My Father's Kampung. Shawn Seah

Written by author and speaker Shawn Seah, My Father's Kampung delves into the social history of Aukang and Punggol as it traces a son's journey to better understand and appreciate the kampung life his father lived. The book is rich in personal stories and oral histories of those who lived there from the 1940s to 1970s, brought to life by Seah's passionate narrative as well as illustrations and photos.This book is supported by the National Heritage Board, with Forewords by Robert Yeo and Montfort Alumni.<b>Contents:</b> <ul><li>Endorsements</li><li>Foreword</li><li><b><i>Prologue:</i></b><ul><li>The Teochew</li><li>The Singapore Chinese</li><li>Decline of Dialects</li><li>Teochew Food</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Why Did I Write This Book?</i></b></li><li><b><i>Where was Aukang?:</i></b><ul><li>'Teochew Kingdom' of Aukang</li><li>The Historical Past</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Catholicism in Aukang (1853&#x2013;present):</i></b><ul><li>The Rise of Catholicism in Aukang</li><li>Montfort School (1916&#x2013;present)</li><li>The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1853&#x2013;present)</li></ul></li><li><b><i>World at War (1914&#x2013;1945) :</i></b><ul><li>The Japanese Cemetery Park in Aukang</li><li>Prostitutes, Spies, and Soldiers</li><li>World War II and The Punggol Zoo</li><li>Fortifications</li><li>The Punggol Massacres</li><li>A Safe Haven at Surin Lane</li><li>Japanese Opium Dealers?</li><li>Suffering Under the Japanese</li><li>Catholic Mass for the Departed Souls</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Memories of Gor Kor Chiok (Fifth Milestone):</i></b><ul><li>Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary</li><li>Tou Mu Kung Temple</li><li>St Paul's Church</li><li>Masjid Haji Yusoff</li><li>Teochew Cemetery</li><li>Lim Tua Tow Market</li><li>The Original Site of Da Qiao School at Lim Tua Tow Road</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Memories of Lak Kor Chiok (Sixth Milestone) :</i></b><ul><li>Memories of Simon Road</li><li>Serangoon English School and Its Prominent Alumni</li><li>The Stories of Joo Hong Road, Lim Ah Pin Road, and Florence Road</li><li>The Upper Serangoon Community Centre and Boys' Club</li><li>Tua Jia Kar Village</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Memories of Kangkar (1900s&#x2013;1986) :</i></b><ul><li>Kangkar Fishing Village</li><li>Kangkar Through the Eyes of Mr Lee Boon Kee</li><li>Kangkar Through the Eyes of Mr Ng Kok Song</li><li>Other Memories of Kangkar</li><li>The Last Kampung in Singapore &#x2014; Kampong Lorong Buangkok</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Memories of Punggol:</i></b><ul><li>Memories of Punggol from the Eyes of Ng Yew Kang</li><li>The 'Haunted House' &#x2014; Punggol's Matilda House</li></ul></li><li><b><i>Kampung Memories (1946&#x2013;1975) :</i></b><ul><li>Everyday Life: Houses</li><li>Utilities: Water, 'Bath and Toilet' Facilities, Public Stand Pipes</li><li>Electricity, Pressure Lamps, and Private Generators</li><li>Transport</li><li>Entertainment</li><li>Crocodiles, a Bear, and a Python</li><li>Badminton Parties</li><li>Movies in the 1950s and 60s</li><li>Gambling</li><li>Fighting Fish and Other Animals</li><li>Banning Firecrackers Long Before the Government Did</li><li>Teochew Opera</li><li>Eking Out a Living</li><li>Private School</li><li>Travelling Hawkers or Street Hawkers</li><li>Commercial Farming</li></ul></li><li>Epilogue</li><li>Bibliography</li><li>Acknowledgements</li><li>About the Author</li><li>About the Artist</li></ul><br><b>Readership:</b> History and heritage enthusiasts of: Singapore history, placemaking history (districts such as Hougang, Punggol, Sengkang, and Buangkok), Teochew clan history; curriculum planners, educators, and students of Chinese Cultural Studies, Southeast Asian and Singapore History; alumni of Montfort School, Holy Innocents' English School, Holy Innocents' Chinese School, and other schools related to Montfort or the Gabrielite brothers.Singapore History;Teochew;Placemaking;Teochew Catholics;Singapore Chinese;Singapore Heritage;Houggang;Punggol;Buangkok;Ethno-Religious History;Southeast Asian Studies;Asian Studies;Biography0<b>Key Features:</b><ul><li>This is Singapore's first book on the history of Aukang, Sengkang, Buangkok, and Punggol (i.e. northeast Singapore), from its early days in the 1800s with Malay and Teochew gambier and pepper settlers, to the 1980s when the area changed into what people recognise today as Hougang and Punggol</li><li>The area's history and heritage are culturally significant. First, Hougang today is huge. This is not a small backwater, but Singapore's largest public housing estate by land area in 2018. Second, historical Aukang which was dominated by Teochew Catholics is culturally significant. In 2014, it was announced that HDB planned to invest $9.5 million to develop a stretch of Upper Serangoon (i.e. where historical Aukang was located) into a heritage corridor. Third, this book could help those who live there today feel connected to the place and better appreciate its rich history</li></ul>