She dropped out of the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), and less than two years ago was struggling to make ends meet when excruciating pain forced her into hospital - her kidneys had failed.
While recovering, Ms Wong Rui Jun realised she needed to study to better her life. In May, the 29-year-old will do just that, starting a diploma in commerce (business administration), thanks to how she encouraged other dialysis patients despite her predicament.
Recognising that spirit, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) nominated her for a scholarship offered by Kaplan Singapore.
Ms Wong's problems began in Primary 1 when she started getting frequent urinary tract infections (UTI). After two years, doctors discovered she had a neurogenic bladder, preventing her from urinating normally.
In Primary 5, an MRI found the cause behind her malfunctioning bladder - spina bifida, a birth defect where a foetus' spine fails to grow properly. She underwent an eight-hour operation to correct it but, by then, her kidneys were badly scarred.
A year later, an ultrasound scan revealed her kidneys were only around 25 per cent functional.
"They described it like, 'Although you are 12 years old... you have a pair of 60- to 70-year-old kidneys'," said Ms Wong.
Doctors predicted she would need dialysis by 18, but life threw different challenges her way.
When she reached 18, she dropped out of the ITE partly due to poor health. About two years later, her parents divorced, and she and her two younger siblings moved in with her mother.
In 2009, her father's firm went bust. From being in a "very well to do" family, she had to take on several jobs to make ends meet, including as a club manager and getai singer.
Poor health and family problems did not dampen Ms Wong’s positive attitude. After her father’s firm went bust in 2009, she took on several jobs, including as a getai singer (above, right), to support her family. Last month, she received the Kaplan Bright Future Scholarship worth about $6,000.Photo: Kelvin Tan
Though her kidneys were still holding out, she was far from healthy. But her family's situation meant seeking medical treatment "was the last thing on my mind".
She recalled that if she had a fever or UTI, she would go to her family doctor to get antibiotics.
In March 2015, her kidneys failed, stabbing her body with pain and requiring her to be hospitalised.
She received financial support from NKF and a new job as a part-time saleswoman. It was during this period that she realised she needed to upgrade herself through education.
Last October, NKF awarded Ms Wong its Smile and Encouragement Award, given to patients who encourage others to stay positive.
In the same period, Kaplan launched its Bright Future Scholarship for ITE graduates and O- and N-level students in adversity who wish to pursue further education. Kaplan contacted organisations such as NKF to recommend individuals, and NKF picked Ms Wong.
Last month, she won the scholarship worth about $6,000.
She is still in shock about how quickly everything progressed, and frequently said she is "very lucky".
Her health is still not perfect, but she feels much better, and said she does not have much to complain about. "I've always believed your mindset has to be very positive for you to achieve what you want."
Applications for the Bright Future Scholarship are open till Feb 8.
josehong@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 23, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Ask any former Cedar girl about her time at school, and it will not be long before she tells you about the mandatory jogging sessions.
Said Ms Tan Ee Sze, 52, who did long-distance running at Cedar in the 1970s: "A lot of us became used to running, not that we liked it."
Ms Tan, a technology news editor, added: "If you had an MC, but were still able to walk, you were expected to walk one round around the track with the teacher."
No one wanted that, so they would run any way.
Back then, the girls had to jog two rounds around the school's 400m track every school day.
Athletes from Cedar Girls' Secondary at a recent training session. In the almost 50 years since 1968, the school has clinched 40 “B” and “C” division championships in the National Inter-School Track and Field Championships.Photo: The Straits Times
The school, which is into its 60th year, has kept the tradition alive - only now, the girls circle the school compound twice, during one to two jogging periods every week.
Cedar Girls' Secondary has long been known for its track and field excellence. In the almost 50 years since 1968, it has clinched 40 "B" and "C" division championships in the National Inter-School Track and Field Championships.
One factor behind its success is a 400m track - originally made of bitumen, and the first of its kind for a government school when it was completed in 1972.
The iconic track, located in a parcel of land behind the school, will make way for the new Bidadari estate when the school's lease on the track expires at the end of the year.
Many have fond memories of the track. Ms Lenis Phoa, 23, who represented Singapore in volleyball in the 2015 SEA Games, said: "When students go back, it's the one spot they choose to take a picture at."
Cedar Girls’ Secondary School students at the 1998 National Inter-School Track and Field Championships at the National Stadium. Photo: Cedar Girls' Secondary School
Cedar girls held fun fairs and walkathons to raise $250,000 for the track, which used to be part of the school until it moved to an adjacent site in 1994. Still, the track and the tiered seats next to it, previously a hang-out for students busy with homework or drama rehearsals, were left in place. Around 2009, the tier seats were removed when the school was upgraded.
The school also has a 110m track, which is being extended into a 280m circuit track by June.
Cedar has produced many top athletes, including former national netball team captain Jean Ng; Singapore Sports School's deputy director for sports Chan Wai Lin; and Maimoon Mohd Abu Bakar, one of Singapore's athletics pioneers.
The school, equipped with two sports halls, a student gym and outdoor basketball and netball courts, also offers badminton, basketball, netball, table tennis and volleyball.
Cedar alumna Desiree Tan flanked by current student Joleen Ho and fellow alumna Tan Xin Ning (far right) during training. Current and former students train together under an alliance among Cedar, Victoria School and Victoria Junior College to share facilities and coaches.Photo: The Straits Times
The teacher behind the legendary jogging sessions is retired sports coach N. Subramaniam, who was at Cedar from 1961 to 1976. Said the 79-year-old: "It helps develop aerobic fitness. It becomes a lifestyle." Sure enough, old girls like Ms Tan still meet up regularly to run together and race.
But building a strong athletic culture was never just about the track. Caring teachers played a part, too.
Seeing that some girls were undernourished, Mr Subramaniam got the school to supplement their diet with milk, eggs and multi-vitamins.
As the track and field team grew from strength to strength, it became a big source of school pride.
During national championships, the entire school would go down to the old National Stadium, showing support in a roaring sea of blue.
Singapore's record holder for pole vaulting Rachel Yangremembers what it was like at the old National Stadium in 1998 when she took part in a relay. "It was electrifying. They brought drums, there were so many of them we could only hear the Cedar girls cheering. Our competitors were intimidated."
Ms Yang, 34, who did athletics, badminton and volleyball at Cedar, added: "It was very competitive, but the teachers taught us very well how to handle stress."
As early as the 1970s, all Secondary 1 students have had to go through track and field trials so anyone with potential is spotted.
The 120-strong track and field group is a close-knit community. The girls go out together and help one another with schoolwork.
Said department head for PE and co-curricular activities Chai Ying Chung, 53: "Even though it is an individual sport, they treat one another as a team."
Former throws captain Desiree Tan, 17, now at Victoria Junior College, said: "The juniors push the seniors, and the seniors push the juniors. Competition is within the team before it's with other schools' athletes." She returns to her alma mater to train, thanks to an alliance it has with Victoria School and VJC to share facilities and coaches.
Ms Phoa also returns once a month to help with training.
"There's a very strong sense of pride about being part of the school... You feel you are part of something much bigger," she said.
tohwenli@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 23, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
It appears that spending nearly four years in Singapore has left a deep impression on former United States Ambassador Kirk Wagar.
Mr Wagar vacated his post and left the the city-state last week just hours before US President Donald Trump was inaugurated. He was among 80 envoys who have been shown the door, after the new president's decision that all politically-appointed ambassadors leave their posts by noon on Jan 20.
Prior to his departure, Mr Wagar and his wife Crystal recorded a video message in which he paid a heartfelt tribute to Singapore.
"I just want to thank you. Thank you that you've opened your homes, you've opened your hearts, and taken the time to teach not just me, but all of the American community here, a little bit more about the special sauce that makes Singapore what it is," he said.
In a Facebook post on Jan 20, Mr Trump's inauguration day, the US Embassy Singapore also shared a Facebook post showing photos of the Wagars' departure, with Mr Wagar clad in an 'Obama' T-shirt.
We bid a fond farewell to Ambassador and Mrs. Wagar and their daughters as they departed Singapore today.
Please join us in wishing them bon voyage and all the best in their future endeavors!
Mr Wagar was first named to the post in 2013, and is credited with helping to make possible the State Dinner that President Barack Obama hosted for Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year.
He was in Singapore when a number of notable local events took place, including the deaths of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former president S R Nathan, as well as 2015's General Election.
During his time here, Mr Wagar also developed a taste for local fare. In 2014, the ambassador and his wife were wowed after trying bak kut teh for the first time. More recently, he waxed lyrical about local seafood. "It blew my mind. This was some of the best food I had eaten," he said.
According to The Straits Times, the US has two types of ambassadors - career diplomats and political appointees, who are trusted confidants the US president and who are sent to critical posts.
Mr Wagar, who is close to President Obama and helped him win the state of Florida in previous presidential elections, is a political appointee.
By contrast, US ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir, who had only assumed office earlier in January, is a career diplomat and has not been fired by Mr Trump, The Star reported.
British newspaper The Independent noted that while it is common policy for politically-appointed ambassadors to resign at the start of a new administration, it is less common to have no replacements in line.
The US embassy Singapore is now headed by Stephanie Syptak-Ramnath, who is Charge d'Affaires, ad interim, according to the embassy's website.
315988
2016-06-03 14:33:14
Photo Gallery
PM Lee Hsien Loong and former PM Lee Kuan Yew given US state dinner honour
Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) has clarified that an online report which warns against strawberry-flavoured drugs here was not issued by authorities.
A drug scare which has persisted worldwide through the years, strawberry-flavoured methamphetamine or "strawberry quick", has not been found in Singapore, CNB said.
The advisory being circulated online states that flavoured methamphetamine is targeted at children, and tells parents to warn their children about taking things offered to them by strangers.
Despite these rumours, there have been no instances of "strawberry quick" found here.
"We would like to inform the public that the advisory on 'strawberry quick' did not come from CNB. CNB has not come across any cases of strawberry-flavoured methamphetamine in Singapore in recent years," CNB said in a statement.
Nonetheless, parents should remind their children about the harmfulness of drugs, the authority said.
"Unscrupulous traffickers may seek to disguise the harmful nature of drugs by making them look like candy or foodstuff," it added.
SINGAPORE - They are abandoned, neglected and often feared.
The sad state of Singapore's stray dogs is the reason why Dr Siew Tuck Wah is committed to SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs).
The 37-year-old aesthetic doctor is president of SOSD, an organisation set up in 2011 and now has 400 volunteers.
There are an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 stray dogs in Singapore, says Dr Siew, who has been volunteering with SOSD since 2012.
The shelter rescues about 30 dogs a month and rehomes around 20.
In this episode of video series Heroes Among us, he talks about the challenges of dealing with Singapore's stray dog problem.
"The Government's way of dealing with the stray dog problem previously was to catch and cull, but you can't catch and cull faster than they reproduce. So if you don't rescue and sterilise them, the problem will perpetuate," says Dr Siew.
SOSD receives two to five calls a day alerting them to a stray dog sighting. They have rescued more than 1,000 dogs over the past five years.
The organisation spends close to $80,000 a month, mostly on medical bills because a lot of the dogs in the animal shelter in Pasir Ris are sick.
"For these dogs, it's not about having a good life. All they want is to have shelter, food and just to live," he says.
A dog rescuer, who was filmed punching and kicking his pet husky, has been fined $8,000 for animal cruelty and breaching dog licensing rules.
Alan Chiam Choon San, 41, had punched and kicked his pet husky in his residence last May. The incident, where he also "held the dog up in mid-air in a choking position", was caught on camera by a neighbour who then shared the footage online.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said in a statement that the dog suffered no external injuries as a result of the attack. An abrasion found on the dog could not be conclusively linked to any act of cruelty.
Investigations revealed that Chiam had also breached dog licensing rules by keeping more that three dogs at his home.
Chiam told The New Paper in an interview last year that he and his wife took in 36 dogs at one point. They had to rent a terrace house when neighbours at their HDB block complained, the newspaper reported. He eventually quit his job to care for dogs full time.
The husky seen in the video is currently under the care of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and will be re-homed.
Photo: AVA
People who are convicted of animal cruelty for the first time can be fined up to $15,000 and can also be jailed for 18 months.
Those found to have breached dog licensing & control rules can be fined up to $5,000.
Businesses at Chinese New Year festive bazaars have been hit this year by a triple whammy - wet weather, a poor economic outlook and the festival's proximity to the Gregorian new year.
Mr Ang Cheng Hoy, 70, who sells festive decorations such as God of Fortune figurines in Chong Pang, said takings have fallen by 20 per cent from last year, as customers tighten their belts.
More are doing so as bonuses are down, and the economic outlook is gloomy.
Heavy rain yesterday morning also dampened sales, but Mr Ang is optimistic that business will pick up in the four days before the start of Chinese New Year on Saturday.
"If customers don't come today, they will come tomorrow because they have to buy decorations for the new year," he said.
Nearby, two large tents selling festive lanterns and couplets attracted few customers. Owner Ker Yong Sen, 35, estimated that takings would fall by 70 per cent to 80 per cent if the rain continues.
The weather forecast is not rosy - the last two weeks of this month are expected to be wetter than the first fortnight, though the month's overall rainfall is expected to be slightly below normal.
375150
2017-01-24 10:30:20
Photo Gallery
Multiple flash floods across island after downpour
Business was already poorer than expected, said Mr Ker. "People do buy, but they have been buying less because of the poor economy. And these days, young people don't buy decorations any more; my customers are mostly the older ones."
That the start of the Chinese New Year is within a month of the Gregorian one also spells bad news for retailers, as families may have to spend on things like new school supplies and less on other items.
Over at Chinatown, Ms Guo Xiao Cui, 34, who sells children's clothes at a festive bazaar in Temple Street, estimated that the crowds have halved because of the rain.
But rain or not, Madam Tan Kok Wah, 63, took the train from her home in Bukit Panjang to a bazaar next to People's Park Complex yesterday, where she shopped for Chinese couplets.
Waving away concerns about the rain, she said: "My sandals are a bit wet, but I am a hawker, I am used to wet floors. It is my day off, so I wanted to experience the festive atmosphere here."
mellinjm@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 24, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
The question "What if Singapore has to choose between China and the United States?" featured prominently at a conference yesterday.
Professor Joseph Liow, dean of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said it is unlikely Singapore will reach that crossroad.
China's growing clout in the Asia-Pacific, and concerns that America's engagement with the region will weaken should it turn inward, had led some observers to wonder whether countries in the region will have to take sides at some point.
However, Prof Liow noted, among other factors, that the scope of bilateral relations between the US and China has expanded.
Both countries share a complex relationship with intertwining interests, which have expanded beyond trade and exchange rate issues to include topics such as territorial disputes, climate change and counter-terrorism efforts, he pointed out.
China will not want the US to "entirely disengage from the region", and neither does the US want to do so, Prof Liow told the annual Singapore Perspectives conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies.
Singapore has long maintained that it does not want to choose between powers.
Still, Prof Liow noted that recent developments in Malaysia and the Philippines have been portrayed as the countries making a choice.
At another panel, Education Minister (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung was asked about some of the hardest policy choices within the PAP.
He cited the shifting geopolitical landscape as one issue.
Meanwhile, Banyan Tree executive chairman Ho Kwon Ping said Singapore could face its first major crisis if relations between the US and China worsen to a point where it has to pick a side.
Should Singapore ever have to make a choice, said Prof Liow, it will need to consider these terms:
First, the choice must be based on national interest, and not on countries. It should also not be made "at gunpoint", he said.
The superpower should also not interfere in domestic politics, though ensuring this will pose a challenge for the government of the day, he said.
Singapore also needs to be mindful of how other countries will interpret its move.
Prof Liow also highlighted two other points to keep in mind - that other Asean states are also navigating the same dilemma, and that there are other major players who have a hand in determining the state of regional affairs - such as Japan, Australia and Russia.
What Singapore should do, said Prof Liow, is to "look into diversifying engagement ... with external players of consequence in regional affairs".
Luxury carmakers Bentley Motors and Audi have successfully got the trademarks of other companies revoked, with their court actions shedding light on a unique feature of trademark law.
At issue in both cases is whether a registered trademark has been used commercially for a continuous period of five years after registration - failing which, it could be challenged by others and revoked in court.
The lack of continuous use was what Bentley Motors sought to prove in its bid to revoke a trademark bearing the name "Bentley", which had been registered by Aucera, a manufacturer of eyewear and other products.
The Swiss-based company had owned the trademark under Class Nine of the Registry of Trade Marks here, for its eyewear products, including spectacles cases and frames.
The marks for various goods and services are categorised under 45 classes, with marks for optical instruments - including eyewear - registered under Class Nine.
Bentley Motors made its move after efforts to register its trademark for the same class of goods stalled in March 2014 because Aucera held the mark.
Eight months later, Bentley Motors applied to the trademarks registrar to revoke Aucera's mark. It reapplied to register its trademark in April 2015, but failed again.
Bentley Motors' lawyers William Ong and Amanda Soon argued that Aucera had not used the mark for five continuous years and there was no proper reason for its non-use.
But Aucera, through lawyers Gillian Tan and Mark Teng, countered that the mark had been genuinely used for goods sold in the five years preceding Bentley Motors' 2014 application.
Aucera's best evidence comprised an imported consignment of 228 items worth US$6,370 (S$9,050), as well as two sales on a single day to local retailers, which involved 30 out of the 228 imported items.
But principal assistant registrar Tan Mei Lin, in her decision grounds last November, said Aucera's case fell "on the wrong side of the line" as the evidence shown was insufficient.
She found the evidence "sorely lacking in detail and specificity", adding that it was unclear whether the goods imported into Singapore were of unspecified brands or were goods with the mark in question.
Separately, German automobile manufacturer Audi succeeded in revoking the "AOne" trademark owned by spare parts trader Lim Ching Kwang for all his products except for one in the Class 12 goods of the trademarks registry, a category which includes fittings in vehicles.
Audi filed an application in March 2015 to revoke Mr Lim's trademark, which bears the same name as one of its car models, A1.
The carmaker's lawyers Eunice Maaland and Jolena Ang argued there was no genuine use of the trademark by Mr Lim for five years after it was registered in 2010.
But Mr Lim argued that the AOne brand was his way of providing non-branded spare parts as an alternative to the competitive branded spare parts market.
The Class 12 mark applied to nearly 400 items that he registered, including various transport-related machines, appliances and tyres.
Ms Tan, after considering all submissions, found that the AOne mark had been genuinely used only in relation to the sale of torque rod bushes, which are used to cushion joints and prevent shocks in a moving vehicle.
She pointed to quotations, purchase orders and payments related to torque rod bushes branded with the AOne mark.
"The use is clearly not token, sham or internal and there is no question of hidden motive behind the use," said Ms Tan, in her decision grounds issued last week.
But she said Mr Lim "has not shown genuine use of any other goods in the registration" and ruled that the trademark registration for all other items - except torque rod bushes - would be revoked.
vijayan@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 24, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Babies with eczema - the medical condition that causes patches of dry, itchy skin - are three times more likely to get tooth decay as they grow up, a local study has found.
Doctors surmised that "structural defects", occurring when a baby is being formed in its mother's womb, could be the biological mechanism behind both conditions.
Doctors, commenting on the study, believe this is the first time a link between these two common childhood diseases has been discovered.
The study was a collaboration between the National University of Singapore's dentistry faculty and the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences at the Agency for Science, Technology and Research.
It was published in the Journal Of Allergy And Clinical Immunology earlier this month.
Researchers interviewed the parents of more than 500 infants to determine whether their offspring had eczema.
The babies also underwent skin prick tests for common allergies.
They were then divided into three groups: those who tested positive and had eczema, those who were diagnosed with eczema but tested negative, and those with no eczema at all.
The children returned for check-ups at ages two and three, when doctors looked at their oral health.
Researchers found that the children who had both eczema and positive skin prick tests were three times more likely to have tooth decay.
Both conditions are fairly common here. Eczema affects around one in five children of school age, while around two in five preschool children have tooth decay.
The study, part of a broader project involving over 1,200 Singaporean families, intends to map out how genes and the environment can affect children as they grow up.
"Our latest findings will give parents and caregivers of babies with eczema early warning of increased risk of developing tooth decay in toddlers," said Dr Stephen Hsu, an associate professor at the NUS dentistry faculty, and one of the authors of the study. "Regular dental check-ups can then be conducted to help minimise the incidence of tooth decay in these children."
The researchers are now conducting genetic analysis to confirm the biological mechanism responsible for their findings, and also looking at the link between tooth decay and other childhood diseases.
More work needs to be done before the eczema-management guidelines are re-evaluated, said Dr Mark Koh, who heads the dermatology service at KK Women's and Children's Hospital.
He said: "In general, parents should establish good dental hygiene habits for their children from young, to prevent tooth decay."
linettel@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 24, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
Singapore's free trade agreement with the European Union is yet to be ratified, but already the economic community is gearing up for a fresh deal with the EU's soon-to-be former member - Britain.
Bilateral trade between Singapore and Britain might be small, but longstanding ties between the two nations will give such an agreement a level of significance when it gets to the negotiating table, experts said.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong told the BBC last Friday that Singapore would sign a trade deal with Britain after it exits the EU.
His remarks followed those made by British High Commissioner to Singapore Scott Wightman, who said last Wednesday that Britain is ready to explore deeper collaborations with Singapore in areas such as data science, smart cities and healthcare.
OCBC economist Selena Ling noted that areas of traditional collaboration, such as financial services, business and legal services and education, will likely be important areas of discussion as well.
IE Singapore data shows that total trade between Singapore and Britain amounted to about $11.5 billion last year, or 1.36 per cent of Singapore's total international trade.
This may be a small figure, but there is still a lot about Britain that will interest the business community, and vice versa, noted CIMB economist Song Seng Wun.
He said: "There are many Singapore companies with operations and investments there, including household names such as GIC and Temasek Holdings. British companies, in turn, see Singapore as a gateway to the region."
Still, Ms Ling noted that there is still much uncertainty before the two countries even get to the negotiating table.
"Prime Minister Theresa May has a lot on her plate. The UK Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether she can even begin the talks to leave the EU," she noted.
Mr Song agreed, noting that talks on a free trade deal can happen only years from now, once Britain has completed its divorce from the EU. He added: "This could be more than two years down the road."
The EU is Singapore's third-largest trading partner.
The EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement involves the EU eliminating tariffs on all imports from Singapore.
Singapore exporters of electronics, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and processed food products stand to benefit in particular.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam is visiting Germany, Brussels and Britain.
He flew to Stuttgart, Germany, yesterday, and will return on Jan 30.
yasminey@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 24, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
A serial cheat tricked his victim of about $463,000 over a period of seven months by cooking up stories of his mother being terminally ill, his daughter being kidnapped overseas, his mistress threatening to expose their affair, and his brother embezzling money.
Kelvin Kwan Ban Hock, 30, was a fitness trainer for civil servant Goh Wee Hou, 37, when he committed 40 cheating offences between August 2012 and March 2013.
Yesterday, Kwan was sentenced to a total of five years and two months' jail after he admitted to 15 counts of cheating as well as drug consumption and possession.
Assistant Public Prosecutor Thiagesh Sukumaran said the two men got to know each other in 2010, developed a close friendship after some time and began meeting outside the gym as well.
Kwan then began asking Mr Goh for money to deal with his personal and family problems, and the latter obliged.
"These claims were false and were designed to gain sympathy from the victim," said the prosecutor.
Between Oct 8 and 9, 2012, Kwan claimed his brother had gambled away $10,000 meant for his own school fees while trying to win money for their mother's medical expenses for leukaemia.
Mr Goh gave him $10,000 in cash, followed by another $74,000 that year after Kwan claimed that his mother was undergoing operations in Singapore and France.
Kwan also deceived the victim into giving him $16,000 to repay a loan from his girlfriend "June", who had threatened to inform his wife of their extramarital affair.
In December 2012, Kwan claimed his bone marrow was diagnosed as failing and he needed help with his medical expenses.
Mr Goh gave him $17,200.
Mr Goh also gave at least $80,000 to Kwan to cover his brother's alleged embezzlement case in February 2013.
Between March 25 and 27, 2013, Kwan told Mr Goh his daughter had been kidnapped in Hanoi, Vietnam and managed to get a loan of $32,000 for an alleged US$200,000 ransom.
Kwan was arrested at Changi Airport on June 10 last year. He was found to have taken methamphetamine or Ice, and had a cannabis mixture in his possession.
APP Sukumaran said Kwan had borrowed moneyfor his overspending and gambling.
District Judge Wong Li Tein said the offences were all "opportunistic".
She said Kwan had got himself into this mess and should not expect any leniency from the court as he had taken advantage of the victim's kindness and generosity. No restitution has been made.
Kwan could have been jailed for up to 10 years and fined on each charge of cheating.
As Chinese New Year approaches, travellers can expect longer waiting times and tight security checks at the land checkpoints, the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said in an advisory on Tuesday (Jan 24).
ICA said that traffic through the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints is expected to build up over the week and become particularly heavy from Thursday (Jan 26) to next Tuesday (Jan 31).
The number of travellers using the land checkpoints is also projected to increase from 400,000 to 430,000 during the peak period.
Graphic: Immigration & Checkpoints Authority
For a smooth journey, ICA reminded travellers to ensure that their passports have a remaining validity of six months or longer.
They should not bring in prohibited items such as firecrackers, while controlled items including 'bak kwa', eggs and potted plants are subject to allowance only from approved countries.
Before embarking on their journey, motorists can also check the traffic situation at both land checkpoints using LTA's Expressway Monitoring & Advisory System (EMAS) installed along the AYE and BKE respectively.
For more details, visit the ICA website at www.ica.gov.sg.
Ikea Singapore has issued a precautionary recall for its Mysingso beach chair, after it received five reports of the chair collapsing during use.
The reports received involved injuries to users' fingers which required medical attention. The affected customers were from Finland, Germany, USA, Denmark and Australia.
In a statement, Ikea said that it was possible for users to re-assemble the chair incorrectly after removing the fabric seat for washing.
While no known incidents have been reported in Singapore, the Swedish company which sells ready-to-assemble furniture says it will be offering refunds to customers who bought the Mysingso beach chair before Jan 31 this year.
Proof of purchase is not required for a refund.
Ikea added that the Mysingso beach chair had been put through "relevant mechanical, fabric and chemical tests with approved result".
Concerned customers may call Ikea at 6786 6868 for more information.
SINGAPORE - After two months of being detained in Hong Kong, the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) nine Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles will finally be returned to Singapore.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) revealed on Jan 24 that Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying had informed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that investigations were completed, and that the vehicles would soon be released together with other SAF equipment.
"Prime Minister Lee has replied to Chief Executive Leung to thank him for Hong Kong's co-operation in resolving this matter," MFA said.
The nine vehicles were seized by Hong Kong authorities while in transit on Nov 23 last year. According to the Ministry of Defence, the vehicles were being transported back to Singapore by a commercial vessel operated by APL after an exercise in Taiwan.
SINGAPORE - Universal Studios Singapore USS reached a new milestone on Tuesday (Jan 24) morning when it welcomed its 25 millionth visitor, seven years after it first opened its doors.
The visitor Ms Eun Ji Kim and her travel companion Ms Seon Mi Hwang, both 19-year-old high school students from Gyeong Ju, South Korea, were surprised with a red carpet welcome and greeted by USS' character mascots.
They were also given a VIP tour and a USS merchandise hamper.
To mark the milestone, USS is launching a Silver Milestone promotion package at $138 from now till March 19. The package includes one-day tickets for two adults as well as photo, retail and F&B vouchers worth up to $55.
A new heritage trail of the 200-year-old Little India enclave has been launched by the National Heritage Board (NHB).
It is NHB's 16th trail and the first official one for the historic enclave, reported The Straits Times.
The 4km route features more than 40 sites and 18 markers.
Little India Heritage TrailPhoto: National Heritage Board, TNP Graphics
Previously, there were just markers by the Singapore Tourism Board.
Among the attractions are the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, Racecourse Road and Foochow Methodist Church.
At Race Course Road, visitors will learn that the area once served as a rifle range, a polo field and a golf course in the 1870s to 1890s.
NHB also developed three thematic routes called Serangoon in the 1900s, Walk of Faiths and Shop Till You Drop.
"We did this to cater to the varied tastes of tourists with different time constraints," said Mr Alvin Tan, NHB's assistant chief executive of policy and community.
The public can download the trail brochure and map from NHB's websiteRoots.sg.
This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
At 15, Jameen had cancer, then a blood clot in her brain left her immobile, but her family stays strong
It is the third year her youngest daughter is unable to attend school, but Ms Cecilia Ng is still dutifully paying the school fees.
The 45-year-old hopes to keep her daughter's place in school until she can return to complete her O levels.
Her youngest daughter, Jameen Chong, who turns 18 today, is in a "persistent vegetative state".
A blood clot in the teenager's brain had stripped her of her mobility, motor control and central function overnight.
"I was stunned. I was thinking, 'Why my daughter?' I was worried and didn't know what was going to happen or what I was going to do," said Ms Ng, who has two older daughters aged 21 and 23.
The family's nightmare began with Jameen's acute lymphoblastic leukaemia diagnosis in September 2014.
A month later, a blood clot formed in her brain. It took a few hours before doctors operated on Jameen. Her blood count had been too low for surgery, Ms Ng explained.
"Those few hours, my mind was a blank. I didn't know what to do. I could only keep crying and praying," she said.
By the time doctors operated on Jameen, part of her brain stem had already been damaged.
That Jameen was a sporty girl - she loved dancing, basketball and cycling - made the news even harder to stomach for the family.
Watching videos of the teen happily dancing or singing will bring about mixed feelings for Ms Ng.
"Sometimes, I tell myself I would rather not watch those videos so I won't miss her so much," she said quietly.
Jameen was referred to Make-A-Wish Foundation (Singapore) by the Children's Cancer Foundation's branch at KK Women's and Children's Hospital last November.
When volunteers from Make-A-Wish visited Jameen and her family, they learnt that her dream had always been to become a journalist, visiting developing countries, reporting on war-related issues and getting her reports published.
Ms Cecilia Ng (far right) with Jameen, her older daughters Jeannette and Janice (with mask) and her helper.Photo: Courtesy of Janice Chong
HER JOURNALS
In her journals, she documented her treatment journey and even wrote that she wanted "to be a 'hero' to defeat cancer and end the suffering for everyone suffering from cancer".
To make her wish come true on her birthday, which is today, The New Paper has put her words into a column. (See report at right.)
The family has seen some bright spots in the situation. Ms Ng told TNP that Jameen's leukaemia count has gone down despite not going through chemotherapy after she developed the blood clot.
Said Ms Ng: "Even the doctors were surprised. The only thing they could say was, 'Your prayers worked'. That gave me some confidence. I couldn't do anything, so the only thing I could do was pray."
Hiring a helper to look after Jameen gave Ms Ng the peace of mind to return to her real estate job six months later.
"I could throw everything aside and cry all day if I wanted to. But I didn't, the whole family was depending on me.
"If I did that, things would have been worse," said the single mother.
At her second daughter Janice's encouragement, Ms Ng started planning leisure activities, such as badminton and other sports, in her life again.
Looking at Jameen fondly, Ms Ng said in a mock-serious voice: "Unless you can tell me, 'I want to eat this, I want to eat that' and make me busy, I will just ignore you and go out."
Jameen merely stirred a little in bed.
Said Ms Ng: "I believe Jameen can hear us talking."
The doctors, too, cannot give any answers.
Despite the uncertainty, Ms Ng is not giving up. To her, every little bit of improvement is a step towards recovery.
She said: "At her worst, she was very pale and always vomiting. Now, at least she has rosy cheeks. To me, it is improvement."
She is now looking for other medical opinions for Jameen.
"I can only do what I can and leave the rest to Him... Maybe there is a reason she has stayed on instead of passing away.
"Maybe she can share photos of her journey to recovery and help others who suffer through her experience," said Ms Ng.
Why I want to be a journalist
Jameen Chong
Many people toy with different ambitions as they grow up.
But I've known I wanted to be a journalist since I was in primary school. I can't quite explain why I have this conviction.
Perhaps I was unwittingly influenced by my grandparents, who had a voracious appetite for news and current affairs.
As a child, I would sit beside them in the living room to watch the news on television every day.
My mother praised me for taking a keen interest in current affairs at such a young age. She even told my older sisters to learn from me. But they probably thought I was weird and didn't have better ways to spend my time.
As I got older, I grew to enjoy outdoor activities such as cycling and basketball.
I love dancing too.
But contrary to my family's expectation, I never grew out of my dream to be a journalist.
They should have known. Once I set my mind on something, I stick to it.
I love reading and writing.
I am not the sort to share my thoughts openly, so scribbling in my journal is a great way for me to reflect on my daily life.
When I saw the news on how Japan was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami, I found myself wondering what it would be like to travel to disaster-torn cities and give a voice to those who are suffering. Or perhaps a developing country like Africa, where I could give a voice to the less fortunate.
I've got it all worked out. My next step will be to complete a mass communication course at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
Meanwhile, having my first byline in The New Paper will have to suffice.
Jameen Chong
As Jameen is unable to pen these thoughts herself, we have taken the liberty of putting a column together based on interviews with her family members.
fjieying@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on Jan 25, 2017.
Get The New Paper for more stories.
Employers hoping to hire domestic workers from the Philippines can lend them up to $1,100 to cover their expenses.
The helpers should use only up to half of their monthly salaries to repay the loan.
The new payment structure, which takes effect immediately, is meant to provide more clarity for workers and employers, said Association of Employment Agencies (Singapore) president K. Jayaprema.
"In the past, no one talked about the actual amount needed. We feel this is a sensible figure and should make the costs lighter and clearer, for employers as well," she said.
The latest guidelines are the result of about four years of discussions between her association and the Philippine-based Association of Licensed Recruitment Agencies to Singapore, along with the Philippine government, she added.
Singapore has about 237,100 foreign domestic workers, and around 70,000 are from the Philippines.
Under the new scheme, it is up to the domestic workers to decide how to use the cash advance, which can be provided by employers, agents or other institutions.
The associations found that the costs of preparing to work here, which include charges for pre-employment training, medical examinations and getting a passport, add up to about $1,100.
Employers here would still cover the agency fees.
Previously, employment agents would specify a lump sum for employers to pay, which includes a loan as well as fees charged by the Philippines recruitment agency and the local employment agency.
The numbers could vary significantly and go up to over $3,000 in fees, while domestic workers could spend up to seven months with almost all their wages deducted to cover a portion of the charges.
Yesterday, about 150 agents attended a briefing on the changes at the Civil Service Club in Tessensohn Road, where they had a dialogue with Philippine Embassy labour attache Ramon Pastrana.
Mr Pastrana said that while the new scheme is a private arrangement, the Philippine Overseas Labour Office at the embassy here is supportive and will continue to act against agencies if there are any complaints about overcharging.
He also stressed that it is illegal for Filipino domestic workers to be charged placement fees to work abroad.
"This initiative is not a reason for agencies here to just go charge any salary deduction from the worker," he said.
"The $1,100 is just a cap for the workers, to cover whatever they need in the Philippines. If the workers say they don't need that, then there is no need for the two agencies to have a repayment scheme."
Mr Yeo Guat Kwang, chairman of the Centre for Domestic Employees, said the move to study and set out the costs domestic workers face before going abroad to work is welcome.
"The market has been charging more than that and there is a lack of transparency, so this is one step forward towards making it clearer and also establishing a cap," he said.
Nation Employment director Lim Chee Chong said the new scheme also helps to level the playing field among maid agencies.
"Now, we shouldn't see any... agencies charging employers very low fees but transferring the costs to the domestic workers," he said.
joseow@sph.com.sg
This article was first published on January 25, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
The global beauty industry is often referred to as "recession-proof", given man's never-ending yearning to unlock the fountain of youth.
But in Singapore, it also happens to be an industry that is competitive, dominated by international skincare and cosmetic juggernauts including Clinique from the United States, Japan's SK-II and Laneige from South Korea.
Despite the cut-throat environment, in the past four years, the local market has seen a gradual but definitive new wave of smaller home-grown entrants, all of whom are hoping to score in the big leagues like their uber-successful local predecessors - Skin Inc and Strip.
Local entrepreneur Sabrina Tan's Skin Inc became the first local skincare label to be stocked internationally at Sephora in 2013.
Home-grown waxing services brand Strip, which was started in 2002 and is under the Spa Esprit Group, today has a presence in 10 major capitals including London, New York and Beijing.
At least 15 local beauty and skincare brands have jumped into the fray in the past four years to varying levels of success.
The appeal of starting their own label despite Singapore's competitive beauty scene stems from the industry being an untapped market for local beauty brands, the brands' founders say.
"It's undoubtedly an area that still has potential - especially for products that are being created to target Asian skin and our unique climate," says Mr Keith Codling, who is in his 40s and the co-founder of Alexiares & Ani, a botanical skincare label he launched with his wife Dawn in 2013.
"We started our brand because we wanted to create products suited for the tropics which don't really exist despite there being so many brands on the market."
And indeed, it seems that personal quests for the right products pushed many local entrepreneurs onto the scene.
Ms Teresa Foo, 40, who founded natural skincare label Balm Kitchen in 2013, set out to create body balms to help her son who had childhood eczema.
Ms Tanny Kea, 46, founder of home spa line Javaglow, which was launched in 2014, started making her own coffee-based scrubs because hormonal tests five years ago showed her body age was years older than her real age.
It does not hurt that Singapore's beauty scene continues to be very lucrative.
An analysis last year by consultancy RNCOS showed that the country's beauty industry is set to grow by a compounded annual rate of 5 per cent between last year and 2020.
A study by market research company Euromonitor also found that with premium beauty gaining momentum, consumers were increasingly willing to spend on niche, luxury and bespoke beauty brands.
For Ms Caryn Lim, 29, co-founder of Coat nail polish, Singapore's first line of eight-free nail paint, which is formulated without many of the conventional chemicals found in nail polishes, the educated consumer is very much the reason for the success of her brand, which she launched in 2013.
"These days, consumers have access to the Internet and know about ingredients and formulations," she says. "They are more likely to be willing to spend money on products that are natural or organic and non-toxic - a niche area where many local beauty entrepreneurs are thriving."
Larger retailers are also taking notice.
Five years ago, shoppers would be hard-pressed to find local beauty brands in big department stores, but today, local retailers such as Robinsons, Tangs and Isetan stock local beauty labels such as Faux Fayc, Katfood and DrGL.
Ms Eunice Kwan, senior merchandising manager at Robinsons, says it has been in partnership with DrGL since 2010 and has the brand's counters at its stores in The Heeren, Raffles City and Jem.
On their part, consumers also seem to be jumping on the buy- local bandwagon.
Ms Amanda Liew, 31, who is a big fan of the roll-on perfumes from local aromatherapy label Mmerci Encore, says: "I prefer to put my money towards products that are not chock-full of chemicals and synthetic substances. More local brands these days are coming in to fill that void with products that are natural and organic.
"The quality of the product is what is important to me. The fact that I am able to support local brands as a result of my purchases is just the icing on the cake."
Despite the inroads made in the past four years though, the path for the home-grown beauty entrepreneur continues to be an uphill one.
Ms Tay Yu Hui, 26, founder of local cruelty-free, synthetic make-up brush brand 13rushes, says: "The lack of factories near Singapore can make the production of beauty products very expensive and daunting. Also, Singaporeans continue to be slightly sceptical of brands that are made locally."
The challenge of coming up with the right formulation for products can also be difficult, adds Ms Foo of Balm Kitchen.
To get up to speed, the former graphic designer spent the whole of 2014 studying for an online diploma in skincare from Britain-based online school Formula Botanica, where she is now a tutor.
"Singapore does not require mandatory testing of cosmetic products before they are sold on the market, so it is important that local entrepreneurs creating new brands understand the science behind their formulations," she says.
"It can be a lucrative industry, but getting the foundation right is key. After all, good products by local entrepreneurs will help the industry succeed as a whole."
ACTIVIST CREATES CRUELTY-FREE BRUSHES
Ms Tay Yu Hui chanced on a disturbing YouTube video a few years ago that showed animals being skinned to make animal-hair make-up brushes that spurred her to create 13rushes - a line of synthetic, cruelty-free brushes.Photo: The Straits Times
Ms Tay Yu Hui is very much a self-confessed make-up junkie.
But it was chancing on a disturbing YouTube video a few years ago that showed animals being skinned to make animal-hair make-up brushes that spurred her to create 13rushes - a line of synthetic, cruelty-free brushes.
"I, like most other people, never realised the link between fur and make-up brushes," says the 26-yearold.
"But to be honest, a lot of animal cruelty can be involved in sourcing bristles of hair from animals and that was a practice I wanted to be an activist against."
Realising that there was a gap in the local market for high-quality synthetic make-up brushes, the Nanyang Technological University accountancy and marketing graduate began a year and a half of research to find suppliers and factories that would be able to create her product.
"At first, I had to deal with various dud manufacturers - especially because I was just trying my luck and ordering from manufacturers off websites such as Alibaba," she says with a laugh.
But realising that they were not able to provide the quality she wanted, she decided to visit the factories herself, making numerous trips to trade fairs and factories in Japan and China, where she tested and felt the bristles of "hundreds of different types of brushes".
In the end, it was the technique of dipping brush heads in a special alkaline solution to make them softer and similar to real-hair bristles that she found was the key to giving her brushes the texture and density she wanted.
Feedback from focus groups comprising local and international make-up artists also helped her make the necessary revisions to improve the quality of her brushes.
In November 2013, after a low five-figure investment, she produced her first line of 20 brushes, ranging in price between $14 and $29.
Given positive feedback from well-known local make-up artists such as Larry Yeo, sales of the brushes from her online site took off almost immediately - allowing her to recoup her initial investment in just six months.
Three years on, she now has more than 60 types of brushes that she manufactures in China and Japan. And even though the cost of her bristles - which she imports from Germany and Japan - is quite high, she has kept the prices of her brushes the same over the years by doing all the packaging in Singapore by herself.
Her production quantity has also increased by leaps and bounds, going from just over 7,000 pieces for her first batch of brushes to more than 70,000 pieces annually today.
Besides being sold locally and internationally through her site, her brand is also sold to retailers in the Middle East, Brunei and Taiwan.
"It can be daunting to start in the local beauty industry because we don't have the factories for production available here and our population size is also rather small.
"But that being said, it has been great to see more entrepreneurs coming in and owning this space," she says.
"I still think there is a lot of potential in this industry for local entrepreneurs - especially if you are able to spot gaps and create products suited for the Asian market."
QUEST FOR PERFECT MASCARA LEADS TO MAKE-UP LABEL
It was the quest for the perfect fibre mascara that set the founders of local beauty brand Faux Fayc, Ms Eileen Poh and Ms Yuan Ng, on the path of entrepreneurship.Photo: The Straits Times
It was the quest for the perfect fibre mascara that set the founders of local beauty brand Faux Fayc, Ms Eileen Poh and Ms Yuan Ng, on the path of entrepreneurship.
"Back in 2014, fibre mascaras (mascaras that have fibres added to make lashes look longer and more volumised) were on trend. But because they were being created by brands from the West, the fibres were often of a light or white colour," says 25-year-old Ms Poh, who is behind the brand's first product launch. "What I wanted to create was a mascara with black fibres as those would blend better with Asian eyelashes."
Contacting laboratories in the United States, she spent six months creating a volumising and lengthening fibre mascara that was smudgeproof for Singapore's hot weather, while still being easy to remove with lukewarm water.
She gave her finalised formula to Ms Ng, her friend of 10 years, to test. The 30-year-old was sold and decided to come on board as a partner.
Their investment of $10,000 for their first 600-piece sample in November 2014 was something the two decided to take a gamble on.
"We thought we would just see if it sold and, if it didn't, we would just try to recoup our costs by selling the mascara at flea markets," Ms Poh says with a laugh.
But as it turns out, they had a winner. Within two months, they had not only turned profitable, but also had to put in repeat orders for more tubes of mascara.
"It was at that point that we decided, why stop at just one product? We wanted to create a brand that was designed for the Asian woman - with colours and formulations to suit our skin colours and climate," says Ms Ng, adding that Faux Fayc (pronounced Faux Face) is a subtle dig at putting on a full-face of make-up.
"There aren't that many local make-up labels and we wanted to create something bold and daring for women who love make-up."
And though they admit that it was an uphill battle researching chemical ingredients and learning about the right formulations to produce their products, they say finding the right laboratories to partner has been a big contributor to their success.
"Our labs guided us through the process and we've been able to learn more about the science of this industry with each new product we put out," says Ms Poh.
Since moving on to liquid matt lipsticks in May 2015, the pair have been rapidly expanding their paraben- and lead-free make-up range every few months - which now includes concealers, foundations, eyeshadows, blushers and make-up brushes which are produced by laboratories in the US and Canada.
Their products range from $15 for a make-up bag to $58 for a mattifying mousse foundation.
Their best-selling matt liquid lipstick line already has more than 20 colours, which they plan to expand to more than 50 by the end of the year.
In June last year, the women also cracked the competitive Orchard Road belt with their first 150 sq ft brick-and-mortar store at Plaza Singapura, designed in their signature dark and bold branding.
They were also approached by local department store Tangs in October last year and, following successful pop-up stores at Tangs in VivoCity, the brand will have a permanent counter there from May.
Ms Ng says of their journey as beauty entrepreneurs: "One of the biggest challenges was dealing with the scepticism that many Singaporeans have about local brands. When it comes to make-up, many still assume that international brands are better, but we hope local brands like Faux Fayc will one day also compete with the big boys."
GOING GLOBAL WITH JUST THREE PRODUCTS
Local skincare brand Allies of Skin is founded by Nicholas Travis.Photo: The Straits Times
Local skincare brand Allies of Skin was launched 10 months ago, but it has already made more than $540,000 in revenue.
Its founder Nicolas Travis puts this down to unrelenting efforts spent "repeatedly cold-calling international stockists".
The brand is now stocked on well-known online retailers such as farfetch.com and cultbeauty.com
The 29-year-old Singaporean's label has also become the first local beauty brand to be stocked at the physical stores of luxury retailers such as Space NK and Bloomingdale's in the United States, Canada and Britain.
It will also launch in Oh My Cream! stores in Paris this month and in Barneys in the US by March.
Next month, following a more than US$22,000 (S$31,200) order from luxury e-tailers Net-a-Porter and Mr Porter, it will become the first Singaporean brand on the highend e-commerce sites - joining the ranks of luxury beauty brands.
Mr Travis puts his success down to the unique selling points of his products - which he formulated himself.
The three in his line - the 1A All-Day Mask ($99), Molecular Saviour Toner Mist ($79) and 1A Overnight Mask ($129) - were launched last March and quickly became cult favourites.
His day mask is a blend of concentrated antioxidants light enough to wear under make-up and sunblock.
The alcohol-free mist, in turn, is designed to cling to skin cells to provide restorative properties for a longer time.
Mr Travis says of the brand's exponential growth: "I think it is a testament that good products know no borders.
"There has, for a long time, been a focus on products from the West, but I hope to prove that Singapore is just as capable of creating products that sell - and sell well."
His company broke even in nine months.
For the young entrepreneur, going on this path meant leaving his job in social media at Ogilvy & Mather, but Mr Travis says he would have it no other way.
"As someone who has suffered bad spates of teenage acne, starting a skincare line was always my dream," says the bachelor.
He wrote a detailed business plan for a skincare line as part of his master's thesis at the Grenoble Graduate School of Business in France.
"And even though I took on a job in social media because I needed to pay the bills, I wasn't feeling fulfilled. That's when I decided to bootstrap six figures in financing through savings and loans from my siblings to give Allies of Skin a shot."
Relying on extensive research into ingredients, international laboratories and financing that he had done while coming up with his business plan, Mr Travis - who also has a degree in pharmaceutical management - formulated his products using a concentrated blend of antioxidants including moringa seed extract and hyaluronic acid.
His products are made and tested by third-party testing laboratories in the US.
The deep-violet, unisex packaging on his products is a detail that is important to him.
"I feel that there is a lot of unnecessary gendering in the beauty industry when, in fact, the fundamental needs of our skin are very similar," he says.
"I want not only women to enjoy using these products, but also for men to feel comfortable pulling them out of their gym bags."
