HELLO GUYS!

Wokie dokie, I'm finally back from the lunch 'date' I was telling you guys about.. Haha, it all started as I was surfing this Islamic website during the fasting month of Ramadhan and I came across this website aimed at youths for them to ask questions regarding their religion and practices..Its more like a website for them to ask the questions they are shy to ask other people in person and would like to get the answer to....

So hmm, in one of the sections, there was a contest whereby they post topics relating the current trends of the malay community and all I had to do to try win a special invite to lunch with the three malay celebrities was to post my thoughts and comments and if mine was interesting and insightful enough, I'd win it! Soo yup, I commented on the question regarding globalization and guess what, I WON! =)

I got to bring along with me a friend so after some time, I decided to ask my good friend in class Haziq along.. I think I made the right choice ehh?? someone i can relate to, someone I can talk to, someone I can get along with and most importantly, someone who enjoyed this whole session!

For today, after the arrival of the three guests, they talked about current trends and perceptions of the muslim malay community regarding some issues and how it can be pretty wrong to think so at times..

The first guest was Imran abdul rahman, a national silat player for singapore who won lots of gold medals for singapore during competitions like the ASEAN and SEA games... WOW! I remember being very amazed by this guy since I was 14 as i was flipping through the newspaper reading about his achievements...Others, especially malays, make name through sports like football and others, but isnt it a wonder how Imran Abdul Rahman chose to go alongside a more traditional route and take up silat instead?? Wow, simply admirable of him I think...

As for what he talked about, he was telling us about all his achievements as well as his life story and why he chose to take up silat instead of other more well known sports like soccer.. He also stated that as an athlete, he has encountered his own fair share of setbacks and obstacles to get to where he is now, a gold-winner for many events... Hmm, I remember him telling us sometimes he has to gain 20 kg in a period of 3 months and on the contrary, sometimes he has to LOSE 10 kg in three weeks as part of his jobscope... HAHA! i see eyes popping now, but THATS SERIOUSLY the case... cool ehh??? Besides, he revealed to have to train almost 3 times a day to keep his physique as he is an athlete.. From this, it shows that u need LOTS and LOTS of discipline to become an athlete like him.. I'd better start being disciplined and go on my routines and watch what I eat if i wanna be like him.. =) But his most remembered advice was that if you wanna succeed, you have got to have the hunger and passion for something or it will never become a success... REMEMBER THIS GUYS!

NExt up was singer songwriter imran ajmain... Well, to be frank, I wasnt that a fan of him or so as compared to the other two, but hmm after his speech today I must say I was pretty impressed.. He shared with us his experience as a singer songwriter and how his dad wasnt very approving of his job at first.. His dad used to be a music start and he said its not a good way to bring food to the table, BUT imran ajmain proved to his dad that it was a decent way and that being a singer songwriter is not as bad as it seems..

His speech was about being a singer songwriter and he told us of his love for newfound talents as he loved to scout for new talents and give them chances to be recognized and appreciated for what they do best. He also told us that as a singer songwriter, he believes that it is a good thing and that we should not keep to ourselves. For example, if one is a person good at writing poems and all, imran ajmain believes that this person should not keep and compile a whole book to himself as such poems can actually be used to make music and all, cause in his words, the poems we write may seem pretty boring and useless to us, BUT it may help someone change his life and act as a lesson for him..

He also shared with us regarding his method of dealing with anger and stress, which is through blogging. As a singer songwriter, of course imran ajmain has had rumours about him, and he says that whenever he gets mad or upset over anything at all, he turns to his blog as he is a pretty expressive person. He never stops to check and edit his words like some of us to as we blog, but rather he just continues typing throughout and will then slowly edit his blog post as he feels that through this process, we practice responsibility and at the same time express what our mind really feels..

Finally was deejay Fiza-O! For her turn, this deejay shared about her experiences on air and all.. First and foremost, she helped to clear the misconception that being a radio deejay is an easy job as it is NOT true that the job of radio deejays is to go on air and just talk and then go home or go out after the session ends.. The job of a radio deejay is WAY more taxing than that and she shared with us that after her on air session, she often has to work till late nights before she can go home every day as there is lots of things she has to do.

She also shared with us her joys and problems as a radio deejay. AS a radio deejay, although she seems like the happy go lucky girl she acts as on air, she says this is not usually her true self as when u become a radio deejay, when you go on air, you have to leave your problems behind and act as if everything is ok and just please your audience. Of course, this can be pretty tough, and Fiza O also mentioned how sometimes she gets affected by emails of complains from people saying they are being tortured or so, or even worst, people wanting to end their lives due to teeny weeny details such as breaking up with their other half and so... Thus as a deejay, she has to act as a counsellor and that can be pretty tough sometime she says, and that it has made her appreciate life a lot more, knowing that she is probably lucky not to be going through such emotional turmoils...

Of all the three, I think Fiza-O opened the most and she also stated that being in this line is not easy, especially with the constant spread of rumours regarding her, like she is a party girl, she flirts constantly with boys, smoke, is a bad example and others... SHe did tell us that she felt affected sometimes, but have nowadays learnt to control herself and just ignore such stuff as she knows this is what you get by being in such a line..

However, she also stated that her job as a radio deejay is very fulfilling, espeically by the many emails and SMSes she receives from people who tell her that she rocks, or that she made their day, or that she has helped them overcome certain obstacles.. =)

For me, I got to ask them a question and I asked them why they feel the malay muslim community is not open and accepting towards jobs such as radio deejays and singer songwriter and I was told that it is basically due to the mindset of the older generation who tend to look upon this line based on what they see on Hollywood tv, which is so not true...

AS such, I think I have learnt alot today... It was a very inspiring and educational session for me, and I am glad that I won the special invite for this section.. For me, radio deejaying is something I might get myself involved in, apart from being a teacher, and as such, it was nice listening to the celebrities as they give us a peek into their personal lives...

So to conclude, lemme just blog about what I feel regarding my community... I dunno why, but I feel that our community is gaining media spotlight and is topping the charts for all the wrong reasons, such as drugs and all... We are very judgemental on others and one thing I find quite striking is that we refuse to change our mindset regarding certain issues like the field of entertainment and science. Personally I feel sad that this is happening to us, however this does not mean that we succumb to it and give up, cause I feel that we can be just as good as the others.. Learn to be more open and accepting towards new things and mindsets such as technology and entertainment and MANY OTHERS, and I am pretty sure we will be able to evolve into a better community, something I feel we are DEFINITELY capable of only if we put in the effort.. =)

So to top things off, here are the 3 pictures I took today!

Here's me and deejay Fiza O.. soo much I learnt from her today.. =) OH! and she also said that she couldnt speak proper malay for a while as she mingled around more with the other racial communities and spoke english more,but later on took up malay courses to refine her malay and LOOK WHERE SHE IS NOW! a radio deejay of a malay station and she speaks malay fluently.. hehe perhaps one day I can be like her =)

A PICTURE OF ME AND IMRAN ABDUL RAHMAN! =) URGH! the reflection and my specs IS SO IRRITATING LA! i think i look weird.. do i?? haha... Anywasy, To me, he's definitely my role model, ever since young I had wanted to meet this guy as he just is pretty different from other people to me. Well, I'm glad I got my chance today! =) He's successful, won lotza gold medals for singapore, and I sure HOPE that i can be something like him in the future.. He's humble, friendly and has many other qualities I wish I'd have too both mentally and internally... Haha, in terms of physical wise, he's goodlooking and muscular! thats just an added bonus for me to be able to use him as a motivation for me to EXERCISE myself off to make sure I become muscular and perhaps goodlooking too one day HAHA, but never mind that, the main thing is that I really hope I'd have the qualities and charisma and determination like this guy suited to be a role model... Dont u guys think soo?? =P

AND THIS PICTURE is the final picture I took with all three celebrities.. Just FYI, the guy at the end (your right) is imran ajmain.. didnt actually take a picture with him as he was pretty hot stuff with others, but never mind, perhaps some other time... =) Oh, and haziq is next to imran ajmain... the guy I brought along for this...

DO HAZIQ AND I LOOK ALIKE?? haha it was weird for us, as some people looked at us and asked us if we were twin brothers or brothers at least as to them, we look alike... HAHA! not one, not two said this... every single person I talked to during that seminar asked me and him the EXACT same question... when we told them we were classmates, they were amazed... hehe, funny ehh?? so do we look alike?? they also said both of us could pass of as chinese... =)

Ok then, I guess thats it.. IM DONE WITH A LONG LONG ENTRY SO I HOPE I GUYS HAVE READ.. THANKS IF U HAVE READ ALL THE WAY UP HERE! u guys ROCK!

REPLY TO TAGS!

HAFIZUL

I look like gangster mehh?? HAHA ure the first to say that.. WHY???

MYRA

Yea short hair looks best on zulhafiz =) I agree with u!

MAGHFURAH

Aww thats soo sweet of u... HAHA! i miss u too lah, its been so uber long since we last met each other... but its ok, we do chat and I'm happy to still have someone I can tell stuff to! Thanks on the congrats for 200 posts too, lolx.. I'm working my way up to 300.. WHENS URS?? :P

INESSA

Zul smirking?? HAHA! true actually.. i cant smile lah.. perhaps u can teach me how to... I know how.. before taking my picture tell me a joke or give me some silly faces.. that'll help! and aww thanks for all the kind words... Glad to know u enjoyed reading my entries thus far!

WENFANG

my op was a blast and I hope urs was toO! WHEE! class outing??? I WANT ONE!!! haha

NINA

HELLO NINA! haha me?? superstar?? =P It was just a coincidence, but I had fun acting as poster boy for my beloved NYJC... WHEE! =) Enjoy ur holidays too aites?? Im sure u will!

KHAIRUL

OP rocked, i hope urs was fun too.. =) And CONGRATS ON MAKING IT FOR OGL! im goinna have an oh-so-fun time working with you for orientation 2008! remember us promising each other we're both goinna make it up before promos?? =P Well, both of us made it!

HIDAYAH

haha *tunjuk muka malu* it was totally coincidental!! but hmm, i hope i did a great job!! =P Miss ya guys loads.. soo when we wanna meet upp?? But im pretty busy with orientation.. haish =S and oohh MCR CONCERT! =P

NIA NYMUE

THANKS! =) I trust ure enjoying ur holidays right now.... AND OP rocked!! haha... how was urs??

ANGELA

AUNTIE! yes PW IS OVER AND WE CAN ENJOY!!! WHEE... Im so envious la, ure goinna japan whilst im stuck in singapore.. HAHA! And aww, yes im honoured to be ur one and only male 'dearie' =P THANK YOU! And yes i agree we owe ms lee alot.. LETS HOPE OUR PW GRADES ARE OK TOO! it will help us show her we did it all for her =)

NUR AMALIA

hello 9 year old cousin! yes.. ada, PM me for the pics!!

HAFIZ

HELLO THERE FRIEND! wow its been ages since i last saw u too... haha i realize i havent seen lotza my friends.. u take care too aiets, and enjoy ur new term!

QIYIN

ya lor, my point exactly! SGC.. HAHA! but i had fun working with u guys for the proposal really.. refer to my previous post as an evidence i enjoyed it! WHEE.. and ms lee rocks yea... ! =)

HUIFEN
YAY! I KNOW I and R was simply annoying.. GLAD U AGREE WITH ME! =) soo how're u so far?? havent heard from u in a long time, and it was great seeing u again two weeks back at sembawang =)

FAJ

HAHA! peter patrelli is goodlooking alright... =) BUT JESSICA/NIKKI SANDERS better! whee... peter is my favourite male character and jessica/nikki sanders is my favourite female character... Claire.. hmm, my guy friends ahh, all like her, but hmm, i prefer brunette claire to blond claire.. BRUNETTE CLAIRE ROCKS! =P

Seok Hoon

WHEE! im so happy for u.. CONGRATS YA?? and ya im pretty busy now.. haha im sure u too are busy despite u not being in SC.. its ok... SCAP SHALL ALWAYS ROCK PJC! =)