Changing my name

I have always hated my name. I always thought it sounded too common, cheesy and corny.

Whenever someone called me by my christian name, I wondered who they were addressing. I never felt the name belonged to me. I never felt identified with my birth name.

When I was in primary school, I was one of those rare few who had christian names. My parents were catholic and my parents actually inserted those names in our birth certificates and identity card.

For years, I wanted to change my name. I toyed around with a few names and I was just too indecisive to make a final choice.

It was around 10 years ago that I seriously wanted to have my name legally changed. By somehow, I always gave excuses that I was too busy or whatever.

This year, the thought of changing my name crossed my mind again. I made plans to have it done via deed poll in june and then applied for my new identity card and passport.

June has came and gone. I still have not changed by name yet. I knew all the details, the procedures and yet something is holding me back.

One of the main reasons I told myself was that I wanted to have the "perfect" photograph for my IC and passport. And so far, I have not taken THAT photo yet. My skin have cleared up since my last laser treatment in Feb this year and my face have slimmed down and features sharpened.

Another concern about changing my name is the hassle of informing the authorities and those companies like banks, insurance companies , telco etc. Some organisations require that you go down in person and give them a copy of the deed poll and new IC. How troublesome is that!

And then I have to reapply for new ATM cards, credit cards under my new name etc.

But since, Gin is dead. I felt I have nothing to lose. I felt that I had to do something for myself. Something I wanted to do for a long time but have no guts to do.

Yeah....I am going to taken that photo and regardless of how it turned out, I am going over to the authorities and change my name!

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Documents Required

For Applicants via iC Online

• Visa or MasterCard Credit Cards/MasterCard Debit Cards for online payment
• One recent digital passport-sized colour photograph that meets the following specifications:
  • Image file in JPEG format ('jpg' extension) with a file size of not more than 60 kb
  • The photograph must be taken within the last 3 months
  • The photograph should be in colour, must be taken against a white background with a matt or semi-matt finish
  • The photograph image must show the full face and without headgear (headgear worn in accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide the facial features)
  • The photograph cannot be taken in uniform
• Existing identity card (front and back)
• Registrant’s name in ethnic characters (i.e. In Chinese, Jawi or Tamil Characters)

For Applicants at the Counter

• Current Identity Card
• One recent passport size photograph that meets the following specifications:
  • The photograph image must be taken within the last 3 months
  • The photograph should be in colour, must be taken against a white background with a matt or semi-matt finish
  • The photograph image must show the full face and without headgear (headgear worn in accordance with religious or racial customs is acceptable but must not hide the facial features)
  • The photograph cannot be taken in uniform
• *Baptism or Religious certificate for insertion of religious name, if any
• *Deed poll for change of name, including ethnic name, if any
• *Marriage Certificate for insertion of married name, if any

*Bring along the original document and a photocopy.

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Procedure

Applications via iC Online

• Submit the application online at the iC Online website.
• Wait for the e-mail notification on the collection of the new IC

OR

• Check the status of your application at the iC Online website
• Come in person to IC section, Citizen Services Centre with the required supporting documents (as stated in the collection notice) to collect the new IC.

IC Section
Citizen Services Centre
3rd Storey, ICA Building
10 Kallang Road
(Next to Lavender MRT station)
Singapore 208718

Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday : 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Saturday : 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 noon

Note: Your identity will be authenticated via thumbprint matching at the collection counters.

Applications at the Counter

• Come in person to IC section, Citizen Services Centre with the required supporting documents to register for the new IC.

Counter 1, IC Section
Citizen Services Centre
3rd Storey, ICA Building
10 Kallang Road
(Next to Lavender MRT station)
Singapore 208718

Operating Hours:
Monday to Friday : 8.00 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.
Saturday : 8.00 a.m. to 12.30 noon

• Take a Q-number and wait to be called
• Produce existing Identity Card and any other supporting documents
• Complete the application form
• Make payment of S$60 and collect the receipt

Note: The receipt must be produced when collecting the replacement IC (in person) on the same day. Your identity will be authenticated via thumbprint matching at the collection counters.

Fees
S$60

Applications via iC Online
Please make payment online by VISA or MasterCard Credit Cards or MasterCard debit card.

Applications at the NETS or CashCard upon collection of the new IC.

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Processing Time

Applications via iC Online
3 days

Applications at the Counter
Application would be on the spot and the new NRIC can be collected on the same day. However, the waiting time for the collection of the NRIC would be longer.

Peak Periods to Avoid

• Mondays, Fridays, Saturdays, school holidays, eve and the day after public/school holidays
• After 2.30 pm on weekdays
• After 11.00 am on Saturdays and school holidays

There is generally a larger crowd in March, end May, June, end November and December.

http://www.ica.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=140&secid=72

Novena Church

The Exorcism court case involving the Novena Church has brought back memories of the church.

My mother was a devout catholic. She made us go to Novena church every saturday when we were younger. I think we went to Novena Church every saturday afternoon since I was 5 or 6 years old. And at that time, across the church was this row of shop houses. And before church, our parents would brought us there and bought us sweets. A few years later, the row of shops houses were torn down.



My mother liked to park herself right in the front row of the church. Not the wooden seats. But the leather kneeling ones. One had to kneel through the entire session. I think my mother thought it is more devout to kneel throughout and her prayers would stand more chances of being answered.

Frankly, I hated that! I hated being right in front of the whole church. I felt that the whole congregation was staring at us and staring at our asses and our backs. My father would on the other hand stationed himself outside the main seating rows.

Did I enjoy the church service and the sermons then? Not really. I was too young to really understand what the priest was talking/preaching about. I had no patience and no interest in those things then.

I went to church with my parents and sister till I reached secondary school years. I was busy with school work then and well...was a teen. Teens dun like to go out with their parents. At around that time, my parents' relationship had started to sour and my mother would go to church on her own every week.

I think my mother went to Novena for many years after that. I dun know if she still visit Novena Church though. I do know she still visit a church these days. Maybe one that is nearby.

It has been a long time since I went to Novena. The last time was when I was in my junior college years. I was depressed. I had not gotten in the JC of my choice. I felt suicidal and well.. lost. So I went to Novena for solace. I did not know why I ended up there. Maybe I was hoping to get some prayers answered.

I did not get any consolation there and then. And I never went back. I dun think I was expecting my prayers to be answered though. I sank into depression after that.

I still believe in God. I just stopped going to Church.

I have been thinking of going back to church recently.

In my youth, I had been scarred by friends who brought me to some charismatic churches. There were speaking in tongues, healing sessions, rowdy and joyous, loud singing of praises to God. And there were heaps of young teens and young people.

I dun really like that. I am a low key person who dun really seek attention and these types of worship just freaked me out. My preferences was for something more subtle and quiet. And also I found out that these young people went to those churches to socialize, not to pray. It was an IN thing, an IN place where other young people hang out and have fun. But I felt it wasn't for me.

There is a church just a few hundred metres from where I now live. When I looked out of my living room window, I can see the huge cross structure on the church roof top.

Maybe, one day soon, I should pop by and see what time their services start on weekends.

And also maybe I should pay a visit for Novena Church again. For old times sake.

Exorcism, Anyone?

If you are possessed by evil spirits or demons, you cannot just walk into a church and ask for an exorcism. There are certain protocols to follow.

And there is a difference between exorcism and deliverance. Hmmmm...interesting....

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The New Paper
04 July 2008

'EXORCISM' TRIAL

Priest: No 'exorcism on demand' here

Priest involved says protocols have to be observed before approval for exorcism given

By Arul John

THERE'S no such thing as exorcism on demand. You cannot just walk into a Roman Catholic church here and ask for one. Certain procedures had to be followed, including first informing the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore of the exorcism, and getting his permission to appoint a priest authorised to perform the procedure.

The priest appointed must be properly distinguished for his piety, and must fast and pray for sometime before performing the exorcism, said Father Simon Tan. The victim must also undergo a psychological evaluation, to exclude any possibility of medical conditions or mental illness, he added.

Father Tan, 45, was testifying at the Novena Church exorcism trial in the High Court yesterday. Madam Amutha Valli Krishnan claims she was the victim of a forced exorcism at the church on 10 Aug 2004. She is suing the Redemptorist Order, which runs the church, two priests and six church-goers who allegedly helped in the ritual.

Father Tan, one of the priests allegedly involved, told Mr R S Bajwa, Madam Amutha's lawyer, that because he did not follow these protocols, he had not performed any exorcism on Madam Amutha when she was at the church. Instead, he said he had only said prayers of deliverance over her.

Mr Bajwa, however, said that aside from the protocols, what Father Tan did to Madam Amutha that day - telling the spirit possessing her to leave her body - constituted an exorcism. Father Tan agreed that he 'engaged the spirit' in her and asked it to leave her body, but claimed that was a deliverance, not an exorcism.

He defined deliverance as 'praying (for someone) without engaging the devil', as opposed to exorcism, which he said was 'engaging the devil' and 'taking out an evil spirit from a person'. In his affidavit, Father Tan stated how Father Jacob Ong, the other priest allegedly involved in the case, had informed him on the night of 10 Aug 2004, that a woman was behaving strangely at the church.

Father Tan said that Father Ong asked him if he could help and he did so. He said in his affidavit that he saw a woman shaking the grille gate at the church and shouting. Father Tan said that the woman's daughter, son and a man claiming to be her brother were standing some distance away.

SPIRIT OF DEAD SOLDIER

The man claiming to be Madam Amutha's brother told him she was possessed by a soldier's spirit and he asked him to help them and pray for her, he added. He told the court how, while praying for Madam Amutha, she suddenly said that she was Koh Chee Meng, the spirit of a dead soldier.

Father Tan said: 'In our line of work, we meet people who behave strangely. I cannot confirm that the plaintiff was possessed with the long dead soldier's spirit.' When Mr Bajwa again told Father Tan that he had performed an exorcism on Madam Amutha, he denied it.

Father Tan said: 'My prayers with Amutha were not to get the spirit of Koh Chee Meng out of her but they were prayers of deliverance to give her hope. I prayed for the dead soldier's spirit, to commend the soul of Koh Chee Meng to God.'

He also added that he was not always speaking to 'Koh Chee Meng' that day but that Madam Amutha had 'come to herself' at least three times and she was able to speak lucidly to him. He said: 'During those times, she asked where she was and when I told her, she asked me to help her.' Father Tan's cross-examination continues today.

Death of a Doctor Part 2

One of the most popular post of this blog had been "Death of a Doctor". And yesterday, as another visitor visited my blog, he or she left a trail from Google, which led me to the deleted and lost post of Dino about the doctor Adrian Yeo.

Dino had deleted or locked up his post about AY after the papers published excerpts of that post.

But the thing about internet technology is that once something has been posted online, the information remained online, (in some dark remote server somewhere) even though the original information has been deleted.

I had been wondering about that lost post. I wondered about the last days of AY and what kinda of person he had been in real life. There was hardly any real life information on AY, the person. And frankly, I am glad that I found the information.

I have considered whether to post what Dino had deleted. I could have kept the information to myself but I am sure that some where, there is also someone like me, curious about a dead person whom we have never met. Or maybe, someone who did knew AY once and now wanted to know what happened.

I have read the post and found it to be sincere and touching. So I have posted it verbatim.

For all those who knew and for those who did not knew AY. His memories would live on.

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Jun. 23rd, 2008 at 10:31 AM

I'm sure many of us remember the story of Dr Adrian Yeo, from exactly 2 years ago.

Dr Adrian Yeo was then a houseman then, who, in a terrible terrible incident, was lured by CNB officers posing as gay men to source for drugs, and bring them to a sex romp.

Although he refused initially, the CNB officers were persistent, and insisted repeatedly.. so he finally relented, turned up, and was arrested for possession of 0.16g of methamphetamine.

I'm sure many of us remember how outraged, saddened and disgusted we were by the entrapment.

I'm sure many of us remember the outpour of discussions on the unfairness of the situation.. or how gay men who use drugs are dangerous to society anf should be put away behind bars. My mother, for one, immediately called me to warn me repeatedly not to do drugs.

I'm sure many of us remember the Newpaper article, which slanted Adrian's story to maximise shock value to describe how gay men use drugs to get "hot" for wild sex, and how they use drugs to "cool down".

Dr Adrian Yeo was sentenced to 8 months in jail.

NHG was quick to drop him.. SMC wanted to deregister him; and not allow him to complete his housemanship.

Then UN got to know about his case.. and offered to buy his bond over if Singapore does not want him.

Singhealth, then, decided to take him back, and allow him to complete his housemanship.

I got to know Adrian about a year ago. I was doing a psychiatry posting in SGH, and he was doing his last 2 HO postings..

I was in W46A, and he was in W46, on the other side of the door.

Andy knew him prior, so we got acquainted and started talking.. going for lunches, chatting.

We would talk about his dark times during the incident, his aspirations.. what postings he wanted to do after housemanship, his cute colleagues; he was too busy with housemanship to date at that time..

I was undergoing a dark dark period of my life, after the trouble with Singahealth and SMC.. so he offered me advice, encouragement and shared his experiences.

He often called to ask me how my case was going, and to update me on his pending medical registration.

The last times I saw him were in December 07 - we went out for a drink at Robertson Quay, and went for a friend's housewarming party on another occasion.

The last time I spoke to Adrian was somewhere in December 07.

He had called me, with a mix of excitement and disappointment, after he had FINALLY received his medical registration with SMC.. but it was only a conditional registration, and not a full one. But he had come a long long way to get to where he was.

On Thursday evening, Andy and I were informed by a friend that Adrian was critically ill in ICU, and given 24 hours to live. He had been suffering from what seemed like a viral infection, which presented as a persistent cough. He was admitted for observation, then discharged well..

2 saturdays ago, as he was resting at home, he suddenly had a bout of massive hemoptysis (vommiting of blood), and was admitted to hospital. On sunday, he desaturated, and collapsed, requiring intubation.

His father told us that his last words to his brother, asking him to go back home to bring some clothes for him. They then discovered that his platelets were low.. and despite resuscitation and transfusion, it remained critically low..

The doctors think its some form of intractable ITP.

He never regained consciousness after Saturday.

Dr Adrian Yeo passed away on Friday, 20 June 08, in the afternoon.

He was a good man; one who has had a hard life, and who, despite all the setbacks, achieved his dream of becoming a practising doctor.

He will be dearly missed, by myself, by Andy, and all his friends.

Handset Upgrade

With the the number portability hype, handsets are getting cheaper these days.

I am presently using the Nokia N95. I think it is pretty good and useful. I love the 5 mega pixel camera, the video recording, the music player, the internet browser. I have started to read blogs on the phone since I am able to access it wirelessly at home.

And I have recently gotten an expansion 8 Gb micro SDHC card.

But I have to admit, I am starting to get bored with this phone. It does not quite motivate or aspire me.

I am looking forward to the Apple 3G iPhone but it would be available only towards the end of the year. And I dun quite like the idea of downgrading to a 3 mega pixel camera phone.

There are so many similar phones to iPhone. One of them that caught my eye recently was the Samsung OMIA.

• OS: Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional
• Display: 3.2” WQVGA TFT LCD (240 x 400)
• Camera: 5 Megapixel CMOS, Auto Focus, Image Stablizer, Geo-tagging, Auto-Panorama Shot, Wide Dynamic Range (WDR), Face Detection, Smile Detection, Video RecordingMemory: 8GB / 16GB Flash + External Memory slot : microSDHC™ (up to 16GB)

I just checked with my telco and I am available for upgrade only in Oct 2008. SO has completed only 15 months of his contract and he could upgrade his handset at +100 extra.

Hmmm....it seems I have to wait till about Christmas to get a new phone and I hope they would come up with a better model. Maybe with a 10 mega pixel camera? And 32 Gb memory?

Well, I can certainly dream.

SO was nearly scammed

Reading about scams reminded me of an incident that happened some years ago.

SO was working in the central area and once as he was passing Sim Lim Square, this young lady came up to him. She gave him some cock and bull, sob story about how she got no money for food, her mother in hospital and her younger siblings have not eaten for days.

SO of course turned her away. And then he stayed in a corner to observe. He saw her approached another guy. It seemed that this lady approached only guys and old ladies.

He also saw that some guys gave her $10 or other amounts of money.

I have seen her in the area before, after SO pointed her out to me when we were passing by the place. She was ordinary looking and dressed shabbily in a T shirt.

Unfed? Oh please! She looks plumb! Not skinny or lean. If you have not eaten for days, show some bones. She certainly looked very well fed! In fact, she probably had more than 3 meals a day!

Do such people think they are making easy money? Just by standing there and looking pitiful, she could get about $30 to $50 per day. That means she can get about $900 to $1500 a month. All without working!

She looked healthy enough. And obviously intelligently enough to know how to look pitiful to scam money. So...get a job!!

I have not been back to the area for quite a while. If I ever see her scamming again, I have a good mind to report her to the authorities. I did this not out of spite. I am directing her to proper venues to get proper help! How long can you beg/scam....whatever she called it?

And the thing is how stupid could she be? She was at that area so often. Dun she knows people could recognise her and realise what a con she really was? Actually she had approached SO more than once!

Next time, if I am in the area, I would try to take a photo of her and expose her scam!

Not another email scam!

Oh NO....not another email scam again. So scary to be locked out of our own email account.

I have never responded to such emails. And after reading, these I never will!

Why are these scammers so evil? Do they think it is such easy money?

People are so ignorant and complacent. We always think we would never be conned or scammed and that such things only happened to other people.

And frankly, who would be stupid enough to send money on receiving such an email?

Anyone who received such an email, please contact the person by phone to verify the facts! Dun be an idiot and just send the money over!

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The New Paper
02 July 2008

Ex-S'pore Idol finalist Jeassea Thyidor becomes bait in e-mail scam

'Help me, I'm starving. Please send money'

By Jeanmarie Tan

THAT was the plea an estimated 300 contacts of former Singapore Idol finalist Jeassea Thyidor found in an apparent e-mail from her on Sunday night. The e-mail, which had been sent from the singer's Hotmail account, said she was stranded in Nigeria after taking part in a programme called Empowering Youth To Fight Racism, HIV/Aids, Poverty And Lack of Education, and had lost her money and passport after leaving her bag in a cab.

It also described how she was in a 'terrible and tight situation', and that she was 'starving' as she didn't have money to feed herself. The e-mail went on to beg recipients to urgently transfer $3,200 through Western Union to cover her hotel bill and food expenses, and concluded with promises to pay back the money as soon as she returns to Singapore.

When The New Paper contacted Jeassea, 28, yesterday afternoon, she was in Singapore. The Filipino-Canadian performer at St James Power Station's Bellini Room said her last overseas trip was to Bangkok five months ago, and that she has never visited Africa or heard of the humanitarian programme.

She said: 'Over 20 people I know from Singapore, Malaysia and Canada have e-mailed and called me about it... some of whom I haven't heard from in years. My first reaction was anger, then embarrassment. 'I was like, 'Oh no, people are going to think I'm asking for money!' I just hope people will dismiss the e-mail.' She estimates that over 300 of her contacts may have received the e-mail.

A friend from Singapore alerted her to the e-mail on Sunday night. Jeassea tried to log on to her Hotmail account, but could not as her password had been changed. She said she received what she assumed was a legitimate e-mail from Hotmail staff ('it looked very professional') two weeks ago.

It informed her that her account would be closed if she didn't verify her personal information. She ignored it, but got the same e-mail a week later, so she replied with her information. Jeassea has since created a new account and officially reported her case to Hotmail.

In her 15 years of using her previous account - it was her first and only one - Jeassea said she had never encountered any problems. Stylist Jennifer Lum, Jeassea's friend and one-time manager, said she was '50 per cent sure' it was a hoax as the e-mail didn't sound like Jeassea. She became suspicious because it started with a generic 'Hi!' and didn't sign off with Jeassea's name.

Said Ms Lum, who is in her 40s: 'When I saw the word Nigeria, I was even more sceptical as there've been too many Nigerian scams. 'And even though Jeassea didn't pick up her handphone at first when I called her, it wasn't an overseas ring tone so I knew she was safe.'

In April, The New Paper reported a similar case where a Singaporean man received an e-mail from his London-based daughter claiming she had been robbed and needed him to transfer $7,000 through Western Union within 24 hours.

Room in your heart

I was in SO 's rental car this afternoon when the radio started playing "Room in your heart" by Living in a Box. I have not heard this song for so long. Certainly brought back memories.

I was so young and tender then.

I remembered when it was on the radio hitlist constantly many years ago. SO have never heard of this song before. His comments was that by today's standard, the song is not that remarkable., just listenable.

I was just working for THE organisation (if I tell you, I have to kill you) when the song was at its peak. I remembered people stopping in their tracks or slowing down so that we could listened to the song.

I have just seen the music video below and gosh...it looked so cheesy, corny and especially retro. But I loved the lyrics and the music rhythm. I n fact, it was my favorite song for some years.

I think I am gonna get the CD.

It’s dark and cold tonight
I’m walking all alone
And one step at a time I’m getting closer

I know she’s hard to find
Instinctively I try,
To take the path of love into the night

There would be no reason if you really didn’t care
There would be no reason for love

The door is open wide, is anybody there?
I know this must be the room in your heart
I really don’t know why but it’s so easy to breathe
I know this must be the room in your heart

No answers question me
No one’s been here before

**not in video**
I’m the first to see the light at your door
If I could hold you now I would not disagree
**not in video**

With these four walls you’re protecting me

There would be no reason if you really didn’t care
There would be no reason for love

The door is open wide is anybody there?
I know this must be the room in your heart
I really don’t know why but it’s so easy to breathe
I know this must be the room in your heart

I can feel it, I can feel it
I can feel the love that’s surrounding me coming out of you
I can breathe
Just show me the way

The door is open wide, is anybody there?
I know this must be the room in your heart
I really don’t know why but it’s so easy to breathe
I know this must be the room in your heart

I know this must be, I know this must be
Is anybody there

The door is open wide, is anybody there?
I know this must be the room in your heart
I really don’t know why but it’s so easy to breathe
I know this must be the room in your heart

The door is open wide, is anybody there (fade).

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Another song I heard this afternoon was "Runaway Train" by Soul Asylum.

I could find the original video on youtube but those videos were denied embedding on request. Can they do even do that? I did not think it was possible.

Well, this version below is the LIVE version.

A better steak

Eye for an eye