11 Years of Dedication: Uncle Ong’s Quiet Patriotism in Toa Payoh

Photo of Uncle Ong standing in front of the SG60 flags, between block 107 and 109 Toa Payoh Lorong 1

If you’ve passed by the junction at Toa Payoh Lorong 1 in the weeks leading up to 9 August, you might have noticed a bold “60”. Formed by dozens of small Singapore flags, the display hangs proudly across blocks 107 and 109. 

What you might not be aware of is that behind each fluttering corner and carefully tied knot is Uncle Ong. The dedicated grassroots community leader has spent the last 11 years creating massive flag installations to celebrate National Day.

At 63, Uncle Ong is set to retire and close up his neighbourhood’s provision shop come August. But he has all intentions of keeping the flag display tradition going strong. Here’s why he continues to do so and how it keeps his neighbourhood’s kampung spirit alive.

Uncle Ong’s Annual Flag Display Tradition

Uncle Ong tying the SG60 flag to the building

Uncle Ong has been a member of the Toa Payoh North Zone 2 Residents' Network Council for the past 27 years. Before 2015, he and his team would hang smaller flags on ground level to celebrate the National Day festivities and share in the patriotic spirit.

But after hanging the same flags for many years, they began to fade and look worn out. So when SG50 came around, Uncle Ong thought to do something different: “Why not use the flags to form a ‘50’ and hang it somewhere more visible?” Inspired by square flag patterns he’d seen in magazines, he decided to do something similar with numbers.

He floated the idea of a large display to another long-time grassroots member and he loved it. So together, they sketched a plan and gathered fishing rope and aluminium tabs from soda cans. Then, he meticulously attached the tabs onto each flag’s corner and threaded rope through before weaving them into a complex pattern. With the help of other Residents’ Network (RN) members, they hoisted the finished display in place. 

“The first time we took a full three to four months to craft the display, and we only hung it up at the end of July. But we’ve improved on the design process every year. Now, we use plastic ropes and aluminium ring washers and the process is completed in about 10 days. We’ve also cut down costs to spend less than $150 by reusing materials.

This year, I’m trying to use 60 flags for our 60 years. In the middle, there is a large hole. I’m going to include the Chinese characters for sixty (六十; pronounced “liù shí”) there. I’ll see if it works when we hang it.”

Inspired by Uncle Ong, others in different neighbourhoods across the island have followed his lead and crafted their own National Day flag displays. He has won awards for best decorations, been featured in the newspapers, and had former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong share a Facebook post of his work in celebration of Singapore’s 55th National Day.

“I'm pretty sure that a lot of people love it and I feel very touched because they appreciated my effort.”

Community Connections Beyond Flags

Uncle Ong and his younger brother at their provision shop.

Uncle Ong’s family moved to Toa Payoh in the 1970s. Before that, his family lived in a kampung in Ang Mo Kio. In 1972, his father opened a provision store in the neighbourhood, which is now run by the Ong Brothers. 

Over the years, the shop has become a community hub. Residents have gotten along so well with Uncle Ong that they would turn to him for advice or report any matters of the neighbourhood. From elevator breakdowns to kitchen fires, Uncle Ong’s shop was where residents would share the latest news.

With the news of the shop closing, many residents have expressed their sadness at the loss of the neighbourhood fixture. Similarly, Uncle Ong is reluctant to part with the many relationships formed over the years. But he is determined that the same spirit of connection and neighbourliness lives on in the annual flag display tradition.

“If I stop, it might be several years before someone else like me comes out to contribute to these things again.” 

From One Grassroots Leader to Another

Uncle Ong leading and working together with other members to put up the SG60 flag.

Nation and community building matter deeply to Uncle Ong. He has his father, a former grassroots leader, to thank for his inspired commitment to service. 

"To be patriotic and to love your country… I had to take the initiative. We’ve been taught since young that the country comes first. Because only when you have a country, then can you have a home.”

As Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence, Uncle Ong hopes to see more people step forward to volunteer. 

“I’ve seen many passionate young people already contributing. But we can promote it more so that more can take part. Although Singapore is small, many areas still need volunteers. At the end of the day, it's about using your strengths and abilities to help those in need. Some people do marching, some volunteer at orphanages, hospitals, and schools. For me, flag hanging and giving back to my estate are my forms of contribution.

When people passing by see my flags, I just hope they think, ‘Ah, National Day has arrived.’”

Contributing to the community doesn’t require huge monetary donations or long-term commitments. Sometimes, a simple act of kindness or neighbourliness makes all the difference. If you would like to play your part, you can volunteer at www.volunteer.gov.sg or bring a community initiative to life at www.sgpo.gov.sg.