From the 60th National Day Extravaganza, a Look at the Resilience and Warmth of a Little Red Dot

This year’s Singapore National Day carries a special meaning.

The theme remains the familiar “Majulah Singapura” (Onward Singapore). It appeared at SG50 in 2015, and now it returns again for SG60.

Some may feel that reusing an old theme lacks freshness.

But when you look back at the changes in the world over the past decade, you will realize — this phrase may be the most fitting response for the present moment.

A Changing World, Steadfast Steps

Over the past 10 years, the wave of globalization that once surged forward has repeatedly cooled; artificial intelligence has swept across industries, transforming how we work and live; rising geopolitical tensions have shaken the stability of the international order.

In such a global landscape, Singapore must still find its own rhythm to move forward — not only safeguarding the achievements of the past 60 years but also pressing ahead.

Ordinary People, Extraordinary Achievements

This year’s National Day short film told the stories of several “heroes among us.”

In 1948, high jumper Walberg built his own jump bar and practiced again and again, all for an Olympic dream.
In the 1960s, second-hand goods dealer Abdullah, though living modestly, persisted in passing on responsibility and resilience to the next generation.

What they have in common is, even when the odds were low, they still chose to persist.

Their efforts carried on to the next generation: Walberg’s grand-nephew Joseph Schooling won Singapore’s first Olympic gold medal in 2016; Abdullah’s granddaughter founded a social enterprise to give old clothes new life, passing on the value of sustainability.

National Day — More Than Just a Celebration

This year’s National Day Parade returned to the Padang in front of City Hall, with the stage extending to Marina Bay, allowing more people to take part. The audience size jumped from just over 20,000 in past years to 230,000.

The small details were heartwarming:

A large screen with simultaneous sign language interpretation, so the hearing-impaired could also “hear” the celebration.
On-site “wish cards,” where people wrote down their hopes for Singapore and for themselves, in the moment they were raised high, the future of the individual and the nation were closely intertwined.

As 37-year-old Koh Sheng Wei said:

“National Day is no longer just a celebration for a select few, but a moment where the whole nation can participate and resonate together.”

Unity, Not Just a Temporary Gesture

From 60 years of challenges and triumphs, Singaporeans know well that unity is not a slogan, but a repeated practice: to listen to each other, understand each other, and embrace differences.

As President Tharman said that everyone can be a hero in their own way, contributing to Singapore’s story.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s words, “Move forward together,” sound like a promise: no matter how uncertain the external environment, as long as we remain resilient and cohesive, we can go further.