SINGAPORE: Yes, Singapore has many tourists. Yes, this has both advantages (good for the economy) and disadvantages (too crowded already). However, we should be able to reasonably expect that tourists would know that when a rehearsal for a National Day Parade (NDP) takes place, it’s for Singapore.
It’s just common sense, right? RIGHT?
Well, maybe common sense is in short supply these days, as evidenced by the shock a traffic marshal could not hide when he encountered such a question.
In a video on TikTok that has since gone viral, the traffic marshal can be seen redirecting people due to a roadblock for a National Day Parade rehearsal.
@argesonmascardo Which country??? 🤣🤣🤣 #fypシ #fyp #viral #singaporelife🇸🇬 #singapore
He can be seen patiently giving some visitors, who are off-camera, instructions on where to go instead of the route that they had hoped for.
A tourist then asks the traffic marshal what the roadblock was for. In reply, he explains that it’s a display for the NDP rehearsal.
“Which country?” another tourist asks.
The traffic marshal could not help but shout in astonishment, saying loudly, “SINGAPORE NATIONAL DAY PARADE,” followed by a laugh.
“Which country?! Our National Day, you know,” he further explained.
“Singapore’s birthday la,” the traffic marshal added, saying that rehearsals will take place every Saturday until Aug 9, the significance of which the tourists probably were completely unaware of.
He then walks a few steps away, chuckling, and the expression on his face shows exactly how he feels about the interaction.
The TikTok user who posted the video, @argesonmercado, may have also felt the same way, as evidenced by the row of facepalm and laughing emojis that he posted.
The Jun 15 video has since received over 350,000 views and hundreds of comments.
When one wrote, “The uncle saying ‘SINGAPORE’ in utter disbelief is sending me,” the post author wholeheartedly agreed.
“I love how the uncle so candid about it. ‘Our National daaay, y’knw.’ God bless him,” commented another.
“This security guy is cool!” a TikTok user chimed in.
“Tourist come to Singapore ask which country??? Think we celebrate other country national day HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA,” one wrote.
Others, however, took a sour note in their comments, suggesting that perhaps the problem lies in the fact that there are too many non-Singaporeans in Singapore.
“We are tourists in our own country,” one observed.
Many thought that the tourist should have simply put two and two together.
“Imagine going to a birthday party and asking someone ‘hey whose birthday party is it?’, all while he is blowing out the candles,” pointed out a commenter. /TISG
Read also: ‘Like it’s National Day’ — Singaporeans say of Lady Gaga hanging the SG flag at her concert