Almost a century after its inception, Shaw Theatres remains a mainstay not just in local cinema but also around the region. It’s only natural then, that they dedicate an entire non-profit organization, the Shaw Foundation, to giving back to the society that helped them become successful. Executive Vice President of Operations Mark Shaw talks about how charity is in his blood.
 

What are some of the causes the Foundation supports and how are you involved?
We support a wide number of causes such as caring for the elderly, community awareness programmes, education and the arts. I personally am involved with the Singapore Cord Blood Bank, Northwest Community Development Council and the National Fire Prevention and Civil Emergency Preparedness Council (NFEC), each for about six to 14 years now.

How did this passion for the community come about?
The concept of community service has been a part of my life since childhood. My grandfather founded the Shaw Foundation and my father, uncles, siblings and cousins are all involved in some form of community service.

Learn how you can do your bit for national security

What kind of active roles do you play?
I am probably most active in the NFEC where I am chairman of the fundraising sub committee. I am involved in a number of fundraising projects for them, as well as some of the working committees regarding public education. I give speeches and presentations, including a presentation regarding community involvement in civil emergency preparedness at a recent convention. There’s usually something going on every month that I set aside time for.

Do you wish other Singaporeans sacrificed more time and effort for charity work?
I think that Singapore already has a great system of community involvement, although it would be nice if more Singaporeans volunteered their time in addition to donating to worthy causes.

Do you actually enjoy it?
It always feels good to be contributing to the society and the community.

NEXT: The Good Doctor

Do Your Bit for National Security
• “Fight” in the war
Pick up civil defence and first aid skills useful during wartime emergencies by becoming a member of the People’s Association Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Log on to www.pa.gov.sg to apply.
• Be a volunteer policeman
Men of PES A or B status in the army—listen up. If you’re younger than 45 years of age, you can help fight crime in Singapore as part of the Volunteer Special Constabulary. Apply at www.spf.gov.sg.
• Keep families together
Register to be a Volunteer Probation Officer with the Ministry of Community and Youth Services (MCYS) and help handle cases such as student delinquents and broken families. Log on to http://app1.mcys.gov.sg to apply.

Charitable work is something we all know we should do more of. But the list of excuses never grows any shorter; if it’s not work getting in the way, it’s the feeling that one person on their own can’t really make much of a difference. Which is why we rounded up some of the city’s busiest folk and asked them about their own charitable activities. Sure, it suits people in the public eye to say they do good work for the community; but when you read their stories you’ll see that charity is more than just a soundbite for them—they’re out there volunteering for things they believe in. And if their inspiring examples aren’t enough to get you going, webbbb’ve listed out practical ways you too can get involved, whatever your chosen cause.

DJ DO-RIGHT

The charismatic Sulian Tan-Wijaya not only holds a prominent position at global property firm Savills, she’s also a regular fixture at some of Singapore’s biggest A-list events. Always the high achiever, Tan-Wijaya also sets aside time to maintain an active presence in the local charity circuit. She talks to us about volunteering not just money and time but also her presentation skills for the greater good.

What are the causes you’re most passionate about?
I usually choose children and the sick and elderly to support and help. I love to assist kids because they are so innocent and helpless, and the elderly and sick because they may feel very lonely and abandoned. They also often suffer in silence.

How do you get yourself involved?
I’ve always been a silent donor but from this year on, I intend to organize specific events for a CARITAS (The Catholic Social and Community Council) chosen charity, whether it’s a day out, lunch or just an excursion to cheer the kids or old folks up. I also make yearly donations not just to CARITAS but also to our Church’s (Catholic Church of St Ingatius) Jesuit priests, who work tirelessly to help the less fortunate in countries in need. I like CARITAS because they are very transparent; every donation and source is reflected in their annual report. They also support many secular or non-Christian charities, many of them for children and the elderly.

In what other ways do you spread your good cheer besides donating money?
I have guest DJ-ed for charity awareness events too, such as Saving Gaia organized by MediaCorp, events at the Singapore Tyler Print Institute organized by Il Lido and Club Rainbow shows for kids organized by Muse. I also sang at one of CARITAS’ fund-raising dinners.

What’s your take on the spirit of community service in Singapore?
Sometimes I feel the message gets lost when a fundraising exercise get overshadowed by a greater event; be it a grand gala dinner or a TV variety show where stars perform to raise funds. While they also support good causes, it’s important for a charity donor to be clear about what he or she is contributing to. Other than that, I think more can be done to create awareness of the importance of community service in Singapore; on both educational and corporate levels.For example, the international schools reading the IB Diploma curriculum have made community work compulsory and part of the syllabus. The students are required to choose their own project and complete it.

Any community heroes you admire?
I’m hugely impressed by Bill and Melinda Gates, as well as Warren Buffett for pledging to give away the bulk of their wealth to various causes. The last I heard even the founder of Facebook has been inspired by them to do likewise. I admire any charitable person who makes his donations and contributions quietly and without any fanfare, because I don't see a need to show–off such good deeds.

Next: The Active Entrepreneur

8 Tuesday
Did last Thursday’s French joke sail over your little tête? Perhaps you need some lessons in the language of love. Fortunately, Alliance Francaise (1 Sarkies Rd., 6737-8422) offers beginner’s classes all week long. OK, so you’ve only got time to learn a few words, but trust us, they could make all the difference when next Monday rolls around. Besides, if you’ve got this far without a life partner, perhaps you need a little help distinguishing the masculine from the feminine.

9 Wednesday
What went wrong last Wednesday? You hit up the ladies nights and all you had to show for it was a hangover the size of Kota Kinabalu. Time for a different approach. Head over to one of the city’s latest hip hangouts—A Curious Teepee (#02-24 *scape, 2 Orchard Link, 6820-1680) perhaps, or else the new PS Café (#02-02, 45 Ann Siang Rd., 6222-3143)—and spark up a conversation with someone who’ll actually remember you in the morning. And we all know indie folk have no qualms about putting out on the first date.

10 Thursday
Even if you’ve now got yourself a date, there’s no way of telling what’ll happen on the big night. Time to think like a Boy Scout and be prepared. Your banter’s honed, your tummy’s toned. You’ve fixed your look and learned to cook. Yet all of that will be for naught if you let the other party down in the bedroom. Worried you won’t deliver? Then it’s time to call for back-up. Once you’re done with work, head over to House of Condom (#B1-12 & #B1-01 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Rd., 6735-6360) and pick up some sex toys. Do not, under any circumstances, leave them lying in plain view around the house. Oh, and 50 press-ups when you get home.

11 Friday
It’s getting close now. People asking you what your plans are. Colleagues looking at you like you’re a lost cause. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Hit up the personals section on Craigs List (http://singapore.craigslist.com.sg/) when they’re looking the other way. You’ll have to filter through a ton of junk messages; but then, that’s pretty much the definition of an office job already. Who knows what you might find? Man seeks woman. Woman seeks man. Pre-Op Dominatrix Chinese — t4m — 35 — (In My Dungeon). That last one is real, by the way. Good luck with that.

12 Saturday
Plans tonight? Cancel them. Friends can wait. Family can be forgotten. There’s only one place you need to be and that’s the One Lucky Duck Arty Party at My Art Space (#04-41, 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd.). OLD (ignore the unfortunate acronym) specialize in creating opportunities for singles, and what better way to bond with someone than by working together to create a piece of art (you remember the pottery scene in Ghost, right?). Hopefully you’re reading ahead here, as you should have booked this by Thursday. Log on to www.oneluckyduck.com.sg or call 6698-0903 to do so.

13 Sunday
You’ve got to back yourself. Even if last night was a washout, there’s still a chance The One could be lurking in the cubicle next to you at work tomorrow (after all, that’s where they found him in The Matrix). Assume tonight will be your last one sleeping alone, and prep the house so that anyone who does stay over will be impressed. Don’t waste time cleaning; hire Amahs on Wheels (#07-08 Wintech Centre, 6 Ubi Rd. 1, 6837-2708) to do it for you. While they’re hard at work hiding the vibrators you forgot to stash away, head out to Iwannagohome (#01-35/36 Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, 6737-8858) and King & King Wong (#04-13/14/73/74/75 NEX Shopping Mall, 3 Serangoon Central, www.kingnkingwong.com) and pick up some affordable designer homeware to spruce up your living room. On your way back, be sure to pick up a bottle of Champagne. It’s so much classier than inviting someone in for coffee.

14 Monday
Step 1: Call in sick. There’s no point making today any more stressful than it needs to be.
Step 2: Put that Champagne on ice. Warm bubbly just won’t cut it. 
Step 3: Spend the day doing something you love.
Step 4: Head home and think back on the fun you’ve had. Admire your newly decorated house, your washboard abs and your slick new wardrobe. 
Step 5: Think of how little you’d have achieved in the last two weeks if you had a partner tying you down. God, it’s good to be single, isn’t it? (You didn’t give that restaurant a real credit card number for the deposit, now did you?)
Step 6: Open Champagne. Drink.

1 Tuesday

Love Wars—Episode 4: A New Month, A New Hope. Finding time to get a date when you’re stuck in the office can be tough, but you can still put the time to good use. Practice your conversation skills around the water-cooler (it’s probably the one place where “do you come here often?” might raise a smile), and polish your Facebook profile, so that anyone you meet between now and V Day doesn’t run a mile. Delete that photo of you throwing up. And the one of you kissing another girl. (Ladies, ignore that last tip.)

2 Wednesday
Tonight is ladies’ night all across town, and if a better formula for guaranteed action has been invented we’ve yet to come across it. Today of all days, it’s important not to skip breakfast, to eat a healthy lunch and at least have a snack before you leave the office: Tonight, you must be less drunk than the person you’re talking to. If you’re a guy, that’s not going to be hard, given the deals ladies enjoy. 
Over at Attica (#01-03 Clarke Quay, 3A River Valley Rd., 6333-9973) a complimentary glass of rosé Champagne awaits as part of their “Guilty Desires” night. Meanwhile, Stereolab (G/F Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles Blvd., 6337-0800) is “Souled Out,” with girls on freeflow premium housepours and Champagne all night long, and guys lapping at their heels for just $28. At Zirca’s “Lollipop” (3C The Cannery, River Valley Rd., 6235-2292), you can reminisce over your favorite ‘80s songs, with free entry for the ladies and five complimentary drinks. 
Just try to resist the temptation to take your newfound partner home tonight. Ask them for their number, suggest a date in just over a week’s time, then walk away. Do not look back.

3 Thursday
Time to smarten up. Use your lunch-hour wisely. But don’t overdo it; it’s a date you’re aiming for, not a wedding. Both Ted Baker (#01-132/134 VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, 63769498) and Dresscode (#01-07 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 67324606) have a great range of casual, yet stylish menswear. For the ladies, Morgan de Toi (#02-25/27 Wisma Atria, 435 Orchard Rd., 6737-9475) and Surrender (#02-31 Raffles Hotel Arcade, 328 North Bridge Rd., 6733-2130) will bring a certain je ne sais quoi (mais voulez vous couchez avec moi ce soir?) to your look. Make your purchases now, so that if they need alterations or exchanging you can get it done on time. Nothing says last-minute purchase quite like a shirt or skirt that’s too tight.

4 Friday
Ten days, friends. Ten days is all you’ve got. But just think what can happen in 10 days. The world was made in less. You’re going to be tempted to join the crew for drinks after work tonight. Politely decline—you have more important things to do. At 7pm you’re taking a beginner’s salsa class for only $20 per session at Jitterbugs (#B1-08 The Cathay, 2 Handy Rd., 6887-0383). It’s sexy, sensual and best of all it requires a partner. Who knows who you might meet? And it’s yet another string to your conversational bow; potentially even something you can do after the big dinner winds down. Best of all, at 9pm tonight you can join Jitterbug’s Latin Fiesta—a fun social gathering that’s completely free if you’ve taken a class on the day.

5 Saturday
You haven’t been to the gym once, have you? Don’t panic. Heed the words of Tim Ferriss, whose new book The 4 Hour Body ($32 from Kinokuniya, #03-09/10/15 Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Rd., 6737-5021) distills all kinds of crazy science to prove that long workouts and mammoth training regimes are a waste of time. Given that nine days from now you may find yourself in a situation that requires removing your clothes, what to do if you don’t want the other party to run screaming from the room? Myotatic crunches, that’s what. Stop trying to be Patrick Bateman with his 1,000 sit-ups a night, and use this technique to build those abs by working their full range of motion. Ferriss reckons he could see a difference in just three weeks. But trust us, we’ve tried them and you’ll feel a difference after just one session. And if you feel good, you’re halfway to looking great. Find out more at http://tinyurl.com/myotatic.

6 Sunday
Treat yourself to a lie-in. You deserve it. But once you’re awake, don’t just lie there with one hand idly between your legs; the lawn needs mowing. Pink Parlour (#03-19 Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Rd., 6100-8266) offers both Brazilian ($52) and Boyzilian ($73) waxing services. Best not to leave it until next weekend—no-one likes looking at chickens that have just been plucked.
Take your mind off of what just happened by joining the Chinese New Year Pubbing Night put on by Champagne JSG (www.champagnejsg.com). It costs $65, but it’s for singles only, making it money well spent.

7 Monday
Most people take the first night of the week off. Not you. You’re off to Nutri-Style (20 Ridley Park, 6887-5220) for some professional image consultation. A one-off private session lasts one and a half hours and costs $250. You’ll learn everything you need to know about style, from grooming and tailoring to body language and etiquette. The important thing is that you still have seven days to practice. This time next week you’ll be able to charm the pants off someone just by looking straight at them (just put down the binoculars first).

NEXT: February 8-14 / BACK

The stats don’t lie. According to the 2010 Census, the last decade has seen a dramatic rise in the number of lonely souls here in Singapore. Among the key demographic of 30 to 34 year olds, 10 percent more men and nine percent more women are single now than they were when the new millennium began.
Now’s not the time to get into the whys and wherefores. (And the issue of our Total Fertility Rate dropping to 1.16 is a whole other story. TFR … SFW?) No, what’s needed is a hi-tech, failsafe plan to fix those figures in time for Valentine’s Day. The big day is still more than two weeks away—ample time to turn your fortunes around. Here’s how.

January

28 Friday
If you’ve made it this far and haven’t found that special someone, chances are you’re doing it wrong. Don’t make the mistake of trawling bars using worn-out chat up lines. Get professional help. Sign up for an Attraction Accelerated Weekend Workshop with Aura Dating (Jan 28-30, www.auradating.com). They’ll teach you what works and what doesn’t, take you out on field exercises and be there to offer feedback based on what they see of your performance. The workshop is aimed at men, but Aura offers special classes for ladies too (don’t expect them to divulge all the tips they share with guys to get your attention though!).
If Aura’s a bit too rich for you, or if the idea of going clubbing turns your stomach, it’s time to give the folk at It’s Just Lunch a call (6536-0100, www.itsjustlunchsingapore.com). They’ll help you schedule appointments with like-minded people; no pressure, no embarrassing lunges at the end of the date. It’s tight, but if you get started now you could be up and running in time to have a dozen lunch dates between now and Feb 14. And if none of the lucky 12 are what you’re looking for, we politely suggest that you lower your standards. No-one’s perfect, least of all you, Mr. I-can’t-find-a-date-and-keep-blaming-other-people.

29 Saturday
It’s tight, but if you do get a date you need to make sure you’re in decent shape. Two weeks is still enough time to lose those extra pounds. Sign up for a one-day trial membership for free at Pure Fitness (3/F Knightsbridge, 270 Orchard Rd., 6100-3813). Or better yet, do daily yoga at True Yoga ($214/mth for basic membership at 4/F, Pacific Plaza, 9 Scotts Rd., 6733-9555). It’ll give you far more to talk about than just lifting weights when you do get that date. Or join SAFRA running club ($32 for non-members at www.safra.sg)—who knows, you might meet another singleton there. Remember, keep your eyes open at all times—not just when you’re in a bar.

30 Sunday
Sunday’s a great day for lazy breakfasts at home, and all-day DVD marathons. But you’ve got to use your time more tactically. Learn how to cook the perfect Eggs Benedict (www.wikihow.com/Make-Eggs-Benedict), so if you wake up with company on Feb 15 you can impress your new friend. Or take it one step further and sign up for a private cooking class at Cookery Magic (117 Fidelio St., 6348-9667, www.cookerymagic.com).
And don’t watch just any old movie. Check out (500) Days of Summer, to boost your indie-romance cred; Fifty First Dates to learn what not to do; and light-hearted fluff like Wedding Crashers to make you laugh. Borrow them from Video Ezy (#02-07 Vivo City, 1 HarbourFront Walk, 6278-8364), since you don’t want your date to see them when they come back to your place.

31 Monday
Back to work, and you’re probably still feeling pessimistic. It is Monday, after all. You need to believe this is going to happen. Forget the self-motivation tapes and make a dinner reservation that requires you to put down a deposit. Then you’ve got a target to work towards. Try Garibaldi Italian Restaurant (#01-02, 36 Purvis St., 6837-1468) for a 6-course menu at $148 per person, or Sky on 57 (57/F Sky Park, Marina Bay Sands Tower One, 2 Bayfront Ave., 6688-8868), where the view alone is sure to get your partner all hot and bothered.

NEXT: February 1-7