Mdm Tong Sui Hong, 76, was born in Paya Lebar before moving with her family to Serangoon. Life in the kampung was simple. People planted whatever they could — tapioca, vegetables — and kept chickens, though they were rarely eaten. “We only had chicken meat once a year,” she said. “Most of the time, we would trade the chickens for rice.”
She remembers the kampung fondly: the big trees, the smell of curry leaves and lime leaves, and the sound of children playing. As a girl, she loved drawing flowers and skipping rope with friends. School, however, was for the boys. “Girls didn’t go,” she explained. “I would stand outside the classroom just to watch and try to learn.”
In her twenties, she moved to Whampoa. In her later years, the community centre became a big part of her life — a place where she made friends and continued making crafts. Years later, her daughter encouraged her to join St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) so she wouldn’t be home alone.
At SLEC, Mdm Tong has made many friends and spends her days joining activities and chatting with them. She especially shines during arts and crafts sessions, where she not only creates her own pieces but also helps guide her friends, showing them how to cut, colour, and bring their ideas to life.
From kampung days to her time now at SLEC, Mdm Tong’s story is one of finding joy in small things — and carrying that spirit of creativity and kindness through every stage of life. “In life, I just try to respect everyone around me,” she says. “I hope everyone stays healthy, that we keep moving forward, that things go smoothly, and that there will be peace in our country. That will be more than enough for me.”
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