Original subtitles

I don’t see anything.

She’s here usually...

Are you scared?

No.

Can you check?

At the equator, there stands a school.

When the morning bells chime, students rise up together.

We are diligent in academic pursuits.

We are respectful daughters

and students of virtue.

We strive for excellence, duty and honour.

We devote our hearts, bodies and minds.

To become our nation’s future leaders.

Together, our beloved school will shine in glory.

Students!

Welcome back to Confucian Girls’ Secondary School!

I am happy to announce

that once again

we are ranked 1st in Singapore

with a Special Mention for

our school’s history and traditions.

This year is our school’s 100th anniversary!

We will finally start construction

on the new sports complex.

We will be the first school

to have an Olympic sized swimming pool.

Which will provide future generations

of CGSS girls with modern facilities.

If you fail the final exam

you can forget about going to

junior college or university.

You will be a road sweeper.

Good morning teacher!

You are the new one?

This is class 4/10.

You are in 4/8.

I know.

I was at 4/8.

They told me to come to 4/10 instead.

Something about system error.

Just tell me where you want me to go.

Shut your mouth!

Good morning.

Class stand.

Class greet.

Good morning, Mrs Wong.

Too short.

No strand of hair will touch

the collar next Monday.

Your bra.

It’s white!

Size?

Size S.

Ten dollars.

Thank you.

Next!

Sheila Ma, class 4/10.

What size?

S.

Name and class?

Krystal, 4/10.

What size?

Small.

Ten dollars.

No more S size. Only M and L left.

Good morning, Teacher.

Good morning, Teacher.

Good morning, Teacher.

Your skirt is too short.

The body is emptiness.

Emptiness is the body.

The body is emptiness.

Emptiness is the body.

Goddess of Mercy, please protect me.

Who threw my name into the election ballot?

I don’t want to be the class monitor.

You want to get to know me?

Fine.

There is a ghost in my room.

This ghost walks up and down

by my bedside

and wanders around my room.

I haven’t been able

to sleep for days.

I am frustrated

and very tired.

Please don’t provoke me.

You don’t believe me?

“Purity. Moral Uprightness. Diligence. Filial Piety.”

The teachers’ four favourite words.

I think being the class monitor

is a shameful thing

because you are just the teachers’ servant.

If anyone has the ambition

to be class monitor

may you make 4/10

become the most outstanding class.

If I was the class monitor

I would be Diligent

and Diligently sleep

and replace Good Citizen class

with Nap Time.

The results.

In first place:

Natalie.

Please congratulate your new class monitor.

You can go back to your seat.

Choo Xin Yu

where do you think you’re going?

Since Choo Xin Yu displayed such enthusiasm

and class pride

she will have a new position:

Good Citizen Representative.

Her first responsibility

is to be in charge of the class show.

The theme is:

SIN

SIN-GA

SIN-GA-PORE

OUR COUNTRY’S

ORIGINS.

“Singapore: Our Country’s Origins”

Do your best.

Class stand.

Class greet.

Filial Piety.

Thank you, Ms. Adeline Lim.

Thank you class.

You should have won.

It’s just a joke.

No, really. We all voted for you.

I would be the worst monitor.

By the way, I believe you.

I saw a ghost before too.

Really?

Where?

In Thailand.

For a swim competition.

Was it scary?

Yeah.

There were a lot of faces in my room...

paintings, pictures...

There was a statue.

No matter where I moved it

every morning it would be facing me.

Damn.

Then what did you do?

I don’t know.

I kept seeing shadows.

Even underwater, I thought I was going to drown.

I don’t even think I would go underwater.

In my room

I can’t even open my eyes.

Things will just start moving by themselves.

At the corner, the lights will start flickering.

And it’s almost like music

iIt’s like you can hear it, you know?

It goes loud and soft.

Loud, soft.

You’re not going for recess?

I will finish my chinese homework first.

Okay.

We’ll be at the construction site.

Miss Nap Time is here.

Nap time!

Miss Nap Time!

Catch!

Choo Xin Yu.

Such a feminine name.

Yeah, it doesn’t suit me.

I’m Sofia Tay.

T-A-Y, not T-E-H.

I can tell.

Do you have any siblings?

Younger sister.

I have an older sister. She’s overseas now.

The one who got into Marymount with the 10 As?

She’s in Stanford now.

Nessa, your dream school.

I want to smoke.

We’re gonna call you Choo.

Come.

Get her!

Nessa!

What?

They’re calling for you.

It’s the White God of Death.

I’ve seen it before.

They come in pairs.

Guys!

I found a hole.

I want to go inside.

Come!

Come!

Let’s go!

Sofia, are you scared?

I don’t want to die!

Guys, let’s go!

It’s the construction bell.

What do we do with this?

What if it’s some kind of historical treasure?

Just take it first. I’ll ask my dad later.

Come!

Let’s go!

You look like a dog.

Let’s bury the statue here.

So what does the Good Citizen Representative do?

Things that no one else wants to do.

Like the class dance... class show...

carnival booth.

Stupid carnival.

I freaking love the carnival!

It’s the only thing on my mind during the exams

Remember when we dunked the Principal?

I know!

We should do a kissing booth

and Vanessa Scarlett Ooi

I will pay you $100

to kiss Adeline Lim.

What do you think we should do for the carnival?

Is this an exam?

I kinda want to do a haunted house.

Actually I love haunted houses.

Yeah, me too.

Right?

Who wants to do all the

cookie baking and bubble tea stuff?

Who wants that?

Let’s go, they’re gone.

We’re doing a haunted house for the carnival.

Really?

What class is it now?

It’s Nap Time.

Hello everybody! Welcome to...

Confucian Girls School’s confusing talent show!

“So You Think You Can Confuse!”

Today we have two...

finalists with the most confusing talents!

And our contestant number one is Choo

whose confusing talent is kung fu!

Contestant number two

is Sofia Tay with a T-E-H!

Lipton Tea!

She is coming to us with some skateboarding!

Confusing talents for girls, am I right?

Contestant number one!

And camerawoman Vanessa!

Presenting...

Choo!

Be careful.

Show off!

Give it up for contestant number one Choo!

Thank you very much.

How will Sofia top that performance?

That’s exactly right.

Contestant number two!

Skateboarding!

Sofia!

Come back!

Ma, I’m not eating dinner tonight.

We need to prepare for the class show.

At that Sofia’s place?

No. We want to film the Merlion.

Go ask your father for permission.

Foong!

Bring me the coconut water!

Go.

Can’t he get it himself? It’s just a few steps.

Which one?

Oh that’s quite good...

The teeth...

Hello everyone!

So today as a good citizen

I’m here to say that the Merlion

reproduces asexually through binary fusion!

Binary fission!

Fission!

Binary fission!

Baby Merlions!

What are we going to do?

The show is next week.

I don’t know, I’m hungry.

Let’s go!

You have a driver?

You don’t?

Phoon!

Good afternoon Mr. Phoon!

He bought the alcoholic bubble tea.

-Time to get wasted! -Thank you!

Let me try it.

I don’t think there’s alcohol in this.

Why isn’t there alcohol?

Pearl milk tea doesn’t have alcohol.

But it tastes better with alcohol.

Is that so?

Is it ready?

How much?

There’s no alcohol, right?

I knew he was kidding.

Little Lady...

Your mum wants you to pick up

the dowry gifts for your brother’s wedding.

Again?

But our show...

Phoon, we need to rehearse our show.

Hello.

Hello.

A long time ago, there was a prince

who came from Indonesia.

He came to this island.

He saw a lion in the water.

And so...

Singa became Singa-pore!

The end!

Rubbish.

That’s British propaganda.

What exactly are they teaching you in school?

They don’t teach us shit!

They just punish us and make us do squats!

And wash the toilets!

Hey, you only had to do 20 squats.

Yeah! Ms. Adeline Lim will go...

“Vanessa, are you very tired?”

“Vanessa, can you help me carry my bag?”

Teacher’s pet.

Totally!

They call us

gangsters.

-Is that so? -Yes!

Gangster.

Gangster.

Four girls forming a gang...

interesting...

We aren’t a gang.

There’s nothing wrong with a gang.

Being in a gang is about these four words:

Loyalty. Righteousness. Brotherhood. Truth.

“Loyalty. Righteousness. Brotherhood. Truth...”

But girls can’t join a gang.

Says who?

Back in the day, in my village

the smartest and scariest person was a woman.

Everyone respected her.

Who was she?

Was she in a gang?

She was our union leader.

She defied the authorities to defend our rights.

No matter what, she stood with the brothers.

That’s gangster.

Then we are a gang too!

Gang

-sters!

From the Red Phoenix skies

to the Green Dragon mountains.

The wind carries our battle cry.

We will conquer!

We will be the kings of the underground.

We are the brothers of 153 Gang!

The most powerful in Singapore!

Light your cigarette, let’s go!

Do you dare to fight us?

We will kick your ass!

Straight into hell!

153 Gang!

Grab your swords. Have no fear.

Let’s fly.

I wrote something.

It’s like our parents nagging at us?

Kind of, but not really...

I was thinking of what Mr. Phoon said today

about Loyalty, Righteousness, Brotherhood, Truth.

I was thinking that I can be Righteousness.

And you can be Brotherhood.

Sofia can be Loyalty and Gina is Truth.

And we are all fish spirits!

We conjure magic for the fisherman.

Fish spirits! I’m a fish.

Loyalty! Righteousness! Brotherhood! Truth!

Fuck you Adeline!

We are the brothers of 153 gang!

The most ferocious in Singapore!

Light your cigarette, let’s go!

Do you dare to fight us?

We will kick your ass!

Straight into hell!

Let’s fly.

-Thank you Auntie Angelica! -You’re welcome.

This one has nuts. Be careful, Vanessa.

This is your favourite.

Thank you Mummy.

Why don’t you take the camcorder home?

You can use it to film the ghost as evidence.

You like filming with it right?

Thanks!

Ask your mum!

Okay, I have to go.

Where is Pa?

Dinner with his golfing buddies.

Did he say why the construction stopped?

They found some old things in a cave.

Now they have to wait for a government report.

I have to go.

Bye!

Bye, girls!

Sofia, tell Phoon to send your friends home.

It’s a cave!

I’m tired and hungry.

I am a fish spirit

and these are my brothers.

I am Righteousness.

I am Brotherhood.

I am Truth.

I am Loyalty.

We know that you are really hungry

and we want to bring you

to a place where there is abundance.

-There are lobsters on the island. -Lobsters?

Look! There’s an empty island.

I bet that it will become a prosperous nation.

Let’s head there!

No napping!

Time to study!

What is your plan for this island?

What are you going to build?

A swimming pool.

A kissing booth.

A haunted house.

No!

There shall be office buildings.

O!

Merlion!

Who is going to work here?

Now you are ready for your Divine Wife!

O!

Babies!

I hate this school.

The teachers are at the staff meeting. Let’s go!

It’s insane...

Apparently...

our school was used

as a dumping ground

for World War II

for all the dead bodies.

Boo!

Your dad never said anything about this?

No.

What’s that?

Guan Gong.

My dad has one in his office.

The God of Righteousness.

You know...

every time I go into the convenience store,

I take something.

Two of those heart-shaped peach gummies.

You don’t even eat gummies.

Sometimes I just throw it away.

Once, I actually put it back

into another convenience store.

Nessa.

Every night before a competition

I dream about drowning.

I tried to sniff glue once.

-With Christina? -Shut the fuck up.

I was eight years old.

I took my math work sheet.

I rolled it up into a telescope.

Then I remember my math teacher walking into the door.

She said

“If you do that one more time

I’m going to slap you in front of the whole class.”

It sucks.

Cannot sleep.

Cannot eat.

Cannot freaking pee.

Can’t do anything.

Can’t even study what we like.

Yeah, I smiled at Mrs Wong and she scolded me.

That’s why...

Blow all their heads off.

Get one of those knives

cut their heads off.

153 gang!

Kill them all!

153 gang! Kill!

Die!

I don’t see anything.

She’s usually here.

Sofia says you were classmates with her for six years?

Yeah.

It would have been ten

but I was in New York for four years for training.

Do you know which junior college you want to go to?

No.

Do you?

I kinda want to quit swimming.

I want to join football.

Utama and AIS have strong football teams.

Can you check?

Sorry my room is kinda hot

and a bit small.

It’s okay.

I like it.

You know, sometimes the ghost will come...

Usually the ghost comes...

by here to my computer.

And then it will start fiddling with it, moving the mouse.

And then it will just come.

Sometimes the net will move.

It starts to play with the light.

And then the light...

It will come here and it would flicker...

Then it will get to...

exactly where you are sitting, actually.

Is your friend staying for dinner?

Don’t do your homework in the dark.

Your eyes will spoil.

Yes.

Don’t...

I’m awake.

No, you aren’t.

Xin Yu!

Xin Yu!

Xin Yu!

What are you filming?

Stop filming me, I’m covered in sweat.

Get out!

Don’t worry, I’ll finish up.

You should have seen Adeline

she was so pissed off.

Gina was swearing at her

and she was standing right behind us.

It was crazy.

Where were you?

Swim stuff.

Sorry guys, we’ll finish up soon.

My grandma told me a story about the Founder.

Some scandal that was covered up by the government.

Something to do with the war.

I used to swim with his grandson at the club.

He would pay me ten dollars to let him win.

You didn’t...

Of course not.

And I still won.

What a dick!

You know what I think?

I think this guy is a gangster.

He just donated money and

got rebranded as a philanthropist.

The Cheang family made their money through opium.

What?

What the hell... then why do we study all these guys?

All the rubber plantation, war hero shit.

Traitor.

You know what? I want it too.

Sell drugs.

Get money. Become rich.

And then I can have a fucking street named after me.

“A father’s love as great as the mountains.”

My ass.

Fuck.

Stop it!

Score!

His ghost is going to haunt you!

Mr. Phoon.

Now we want to be a proper gang.

Can you help us?

Phoon, teach us!

Or I’ll tell Dad that you came

to the car wash.

Phoon...

Sofia, tell him we saw his dragon tattoo.

We’ve seen your dragon tattoo.

So what?

Ha!

-We knew you were in a gang! -Gangster!

We tricked you!

Were you part of the 153 gang?

I wasn’t part of 153.

I’m not that pathetic.

153... cowards...

Then which gang did you belong to?

Same hand, same foot.

Not bad.

Not bad of a walk.

But you look like a hungry wolf.

You remind me of my friend, Peter.

Gina, you’re next.

Peter! Give me this!

I won’t give it to you.

What you gonna do?

Keep your chest up, got it?

Your stare must be piercing!

Good walk.

Just don’t laugh so loud.

Like this.

Your turn, Little Lady.

Go together!

Little Lady!

Let’s go, Little Lady!

Let’s go!

You look like a dog, Sofia Tay!

Why do you say she looks like a dog?

Once, she said I look like a dog.

The two of them look more like

the White Ghosts of Impermanance.

Before they became the

Black and White Ghosts of Impermanance,

the pair were best friends in life.

The story goes...

The tall one wears white

while the short one wears black.

One day, the short one drowns in a river.

Heartbroken, the tall one

hangs himself off the bridge.

I guess that’s why

his tongue is so long.

Listen up.

In your life,

you will face challenges.

But the way Uncle sees it

these are small matters.

-Small matters. -What is most important

is your friendship with each other.

Understand?

Yes.

Repeat after me.

Cherish.

Cherish.

Louder!

Cherish!

Treasure your blessings!

Blessings!

You’re missing a word.

Treasure your blessings!

Treasure our blessings!

So after the initiation

you let go of your past.

Your blood in hers

and hers in yours.

Understand?

All of you form one.

Got it?

Pray!

We pray to a sponge!

Take it seriously!

Pray!

Again!

Backwards!

Now I have the red pill

and the blue pill.

The red pill will turn you into the head prefect.

The blue pill will turn you into a gangster.

I can’t find the camcorder.

Sofia’s going to be so mad at me.

Sofia doesn’t care.

It’s her brother’s.

It’s not here.

Did you delete those videos?

Which ones?

The one in your room.

If my coach sees those videos, I’m dead.

I mean, technically, we didn’t do anything.

We were just there.

Who cares?

Jo saw Adeline in our classroom

during Physical Education.

We’ll just say that it’s our

brotherhood, sisterhood or something.

I’m not stupid!

They cannot do anything to us.

We’ll tell them

that it’s a prank then...

It’s just a bunch of random videos.

And you can tell your swim coach

that--

Fuck you, Adeline!

Loyalty! Righteousness! Brotherhood! Truth!

Fuck you, Adeline Lim!

153 gang!

The most ferocious in Singapore!

Light your cigarette, let’s go!

If you’re not happy

let’s find a time and we’ll fight!

Fuck you, Adeline!

We don’t want to involve the police either

but the Ministry’s rules--

Why would we want

these bright, young girls

to have a police record

over some, what, mischief?

I’m a board member.

Let me handle it.

Sofia.

Are you part of a gang?

No.

Then where did you learn that song?

All of you.

Mrs Tay

this is clear evidence that they are participating

in illegal gang activities.

Vanessa.

We learned it online

so sometimes we just sing it.

We are not participating in illegal gang activities.

Online.

Some girls having fun.

Why must we overreact?

I told you to stop hanging out with her.

Why don’t you listen to me?

So how was it?

I’ve got counselling for two weeks.

So you didn’t get expelled.

I don’t think so.

Maybe me.

We’ll see.

Adeline didn’t show it.

That’s so unlike her.

Don’t you have any shame?

Do you know how embarrassed I was?

Of all things, you learn to be a gangster?

And now you are suspended for a week!

Apologise. Now!

You disappoint me.

Ma!

That’s enough.

Face the wall

and reflect on your mistakes.

Choo!

Gangster.

What class are you in?

I’m staying in 4/10.

I’m in 4/7.

With Vanessa.

Oh, and Sofia said there’s a new school rule.

Very easy to break...

No Hugging.

Fucking stupid!

-Who made that school rule? -Precisely!

Fucking dumb.

Like who hugs? Do your parents hug you?

No! Fuck no!

Yeah, exactly. No!

They only gave one spoon.

It’s okay, my saliva is clean.

I’m starving...

I feel like Auntie Angelica doesn’t like me.

I don’t know why.

It’s just a feeling.

Maybe it’s the way she looked at me

in the Principal’s office.

What?

What do you know?

Say it.

Say.

Okay, but you cannot get angry.

Promise?

I’ll try.

Adeline called our parents last week.

She told them to make sure

that we don’t hang out with you.

Why?

I don’t know.

She said you were like...

“ungovernable”.

“Ungovernable”?

“Ungovernable”.

Who does she think she is?

The Prime Minister of Singapore or something?

The worst thing is

in that room,

I bowed to her.

“Please, Ms. Lim.

Please don’t expel us. Please.”

Choo Xin Yu swallowing her pride

I would have paid to see that.

I can’t even get angry with her

because...

at least we are still in the same school.

You know what we should do?

We should work fucking hard

and do really well.

Then adults cannot touch us ever again.

We can choose the same school.

It doesn’t mean we will get in

but we can try.

Let’s all choose Marymount Junior College.

There’s no chance for me.

You’d need straight As for that.

Straight As are not enough.

You have to be a student leader

or gold medallist or something.

I don’t really like the culture there.

It’s so competitive.

What about Elizabeth Junior College?

Nessa, your coach wants you to go there right?

It’s too far.

Utama Junior College?

We can all get in with our grades.

The uniform is fucking ugly.

I like Utama.

Who cares about the uniform?

Let’s all choose Marymount.

I think we can all get in.

I’ll help. My tutor’s notes are really good.

We just have to study together.

Come on, Sof.

Let’s go to Utama instead.

Sof?

It’s the only way we can all go

to the same school.

Please...

Okay.

Yes!

If anyone

breaks this blood oath.

She will die in a month

from drowning.

And her bones will turn to dust.

So intense.

If you betray this gang

you will be eaten by a tiger.

And your eyes dug out

by a poisonous snake.

So...

are you going to spill this secret rite

to your other friends?

I have no other friends.

If any member of this gang

finds herself in difficulty

all will rush to her aid.

If I, Choo Xin Yu,

break this oath

the swords will descend and kill me.

-If I, Sofia Tay, break this oath -If I, Gina Wong, break this oath

the swords will descend and kill me.

Nessa, you have to say the right things.

The exam will be about the Merlion.

My tutor told me.

Stop correcting me Sof.

Start with a personal anecdote

then link it back to what we learned

in Good Citizen class

and end off with something in current affairs.

You know what to say.

Singapore’s a small country

no natural resources

sleepy fishing village

GDP, that kind of shit.

Singapore’s economy is expected

to grow by seven percent...

My english is pretty good, okay.

I’m just trying to help you to get an A.

But I don’t want to sound like a robot.

The Merlion is made up!

You agreed.

When did I agree?

In the car with Mr. Phoon.

You said that in Tanzania

they told you that lions never existed in Singapore.

Yeah you did.

Okay, I said that.

But it’s fake.

Singapore means “Lion’s City”.

Even that’s a lie.

Just say what you feel.

Anyway no one cares.

It’s just a story.

Stop it!

I think it’s bullshit

to subscribe to the whole

“I have to give them what they want” thing.

Because the point of this is to give them

a thoughtful and considered answer.

Yeah, but that’s not going to help you get an A.

I don’t care about the goddamn A.

Okay, I care about the A.

Fuck it!

Sofia, I’m not going to help you

keep your secret anymore.

Are you going to tell them?

I didn’t do anything.

I don’t care.

My mother arranged it.

Yeah, of course you don’t care.

You don’t have to care about anything, Sofia.

Do you know how many people

would die to go to Marymount?

I know that no matter how hard I try

I’m not going to get in.

So shut your trap!

You got into Marymount?

You actually got a space

in that junior college?

Yeah.

But I still think we can all go

if we study hard together.

Fuck you Sofia Tay.

You just don’t want to be there alone!

Fuck you Vanessa Ooi!

If you and Choo are not motivated

Excuse me!

I’m not going to be dragged down!

At least we get to fucking choose how we live our lives.

What about our oath?

Come on, that was just a fantasy!

Nessa!

Get out of my room!

My tutor gave me the exam answers.

It’s all in here.

I shared it with Nessa and Gina already.

You can keep the camcorder.

It’s yours.

Girl!

Girl!

What are you looking for?

Koon, leave her alone.

Come here!

We are Phoon’s friends.

Come here.

Come, sit.

I’m paying respects to Phoon.

You know him?

You knew Phoon?

He is my mother’s grandfather’s brother’s grandson.

What a long lineage!

Strange!

He said his whole family is dead.

He said he has no relatives.

We are his brothers!

You’re from CGSS?

Yeah.

Do you know my daughter, Sofia?

Yeah.

We are classmates.

4/10?

Come, join us.

Sit down.

You didn’t tell Sofia?

Why?

I didn’t tell Sofia about Phoon.

I told Sofia that Phoon went to Taiwan

because I want Sofia to concentrate on her exams.

You know why?

Phoon worked for him.

As a driver.

Phoon was very close to his daughter.

He drove his daughter to work everyday.

Am I right?

-You know, right? -Yeah.

He drove her to school! Not work!

School, work... it’s the same thing.

We were all from the same village.

We grew up together.

In fact, I used to work for Phoon’s father.

Selling fish in the market.

Last time, he worked for his father.

Now the son worked for him.

And now he’s gone.

Phoon was very playful.

Very playful, very mischievous.

He liked to steal other people’s fruits.

He stole rambutans, durians...

He didn’t get scolded. We got scolded instead.

You’re laughing at me!

Girl!

We were all busy

during Phoon’s last days.

But this Uncle was with him everyday.

If you need anything

you let him know.

Time flies.

Once you’re gone, you’re gone.

We were young, we were playing...

Pop.

No more. Dead.

That’s life.

Remember how he called us?

And how he called you?

This condolence money is for you.

How thoughtful.

-Thank you. -Keep it properly.

Phoon always joked that

we were like

the Black and White Ghosts of Impermanence.

What sort of comparison is that?

Calling us the Gods of Death!

How can we be compared to the Gods?

So the two best friends...

Are you the black one or the white one?

Of course the white one! Look at his tongue!

Look at this face!

Do you want something to drink?

Get her something to drink.

Have you eaten?

Where do you live?

Bishan.

We are his old friends.

If you want more stories, just ask us.

Can you tell me your name and your class please?

Good afternoon, examiner.

My name is Vanessa Ooi. I’m from class 4/7.

Eugenia Wong Jia Hui, 4/7.

I’m Sofia Tay, I’m from 4/10.

My name is Choo Xin Yu. I’m from 4/10.

Can you describe to me

what you see in this picture?

Also, can you tell me

the significance of the symbol?

This picture depicts the Singapore skyline

and there is a Merlion

which is a famous symbol in Singapore.

It is actually a myth.

I think that myths are a way for a country

to have a cultural identity.

A fun fact is that I used to think that lions

roamed this country before we were born

before I found out it’s actually not true.

In this picture, there is a Merlion.

I think that the Merlion

and myths are good for a country

to build a sense of identity.

A fun fact is that I used to think that lions

roamed Singapore before we were born.

But then I discovered that’s not true.

I think that the Merlion is a good symbol.

I agree with the symbol of the Merlion for Singapore.

I see the Central Business District area of Singapore.

I see the Merlion in the centre of the photograph.

I see a man jogging

and an old woman walking.

I see water coming out of the Merlion’s mouth.

I believe that it looks, in real life

just as majestic

because I once found

a Merlion’s fossil.

Really?

No...

that was a joke.

I always wonder about

the anatomy of the Merlion

and why they chose

the lion’s head and the fish’s body

versus the fish’s head and the lion’s body.

You know sometimes I wonder

what it’s like to be the Merlion.

What it’s like standing there.

Being made to stand there.

Watching the world spin stories about you.

I wonder if it’s like being inside an aquarium.

Looking out.

Forever just looking out.

Wondering to yourself

when life’s going to start.

Is it after secondary school?

Is it when you finally realise what’s real?

I feel like that too.

I find myself questioning what is real.

But how do we know what’s real

when we can’t even say where we come from?

When every day, some part of our history

gets erased time and time again.

When all we’re meant to do in an exam

is to tell you how the Merlion represents

prosperity, change and a national identity.

When we don’t believe a single word of it.

How do we get out of this aquarium?

Alright.

Thank you very much.