PHOTO FEATURE | 54 IMAGES
The National Day Parade returns to the Padang on 9 Aug 2019 as Singapore celebrates 54 years of independence. The theme for this year, ‘Our Singapore’, calls on Singaporeans to come together and be pioneers of our future.
Highlights of this year’s parade include the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s latest acquisition, the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330-MRTT) participating in the National Day Parade aerial display for the first time, and the return of the Mobile Column with new assets such as the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle, Aster-30 Ground-Based Air Defence system, and the Wheeled Recovery Vehicle.
Following are 54 images captured by the MAphotoSG team of this joyous occasion. Majulah Singapura!
01. Crowd performing the Padang Wave
02. Pre-Parade flag waving exercise with the spectators
03. One of the many ushers helping the spectators find their seats
04. Cheerleaders singing along with the many national songs
05. Taking a picture for memory…or maybe social media
06. The Singapore Armed Forces Parachute Team, popularly known as The Red Lions, prepare to board their ride to show centre
07. The Red Lions formate and maintain a ring formation after jumping out of the Super Puma helicopter
08. The Red Lions break and perform a bomb burst at about 5,000 ft
09. A Red Lion flies past Swissôtel The Stamford as he lands at the Padang
10. The Red Lions salute the crowd after a successful freefall performance at the Padang
11. The Parade Regimental Sergeant Major, MWO Chong Wee Keong Shon, from 3rd Division Artillery
12. An RSAF AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter flying in formation with the State Flag Chinook
13. The State Flag Flypast during the singing of the National Anthem at the Parade
14. RSAF AH-64D Apache Longbow and Super Puma helicopters flying over the CBD
15. The crowd at Marina Bay Sands Skypark Observation Deck entertained by the bomb burst of five RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagles
16. (2nd Row L-R) Indonesia’s First Lady Iriana Widodo and President Joko Widodo, Brunei’s Queen Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Malaysia’s First Lady Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad were the invited foreign leaders at this year’s Parade
17. President Halimah Yacob inspecting the Guard of Honour
18. One of the 21 rounds fired during the presidential inspection of the Guard of Honour contingents
19. President Halimah Yacob waves to the crowd as she goes around the Padang on the ceremonial Land Rover
20. The Guard of Honour preparing to execute the Feu de joie (Fire of Joy)
21. The RSAF A330-MRTT makes its first appearance at a National Day Parade escorted by two F-15SG Strike Eagles
22. The crowd viewing the MRTT flypast from 1-Altitude
23. A330-MRTT formation flypast over the Marina Centre
24. RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagles performing the Shackle Manoeuvre
25. The F-15SG flight crew gives a thumbs up
26. An RSAF F-15SG Strike Eagle performs the vertical climb after a High-G turn
27. The Parade Commander, LTC Alvin Choo Weng Kwai, Commander of Operations Group, Naval Diving Unit, with the State Colours as Leopard 2SG tanks line up in the background
28. LTC Alvin Choo leads the entire Colours Party as the Parade march past commences
29. The Mobile Column led by LTC (NS) Chin Chee Whye and BG (RET) Colin Theseira in the lead Leopard 2SG tank
30. Making it’s first appearance in the Mobile Column are the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicles
31. The biggest asset in this year’s Mobile Column is the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Specialised Marine Craft
32. View of the Mobile Column along Stamford Road, besides City Hall MRT Station
33. Formation of both SAF and Home Team motorcycles in the Mobile Column
34. The Singapore Civil Defence Force Red Rhinos and Unmanned Firefighting Machine leading their Mobile Column packet with a water spray wall
35. A Leopard 2SG tank leads the Merdeka Generation packet, with Merdeka Generation servicemen onboard the vehicles, in the final segment of the Mobile Column
36. Merdeka Generation serviceman, LTC (RET) Chee Hoong Chee, waves to the crowd
37. The Show segment of the Parade kicks off at the blue hour
38. The Changi Airport Control Tower is depicted during the “Our Dream” performance
39. A spectator recording one of the performances during the Show segment
40. The “Our Nation” performance viewed from Swissôtel The Stamford
41. Fariz Jabba, Yung Raja, Bani Hadir, Beverly Morata, Mel Ferdinands and Robert Fernando performing in “Our Nation”
42. Participants from SOKA performing in “Our Nation”
43. A young spectator stands fascinated by the show
44. Syah Riszuan, Nurjannah Qurratul’ Farhaien, Caitlin Tan, Heema Izzati Zainudin and Jordin Tan performing in “Our Dream”
45. The huge 6m-tall steel lion takes centrestage as the Grand Finale kicks off
46. The iridescent steel lion symbolises the courage and strength of the nation
47. “Our Singapore” marks the Grand Finale of this year’s Parade
48. Spectators reciting the National Pledge during the close of the Parade
49. Ramli “Papa Rock” Sarip’s soulful rendition of the National Anthem brings the Parade celebrations to a close
50. Fireworks celebrating 54 years of Singapore’s independence
51. The Crowd at the Marina Bay Waterfront area enjoying the fireworks
52. A mobile phone records the finale fireworks as the crowd waves their mini flags
53. A family takes a wefie with fireworks all around
54. Finale fireworks around the Padang, Marina Bay and Singapore River areas