As one of Singapore's most culturally diverse precincts that sits at the conluence of the old and new, Tanjong Pagar is a veritable treasure trove of stories and lived experiences. The illustration (above) captures the distinct and historic essence of the neighbourhood through a collage of tales that was presented digitally at this year's Singapore Heritage Festival (SHF). A work by contemporary art performance company, Cake, it provides a glimpse into Singapore's multicultural provenance, the resilience of its people and their triumph against all odds. Rickshaw coolies plodding through the streets; nurses at St Andrew's Mission Hospital; teachers at Singapore's First Tamil-medium high school, Umar Pulavar; opera singers at Lai Chun Yuen Opera House; and the Baweanese community of Pondok Peranakan Gelam Club are depicted in the form of surreal animals in a collection of anthropomorphic tales. Similar narratives on the lesser-known aspects of two other precincts, Kallang and Pasir Ris, were also presented at this year's SHF. These stories are a poignant reminder of a rich past, with a view to the future, as Singapore reaches out to the wider world. Members of the public can still view these short documentaries on the SHF website.