Agro Navis
The Ship of Dreams

Sketches of the Past, Portrait of the Future
It is often said that Dreams possess a certain kind of power that we should revere. It may be wise for one to go further and pursue the nature of this 'power' that Dreams are said to possess.

Perhaps an example might serve the pirpose of this enquiry best. Suppose one possesses the dream to one day built a magnificent ship. Let's call him Karl. Karl has the dream of building a magnificent ship ever since he was a young boy. Now, it may be interesting to note, that all he possesses in this initial dreams of his are perhaps rough and vague ideas of the magnificent ship that he is going to built. He may know how his ship is going to look like, but he does not know every single detail that is require to build a ship. Such are the nature of dreams. They start out as these vague, but mysteriously beautiful things that somehow motivate people to pursue them.

Let's return to Karl. Now, as Karl gradually grows older (and if he continues to pursue his dream), more details begin to fill up his idea of the magnificent ship that he dreams to built. For example, upon learning the different types of mechanisms that power a ship later in life, Karl chooses the one he likes best and adds it into his dream ship. Eventually (as more details re added into Karl's dream ship) the dream becomes a possibility.

With this possibility comes the transformation of a dream into a reality. Of course, the ship does not magically appear once the dream becomes a possibility. Karl still has to continually pump in effort. If he does so, the ship that once existed in dreams gradually becomes reality.

So what exactly is the power of dreams? Well, they start out as rough sketches of something we want, but under the right conditions, these rough sketches become a powerful portrait of the future... some might even call it a prophecy: they foretell how things are going to be. Such is the power of dreams.

Sketches of the Past, Portrait of the Future. Doesn't that sound exactly what our Rag team has achieved. Our ship that once existed in sketches has now become a reality! =)

Photography of my Friend Jared, please visit

http://darej.multiply.com/photos/album/78

For you tube videos, please visit

http://youtube.com/watch?v=38FvIV_yHJA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9jSyaGcLimw

The Long overdued entry in the Rag diary from Chief D.

With the main committee. Me, Dae, Had & CC.

Budiman Family

With EHOC-ers 04/05. Sheauyann, KY & I.

With Programmer Vice-head Zhongying.

With my school bag engineer. Huiying & I.

Rag Buddies. Rag 04/05 & 05/06.

My Design Team. Regina, Jiamei, Me & Molly. =)

With Flag Head Elisabeth.

With my wardrobe ic Welly.

With Siew Ling, my ex-wardrobe mistress.

Long overdued Rag photo.

These are the people who guard the ship, their fruit of labour.

Dearest Raggers,

I look back at the three months of experience with gratitude and thanksgiving. I wanna thank each and everyone of you for making this Rag committee so so special, VERY special indeed. I feel like an old senior reminising at the good old times we had in Rag although Rag day was only last saturday. I admit, I feel old most of the times. Really don't know how to integrate myself into your midst when everyone is so energetic and young. Haha.. Age is catching up on me.. But, a big thank you because I feel much younger after being with you.

While I was resting at 3am on Rag day to prepare myself before the narration, I lied awake on the bed for 45 minutes. The dance music kept repeating in my mind. I knew I was excited, excited for that very moment when Eusoff presents her fruit of labour. I am very satisfied with what we have done. I am very proud of the float, the dancers and all of you, raggers.. On many occasions, I withheld my tears when I saw the sideprops and float were placed together. I never have truly grasped the value and meaning of seeing our sketches transforming into reality until I personally witness the "bulb" of the lighthouse danced high with the disco sailor music. I was sitting beside Jiamei, and jiamei commented that it looked exactly the same as what we have imagined and designed. I said that it was unbelievable because we managed to keep the whole float so true to its initial design intentions. What can I say about all these? If it hadn't been the hard work and effort of all of you, we wouldn't have made it so exceedingly far. Well done raggers, you've made our dreams come true.

This was what I mass sent to the main commers and Sheauyann while I was awake,
"I lied awake with the dance music kept repeating in my mind. I am excited. Thank you for making my dreams come true. Even if we don't win, I know we have already won the race. I feel like a victor."

To Sheauyann, THANK YOU! Really glad that we've become closer after this rag committee. I am so thankful that you are with me throughout this journey. I am very fortunate to have someone like you who is my listening ear and who has seen Rag for as long as I do. Thank you for being the EHOC head. You did a brilliant job. With the amount of problems that you face in EHOC committee, you managed to survive victoriously. Your innate power is really unbelievably strong. You are an inspiration and a brilliant leader. I have indeed learnt alot from you. You've been a great mentor. -Pat on the back-

To my dearest MAIN-COMMERS. Hadrian, thanks for being so clear minded and a people's person. I am very thankful for your sensitivity towards the people in the committee. Many times, you are the mediator.. I remembered when you were easing the tension between Jiamei and I when we have disparate concerns over the gears. I always like to see you laugh. When you laugh, it's very hilarious.. Your cool and aloof image is usually damaged when you broke into bolts of laughter. Taukay, you are always Taukay.Thanks for the leadership. Thanks for being the people's man.

Cherchin thanks for being the "meeting" man. Thanks for sorting all the treasury matters and constantly meeting with RF and Master on behalf of the Rag committee. Hadrian, Daemon and I have always been very thankful for your unique presence in the committee. You are one who emphasizes on the virtue of thriftiness and who challenges the norm. Yes, you are indeed very encouraging and super optimistic. I have learnt much from you. You never fail to amuse me when you asks "Do you think building a float is like playing with Legos?". Ha.

Finally, my dear Chied E Dae. Thank you for a great partnership! I wanna thank you for constantly amusing me. You always make me laugh. I really really enjoyed working with you and exchaing views on certain things. You have your interesting life story and perspectives and they are always very funny. You should seriously consider becoming a comedian, if not.. join DP as a director! haha..

To Ms. Administrator Sze Phing, Kudos to you for all the good lobangs and sponsorships that you have helped us to get. You are very resourceful and efficient. Remembered that when I requested for the sweetened tofu, you actually got it for me within a very short period of time.. Just in time for the Tofu designer's birthday! haha.. I have faith in you that the claims would be cleared fast and we would get back our money soon. Hahaha

To my designers, I really wouldn't have survived without all of you! We've been through so much and coped with so much ups and downs. yes, the designer team is small. we have no costume designer, no static display designer. we have 3 float designers (only 1 with experience in float building and designing) and me, the CHIEF who is totally clueless in leading a team of float designers. Hahaha.. But I know I am very fortunate to have all three of you who are very dedicated and have not given me a slightest bit of problem. I knew I could trust all three of you. Wanna thank Molly for sustaining so long in designing the ship and executing it. Difficult job I must say, it must have been tough since you have stared at it for such a long long time. Regina girl, do you know how brilliant you are with recycled materials? Junks that go into your hands would miraculously transformed into art! Yes, you are the singapore most sought after Craftman. Best in Singapore & JB, some even say Batam!

Jiamei, I thank you for leading the rag team and being my best assistant. You have been an inspiration. Constantly inspiring and encouraging your fellow raggers. Your determination is very admirable. I have alot of fun discussing with you on concepts. You are "CHIM" and I am glad that I could engage in interesting design discourse with you. You have challenged me in matters regarding design. I respect your fervour for design. Thank you for igniting the lost passion that I once have for design. I guess my greatest joy is to see you change and grow in this Rag committee. You stepped into the interview and told me that you want to learn how to work with people and establish better working relationships with others. Jiamei, you could have possibly be one of the toughest person whom I have ever worked with (because I am usually the hardest person to be dealt with in a committee. HA.), I am glad to see how you've grown from your rag experience, much much better with working with your engineers and peers. I am proud of you, and I am sure your MAMA is proud of you when she appeared while you were instructing the side prop carriers during the side prop carrier rehearsal. Well done girl. I am speaking to my potential successor. =)

Remeber the letter that I wrote to all three of you? The letter that summons all of you to be back. Ha.. I mentioned that I wanted to create a theatrical experience in the presentation. Just wanna say that we have succeeded. We have achieved what we have started with. We have created the theatrical experience. The performance ground is no longer separated between the float and the dancers. The seniors like the presentation because it is tastefully different. Regina made me realised something that I have not observed about our float. She said that the ship is so large and there are so many other big side props around it that the ship is no longer viewed as a float. It has become another side prop in the whole performance landscape. Only then I realised that we have created a stage, a stage that once existed in our imagintion has become a reality.

To my pretty Wardrobers. Babes, you've started out lost and rough in the journey but you've emerged as winners at the end. Happy that all three of you survived and braved through the stroms with minimal knowledge and skills in sewing and wardrobe. So glad that all of you were self sustainable in the reading room and produced beautiful costumes despite having no wardrobe mistress. You babes are amazing, three pairs of hands to produce 40 sets of costumes from head to toes..I am just so fortunate to have ya girls as part of the wardrobe team because.. all of you are just so encouraging and motivating to one another. Great team dynamics. =) Yes, our costumes rock! My church friend who used to be from KEVII said our costumes were the most beautiful! Not just her, my many other friends feel the same as well. I must say, it is a pleasant surprise when I see everything, every piece of the costume come together on the preview night itself.. It's just so unbelievable.. the costumes are just so pretty!

To my dearest GTT, it has been really GREAT and pleasant working with all three of you. I am very privileged to have this opportunity to work with you. I enjoyed myself co-ordinating the dance presentation with you.. Congratulations on the GREAT job. Well Done. This year performance is really exciting because we have never done such kind of performance for Rag before. All three of you are the pioneers. Very proud of all of you because you've put up such a brilliant and entertaining performance. I am especially intrigued by the presentation concepts, such as the machine concept when the cranemen are part of a table and the passing of 'containers' to represent the workings of a crane. GTT always gives us surprises and creative ideas! Yes, I love the music too. Thanks Girls. So glad to know all three of ya better.

To Engineers. You people rock. You are the most civilised group of engineers that I have ever seen in my 3 years of Rag. Hardly hear anyone of you curse and swear at things with eplertive. It almost doesn't feel like an authentic Rag committee.. Ha. I am not complaining because this is a committee of LOVE. Each time when I see you all gather to laugh and tease on each other, I would always be amused to see all of you having so much fun. I want to specifically thank Shaun, you are the most responsible logistic personel that I have ever met. I want to thank my schoolbag girl, Hui Ying. Where is my school bag? Hahaha. You are brilliant. So FUN working with you. I hope you have enjoyed yourself doing the static display. I enjoyed working with you and thanks for all the contribution of ideas for the static stands. I like the way how you have made every item on the recycling rack so beautiful and professionally done. Our static display is impressive. =) Finally, I wanna thank my dearest Brother. SO glad to be in this committee together with you and have the opportunity to know you better as a person. Cheers!!

To Seniors. First, my sincere heartfelt appreciation to the BUDIMAN family! Special mention to Yeeying, Suching, Kailim, Siewling, Szeli, Xiaowen, Mifi, Diana, Jiayi, KY, Hai Bo, Kai Jun, Christ, Suleen, Prisilla, Hui Siang, Szelin, Justin, Chin sin, Ian, Ivan, Swee wei, Steve... and many many others.. I know our Rag committee is "BIG SHOT", each time when we invite the seniors back on our posing nights, they would not fail us but to return with kopi and milo pengs and contribute valuable feedback to our float. Thank all the past raggers who have contributed to this float building committee either in spirit, effort or financial support. Thank you other seniors who have graduated and are still very much attached to Eusoff and to Rag. We are certainly a privilege bunch of people, so loved by the people in hall, both the past and the present.

To Programmers and Flaggers of EHOC 06/07. THANK YOU! Your support counts. Thank you because you've helped us so so much.. Glad that we're all part of this EHOC committee.. So Glad that I've been through EHOC journey with all of you. =)

I am proud to be a member of EHOC RAG 06/07.
I have never felt so much for Eusoff until this year.
Two years back, I was deemed as a hopeless ragger who would not continue with Rag by Suleen and other main commers.
When Suleen said that she's proud of our achievements, my heart resonates together with hers.

My Greatest Satisfaction? When seniors approach me and congratulate me on a job well done.. when seniors pat on my shoulders and complements me that I have gowrn and matured.. and when.. I have this rare opportunity to befriend and know other seniors and eusoffians.

Every step is a learning journey for me. Taking up the challenge of being the Chief D is a self-exploratory learning journey. I emerged out of it knowing about my weaknesses and understanding more of myself as a person.

Cheers. We've reached!
Thank you all for believing and sailing this journey with me.
We ROCK this SHIP!

Love,
expired Chief D SY

Give Thanks
for His abundant provisions in EHOC 06/07

Daddy Above has done many many things for EHOC 06/07. From the beginning, I am rested in His Hands and have a sense of certainty that God will lead us through this committee.

Our committee is small, smallest ever in my 3 years of EHOC committee. But, our committee is mightily powerful. Thank you Lord for all His provision. The programme committee manages to carry out all the orientation programmes everyday without having to cancel any of them. Praise Lord for bringing supportive and enthusiastic freshmen into our Hall this year. The flag committee did a brilliant job in breaking last year's record by 4.9K despite being a small committee of 5. The rag committee did the biggest float ever with the most no. of side props and put up the most unique presentation. All Glory to God because He makes all these achievements possible.

Personally, I am very thankful to God for sustaining me through this period of time. He provided me much support through my brothers and sisters in Christ, His word and His company and assurance. I give thanks because many things would not have been possible without Him.

He provided us with a wonderful float design and performance concept. To create a float with a theatrical experience is only possible when He puts that idea into my mind. The float and the dance presentation were successive breakthroughs in the History of EH rag float and dance presentation.

He provided us with recycling materials. I remembered I was very upset because the rubbish that we collected were thrown away while we were away from Rag work. I cried because the rubbish was removed from the foyer. Yes, it was very silly, but I was really upset! Ha.. In the end, we found a recycling plant where we could 'shop' for recycling materials. It was such a blessing because it is usually rare to find this kind of lobang. We indeed have a large variety of recycling materials for this year's float.

Finally, I would like to thank Him for giving me friends who are supportive of me and are concern of my welfare. My dear friends visited me while I was working in the hall. Thank you Lord for sending these people into my life. Their encouragement was very comforting in my times of struggles and tiredness.

Thank you Lord, my Heavenly King. =)

With much love and gratitude,

your princess Faith.

Here, I would really wanna thank the following people...

Kailin for your listening ears, for being with me through my last two days of Rag. Thanks babe for keeping me company. =)

Shaun for being so thoughtful to accompany me during meals and help the wardrobe team. Thanks so much..

KC & Nai. KC for coming all the way to fongseng to catch up with me and introduce me to a new friend. Nai for ya support. Thank you both of you for coming down to support me on Rag day.

Dillon & Alvin. Thanks for bringing me out for a short while for dinner. It was a beautiful time to dine with both of you at the Yatch club.. in such a beautiful place. After that dinner, I was very much energised and elated. It was a good break.

Andrew for disappearing for an extensive period of time.. and reappearing on Rag day itself. Although I didn't see you.. I was very touched that you've made the effort to come down to see my hall's achievement. Thanks.

Bro Jared. Thanks for taking photographs for us. Your photography is brilliant.

CG mate. Thanks for your prayer support and concern. I was very glad to see Jack, DK and Calvin on the preview night. Hee.. Thanks Bros! It was a pleasant surprise. Thanks Yenling for being there on Rag day itself. I am so happy that you are here to support my hall and your hall too.. Hee. =)

Counting Down
11 more days to Rag Day

Last few days to Rag Day, I couldn't have imagined how I would have sustained for so long if it weren't for God. I am so glad that I've set out this journey happy and I am still happy now. It has been at least a good 2 months, a period of time which simply is not short, especially when I have to spent it working and not holiday-ing away.

I have never regret my decision for doing Rag the third time. My close firends do not know why I am doing this again, some might have said that I am crazy.. Some do not understand what is the joy of depriving myself from my summer break.. But for me.. I set out this journey with some purposes in mind. These are part of my dreams which I really would like to realise.

"Dreams: Sketches of the past, portrait of the future" is the theme for this year Rag Day. The themes aptly summarises my purposes of doing Rag. Looking at the past 2 Rag committee and float designs and after gathering relelvant experiences, I hope to transform these sketches into a new portrait for the furture of Eusoff Rag. I am doing it not because I am noble, but because I desire a change or even a revolution. As a designer, it's always my wish to see breakthroughs in the concept, float design and dance presentation for Eusoff Rag. I am glad that I have the opportunity this time to determine the concept and design of the float. As for now, I am very satisfied with what has been achieved. At the minimal, I have already managed to bring the Rag design and presentation into another stage. We have looked past our ancestors and taken the bold step forward into the depths of the unknown. Whatever the outcome would be, I am rested in the Lord. All is within the hands of God. Winning is not my agenda. Winning is a bonus. It's a public recognition which affirms the high level of achievement that is attained for the Rag design and presentation.

As for now, I am also very contented and thank God for granting me with such a lovely committee. A committee filled with Love and support for each other. We are a small committee, but we are a mighty one. Everyone is still working hard and pushing forward. No one is giving up. Because we believe that we could realise the big dream that could have seemed intimidating and unachievable. I have not given up. In fact, I am very much excited about Rag Day and the float that is going to shine with much pride and glory under the sun. The can detailings would just glisten in the bright sunlight.

Eusoff float will stand out like a gem which is ablazed in the magnificent reflection of the sunlight while everything else surrounding it becomes shadow in the brilliant glow of Eusoff float.

I know Daddy above is with us in this float building committee. Thank you Lord. =)