18 Jul 2026 - The Sentinel Programme and BrainHack

The Sentinel Programme and BrainHack are premier digital talent development initiatives launched by Singapore’s defense establishment, including the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). Together, they form a comprehensive ecosystem to inspire, train, and mentor the next generation of cybersecurity and defense technology professionals. Javier had signed up for these programme on his own and had been attending Sentinel classes on Saturdays at Raffles Institution (RI).

Recently, he also participated in Brainhack, an immersive, annual digital technology learning festival open to students across Singapore, designed to showcase how cutting-edge technologies are applied to national defense. While cybersecurity is a massive pillar, BrainHack also deeply explores Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, cloud computing, and space technology.

Glad that he enjoyed participating in these programme and learning all the latest technologies.

17 Jul 2026 - Engineering and Tech Programme Scholarship (ETPS) Investiture

We attended the Engineering and Tech Programme Scholarship (ETPS) Investiture on 17 July 2026 at Ho Bee Auditorium, Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) where Javier is one of the award recipients. 

The Engineering and Tech Programme Scholarship (ETPS) is a prestigious pre-university scholarship administered by the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Singapore. It aims to identify and nurture young talent with a deep passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), grooming them to become future innovators and changemakers in Singapore's technology and industrial sectors. Unlike traditional, purely grade-driven awards, the ETPS focuses heavily on rewarding students who demonstrate a strong inclination toward applied, hands-on, and interdisciplinary learning.

The event started with a opening Speech by Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, MOE.

It was then followed by the award presentation to all the scholars.

After which, there was a panel discussion by several tech industry leaders.

Outside of the auditorium, there were exhibition booths by ETPS partners.

Of course, there were refreshments after the event, and we could enjoy the snacks while enjoying the beautiful views of the surrounding.

Congratulation, Javier, for your second scholarship of the year!

16 Jul 2026 - Another Foodie Day at JB

We drove to JB today with our cousins. This was mainly a foodie trip and let's see what we had. First, we had our brunch at Roast & Coffee - Desa Cemerlang. It is a popular, bustling kopitiam-style cafe located in Ulu Tiram, Johor Bahru, known for its cozy ambiance and delicious local comfort food.

Following were what we had.

Satisfied brunch!

There were many food options around the area. The place started to get crowded as lunch time approached.

We then drove to a nearby Lotus Supermarket at Tebrau to shop for groceries before more shopping at AEON Tebrau City.

After which, we drove to B&B Bakery to get some buns. B&B Bakery (also known as Bread & Better Bakery) is an incredibly popular Japanese-style Shio Pan (salt bread) specialist located in Taman Sentosa. Crowned as one of the area's top Shio Pan specialists, the bakery features a live station where we could watch the bakers freshly pipe and fill the buns.

We then drove to KSL City Mall where our cousins went for massage while we simply took a relaxed walk around. As for dinner, we had it at 芙蓉烧蟹 (BBQ Ketam Seremban) which was just a short walk from KSL.

Unlike traditional saucy variations like Singaporean Chilli Crab or Black Pepper Crab, Seremban BBQ Crab features fresh, meaty mud crabs (often imported Indonesian Ketam Batu) that were heavily glazed in a sweet, sticky, and deeply savory sauce (traditionally incorporating Marmite or specialized local baking recipes) before being grilled or roasted.

Following were the rest of the dishes we ordered. They all tasted great, but I find the price was quite comparable to that in SG.

Overall, it was another great JB day trip!

11 Jul 2026 - Free Pickleball Court

We started playing Pickleball few months ago. Usually, we will try to book a court via ActiveSG website but for popular days/hours, it will require balloting, which can be very difficult to get. This morning, we discovered the below court just a stone's throw from our place. Though it's outdoor, it is sheltered!  And it's free!

4 Jul 2026 - Combined NDP Rehearsal at National Stadium

Jerlene and I attended the NDP Preview today at National Stadium. Due to her involvement with NDP through her final year project, she was given two tickets for today's NDP rehearsal. Thanks to her, I got to attend an NDP for my very first time!

She is part of the Motion Design team from Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP) who designed and created some of the animations on the 3 big screens located at the centre of the stadium. I was there to witness her achievement.

Congrats to Jerlene and the NYP team for a job well done. All the effort that you all had put in over the past few months had paid off.

3 Jul 2026 - Student Leaders Investiture and TJC College Day 2026

This afternoon, we were invited to attend TJC's Student Leaders Investiture 2026 and followed by the 48th College Day in the evening. During the Student Leaders Investiture, Javier has officially stepped up as an EXCO member for his CCA. He will assume the role of Chief (Publicity and VIA IC).

As for College Day, Javier is an award recipient for Top Subject Awards for Advanced Mathematics and Singapore Studies & Geography.  In addition, he's also in the Dean's List. Congrats and Well Done, Javier!