Spectators, beaming with pride as the nation celebrated its 43rd birthday, began dotting Marina Bay from as early as 10am on Saturday.

The sunny start saw umbrellas out. The dressing of choice for many: red.

Hundreds of foreign workers, too, poured into the Esplanade waterfront and the area around the Singapore Flyer, eager to join in the celebrations.

By 5.15pm, as National Day Parade 2008 was about to begin, there was barely moving room.

Some 27,000 people settled in, ready to be bedazzled by some 7,300 performers and crowd pleasers like the Red Lion parachute team, the Black Knight aerobatic jets and the fireworks.

When it started drizzling, it was still a sea of red - red ponchos fished out from the funpacks. Nothing was going to spoil the celebrations.

Many in the crowd took out their silver, yellow and red 'spark cards' and waved 'Shine on, Singapore'.

From her vantage point as a participant, silat dancer Madam Sabariah Ofnam, 43, reflected on her own journey to a pink identity card.

She was still a child when her father, a Singaporean, left his wife who hailed from Java, and their 10 children.

Her mother, who toiled as a nanny, yearned to call Singapore home.

Read the full story in tomorrow's edition of The Straits Times.