TL;DR – They do good though nobody is looking.
When I was little, I grew up hearing that “Work in the public sector good! Iron rice bowl!”
When I was not-so-little anymore, whenever I read about public service in the news, it’s almost always about public servants receiving their bonuses.
“Good lah, iron rice bowl plus good paycheck every month with bonus… Life must be very shiok for these public service officers lor!”, that was what I thought until I came across this post on PM Lee’s Facebook page:
So, in conjunction with the Public Service Week, a series of four short films called “P.S.” was released this year.
Directed by four young Singaporean filmmakers, the four films were inspired by real-life stories of public service officers from various fields, and how their work has made a difference to the lives of Singaporeans.
P.S. In One’s Shoes
P.S. Nothing Gold Can Stay
P.S. Farrer Park
P.S. Finding L
Let me take back my words about being in the public sector meant having a very cushy job and shiok life. I like what Janadas Devan said here,
They do good though nobody is looking. And the marvel is these stories of dedication and purpose are not rare.
These public officers remind one of what Longfellow said about the builders of gothic cathedrals — how they would “wrought with greatest care” even the unseen parts of cathedrals, behind cornices and statues:
In the elder days of Art
Builders wrought with greatest care
Each minute and unseen part;
For the Gods see everywhere.
Let us do our work as well,
Both the unseen and the seen;
Make the house, where Gods may dwell,
Beautiful, entire, and clean.
