FROM Changi to Boon Lay, Singapore paused to utter the words of the National Pledge in a moment of reverence.

Alone or in groups, at 8.22pm, they achieved a first in the nation's history.

Officially, at more than 700 places, from the entire SMRT network to malls and food outlets, people put hand on heart and dropped what they were doing for those 30 seconds to recite the words.

Unofficially, countless more citizens did so of their own accord, saying the words which, for many, have not been mouthed since they completed school.

In the heartland, some 10km from the National Day Parade at Marina Bay, about 100 SMRT staff and members of the public stood at the Bishan MRT station for that short while.

Then, as solemnity gave way to celebration, some of them yelled: 'Happy Birthday, Singapore!'

Some took pains to join groups they knew were observing the event.

Madam Evangeline Liu, 52, took the train with her husband and son from Hougang to join the gathering at Bishan MRT station. She had heard about it on the radio.

'We're Singaporeans, and saying the Pledge is our way of expressing a common conviction,' she said.

Not everyone appeared to buy into the buzz. A housewife who gave her name only as Madam Eza, 32, sat without budging on a bench outside Junction 8. 'I said the Pledge 20 years ago in school, and that's enough,' she said.

Closer to the parade grounds at the Padang were members of the National Trades Union Congress and their families.

The sprawling field in front of the old Supreme Court building resounded with the voices of some 10,000 as they held up lit candles with their left hands, while placing their right fists over their hearts.

'I'm very proud to be Singaporean today,' gushed housewife Aisha Mohd Hizal, 50, who was reciting the Pledge with so many others in public for the first time.

'Such moments bring across to me the meaning of being Singaporean.'

Another big group got together 13km away at Hong Kah North Community Club in Bukit Batok, where about 2,000 people were watching an outdoor screening of the parade.

Mr Yeo Poh Chuan, 49, who works at Jurong Port, said: 'It's such a different experience to say it with your friends and neighbours.'

Others turned the event into an excuse to party.

Financial consultant Annabelle Guan, 29, who had about 20 friends at her Marina Bay apartment, said: 'Yes, I'm saying the Pledge and I'll influence my neighbours to do it too.'