* taken from ASEAN Community FB fan page 

The Standard Chartered Marathon Singapore (SCMS) is the marquee running event of Singapore's sporting calendar. Every first Sunday of December, thousands of participants from all walks of life run past some of Singapore's iconic landmarks such as the Esplanade and Sentosa. Full Marathon runners also get to soak up the festive atmosphere as they run under the twinkling lights of Orchard Road.
In 2012, SCMS retained its Gold Label status by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), placing it among the company of the world's elite races such as the New York City Marathon and the London Marathon. As the highlight of Singapore's running calendar, the Marathon helped grow the running culture in Singapore. It began with just 6,000 runners in 2002, reaching a peak of 65,000 runners in 2011. In 2012, the theme – "Run for a Reason" – encouraged all runners to submit their individual reasons for taking part in the Marathon.
SCMS 2013 will feature three different start points and routes for the Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km. The Kids Dash also offers aspiring little runners the chance to experience the Marathon, while the Ekiden promises to foster both teamwork and strategic planning among a team of six runners completing the Full Marathon in a relay format.

Courtesy of Standard Chartered.
By Azri Admin Sg

ASEAN MEMBER STATES

Sumber : www.asean.org 

Brunei Darussalam

Head of State : His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah

Capital : Bandar Seri Begawan

Language(s) : Malay, English

Currency : B$ (Brunei Dollar)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade of Brunei Darussalam Website: www.mfa.gov.bn

Cambodia

Head of State : His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni

Head of Government : Prime Minister Hun Sen

Capital : Phnom Penh

Language : Khmer

Currency : Riel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation of Cambodia Website: www.mfaic.gov.kh

Indonesia

Head of State : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Capital : Jakarta

Language : Indonesian

Currency : Rupiah

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Website: www.kemlu.go.id

Lao PDR

Head of State : President Choummaly Sayasone

Head of Government : Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong

Capital : Vientiane

Language : Lao

Currency : Kip

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lao PDR Website: www.mofa.gov.la

Malaysia

Head of Government : The Honourable Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

Capital : Kuala Lumpur

Language(s) : Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil

Currency : Ringgit

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia Website: www.kln.gov.my

ASEAN-Malaysia National Secretariat Website: www.kln.gov.my/myasean

Myanmar

Head of State : President Thein Sein

Capital : Nay Pyi Taw

Language : Myanmar

Currency : Kyat

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Myanmar Website: www.mofa.gov.mm

Philippines

Head of State : President Benigno S. Aquino III

Capital : Manila

Language(s) : Filipino, English, Spanish

Currency : Peso

Department of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines Website: www.dfa.gov.ph

Singapore

Head of State : President Tony Tan Keng Yam

Head of Government : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong

Capital : Singapore

Language(s) : English, Malay, Mandarin, Tamil

Currency : S$ (Singapore Dollar)

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore Website: www.mfa.gov.sg

Thailand

Head of State : His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej

Head of Government : Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

Capital : Bangkok

Language : Thai

Currency : Baht

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand Website: www.mfa.go.th

Viet Nam

Head of State : President Nguyen Minh Triet

Head of Government : Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung

Capital : Ha Noi

Language : Vietnamese

Currency : Dong

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam Website: www.mofa.gov.vn

ASEAN Political - Security Community

To build on what has been constructed over the years in the field of political and security cooperation, the ASEAN Leaders have agreed to establish the ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC). The APSC shall aim to ensure that countries in the region live at peace with one another and with the world in a just, democratic and harmonious environment.

The members of the Community pledge to rely exclusively on peaceful processes in the settlement of intra-regional differences and regard their security as fundamentally linked to one another and bound by geographic location, common vision and objectives. It has the following components: political development; shaping and sharing of norms; conflict prevention; conflict resolution; post-conflict peace building; and implementing mechanisms.

The APSC Blueprint envisages ASEAN to be a rules-based Community of shared values and norms; a cohesive, peaceful, stable and resilient region with shared responsibility for comprehensive security; as well as a dynamic and outward-looking region in an increasingly integrated and interdependent world.

The APSC Blueprint is guided by the ASEAN Charter and the principles and purposes contained therein. It provides a roadmap and timetable to establish the APSC by 2015. It also leaves room for flexibility to continue programmes/activities beyond 2015 in order to retain its significance and have an enduring quality.

The APSC Blueprint was adopted by the ASEAN Leaders at the 14th ASEAN Summit on 1 March 2009 in Cha-am/Hua Hin, Thailand.

ASEAN Motto

The motto of ASEAN is "One Vision, One Identity, One Community".

Answer

Exercise 1:
1. D
2. A
3. A
4. C

Exercise 2:
1. A
2. A
3. C

These are the members of ASEAN.

Can you name all of them?

Exercise 1

1. Which of the following is NOT a member of ASEAN?

A.   Indonesia

B.   Vietnam

C.   Myanmar

D.   Timor-Leste

2. Which of the following is the currency of Lao PDR?

A.   Kip

B.   Kyat

C.   Peso

D.   Dong

3. Which of the following countries is ASEAN’s biggest passenger automotive market? 

A.   Indonesia

B.   Malaysia

C.   Vietnam

D.   Cambodia

 4. What does ZOPFAN stand for?

A.   Zone of Prosperity, Freedom and Naturality

B.   Zone of Punctuality, Freedom and Nobility

C.   Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality

D.   Zone of Prosperity, Free trade and Navigation


Answer here