1/31/2016

The philosphy of Goodlife Makan

The ESM has launched a new initiative in his Marine Parade ward to bring life to the senior citizens. It is called Goodlife Makan, where the seniors are encouraged to do things together, and what else is better than food? Goodlife Makan is all about the seniors and makan. And if I am not mistaken, Monfort Caré is taking care of the cost of the project.

“When we discuss challenges facing old people, we tend to look at them as problems – who will look after them, do they need more funds, what will be the cost of looking after them? That is the wrong approach. It's how to turn that into strengths - what can they do for themselves? How can they help others?” said ESM Goh.

How true is the above statement. Old people all got problems. The poor ones got poor problems, the rich ones got rich problems. Some got no money and would really appreciate Goodlife Makan for a day of free makan, I am presuming here, and a day of socialising. Some got so much money that the money becomes a problem itself.

Yes, the right approach is to turn their challenges into strength. The poor should just enjoy themselves without having to pay for it since they got no money anyway. And the rich should be given the opportunity to show their generosity and pay for the makan. Like that win win. The poor would be grateful to the rich and the rich would be thankful there is a useful way to spend their money. Otherwise so much money would only go to waste. Now they can really do something for themselves, to enjoy the pleasure of sharing a little of their wealth and good fortune with those that have little.


Nice thought on a Sunday morning. But putting it into practice is not easy.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sigh!
Seriously?

"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime."

That's all I have to say.

Anonymous said...

Go Green (both eating n reducing waste) . Residents can be 'rewarded' with Green token cash (and food voucher) by practicing RRR at Green designated centre (and makan place) . Hands-On Green Matters

Anonymous said...

// But putting it into practice is not easy. //


This is not to spread any belief but information on the free food services provided in central Sg in River Valley area along Kim Yam Rd at the Buddhist Lodge Temple.

3 simple free vegetarian meals every day of rice, bee hoon, soup, porridge, curry vege, Tao Gua, etc dishes, fruits and hot drinks are catered for the old and young alike regardless of background.

Some construction labourers working nearby also often have their lunches and even dinner there but mostly are old people living nearby and the regular devotees.

Food ( countless rice bags etc ) are regularly donated by the kind general public.

Sg is a land of many kind people too and we should work towards extending our help to provide at least the basic necessities where there is a need.

Of course many oldies and readers are quite well off in MSN but there may be many out there where some extra help or voluntary work could go a long way to make their lives much easier in their old age.

Obviously many oldies would want to be self reliant and independent but sometimes circumstances such as old age, sickness, occasional illness would lead to the need for outside help than the old people struggling on their own.

Anonymous said...

In other words, people are like dogs. The way to a dog's heart is through its stomach. Dogs actually not very clever. Dogs are easy to please. Offer them white porridge even, and watch them jump for joy. If you play fetch with them, their tails will swing happily back and forth at you

Some food, some toys and a back rub, dogs will be eternally grateful, work their asses off to please you and even lick your feet all their lives

Pigs understand that that's why their feet is very clean even after a glorious mud bath.

Anonymous said...

Woof! Woof!

Anonymous said...

// Now they can really do something for themselves, to enjoy the pleasure of sharing a little of their wealth and good fortune with those that have little.//


Sg is indeed a strange and unique place and one area with huge contrast is the river valley area.

The first impression tends to be the ubiquitous and easily minimum few million dollars upwards condos dotting the skyline.

And at the end of River Valley Rd before the junction of Lower Delta Rd, Alexander Rd and Ganges Rd, the contrast cannot be greater but yet quite "inconspicuous" to the naked eyes and non-residents in that area.

Off River Valley Rd, in the direction of the city is the posh, good class bungalows district comprising areas such as Jervois Rd etc. Many of the houses there are mainly good class bungalows easily in excess of 30,000 sq ft onwards each and easily worth $30 to 40 millions upwards, even in current market.

On the opposition side of River Valley Rd in the direction of Lower Delta Rd lies pockets of "poverty" in that area consisting of 1 and 2 rm HDB flats along Indus Rd, Ganges Rd, Beo Crescent, Bt Ho Swee etc.

Some of the hdb flats there are among the oldest in Sg and some quite nostalgic especially those in Tiong Bahru areas which are just one or two streets away.

Most of the flats and common areas are upgraded and the pockets of "poverty" there quite "well-hidden" from the public or "naked eyes".

Obviously petty crimes in some of these areas are inevitable and you will hear, read or even "see" such happenings and news every now and then.

For now, like many other places in Sg, it is generally peaceful and well under control and people of all walks co-existing harmoniously.

That could explain the state of politics in this city state.

Probably it would do better to have an "effective" opposition in the long term but it seems lacking, probably for many factors.

Opposition politicians who are serious in their endeavours may need to conscientiously re-examine their roles under such a social and economic setting.

Own self check own self is like a governance, be it corporate or public bodies without the process or mechanism of periodical auditing.

Own self check own self cannot be said to be the natural order of things and that it can attain a well-balanced and positive equilibrium on its own mechanics and dynamics in the run wrong. It probably cannot and will be proven so?

The viability of opposition in Sg and they playing a positive role could lie in identifying the niche it can play as situations evolve.

Without an effective opposition occupying a niche position to "complement" own self check own self one party dominant politics in Sg, its future is probably, in the long term, always laced with dark clouds as modern management is based on governance of necessary audit processes and cannot be based on trusts or mere words, just like any contract needs to be in black and white and not mere verbal agreement.

Without "effective" audit or checks, it tends to run counter to modern way of life and even contradicts what people are supposed to do on a normal basis?

By human nature, to provide accountability is not normally natural and without the proper mechanism, who or what ensures accountability and how to ensure accountability in the long term.

Without such a necessary pillar in an entire setup, how can it withstand the test of time?

What will ensure that it can?

Again own self check own self?

Uniquely sinkieland?

History and human nature most likely do not support such a hypothesis in the long run ........

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

I like this idea. It is brilliant. ESM has exceeded his usually limited intellectual capacity.

The next step for dealing with these burdensome old farts is SOYLENT GREEN. If you can watch this fascinating 1973 film starring Charlton Heston, Edward G Robinson, Chuck Connors (The Rifleman) and a very jambu Leigh Taylor Young (Peyton Place).

Soylent Green? The Rifleman? Peyton Place....ah, all you young monkeys won't understand...only the apeks and old farts will get it.

ESM: Once an idiot, always an idiot.

Anonymous said...

Ah...the usual pattern surfaces again. The superior sinkies speaketh from his AH. Oh no, a learned AH lol

Anonymous said...

LKY once said...and recently quoted by his brilliant Son...that man shall not live by bread alone. so Very true. Must supplement with chicken rice, rojak, chilli crab and suckling pigs if possible haha

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha

"Thank you" for pointing out there are many in sinkieland

And you are not excluded, albeit a "not so superior one"? Oh no! An "inferior" one some more?

Btw, are you also referring to people like lau go, Mrs peanut, mati, bo Tua bo Suay, Lewd Tiger and his pussy cat, Mr Teochew Ah Pek, the wonkers party and the pimps and prostitutes?

With so many around, any wonder there are often talk about many being screwed?

Anonymous said...

How about an "inferior" AH to go along for the "crocs"?

Anonymous said...

// And the rich should be given the opportunity to show their generosity and pay for the makan.//

The Chinese said:

"天下无不散之宴席"?

All feasts have to come to an end?

Enjoy while it hasn't ended?

When it ends and the bill need to be settled, the hosts may be no where to be seen?

The "guests" become the "hosts" and accountable for the bills racked up?

Anonymous said...

The sinkies style ,uniquely to Singaporeans, is easily identifiable. :). No where else in the world share their kind of self degrading humor lol

Anonymous said...

Where got own self check own self...only Singaporeans talk and think like that hahaha no wonder the devouring lions eat them for breakfast hahahaha

Anonymous said...

// The ESM has launched a new initiative in his Marine Parade ward to bring life to the senior citizens. It is called Goodlife Makan //


With skyrocketing cost of living, people especially oldies with fixed income are like "sitting ducks waiting to be bbq-ed" .....?

Anonymous said...

Add to it more than 50% living month by month and many middle income families stuck with properties bought during the peak?

Anonymous said...

A loss of income during this period or next 2 to 5 years likely could end up in financial ruins for many?

Anonymous said...

Even without loss of income, for those who are stuck with peak-priced properties, the relentless and likely tightening by the US FED would spell mounting losses in their properties on paper each passing month?

Anonymous said...

In fact, according to several reports, many units bought from 2012 onwards are already under water?

Anonymous said...

Piecing the pictures together,they look quite horrible at least over the next few years?

Anonymous said...

The growth in the past decade is just a mirage?

Anonymous said...

hey..don't talk like a broken record lah

Anonymous said...

if nothing new..u r just shitting in here

Anonymous said...

// Old people all got problems. //

Tiok!

Lau Go had cancer not too long ago?

Ex-Japenis employee during WW2 was warded for seious health problems few months ago?

Anonymous said...

Garment already said nobody owes you a living or new stuff to read lah ..... in MSN ......

Anonymous said...

Who the shit owes you new things to read or what worth for you to read?

Unless, your AH raw nerves kena poked liao?

Anonymous said...

// Yes, the right approach is to turn their challenges into strength. //

As usual, TKSS ......?

Anonymous said...

Like neighbour shops fate...

Will close in the end

Anonymous said...

Inevitable lah .....?

Anonymous said...

Pls don't insult the author. He very nice why come here insult him?

Anonymous said...

And pls don't insult your parents like the pigs and pigs ok.

Anonymous said...

Ayah... When sinkies start insulting gov people... They will always go down where they came from hahaha a... Very Singaporean low class thingie hahaha

Anonymous said...

You can't teach low class people what not to say because it is in their blood and in their culture... Their parents raise them that way obviously(in their image too) ha ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

Ha ha ha

Certainly purple is in some people's blood?

Ha ha ha

Anonymous said...

// Otherwise so much money would only go to waste. Now they can really do something for themselves, to enjoy the pleasure of sharing a little of their wealth and good fortune with those that have little.//


Everything TOO LITTLE TOO LATE LIAO?!

There is no turning back the clock?!

The wheel ( of no return ) has long been set in motion? !

Anonymous said...

// Like that win win. //


Own self check own self?

Just a few pieces of meat thrown at oldies hope to "buy" them over?

The sun comes out not because an old rooster cock crows?

Anonymous said...

// The poor would be grateful to the rich and the rich would be thankful there is a useful way to spend their money. //


YEW had destroyed too many people's lives?

Hoping people will be grateful for a few pieces of meat thrown at them "like throwing food to dogs"?

The stinky $$$$$$$$$ no matter what amount and deed cannot atone YEWR sins?

Anonymous said...

at wits end yet, continue to fuk around. No manners and inarticulate bunch of rojak people no wonder the scribes can ride their backs like they ride donkeys. Still, come in here and talk like their peanuts on fire. :)

Anonymous said...

Watch the city burn in pride

Anonymous said...

They slaved for the rich their whole lives hope ESM adds goreng pisang to their list of makan for these dear senile citizens.

Anonymous said...

Extra Senile Man could be the worst among the lot?

Better send him a reminder?

Get the giant size type so the mouths of the oldies there cannot talk anymore and nodding their head in total submission and gratefulNess that they are being given such treatment?

Anonymous said...

As usual this guy talks nonsense, knows it, gets sidelined and outranked by the familee connections and still makes a fool of himself every time he opens his giraffe mouth.

Anonymous said...

As constituents of Lao Goa's GRC, the oldies there may get to enjoy some sumptuous suppers if and when the GRC Members go to heaven. So, the Goodlife Makan may not be dished out with kindness in mind but just a public relation ploy to hook the dafts.
But, there could be security screening to disallow uninvited guests. So, the

Anonymous said...

Error in the Above Comment due to fingering.

Correct to:
But, there could be security screening to disallow univited guests.So, the Goodlife Makan may not be dished out with kindness in mind, but just a public relation ploy to hook the Dafts.