Singtel marches down National Day Parade memory lane in SG60 film

Singtel is marking Singapore’s 60th year of independence with a film titled "Majulah Singapura", named after the national anthem and a rallying cry for citizens to move forward together.

The film illustrates how much the iconic National Day Parade has changed over six short decades and in doing so, highlights how far Singapore and its people have come. It also showcased how communications technology has been instrumental in driving that progress.

Featuring Singtel group CEO Yuen Kuan Moon, the film brings viewers back in time through archival black and white footage of the parade, including scenes of first President Yusof Ishak and founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, as well as Singaporeans lining the streets to witness history in the making. The film then transitions to the present-day Parade, underscoring the difference in how attendees now mark the event: by recording and livestreaming the celebrations through their mobile devices, enabling them to share the moment with friends, family and others around the world.

Don't miss: Is your SG60 brand film a one-hit wonder?

This shift is part of a larger narrative capturing the country’s technological advancements, from analogue systems to today’s digital technologies, from copper to fibre and 3G to 5G mobile networks. 

It also shows how this same 5G+ network is being tapped to transform the country’s ports and hospitals to sectors such as advanced manufacturing, positioning Singapore as a leading digital nation and a sandbox for global innovation.

In addition to the film, Singtel will gift all National Day Parade attendees a free 60-day trial of its top-tier 5G+ SIM-Only Priority Plus plan. This plan includes access to network slicing which Singtel claims as the world’s first country-wide deployment for consumers.

“This film celebrates Singapore’s remarkable progress — how a little red dot with limited land and resources has established itself as a global city-state with an innovation DNA. We are honoured to be part of the Singapore story, working in lockstep with the government and the private sector to develop the communications technology and digitalisation that have been critical in driving Singapore’s economic development," said Yuen.

"Looking ahead, we remain committed to building world-class connectivity, digital infrastructure and digital services that will fuel growth and collaboration not just for Singapore, but across the region," Yuen added.

In addition, Lian Pek, Singtel's vice president of group strategic communications and brand said “Our National Day Parade celebration is one of the most anticipated events in the national calendar and virtually a symbol of how much we’ve changed. Just as Singapore has evolved through the years, so too has the Parade and the way we participate in it, making it a powerful way to tell the story of how our lives have been profoundly transformed by technology."

"Innovations such as 5G+ and AI will provide the ink for our next chapter, and we at Singtel are honoured to be empowering both consumers and enterprises to harness them to thrive in the years to come," she added.

"Majulah Singapura" will air on YouTube, Singtel TV and Singtel’s social channels.

For National Day last year, Singtel showed support to Team Singapore athletes who were making their way to the Olympic games in Paris.

Titled “Shining bright from Singapore to Paris”, the 90 second film celebrated the Olympics journey of some of the country’s most promising sports profiles: shuttler Loh Kean Yew, kitefoiler Maximilian Maeder and fencer Kiria Tikanah Abdul Rahman.

In the film, the three athletes were seen preparing for the Paris Olympics, training against iconic Singapore locations such as Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and Henderson Waves at Telok Blangah Hill Park. As they get physically and mentally primed for the Olympics, the film spells out three ingredients they regard as critical for success – speed, resilience, and tenacity.

Meanwhile, its 2023 film "From mudflats to smart nation" remains as one of its notable National Day films in recent years. The film honoured Singapore's 58th birthday and commemorated founding minister Lee Kuan Yew's 100th birth anniversary at the time. Referencing Lee's famous quote from Singapore's first year of independence in 1965 - "From mudflats into a metropolis" - the 23-minute documentary film charted the nation's rise from fledgling nation to a global economic hub through a telecoms and technology lens. 

Similarly to "Majulah Singapore", "From mudflats to smart nation" also utilised rarely seen footage and photos of Singapore.

Related articles:   
SG60 National Day Parade picks creative agency  
Archie Comics goes local with exclusive SG60 cover by Singapore artist 
foodpanda crowns local foodie favourites in SG60 hall of fame