Actor Zheng Geping is on 2025’s National Day Awards list
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Zheng Geping has been serving the community for nearly 15 years. He joined a community volunteer group at the urging of a friend.
PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
SINGAPORE – Local actor-producer Zheng Geping is on 2025’s National Day Awards list, and has been conferred the Public Service Medal (Pingat Bakti Masyarakat).
The 61-year-old said in an interview with Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News that he learnt of his award from Ms Mariam Jaafar, an MP for Sembawang GRC.
Zheng said he had not told anyone about the award except his family, believing he had made only a small contribution to the community.
He is married to local actress Hong Huifang, 64, and they have two children – actress Tay Ying, 29, and singer-actor Calvert Tay, 25. Tay Ying tied the knot with celebrity chef Wu Sihan
Zheng has been serving the community for nearly 15 years. He said he joined the Woodlands community volunteer group at the urging of a friend.
“I joined out of curiosity, wanting to know what the volunteer group does, since I don’t live in Woodlands,” he told Shin Min.
He added that he has contributed to “various activities, such as distributing supplies to underprivileged families, performing at festive events, raising funds and assisting at Meet-the-People sessions”.
Zheng felt it was very meaningful to give back to society. He added that the most touching moments were seeing the happy reactions of the residents, especially when he took the elderly from nursing homes for a walk.
“The residents we helped still remember us, and that’s very touching,” he said.
He added that he was not able to help out when he was filming or working overseas, but would try to make time for it otherwise.
Zheng also encourages his children to volunteer.
“I have a celebrity club that frequently organises events, such as fund-raising to help disadvantaged families, and my two children also take part in them,” he said. “Huifang will also join me, like in community event performances, if she is not filming or promoting her shows.”
