Jubilee Big Walk: A trail of tribulation & triumph
In what will be the culmination of the year-long SG50 celebrations, about 25,000 walkers will join Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on a 5km stroll through the heart of the Singapore tomorrow.
Organised by People’s Association (PA) and The New Paper, the Jubilee Big Walk (JBW) will see the largest number of people taking part since 2004.
That was the year TNP set the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest walking event with a record 77,500 participants.
This year’s JBW goodie bag also has the highest value of $880, filled with spa treats, a special commemorative medallion and a unique JBW Passport.
The Passport is filled with beautiful illustrations of local landmarks. As participants walk past these iconic sites during the JBW, they can flip through the Passport and read more about these landmarks.
The Passport was conceptualised and created by Think Inc (thinktnp.com), a creative unit of TNP.
Here is a look at the locations featured on the route
1 National Museum of Singapore
2 Fort Canning Park
3 Peranakan Museum
Did you know...
Between 1912 and 1982, this building previously housed Tao Nan School, the first local Chinese school to teach Mandarin rather than dialect in 1916.
4. Singapore Philatelic Museum
Did you know...
Built in 1886, this site was once home to the first Methodist Church in Malaya and the first Methodist-run school in Singapore, named the Anglo-Chinese School. The church moved to Fort Canning Road in 1908 and the building was converted into the Singapore Philatelic Museum in 1995.
5 Armenian Apostolic Church
Did you know...
Built in 1835 by the Armenian community who came to Singapore to trade in the early 19th century.
The tombstone of Agnes Joaquim, who cultivated the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, is laid at the church grounds.
6 Central Fire Station
Did you know...
The station’s facade of red bricks and white plaster was covered in camouflage paint during the Second World War to hide the building from Japanese bombers. It has played a key role in battling some of the major fires in post-war Singapore, including the 1972 fire that destroyed Robinson’s Department Store at Raffles Place.
7 Old Hill Street Police Station
Did you know...
During the Second World War, the building was used as an interrogation centre by the Japanese.
8 Singapore River
Did you know...
The river became the island’s lifeline as commerce flourished along its banks. In the 1970s, Mr Lee Kuan Yew called for a clean-up as the banks became crowded and the water was polluted.
9 The Fullerton Hotel
Did you know...
This was once the General Post Office. It also housed the Chamber of Commerce, the Singapore Club and government offices. From the 1950s to early 1980s, the plaza in front — Fullerton Square — was used for political rallies. The building was converted into the hotel in the late 1990s.
10 Asian Civilisations Museum
11 Victoria Theatre & Concert Hall
Did you know...
The complex served as a hospital for air-raid victims during World War II.
These halls also witnessed key milestones in Singapore’s history, including the counting of ballot papers for Singapore’s first elections in 1948 and the first performance of our national anthem Majulah Singapura in 1958.
12 The Arts House
13 Parliament House
Did you know...
The stately and dignified building has housed the Singapore Parliament since 1999. It is fitted with an electronic voting system, robotic cameras for TV broadcasts and even a gymnasium for MPs to work out before or after a debate.
14 National Gallery Singapore
Did you know...
The Gallery, which occupies the former City Hall and Supreme Court, was where Japanese forces surrendered to the Allied Forces in 1945.
City Hall was also where Mr Lee Kuan Yew issued the Proclamation of Singapore on Aug 9, 1965, when Singapore separated from Malaysia.
15 The Padang
Did you know...
The Padang was the site of our first National Day Parade on Aug 9, 1966. Home to the Singapore Cricket Club and Singapore Recreation Club, the Padang remains a popular social and recreational space.
16 Esplanade Park
17 Jubilee Bridge
Did you know...
This bridge was a suggestion by Mr Lee Kuan Yew to provide a barrier-free connection between Merlion Park and the waterfront promenade. The 220m-long bridge offers a panoramic view of the Civic District and Marina Bay.
18 Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay
Did you know...
The idea for the Esplanade was first discussed in the 1970s with the aim of nurturing a creative and culturally vibrant city. Its “spiky” roof was designed to provide shade while allowing views of the city from the inside.
19 Helix Bridge
Did you know...
The 280m-long steel bridge is a world first and has a unique spiralling design that resembles DNA. The double helix structure symbolises “life and continuity”, reflecting Singapore’s aspirations for the Marina Bay area as a hub where people can live, work and play among gardens and water.
20 Gardens by the Bay
Did you know...
Opened in 2012, Gardens by the Bay is a key component in Singapore’s journey to becoming a City in a Garden. It also offers a glimpse into a sustainable future — the two conservatories are cooled with energy generated by horticultural waster and the Supertrees are lit using solar power.
What: The SG50 Jubilee Big Walk organised by People’s Association and The New Paper
Where: Starts at National Museum of Singapore and ends at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay
When: Sunday, 7am
Wear: The limited-edition Big Walk T-shirt by Denizen in the goodie bag
Capture the moment
Take your best and most creative selfies along the picturesque Jubilee Big Walk route and you could win $100.
Upload your selfie to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #TNPBigWalk15 before 11.59pm on Nov 29.
The TNP Digital team will pick the best submissions and add them to the Jubilee Big Walk photo album on The New Paper Facebook page.
You’ll then get a chance to vote for your favourite selfie.
FIVE BEST SELFIE SPOTS
1. National Gallery Singapore:
A hot spot since its opening on Tue, have the Old City reincarnated as National Gallery Singapore as a background for a grand Selfie.
2. The Singapore River:
The River, which took 10 years to clean up, is now one of the most iconic sites here that will remind Singaporeans to keep our city clean and green.
3. Floating Platform:
NDP 2007 was the first National Day Parade to be held here. Other events held include the 2010 Summer Youth Olympic Games and SMTown Live World Tour III concert in 2012.
4. Jubilee Bridge:
The Bridge, which is now wider and makes it easier for pedestrians to stroll comfortably across the Singapore River, is the brainchild of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.
5. Gardens by the Bay:
Have a celebratory Selfie to commemorate the finishing of the Walk.
CARNIVAL OF FUN AT THE GARDENS
The fun does not end on the finishing line at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay.
The Jubilee Big Walk organisers have lined up a carnival, complete with games, performances and bouncing castles to entertain the young and young at heart.
Win attractive prizes by trying your hand at the games booth with Ring Toss, Beer Mug Sliding and Shoot the Clown.
Have a laugh as local artist Sebastian Tan reprises his popular role as Broadway Beng and Ian Ng as Mini Beng.
As a memento of the carnival, take Selfies with those in stunning inflatable costumes.
THREE WAYS TO WIN AT THE WALK
There will be lucky draws and contest for JBW participants - and one special category of lucky draw for TNP SuperKakis.
General big walkers
1. Walk Bib lucky draw
Those with lucky bib numbers will get to win A-One Dining vouchers, Samsung Gallery Tab 3 and Ollie (the latest phone-controlled toy).
2. Passport activity lucky draw
Four of the 20 pages of landmarks featured in the special JBW passport have perforated edges.
All Walkers need to do is drop the perforated portions into the boxes at the four respective landmarks at Asian Civilisations Museum, Padang, Esplanade and Helix Brdige.
Stand a chance to win Sony SmartWatch 2, Panasonic Camera - XS1G, Fitbit Charge Wireless Activity Tracker, Jabra Solemate Mini (bluetooth speakers), Sonigear Mini Dock (bluetooth speakers), a Cornell Oven Toaster and a Tefal fry pan 26cm.
3. Best Dressed Contest
The best five will each win a Sonigear Mini Dock
TNP Superkakis
After the Big Walk, there will be additional perks for TNP SuperKakis. They will get two things from our booth when they flash an e-mail which we will send out before the event:
1) Alive Bars.
Nutritional snack bars
2) A chance to Dip and Win.
SuperKakis will dip into our Dip and Win box and draw a slip. The number on the slip will represent the prize they will walk away with.
Prizes include Olympus E-PL7, Panasonic Camera - XS1G, Philips Garment Steamer, Ranger Wireless Keyboard and Samsung Bluetooth Headset.
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