Tuesday, February 9, 2010
“You By My Side” -A poem specially dedicated to Tze Yong & Andrea on your marriage -– Sunday 15th November 2009
Dear Tze Yong & Andrea,
A chance meeting,
A warm greeting
Destined to meet two years later at VivoCity
Tze Yong was mesmerized by Andrea,
A lady he found so sincere, so pretty!
Andrea, Tze Yong, I know hapiness will surely come your way
With the rings that you exchange on your special day
Today, your hearts will be merged as one
Grow your love each day,
Make it second to none
Practise patience and perseverance in your relationship
It has worked for me, and it's a very useful tip
Above all, choose to cherish your unconditional love
For when you have that unconditional love,
You will give
When you give
You will score
And when you score,
GOD will love you both even more
Andrea, Tze Yong, Doris and I congratulate you both on your marriage
You are made for each other
Perhaps, like a horse and a carriage
Sincerely,
Raymond Anthony Fernando
copyrightraymondfernando15/11/2009
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Build undeground walkway to enable safe travel; Raymond's letter to the New Paper
My letter to the New Paper on the above subject has been published in the New Paper today, Thursday, 4 Feb 2010, page 20.
I have been following the reports regarding the dangerous stretch along Upper Thomson Road which have claimed the lives of two innocent elderly citizens.
Due to arthritis and weak knees, many of our elderly people have great difficulty walking.
Hence, one third elderly parishioners of the Church of Holy Spirit, including my wife finds it exhausting climbing the overhead bridge.
My wife who has arthritis cannot use the traffic light at the junction of Upper Thomson Road because she walks very slowly with the aid of a quad stick.
My wife often has to skip Sunday masses because of these poor traffic conditions.
Even hailing a taxi outside the church after mass is dangerous as speeding cars can knock you down easily. It almost happened to me two months ago.
Our seniors deserve better support.
I am therefore disturbed that the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) response was that this dangerous stretch at Upper Thomson Road is not a “hot spot” for accidents.
How many tragedies must take place before the LTA acts?
An underground walkway that stretches outside the Post Office right up to Thomson Plaza will enable our elderly citizens who worship at the church to travel safetly.
At Thomson Plaza, many of our seniors can buy their groceries at the supermarket, have a meal and even do some shopping.
The taxi stand located there is also convenient for our elderly folks.
Hence, there is economic value tagged with this suggestion.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
I have been following the reports regarding the dangerous stretch along Upper Thomson Road which have claimed the lives of two innocent elderly citizens.
Due to arthritis and weak knees, many of our elderly people have great difficulty walking.
Hence, one third elderly parishioners of the Church of Holy Spirit, including my wife finds it exhausting climbing the overhead bridge.
My wife who has arthritis cannot use the traffic light at the junction of Upper Thomson Road because she walks very slowly with the aid of a quad stick.
My wife often has to skip Sunday masses because of these poor traffic conditions.
Even hailing a taxi outside the church after mass is dangerous as speeding cars can knock you down easily. It almost happened to me two months ago.
Our seniors deserve better support.
I am therefore disturbed that the Land Transport Authority's (LTA) response was that this dangerous stretch at Upper Thomson Road is not a “hot spot” for accidents.
How many tragedies must take place before the LTA acts?
An underground walkway that stretches outside the Post Office right up to Thomson Plaza will enable our elderly citizens who worship at the church to travel safetly.
At Thomson Plaza, many of our seniors can buy their groceries at the supermarket, have a meal and even do some shopping.
The taxi stand located there is also convenient for our elderly folks.
Hence, there is economic value tagged with this suggestion.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Shows put spotlight on helping needy- Raymond's letter to the press
Letter to the New Paper: HOME MAKEOVER SERIES UNDER FIRE
My letter to the New Paper is published today, 3 Feb 2010, Page 19.
I refer to the report, “ Why pick on us? We are helping people” (The New Paper, 29 Jan).
We need the media to highlight the plight of the needy so that the Government will review its policies and give better support to citizens who feel uncared for, and they include our seniors, the mentally ill and the disabled.
I feel that shows like Life transformers and RenovAID did an excellent job in rasing awareness of the plight of the needy.
Hosts Michelle Chia, Christopher Lee, Quan Yifeng and the production team should not be discouraged by the unfair criticism levelled at them.
It takes courage to clean up homes that are invested with pests and dirty toilets.
It is always easy to criticise than to appreciate.
I was deeply touched that volunteers offered to renovate and refurnish the homes of the needy so that they could have a better quality of life.
Our country will be a far better place to live in with people like these who are able to feel the suffering of citizens who are in less than fortunate circumstances.
Rather than manipulate viewers' emotions, I believe the shows have been successful in striking a cord with audiences.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
My letter to the New Paper is published today, 3 Feb 2010, Page 19.
I refer to the report, “ Why pick on us? We are helping people” (The New Paper, 29 Jan).
We need the media to highlight the plight of the needy so that the Government will review its policies and give better support to citizens who feel uncared for, and they include our seniors, the mentally ill and the disabled.
I feel that shows like Life transformers and RenovAID did an excellent job in rasing awareness of the plight of the needy.
Hosts Michelle Chia, Christopher Lee, Quan Yifeng and the production team should not be discouraged by the unfair criticism levelled at them.
It takes courage to clean up homes that are invested with pests and dirty toilets.
It is always easy to criticise than to appreciate.
I was deeply touched that volunteers offered to renovate and refurnish the homes of the needy so that they could have a better quality of life.
Our country will be a far better place to live in with people like these who are able to feel the suffering of citizens who are in less than fortunate circumstances.
Rather than manipulate viewers' emotions, I believe the shows have been successful in striking a cord with audiences.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
Saturday, January 30, 2010
In celebration of the Spring Festival
Dear Friends,
Goodbye to the old,
Hello to the new
The spring festival is here
And the Chinese community takes their cue
Chinatown is bustling with activity at the start of the light- up
Time to purchase new clothes, pay off debts,
Get new haircuts that will all bring good luck
Family members are painting the window panes and doors
While the housewives are cleaning the walls and the floors
Before the family tuck in on the New Year’s Eve feast
The food is offered to the Gods
Mandarin oranges and Ang Pow or red packets are exchanged
Vibrant colours of paper and flower decorations make their presence felt
In spruced up home that are tidy and so well kept
The colour of red represents happiness and vitality
The colour of gold represents good fortune and wealth
The lighted fireworks brighten up the sky
And we all wonder how time flies
We welcome the year of the Tiger without fear
Gong Xi Fa Cai and a Happy New Year
Spread goodwill to one and all
And have a ball!
Sincerely,
Raymond Anthony Fernando
@copyrightraymondfernando
Goodbye to the old,
Hello to the new
The spring festival is here
And the Chinese community takes their cue
Chinatown is bustling with activity at the start of the light- up
Time to purchase new clothes, pay off debts,
Get new haircuts that will all bring good luck
Family members are painting the window panes and doors
While the housewives are cleaning the walls and the floors
Before the family tuck in on the New Year’s Eve feast
The food is offered to the Gods
Mandarin oranges and Ang Pow or red packets are exchanged
Vibrant colours of paper and flower decorations make their presence felt
In spruced up home that are tidy and so well kept
The colour of red represents happiness and vitality
The colour of gold represents good fortune and wealth
The lighted fireworks brighten up the sky
And we all wonder how time flies
We welcome the year of the Tiger without fear
Gong Xi Fa Cai and a Happy New Year
Spread goodwill to one and all
And have a ball!
Sincerely,
Raymond Anthony Fernando
@copyrightraymondfernando
Monday, January 25, 2010
Get rid of stigma of mental illness: Raymond's letter to the press
My letter to the press was published today in the New Paper, Monday 25 January 2010, page 19.
I refer to the report, “Who will care for her when I'm gone? (The New Paper, 16 Jan).
Bipolar disorder sufferer Goh Hai Eng is not alone in her fears.
As a caregiver to my wife who has struggled with schizophrenia for 35 years, I too worry a great deal about who will take care of her if I should pass on first.
There needs to be better support for caregivers whose lives are already greatly strained by loved ones suffering from mental illnesses.
This tragedy involving a psychiatric patient is bound to further stigmatise the mentally ill.
There have been calls by neighbours to lock up people suffering from mental illness as they are perceived to be troublemakers.
But this is certainly not the right solution.
We must encourage treatment and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. I have always felt that the Institue of Mental Health (IMH) should change its name to “Mind Wellness Institute”. Avoid using the word “mental”.
Perhaps incentives can be given so that patients are more willing to continue their treatment or laws can be changed so that IMH can be empowered to bring people suffering from mental illness for mandatory treatment.
The new sentencing options by the Ministry of Home Affairs where mandatory treatment orders require offenders to undergo psychiatric treatment is the right move.
It will certainly help to reduce the hardship, suffering and anxiety which family members face when a loved one is stricken with mental illness.
Many patients are in denial and will not want to seek treatment because of the social stigma that is attached to mental illness.
Once they are able to persuade the stricken ones to undergo psychiatric treatment, caregivers have to ensure that there is strict compliance with the doctors' orders concerning medication and continuing treatment. But this is never easy because nobody likes to take medicine.
This is where incentives can help. Why not have an annual lucky draw in which those who do not default on their treatment and medications for 12 months are given a chance to win holiday packages, cash, vouchers and so on?
I am sure the Ministry of Health (MOH) and its partners can get established companies to sponosor these, as it is a worthy cause.
Another way to reward those who continue treatment is for MOH to top up the medisave accounts of such patients.
IMH, which sees the largest number of psychiatric patients here, must also play its part in ensuring that no one under its care misses their appointments.
An alert system that prompts the outpatient clinics when patients miss their appointments should be interfaced with IMH's community psychiatric department, which can then send a team to find out why the patients have not followed up on treatment.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
I refer to the report, “Who will care for her when I'm gone? (The New Paper, 16 Jan).
Bipolar disorder sufferer Goh Hai Eng is not alone in her fears.
As a caregiver to my wife who has struggled with schizophrenia for 35 years, I too worry a great deal about who will take care of her if I should pass on first.
There needs to be better support for caregivers whose lives are already greatly strained by loved ones suffering from mental illnesses.
This tragedy involving a psychiatric patient is bound to further stigmatise the mentally ill.
There have been calls by neighbours to lock up people suffering from mental illness as they are perceived to be troublemakers.
But this is certainly not the right solution.
We must encourage treatment and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. I have always felt that the Institue of Mental Health (IMH) should change its name to “Mind Wellness Institute”. Avoid using the word “mental”.
Perhaps incentives can be given so that patients are more willing to continue their treatment or laws can be changed so that IMH can be empowered to bring people suffering from mental illness for mandatory treatment.
The new sentencing options by the Ministry of Home Affairs where mandatory treatment orders require offenders to undergo psychiatric treatment is the right move.
It will certainly help to reduce the hardship, suffering and anxiety which family members face when a loved one is stricken with mental illness.
Many patients are in denial and will not want to seek treatment because of the social stigma that is attached to mental illness.
Once they are able to persuade the stricken ones to undergo psychiatric treatment, caregivers have to ensure that there is strict compliance with the doctors' orders concerning medication and continuing treatment. But this is never easy because nobody likes to take medicine.
This is where incentives can help. Why not have an annual lucky draw in which those who do not default on their treatment and medications for 12 months are given a chance to win holiday packages, cash, vouchers and so on?
I am sure the Ministry of Health (MOH) and its partners can get established companies to sponosor these, as it is a worthy cause.
Another way to reward those who continue treatment is for MOH to top up the medisave accounts of such patients.
IMH, which sees the largest number of psychiatric patients here, must also play its part in ensuring that no one under its care misses their appointments.
An alert system that prompts the outpatient clinics when patients miss their appointments should be interfaced with IMH's community psychiatric department, which can then send a team to find out why the patients have not followed up on treatment.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Give more help for the mentally ill and their caregivers
I refer to the report, “Who will care for her when I'm gone? (The New Paper, 16 Jan).
Bipolar sufferer Madam Goh Hai Eng is not alone in her fears. As a caregiver to my wife who has struggled with schizophrenia for 35 years I too, worry a great deal as to who will take care of her if I should pass on before my wife. There needs to be better support for caregivers whose lives are already greatly strained by loved ones suffering from mental illnesses.
Certainly this tragedy involving a psychiatric patient is bound to further stigmatise the mentally ill. Further more, if there are more cases like this one, enclaves will form in our neighbourhood and sufferers of mental illness and their caregivers will continue to be shunned and isolated. As it is, there have been calls by neighbours to lock up people suffering from mental illness as they are perceived to be trouble makers. But this is certainly not the right solution.
Patients suffering from mental illness are always plagued with financial problems. While charitable foundations raise funds on a national level for various illnesses, such as kidney failure and other physical ailments, mental illnesses do not receive similar attention and support. I myself have made several appeals for money to be raised for the mentally ill, but my pleas have gone unheard. Yet this is a group that is in dire need of financial assistance.
Despite the many successes Singapore have achieved, the numerous 'number one' accolades – the best airport, the best port facilities and so on, our country and civil society comes up dramatically short when it comes to the mental health system.
Everyone of us, including all government agencies and mental health providers must play their part in helping psychiatric patients and their families. The Ministry of Health (MOH) cannot do it alone.
We must encourage treatment and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. I have always felt that IMH should change its name to “Mind Wellness Institute” (MWI) instead of the Institute of Mental Health. Avoid using the word “mental”.
Perhaps, incentives could be given so that patients are more willing to continue treatment or laws need to be changed so that IMH can be empowered to bring people suffering from mental illness for mandatory treatment.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
Bipolar sufferer Madam Goh Hai Eng is not alone in her fears. As a caregiver to my wife who has struggled with schizophrenia for 35 years I too, worry a great deal as to who will take care of her if I should pass on before my wife. There needs to be better support for caregivers whose lives are already greatly strained by loved ones suffering from mental illnesses.
Certainly this tragedy involving a psychiatric patient is bound to further stigmatise the mentally ill. Further more, if there are more cases like this one, enclaves will form in our neighbourhood and sufferers of mental illness and their caregivers will continue to be shunned and isolated. As it is, there have been calls by neighbours to lock up people suffering from mental illness as they are perceived to be trouble makers. But this is certainly not the right solution.
Patients suffering from mental illness are always plagued with financial problems. While charitable foundations raise funds on a national level for various illnesses, such as kidney failure and other physical ailments, mental illnesses do not receive similar attention and support. I myself have made several appeals for money to be raised for the mentally ill, but my pleas have gone unheard. Yet this is a group that is in dire need of financial assistance.
Despite the many successes Singapore have achieved, the numerous 'number one' accolades – the best airport, the best port facilities and so on, our country and civil society comes up dramatically short when it comes to the mental health system.
Everyone of us, including all government agencies and mental health providers must play their part in helping psychiatric patients and their families. The Ministry of Health (MOH) cannot do it alone.
We must encourage treatment and remove the stigma that is attached to mental illness. I have always felt that IMH should change its name to “Mind Wellness Institute” (MWI) instead of the Institute of Mental Health. Avoid using the word “mental”.
Perhaps, incentives could be given so that patients are more willing to continue treatment or laws need to be changed so that IMH can be empowered to bring people suffering from mental illness for mandatory treatment.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Raymond's letter to the New Paper: On SingPost publicity stunt gone wrong
My letter to the New Paper was published today, Wednesday 13 January 2010, page 22.
I refer to the report, “It wasn't meant to cause alarm” (The New Paper, 7 Jan).
Motorcycles in carparks have been burnt by vandals and loan sharks have splashed paint and scrawled graffiti at households claiming someone there owes them money.
These loansharks threaten innocent neighbours when they are unable to track down the borrowers.
The publicity stunt by SingPost sends the wrong message to such criminals that vandalising public property is okay.
I am disappointed that Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports (MCYS) is not taking a tough stand on this matter.
As the official sponsor for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), did SingPost keep MCYS informed of the “vandalism” publicity stunt?
And if so, was the publicity stunt approved?
Can both MCYS and SingPost clarify this?
The police have a responsibility to ensure that law and order is maintained in Singapore and they must take a serious view of this publicity stunt.
At the same time, compassion must also be shown to people who are going through stress which they find hard to cope with.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
I refer to the report, “It wasn't meant to cause alarm” (The New Paper, 7 Jan).
Motorcycles in carparks have been burnt by vandals and loan sharks have splashed paint and scrawled graffiti at households claiming someone there owes them money.
These loansharks threaten innocent neighbours when they are unable to track down the borrowers.
The publicity stunt by SingPost sends the wrong message to such criminals that vandalising public property is okay.
I am disappointed that Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Community Development Youth and Sports (MCYS) is not taking a tough stand on this matter.
As the official sponsor for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), did SingPost keep MCYS informed of the “vandalism” publicity stunt?
And if so, was the publicity stunt approved?
Can both MCYS and SingPost clarify this?
The police have a responsibility to ensure that law and order is maintained in Singapore and they must take a serious view of this publicity stunt.
At the same time, compassion must also be shown to people who are going through stress which they find hard to cope with.
RAYMOND ANTHONY FERNANDO
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