Tan Kin Lian's Blog: Share an umbrella

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Share an umbrella

I am involved in a community development council that arranged a job fair for mature workers.

I took the MRT train to attend this job fair. It was raining heavily. I had to cross the road in the heavy rain. I did not have an umbrella.

An elderly person spoke to me, "Are you Mr Tan Kin Lian?". He offered to share his umbrella with me. He was attending the job fair to look for job opportunities.

He told me that he reads my blog regularly. I wish to thank him for his kindness.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...: Hi Mr.Tan,

I am pleasantly surprised to read your blog thanking the person who shared his unbrella with you during the heavy downpour on the morning on friday(27.7.07) That person is me who was on his way to the job fair held at the Jurong East Entertainent Centre.Your expression of thanks brightened up my day.
I remember on another occasion sometime in June this year at the crossing in front of Fairfield Primary School at Dover Road, the sky was filled with dark clouds and heavy rains were splashing from all sides.
The malay lady was waiting. Seeing that she had no brolly I gallantly offered one to her as I had brought two
after sending my grandchidren to the school. She was very happy and thanked me profusely.

Your blogs cover a wide range of topics. Its a pleasure to read your blogs.; July 28, 2007 1:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Insurance is like the umbrella. If that umbrella was broken with lots of holes you would have gotten wet.Many Singaporeans have broken umbrellas,under insured; inadequately insured.And when the umbrella is most needed it is found broken. It is too late.Many years have gone by and lost.Agents disappeared, who to look for for redress.
Let me tell you the reason. It is because insurance agents like to tell that par wholelife is good, with cash value, it is a saving. They didn't tell you what you should need. Why? because insurance with cash value pay more commission.
Now, they are selling limited premium, commission even higher.. You see, they don't talk about your protection, whether you have enough protection during raining days. What they sold you is like the broken umbrella with lots of holes.
Consumers ,wake up and be more informed and go to qualified financial planners for advice. If you have policies bought in the past seek second or third opinion or review to check if you have the correct plans and are adeqautely protected. Don't look at cash value, they are not enough for your needs. Don't console yourself that something is better than nothing.
Get an umbrella that can shelter you when it is needed.; July 28, 2007 8:20 PM
Khiat Han Hwee Adrian said...: Hi Mr Foo,

I hope you had a fruitful day at the job fair. It is great getting to know our seniors are engaging in the Internet world of knowledge.

With your technology savvy-ness, I believe you will land into a good job soon.; July 29, 2007 1:11 AM
Anonymous said...: Hi Anonymous "8:20PM",

I appreciate your kind reminder of the importance of insurance.

However, this is merely a thread about thanking someone who offered to share an umbrella. Trying too hard to sell services of finanical planners may only backfire.

I believe offering helpful advices which are relevant to the topic is the best way to both help consumers and to raise the industrial standard.; July 29, 2007 11:42 AM
Anonymous said...: Sorry, MrFoo, i have used the subject of your comment to illustrate the concept of insurance and there is no better time and place than using the subject of umbrella which is a good analogy ,to drive home
the message to the public to understand about insurance and its purposes.
There has been too many abuses and twisting about insurance and what it is for, of course, by you know who.
Time and again the public must be reminded so that they will not be conned by agents, especially agents who are exploiting insurance selling for thier own ends and without giving best value to customers.; July 29, 2007 2:08 PM
Thomas Phua's Blog said...: Mr Anonymous,
Please bring your trade some where else.; July 29, 2007 9:26 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Mr. Adrian Khiat,

Thanks. Yes I had a fruitful day at the job fair but due to heavy downpour the grounds were flooded making visits from booth to booth a bit inconvenient.
Being a senior citizen(68 years) I know it is not easy to land a job.; July 29, 2007 11:30 PM
Anonymous said...: Hi Anonymous,

Wow, I never realise that an umbrella can be used as an analogy to drive home the point of understanding of insurance and its purposes.From the reading of your comments I have a feeling that you have been conned into buying an insurance product that you found later to be inappropriate.Correct me if I am wrong.
If a person is not in the insurance line it is easy to fall into the trap of a glib agent.; July 30, 2007 12:17 AM
Thomas Phua's Blog said...: I suppose we have not arrived.

I mean to be a gracious society, there are lots of people who need to practice much grace, like this senior citizen.

Sharing an Umbrella does not cost one anything, but it brings out the joy of caring.

I am speaking for myself too.

Do we reflect on ourself, to make others happier and to practice such grace in every day life ?

- Thomas Phua; August 01, 2007 11:30 AM