Daily Lessons from Life 31 January 2014 - 1,500 to be invited to Istana as Singapore honours pioneer generation

End of January 2014! It simply just flew past me in a blink!! Glad that I had done something meaningful in this month! And some not so proud things like losing control of the weight management!!!

"1,500 to be invited to Istana as Singapore honours pioneer generation - CNA 31 January 2014

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said about 1,500 Singaporeans will be invited to an Istana function on February 9 as the country honours its pioneer generation.

Mr Lee said those invited to the function have made significant contributions to nation building.
He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre and Alexandra Fire Station on Friday morning.

The Istana guest list will include former political leaders, community leaders and also ordinary Singaporeans from different professions. Others include those from the pioneer batches of uniform groups like the SAF, SCDF and Police.
Mr Lee said some of the guests have already been informed, but the list is still being worked out as he wants to make sure it is representative of the pioneer generation.

He said that it is not possible to cover everybody as there are hundreds of thousands in that generation.
To ensure that no one gets left out, the government will be organising events throughout the year to honour the rest of Singapore's pioneer generation.
The government is also preparing a Pioneer Generation Package, to be announced on Budget Day on 21 February.

On Friday morning, Mr Lee met some 80 Home Team officers from the Queenstown Neighbourhood Police Centre and Alexandra Fire Station.
He thanked them for their service and dedication in responding to emergencies and keeping the country safe.

This year is the first time Mr Lee and union leaders are calling on the Home Team during his traditional visit to essential services organisations on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Alexandra Fire Station's Senior Warrant Officer II, Azharee Arsad, said Prime Minister Lee's visit "boosted the morale of my team"."

First of all, best wishes to everyone for a Healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous Year of the Horse to those who celebrate this Lunar New Year.

Lessons for me are:

1. interesting to note that this is the first time the PM and union leaders, especially the union leaders, visiting the Home Team as noted. Given the recent disturbing Little India Riot, it is not surprising;

2. interesting to know how the 1500 Pioneer Generation guests are selected as the news report rightly said there were thousands of Singaporeans in this generation and not possible to have them all at the CNY Banquet! Hopefully none of those who were left out will feel being slighted! After all, as one ages, one becomes wiser and the ego can take a back seat when things do not move in one's favour! Yes?;

3. it is good to note that there will be a series of events throughout the year to honor those who were not on the list of 1500 mentioned above. As I mentioned previously, the Pioneering Generation who had done well will be humble and gracious, once again hopefully, to wave away any undue attention upon them. For those who had not done as well in life, the Pioneer Generation Package touted hopefully will not leave them disappointed! Such is the difficult balance to try to 'please' the elderly contributors!

My respect to the Pioneering Generation.