SINGAPORE - Heartland locale Toa Payoh joins attractions Sentosa and Orchard as some of Singaporeans' most cherished places, according to SG50 project SG Heart Map.
SG Heart Map gathers stories from Singaporeans on which places are most memorable for them, and weaves them into a collective map.
Since its launch last November, the project has collected more than 43,000 stories via its web portal, contribution booths, and roving vans.
One of those whose story put Toa Payoh on the map was Mrs Chia-Nge Tak Heng, a Nanyang Technological University senior laboratory executive.
Now 54, Mrs Chia-Nge has lived in Toa Payoh since seven. One of the area's earliest residents, she fondly recalls watching Toa Payoh Town slowly being built around her.
Mrs Chia-Nge recalled: "We stayed on the highest floor (of our HDB block). We had no toys, nothing, so we played outside in the corridor. We would watch the construction sites and count the big lorries bringing soil in."
"I've been here my whole life," she said. "For me, everything happens in Toa Payoh."
Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Environment and Water Resources Grace Fu, co-chair of the SG50 Environment and Infrastructure Committee, said: "The stories showed our common identity and bond as Singaporeans. As each generation showed its preference for special places, we find many common threads that weave our stories into a rich tapestry."
The project's collection of stories will continue until April, after which it will highlight 50 places found to hold special meaning for Singaporeans. All the stories will also be used to create a giant composite map, which will be unveiled in November.
