I am a genius when it comes to doing stupid things

I decided to change

2012-01-17T20:11:00.001-08:00

I have finally decided to keep a photo blog to update myself of my transformation process.

10 July 2011, Bali, 83kg and very overweight! you can literally see the fats surrounding my entire tummy/lower back! Not to mention a beer belly -.-

During sometime in Aug 2011 thanks to a learning experience, I decided to change.

18 Jan 2012, Singapore, 71kg

I actually lost close to 12 Kg in the first 12 weeks of my training program. I have been at 71 kg ever since.

What I did:

1) Cardio
- Committed to running at least twice a week. min 20 min each time. I only focused on the duration of the run, not the intensity. I also made it a point to run on an elevated platform when I was on the treadmill to save my knees/ankles.

2) Gym
- Committed to gymming 3 times a week, covering major muscles: back, chest and legs on separate occasions.

3) Diet
- Increased my eating frequency from 3 times a day to 5 times a day.
- Ate oatmeal and egg whites for breakfast
- Diet consisted of mostly white meat (chicken and fish)
- Halved my carbo intake. I used to eat one bowl of rice for lunch/dinner. Now I only eat half a bowl.

4) Supplementation
- Protein - 100% whey gold class from ON
- Pre work out - Amino Energy from ON
- Glutamine - from ON
- Joint repair supplements
- Omega 3 fish oil

5) Full body massages.

This is a must have, because the weight loss and hard training over the past few months took quite a heavy toll on my body. Sports massages really aid you in the recovery/reconstruction process. I strongly recommend this thai massage place at 39 Jalan Besar. Very good!

My Target: 69kg by 24 March 2012!

chaang turns 28

2011-08-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

Thank you.

self reminder ...

2011-07-01T09:40:00.001-07:00

天做孽有可为，自做孽不可活

Post Nationals 2011

2011-06-29T10:21:00.000-07:00

I remembered promising Ken that I'll blog about this once I finally have the time and am in the right state of mind to do so.

Wildcards won Nationals 2011 this year, successfully defending our championship. What was most important to us was: we finally concluded the tie we had with NTU ACES during Nationals 2010.

Like all other seasons, the road to Season 2010/2011 was a very different and tough one. Similar to what I did in 2010, I would like to evaluate what I did right, and where I could have improved for Season 2010/2011.

What I did right for Season 2010/2011

1) Pushing out several Wildcards as coaches/ participants for NTU HO. It is through coaching/working with other cheerleaders that one can really understand and appreciate the sport.

2) Introduced Xingwei to NUS Alpha verve - The only way for our local industry to truly grow is to have quality coaches to push the limits of the local scene. XW is definitely a man of talent. Alpha really performed a great routine for this year's Nationals!

3) Worked with Xingwei and started to give back to the local cheerleading scene by sponsoring Blog Post of the Month cash prizes.

4) Pushed Gary and Jasmine to higher limits, and proved that you do not need a rewind to win this year's partner stunts competition.

5) Worked out a record number of cheerleading exchanges with external teams. This enabled cheerleaders to mingle and get to know other cheerleaders. I felt that it was also instrumental that Wildcards learn from other teams in terms of their culture, attitude and mindset. There is still so much for us to learn.

6) Finally convincing Biyi to join Wildcards after 3 years of nagging =P. Biyi's presence as a senior flyer truly guided our girls in terms of maturity, technique and leadership.

7) Announce that Biyi and Jen will take over the coaching of Wildcards. And for Vincent and myself to take a back sit next season. It is important for old geezers like myself to step aside so that the new generation can foster and grow.

8) Entrusted Jon to do our Nationals routine music this year and took the back sit of just doing the editing. He is definitely a better cheer DJ than me!

9) Was able to get Shi Xing University down to Wildcards to help!

10) Managed to get Coach Akane and Coach James to help tie up some loose ends in our routine.

What I did not do right for Season 2010/2011

1) Was unable train perle, felicia and carmen to be competition ready for SNCC 2011. In particular, I felt quite bad that I had to remove Perle from Group Stunts category. Afterall, she was the flyer i personally recruited from VJC.

2) I started to relax my 'military style' coaching, but realised that the team was not at a maturity level where they could be fully treated as adults yet. I have failed to educate some members the vision which I saw.

3) We have bigger stunts this year but we were messier than last year. This means, I have yet to rectify this team's problem of neatness. As far as I could remember, we scored 2/5 for arm motions. 2/5 for jumps. 2/5 dance. 2/5 for gymnastics.

4) We only completed our routine in late January. Our neatness suffered as a result.

it's 2.15am and my eyes are closing..... I know I did more screw ups than this.

Let me come back to this post again. =D

超級星光大道 20110123 pt.17/19 舞思愛+蕭煌奇-春花夢露

2011-01-27T08:16:00.000-08:00

Read the lyrics! simply fantastic!

love at first sight!

2011-01-16T07:46:00.001-08:00

You know you're in love when....

all your five senses tell you this is the one! woots!

Ehh accordingly to xinru, this singer was born in Holland. Both her folks are from Shanghai, China.

That's all i know unfortunately. Does anyone have links to her other songs pls????? =D

Wildcards - Spectrum exchange!

2010-11-20T06:01:00.000-08:00

As Xingwei has aptly put it: ''The seeds that you have planted 5 years ago is finally starting to bloom.''

=)

CS's wedding!

2010-10-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

126 tables. Marina Bay Sands. You must be kidding me.

CS's wedding is probably one of the grand-est one I have been to date. I reckon that he probably spent a quarter million dollars on his wedding alone. (A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS!)

And that is just an estimate -.-

That aside, really happy for him to be the first one to be married within our clique. He met his wife around 1 year ago at a charity event and now they're married! All of us were present when he proposed to his wife on one of this private yatchs. Talking about being fast and furious!

PS: really should make other plans for myself too.

A series of many team exchanges!

2010-10-17T09:21:00.000-07:00

A few phone calls, and a few sms-es.

That was all that was needed to initiate 3 exchanges within a month!

Wildcards & RP Rexaz - 3 Oct 2010

Going to Republic Polytechnic Rexaz totally changed my perception of female bases in Singapore. For a female shoulder stand to do a gladiator (aka: 1-1-1) is REALLY SOMETHING! And Crestlyn is really ZAI! My jaw dropped when she did a walk up hands, press to single extension and dismounted the stunt properly. Fantastic!

Wildcards & KR Steppers - 9 Oct 2010

I managed to catch a glimpse of Step (their team is named after her FYI) when I went to KR Steppers. I still remembered the year when Team Spectrum made our debut in Group Co-ed Open Category during 2007 Nationals. That was also the year KR Steppers made their debut in the Team Co-ed Open Category. I really respect Step, because in 2007 she did what I couldn't do: send a full team to Nationals. She made me understand that it is possible to chase your dream. And my dream was to assemble a full team for Nationals, because I firmly believe Nationals is instrumental for any team to grow.

Wildcards & Alpha Verve - 16 Oct 2010

Wildcards hosted Alpha in our 3rd exchange for Oct 2010. Alpha has a lot of potential this season. I am very happy I introduced Xingwei to coach Alpha, because I am confident he has the ability to teach the right techniques. Alpha is now trying to break out of their comfort zone, and are trying hard to do so. May their determination set the yardstick for others to break out of their comfort zone to continue improving as well!

For myself, I really enjoyed the full around I hit with Xuewei! I haven't really had the chance to stunt with Xuewei often despite the fact that we were formerly team mates back in NTU ACES (2005 - 2006). Having stunted with Ashley and Ally from Kentucky, I can confidently say that Xuwei's toss has already matched Kentucky's standard. If you are an existing Alpha Verve cheerleader and you're reading this, please learn to cherish your coach. She is one of the best flyers I have ever seen in Singapore!

Looking forward to Nationals 2011!

elegant is always the best.

2010-09-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

I actually just saw this post man. I think elegant is going to kill me. zzzzz

http://mypinkgloss.blogspot.com/2010/07/happy-birthday-chaang-ru-quote-from.html

our deal still stands hor, jiajia. =)

Where am I now?

2010-08-16T11:36:00.001-07:00

In 2008, I wrote down my journey as a cheerleader.

Now in 2010, it's always good to recap places I have been to.

The older generation will always be a stepping stone for the newer generation so that they can pick up where we last left of. Eventually everybody will need to go. Including me! =)

NTU ACES, Cheerobics 2005

NTU ACES, Chingay Cheerock 2005

Team Spectrum, Pioneer batch, HO 2005

NTU ACES, Cheerobics 2006

Team Spectrum, NTU HO 2006

SMU Sapphires (now known as Flare), Jun06-Dec06

Team Spectrum, Cheerobics 2006

Pioneer Squad, SAJC 2007

SKM, SAJC 2006/2007

Pioneer Squad, Pioneer JC, 2007/2008

SAJC SPH 2008

Team Spectrum, NTU HO 2008

Team Spectrum, Cheerobics 2008

Spectrum+SAJC+PJC---SKM, 2008

Team Spectrum Graduates 2008

2008 - Graduated from NTU. Handed over Team Spectrum

Ulu Pandan Wildcards, Pioneer batch - 2009

Ulu Pandan Wildcards, SKM 2009 (Champions)

Wildcards + University of Kentucky - 2009

Ulu Pandan Wildcards - 2010 (National Champions)

Another milestone.. and many more to come!

2010-08-14T07:06:00.001-07:00

The law of equilvant exchange

2010-07-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

A lesson without pain is meaningless

This is because you cannot gain something without sacrificing something else in return

But once you can understand pain and learn how to overcome it

You will gain a heart that is stronger than anything else.

- Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

all time favourite!

2010-06-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

2010-06-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

Cheer scholarship audition video

Imagine having ppl to send in their cheer videos for auditions for a cheer scholarship!

Just like how cupie pop overs were non-existant in Singapore a few years ago,

Our very own 1st cheer scholarship might be a reality.. soon!

Blog Post of the Month - $$ to be won!

2010-05-31T02:32:00.001-07:00

You are encouraged to read our disclaimer here before proceeding

Hi all!

In line with my attempts to help materialise the first ever cheerleading scholarship in Singapore, I would like to announce an official collaboration with Xingwei from xwonder to come out with a blog post of the month (BPOM) award!

The mechanics are as follows (source: http://www.xwondercheer.com/2010/05/blog-post-of-month.html)

Chaang Blog Post of the Month ChallengeDetails of challenge:

Details of challenge: Simply write a blog post about anything related to cheerleading. It can be on nutrition, training, competitions or just simply your own thoughts or vision of anything cheer related. Then copy and paste the post's URL to your facebook status (What's on your mind?) and tag me (XWonder Estrella) in the status. (to tag simply type in your status [posturl][space]@XWonder Estrella, i.e: http://www.xwondercheer.com/2010/03/video-of-month.html @XWonder Estrella) After that, it will be considered as an entry for BPoM challenge. XW and I will read through all entries and co-review the entries, then at the end of each month, also on every 5th, the winner will be announced on this blog (our decision is final).

Participant's eligibility: Similar to VoM, you are eligible as long as you cheer in Singapore; regardless of nationality, team, age, or gender. You can be writing and posting on your personal blog or team blog, it does not matter, both are eligible. You need to be on XW's Facebook and is his friend to tag him. Tagging on behalf or your friend or someone's post is allowed and it will be assumed that you have their permission to do so (please read detailed disclaimer at the bottom of this post).If you are not yet his friend on Facebook, just add me using the link at top of the page.

Prizes: $50 cash or dollar for dollar as VoM to the winner each month. In cases where the person who tagged and the person who post (blogger) is different, the prize will be split half to the person who tagged and half to the blogger. In the event there is no entry for the month, the prize money will accumulate and be brought over to the next month. Prize money is subjected to increase at any time without notice.

Any questions feel free to contact me

Being Singaporeans, we all love sales and offers. In the spirit of the Great Singapore Sales now, Chaang is offering an early bird promotion. If you post on your blog and tag within the next 10days, and if you win (results out on 05July10), you will be entitled to 50% more. i.e: $75.

1 suggestion from XW - You can make a great video and enter it for VoM then write a great post on your blog embedding that video as a add on to enhance your blog post and enter the post for BPoM; this way you stand a chance to win both contest, and if you do, that is $100 in total. So what are we waiting for, let's all get our pens ready and write, or should I say fingers ready and type.

PS: Wildcards are also eligible for the award and may blog on Wildcards's blog to qualify. The only two ppl who are not eligible for BPOM are both XW and myself only.

BPOM Disclaimer

2010-05-31T02:21:00.000-07:00

You are strongly encouraged to read this disclaimer before proceeding to reading any of the blogs featured in blog post of the month (BOPM)

By tagging us on a blog post, it is taken that you have obtained the necessary permission to do so by the blog owner &/or blogger to have its contents shared on the World Wide Web. The authenticity of the said blog post shall be at the sole responsibility of the blogger &/or blog owner, and we will not be liable for the authenticity of any of the blog contents. Please exercise discretion when reading any of the blog posts tagged.

The information in the blogs tagged does not constitute an offer or an invitation by or on behalf of xwondercheer.com to subscribe or purchase any products/services/training methods/recommendations which may be described or referenced to therein. Any information given in this blog post is indicative only, is subject to change and does not constitute an obligation to believe in the contents described. Any reference to any information should be treated as preliminary only and subject to our formal written confirmation.

Oprah Winfrey's 2008 Stanford Commencement Address

2010-05-26T10:06:00.000-07:00

some extracts i got from the video:

Everytime you encounter difficult situations in life, do you go '' why is this happening to me?'' or do you go ''what is this trying to teach me?''

When you run into the same problems over and over again, it is life that is trying to tell you : ''time to change course''.

Don't live for yourself alone. In order to be truly happy, you must stand for something larger than yourself.

If you really wanna fly, just harness your power to your passion, honor your calling, trust your heart, and success will come to you - Oprah Winfrey

who do you want to be? Who would you like to work for (with) ?

2010-05-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

I happen to chance upon one of my colleague's fb post. thought it was really cool (so i copied the entire thing. kekeke). But i added some of my own in red as well:

STRIKERS:
They are the goal getters. They strive for goals to be celebrated by the teams. They are agressors, and you need to work damn hard. But you will be rewarded, with celebrations for goals achieved. You love to work under them for growth and progression,

..but the downside is you may actually die trying. And when you do, do not expect ppl to understand your sad story.

MIDFIELDERS:
They are the most sought after bosses. They look for opportunities to ... See Morescore a goal. They will defend the team when agressors step into their boundary. They are balance in work, and you get rewarded when goal is scored, and they will look after you when others step all over you. But since you BSBH(cover everything), you might get burnt out before you can cover every aspect. When you do, you might realise that you did not make significant progress because probably all the time + effort spent < results obtained.

DEFENDERS:
They are also highly sought after. They aim to defend their stronghold with all forces. Working under them would be a breeze coz they will defend you and will not let agressors step all over you. They dun aim to be top performers, just be average and no one would be able to step over you. A great retirement job!

..A great retirement job. you won't die, you neither will you go far.

GOALKEEPERS:
You would cry father cry mother working under them. Their job is to catch the ball. Whatever the big big bosses ask them to handle, they would catch the ball, accept the job and pass them down to the team. You would have lots of work to do, over-times, and many times, they would even try to catch balls from other games to show that they are hardworking. Working under them will be work, work, work and more work. No recognition for you, coz you job is to catch the ball anyway. Good Luck!

...In the world of football, the goalkeepers job is to prevent damage (being scored on). If your team wins a game, ppl remember only the person from your team who scored. When your team loses a game, ppl only remember that you failed to save the goal. People might remember you if your magnificent performance draws the match against a tough competitor, but don't expect such gratifications to last.

Afterall, you don't see a goalkeeper being any of the world's highest paid soccer players, do you?

4th CAIO, Japan

2010-05-18T10:14:00.000-07:00

Results:

1st: CMIT, Chinese Taipei

2nd: TPEC, Chinese Taipei

3rd: Vanquish, Thailand

4th: NTU ACES

source: http://fcs.sg/

Videos will be up once we have access to them!

八字命理学 : 一命，二运，三风水

2010-05-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

I recently took up a course on ''ba zi' (八字)'. Some ppl call this fortunte telling. Yes, even ah bengs like me need to upgrade. I am still aiming to take my MBA before I turn 30 so in the meantime I thought this will be a very good investment.

My friend Dean who is an army regular told me that if you really duno what to invest in, always invest in yourself. Leverage on your time, because this will give you the best returns.

Of course, i need to promote my shi fu so here he is:

http://www.kx.com.sg/

No, this entry isn't about fortunte telling. I haven't graduate from this course so cannot anyhow. Later my shifu kill me i die. ahahhahahhah!

But this course did get me thinking about a lot of things which i find very relevant in life. The things that you cannot change/choose are:

1) Your biological parents
2) Place where you were born
3) Time you were born
4) Your siblings

But the things that you can chose are:

1) Your luck
2) Your occupation
3) Your friends

A lot of ppl think that they are unlucky. Some ppl call it ''suay''. But what we were taught was, don't blame everything on luck. Most of the time, it is all about perception. For example:

You: My boss doesn't appreciate what I do.
Others: Some ppl don't even have a boss (job).

You: My folks are always nagging at me. My house is very small.
Others: Some ppl don't even have a home to return to. Some ppl have no one to call Mum and Dad.

You: I forgot to buy 4D again! For $600 I could have easily won $1mil!
Others: I saved $600 today from doing nothing!

''Ba zi'' is a study of how to improve your life from what you already have. To improve you life, you first need to change your perception. A lot of ppl are talking about it, but to change and know that you have changed for the better is tough. Some ppl change in the wrong direction. Some ppl thought they have changed but actually stayed the same. Some ppl try to convince others and themselves that they have changed but are in fact living in self denial.

This is beyond the theory of ''half cup empty, half cup full''. It forces you to think of not just how to make the best out of your current situation, but to path a new way for the better as well.

Better is defined as

1) running into less obstacles (falling sick less often. no troubles at home.. etc)
2) having smooth working relationships
3) being more financially independent
4) having more fortunate occurances in life (winning toto, running into talented individuals who can aid you in your life.. etc)

So let's start to list things down. Do you think that

1) You are learning the right cheerleading technique? Are you able to do stunts as easily as you see on youtube or are you coming up with all sorts of excuses every time the stunt cannot hit or when you fare badly in competitions? Have you ran out of excuses already?

2) The lack of commitment from your team makes your life a sad story? Are you too small for your team? Have you tried hard enough to make a difference? Is it always ''somebody else's fault'' that somebody is leaving your team? Have you ran out of excuses already?

3) Someone else is always very lucky? Lucky to have good bases? Lucky to have good flyers? Lucky to have sufficient funding? Lucky to have talented individuals joining them year after year? Are you really that ''unlucky''? Have you ran out of excuses already?

You need to start by convincing yourself that you are as ''lucky'' as how you want yourself to be. I like to use cheerleading to illustrate my points because I am able to relate to this subject best.

Competitions are all about luck. The harder you train, the luckier you get.

So if you train very hard and still don't fare well, you are probably not going in the right direction. If you have attempted to change, you are not changing for the better.

Am I making sense? Let me know!

All cheer coaches should watch this

2010-05-09T00:03:00.001-07:00

coping with change

2010-05-08T10:49:00.001-07:00

Singapore'cheerleading's cycle during the past was very simple: you go to school, you graduate, then you retire.

This is particularly so for those who picked up cheerleading in Unversity. I would reckon that you will have at the most 3-4 years assuming that you follow the proper academic route.

So, how do we go on from here?

The mentality of people in the past is that you should start with team ABC, end with team ABC and retire for good. Don't allow our ''secret techniques'' to be shared with other ppl. Just retire when you need to.

The problem we have here is, if you're just allowed to retire and disappear completely, it is our industry that will have a ''talent outflow''. You would have effectively brought your skills and experience to the grave. Yes, you prevented an ''outflow'' of your ''skils'' from team ABC, but unfortunately, your exit is also an ''outflow'' to the industry.

In this entry, I would like to discuss how you can carry on cheerleading even after you graduate. Again, I would like to say again that these are the methods that worked for me. They may or may not work for you. If it doesn't make sense to you, don't do it.

1) Your job
Everybody needs to work eventually. While you are still fresh from cheer (think the fit soldier you were when you just ORD from army) strike while the iron is hot. I set up Wildcards when i was looking for a job. It took me 3mths to find a job then in 2008. Coincidentally, it also took the same amount of time to start Wildcards. I don't deny that I was lucky to meet the right people at that point of time but you must direct your passion in the cheer direction to make things happen.

2) Your working hours
If you are thinking of working shift work or London hours, you honestly can kiss cheer goodbye. 830am-6pm jobs are still available, so probably as far as possible try to look for something that falls within this time zone. 5 day work weeks are the best, but hard to find. I work 5.5 days/wk. I still make it on time for most Saturday trainings even though it takes around 60min to travel from my work place to UPCC.

3) Your boss
While you cannot chose your boss, your boss certainly can chose you. Try to work out a special arrangement with your boss. It worked for me. My past 2 bosses were very understanding. During season 2008/2009 and season 2009/2010, I probably only missed 5% of all trainings. However, luck is also involved. If you don't have an understanding boss, good luck. Still, you need to make the effort to make this work.

4) Your commitments
Cheering while schooling and cheering while working is at a totally different level. You come to trainings physically burnt out and mentally tired. Above all, you still have your family and other commitments to take care of. For me, I strive to do well at work so that I can be financially independent to continue to cheer. This is my motivation at work. At cheer, I take pride in producing top grade cheerleaders in the shortest time possible. This is my motivation to carry on cheering. When you combine this together, you will be able to translate what is inspiring to others, in terms of what is inspiring to you. You need to find your own motivation.

5) Seek to understand, but not understood.
As the founder and coach for Wildcards, I was doing (working) what most of my team mates were not doing(schooling). As such, our priorities will be different. You will need to cut them some slack during exam periods, or at times when they need to go for holidays with family/friends. No more exams for you, but no frequent holidays for you either. Yet at the same time, if you are too slack, nothing will ever materialise. Striking a balance for both is tough. At the same time, don't expect ppl to understand that your life is a sad story. You chose this route, so stop complaining.

6) Be responsible
Cheering while working doesn't give you the right to just disappear as and when you like. If you are cheering and working, you are probably a senior in the circle, or in your team at least. Be responsible for yourself. If you need to retire for whatever reason, make sure that you have handed down properly. If your team ceases to exist when you are gone, it doesn't show that you were a good leader in the past because they existed only when you were around. It just shows that you have failed as a leader to ensure continuity in your squad.

7) Plan your leave
Come competitions/ major events, be prepared to plan your leave in advance so that you can make things happen. Most bosses will not entertain last minute requests.

8) Plan your MC?
I didn't say anything. But pls don't do this too often. Not my fault if you get fired. ahahhahha!

Well that's all folks. Hopefully I can tide through season 2010/2011 and live to tell the tale.

Jiayou to all working cheerleaders out there!

Politics Today

2010-04-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Look at your five fingers. It's quite obvious that all of them are of different lengths rite?

This is one of the simpliest illustrations that: everybody is different. everybody is entitled to their own opinion. because of a difference in opinions, there will be politics.

Politics is everywhere. From complicated issues such as who should be the next King of the country to trying to psycho your girlfriend to eat something that you like and she doesn't like. It is still politics. You can chose not to be involved. But you cannot chose not to know.

The bottom line is, running away from the problem does not solve the problem. It just creates a bigger problem. You are probably going to make your problem somebody else's problem.

''CR hate club: Talk until so big! you very zai isit?''

I'm discussing this because it takes a problem to know a problem =)

Below are some suggestions for your consideration. Again, I would like to say that these are the pointers that have worked for me. It may or may not work for you. If it doesn't make sense to you, don't do it.

1) Act blur

The art of logical bluffing originated from the day you tried to bluff your teacher why you didn't hand up your homework on time. People might give you the benefit of the doubt but this method doesn't work once you use it too many times.

2) Psycho

If you're a hot lass or a handsome lad or even someone who is able to influence (money,respect..etc), you would probably have had things your way because you have what other ppl desire. Face it, there is no free lunch in this world. I will buy shots from a shooter girl who is hot because i'll probably ask for her number after that for example. lol.

The only unconditional term you might have received is probably love from your folks. Time varience of this method will vary but so will the opportunity costs. (think sex and the city)

3) Convince

You've been working in a handphone shop during school holidays. You know how to transmit what is inspiring to you (commission) in terms of what is inspiring to others(product benefit). Perhaps one of the most amicable way to settle things but this will take time. (think Mother Theresa and her vision of world peace)

4) Force

Normally the ugliest way to settle things but also the fastest way to get things done. Think how Qing Shi Huang built the great wall of China.

5) Bo Chup

By refusing to take a stand, you are never wrong. But neither are you ever correct. Similiar to inflation, it you will eventually lose (your savings lose their real value in view of current inflation and GST) if you do not take a stand (invest your money).

There is no one correct method, or sole method. Depending on the situation, you will need to vary the methods used. Sometimes they can be used in certain combinations as well!

Random

2010-04-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

I still remembered an incident when I was crossing the overhead bridge from school on my way home.

I was in Secondary 2 then, and was returning from a game of soccer.

Then, my calf suddenly caught a cramp. I lost my balance and fell. My knee was bleeding.

Now, having a muscle cramp and bleeding at the same time is not a very good idea. I was strandled in the middle of the overhead bridge. It was a hot day and the sun was scorching.

So how then?

I had pick myself up, and got to the side of the bridge while trying to stretch my calf to relieve myself of the cramp. Being the cock i was then, I didn't know what to do in such situations. I tried to stretch my calf in all sorts of positions. At times it will feel better. At times it just felt worse. And it certainly didn't help because sweat was dripping down due to the hot weather. And if you have ever gotten a calf cramp before, you will know that you can't really move. So i just stood here, watching the blood flowing out of my wound.

If you guessed it correctly, a lot of ppl just went past me. Nobody offered to help.

The ordeal ended some 10 minutes later ( i think?) when I finally could walk again. By then, my shirt was drenched with sweat and the blood from my wound already dried up. I limped my way home.

There was another incident with my grandma when I was still in primary school. Being the cock i was then (again), my right arm somehow got caught between the lift door. My grandma was helpless as she tried to free me from the lift door to no avail. I was scared, and helpless.

Then, came this adult who came out of nowhere and started to force the door sideways to free my arm. He is no fireman. And I was a cock -.- . Somehow, I managed to free myself.

Some many years later when I was in university, I was with my friends going towards Newton Circus at night when we witnessed an accident right in front of us: The car which was coming out from an emerging lane did not give way to a motorist. The zarbo driver crashed into them, sending the two motorists flying. Her car lost control and crashed into a tree. Shattered glass and blood was all over the place. The zarbo driver had her airbag activated but was still bleeding from her head. If i didn't remember wrongly, one of the motorist had her leg in a very akward position. Most probably fractured. The car horn was pressed against and filled the cold air with a chilling echo.

My friends and I just stopped our car half way and rushed to help.

I am not sure why I suddenly recalled such incidents, but I felt like this is sth i would like to record down.

Everybody is bound to fall sometime in life. If you are lucky, somebody will be there to help you (the lift incident). But do not always expect that to happen. I have many wonderful friends around me, some of whom i have known more than 12 years but that doesn't mean they will always be there for me (you). There are times where you will be alone (overhead bridge incident).

But there are times where you in turn will be the one to save a complete stranger (newton circus incident).

I am not a religious person, but I am somebody who strongly believes in the law of attraction, and the cause and effect circle. Everything that happens has a reason. Some incidents make you stronger. Some incidents keep reality in check. Some incidents may make or break you.

Ok. i'm off to watch anime. I got lost in my thoughts again. ahahahhaa.

Post Nationals 2010

2010-03-24T10:00:00.001-07:00

Always evaluate what you did/did not do right, so you can improve and get better each year!

What I did right for season 2009/2010:

1) Full routine was out 3 months + before competition
2) Planned contingencies for one person to take over in the absence of the other
3) Had various training locations
4) Authorised DIY trainings to be conducted in my absence
5) Delegated my work load to most of our Wildcards
6) Trusted my fellow coaches to run their own show
7) Organised Singapore's first ever Kentucky workshop
8) Got Brad and Jared to help coach Wildcards

What I did not do right for season 2009/2010:

1) Did not enforce discipline/attendance of DIY trainings well enough.
2) Did not put enough emphasis on gymnastics. We did not score well in this area. And DIY gymnastics training attendance was not good as well.
3) Did not put enough emphasis on jumps and arm motions. In all honesty, i think we were quite messy in this area during the competition.
4) Did not invest enough time to teach basket tosses
5) Was not good enough to help huiting.

Special thanks to the following ppl! Wildcards would not have bagged our double championships without your help!

- Karen for allowing us to conduct DIY trainings at her location
- Xingwei for being a super garang guest instructor
- Yirong for being our team mama
- Yifang for coming down despite her super busy schedule (*stares at elegant)
- My favourite ah lian kat for coming down our last few trainings
- Congyan for sending some of our members home
- Tian ying for sending me home (hehehhe)
- James for his invaluable advice because he could see things that I couldn't see
- And yes my favourite elegant for being around (even though she's missing most of the time this season).

And now, off to season 2010/2011 !

NTU HO 2010 !

2010-01-24T05:48:00.000-08:00

When I was helping Vince to coach his hall team today, I honestly felt very happy. The stunts they were doing were not big, not difficult yet the faces of determined new generation cheerleaders made me feel that there is hope for the Sinapore scene moving forward.

I was particularly happy when some of them came forward to shake my hand to thank me for my guidance. Huishan was asking me why did i bother to teach them so much.

''wouldn't this be to our disadvantage when they go back to their teams and use the skills they acquired here to compete against us?'' she asked.

My reply was simple. My calling is to impart my knowledge to everyone I know, regardless of which team that person is from. I feel happy when somebody is able to benefit from the knowledge I have imparted. And as i mentioned in my previous posts : by teaching the 100% that i know, i will gain an additional 10% in the process.

Give, and you shall receive. =)

All the best NTU Hall 3! Good luck for NTU HO 2010!

America's got talent !

2010-01-07T08:41:00.000-08:00

ok first things first, i did not follow the entire show. I really did not understand why Kevin Skinner won the competition. But that doesn't matter. I really thought Drew Stevyns really good!

And of course, I love his version of Careless Whisper.

Cheer infinity's visit !

2009-12-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

A super outdated post, but I thought i better blog this down before I forget.=)

After Kentucky's visit came along Cheerleading Infinity!

When Kentucky came to Singapore, everyone was full of respect for them. While we maintained that same level of respect for Infinity, the feeling is just different. Infinity's visit showed me the human touch of cheerleading which I have to admit, am very lacking in this area. =P

This is Brad, owner and Principal Coach for Infintycheerleading.com

Brád's a true blue cheerleader and a is professional to boot. He has been in this line for more than 10 years and like myself, holds a day job while he runs his own cheerleading gym at night. Brad has seen many aspects of how things work, and knows his people politics very well.

Jared who was previously under Brad is currently stationed at Taipei. It's really a very small world, cos a few months ago we were talking on youtube and fate has it that we ended up meeting in Singapore! Meeting Jared really made me want to see the world. I hope it is something I will get to do really soon.

Jared and Joline's cupie lib outside the Esplanade

This is Michelle, one of Andrea's two daugthers. It is all Andrea's credit that Infinity got to come to Singapore. Andrea who was previously in the States enrolled both her daughters under Brad's cheerleading program. She is probably one of the very few parents in Singapore now that truly appreciates the benefits of cheerleading.

And of course, this is us with some girls from Ping Yi secondary school during one of Infinity's workshops.

I am very grateful to both Brad & Jared, because they added very vital touches to our Nationals routine. On top of what Kentucky has taught us, I am very confident we will be able to complete Cheerobics 2010 with a bang!

2009-12-07T08:13:00.000-08:00

My job here is almost done. =)

burning out.

2009-11-23T11:34:00.000-08:00

It is very tiring when you make compromises, and people take you for granted.

Everybody has their own definition of a perfect world.

But how many people will dare to take responsibility for the prefection they seek?

Nobody likes to be the bad guy.

Everybody wants to be well liked. well received. And as such, they tend to stay politically correct.

So how are you going to create your perfection when you're trying to make everybody happy?

Spare the rod? Or spoil the child?

2009-11-05T05:03:00.000-08:00

I'm still not tossing at max height!

An ideal toss cupie should hit just at the point where your hands are fully extended.

Only when you can do a toss cupie that is almost floating off your palms can you try a full up cupie.

And to do a full up, you first must have a very good toss extension.

The scene is changing, and people are improving everyday. And without a doubt, days where people just hit a cupie for photo taking purposes are long over.

Do not be contented to do press up stunts from hands. If we are all going to be happy doing a hands-lib or a hands-cupie then our industry is going to be in big trouble.

2009-10-22T08:30:00.000-07:00

Both videos were taken within the space of one year.

While I am happy that i have improved much more than compared to the what i achieved in the last 4 years of my cheerleading career, there is still much more to be done.

2009-10-13T10:34:00.000-07:00

need more power.. need more time..

officially my new youtube stalkie!

2009-10-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

Rock chicks with awesome voices. Enjoy!

2009-10-02T07:13:00.000-07:00

this is my all time favourite. lol.

why is cheerleading ''not growing'' in Singapore

2009-09-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

After reading XW's post on ''fatter but not taller'' , I came across another interesting article that puts things into prespective:

Liverpool and Standard Chartered announce sponsorship deal

Now, I am not somebody that like sad stories. Instead of complaining why cheerleading is not growing in Singapore and how unrecognised we all are, let's look at how we as existing cheerleaders can help our sport establish its niche.

1) Stop living in the past

What your seniors have done in the past remains as history. What we need to understand now is; what worked for them, might not necessarily work for us (and vice-versa). Techniques are constantly changing and people across the globe are constantly improving. If you are a team coach, it is your responsibility to keep up with the times. If you are a team player, it is your duty to contribute constructive ideas. Not complain. Complaining (No action, talk only) is not constructive at all.

An example of this point is our classic ''toss to hands'' technique. I have been cheerleading since 2004, and I changed my toss to hands technique at least a dozen times. The reason to this is so that we can progress on to harder, more difficult stunts. (I explained the importance of constantly improving in my pervious post ---> here). While the ''flick back'' method may have sufficient height for some, it definitely will not work when you are going for a full up. This was taught to me by Kentucky Head Coach Jomo Thompson during his short stay in Singapore.

Ultimately, you must be receptive to changes. Everybody is resistant to changes but it is those who dare to change that will make the difference.

2) Money Talks

Robert Kiyosaki mentioned in his book ''Increase your financial IQ'' that - It is not the love of money that is evil - It is the lack of money that causes evil . I once remembered someone telling me that passion and money should never mix. Refering to my point (1) above, I strongly beg to differ. Loving cheerleading is a luxury. Making ends meet remains a reality. The ernest boy you see working part time every evening after school at a local supermarket may well be the next legend in our field, but the opportunity costs for commiting to cheer might simply be too much for him to bear. We must find alternatives to offset these opportunity costs so that talents in our field can continue to grow. Setting up a cheerleading scholarship is one way. Finding sponsors who share your ideals like how StanChart is sponsoring Liverpool will be next.
Remember, money is not evil. Money is just money.

3) The power of marketing

No matter how good you are, it will be useless if nobody knows you exist; less to say acknowledge your existence. Nevermind the stereotype that cheerleading is a bimbotic and weak sport. As KR Steppers would put: Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something.

I started the idea of a team blog back in 2006 with Team Spectrum because I found it as a more interactive way to engage with the Netizens unlike the conventional homepages. That being said, having a blog with no updates is as good as not having a blog at all. Nobody is born a blogger. Learn. You will be surprised how powerful search engines such as google can be. Being a faithful reader of your own team's blog does not contribute to your team's growth. Stop expecting 'somebody else to blog'. If everybody is waiting for everybody then nothing will be done! The least you can do is help to contribute a post or two to alleviate the burden of your severely overworked ''key members''.
Of course, after blogger will come facebook. See and be seen. This way people can know that you exist. This is not being narcissistic. There is nothing to be paiseh about. This is about helping our sport to grow.

4) Don't take up space

Personally, I view a successful team with experienced seniors doing shoulder stands and juniors doing the pyramid tossing. With reference to an entry from blog MDK on the fish analogy , juniors can never progress if the seniors are taking up all the ''major roles''. The same goes for flyers. Regine in this aspect is really worth highlighting. She volunteered out of SKM (despite really wanting to finish her last competition) so that new generation Candy can take over. The result? Candy having the opportunity to fly, and is now the new generation top flyer for Wildcards.

5) Take pride in being overtaken.

The traditional ''kung fu master theory'' states that the coach will never impart all his skills to his students for the fear of being overtaken one day. This is a very wrong mentality. We will ultimately be killing ourselves in the end when the new generation does not have enough knowledge to pass on. My personal experience taught me that by teaching 100% of everything I have, I will discover an additional 10% in the process.
You are a successful team if you can produce new blood who are able to supersede your pervious routine. You are a successful coach if you can build pipeline for the future. And this is instrumental in making cheerleading a successful sport in Singapore.

Give, and you shall receive.

6) Stop being a keyboard warrior

Hiding behind nicknames and spamming behind youtube comments and tagboards is nothing to be proud about. Likewise, acting hero and shooting back on condescending remarks is not productive at all. At the end of the day, it makes our sport look bad. Either you meet up to settle your differences in person, or delete the useless remarks that prove nothing but an eyesore.

7) Discard the wrong mentality of winning

While you might have a personal difference between an individual, leave that person's team out of the picture. His/her team has nothing to do with your problem. You settle your own problem. Getting your entire team to hate his/her team and henceforth making it ''compulsory'' to win National Championships is dumb. Not only that, you effectively elevated that person's status making an individual tantamount to a team. Not a very clever thing to do.

The above 7 points are derived from my personal experience. These are my own suggestions as to how we can help cheerleading expand both ''vertically and horizontally.'' It may or may not work for you. If what I have written doesn't make sense to you, don't do it. On the other hand, don't just make noise and provide no constructive suggestions. And don't just give suggestions; act on them. Walk the talk.

What have you done for cheerleading to date?

2009-09-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

I'm really quite in a lost for words for this one.

Love to hate them? Or hate to love them?

2009-09-05T20:41:00.000-07:00

Charice Pempengco - Phillippines

Bianca Ryan- USA

Connie Talbot - Britain

All 3 have something in common.

All are good in their own aspects of singing.
They have been recognised by many for their talents.
And they are all very young, with a lot of potential to grow.

This post is not about ''who is better than who''. I always believe that individuals are all different and hence should not be compared to one another. Who are you to tell that who is better than who? Can you compare an apple to an orange? No rite?

Yet the issue i am trying to discuss is that of talents.

When a new talent is discovered, there will always be a basis for comparison.
There will be new fan clubs formed for that talent.
And disputes of who is better than who will undeniably surface.

And for people who are termed as existing ''talents'' themselves, how do they react to such new ''challenges''. Do they feel happy for the new blood, or do they feel threatened by their very existence?

How will you react when you know your current position is being threatened by a new blood who is ''better'' & younger than you?

And will you, that who is currently capable with your existing abilities, help those whom you (openly or discreetly agree) think have more potential to open horizons that you know you are unable to do so in your current time frame? Can you see pass yourself and allow these new blood take up where you last left off?

Will you embrace the changes around you, or will the fear of being replaced take precedence over the future development of these talents? Will you selfishly deny their existence and their opportunity to grow or will you work together with them for a bigger future?

What will you do?

-Just food for thought =P

2009-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOhJA58FouQ&feature=related

2009-07-27T10:48:00.001-07:00

Finally decided to do a proper blog post.

Haven really posted much about life in a Bank, cos many a time I am way too tired.

But my past 6mths in Selegi was really enjoyable. I thank my lucky stars to have such an understanding boss and supportive colleagues who have guided me along the way.

Pretty xiwen! (pink)

The crazy lady in blue is my former boss btw. Nicole is the best boss anyone could ever ask for.

Now that I have been transferred to a new branch, things need to be re-adjusted again. While it may be a good thing that I am on track to promotion, it also means added responsibility and more time taken to concentrate on work.

My life now is basically work, sleep, cheer. Clubbing is used to fill up the unfathomable void within me. I don't really enjoy clubbing that much actually.

For the past 5 years in my cheer career, I have spent so much time on the development of new blood that i hardly had time for myself. The Kentucky workshop and the Taiwan Cheerleading Summer Camp was really the one time i trained myself hard. I really enjoyed myself there and made many new friends.

4/6 attendance because stupid isaac forgot to renew his passport and Jo stayed back with him -.-

Taiwan Monster Cheer Team. A open social team like us. Simply unbelievable.

my favourite flyer JieLing ! She is just super cute. heh.

WILDCARDS events 2008-2009

26 Aug --> 30Nov --> Cheerobics ---> SKM ---> 17 Magazine --> Kentucky workshop

Simply amazing =)

Milestone

2009-07-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

This is officially my favourite photo for 2009 =)

You can win national championships 858758659o697589 times but this can never beat the joy of being able to perform together with the UK Wildcats once. =)

Kentucky is a dream come true.

2009-07-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

If you are a cheerleader, you've got to know the K spirit. Many have seen them in videos but meeting them live in person is indeed a dream come true. I've got to learn from the best, and learnt a lot from the man Jomo himself during their short stay here in Singapore.

Kentucky & Wildcards during their first visit to Singapore on 8 July 2009.

Ashley, Chaang, Alli

This Kentucky workshop certainly did not come easy. Costs were huge and I really took a very big gamble by trying to bring Kentucky to Singapore.

Thank god everything paid off.

Special thanks to my friends from Taiwan who flew all the way down to support this event, my boss Dominic who was crazy enough to approve my idea, Vincent ZL Gary who helped me play host to the UK cheerleaders throughout their stay in SG.

I am a firm believer of the law of attraction and this Kentucky event really proved things to work.

When I was in Spectrum, my part time jobs and school would always be in such a way that I wouldn't have to miss classes. I even had time to coach VJC, SAJC, PJC.

When I graduated from NTU and thought work would take cheer away from me, fate has it that I bumped into Dominic and gave me sufficient support to start up Wildcards. Work was also nicely placed in such a way that I hardly missed trainings and was even able to participate in Cheerobics 2009 & SKM 2009.

Now almost a year into work, fate has it again that my Bank has set a company trip to Taiwan, allowing me to meet up with the Taiwanese to confirm their attendance for this workshop. And my compliance leave allowed me to be able to focus on the workshop 24/7. Now I am even able to go to Taiwan for their cheerleading summer camp!

You are not a sad story. Your life is not a sad story. Everything is possible. It just depends on how badly you want it.

Taiwan !

2009-07-05T11:48:00.001-07:00

Oh mannnnn, Taiwan was soooo bloody happening lah! I made friends with random strangers, got number from a hot door bitch, met up with my taiwanese cheerleader friend xiao jun and thru him got to know more friends, went skinny dipping in the natural hot springs... etc etc... a lot to write!

will blog more when i get fotos! cheers!

Vote for my shijie!

2009-06-18T08:20:00.000-07:00

Chingyan was my senior back in ACES days. A very fantastic top flyer. In fact, one of the best during her era. She motivated me a lot during the old days, and was the one who constantly helped me in stretching even when flyers then did not believe it's importance. I got my full side split in 2005 thanks to her!

But now old liao. I think if i side split i will die -.-

Nonetheless, click on the following URL to support her k! Takes less than a min! you stand a chance to win prizes too!

http://www.watsonsyouawards.com.sg/web/youawardsg/awardcat?typeid=1538

Good old cheerleading days 2005

2009-06-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Yod went to upload some super oldddd cheer fotos back in 2005! Really damn nostalgic sia. See how much everybody has changed!

Sandy (extreme left, white) was my inspiration back in RSU. She's a damn solid cheerleader and a wonderful dancer. She has since left cheerleading and went to chase her dreams as a dancer with Rain. YES, RAIN. The korean superstar. The last time i heard was that she was part of his dance crew! Zai rite!

Old time ACES flyers. First row: Ruth (red cap ah lian), Xuewei, Regine, Yirong, Janice. It's amazing how we still keep in contact after so long. Janice broke her arm during one of the trainings in Thailand. The last time I saw her was at orchard almost a year ago. Notice how small all the girls used to be!

Wah. Seeing this photo makes me sad. I used to be how tonned can! (extreme right)

I only had 2 coaches my entire life. One is Jessie, first coach for NTU ACES in 2005. She is now happily married with Philip and still refuses to retire. lol. The other is Oat(orange) whom I really respect. Believe me, he hit me more often than I hit my own cheerleaders. Oat was the one who taught me the beauty of diversity and how one person should never stay in his/her comfort zone. Push yourself to excel.

And it's always good to know that somethings will never change. =)

2009-05-10T01:41:00.001-07:00

Name your top 20 cheerleaders in Singapore!

**Updated 11 June 2009**

CR's top 20 count: 13/20

I haven had permission to upload her full details yet, but Jessilyn (former Magnum Force & Ntu Aces) is probably the only flyer in SG to win Nationals with 2 different teams. More details when I get permission to upload.

**Updated 8 June 2009**

okies so much for the nominations. Thanks to all who participated! As promised, the rest are Chaang's nominations. But of course this is just my perception. Please don't use my yardstick as a basis for comparison.

There might be a magazine on this soon too! Stay tuned for Singapore's first cheer magazine!

XP, Captain, NTU ACES (2007). Currently stuck with yirong and forced to sing the elmo song (see below =P )
CR's comments: this is the most 'normal' foto i can find of him.

Yirong - NTU ACES (2006-2008). Currently enjoys eating steamboat, doing single bases (yes she is the base -_-") and singing the elmo song -.-

Jen: Magnum Force (2006-2009). Currently Coach for Legacy
More details about Jen can be found here.

Biyi - Alpha Verve 2006 to present
CR's note: Apologies for the ugly B&A. We'll do better next time! =P

Zhiliang, Magnum Force (2006-2008). Currently Coach for Wildcards!
More details about Zhiliang can be found here.

Andra aka Superman. Magnum force 2006-2009. Currently Coach for Legacy.
CR's note: I chose this foto on purpose. hehehehe.

CR's Conclusion: I have officially ran out of nominations. We have a lot of outstanding cheerleaders in our industry, but to be a 'total cheerleader' you have to possess all elements of strength, flexibility, gymnastics and technique. You cannot have any one element missing.

For those who are very good at gymnastics, look beyond your comfort zone and push yourself in areas of partner stunting. When you can have one person doing a liberty instead of 3, your team will have a lot more leeway to do bigger and better pyramids.

For those who are big and powerful, being able to do a cupie lib tick tock alone doesn't give much value add to your team unless you can have a full squad doing that. You can help with your team's burden too by doing gymnastics in the routine.

Remember, ours is a holistic sport.

And the chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

**Updated: 23 May 2009** Congrats to KC for getting the 4th $10 voucher for nominating Xingwei!**

**Updated: 18 May 2009** Congrats to Xingwei for getting the 3rd $10 voucher for nominating KC! First base nomination!

**Updated: 17 May 2009** congrats to Superman for getting the 2nd $10 voucher for nominating Citra!

**Updated: 12 May 2009** Congrats to shooting star for getting the first $10 voucher for nominating Xuewei!**
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Updated 22 May 2009**

Xingwei, NTU ACES (2003-2008)

XW is an experienced individual who is an advocate of educating the new generation of cheerleaders with proper safety guidelines and techniques.

Liu has represented Team Singapore twice for the Cheerleading Asia International Open in Japan (2007,2008) and has won National Cheerobics Championships 3 consecutive times with his former squad from 2006-2008.

Liu is also a qualified coach from AACCA and IFC

**Updated 18 May 2009**

Kelvin Chen, NTU Aces (2008), currently auto-roaming!

Details of KC can be found here.

**updated 17 May 2009**

Citra Indah, Magnum Force (2006-2009), currently Coach of Legacy

**Updated: 11 May 2009**

The following has been nominated! I'm posting this up cos similar nominations are not allowed.

Xiwen, Magnum Force legend (2002-2005) , currently with DECS All stars.

Jiahui, Captain, KR Steppers (2008).

Xuewei, NTU ACES (2005-2008), currently with X-wonder.
**updated: 12 May: details of xuewei can be found here**

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Original post: 10 May 2009:

Name your top 20 cheerleaders in Singapore!

As discussed with xingwei, ruth and KC (during office hours =P ) I am planning to do a first ever cheerleading write up for Singapore's cheerleading scene!

Nominate your cheerleading greats! I already have a few people in mind but if we are going to fill up the entire list of 20 we're going to need everybody's help.

Disclaimer: This top 20 cheerleaders writeup is something done at my personal capacity and is done solely for recreational purposes. The criterion stated are based on my value judgement and have not been taken from any other sources. This writeup is not intended, and should not be used, for any basis for comparison.

How to qualify:

This top 20 list is seperated into Base & Flyer category. Any combination of bases and flyers can make up the grand total of 20.

Base qualifying criteria:

Tumbling: Must be able to execute 2 elements with proper landing. Forward and backward rolls do not count. Example: round off back tuck, round off back hands spring, front tuck front hands spring ... etc etc
Toe touch back tuck may qualify.

Partner Stunts: Must be able to complete the basic single X, Lib and Cupie + must be able to do a min of 2 consecutive partner stunting elements. Eg: Toss X--> single lib.
Alternatively: 01 x Tick Tock , 01 x Cupie pop over for example.
Toss hands ---> lib is not counted.
Being able to do a cupie for photo taking purposes do not count.

Basing: Able to do ALL roles of a base in a cheerleading routine.
ie: shoulder stands, loader, toe pitch, toss ups, and all roles in a basket toss.

Flyer qualifying criteria:

Tumbling: Optional but definitely a good to have. I am saying this because unlike the US, we do not have gymnastics as a form of physical education and it is generally harder for girls to pick up gymanstics at a later stage compared to guys from my experience.

Partner Stunts: Must be able to complete the basic single X, Lib and Cupie + must be able to do a min of 2 consecutive partner elements. Eg: Toss X--> single lib.
Alternatively: 01 x Tick Tock , 01 x Cupie pop over for example.
Toss hands ---> lib is not counted.
Being able to do a cupie for photo taking purposes do not count.

Basket Tosses: Must be able to complete the basic toetouch, pike and backtuck set + being able to do an additional 3 advanced tosses:
Eg: X-out, Layout, Flybird, Layout twist, Kick twist basket, back tuck twist .. etc etc.

Dismounts: Able to do a min of 2 out of 4 of the following:
Front tuck, pop twist, waterfall, cartwheel down.

Flexibility: Min heel stretch.
Bonus: scropion, Scale, Bow and Arrow,

Please send all nominations to chaangru@hotmail.com ! kindly include a photo of your nominee(s), together with a brief write up of the following:

Name:
Age:
ht/wt:
teams that he/she has cheered for:
write up on cheerleading history: eg, when did he/she start. been where. done what. etc etc.
videos: (if possible!)
awards: (if any)

You may nominate all existing/retired/semi-retired cheerleaders!

**Token of Appreciation**

To thank you for your participation, every completed nomination gets you a $10 Takashimaya voucher sponsored by chaang! haha. Limited to the first 10 entries(I only have 10 vouchers on hand) . You may nominate yourself. Your nomination will be posted online thus approval/verifications from those nomiated will be verified before I post your nominations online. Limited to a max of $20 takashimaya vouchers per person. Which means, you can nominate more than 2 people, but the max I can sponsor is $20/person.

Sorry ah, budget constrains. =P

This is an ongoing event, but if you're interested in getting the vouchers, do email me before
31 May 2009. All correspondance will be strictly confidential.

Hope to hear from you soon!

2009-04-25T07:47:00.001-07:00

There are a lot of people who ask me why am I still cheering at this stage of my life.

My colleague at work told me that I should quit cheerleading and start concentrating on my sales job. He even commented that I could progress much further without having to worry about my team every now and then.

I am very happy with the way my life is now actually. I love my job. I love my team. And I love every single individual who has made this possible.

I am no good at relationships. And unlike what most people think half the time i feel quite lost in life. I am no good with God (whoever your God might be), and I am no good with finding my destiny.

Banks like to use the term ''moving forward'' because it is a form of optimism. Your life is not a sad story. You are not a sad story. Society and everything that you do has no place for sympathy. You need to learn to pick yourself up and keep on moving.

I figured the only time I will really leave the local cheerleading scene is when I get posted overseas to work. To be frank, I really think I need to leave Singapore for awhile. I have this calling. There is somewhere i need to go. Something i need to do.

But as congyan would put it, even if I do go overseas, I would probably end up joining some neighbourhood cheer team or by some form of chance set up another cheerleading team, just like I did with Wildcards.

Passion is nothing if you do not give it direction.

Directions, anybody? =)

You are your biggest competitior.

2009-04-05T04:54:00.001-07:00

...at the end of the day everybody has their own cheerleading.

Like in a game of dai dee, everybody will have a hand of 13 cards from a standard pack of 52. Getting four di's (read: number 2) does not necessarily mean that you will win the game. You can still form a royal flush without your di's and still be a force to be reckoned with.

If you wack the game with combis so fast the other party may not even have the chance to show his hand.

At the end of the day, we are a bunch of cards that aim to finish our hand beautifully.

And our biggest competitor is none other than ourselves. =)

2009-04-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

Give, and you shall receive. =)

2009-02-23T03:30:00.000-08:00

National Cheerobics 2009 !

Partner Stunts Category: Chaang & Elegant

(If I can finish the entire 45seconds with her, I will give myself a trophy -.-)

Group Category: Zhicheng, Vincent, Ivan, Justine, Jaslyn.
Vincent is in charge of this category so stay tuned for some high flying action !

Team Category:

1st row (L to R):

Joline(capt) Nellie(manager) Chaang(H.Coach) Zhiliang (Co-Coach) Graham(V-Capt)

2nd row (Lto R):

Rachel, Jaslyn, Huishan, Regine, Justine, Huiting

last row (L to R):

Vincent, Ivan, Gary, Zhicheng, Kahau, Isaac, Yixun

2009-02-20T11:15:00.000-08:00

i guess fate works in miraculous ways.

hor rain !

ahahhahah !

random

2009-01-15T08:30:00.000-08:00

A lonely night
a summer spring
an idle mind
the devil's playground

the joyful truth
the harsh reality
the games people play
the mind that speaks

a careless whisper
a redundant thought
the fate that jokes
do efforts count?

the devil's playing
in an idle mind
why seek something
which you do not intend to find?

-chaang

2008-12-25T17:56:00.000-08:00

The most nua..

The sibei buay-balance..

But always my ''life-long partner''

bliss or sin?

2008-12-14T04:48:00.000-08:00

People always tell me ignorance is bliss.

I often choose to see ignorance as a sin.

Now that i've stepped into the workforce, the reason is very clear: people only look at results.

In my 4.5 years in this sport, i've met many cheerleaders from all walks of life.

Surprisingly, there are some who hate competitions.

Competitions = stress.

How nice would it be to just cheer without the competitions.. without having to fulfill any obligations. Without having to produce any results.

This, is ignorance. This is what i call living in your own world.

Without competitions, there is no incentive to improve. Without an incentive to improve, you will soon find that there will be disputes between those who want to strive for greater heights, and those who choose to remain in their own comfort zone. You may argue that ''i can still improve without joining competitions what ! We can all learn at our own pace and all of us can remain as one big happy family''

If this is what you think, then i beseech you to go do some research and find out what has happened to the cheerleading teams that disappeared over the years. Most of them had that exact same mentality.

I agree with weicheng on the part of how auto-correction will occur and equilibrium will eventually take place.

In the working world, the truth remains. People who stay in their own comfort zone will eventually get obliterated. The moment you can no longer meet your sales quotas, or the expectation of your bosses whose targets are perpetually in line with market sentiments, you are out.

This is the price to pay for ignorance.

Equilibrium for some, however, has more far reaching effects than others. With reference to the cheerleading teams who have rose and fallen over the years, statistics are the cold hard facts you cannot chose to ignore.

Cheerleading is exactly like the working world. Ours is a cruel sport.

You can have the best showmanship. Team mates who will live and die for each other. Thoroughly enjoying the routine during that short time on the competition mats and the process that has brought you there. There are some people who say , ''results don't matter. it is the process that matters. ''

I am not saying that this mentality is wrong. I am just saying that there is a price to pay for everything. And I am fully aware of this because I have paid that price.

If you chose to ignore how much people have improved, and how much the market has changed.. you will be left behind. And when you do, your institutions, your bosses will have a hard time justifying your existence. You will soon find that you cannot find the ''quality'' new blood because those who are really good will be looking at elsewhere to expand their talents. Your current team will be stagnant, losing all potential to grow because you as the leader together with your team are not improving. Eventually, people whose desire to improve will exceed you and your comfort zone. They will leave you, either for other teams or for other commitments. And this story will continue to repeat itself until your team ceases to exist.

Remember that cheerleading and the working world is very similiar. Anybody has the liberty to quit anytime. And you cannot stop them. Of course la, working ppl gotta give min one month notice before they quit.

This has been a very touchy topic that a lot of people has chosen to ignore but i personally think it is very important to be addressed. I am not being ''result orientated'' or ''power hungry'' for that matter. I am keeping things real. If you are somebody who is looking to expand cheerleading in the industry, you first must have the required expertise. If you are not that ambitious and just want to mantain your current team, you must possess the capability to do so. Sadly, expertise and ability are not enough. Along with it, comes the necessary connections you must have to back your cause. And in order for people with this kind of ability to support you, you must first give them a good reason why they should help you in the first place.

A simple causation flow chart would be:
higher stunt level ---> producing results ---> monetary support ---> further reason for your boss to allow you to continue to exist ---> able to exist long enough to cultivate new talent ----> new talent who surpass previous generation ---> having more abled coaches ----> able to bring out more teams ---> bigger numbers generate greater awareness ---> able to touch more people's lives through this sport ---> (and the list goes on).

I have made many difficult decisions over the years and I do admit many of them came with a huge price to pay. Having your past contributions and efforts forgotten and being remembered only for all the unpopular decisions you have made is only one of them. Despite all of these, I continue to receive this calling ( nothing to do with religion obviously =P ) for me to continue to cheer and to continously upgrade myself and the people around me. I don't get paid. And I definitely don't get fan mails. (sad!)

This is my story. Whether I am correct or not only time, will tell.

Wildcards featured guests

2008-12-01T20:22:00.000-08:00

I wanted to do a video initially similar to Daytona Beach during our official launch but everybody was too busy stunting and I had to run all over the place.

So instead of making a video, this post is dedicated to express my thanks to the following old and new cheerleaders for gracing my event.

From the older generation we have:

Cupie King ---> KC. Also one of our regular guests.

CAS Vice-President Zhaoming. Reached the earliest !

My favourite stunting/clubbing ah lian ----> Ruth

Power Base and Flyer from Denvers ---> BB & YQ

Magnum Force old bird ----> Vincent. Also one of our resident instructors.

Former teamate/neighbour---> X-wonder: Xingwei. Also one of our resident instructors.

PR Champion---> Mr Ong Wei Cheng

King and Yirong

New Generation Cheerleaders:

My toot understudy coach zhiliang

Magnum power base Jen

Kyra and Kareen

Big mama lover ----> Superman (Andra)

My extended thanks to the following cheerleaders for making this event possible:

1) Magnum Force (special thanks to eugene for spreading the news in such a short time)

2) TP Blazers (special thanks to larry,ken,justin, michelle for jio-ing your entire team down )

3) RP Rexaz

4)Thanks to Ochi from KR Steppers for helping us video despite your exams.

5)Thanks to Raymond and teamates from SP Gusto

6)Thanks to Congyan (Team Spectrum) for coming and helping me fetch yirong from hall else she would still be sleeping =ppPp

7)Thanks to Yuenbo (NTU ACES) for coming for our event launch despite having to rush off to tampines for his cheerleading assignment.

That's all folks ! hope i didn't leave anyone out !

Thank you for coming once again !

Wildcards Official Launch !

2008-11-30T10:34:00.000-08:00

Myths and Facts about Wildcards:

1) Myth: made up of a lot of experienced individuals

Fact: only myself, zhiliang, regine, yifang and gary has taken part in at least one nationals. The rest have never participated before. ie: >50% of the team are greenhorns.

2) Myth: Wildcards has been around for quite some time

Fact: We started in 26 Aug 08. 3mths old. =)

3) Myth: Wildcards is made up of people from certain teams only

Fact: Wildcards cheerleaders come from 7 different institutions, namely NTU, SMU, ACJC, NYP, NP, RP, Coral Sec.. and of course old working class ppl like myself and fang.

4) Myth: Chaang gets paid a lot to coach

Fact: No, I don't get paid. In fact i passed my entire pay cheque from the CC to Zhiliang. ppl young ma, need some money to go dating dating. lolol.

5) Myth: Chaang ''lures'' ppl to come to his team trainings then tries to poach them from their existing teams

Fact: It is our policy that cheerleaders from other teams must obtain prior permission from their coaches/captains before coming to visit.

Any other questions ppl? =)

new location!

2008-11-16T02:13:00.001-08:00

Chaang has shifted to Serangoon Central! wanna go gym go club go makan jio me !

2008-11-15T02:34:00.000-08:00

People tell me how fortunate I am to land a job in times like this.

I tell them I am very fortunate by still being able to cheer even till today. =)

Lee Chaang Ru Cheerleading Scholarship

2008-10-26T06:29:00.001-07:00

For very obvious reasons, the above proposition is not implemented as yet.. but it is something i feel that i must do.

I've played with the idea of a cheerleading scholarship for a good two years now ever since i started Team Spectrum, and now that I have started working myself I plan to make this dream of mine a reality.

Being a cheerleader for the past 4 years have left me many good memories. The wonderful people i've met, the competitions i've been to, and the experiences that i've encountered over the years is definitely something money cannot buy.

But being a student cheerleader, most of you out there will agree with me that the opportunity costs are high when you need to commit so much to a sport that you love so much. There will always be situations where you have to miss trainings because you need to work... for reasons such as paying your school fees, earning your own allowances or even to find that extra cash for that special someone.

In our society today, you cannot deny that money is a very crucial factor. You need money for those shoes and that yearly competition uniform. And of course, those medical bills you have to pay when you injure yourself during training.

There will be times where you would think how great would it be for you to travel overseas to learn from our foreign counterparts. Afterall, Singapore is only this small. I've been to RSU Thailand 3 times myself and I always thought great it would be if i could travel to America or Japan where the cheerleading culture is so strong. And most importantly, being able to cheer without having to worry about monetary issues. Thailand and USA already have cheerleading scholarships in place and the system has been running for years already. This is one of the main reasons why they can cheer at such a high level . Because the system is already in place with people having an additional incentive to cheer.

I am an old man. But my dream and my love for this sport still lives even till today. Congyan was telling me online that it is impossible for cheerleading to drop below 50% in me because it is so much in my blood.

Indeed it is.

This is my study break ( I have 3 more financial papers to clear T.T) and an entry spurred by sheer inspiration conveyed into words. If i were to ever set up a cheerleading scholarship, the requirements will be as follows:

1) Applicants must be 16 years and above

2) Applicants, regardless of the schools they are in, must be currently studying in Singapore.

3) Applicants must have at least 1 year experience in the sport supported by proof of involvement from their school.

4) Applicants must have a min GPA of 2.5 ( being a lousy student myself, study-cheer balance is still essential =P )

5) Applicants can be either female or male.

6) Scholarship will be in a form of monthly cash payout for the entire academic year credited directly into the receipants account. Lump sums are not encouraged ( because you have ppl like regine around who will spend everything on clothes and shoes -.- )

7) The scholarship award will be reviewed by a panel of 5 retired members of different teams to play down the possibility of kelong-ness. A min vote of 3-2 will deem the application successful.

8) There can be more than one successful applicant.

9) In the event that no suitable candidates are found, the scholarship money will be donated to a charity of my mother's choice ( my mum is an advocate of giving back to society as well )

This entry is dedicated to myself, as an inspiration and a pledge that I must succeed in my career regardless of where I will be. And when I do, I will give back to the sport that I love so much. Because without cheerleading, I won't be around till today.

This is my promise. My pledge. And a token I give from the pockets of my soul.

Denvers visit part 3 !

2008-10-10T08:51:00.000-07:00

Ha. Another super impromptu decision to go visit Denvers again today. Pity yifang couldn't join us in time due to the last min notice else we could have practiced more together. Go fang !

It was a pleasent surprise to see some hall 7 peeps coming to Denvers to train too! I met my all time competition leader Leslie from NTU Hall 7. The brains behind all their choreography. haha. 3 years competing against him for NTU Hall Olympiads cheerleaidng competition (2006-2008). It was a gentlemen's meeting la. We all agreed it was a good 3 years.

And we also agreed that the 2008 results were bloody kelong. chee bye.

But that aside, I finally got to stunt with Agnes after ...3 years? hahaa. And just when i was convinced that i have NEVER stunted with her my entire life :

Me: Eh, i think i reallyyyyy never stunt with you before leh !
Agnes: Got !!
Me: When??
Agnes: When I first joined ACES lor. You were the one who taught me my first toss to hands mah. You were damm fierce can. Just told me that you don't care and will just throw and i will anyhow go up one.
Me: ....

Ok. that was definitely from me. lol.

And 3 years later I'm glad I at least have a good photo to keep for old times sake. =)

Cheerleading Shoe for sale !

2008-10-04T22:01:00.000-07:00

Shoe Brand: Keapa Aerial Adult

Shoe Size: US 6.5

Price: SGD$80.00

Product description:
Leather upper, Agion® anti-bacterial lining, APX cushioning, scalloped arches and rear finger notch for optimal stunting. Designed for indoor/ outdoor use. 15 team color snap logos for customization.

Comments: Brand new. Owner wishes to sell the shoe because she ordered the wrong size.

Interested parties pls contact Sohfia directly at: windwhistler4@yahoo.com.sg

You may find more information about the shoe here.

random.

2008-09-24T10:35:00.000-07:00

Alamak. I told isaac to blog about our training last sat cos he had all the photos in his camera. That big toot went to upload my cupie foto only. *smacks forehead*.

Anyways, my cupie with Joline ! Former republic poly flyer. Now kanna transformed like nobody's business liao. good good good. =)

I think the rest of our ppl are picking up really fast too. Wildcards will be a force to be reckoned with. ^^

On a seperate note , I GOT MY M5 EXAM LATER ! 135pm. Wish me luck ppl !

more than words. =P

2008-09-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

HAHAHAHAHAHA ! =PppPp

chaang has to study again !!!!

2008-09-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

ARGH ! I NEED TO STUDY AGAINNNNNN !!!!

According to my new boss, I need to clear 6 financial papers by 14 Nov + 6 weeks of in house training before I can completely start on my new job. M5, M6, M8, M9, HL, 1B

6 PAPERS IN 6 WEEKS!

Roar!

But on the brighter side, at least I finally found a full time job ! Standard Chartered here i come !

Ah beng working in a bank. hahahhahahhahaha.

On a seperate note, I happened to catch a glimpse of this superband commercial. Nevermind the people on the advertisement, but i love love Nana !! I thought the anime was really awesome. Very inspiring. Very profound. And the plot is really beautiful. =)

http://www.crunchyroll.com/group/CRSeries_-_NANA

well it IS licenced on crunchyroll...but you peeps can always try out other online videos like veoh and tudou =P

Some of the songs in the anime. I really hope I can find back the drive to jam in a band again =)

And of course, Endless Story by Yuna Ito. This is a must hear.

random.

2008-09-08T09:05:00.000-07:00

If you throw anything alway half - heartedly, you will never be able to move on in life.

Jesse the champion !~~

2008-09-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yes. Jesse IS the champion. Married liao still can jio me go chiong. ahahhahhhaaha. But ok lah. that time she jio me go her wedding but I bo eng ( training for cheerobics ma ). So when she called me out i confirm must give face tio bo?

Believe me. This is what we call ''warming up''.

Chaang's cheerleading 101: if you wanna be a good cheerleader, you must know how to have fun!
(L to R ) Audrey (coach, Republic poly), Chaang( coach, Wildcards), Jesse (coach, Innova JC)

Ah lian ! i found my photo angle liao. ahahhahahhahahha.

With Audrey and Felicia. All the Magnum Force lao jiaos.

If you haven noticed already me jesse felicia and audrey took turns to be the photographer. lol.

Now is my turn to be the photo man.

This is Audrey before she merlion.

This is Audrey after she merlion. lol .

Till next time folks !

Inspiration

2008-09-03T07:15:00.000-07:00

I was watching this big guy on TV just now, and my youngest brother was puzzled why i was tearing.

He is very inspiring. very motivational. People who work hard for their dreams should always be applauded. And acknowledged for their efforts.

Because at the end of the day regardless of what you do, you will always want to be recognised for all the efforts you have put in. For ppl to recognise your existence. I'm not saying that it is compulsory to be recognised, but being recognised is something everyone wouldn't mind. =P

well here's another =)

ZPL- All Stars part 2 @ Sony Comex fair 2008

2008-09-01T07:02:00.000-07:00

4 days.
28hours.
20 performances.
3 different routine versions.
The Sony cheerleading assignment has finally come to a close.

But instead of waiting for stupid regine to make her thank you speech, i think i should make my own first.

Thank you yifang for coming down despite being so sick. You could have well put our aeroplane but you chose to maintain your integrity as a cheerleader and didn't give up. I really admire your fighting spirit. You showed me a very different side of cheerleading that i didn't know. So thank you.

Thank you Xiwen for offering to help substitute regine at the eleventh hour despite your own commitments. You gave up time with your bf and came back to help us even when you were not required to. Thank you for going beyond the call of duty.

Thank you ben and joanne for sponsoring our training ground and lending us the skirts. Without these two this whole Sony routine would never have been possible.

Thank you zhiliang for following the bad guy. hahahahaha.

Thank you Andra for being the asshole you are =P

Thank you Simin for coming to substitute yifang on day one and staying with us throughout the entire 4 days. Without you we would have been forced to forfeit the assignment. Thank you for giving up your time for us.

Thank you Pamela for daring to try. It's crazy to be doing a toss up gladiator in a routine having tried it only a few times but you did it anyway. Never try. Never die. Never die. Never know. =P
And last but not least, thank you regine for coming down despite having chicken pox on the very last day. And thank you for being my partner.

Bases (L to R ) : Benjamin, Zhiliang, Andra, Chaang.
Flyers ( L to R) : Joanne, Pamela, Xiwen, Simin, Regine.

Routine version one:
regine,xiwen,joanne,simin,chaang,ben,zhiliang,andra

Routine version two:
Pamela,regine,joanne,simin,chaang,ben,zhiliang,andra

Arbituary.

2008-08-29T09:45:00.000-07:00

Thank you elegant. I really duno where I will be without you accompaning me for the past 3 years.

Wildcards slogan?

2008-08-26T11:07:00.000-07:00

One spirit. One sound. And one call from the Wild.

yifang's bruise !

2008-08-24T01:01:00.001-07:00

It really wasn't intentional !! ahahhahaha. So much for yifang's first time as a back-spotter and my first time working with her. lol.

Guess watch cheer competition at CK Tangs !

2008-08-23T05:24:00.000-07:00

Went down on 17 Aug to support friends from KR-Steppers and TP Blazers. Was damm fun lah !

I finally got to stunt with a flyer in KR uniform ! Chuting is damm good la!

TP Blazers: Suhui , Simin, Candy

With the rest of the Blazers. It was a nice foto until ah lian volunteered herself in -.-

Ah lian volunteered herself for this foto with KR after that -.-

And Zhiliang joins ah lian's cheapskate club !

ZPL-All Stars part 2 !

2008-08-20T22:48:00.000-07:00

ZPL (Zhap Pa Lang) is back again ! And we're bigger and better !

Event: Comex Fair 2008
Date: 28-31 Aug
Time: 1230-1930
Venue: Suntec City (look out for the Sony booth)

The lineups for this event are :

Ben and Joanne, the happily married

Zhiliang, the muscle nanny

Regine (aka elegant) , the part-time nurse working at Zhiliang's childcare center

Xiwen, the shopping queen.

Andra, the superman

Pamela, teacher during work, supergirl after 6pm.

Chaang, the jobless. and still jobless !

Yifang, the buay-balance

Note: ZPL-All Stars is a pseudo name for cheerleaders who gathered together to perform for external events, for the love of the sport. We do not represent any teams in particular. If you are a cheerleader and wish to interact more with fellow cheerleaders in our industry, drop us an email at chaangru@hotmail.com and we'll try to fit you into our assignments. Case by case basis.

You can view ZPL-All Stars part 1 here.

Sandra Izbasa - OLYMPIC GOLD - Romani

2008-08-18T09:53:00.001-07:00

Her routine music suits her moves perfectly !

CR personal skill tape part 1 !

2008-08-13T10:42:00.001-07:00

Your Destiny.

2008-08-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

Are you living your life? Or someone else's ?

I've been listening to Dr. John Demartini lately (www.johndemartini.com ) and begin to understand a lot of things which i have been oblivious about.

There are hardly any rights and wrongs in life. It's all about our value system and how we rank them.

We do not need anyone to motivate us to do the things that we like. Things that we like are often high in our value system. These are the things which are important to us and these are the things which we will often make sacrifices for.

On the other side of the coin, things that we do not like to do are often low on our value system. If you hate your greens you probably will frown when your mum tells you to eat them. If you're studying a module which you dislike you probably won't spend as much time on it compared to a module which you are really interested in.

But why do people still do things which they don't like?

We often put people on a pinnacle. When we do that, we are subjecting ourselves to their value system instead of listening to ours. There are times when we say that we have to , we ought to , we're supposed to do something is because we may be blinded by that infatuation. Or that idolism. Then, we are living their life. Their dreams. Not ours.

On the other extreme we have people who subject themselves with self-rightousness. They see themselves as an absolute and start to judge people with their value system. And instead of injecting other ppl's values they start to project their values by saying ''you should be doing this , you have to be doing this , you ought to be doing this. ''

As long as we're putting people down by projecting our values on to people or we're putting people up by injecting their values into ours we will be unable to fulfill our mission. Self actualisation is not by putting people down or up , but by putting people in our hearts, and learning how to communicate what is inspiring to us in terms of what is inspiring to them.

There are two ways which we can learn to empower ourselves:

1) Spiritual Empowerment. eg: Mother Theresa, Dali lama who dedicate their lives to The Great Spirit ( no religion preference here ) and by giving back to the Universe.

2) Our Minds. In developing our mental power. And recognising whatever that is highest in our value. We cannot stand ppl who are low on our value system but we can communicate effortlessly with people who are high on our value system.

Once we identify what is high on our values, we will be able to identify where our success lies. Because it is according to our values that determines how we live our life. Depending on the hierarchy of our values we change the form of our success and failures. The second we identify we have success, the Universe gives it to us. The second we deny that we have success, we are futily try to obtain something that doesn't exist in accordance to our value system. Those are somebody else's value system. It is their form of success. Not ours.

All of us are successful. We are just successful depending on what our value systems are. I am not right in dedicating my life to cheerleading. I am not right or wrong. I just have a unique set of values. There are others who dedicate their lives to other causes and I may look at them and say that they are successful. They may in turn look at me and say that I am successful.

The first thing is to honour and appreciate what we have because when we do, success will come in our way.

Denvers visit part 2 !

2008-08-08T21:36:00.000-07:00

Zhiliang and I went down to Denvers yesterday to check out their used mats for our upcoming new team, Wildcards. And it was a blast ! The new toss technique taught by the taiwanese during the workshop was reallyyyy effective. We could toss partically all their flyers to full extension using that method. Shiok shiokk.

I'm glad zhiliang managed to get a great deal of insights from Benjamin. Ben is PAYM chairman for potong pasir youth group. And us being another team under a different PAYM will require his help in future. After all, he is the lao jiao man. 10 years with PAYM. no joke.

And i just realised that Harlis used to be my schoolmate back in Shuqun ! No shit ! He was the drum major for Band and I was the cock in NCC back then. ahahhahahah! Lilo ( isaac chan's favourite cheerleader who was on the papers in 2007 ) just stays 3 bustops away from me sia ! power power. But they're all very friendly ppl lah. Working under PAYM means we will have lots of chance to see them in future. swee.

No pictures for this visit ( except for all the used mats which we need to submit to our boss -.- ) but i managed to get Sheena's cheerleading uniform picture she took when she was in USA ! A very shiok toss to extension with her too !

typical day out

2008-08-05T05:48:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday. you cannot put a few people who are bored together on a Saturday. you will end up doing stupid things.

First it was stupid ah lian's idea again to pose (again) -.-

Joel Wee is forever the BHKT (bo ho kang tao = always recommends stupid stuff)

Ang lee and her stupid antics as usual

Ok i look normal here. ^^

thought this foto was very well taken ! love how joel and ah lian were focused on while the backgound fades away.

You seriously cannot let these two shop together.

Ah lian got hungry again. Joel really wanted to get that for his dog. ahahahahha !

ok. Apparently dinner at Sakae Sushi is the most ''normal'' activity of the day. lol.

Before. And after. =P

2008-08-01T22:17:00.000-07:00

Yilyn (my former sajc ah lian ) used to be fat...

in fact she used to be so fat that even her own team mates had to squad down and laugh. ahahhaha!

But 18months later...

hot rite ! *cheapskate smile* ^^

Spectrum Recruitment 2008

2008-07-29T11:08:00.000-07:00

To be able to cheer is a luxury. Cherish it while it lasts.

A letter to the Straits Times Editor

2008-07-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

What is there to hide?

Financial Planners are decent jobs. I have friends who are financial planners and they are doing quite well. In fact, they love their job and are making legitimate earnings out of their rice bowl. This is perfectly ok.

Problem is, there are some black sheeps in the market who try to recruit financial planners into their company under the guise of something else. Commonly used terms would be:

1) Graduate trainee
2 Wealth management associate
3)Public relations associate
4) Investment associate.

These agencies recruit people from online job search engines and would advertise themselves as ‘’GNK associates’’ for example. Never once will they say that they are from Prudential and that they are financial planners.

I am quoting specific reference to Prudential because I have only received such unprofessional and unsolicited recruitment calls from their agencies to date

In fact I received phone calls from such Prudential licensed agencies trying to recruit new financial planners under the guise of another job. They are doing so because (in the words of the lady from GNK associates I spoke to) they are afraid that people would shun away from them the moment they heard that they are from Prudential and that they are financial planners.

But what is there to hide?

Such misleading advertisements make us waste our time into going down to their office hoping to somewhat convince you in joining their company. And mind you, they get paid for every new agent they pull in.

Pertaining to the phone call I just received, the lady denied that she is from Prudential and that she is not a financial planner. She said that they were doing ''investment'' and that they were dealing with ''stocks''. When i asked for their company's website she replied that they didn't have one. This is VERY strange. So when I asked for their company's address all she did was mention ''paya labar'' and I filled in the blanks for her.

Me: ''Singapore post centre, level 8. Isn't that the Prudential training office? ''

I told the lady off by saying that such phone calls are unsolicited and that they are tricking people to go to their office by claiming to be something they are not. She became very defensive and said that I being a student will need money and this is what their company can provide.

That is my second question. How did they get a copy of my old resume?

Prudential is an established and reputable company and I am appalled that such agencies are not proud to be associated with the company.

I am writing in to the forums because I have lodged a complaint to Prudential feedback centre several weeks back but apparently they did not do a good job.

I have since lodged a second complain today.

Lee Chaang Ru (Mr)

singapore-tawian workshop 2008 !

2008-07-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

Oragnised by Potong Pasir Denvers Cheerleading, this 2 day workshop held on 26-27 Jul saw more than 10 teams from all over Singapore gathering together for an awesome time !

Didn't really have the chance to take many photos because i was busily sweating out most of the time. Was kinna disappointed at Spectrum's new generation because most of them decided to absent themselves from the second day of the workshop. But i wasn't too affected by it because i kinna saw that coming so i made the necessary arrangments before the workshop to ensure that I would no longer have to depend on this current generation to satisfy my own cheerleading needs. A significant difference in value system i guess, like i told elegant, but i think it's about time i started doing something for myself rather than always putting Spectrum's interest in front of mine.

Anyway photos !

with my new cheerleading ppl from TP Blazers ! up and coming team !

My 3 understudies: left to right : Eugene, Larry, Chaang, Zhiliang

with KR Steppers and my toot Joce (the one with the green tag =P )

My ZPL Wildcards with the workshop coaches !

Workshop photo ! A lot of ppl rite !!

Some random routine shots by xingwei :

Kyra's really a natural cheerleader man. Always full of smiles.

With Karen and Kyra (in white) Kyra has the ability to be the next xiwen. Watch out for her !

Convocation !

2008-07-26T08:42:00.000-07:00

YES ! I did it ! I didn't da bao (read: repeat an extra semester) !!!

me folks. We look dammmm different riteee? ahhahahhahha.

CR fan club !
ok. i know Ah lian's a cheapskate but i actually like this foto. lol.

Daniel gay came to visit..

Knn. Daniel really sibei gay. ahhaahhahhaaha.

Damm cool rite ! my sidekick took this foto of me while i was walking away from the convocation venue.

Time for a new phase in life !

chaang's birthday !

2008-07-25T03:41:00.000-07:00

23 July 1983 marked the day where one of Earth's biggest party animal was born.

25 Years later Chaang is still loving his fun and his thankful for all the wonderful ppl around him !

Stop #1 of the day was my birthday brunch at Yum Cha in Chinatown..

My PR cum cheapskate manager Kat trying to act kinky

But she knew she couldn't do it alone so she got the toot head loraine along to pose with her.

I think glasses are becoming in the in-thing now. sheeesh.

Kat's favourite 0,1,2,3 game

Hungry people at the table ! (we kinna missed yirong when it came to buffets.. )

Stop #2 was at zouk (again!) but with a lot more people this time round !

ok. my friends are seriously obsessed with numbers.

And when you have alcohol and fun, you should never miss out Kai !

Kai is probably one of the most happening German Cheerleader i have ever met. lol.
And when you add Kat and Chaang together we will end up entertaining ourselves..

Partner stunt transition: shoulder sit ---> shoulder stand ----> hands extension. aahhaha. i love my cheapskate ah lian.

Loraine got inspired by yirong and started to carry people too !

erm... apparently 3 was too much to handle =PPpPp

And of course, why settle for one zarbo when you can have 5 ? ^^

ahaahah. elegant ! you and vivien really look old sia. Emila is HOT lor ! (1st from left)

Yet another cheapskate xiaowei. Not bad hor ? we look damm good lah. =P

Ah wells. I will end this entry by saying that i'm going to miss loraine the toot head when she flies back to Melbourne this sunday. See you again in Dec !

Random Saturday

2008-07-19T12:43:00.000-07:00

was on my way back home after sending Lawrance and Judy home. ahhaha. Judy was my hot date today. well, it's really weird to be going gai gai with one pretty lass who is nearly half a head taller than me. haha. heng we are not dating. Else i will die.

Pretty judy ! i think she's nearly 1.8meters though. sheeesh. too tall for me.

Anyways, driving back home ( i always tend to sidetrack -.-) i heard this song from cao ge on the radio. Fantastic vocals ! and the lyrics is goooood.

yet another wed !

2008-07-18T21:57:00.000-07:00

hahahha. yes yes. Wed= zouk days. trust me our initial plan was to drink at clark quay. My body's radiating A LOT of heat recently and I really needed a beer so we just activated the whole group out.

First stop: Clark Quay !

I really like the purple lighting within the corridoors. nice rite !

Double dates ! =PppP

Then we decided to become stupid again -.-

Outside MOS. Jh and congie are serious idiots.

it wasn't long before we got activated by jh to go winebar because he wanted to see his fanclub

-_-". but before we left we noticed the similarities in our car plate numbers ! can you tell? =P

And sooo we ended up at zouk. I bumped into my cheapskate sally and rachel ! Rachel got hot ok ! *fotos will be up once i get them from sally*

haha. my former economics ''student'' Rachel Tann.

My #1 cheapskate sallyyyyyy =PpPp

I went to meet yirong too !

Yirong is strong ! (as always)

Check out yirong's bulging biceps !!

Then came along my stupid stunting partner regine. I prefer to call her ''elegant'' in the light of that infamous ''Ms Elegant'' award she won at NTU's beauty pagent back in 2005 -_-''

Kat's classic cheapskate pose..

I'm a fortunate man ! =pppp

The toot heads...

SOMEBODY PLS SLAP LORAINE THE TOOT HEAD !!!!!!!!

Chaang & Cheapskate #2 kat (sally is still the reigning cheapskate champion)

Groupies !

Then i got to know this chick yifang (ex-magnum force) . But i was really damm paiseh lah. She was the one who initiated the conversation. cos i really didn't know who she was until xiwen told me. We wanted to take a photo but she was really camera shy so we...

Just lifted her up so that she cannot run away from the camera !! MUAHAHHAHAH !!

So much for our first meeting. =P

ok la. my fan club president got jealous so we stunted a bit as well.

Group photo with the ACES ppl before we left ! Flint , Ruth and KC were too drunk to move. lol.

wa lau. the journey back was siong man. I was suffering from a swollen right ankle and a bruised left ankle + a swollen middle right kunckle from my suicial gymnastics outside zouk. Backside itchy lah. too long nv train gymnastics liao still wanna act hero. roar.

I gottta recover before the upcoming cheerleading workshop on 26-27 july !!

2008-07-16T15:07:00.000-07:00

was driving back all alone after i sent ah lian kat and loraine home respectively when i heard this song on the radio.

A lonely drive back. With the wind blowing against my face.

Elegant ! i was really very very very happy to see you at wine bar ok ! i dunno why i was so happy but i was just very happy to see you !

I heard this song on the radio on my way home.

This song is dedicated to you ok !

The Rose - Bette Midler

It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance
It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance...

A look back at time.

2008-07-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

NTU ACES, Cheerobics 2005

NTU ACES, Chingay Cheerock 2005

Team Spectrum, Pioneer batch, HO 2005

NTU ACES, Cheerobics 2006

Team Spectrum, NTU HO 2006

SMU Sapphires (now known as Flare), Jun06-Dec06

Team Spectrum, Cheerobics 2006

Pioneer Squad, SAJC 2007

SKM, SAJC 2006/2007

Pioneer Squad, Pioneer JC, 2007/2008

SAJC SPH 2008

Team Spectrum, NTU HO 2008

Team Spectrum, Cheerobics 2008

Spectrum+SAJC+PJC---SKM, 2008

Team Spectrum Graduates 2008

I miss my old ACES days.

I miss my old Team Spectrum days.

Now I must find something to carry on from here.

the Ranieri Koh special !

2008-07-12T03:47:00.000-07:00

Rain, is really a fantastic individual. I got to know her 4 years ago during that famous combined engineering camp of ours and I have never looked back since.

Rain the kick-ass cheerleader
Rain the Flexi-dancer

Rain the Soccer-babe

Rain the Drama queen

Rain the Forever one fan-club-too-many..

And STILL CAN GRADUATE WITH FIRST CLASS HONOURS !

This my tribute to my fellow stirr-shit friend

the one whom we ganged up to stirr the orientation camp as freshmen.

the one whom we always gang up to beat the system

the one whom we wanted gang up to demolish our professors that made our life hell during our final year project.

And the one kick-ass chick that is licenced to be late.

Now i need to get our photos from her. Roar !

The Katherine Special !

2008-07-10T11:16:00.000-07:00

Our newest addition, ah kat, also known as ah lian has oneeeeee thing that will always be the same. Make a guess?

one..
two...
three...
four....
five !

Got it? ahhahhahahah !

can SOMEBODY pls tell ah lian to change her photo pose ! it's the same in every bloody pic !

TP Blazers visit !

2008-07-08T11:03:00.000-07:00

okok. This is definitely not my first visit to Blazers. The very first time i went down to Blazers was with that toot head Frances. That was in ...April?

Anyways this is the first time i decided to upload some stuff of their training.

Presenting to you...Temasek Poly cheerleading team TP Blazers ! Enjoy !

Vincent starting to warm things up as Blazers new in-coming coach..

ahaa. Smile at the camera somemore.

Mark and Haziq are serious idiots. lol.

Team debrief for the day..

Check out the 3 idiots in the background

Now notice the same idiot in yellow. I swear Haziq is a slut. lol !

The Zoukers !

2008-07-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

If you people happen to walk past the row of resturants directly behind zouk along the river and you see a bunch of people drinking and doing stupid things...

that's probably us.

No, we are not from bangbros. how i wished we were !

although we do visit geylang once in awhile. for food... ok you don't believe me. nvmmmm.

we are the pioneers of this industry ! we were the ones that started drinking outside zouk wayyy before you posers even thought of the brilliant idea to save money.

Now let's do the maths.

A bottle of vodka from DFS costs about.. $20-$30 ? that's a one liter bottle mind you. Clubs only sell 750ml.

So for a group of 5 let's say you get 2 bottles. And with all the mixers, ice, cups which work out to be about roughly $17.

This total sum works out to be less than $80 darlings. that 's $16/head.

You fight inflation, you get intoxicated sufficiently, and you get to save the world.

okok. as a sideline our operationsavetheworld simply means to liberate chio zarbos from chui guys. They can be their fanclubs, their bfs their lovers. we don't care. =PpPp

with offers like ours, it is no wonder that cheapskates like kat join our clique. CHEAPSKATE !

well, alcohol makes you do stupid things as well. The best part is, you don't even remember doing it yourself. here's proof:

Jh's spastic face take 1

Jh's spastic face take 2

Jh's spastic face take 3. I'm ignoring him.

After being stupid, comes to trying to play hero. Remember ppl, never take more than you can carry:

Jh trying to play hero take 1

Jh trying to play hero take 2

Jh trying to play hero take 3

okok.. this one is totally-out-of-point but elegant !! so old liao don't follow ppl cut bangs la. cannot make it leh !!!!!!!!!!!!

Steamboat !!

2008-06-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

hahaha. stupid elegant (read: regine) just passed me our photos. First time i got our photos from her sia !! That stupid toot always forgets where she keeps our photos de. bahhhh.

Anyways just to recap... it was the first time the 3 of us went out on a hot date together ! Literally ''hot'' sia. The ''Ma La'' steamboat was a bit too spicy to my liking. Not to mentioned that i smelt like crab when i went zouk . Heng still got zarbo dance with me. *cheapkskate*

Elegant ! Let's go celebrate JN's birthday this thur ok! we're going to celebrate her birthday without her ! ahahhahahhahaa.

training pics !

2008-06-30T01:34:00.001-07:00

ahahaha. photos taken from last week. only got them from yirong today.

People. this is NOT a cheerleading pose. pls don't try to emulate. -.-

yay ! i single lib-ed yirong !

I think the 3 of us are reallyyy photogenic. aahhahahahaha !

All Stunts up !

2008-06-29T07:32:00.000-07:00

hahaha. our ZPL All-Stars in our very first performance together. Very fun !! And the kids were really adorable.

Our Candid shots..

i was trying to convince the boys that yirong has a bit appitite =PpPP

Me: Wah ! carrying her is like carrying a mountain ah !

ahaahaa. yr is always camera ready.

I think the presence of the little children made her really excited.

Then came the cam-whoring..

The silly monkeys...

I love love my cupie pic with Joy !

Stupid Joy was dancing on my stunt -.-

I swear xiwen was the one who started this whole ''flyer-cradle-base'' trend. ahhahahhhaha !

The team of the day !!

History in the making.

2008-06-26T22:55:00.000-07:00

For the first time in the history of Singapore's cheerleading sceen, 5 very different cheerleaders from very (almost) different backgrounds are coming together to perform a routine.. for charity !

Date: 28 June 2008 (sat)

Time: 5pm

Venue: NTU Alumni Club ( Bona Vista )

Audience : Many small children !

The lineup for this performance is ....

Chaang , Team Spectrum

Zhiliang, former Magnum Force

Vincent, Representing VJC Knights.

Yirong, NTU ACES ( i wanted to put her bow and arrow pic lor .. )

Joy, TP Blazers

5 different cheerleaders. 5 different uniforms. 5 different teams. 1 fantastic routine!

*thanks to ken (aka baybay) from blazers for coming down to help!

2008-06-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

Chaang's commonly used terms Special !

Chaang-is-bored. But i'm really surprised Pam understood my lingo of ''autoroaming'' ! ahhahhaa. yirong always said i got a lot of weird lingos that she found hard to comprehend. Well here goes ...

1) BUA
a) To train somebody or something really hard. "we bua-ed our shoulder stands until we were totally drained ! "
b) To grind. [club lingo] " The King was busily bua-ing girls on the dance floor as usual ''

2) CHUI
a) Cannot make it. "she is sooo chui even my foot looks better than her face''
b) To collapse.Commonly used to describe a stunt fall in cheerleading. '' The pyramid chui-ed because the flyer didn't lock on the stunt !''

3) Auto-roaming
a) Same as the term used among mobile operators
b) To move/travel around in order to visit people.

4) Merlion
a) Singapore's national landmark
b) To vomit [club lingo] ''JH went outside to merlion after he drank too much ''

to be continued...

2008-06-22T00:42:00.001-07:00

Magnum Force , Denvers visit.

A super last min decision got Kai and Chaang to visit some of the best teams in Singapore.

First Stop was Ngee Ann Magnum Force. They were preparing for the NDP cheerleading performance. Very big group !!

The standard stretching....

Ouchhhhhhhhhh !

can you all spot Eugene? ahahahaha.

Magnum Coach Lenny getting things organised.

Some random snap shots..

2nd stop of the day was to Potong Pasir CC Denvers Cheerleading Squad where we linked up with Kat. NTU ACES and Denvers were training for an upcoming combined performance.

Attempting the 3-2-3 pyramid for their performance..

I just love to see xinwei dance. ahhahahahha. And Pam has great facial expressions !

Before i end this post, I would like to quote Ben's entry from Denvers's blog (http://community.livejournal.com/teamdenvers) which i found very meaningful. It is something we should all learn from.

[Mar. 20th, 200801:53 am]

A sigh of a hugh relief that the competition is over :) Well, we had all the practices and the preparations yet we did not hit the routine well enough for a nice placing position. Perhaps it was the excitment atmosphere that made us lost our perfection to routine. I can go on the many reasons on why we fell. Nevermind about that.

Nevermind about the results. Nevermind about not winning. We all share the same laughters and tears. We been through the sprains and knocks from stunts and trainings. As a team, we win as a team and lose as a team. We come as a team and leave as a team. Never blame anyone for the failure to execute the routine well.

From being a pioneer of Cheerobics and cheerleading with the batch of Lenny, Victor and so on, it has never been the winning that I would look at as my ultimate satisfaction. Actually it is the unity and teamwork that I saw at each performance and competition. The effort you put in with so many trainings and perform only for that 5 minutes. It just so wonderful to know you bunch of crazy people. We let ourselves down to be as ourselves and get to know the good and the bad side of each of you! The gossips and the sacarstic moments. We say it here and there but at the end of the day, we give each other a good pat at the back or a hug. No hard feelings mate!

Denvers as I can see, one of the only team that accepts cheerleaders of all shape and sizes. An opportunity given to an individual to experience cheerleading and never discriminate on our member's weight and physical aspects outlook. Never judge a book by its cover. This statement held true. As we know one another better. We begin to realise how wonderful he/she can be. Treating each other with a level of respect too.

This cheerobics 2008, emotions stock market ran all time high and the captured on video incident of our beautiful Miss Pamela, shows that our team members are far more important than the competition and anything else. Kudos to Pamela that she tahan all the way to the end and black out at the very end. She tried her best to hit her stunt despite her condition. Lilo sprain her feet, Joanne sprain her feet, BB sprained her feet. Yea, so many Mas selamat wannabe but I can see that they took the effort to nurse their injuries back to the best possible state and try again. Bases - their wrists and hands were hurt, bruises unavoidable, yet the bases still strive on to put the best toss and the best stunt forward. Some in the corner EMO, some doing music, some going through the motions, some worried here and there. AND some try to cheer others up by irritating others, telling stupid jokes and just being plain stupid. Without these colourful characters, our MPR is a dead town!!

So Denvers, continue to keep the fire burning in the team, prepare for some serious fun and outings in the coming weeks. Spread the cheerleading spirit and continue to improve ourselves and learn from one another and other teams too. We are a team that always will make the first step forward to offer the handshake to make friends. That is why our motto.... DENVERS LEAD THE WAY! ALL THE WAY!

2008-06-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

ahahaha. a super impromptu decision on monday to collect our graduation saw me , ning and the king (lawrance) go to broadway studios to collect our graduation gowns.

It was quite funny lah. we were supposed to take bus 142 for 2 stops to reach our destination. But the bus driver was like " it's only two stops ! straight ahead can liao."

RIGHT.

knn bloody two stops like two mountains. Had to jay walk like free and ning was frantically lagging behind no thanks to her heels and her inexperience in jay walking. Heng got the King around. What do you do when somebody keeps complaining and cannot keep up?

You drag her.

We finally made our way inside broadway studios (phew! ) and started to try on our gowns. Well..

The king will always be the king. Check out the ah beng slippers man.

We kinna got lazy wanting to wear our gowns all over again so we just took the caps.

Once a cheerleader, always a cheerleader !!

ahhahah. yes yes. Ning has a body all girls will die for. * Slurps.

We went to chinatown for dinner subsequently and my sidekick JH joined us shortly. nothing much followed then . But i must say the mango sago there was fantastic. I forgot what place was it i ate at again la. Next time I'll bring (whoever you are) there lor. lol.

Sian. Regine's sad again. I think it's her stupid bf. that silly girl. Sighs.