Hunt for the happiest person in S'pore

RECENT surveys may have found that nine in 10 Singaporeans out there feel that life is stressful and they need more fun.

But it is not deterring one man's search for the elusive 'one' who is happy.

Led by the appropriately named Mr Philip Merry, chief executive officer and founder of Global Leadership Academy (GLA), the hunt for Singapore's Happiest Person began on Sunday and will continue till March 30.

Singaporeans can nominate anyone they know, but that person has to be above the age of 18, with a smiley disposition and a strong sense of belonging.

He or she also must contribute to society and be happy 'no matter what life throws at them', said Mr Merry, a 58-year-old trainer.

The effort is part of a well-being conference to be held in the middle of next month - the New Science of Happiness and Well-Being Conference.

But Mr Merry's mission might be a daunting one - the 2006 Happy Planet Index report ranked Singapore a low 131 among 178 countries surveyed.

Those results were echoed

in the advertising and marketing firm Grey Group's Eye On Asia 16-nation survey last year, which found 90 per cent of Singaporeans are less than happy.

Mr Merry, who has been based in Singapore since 1990, admits that Singaporeans do consider themselves less happy than many despite material wealth and economic success.

There is a difference between being successful and being happy, he noted.

'Success is getting what you want. But happiness is wanting what you get,' he said.

Still, Mr Merry is confident that there are people out there 'infecting others with his or her sunny disposition'.

He happily declares that he has already got three candidates since Sunday.

He concluded: 'Everyone searches for happiness - be it in success in career, in relationships, or in life. Some people may have already found it...

' They are the people who are with ready smiles no matter what, and with whom others want to be around.'

The top three candidates will be revealed on April 4 and Singapore's Happiest Person will be revealed at the conference.

Nominations for the happiest Singaporeans should be sent to happiest@simply-happy.com or mailed to 'Singapore's Happiest Person', GLA, Level 31, Six Battery Road, Singapore 049909