'What's my excuse?' Huang Shinan's dedication to defending Singapore even in his late 50s inspired son Beckham for NS

[The_King]

Like some young men, Beckham Wee — the older son of local actors Pan Lingling and Huang Shinan — was not particularly enthusiastic about having to serve his two years in National Service (NS).

However, overhearing a conversation between his parents gave him a new outlook on NS.

 

More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite.

 

In an interview posted on the Ministry of Defence's YouTube page last month, Beckham, 23, said: "In all honesty, I once thought that those two years could be put to better use, during the start of my junior college days."

He went on to explain that his perspective "changed entirely" when he heard a conversation between Lingling, 52, and Shinan, 61.

He said: "My mum was asking my dad, 'Why are you still keeping your field pack and stuff like that?'

"His reply was that, if Singapore were ever to go to war right then, he would drop everything, put on his uniform and fight."

Beckham was "struck" by this, as his father was already in his late 50s at the time, yet he was so dedicated to defending the country.

"I was still young and able-bodied, what's my excuse?" he wondered.

Since then, his thoughts on NS changed and he wanted to "give his best" instead.

PHOTO: Screengrab/YouTube/Ministry of Defence Singapore

Lingling, who was interviewed alongside her son, praised Beckham for becoming a "gentleman" after his enlistment. She said NS made him tougher and "more disciplined" and that her son became a changed man, making his bed every morning, which touched her.

She added: "I can really see a gentleman in my house, beside my husband. He's another one, the upcoming gentleman."

 

 

Both mother and son also realised how much they missed each other after he had enlisted.

Beckham felt that he had "really neglected" his loved ones before he went for NS and began to miss them.

"During my time in the military, especially as a trainee in basic military training (BMT) or officer cadet school, the one thing I constantly thought about was home — my family, my close friends and my relatives," he said.

 

Lingling added: "I remember that, during the BMT tour, they asked us to write a letter (to our son). While writing the letter, I kept crying and crying, saying 'Oh my god, I miss him so much'."

This led to her try and make their home as comfortable as possible for him when he returned home each week after five days of staying in camp.

"I'd ask what he missed and what he wanted to eat, and just cook specially for him," she said.

In January, Lingling and Shinan's younger son Kynaston, 20, enlisted in the military as well.

 

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYYnoVuFAbw/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQQmjQZFF_b/

 

 

[socrates469bc]

serve finish ns then become grab driver.

 

song bo, pappy serfs????????

 

wahahahahahahaha

 

[The_King]

7 hours ago, socrates469bc said:

serve finish ns then become grab driver.

 

song bo, pappy serfs????????

 

wahahahahahahaha

 

I go served conscript. No one even ask me.

 

Still got ppl in this era believe about country.

Here is open leg, anyone with a paper can be citizen. Even Uptron uni cert can land you a great job

 

I will run if there first sign of war.  Cause I own nothing as such what am I defending

Edited September 16, 2022 by The_King

[Londonchocolateroll]

Bo bian. Mediacorp Artiste so have to wayang and give plp statement

[XianGe]

20 hours ago, The_King said:

I go served conscript. No one even ask me.

 

Still got ppl in this era believe about country.

Here is open leg, anyone with a paper can be citizen. Even Uptron uni cert can land you a great job

 

I will run if there first sign of war.  Cause I own nothing as such what am I defending

 

Country is just a false front to con ppl to not tink for themselves... 

ATs who escaped the regime fweels conned as well... Now overseas, they live for themselves... 

 

As for tis article, the laopei era of army is more siong .. now is just holiday camp .. 

Edited September 17, 2022 by XianGe

[The_King]

2 hours ago, XianGe said:

 

Country is just a false front to con ppl to not tink for themselves... 

ATs who escaped the regime fweels conned as well... Now overseas, they live for themselves... 

 

As for tis article, the laopei era of army is more siong .. now is just holiday camp .. 

They need to wake up. The real leader like George Washington, a died long long ago

[Huat Zai]

6 hours ago, Londonchocolateroll said:

Bo bian. Mediacorp Artiste so have to wayang and give plp statement

 

出的起钱你叫我说什么都行。

[ManOfTheHour]

Stupid fucking name Beckham

[Londonchocolateroll]

7 hours ago, ManOfTheHour said:

Stupid fucking name Beckham

 

Better than Rooney or maybe not

[ManOfTheHour]

54 minutes ago, Londonchocolateroll said:

 

Better than Rooney or maybe not

The son born earlier, would have been Cantona Wee

if born later, Ronaldo Wee

 

 

[ManOfTheHour]

PLL can sit on my face and fart into my mouth so no one will notice as my tongue will absorb sound n smell

[CannotTahanLiao]

17 minutes ago, ManOfTheHour said:

PLL can sit on my face and fart into my mouth so no one will notice as my tongue will absorb sound n smell

if it was 2008, i would zhut zhut her nnp

 

[ManOfTheHour]

4 minutes ago, CannotTahanLiao said:

if it was 2008, i would zhut zhut her nnp

 

I would lick Dawn’s bleeding anus too after her piles burst

[noobmaster]

2 hours ago, ManOfTheHour said:

I would lick Dawn’s bleeding anus too after her piles burst

Is that dawn nosebleeding? Will ram my rod into her nose to stop it

[ManOfTheHour]

16 minutes ago, noobmaster said:

Is that dawn nosebleeding? Will ram my rod into her nose to stop it

Yes