The Singapore River and its adjourning views may be a normal sight for many Singaporeans but for the 30 beneficiaries from Moral Home Help Service (West), part of the Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society umbrella, it was a trip down memory lane. The Duck Tour was conducted by Agilent Technologies Singapore (Sales) Pte Ltd as part of The American Chambers of Commerce in Singapore Corporate Community Day held on Saturday, 22 November. They were accompanied by 30 Agilent employee-volunteers and their family.

 

For many beneficiaries, it was a chance to look at the scenes of yesteryear with new eyes and see how Singapore has morphed since their youth. The 1 hour tour was conducted on an authentic Vietnam war craft. It started with a sea tour of the Marina Bay followed by a land tour stretching from Suntec City to the Padang. Beneficiaries saw historic sites like the Old Parliament House and the Padang and new sites like the Esplanade and the Suntec City Fountain of Wealth.   

 

After the Duck Tour, beneficiaries were treated to a hearty dim-sum lunch at Yan Palace in Chinatown. They were also entertained by the volunteers with a rousing bout of karaoke where they sang music of different genres ranging from oldies to pop and Cantonese to Indian. This karaoke session was accompanied by spontaneous dancing from the Agilent volunteers who brought much mirth to the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were also serenaded with a duet of “Country Road” by Daniel Shields, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy, and Rob Young, Agilent Singapore Country General Manager. At the end of the session, beneficiaries were given red packets to celebrate the upcoming festive season.

 

“Agilent has always been a firm believer of giving back to the community that we are in,” said Rob Young. “Seeing our employees here today, brightening up the beneficiaries’ day, illuminates Agilent’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) motto of enriching lives.”