This SG60, we shine a spotlight on David, our Lalamove driver partner who, like Singapore, turns 60 this year. His story is one of growth, resilience, and reflection, closely paralleling the journey of the nation itself. Having started his career in the early 1980s, David has witnessed firsthand how both the country and the delivery industry have transformed: from relying on printed street directories to navigating with real-time apps, and from a developing port city to a thriving global metropolis.
In early 2025, following an unexpected job loss, David decided to join Lalamove. Using his personal vehicle, he turned to the gig economy not just to earn an income, but to stay active and engaged with the fast-paced world around him. Through his eyes, we explore how Singapore and its people have evolved together over six decades. From personal growth to national progress, his story is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to embrace change, chase purpose, and keep moving forward.
As Singapore celebrates its 60th birthday, we reflect on the parallel journey of a man whose life has grown alongside the nation. David was born in 1965, the same year Singapore became an independent republic. Like many in his generation, he grew up during a time of immense transformation. From kampongs and crowded buses to high-rise flats and modern expressways, he has seen it all.
David’s reflections offer a nostalgic yet insightful window into how Singapore has matured over the decades. He recalls a time when jobs were more manual, and access to education and opportunity was not as equal as it is today. Yet, with each passing decade, both David and Singapore adapted, improved, and continued to strive for better.
In his words, Singapore has grown “from a third world to a first world country,” thanks to the hard work of its pioneers and forward-thinking leadership. Likewise, his own growth has been guided by personal responsibility, lifelong learning, and a deep desire to stay relevant in a changing world. His life story is not just about deliveries, it’s about determination, dignity, and the drive to never give up.
After decades in a local sales role that included occasional delivery duties, David found himself at a crossroads when he was retrenched. He looked for a new opportunity, something that allowed him to earn income while making use of his existing resources: his time, experience, and car.
That’s when he discovered Lalamove. Despite being new to the gig economy, David saw the platform as an ideal match. “It was intuitive,” he said. “From the time you accept an order to the final drop-off, the steps are so straightforward you can’t go wrong.”
The ease of use, paired with flexibility and autonomy, gave David not just a job, but a renewed sense of purpose. It kept him engaged with Singapore’s ever-evolving technology landscape and allowed him to remain productive on his own terms. His story speaks to the spirit of reinvention and resilience, qualities that both he and the country embody.
David remembers what it was like doing deliveries in the 1980s. Back then, he relied solely on a paper street directory to navigate. There were no apps, no GPS, and certainly no real-time updates. You plotted one destination at a time, returned home, then planned the next trip. Compared to today’s world of different apps such as Lalamove’s with built-in features, the difference is night and day.
The delivery industry has undergone a radical transformation, and David has rolled with the changes. Today, he can optimise multiple drop-offs, pick the fastest routes, and stay on schedule, something that would have been unimaginable decades ago.
And it’s not just about efficiency. David finds unexpected joy in the little moments too: like discovering new food spots he never knew existed. “I’ve collected food from places I had never heard of or patronised before,” he shared, laughing. “Now I’ve got more ideas for where to eat.”
With decades of driving under his belt, David has gained more than just road experience, he’s gathered wisdom about life, people, and the way society moves. His message to younger Singaporeans and fellow drivers is clear and grounded in lived experience: “Less road rage. More patience and tolerance.”
Over the years, he’s noticed subtle but meaningful shifts, more drivers using their indicators, possibly thanks to the rise of in-car cameras and social accountability. But despite improvements in car safety and technology, accidents still happen. And to David, that points to something deeper: “It all comes back to human behavior,” he says. “Even I get impatient sometimes. But I try to remind myself every day.”
This personal reflection mirrors a broader hope he carries for the country. As Singapore turns 60, David isn’t thinking about GDP or global ranking, he’s thinking about character. He hopes for a future where Singapore becomes a more gracious, caring, and forgiving society. Where patience is as valued as productivity, and kindness as much as success.
He recognises that his generation, born in 1965 and beyond, had more access to education and opportunities than those before. And as younger leaders emerge, he’s encouraged by their more open, servant-hearted approach to leadership, one that listens, engages, and evolves. “We’re moving away from the more autocratic leadership style,” he reflects, “and towards something more empathetic.”
David’s journey is more than just a personal story, it’s a reflection of how Singapore has grown and shifted over the last 60 years. Born in the same year the nation took its first independent steps, David has lived through its highs and lows. And while he never set out to make a statement, his life tells a quiet but powerful story of resilience in everyday moments.
After losing a job, he didn’t wait or wallow, he pivoted. He looked at what he had, what he needed, and what was available. Lalamove wasn’t a passion project; it was a practical answer. But in the process, he also found connection, confidence, and a renewed sense of purpose in the ordinary. That’s what makes his story worth sharing.
As Singapore celebrates six decades of independence, it’s individuals like David, people who keep showing up, keep adapting, and keep contributing, who quietly drive the country forward. In every trip he makes, every meal he delivers, every route he completes, there’s a lesson in perseverance, practicality, and the power of moving forward even when the path changes.
Happy 60th Birthday, Singapore. And thank you, David, for reminding us that sometimes, simply doing what needs to be done is a story of strength in itself.