Best of getai to be honoured at Shin Min/ Wanbao Getai Awards 2014

SINGAPORE - Some of Singapore's most popular getai stars will be honoured at the Shin Min / Wanbao Getai Awards 2014 on Sunday, Oct 12.

Organised by Singapore Press Holdings' Chinese evening newspapers Shin Min Daily News and Lianhe Wanbao, the annual awards honour the best local getai talents in the local entertainment scene. Getai, or live stage performance, is unique to Singapore and is usually performed during the seventh month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Back for the fifth year, this will be the event's biggest show to date and it will be held indoors for the first time at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre. The awards presentation is expected to draw a record turnout of over 6,000 people. For the past 4 years, the event was held outdoors at Hong Lim Park and Turf City.

Mr Lawrence Wong, Minister, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister, Ministry of Communications and Information, will be the Guest-of-Honour.

Ms Tan Geok Keow, Chairman of the organising committee and Assistant Editor of Central Integrated Newsroom, SPH's Chinese Newspapers Division, said: "The objective of this event is to raise the awareness of our local getai artistes and promote traditional Chinese culture. In addition, the event is also organised for a good cause to raise funds for charity. This year, about $50,000 was raised through ticket sales and donations from sponsors, it will be donated to three charities, namely Geylang East Home for the Aged, Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution and President's Challenge 2014."

A total of 19 awards, divided into "Most Popular" and "Best" categories, will be given out at the awards presentation on Sunday. The 14 "Most Popular" awards are based on votes cast by readers of both evening dailies, as well as online voting, from July 27 to Aug 29. 

Apart from the "Most Popular" awards, a panel of judges comprising SPH journalists from both evening newspapers, as well as local media industry experts, has picked 5 winners for the "Best" category. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony.

In addition, the People's Association (PA) Active Ageing Council will use the awards ceremony as a platform to soft launch a song called Singapore Cha Cha. The song, specially composed to promote active ageing and inter-generational bonding, comes with a set of cha-cha dance routines specially choreographed for the occasion. The objective is for senior citizens and their family members to stay active by learning to sing and dance to the song.

Singapore Cha Cha will be performed by both young and elderly members from the PA Active Ageing Council Members together with the following celebrities:

- Jack Ho (vocalist, and music arranger cum producer for the Singapore Cha Cha song)

- Rai Kannu (member of local group Jack & Rai) • Gayle Nerva (Singapore Idol)

- Adam Chua (boy vocalist) • Jaspers Lai (actor from Jteam)

- Peter Tan (celebrity vocal coach)

- Chriz Tong (local "Queen of theme songs")

- Dee (member of local acapella group: JuzB)

- Xiang Yun (MediaCorp artiste)

Dr Tan Yong Seng, PBM, PA Active Ageing Council Chairman, said: "'Singapore Cha Cha' is created to celebrate active ageing. With its lively and catchy tune and simple dance routines, we want to encourage our seniors and their family members to learn the Singapore Cha Cha during community events and the various interest groups' activities. For example, seniors can do the "Singapore Cha Cha" as part of their warm up before their brisk walking activities or other community programme. This is in line with the PA Wellness Programme which encourages seniors to take charge of their lives and stay active through participation in community activities."

As an effort to celebrate active ageing, the PA Active Ageing Council has raised more than $40,000 to sponsor 4,000 seniors from the needy and Pioneer Generation groups to attend the event. They also raised funds for the two adopted charitable organisations, namely Geylang East Home for the Aged and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution.

One of the highlights of the award presentation is a dance performance by about 200 senior citizens and their family members, together with the getai artistes. The group comprises members age 7 to 76 years old. Apart from entertainment performances, the group and the getai artistes will also be at the event to explain to the seniors information about the Pioneer Generation Package and Medishield Life.

There will also be fringe activities at the event to engage the participants. Senior citizens from the Radin Mas Wellness Programme will set up booths to raise funds for their two adopted charitable organisations - Geylang East Home for the Aged and Singapore Chung Hwa Medical Institution, through selling creative balloon sculptures, handmade bags made from recycling materials and Chinese Knots handcrafted by active seniors, showcasing senior volunteerism.