Our founding fathers did more than just lead the nation, they were great fathers and husbands too
By Nicole-Marie Ng; Cover Image: Shutterstock
2. Ong Teng Cheong and Ling Siew May
Before it became known as Hwa Chong Institution, the school that resided across the road from Nanyang Girls’ High School was known as the Chinese High School. It was in these schools that the love between Mr. Ong and Mdm. Ling blossomed.
The two were the top students in their respective schools and would often participate in joint school activities together. When Mr. Ong was in Secondary One and Mdm. Ling was in Secondary Three, they were cast as the male and female leads of a play performance staged by Nanyang Girls’ High School. After hours of rehearsals, the two grew closer and started dating a year later.
During their dates, Mdm. Ling would insist on paying for her own lunch as she believed that the pocket money her parents gave her was for her own use and the pocket money Mr. Ong’s parents gave him was only for his use. Despite Mr. Ong’s best efforts to try and pay for her lunches, he quickly realised after two dates that there was no changing her mind and the couple went Dutch from then on.
After 10 years of dating, the couple finally got married in Adelaide where the two of them were studying at the time.
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