It was a very special evening last night. President Halimah Yacob and her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, hosted a celebration at the Istana to mark the finale of a year-long commemoration of the Istana's 150th anniversary.
Singaporeans from all walks of life joined Puan Noor Aishah, wife of our first president Encik Yusof Ishak, Mrs Urmila Nathan, the wife of former president, the late Mr S. R. Nathan, and former President Tony Tan and his wife Mary, at the Istana for an evening of live musical performances and food. The night’s events culminated in the Istana’s first-ever light show, projected on the facade of the Istana main building.
Since it was completed in 1869, the Istana has hosted countless guests from near and far, and has been the site of many historic moments and diplomatic engagements. It stands proudly today as one of Singapore’s oldest heritage buildings, and as a distinguished institution of our nation.
In this meaningful Bicentennial year, when we commemorate the past and set our sights ahead, I hope we will celebrate our history and continue building upon it. The world will probably look quite different by the time the Istana next celebrates its next major milestone, but I am confident that Singapore will persevere and progress. – LHL
