'2025 NDP crying guy' is 17-year-old dancer who cried from a mix of relief, happiness & pride

If you watched the National Day Parade last weekend, you might recognise this crying boy during the national anthem.

This touching moment quickly went viral, as his emotional reaction resonated with Singaporeans watching all across the country.

In an interview with Mothership, the 17-year-old addressed the burning question on everyone’s mind: Why was he so emotional?

The Year 1 Higher Nitec student, Ank Wai, shared that he was overwhelmed with emotion while singing the anthem, marking the end of "seven gruelling months" of blood, sweat, and tears poured into rehearsals for the parade.

"I was mentally kind of stressing out in many ways. I tried to find many ways to relieve it, but it just didn't work. So I guess when that day came, and when I finally did it, I felt like we did a good job," the hospitality operations student said.

Tears of hard work

Ank Wai was one of the dancers in Act 4 of the NDP, performing a rock-and-roll version of "The Road Ahead".

He said that the moment of singing the national anthem, which is typically performed at the end of the parade, brought him back to the very first day of rehearsals.

That first day was particularly challenging, he recalled, describing it as "so tiring".

Their group's performance was more "upbeat and energetic" compared to other acts, resulting in more demanding choreography.

However, rehearsing with fellow dancers from his school’s Korean Dance Wave (KDW) club, alongside students from other ITE colleges, soon became the highlight of his week.

From heartfelt chats in the holding rooms to filming TikToks, and even occasionally getting in trouble for forgetting their costumes, the months of preparation left him with memories he deeply cherishes.

Now that NDP is over, Ank Wai admitted he’s experiencing something similar to "post-concert depression".

Viral just 10 minutes after finale

The first time he saw the meme of himself crying was right after the NDP finale, as the performers were gathering to return to their tents.

"I remember my senior, she tapped my shoulder saying, 'You're going viral now.' I'm like, now? Like, right now? Just 10 minutes after what we just did?" Ank Wai recounted with a laugh.

Everything happened so quickly, and he was surprised he had been singled out among the many emotional faces that day.

He shared that he didn't know he was being filmed, though he felt "something" on the left side of his face at one point.

Not forcing out tears, just dust

Everyone knows there are downsides to going viral, and unfortunately, Ank Wai is no exception.

But the cheerful teen doesn’t let the negativity get to him.

"Even if people tease me for that moment, I'm not going to be sad about it, because I knew what I was feeling in that moment, and I'm proud of what I did in that moment," he said.

One comment he wanted to address, though, was the claim that he appeared to be "squeezing" his eyes shut, as if forcing tears.

"But the thing is, it was so dusty," he laughed, explaining that it was to the point he could barely see the 'Majulah Singapura' sign because of all the fireworks.

He was simply trying to blink out the dust as he happened to get emotional, he explained.

"So it doesn't look like I'm trying to scratch my eye or move or fidget during the national anthem, because I really have respect for this country, and I know during the national anthem you're not supposed to move," Ank Wai said.

Love for the country

Many speculated that Ank Wai’s tears were a display of patriotism, and he agrees that his love for Singapore was part of the reason for his emotional response.

Born and raised in Singapore, Ank Wai is a Myanmar national and a Singapore Permanent Resident (PR).

As far as he knows, he was the only PR in his group of dancers, yet he never felt out of place.

"I feel like it is important to accept who people are, especially if you are living in Singapore, because we are all united as one," he said.

"I also feel like if you have pride in your country, you can show it in many ways. Me crying during the national anthem was one way. But like, let's say if you want to put your flag on your HDB block, that is patriotic as well."

So where's home for the 17-year-old?

"I do find Singapore home because to me, a home is where you can find everything. To me, home is where you are able to be comfortable wherever you go, to be able to live the life that you dream of."

Watch Ank Wai reenact his viral moment here:

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Top photos from Azrizal Abu Che'/Mothership and NDPeeps/YouTube