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The completion of the Philippines-Singapore Submarine Cable marks the co-operation and mutual understanding not only between these two countries, but also the spirit among the ASEAN member countries.

The island of Singapore was featured in the early South East Asia map even before its founding as a modern commercial entreport port in the 19th Century. Sketches by Chinese and Portuguese traders trom the 16th Century showed the island located strategicaily at the tip of Malay archipelago, and fronting the stretch of sheltered waterways known today as the Keppel Harbour.

There are a total of 12 animal signs in the Chinese calendar based on five cycles of 12 years each, with each cycle tempered by one of the five Chinese elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth.

In 2007, the Frangipanni and Torch Ginger were beautifully illustrated and featured, while in 2009, to make the Definitives series more varied, the Blue Pea Vine (Clitoria ternatea) and the Pigeon Orchid (Dendrobium crumenatum) were added.

As our country continuously evolved in developments - technologically, economically as well as structurally in landscapes, let us not forget that amidst all these efforts came a history behind it and the areas that settled the people behind the successes of our country.

Singapore's development into a Garden City started four decades ago with the establishment of the greening programme. It was initiated with the launch of the Tree Planting Campaign in 1963. As Singapore moves towards greater urbanisation, it is imperative that the green ambience that has played a significant role in the social and economic development of this island is not just preserved, but further developed.

Singapore’s Myths and Legends continue with two new stories. Sisters’ Islands tell the sorrowful tale of a poor widow and her two loving daughters, Minah and Lina. Both her daughters were forced to live with an uncle after she passed away. One day while out to fetch water, Lina met the Chief of the Orang Laut. He immediately demanded Lina to be his wife and threatened to harm the villagers if she refused. A terrified Lina fled to Minah for help. The Chief and his men gave chase to the village where Lina was hiding. They seized Lina and were to leave in a sampan. Minah begged him for Lina’s freedom and jumped into the raging sea to save her. When Lina saw her dying sister, she too jumped in after her. The next day when the sea had calmed, two small islands emerged where both the girls had perished. The story of Kusu Island revolves around the fate of a poor Chinese fisherman and a mysterious turtle. The fisherman, out to sea for his catch, was caught in a powerful storm that almost sank him with his boat. A giant turtle appeared and saved the fisherman’s life as he managed to climb onto its hard shell. The turtle swam to a deserted island and left him there. The same miracle was to happen many months later to another Malay fisherman. It was during a storm when the turtle saved the life of this Malay fisherman. The turtle disappeared and was never to be seen again. It was believed that people who later visited the island, now called Kusu or Turtle Island, have seen the magnificent creature resting on the shores under the peaceful, sunny sky.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese. The celebration lasts for 15 days and it is a great time for family reunions, visiting, feasting and collecting red packets (hongbao) for good fortune. One of the favourite get-togethers during the Chinese New Year is when families and friends celebrate by partaking in reunion feasts. The dish "pén cài" is a popular celebratory dish (comprising layers of 'auspicious' ingredients such as abalone, prawns, roast pork, and lotus root) during these get-togethers. AS the old saying goes, "the family that eats together, stays together". The annual reunion feasting is indeed significant and symbolic, and reaffirms love and togetherness with one another.

Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, is the most important traditional festival for the Chinese. The celebration lasts for 15 days and it is a great time of family reunions, visiting, feasting and collecting of red packets of money (hongbao) for good fortune. An important tradition that the Chinese keep to welcome the Chinese New Year is "Spring Cleaning". Before the day of the Chinese New Year, Chinese families will spring clean their house, a symbolic act to sweep away any ill-fortune, represent a wish to put away old things and bid farewell to the old year. They will also put up auspicious and beautiful decorations in their homes to welcome and usher the brand new year that brings good fortune, happiness, health and wealth. Illustrated in this "Spring Cleaning" miniature sheet are families carrying out spring cleaning in good spirits and cheer to welcome the Chinese New Year.

The Festival of Sports (Pesta Sukan) which was started on a modest scale in 1964 has since become an annual event coinciding with the annual National Day celebrations in August.

Singapore, with no natural resources, needs to assimilate advance technology and to develop new talents and skills to ensure greater social and economic progress for its people and to make it a services centre for technical know-how, tourism and finance.