This is a Blog about Leaving Lasting Legacies. We should always leave the World a better place than we were born in. Well, kind folks, today, 22 October 2026, I finally fulfilled my third and final legacy task – planting a tree.
My third and final legacy task – planting a tree (above image).
Years ago in the early years of my retyrement, after wrapping up an interview for a Straits Times newspaper article, the journalist then asked me (off the record, there was such a thing then) when I was going to plant a tree. By then, I had children and published my first two Art books. Seeing my puzzlement, she explained the following trilogy to a person’s Legacy.
There is a classic saying, originated by Jose Marti, a Cuban poet and political philosopher (1853-1895) that a person should leave a lasting Legacy and achieve a form of Secular Immortality – by having a child, planting a tree, and writing a book.
My Family On A Snowmobile Adventure In Hokkaido, 2010 (above image). My Children are now working adults, up to my height.
Legacy Task 1 – Having A Child – Passing on your values, love and genetics to the next generation so your lineage and human story can continue.
Planting A Tree – Before And After (above image). For my botany-inclined readers: the tree species is cratoxylum maingayi, commonly known as derum bukit. It is a flowering tree native to Southeast Asia. It features a light, open canopy, opposite leathery leaves, striking reddish new leaf flushes, and delicate pale pink or white flowers. Sounds promisingly gorgeous! Thank you, Professor Patrick Tan, for identifying the tree species.
Legacy Task 2 – Planting A Tree – Contributing to the environment and leaving a living, physical anchor of our presence that provides shade and ecological sustenance long after we are gone.
The tree planting event today (22 October 2026) was held at my glorious alma mater – St. Andrews Secondary School.
I do not normally force things to happen, but on 14 October, I received an official school email invitation for a tree-planting event. I thought to myself, “Wow, my third and final task of my legacy has arrived!”. Ironically it took a Straits Times newspaper journalist to plant that seed in me decades ago.
It’s only taken 27 years to get from the first two tasks (child and book) to the third task (plant tree). What can I say, I’m a patient man. Better late than never!
Here’s an apt adage to link the first two legacy tasks – “It takes two years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person.”
With Mr. Lee Han Hwa, The Principal Of St. Andrew’s Secondary School (above image). Check out my fashionable disposable shoe protector.
The saintly tree planting event was a collaboration between St. Andrews Secondary School and Mapletree Investments. Mapletree Investments has committed to plant 100,000 trees globally by 2030.
The Tree Planters (above image). Today, we all planted a total of 140 trees around my beautiful school grounds. Me in red circle. As a student, I used to trudge up the road (with the white arrows behind me) to get to my classrooms. Today’s a full circle day for me.
My Art And Rock Photography Books (above image). My books are “Eclectic Sanctum”, “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii And Other Heavenly Encounters”, “Sonic Solitude: Wondrous Tales From The Amplified World”, and “ACCESS: Into The Wilderness Of Rock & Roll”.
Legacy Task 3 – Publishing A Book – Preserving our thoughts, creative spirit, and voice so our ideas and story can be read and experience by future generations.
All my books are dedicated, first and foremost, to my loving and supportive wife and children.
I am honoured that my rock photography books have been donated by former Singapore President S.R. Nathan to the National Library Board.
Former Singapore President S.R. Nathan’s Donation Of My “Monochrome Manifestos: Rock Stars, Hawaii And Other Heavenly Encounters” Book To The National Library Board (above image).
Former Singapore President S.R. Nathan’s Donation Of My “Sonic Solitude: Wondrous Tales From The Amplified World” Book-To The National Library Board (above image).
In the above Legacy equation, you will notice that Wealth is not even featured. Don’t die the richest person in the cemetery.
May We all live Blessed, Full, Adventurous and Healthy lives, leaving the World a Better Place than we were born in.
Last but not least – “The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it” – William Jambs.
