My Father's Kampung. Shawn Seah
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MY FATHER’S KAMPUNG
A HISTORY OF AUKANG AND PUNGGOL
Published by
World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
5 Toh Tuck Link, Singapore 596224
USA office: 27 Warren Street, Suite 401-402, Hackensack, NJ 07601
UK office: 57 Shelton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9HE
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Seah, Shawn.
Title: My father’s kampung : a history of Aukang and Punggol / Shawn Seah.
Description: Singapore : World Scientific Publishing Co Pte Ltd, [2020] |
Includes bibliographic references.
Identifiers: OCN 1183355676 | 978-981-122-690-8 (paperback) |
ISBN 978-981-122-668-7 (hardcover)
Subjects: LCSH: Hougang (Singapore)--History. | Punggol (Singapore)-- History. | Hougang (Singapore)--Social life and customs. | Punggol (Singapore)--Social life and customs.
Classification: DDC 959.57--dc23
British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
Copyright © 2021 by World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd.
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission from the publisher.
For photocopying of material in this volume, please pay a copying fee through the Copyright Clearance Center, Inc., 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, USA. In this case permission to photocopy is not required from the publisher.
Desk Editor: Sylvia Koh
Printed in Singapore
The views expressed here in this book are solely those of the author in his private capacity and do not in any way represent the views of the National Heritage Board and/or any government agencies.
Supported by
MY FATHER’S KAMPUNG
A HISTORY OF AUKANG AND PUNGGOL
SHAWN SEAH
Endorsement for My Father’s Kampung
Shawn’s book takes us on a wonderful journey that explores a part of Singapore that no longer exists on local maps. Through meticulous research in the archives and interviews, he has put together a book that tells the history of Aukang. But this is not simply a “History of...” book. This book weaves together a story of one man’s search for his family’s past, the stories he discovered, and the history of Aukang and Hougang, and its Catholic community. It presents the history of a place through the personal stories and memories of those who once lived there. His book ensures that local memories of a place and community live on.
Dr John Kwok, Research Fellow
The Montfort Alumni is proud to support this book by Shawn Seah which documents in great detail the history of Aukang, incorporating the long and distinguished history of Montfort School.
Montfort Alumni
Colourful, cultural, and creative: Shawn Seah’s book is an excellent read. It is not easy to make history accessible but this dynamic young man has managed to bring local history alive. We strongly support his efforts in the area of writing about local culture and heritage.
Jeremy Seah, Executive Committee Member, Singapore Seah Clan Association
I’ve always had a special place in my heart for Hougang’s history and the culture of the Teochew Catholics. Shawn Seah’s book is not to be missed, for all Aukang-nang, as well as those interested in the history of this unique enclave.
Bryan Goh, Hougang Resident
Shawn: this is a man who is deeply passionate about his heritage.
Victor Yue, Heritage Enthusiast
Reading this work is like unveiling a time capsule for the area we now know as Hougang. Skilfully drawing on historical developments and relevant personal anecdotes, Shawn breathes life and colour into the Aukang of yesteryear. His effort serves well to educate the next generation of Singaporeans that underpinning our modern metropolis is a rich history which should be remembered.
Joseph Tan, Former Educator and Republic of Singapore Air Force Pilot
Shawn Seah is a true inspiration in his efforts to promote and preserve local history and identity. He absolutely dazzles with his passion and talent.
Dr Kenneth Lay, Researcher
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in documenting Singapore’s yesteryears. This yearning for the past is unsurprising as Singaporeans find themselves grappling with issues of memory and identity. However, the past offers much more than just nostalgia. It gives us learning lessons and anchors us to an identity beyond our personal history.
In my Master’s thesis, I recognised the current state of urban renewal and the ever-evolving identity of communities. Using Aukang, one of Singapore’s most urbanised areas with an intriguing history, as the site of intervention, my project sought to create a paradigm that other neighbourhoods could take on. Aukang-Nang (Aukang People) identify themselves with a common language— and religion—Teochew and Catholicism, respectively. The beauty of Aukang is that it embraces people of all religions and ethnicities, and harmonises Western beliefs with Chinese culture, all within a trinitarian rhythm of parish, school, and neighbourhood. However, even with its displaced community and urbanscape, the “Aukang spirit” still lives on socially and culturally through rituals and story-telling.
I am so happy to see someone like Shawn Seah, with the same interest, being so proactive about it. I support his efforts to promote local history and heritage.
Sean Yeo Ze Wei, Teochew Singaporean
Foreword
By Robert Yeo Poet, playwright, and author of Routes 1940-75: A Singaporean Memoir
I lived in Valley Road, Singapore, for 26 years. From 1940 to September 1966, when I left for London for further studies, it was the only home I knew, the house of my father and his father. I walked to Serangoon English School on Simon Road and played on Valley Road, so called because the road inclined a little downhill, enough to present a problem to hawkers on bicycles. There was a famous bakery there owned by a Hainanese family. Head up Upper Serangoon Road and to the right was Lim Ah Pin Road, home to the community centre and Boys’ Club where I played table tennis.
I could go on writing about my kampung, but I will not