Episode 212: Youth HIV/AIDS

 

By the end of 2005, more than 40 Singaporeans aged 19 and younger were diagnosed as HIV positive. How these youths catch the disease has also changed. In the past, most caught it at birth from their mothers. However, of the seven new patients below 19 who tested positive in 2005, four caught it from unprotected sex. The common belief among the youths is that "it wouldn't happen to me".However, statistics have shown that by the end of 2005, more than 40 Singaporeans aged 19 and younger were diagnosed as HIV positive. Tab TV explores the topic of Aids with a HIV positive victim.

Alicia, 19, was one such victim. She had sex with only one person, her boyfriend of two years. She had no reason to suspect her boyfriend could be infected with the deadly virus and yet, she caught it from him. Another youth caught with the deadly illness is James. At 15, James' friends gave him a birthday present that would torment him for life – unprotected sex with a prostitute who was HIV positive.

"Feng", who is HIV positive, shares his experience with Singapore Idol contestants, Paul Twohill and Daphne Khoo on Tab Chat.

by MediaCorp

Episode 211: Cyberspace Addiction

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPG) went global in 1996 and today more than eight million people play World of Warcraft globally, and more than 200,000 fans here are into Maple Story. But there is a dark side to on-line gaming; it can become an addiction where game addicts can't stop playing and needing to play more and more to get their fix. Tab TV investigates the virtual world of on-line gaming.

by MediaCorp

Episode 210: Eating Disorders

 

Eating disorders have among the highest mortality rates of all mental disorders, killing up to 6 percent of their victims. Each year millions of people across the world are affected by serious and sometimes life-threatening eating disorders. The vast majority - more than 90% - of those afflicted with eating disorders are adolescent and young adult women

Despite the fact that many people think of an eating disorder as being an unhealthy quest for a perfect body, eating disorders are not about vanity and not really about weight. Eating disorders are not solely disorders of eating; they are complex, psychological illnesses where people try to control conflict and stress in their lives by controlling food.

'Anorexia and Bulimia' are serious eating disorders. The biggest difference between anorexia and bulimia is that people suffering from bulimia eat large amounts of food and then throw up. This is called binge and purge. Anorexics do not eat large amounts and throw up. They in fact, starve themselves.

In Singapore, the incidence of both anorexia and bulimia has been growing steadily. While there are no nationwide figures on eating disorders, SGH doctors say they saw 20 to 30 patients a year before 2002. In 2006, the number of cases rose to 164.

In Tab Chat, a young girl in her mid twenties shares with us her experience. She tells us how she has suffered both anorexia and bulimia and how she managed to fight her way out of the jaws of these terrible eating disorders.

by MediaCorp

Episode 209: Divorce

1 in 10 Singapore marriages breaks up within 10 years. In 2005, there were close to 7,000 divorces, compared to about 3,600 fifteen years ago!

There are many reasons why marriages break up. One of the prominent reasons why marriages break up all over the world is when a spouse is unfaithful. Not only does unfaithfulness itself cause deep emotional suffering for a victimized spouse, but affairs create a host of other problems, too.

In this episode, Tab TV covers a few cases of both male and female spouses cheating on their partners. Also on Tab Chat a victim who suffers infidelity in her marriage comes forward to share her pain and bring awareness on what are the signs to look out for in a marriage that might have signs of adultery.

by MediaCorp

Episode 208: Smoking Youths

Smoking is becoming more prevalent amongst Singapore’s youth.

According to the National Health Survey in 2004, 12.6% of Singapore’s population is smokers. 19.2% of these smokers are young adults aged between 18 to 24, one third of whom are women. What’s more worrying is the males in this age group experimented with smoking at the age of 14, while the females started trying it out at around 15.

One of the stories featured is “Edward” who picked up smoking from his dad and who only finally quit when he saw his own son trying to imitate him. The other story is 18 year old “Vivian” who started smoking after her boyfriend dumped her. Influenced by friends, she picked up the habit as a way to distress and consequently, she suffered the negative effects of smoking. Instead of 18, she looked like a woman in her 30s!

It is not uncommon for youths to turn to smoking to relax, out of curiosity or for fun, or because of peer pressure from friends. Yet once they pick up the habit, it’s always proven difficult to kick. Tab TV chats with ex-smokers, Jaime Teo and Randall Tan to find out more.

by MediaCorp

Episode 207: O$P$

In 1998, "Peter" suffered heavy losses in shares and owed banks a total of $250,000. Driven to the brink of desperation, he turned to the only people willing to lend him money – the loan sharks. Out of the frying pan, he jumped into the fire. Tab TV looks at his story, typical of many others who end up falling into the snares of loan sharks.

The law in Singapore has recently been tightened to deal with this illegal money-lending activity and in 2006, two loan sharks who were caught, were tried and sentenced to a jail term plus caning.

Tab Chat discusses the issue with a former loan shark, a former loan shark victim and a former police investigator. They touch on how people can be discouraged from going to loan sharks and whether or not anything else should be done to deal with the unlawful and sometimes violent tactics employed by loan sharks in their drive to claim back their money. Lawrence Wong, who’d often acted as loan sharks on TV series, also shares his views on this shady profession.

by MediaCorp

Episode 206: East vs West

Figures from the Singapore Department of Statistics show that the number of Singapore Chinese women marrying Caucasian men increased by 85% between 2005 and 1995. Experts have said that the main reason for this is because Singapore's a Cosmopolitan society. One where there're people from many different cultures living together. English is also widely spoken here and this makes it easier for such relationships to blossom.

Besides today, there's a lot less stigma or taboo for inter-racial marriages. But are these the only reasons?

Tab TV chats with "Suzie" a girl who fits the stereotypical definition of a Sarong Party Girl and who even taxi drivers straightaway asks if she dates only Caucasian men. We also chat with Priscilia Chan, a MediaCorp Actress who feels more comfortable with Asian men and Singapore Idol 2 Finalist, Jay Lim a Singapore Chinese male.

by MediaCorp

Episode 205: Sex Soups (Aphrodisiacs)

We've all heard of the so-called Aphrodisiacal power of Deer Penis and Tongkat Ali. And today, there are modern Aphrodisiacs like Viagra. But how true are these in their claims of being able to raise the sexual prowess of the consumer? Can one die from an overdose of Aphrodisiacs?

TAB TV discusses the consumption of Aphrodisiacs with a man who's a staunch believer of Tongkat Ali and also sexologist, Dr Adaikan. Also included in the discussion on Tab Chat is celebrity couple, Amy Cheng and Chandran.

by MediaCorp

Episode 204: Exorcism

  

Exorcism is an age old practice that is still being practiced in modern times. It is said to have become a flourishing practice these days where almost anyone who claims to have the third eye and healing powers are much sought after. Priests and religious leaders are also known to have such powers.

However many modern day psychiatrists do not believe in such mumbo jumbo and claim the reason people are seeing things is because they are suffering from mental illness. So who is right?

Master Chew, 50, is a KTV owner who got cursed and had a spell put on him by one of his ex-employee. He goes through a tormented time until he is cured by a well-known master.

Jasmine who thinks she is possessed, seeks the help of a spiritual healer. Unfortunately for her, he turns out to be a bogus who ends up violating her modesty.

Tab Chat discuses this age-old perennial favorite topic with key religious figures, all who had performed Exorcisms and are still carrying out Exorcisms today.

by MediaCorp

Episode 203: Foreign Organs

Should one be allowed to buy and sell human organs? Join Vernetta Lopez as she chats with Dr Vathsala, Vice-President of Society of Transplantation (Singapore) and Singapore Idol 2 finalist Emily Kang, whose father suffers from kidney failure on this topic.

by MediaCorp

Episode 202: Body Art

Why do people choose to pierce their bodies with all kinds of decorations? Why do some of them tattoo till there is no clear area of skin left? Worst, how can some endure the pain of having their tongue split to get a "Snake or Lizard Tongue"? Why do they do it? Is this a sign of a wayward mind? Tab TV chats with 'naughty girl' Maia from Singapore Idol season 1. Maia's a staunch fan of body art and makes not attempt to hide them during her performances.

by MediaCorp

Episode 201: Reality Bytes

Camera Video Mobile phones were first introduced in November 2000. Since then they've become a hit among many Singaporeans. It’s estimated that some 85% of mobile phones here have this capability. However, are they being used for wayward reasons and sometimes even immoral purposes?

Featured in Tab TV is a man who enjoys filming himself having sex. Why do they do it and what happens if their phone falls into the wrong hands as in what happened in the infamous Tammy NYP case?

Singapore Idol contestants, Joakim Gomez and Gayle Nerva share their views on Tab Chat.

by MediaCorp

About Season 2

Tab TV returns for a second season with edgier chats with specially selected guests. Hosted by Vernetta Lopez, the new season promises no-holds-barred discussions on issues ranging from aphrodisiacs to cyberspace addiction.

Get an insight into topical issues which have raised public debate such as organ trade. Some episodes will also play devil’s advocate on topics such as 'Why do youths still think it’s cool to smoke? Is Exorcism for real? Does it really chase away evil spirits? Why do some even think spirits exist?'

As in season one, there will also be Tab Sting – a 'hidden camera' segment where Tab TV does an experiment how people connected to the story, would naturally and normally behave.

And in Tab Chat, learn first-hand as to why certain people do the things they do. Listen in as a man who used his video phone to record himself having sex tell us what thrills him to do that. And why is a man who uses Tongkat Ali so convinced the natural plant gives him extra powers? See first-hand, up close, how a person who had tattooed nearly every part of his body look like and listen to why he did it.

Celebrities will also be invited to share their opinions on the issues discussed and they include Zoe Tay, Vincent Ng, Chew Chor Meng, Priscelia Chan, Amy Cheng and her husband Chandran, Singapore Idol Finalists, Gayle Nerva, Joakim Gomez, Paul Twohill, Jasmine Tye, Jay Lim and many more!

by MediaCorp

Episode 113: Murderers' Minds

In this episode, Tab TV covers one of Singapore's First Body Parts Killing - the murder of a housewife, Mdm Quek, by her sister-in-law, Mdm Sim or Tua Pui, in 1974.

What can possibly drive someone to kill another and then chop up the body into different body parts? Mdm Sim was later charged with Culpable Homicide not amounting to murder and sentenced to just 10 years' jail. But does it make a difference what a person is legally called? A murderer or a killer?

Criminal Lawyer, Subhas Anandan, Former Special Investigation Section investigation Lionel De Souza and Psychiatrist who'd examined many murderers, Dr Lim Yun Chin, share their views on the Murderer's Mind on Tab Chat.

by MediaCorp