Friday, 4 July 2025

[Post 1277] New housing options, parks and improved amenities among plans under URA's draft master plan


Summary

Singaporeans now have a glimpse into how the spaces they live, work and play in will look like for the next 10 to 15 years. From new homes in the city to new community and office spaces, a draft master plan by the Urban Redevelopment Authority was unveiled on Jun 25, mapping out the grand plans for the nation's land use. Residents in some areas will get new or refreshed amenities. Some familiar, well-loved sites will be conserved, while others will be made over. Professor Sing Tien Foo, Provost's Chair Professor in the Department of Real Estate at NUS Business School, discusses the draft master plan. He talks about the strategies laid out in this master plan and how conserving heritage plays a role in Singapore's urban planning.

[Post 1276] Life As A Couple In Social Service: How We Make It Work


Summary

Can a marriage thrive when both partners work in the same sector and organisation? For Joshua Khoo and Chloe Khaw, it began as a shared passion in social work at university - but they quickly discovered the hiccups of both of them working as frontline social workers while married. 

But the sector offers many career opportunities, and Chloe made the switch to a backend role in human resources. These days, Joshua works as a counsellor at Care Corner Singapore while Chloe champions the well-being of staff in the same agency - and both juggle work with being parents to a 2-year-old. 

How do they navigate the fine line between their professional and personal lives, finding a balance that strengthens their marriage? 

Thursday, 3 July 2025

[Post 1275] #LemmeOuttaHere - Young Indonesians Want Out Of Their Country: But Will They Return? | Insight


Summary

This year, the hashtag #KaburAjaDulu trended on Indonesian social media. The hashtag translates to "Just Run Away First", a call to young Indonesians to leave the country. 

As graduate unemployment climbs, educated and young Indonesians are seeking greener pastures elsewhere. Meanwhile, investments in sectors like tech are faltering, with Indonesia's much vaunted start up scene seeing a three-year low in funding. At the same time, gig work is on the rise, fuelling questions of long-term sustainability. Is Indonesia at risk of a brain drain, if its youngest and brightest want to leave en masse? What is behind their discontent, and what is being done to address them?

[Post 1274] I Was Jobless In The City; I Created A Self-Sufficient Life In My Countryside Hometown | Money Mind


Summary

In 2018, Trang lost her job in the big city and had to return to her country hometown. But going broke was the start of new beginnings and new income streams for this young Vietnamese. 

Wednesday, 2 July 2025

[Psost 1273] US$1.50 Jollijeep Lunch In Manila’s CBD On A Janitor’s Salary | Lunch With Us: Philippines


Summary

Where does a blue-collar working man like janitor Mark Lee Dobluis get his lunch fix in the expensive business hub of Makati? From the over-a-hundred jollijeeps, or food carts, that operate in and around the CBD. 

Unique to Metro Manila’s central business district, the jollijeep gets its name from two icons of Filipino culture – fast food chain Jollibee, and jeepneys. Meet Christian Untaran, who operates a jollijeep, as he introduces quinessential local dishes like binagoongan and caldereta, and shares how he keeps prices affordable for his customers. 

[Post 1272] What I Sell In My Garden To Turn A RM50 Investment Into RM5,000 A Month | Money Mind


Summary

From initial seed capital of just RM50, Malaysian housewife Noor Shahiran Yusoff is now earning four-figure monthly profits. And her backyard business is also helping her achieve financial independence.