National Day Parade gets me choked up  every single time. As a family, we would camp out with out kids at various vantage points in Marina come weekends in July and August, just to soak in the NDP revelry. Once a year on National Day (more so than any other day in the calendar), we are reminded how fortunate we are to be citizens of this country and how we should never take our progress, peace and prosperity for granted. After we became parents, we would always use National Day to inculcate the sense of belonging and patriotism to our country in our kids. 

This year marks Singapore’s 52nd year of independence and boy, we are so happy to know that the NDP will return to The Float @ Marina Bay! NDP 2017 will celebrate Singapore’s strength in unity, and rallies all Singaporeans to remain united in times of uncertainty and challenges. Here are 5 key things about NDP 2017 you need to know as a heads-up.

1. NDP 2017 Theme: #OneNationTogether
The theme this year, #OneNationTogether, is a rallying call for all Singaporeans to take pride in our achievements, and to be confident in Singapore’s collective future as we overcome all odds together.

‘One Nation’ is to remind Singaporeans that regardless of origin and background, we belong as one people and one nation. It encourages Singaporeans to harness our diversity and to leave no one behind as we strive towards an even brighter future.  ‘Together’ emphasises the importance of unity in times of uncertainty and challenges ahead and represents a call-to-action for all Singaporeans to overcome the odds together.  For the first time in NDP, the hash symbol (#) has been incorporated into an NDP theme, #OneNationTogether so that Singaporeans can share the NDP celebrations through social media.

As a symbol of unity, “#” resembles the iconic image of four interlocking arms found in our nation’s first $10 note launched in 1967, representing our nation’s strength in social unity and multicultural harmony.  As a symbol of home, “#” is a familiar feature in Singaporean home addresses. #OneNationTogether calls on all Singaporeans to rally together as one united people to build a brighter future for Singapore our home.

2. NDP 2017 Logo: Four hands interlocked in unity and strength!

The logo, inspired by the iconic image on Singapore’s first ten dollar Orchid series note launched in 1967, features four hands clasped and interlocked with each other in unity. The intertwined hands symbolise Singaporeans from all walks of life setting aside their differences, and coming together with the conviction of building a better Singapore of tomorrow. It also reflects the important role that racial harmony has played in our 52 years of nation building.

Red is the primary colour of the logo, reflecting our celebratory mood as we commemorate Singapore’s 52nd year of independence. It also represents the unwavering determination and passion of our people. The white in the logo symbolises the everlasting purity and virtue of our nation. The image of our island, nestled in the centre of the four hands, represents the special place that Singapore will hold in the hearts of all Singaporeans.

3. NDP 2017 Parade: Rallying One Nation Together by the Bay!

NDP 2017 marks the return of NDP toThe Float @ Marina Bay after a two-year hiatus. NDP 2017 aims to provide a celebration befitting our nation’s birthday. This is achieved through four key segments:

a. The Pre-Parade segment. The Pre-Parade segment aims to energise the spectators by creating a cheerful and upbeat atmosphere. Spectators will be engaged through sing-alongs of familiar Singapore/NDP songs, interactive activities, and will also witness the crowd favourite, Red Lions’ parachuting performance (yay!).

b. Dynamic Defence Display (D3). The D3 showcases Singapore’s continued readiness to defend itself against a spectrum of security threats. For the first time, the D3 is organised into two segments of high intensity and action-packed sequences. The first segment (preceding the P&C) focuses on the military capabilities of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to defend our sovereignty. The second segment (after the P&C) focuses on the importance of the SAF and the Home Team working together with all Singaporeans to tackle the rising threats of cyber-attacks and terrorism.

c. Parade and Ceremony (P&C). The P&C aims to evoke pride and confidence among Singaporeans through a sharp and dignified parade comprising uniformed and civilian contingents coming together in an exhibition of our nation’s strength and will. The parade will also feature a special tribute to 50 years of National Service. Singaporeans can also look forward to traditional celebratory elements such as a military tattoo performance, the Presidential Gun Salute on the M3G military raft, as well as the State Flag Flypast and the Salute to the Nation performed by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.

d. Show. The Show will be a visually captivating and rousing experience incorporating participatory elements for Singaporeans to celebrate different facets of our Singaporean life together. Through a mix of mass displays, special effects and small group performances, the Show – organised into six acts – seeks to rally and connect emotionally with Singaporeans.

4. NDP 2017 Theme Song: “Because It’s Singapore!”

This year’s NDP Song explores what it means to be Singaporeans living together in our island home. It also highlights the harmonious lifestyle that is uniquely Singapore, where people of different races and religions live together, celebrate our diversity and share our customs and cultures. Most importantly, the song recognises that Singaporeans need to collectively decide our future and stay as One Nation Together to overcome all challenges and fulfil our dreams of tomorrow. “Because It’s Singapore!” is jointly produced by Jay Lim (singer and lyricist of the theme song) and Lee Wei Song (composer of the theme song).  The official NDP Theme Song Video is not out yet. Here’s a sneak preview presented at this morning’s media event.

 

5. NDP 2017 Call To Action: What You and I Can Do!

Singaporeans are invited to tag their photos, well-wishes, reflections or stories on their personal social media platforms and NDP social platforms such as Facebook (www.facebook.com/ndpeeps), Instagram (@ndpeeps_2017) and Twitter(@NDPeeps), with the following hashtags: #OneNationTogether, #NDP2017, #NDP17, #SG52. The hash-tagged photos, well-wishes, reflections or stories will be compiled and published on the official NDP website (www.ndp.org.sg).

Here’s your chance to win some NDP 2017 Actual Day Tickets! Visit the NDPeeps FB Page: