Sun's home in LA

Yesterday, I was walking past the provision shop below my flat when the headline of The New Paper caught my eye. It read 'Ho Yeow Sun's $28,000-a-month Hollywood Home' with an accompanying picture of a huge mansion.

I bought the tabloid paper without hesitation and devoured the article.

On the immediate pages, there was a full write-up on the house, size equivalent to 5 five-room flats, and pictures of the beautiful and luxurious house.

The following page is a report on the history of the couple's transaction of units in Singapore, from a humble five-room flat in Tampines, they upgraded to a River Vally unit with a private lift, 2 living rooms and 4 bedrooms, and paid $200, 000 for its renovation and furnishings when Sun's sister and brother-in-law are both interior designers who had helped with the unit-designing. Earlier this year, they sold the unit and moved into the $2.6 million The Suite at Central, which is an apartment with a private lift (again) and in THE prime area of Singapore, Orchard Road.

The write-up blew my mind away.

For someone in her mid-thirties, I find myself feeling disillusioned.

I still remember vividly how Pastor Kong said,"It's no fun giving to the building fund!" when they wanted to build the first building in Jurong West. He assured the church that it would not be forever and that he would not live in the lap of luxury while the rest of us live in squatters.

That was what he said. Of couse, nobody in Singapore lives in squatters now, but who else lives so luxuriously like him and his wife?

I am not saying that it's wrong to live so luxuriously. It's definitely not out of jealousy that I'm questioning the lifestyle. The first question that popped into my head when I finished reading the article was: Did Sun's singing career, her Skin Couture business and Pastor Kong's sermon-giving sessions pay for the $28,000 rent and their branded clothes and rich-and-famous lifestyle?

If they did, they certainly have made it on their own.

I'm just wondering, is there no better option than to live in such luxury? They are involved in humanitarian works. They should know the sufferings of people in other parts of the world out there better than the average Singaporean. Sometimes I wonder if I should have splurged on trips when there are others who don't even have food for months - and I am someone who has never done any humanitarian work in my whole life. I would think for people like them who have been highly involved in compassionate works, they would feel the sting of splurging excessively on themselves when at the back of their mind, they remember the sufferings of the people they have helped. Wouldn't this kind of money be better used if it's used to help the destitutes?

I'm not saying that we are compelled to help the poor and destitutes the moment we have money. We have the options of helping or not helping others. The issue is excessiveness. The article stated that the area that Sun lives in is for the millionaires and rich and famous. Brad Pitt and Angelina owned a property there too.

Is it a necessity to live up there? I always thought Christianity emphasises on necessity and not excessiveness. God blessed David, Solomon and Job with prosperity - did the couple equate themselves with these people?

I have to admit. I am disillusioned.