It Takes Ten Years to Grow a Tree, a Hundred Years to Nurture a Person
January 2026 Monthly Activity
📅 Date：10 January 2026 Concluded
📍Venue：Shui Lang Tou Hong San See Temple & locations designated by the National Parks Board
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Singapore Lam Ann Association, the association will hold a tree-planting event themed “It Takes Ten Years to Grow a Tree, a Hundred Years to Nurture a Person” on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Hong San See Temple and locations arranged by the National Parks Board. Through this event, we will plant 100 trees across the island, combining ecological practice with cultural heritage, showcasing the Nan’an community’s deep roots in Singapore and our shared vision of nurturing the next century together.
First Milestone of the Centennial Celebration · Tree Planting Recap 🌳
On 10 January 2026, the Singapore Lam Ann Association marked the first milestone of its Centennial with a tree-planting activity. In the early morning, more than a hundred members and family members, dressed in white Centennial T-shirts, gathered in front of the Association building for a grand group photo with Guest of Honour Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry of Social and Family Development and Ministry of Law, Mr Neo Kah Kiat, President of the Association, Mr Tan Aik Hock, Executive Adviser and members of the Council. White shirts formed a unified sea; hearts came together. In that moment, it was both a beginning and a testament.
The group then moved to the green space behind Shui Lang Tou Hong San See Temple, adjacent to the Association, for the first round of planting. Golden spades broke the soil, and young saplings found their place. Mr Eric Chua, together with President Neo Kah Kiat and the Council members, personally filled the earth around the roots, inscribing the Centennial’s first green mark. After the planting, participants entered the temple for a prayer ceremony, pausing amid incense and solemnity to reflect on their roots.
Thereafter, two buses carried the group to Ang Mo Kio Town Garden West for the second planting session. With heartfelt thanks to NParks for their thoughtful arrangements and approval, thirty young trees were able to take root in the park, adding new life to the community. As soil was turned, some softly hummed a familiar Hokkien rhyme, while others raised their voices in unison. A gentle breeze swept across the open field; songs, laughter, and voices intertwined. In the greenery, the spirit of teamwork and shared roots flowed naturally.
In total, thirty saplings representing five local species were planted that day. Though small, they had taken root; though from different generations, the people stood as one. This was more than an environmental initiative—it was a living lesson in intergenerational transmission.
A tree takes ten years to cast shade; a person takes a century of spirit to be shaped. What was planted that day was not only greenery but belief. When these trees one day grow tall and wide, the land will remember: it was here that the Lam Ann community pressed its roots into the soil and sowed hope for the future.
Upcoming Activities
📆 Date: 7 February 2026
A Hundred Blessings, Woven to Home
A Hundred Blessings, Woven to Home celebrates the idea of “a hundred people gathering blessings,” symbolising the return of good fortune to the home. One hundred unique scripts each write the character “福” (Blessing), coming together like a shimmering river of light, while the single character “家” (Home) gathers them all, transforming into a warm and welcoming sanctuary. Blessings represent the wishes we place on a home, and a home is where these wishes find their true resting place. More than a ceremonial display, this exhibition is a journey back to cultural roots, where blessings flourish through reunion and hearts find peace in belonging. A hundred blessings in heart, all returning home.
📆 Date: 14 March 2026
Keeping Pace with the Times
Keeping Pace with the Times is an AI imaging exhibition that invites one hundred families to create unique “future family portraits” using their ancestral hometowns as cultural DNA and the power of artificial intelligence. More than a blend of technology and art, the exhibition is a journey through time, preserving family memories while reimagining them for the digital age. By co-creating these AI portraits, families celebrate the continuity of their heritage and the enduring bonds that connect generations.
📆 Date: 12 April 2026 (Sunday)
Generations United in Care
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lam Ann Association, the Generations United in Care event brings together elderly participants from diverse cultural backgrounds to share a meal. The event aims to transcend cultural differences, conveying the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting and caring for elders through warmth and companionship, while fostering community harmony and inclusion. One meal, one gesture of care—this event not only expresses sincere attention to the elderly but also reflects the Association’s century-long commitment to Singapore, its dedication to social responsibility, and its efforts to uphold the spirit of “Respect the elders of your own family and extend that respect to the elders of others.” Through these heartfelt interactions, the centennial celebration is made meaningful and memorable.
Competitions
Daily Programme Schedule
Other Programmes
📆 Date: 7 February 2026
A Hundred Blessings, Woven to Home
A Hundred Blessings, Woven to Home celebrates the idea of “a hundred people gathering blessings,” symbolising the return of good fortune to the home. One hundred unique scripts each write the character “福” (Blessing), coming together like a shimmering river of light, while the single character “家” (Home) gathers them all, transforming into a warm and welcoming sanctuary. Blessings represent the wishes we place on a home, and a home is where these wishes find their true resting place. More than a ceremonial display, this exhibition is a journey back to cultural roots, where blessings flourish through reunion and hearts find peace in belonging. A hundred blessings in heart, all returning home.
📆 Date: 14 March 2026
Keeping Pace with the Times
Keeping Pace with the Times is an AI imaging exhibition that invites one hundred families to create unique “future family portraits” using their ancestral hometowns as cultural DNA and the power of artificial intelligence. More than a blend of technology and art, the exhibition is a journey through time, preserving family memories while reimagining them for the digital age. By co-creating these AI portraits, families celebrate the continuity of their heritage and the enduring bonds that connect generations.
📆 Date: 12 April 2026 (Sunday)
Generations United in Care
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Lam Ann Association, the Generations United in Care event brings together elderly participants from diverse cultural backgrounds to share a meal. The event aims to transcend cultural differences, conveying the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting and caring for elders through warmth and companionship, while fostering community harmony and inclusion. One meal, one gesture of care—this event not only expresses sincere attention to the elderly but also reflects the Association’s century-long commitment to Singapore, its dedication to social responsibility, and its efforts to uphold the spirit of “Respect the elders of your own family and extend that respect to the elders of others.” Through these heartfelt interactions, the centennial celebration is made meaningful and memorable.