Celebrate SG60 by doing these free colouring templates from Ink Fusion!
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The first template is of Lee Kuan Yew! Lee’s story is like the plot of an epic adventure – a young man from a tiny island with big dreams and an even bigger determination to make his country thrive. Born in 1923, in Singapore, Lee was a brilliant student, studying in both Singapore and the UK. After completing his law degree, he could’ve easily led a comfortable life as a lawyer, but instead, he saw something bigger for his homeland. At the time, Singapore was struggling with poverty, political unrest, and colonial control. Lee, with his sharp mind and fearless attitude, wasn’t about to sit back and watch.
In 1959, Lee became the first Prime Minister of Singapore, and from there, things took a wild turn. His “no-nonsense” approach and vision for the country were revolutionary, and his leadership was rooted in a sense of purpose. He worked tirelessly to transform Singapore from a small, swampy, underdeveloped port into a society that could stand tall on the global stage, one of the world’s most thriving financial hubs.
What made Lee’s story so captivating was his ability to inspire an entire nation. He didn’t just build infrastructure; he built a community of hardworking, forward-thinking citizens who believed in the future he envisioned. Through his unwavering commitment to growth, Lee helped turn Singapore into a model of urban excellence, innovation, and sustainability, known for its beautiful skyline, impressive economy, and incredibly high standard of living.
Today, Lee Kuan Yew’s legacy still looms large after his passing on 23 March 2015, remembered as the father of modern Singapore and living on in every corner of the country. His dream of a world-class city-state continues to shine as a testament to his incredible leadership and vision. Singapore stands as a tribute to the power of determination, progress, and the unwavering belief that with the right leadership, anything is possible. His story isn’t just about the country he built, but also about the man who believed in turning dreams into reality—even if it meant shaking things up along the way. A true legend in every sense!
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The next template is of someone whom children will meet in their social studies textbooks, the person credited with giving Singapore its name. Do you know who it is?
It’s Sang Nila Utama! It’s said that the Sumatran prince had gone hunting with his men, and chased a stag up a hill. When they got to the top, alas, the stag was nowhere to be found. But out in the water was an island. Sang Nila Utama decided to set sail for that island, called Temasek.
The weather at sea was rough; the ship was caught in a great storm. The men tried throwing overboard anything they could, to prevent the ship from sinking. However, the storm only calmed when the prince took his crown off his head and tossed it into the sea.
As soon as they set foot on the island, they were met with the sight of a majestic animal. It was a lion, his advisors told him. This was deemed an auspicious sighting! Sang Nila Utama renamed the island Singapura, after the animal, staying and founding a settlement here.
Though who exactly this historical figure was, and whether he existed at all is contested, his exciting tale lives on; And the story is told to generations of Singaporeans as the story of the founding of Singapore, the Lion City.
Others
This is the record-breaking Singaporean sprinter Shanti Pereira!
The gold medal was hers at both the Women’s 100m and 200m sprints at the 2023 SEA Games. She broke the national record for both events, and the SEA Games record for the latter. At the Asian Games in the same year, she became the first Singaporean athlete to win a gold in the meet.
The journey was not an easy one, with a high need for discipline to stick to a strict diet and training schedule. Injuries contributed to an underperformance in 2018, and she lost two scholarships. And with the long wait for another win following her first gold in 2015, self doubt crept in. But Pereira says that at her lowest, the people around her — including her parents, coach, and boyfriend — have always been there to help her through.
This is Suhaila, one of Singapore’s top pencak silat athletes!
She started pencak silat from a young age, inspired by her siblings. Her achievements include medals won at not only the Asian Pencak Silat Championship but the World Pencak Silat Championship too. And after a long journey, with three bronze medals at the SEA Games, she finally brought home a gold medal at the 31st SEA Games.
While COVID put a damper on the sports scene, “the pandemic gave me a lot to think about,” said Suhaila. “The break gave me a lot of growth, and the peace that I needed to be a different person this time. It felt like I just got released out of the cage.”
Not only is Suhaila an outstanding athelete, she is also a successful influencer and model!
This is Mr Lee Hsien Loong, who has served as the 3rd Prime Minister of Singapore since 2004.
Fun Fact: Did you know Mr Lee Hsien Loong has survived cancer twice! He was diagnosed with lymphoma in 1992 before entering remission, and underwent surgery in 2015.
Tenacity means never giving up, even in the face of struggles! And in education, tenacity can be invaluable for anyone’s journey in learning. 📚
This is Cynthia Chua, one of Singapore’s most well-known lifestyle entrepreneurs!
Cynthia Chua is known for her ambitious nature, being the prolific CEO and founder of Spa Esprit Group.
Her spa, Spa Esprit, took off with great success. After that, she courageously took a further gamble with businesses like the waxing salon STRIP, brow-grooming salon Browhaus, and luxury intimate care brand TWO L(I)PS.
But Chua didn’t just stop there. Today, her ventures stretch across both the beauty and F&B realms. Featured in this illustration and well-loved for its signature croissants, Tiong Bahru Bakery is just one of them.
Cynthia Chua’s innovative and tenacious spirit is without doubt to be admired!
This is is Chew Shou Zi, CEO of TikTok.
He joined TikTok in 2021 at its CFO, and later took up the role of CEO. When TikTok came under the fire of US lawmakers over worries of safety and TikTok’s connections to China, Chew had to defend TikTok before the US Congress.
Even when interrupted during the hearing, Chew was patient. And as the Vogue put it, “as his composure, congeniality and eloquence during the congressional hearing drew praise online, Chew’s 19,000 followers on TikTok grew to nearly four million”.
Chew kickstarted his career as an intern at Facebook, which was then a start-up, while studying at Harvard Business School. He spent a few years at investment firms before becoming CFO of smartphone giant Xiaomi. There, he successfully oversaw Xiaomi’s IPO in 2018.
This is the first Singaporean comic artist to break into the international comics market — Mr Wee Tian Beng.
To date, he has created more than 230 volumes of comic works, and is the only local comic artist to have sold over 6 million physical copies. His comics have even been translated into 11 different languages!
Mr Wee’s comic series include “The Adventures of Wisely”, “The Return of Condor Heroes”, “The Celestial Zone”, and “ Neo Era”. He received the Asian Comic Prestigious Award at the International Comic Artists Conference held in Seoul, South Korea. In addition, he has received the Award of Creative Excellence ~ Outstanding Contribution to the Singapore Comic Industry from ACAS.
This is an artist who has rewritten the history of Singapore comics!
This is Wendy Ong, who from humble beginnings now manages world-famous pop stars at TaP Music.
Ong knew from a young age that taking a more traditional route was not for her. Her heart was set on music, her passion for the entertainment industry.
She grew up in Singapore, in a small one-bedroom HDB apartment with her parents, brother, and two sisters. But Ong wasn’t one to simply stay put; she was going to take on the world.
After a business trip to Hong Kong, she decided to move there. Later, she moved to New York City, doing international marketing. A go-getter, she took the culture shock and setbacks in stride. She’s learned much, and moving abroad has proven to be an enriching experience for her.
Now she manages major artists as global co-president of TaP Music.
Wendy Ong’s break into the music industry was impressive, certainly something to be proud of! And she’s doing what makes her happy — helping others.
This is Lim Bo Seng, one of Singapore’s esteemed war heroes.
Lim Bo Seng was a successful businessman, having taken over his father’s businesses. However, when war broke out, he stepped up to support the war efforts, such as raising relief funds for China. Another of his many contributions was to assist in gathering over 10,000 men to support the British in defending Singapore. This team of men helped to blow up the Causeway to hinder the advancement of the Japanese into Singapore, aided in other defences and services.
Though heartbreaking, Lim eventually made the decision to leave his family’s side, lest he put his wife and seven children in danger.
He made his way to India and joined Force 136, formed by the British and Chinese governments with the aim to recapture Malaya. However, his whereabouts were later divulged to the Japanese, and he was captured.
He was tortured for information, but did not give in. He passed away around three months after his capture.
After the war, Lim’s remains were reburied in Singapore. He was posthumously awarded the rank of major-general by the Chinese Nationalist government.
Today, Lim Bo Seng is commemorated as a war hero with the Lim Bo Seng Memorial in Esplanade Park.
This is the late Sim Wong Hoo, founder of Creative Technology.
He started the business in 1981 together with his childhood friend and polytechnic schoolmate Ng Kai Wa. Mr Sim was indeed creative, and in 1984, his efforts gave rise to the first PC to be designed and manufactured in Singapore.
What sprung Creative Technology into its well-deserved fame was the development of the Sound Blaster. This new sound card was a game changer, giving PCs the ability to produce quality sound.
The company is now a worldwide leader in digital entertainment products, in no small part due to Mr Sim’s passionate and determined spirit. 🔥
This is Jack Neo — actor, emcee and filmmaker. His films are known for their mass appeal and distinctly Singaporean settings.
Neo is one of Singapore’s most well-known filmmakers, and has worked on numerous television programmes and movies. He received the Public Service Medal Award in 2004 and the Arts Cultural Medallion Award in 2005, amongst many more. His films Ah Boys to Men and Money No Enough have been wildly successful, placing them among the top grossing films in Singapore!
He discovered his interest in entertainment early on, and started performing comedy sketches in school. Later, this interest led him to take up hosting and acting jobs during his free time, and to continue to learn more about acting and scriptwriting. Through years of experience, Neo observed what humour appealed to the local audience, and his dedication to filmmaking paved the way to his success today.
This is Tan Tock Seng, the 19th century philanthropist known for his contributions to the Chinese community, especially to the poor in SingaporeThe act that he is most known for is his contribution to what is now Tan Tock Seng hospital. In fact, this is remembered as one of the most significant acts of philanthropy from early Singapore.
Back then, medical treatment was limited in Singapore. Concerned about this situation, Tan made a generous donation in 1844 to fund the construction of the Chinese Pauper Hospital (now Tan Tock Seng Hospital). This hospital was the first in Singapore to be built entirely without government funding, a hospital by the community for the community.
Additionally, Tan founded Singapore’s oldest temple, the Thian Hock Keng Temple. He was also known to fund the burial of destitute Chinese. Further, he was the first Asian to be appointed Justice of the Peace, and earned the title of “Captain of the Chinese” with the role he played in settling conflicts for the early Chinese immigrants.
This is Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who recently became Singapore’s 9th president on the 14th of September 2023.
Fun Fact: Did you know that Mr Tharman has three adopted family cats 🐈, adorably named Socks, Judy and Awan?
Mr Tharman has also learnt chinese calligraphy from Prof. Tan Siah Kwee, president of the Chinese Calligraphy Society of Singapore, who has revealed some of Mr Tharman’s meaningful calligraphy, including his writing of the phrase “天生我材必有用” (All things in their being are good for something).
This tale goes back to the 1920s, when Leung first came to Singapore. In a chance meeting, a German physician gave him the formula for a medicated oil. The recipe was said to aid a great variety of ailments.
Leung Yun Chee started his business, naming the oil after a tool that every household had at the time: an axe. More established brands from China and Hong Kong meant stiff competition, but Leung was a marketing marvel. He hired a team of illustrators and graphic designers to equip his brand with an iconic logo.
The fliers he gave out had stories from the The Twenty-four Filial Exemplars printed on the reverse side; these stories appealed to the local population, and made them less likely to be thrown away, but shared with friends.
He advertised in the local papers, a bold move at the time. In a bid to further raise awareness of his company, he started his own newspaper, and gave away calendars and gifts. This also allowed him to place prominent advertisments in his own paper without incurring large costs.
The Singapore market was small, so he ventured into Malaysia. On these business trips he dressed smartly in a Western suit. He bought a Ford car, and hired a chauffeur. This gave him the air of a successful businessman, whom the shopkeepers were eager to talk to.
His business flourished, especially as Muslim pilgrims started using Axe Brand oil on the long annual haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
Axe Oil’s popularity continued to grow and it is today recognised internationally.
This is Tan Kah Kee, the businessman and philanthropist who made great contributions for education in both Singapore and China.
Tan was a firm believer in the importance of education, and contributed to setting up more than 10 educational institutes such as Tao Nan School, Ai Tong School, and the first Chinese secondary school in Singapore, Nanyang Chinese High School. He also established Xiamen University in his hometown of Fujian.
Additionally, Tan founded the Nanyang Siang Pau newspaper in 1923. He was also president of the Singapore Hokkien Huay Kuan, and a founding member of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce. His other contributions include setting up funds to aid flood victims in China, and his efforts during WWII.
At first, when Tan came to Singapore, he worked at his family’s business. When things went south due to mismanagement, he worked hard to successfully repay his father’s debts. And with great enterprise, he started his own business in pineapple cannery, later expanding to rubber plantations, shipping, a biscuit factory, and the manufacturing of other products. His empire peaked in 1925, but later had to wind up due to business faltering with strong competition and the Great Depression.
Nevertheless, with his many contributions, Tan is remembered as a diligent and inspiring community leader. At the time of his death, he was given a state funeral by the Chinese government.