safe. And if you were planning to skydive, this is a good training ground. If you can fly in a 16-feet wind tunnel surrounded by glass walls, the sky is nothing.”
Humans of Sentosa | “When I come to work, it doesn’t feel like your typical office environment. You don’t see walls; you’re not deskbound. This place is a tourist attraction, and you meet different people every day. I brought my mum here once, and she was amazed by this place.”
Humans of Sentosa | “When you cook with passion, you make money. If you cook only for the money, you’re not going to make it because the food comes from the kitchen and will be reflected in the food. If there is love inside, it’s gonna be on the plate.”
Humans of Sentosa | “We’re not going to lie to you. It will be really scary; but, it will be very safe. We will check and make sure everything is safe for you to jump.”
Humans of Sentosa | “I’m 74 now. When I joined the army, I was in my early twenties. Back then, many thought Singapore was too small to have an army. But in 1967, the government began to publicise the need for a Singapore Armed Forces…”
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.”
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.”
“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…”
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.”
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!'”
Humans of Sentosa | “When I started paddleboarding back in 2014, I remember seeing lots of trash floating on the water. One day, I decided to bring a trash bag with me and started picking up trash. People thought I was crazy for collecting rubbish out at sea on my paddleboard…”
Humans of Sentosa | “What you see on Baywatch is very different from what happens in real life. Sometimes, the casualty doesn’t even get to call for help; you just see some splashing in the distance. As lifeguards, we’ve been trained to pick up signs of a swimmer in distress.”
Humans of Sentosa | “I love my job because I get to meet all kinds of people. I enjoy talking to overseas guests because I get to ask them about where they’re from. I get to learn so much from them.”
Humans of Sentosa | “But now when I go home and sleep at night, I can sleep properly because I feel like I did something good that day. So no matter which industry you’re in, as long as you’re happy doing your work, I think that’s all that matters…”
Humans of Sentosa | “Here, you get to see hawksbill turtles that come to lay their eggs and dolphins that swim around our coast. It’s very cool.”