Mediacorp Pte Ltd earns recognition at Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2025
The company was honoured for its heartfelt drama “Born To Shine.”
Mediacorp Pte Ltd took home the Series Production – Singapore accolade at the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards 2025, highlighting the impact of its series “Born To Shine” in shining a light on the pressure Singaporean children and their families face during the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE)
The emotional new drama series is told through the eyes of three very different fathers, exploring how parenting styles can affect academic success and more importantly, a child’s happiness and emotional well-being.
The three fathers who represent different approaches to parenting were Eagle Dad (Liu Yige), Goat Dad (Wu Shangjin), and Rabbit Dad (Chen Zheming).
Set against the backdrop of Singapore’s tough PSLE exam, “Born To Shine” also dives deep into the country’s education culture. It explores issues like Subject-Based Banding (SBB); the pressure of Integrated Programme (IP) students being demoted; and the “kiasu” mentality where parents fill every hour of a child’s schedule with tuition.
As the drama unfolds, the three fathers reflect on their mistakes, rebuild their relationships, and learn to support their children with love, not just pressure. By the time the PSLE is over, each family has grown stronger, whilst each child, in their own way, is finally free to shine.
The show also adds a local flavour by including humorous and relatable language quirks, like the literal translation of Chinese idioms, bringing authenticity and charm to the story.
To help audiences understand how children truly feel, “Born To Shine” uses special effects in clever ways. A tuition centre becomes a prison fortress, symbolising pressure. A falling boulder represents stress. Emojis pop up to show a child’s changing emotions—whether they’re feeling joy, anger, or embarrassment. These creative touches make the show fun to watch whilst still delivering a strong message.
Since its release, “Born To Shine” has received glowing feedback from viewers across Singapore and beyond. Parents, teachers, and even students have praised the show for its honesty, emotional depth, and meaningful storytelling.
Asia-Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards commends companies, industry partners, and vendors in the broadcasting industry that introduce technological advancements in the field. The awards programme highlights projects and initiatives in areas such as digitalisation and engineering.
The Asia Pacific Broadcasting+ Awards is presented by Asia Pacific Broadcasting+. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your innovation and excellence in projects that advance the field of broadcasting in Asia, please contact Jane Patiag at awards@charltonmediamail.com.
