7 contestants from Singapore vying to become panda advocates
24 semi-finalists from Asia-Pacific, including 7 from Singapore, to be quizzed about the bear
Purchase this article for republication
Buy SPH photos-
Chengdu Pambassador semi-finalists from the Asia-Pacific region posing for a photo at Clifford Pier yesterday. The global competition aims to raise awareness of giant panda conservation. Sixteen finalists from four regions will be sent to Chengdu for a three-week final competition and three winners will be chosen.-- PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
- PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
-
Ms Ellene Kho (above) and Ms Koh dancing with a mascot at The Panda Rock Out concert yesterday. The duo are among seven Singaporean contestants. -- PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
-
Samuel Lam, 21, an undergraduate from NUS and one of the Singaporean contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, runs through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
-
Aiko Chiu, 30, a Taiwanese freelance writer and one of the 24 contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, navigates through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
-
A panda mascot gets mobbed by 24 contestants from Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors to raise awareness for giant panda conservation, at the Clifford Pier on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
-
Koh Yi-leen, 32, an Assistant Vice-President at Credit-Suisse and one of the Singaporean contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, runs through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
-
Ellene Kho, 21(left), Koh Yi-leen, 32 (centre), Fan Di, 24 (second from right) and Lisa Rahmat, 30 (right), all Singaporean contestants from the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, dance with a panda mascot during the Panda Rock Out concert at the Sentosa's Wave House on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
Chengdu Pambassador semi-finalists from the Asia-Pacific region posing for a photo at Clifford Pier yesterday. The global competition aims to raise awareness of giant panda conservation. Sixteen finalists from four regions will be sent to Chengdu for a three-week final competition and three winners will be chosen.-- PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Ms Ellene Kho (above) and Ms Koh dancing with a mascot at The Panda Rock Out concert yesterday. The duo are among seven Singaporean contestants. -- PHOTOS: DESMOND LUI FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES
Samuel Lam, 21, an undergraduate from NUS and one of the Singaporean contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, runs through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
Aiko Chiu, 30, a Taiwanese freelance writer and one of the 24 contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, navigates through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
A panda mascot gets mobbed by 24 contestants from Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors to raise awareness for giant panda conservation, at the Clifford Pier on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
Koh Yi-leen, 32, an Assistant Vice-President at Credit-Suisse and one of the Singaporean contestants for the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, a global competition to find 3 panda ambassadors, runs through the Panda Maze on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
Ellene Kho, 21(left), Koh Yi-leen, 32 (centre), Fan Di, 24 (second from right) and Lisa Rahmat, 30 (right), all Singaporean contestants from the Chengdu Pambassador 2012, dance with a panda mascot during the Panda Rock Out concert at the Sentosa's Wave House on Oct 13, 2012. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND LUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
She gives little reason to doubt her claim that she is a huge panda fan, judging by The Sunday Times' first meeting with Ms Koh Yi-Leen on Saturday.
To start with, she was wearing a T-shirt with the face of the giant bear. Then the bank operations manager, 32, opened her bag to reveal a hairband with panda ears, an iPhone with a panda plastic cover, a packet of panda candies, and a panda soft toy, nicknamed Mr Bamboox, that she takes with her everywhere she goes.
She says her love for pandas began in 2007 with a YouTube video of a baby panda sneezing that she watched "a good 30 to 50 times". Her affinity for pandas has taken her to the Chengdu Pambassador 2012 semi-finals, which end on Monday. The global competition aims to raise awareness of giant panda conservation.
Three winners chosen from 16 finalists will be sent on a five-month tour to visit pandas around the world. These panda ambassadors, or Pambassadors, will also receive US$20,000 (S$24,800).
