Letter from Baba Colin Chee, President, The Peranakan Association Singapore
(This is a monthly letter to TPAS members and guests)
Dear Babas and Nyonyas,
Navigating The Unknown
How does one safely navigate a ship without sonar across a sea filled with submerged mines?
Many governments around the world today, including Singapore’s, is facing this terrible challenge.
After five months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, we only know enough to mitigate and perhaps control it, but not yet enough to eradicate it.
Some experts have suggested that until a treatment is found for COVID-19, like that for the common flu, or a vaccine against the virus is ready for use, or the virus self-degenerates into something less virulent, the world cannot expect to return to the easy pre-COVID-19 days now or anytime in the near future.
Fortunately for us at TPAS, we have an easy choice. We have decided to be pragmatic not to sail straight into this sea of mines. We will simply sail around it.
Circumnavigating COVID-19
For a start, as mentioned in my 31st March Letter to members, we postponed all our first half-year 2020 events to 2021.
We are now moving the events planned for the second half of 2020 to 2021. This includes our Literary Festival among others and, regrettably, events for our Junior Members as well.
And, our Annual General Meeting, which was to have been held Sunday, 26 April, was earlier on postponed to Sunday, 21 June 2020.
120th Anniversary Milestone Events
Significantly, your General Committee has decided to postpone The Peranakan Ball from 18 July 2020 to 15 May 2021, and the 33rd Baba Nyonya International Convention from 20-22 November 2020 to 19-21 November 2021.
The rescheduling of these latter two 120th Anniversary milestone events has been especially difficult. We had been planning for them since late 2018 and were ready-to-go. More so the Baba Nyonya Convention because this may be its first known interruption in 33 years.
We know you will agree with us that this is the right thing to do. It will safeguard the well-being and the health of our members and guests.
These have been painful but necessary decisions in this unprecedented time of grief, anxiety, and growing economic and financial stress.
We also expect that the situation in our region and Australia will remain unpredictable for an indeterminate time.
We apologise for any inconvenience our changes may have caused our members, and also ask for their understanding and continued support.
It would seem, however, that there are always silver linings in every dark cloud.
The Peranakan Ball: 15 May 2021
We are especially grateful to Madam President Halimah Yacob who will still join us as the evening’s Guest-of-Honour.
The Peranakan Ball’s donors, partners and guests have been encouraging and kind. Many of our programme sponsors have indicated they are fully behind TPAS despite the Ball’s postponement.
Because of them, the Ball in May 2021 will still be very enjoyable, spectacular and meaningful, as planned.
The 33RD Baba Nyonya International Convention: 19-21 Nov 2021
We are also thankful for the much-welcomed empathy and continued support from our partners, supporters and other stakeholders when they were informed last week about the postponement of our Baba Nyonya Convention.
They include the 13 other presidents of Peranakan associations in Southeast Asia and Australia, whose understanding we had sought.
On behalf of TPAS, I would like to sincerely thank our Convention partners who have been journeying with us – The Peranakan Museum, Gunong Sayang Association and the Peranakan Indian (Chitty Melaka) Association Singapore.
Also, to the Singapore Tourism Board, National Heritage Board and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre for their unflagging support.
Our big thanks to theatre doyens Babas GT Lye and Ivan Heng, director Baba Alvin Tan and playwright Nyonya Stella Kon, on whose play, Emily of Emerald Hill, the adaptation, The Matriarchs, will be based. And Baba Emeric Lau who will assist in the scripting of GT’s mother-in-law role.
Our appreciation also to our Symposium’s Keynote Speaker Baba Kwa Chong Guan. Moderators Baba Kennie Ting, Assistant Professor Nyonya Nala H Lee, and Baba John Teo. Panellists Professor Wang Gungwu, Associate Professor Farish A Noor, Dr Vivienne Wee, Baba GT Lye, Nyonya Josephine Chia, Baba Kenneth Chan, Baba Pillay P Krishnan, Nyonya Jackie Yoong, Baba Raymond Wong, Baba Christopher Tan, Baba Alvin Teo. And Hosts Nyonya Dawn Marie Lee and Baba Ivan Heng.
We count our blessings. Despite the major disruptions, the consequences have not been as harrowing as we had anticipated. Our stakeholders have graciously rallied around TPAS. Kamsiah manyak manyak.
Until a bright tomorrow, please keep safe, stay at home, and stay healthy. God bless.
Blessings,
Colin Chee
Keeping the Culture Alive
28 April 2020