ONE PEOPLE, ONE NATION, ONE NDP CELEBRATION

In a Facebook post after this year's National Day Parade (NDP), Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong wrote: "This year's Parade expressed well our love for Singapore, our home. The show was spectacular and touched our hearts. The crowd was in high spirits."

To celebrate a successful NDP and to recognise the 99 participating organisations and 223 sponsors who had supported and contributed towards NDP, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen hosted a dinner at the Ritz-Carlton hotel on 24 Aug, where he and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong presented certificates of appreciation.

In his speech, Dr Ng said he was moved by the passion and commitment of the participants, who had put in months of practice to put on a great show. "When people ask me why NDP participants, Organising Committee and sponsors are so committed, why participants spend thousands of hours (rehearsing) and what reward or benefit you get - my answer is a simple one."

"Each of you is motivated by the simple and selfless act of celebrating our independence It is your way of saying 'Happy Birthday Singapore', your way of expressing love for Singapore, our home."

For Super Bean International Pte Ltd, it was not a difficult decision to make when the company decided to sign up as a sponsor this year for the fifth time in a row. The company behind the Mr Bean brand of soy beverages and pastries contributed 120,000 cups of beverages to NDP participants this year.

Operations Director Thomas Koh said of the company's first collaboration with NDP organisers in 2008: "The entire sponsorship went very well. We had very positive feedback from the NDP committee, the participants... Even our own team members said they enjoyed it. When (NDP organisers) came back to ask if we wanted to (sponsor) a second time, we said 'sure, let's do it.'"

"We know (the participants) are marching and practicing very hard, and by offering a drink after their marching and practices, it hopefully gives them some refreshment after their hard work," he added.

The success of NDP 2012 was evident from the positive comments on many blogs, the NDP website and cyberpioneer (the Ministry of Defence's Facebook page) to the 100,000 spectators who joined in festivities at the floating platform and around the Marina Bay Waterfront, said Dr Ng.

While the 26,000 spectators at the floating platform enjoyed a special land, air and sea salute commemorating 45 years of National Service as well as colourful multimedia and mass displays, other Singaporeans expressed this year's NDP theme Loving Singapore, Our Home online.

Bloggers Mr Brown and Mr Miyagi, together with Acting Minister for Manpower and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development Tan Chuan Jin led the recitation of the Pledge on social media platform Twitter, while other Singaporeans uploaded NDP-themed cover photos, a picture badge of the Singapore flag and e-pledge posters on their Facebook profiles.

On NDP 2012's good report card, Chairman of the Executive Committee (EXCO) Colonel (COL) Desmond Tan said: "Tonight's event is a befitting recognition of the dedication and hard work of all the participants and organisers as well as the support of the sponsors. NDP 2012 has been the most memorable and exciting journey and it would not have been possible without them."