Spend Summer in Singapore

 
Singapore is one of my favorite Asian cities. I like the orderliness, the modern cradling the old, the architecture and the public art breaking the monotony of highways and corporate structures. Despite being a vibrant commercial hub, the island at the tip of the Malaysian peninsula embraces arts and culture. Even with the urban bustle, one can find many quiet spaces.
Something is constantly happening in Singapore. There are always new developments. For a very small state, this is amazing. There are always new things to discover about Singapore.
Because of these and the country’s aggressive marketing, Singapore has become a major tourist destination. Over the past 10 years, tourist arrivals steadily increased. In 2011, Singapore counted 13.2 million visitors, a 13 percent increase from the previous year. Of these, 678,000 are Filipinos. Many Filipinos are enticed by Singapore. According to Cebu Pacific, the Singapore route is one of their busiest. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) reveals that more and more Filipinos are visiting Singapore. The 2011 tally shows a 24 percent increase compared to 544,000 in 2010, making the Philippines the sixth country with the most visitors, behind Indonesia, China, Malaysia, Australia and India. But in terms of growth, the Philippines ranks third.
For this summer, a traditional time for travel, Singapore has many new things to offer Filipino excursionists.
“Summer in Singapore is always a treat for travelers, as well as the locals. Week after week, there’s always something new that the city offers. This year, to kick off what promises to be an amazing summer, Singapore is going full force in keeping everyone in the city busy and entertained. With concerts from chart-topping artists, award-winning Broadway musicals, outdoor runways shows, food expos, mind-blowing shopping sales and highly anticipated theme park openings, this summer of 2013 at Singapore looks to be an experience that no traveler should dare miss,” said Sherina Chan, STB area director for Philippines and Brunei.
One attraction to look forward to is the 101-hectare Gardens by the Bay (ticket price at P924) at the Marina Bay. Winner of the World Building of the Year Award at the prestigious World Architecture Festival Awards 2012, Gardens by the Bay has the largest climate-controlled glasshouses and conservatories with interesting flora and fauna displays. Go to the Bay South Garden, which consists of Flower Dome and Cloud Forest cooled conservatories; 18 Supertrees; and other signature features. Additionally, there are outdoor and indoor spaces where different events are held, and numerous dining outlets.
Universal Studios Singapore has a new ride, the Sesame Spaghetti Space Chase, the first Sesame Street ride in Southeast Asia which has a special rise-and-shine breakfast programme where one can have a fun dining experience with Sesame Street characters while feasting on a breakfast buffet spread at Loui’s Pizza.
One can visit the world’s largest oceanarium, the Marine Life Park (ticket price at P957), which opened on Dec. 7, 2012. The marine park boasts of 100,000 marine animals from over 800 species. Kids will enjoy its Adventure Cove, which has towering slides, wave pools, tropical jungle gardens and grottos inhabited by whimsical sea creatures.
This year, Asia’s first river-themed park, which boasts of the largest collection of freshwater wildlife, will open. The River Safari (ticket price at P891) recreates the environment of the world’s great rivers — the Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Murray, Mekong and Yangtze. It also has the region’s largest panda exhibit.

Where to stay
There are many choices for accommodations in Singapore — from backpackers’ lodge and budget hotels to luxury resorts — catering to different types of persuasions as well as budget. If you want to try out new ones, there are a number that have just opened. The price range for the four to six-star hotels is from P6,050 to P13,200, while the two to three-star hotels is from P1,925 to P5,500. Budget hotels cost from P1,925 to P5,500.
For nature lovers, the six-star Equarius Hotel is set in a tropical rainforest with rooms that overlook the Marine Life Park. An exclusive 24-hour personal butler service is provided for guests staying in suite rooms.
The five-star W Hotel is located in the new upscale lifestyle precinct of Sentosa, the Sentosa Cove. It features rainwater harvesting and collection of condensate from its air conditioning system, as well as a smart room air-conditioning system that automatically switches off when balcony doors are open.
The multi-awarded, four-star Parkroyal on Pickering is near the Raffles Place financial district and Chinatown with 15,000 square metres of sky gardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and green walls to show its “hotel-in-a-garden” concept.
The Capri by Frasers is near Expo and Changi Airport with 313 studios with kitchenettes and Spa Suite with Ofuro-style private baths and TVs.
The three-star Days Hotel is in the cultural enclave of Balestier Road, 15 minutes away from Orchard Road.
Set to open this year are Sofitel So, Westin Singapore Marina Bay, Holiday Inn Express, The Amoy, Ramada Hotel Singapore at Zhongshan Park and One Farrer Hotel and Spa. It is estimated that by 2015, Singapore will have nearly 63,000 rooms from 53,895 rooms in 2012.

Shopping stops
Shopping is a popular activity of Filipinos in Singapore. Orchard Road remains to be Singapore’s iconic shopping district. There are also shopping precincts in Holland Village, Haji Lane, Ann Siang Hill, Raffles City and Bugis Street.
Additionally, there are new family-friendly malls that just opened to delight shopaholics.
JCube in Jurong East features Singapore’s first Olympic-size ice rink with a 460-seat gallery, designed to host international events and competitions for sports such as ice hockey, curling and speed skating.
Located in the heart of Changi Business Park, directly opposite the Singapore Expo MRT station, the Changi City Point has a landscaped garden with interactive art installations, playground and a tree-house trail for children.
On the other hand, Bugis+ is along Victoria Street, opposite Bugis MRT station, boasting of more than 30 new and established brands, and over 90 outlets, including the largest Uniqlo store in Singapore. The 38-year-old mall Plaza Singapura has undergone a 21-month makeover and is now nearly the size of Ion Orchard, all linked to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. The mall front now stretches 170 meters along Orchard Road. The new wing has about 80 shops, including several brands that are new to Singapore.
Scotts Square is a new luxury mall located between the Grand Hyatt and Marriott hotels in Orchard Road, featuring international luxury brands and designer labels.
For techies, go to Funan DigitaLife Mall and Mustafa Centre.
Shoppers must anticipate the Great Singapore Sale, happening from May 31 to July 28, where one can get big discounts on almost everything.

Dining and more dining
Singapore has an exciting culinary landscape, offering a multitude of dining options. In fact, celebrity chefs such as Mario Batali, Susur Lee, Wolfgang Puck and Joel Robuchon have opened their restaurants here. New restaurants are opening every year.
The Satay by the Bay is a new waterfront eatery at Gardens by the Bay offering satay, chicken rice and grilled seafood.
The Marche, which has two branches in Somerset and Vivo City, offers different kinds of cuisines. An interesting feature is the “cashless” system where the diner is given a card to buy food.
Also called the Food Republic, the St. James Beer Garden at 3 Sentosa Gateway serves local fare such as satay, rojak, chicken wing and fried oysters. It also features live bands.
Buffet lovers can troop to Buffet Town, Sakae Sushi, Coleman’s Café, Peninsula Excelsior, Seoul Garden, Carousel @ Royal Plaza on Scotts, Sakura International Buffet, Hanabi Japanese Restaurant, Zhou’s Kitchen Gourmet Buffet, and Kuishin Bo Japanese Buffet.
For a truly gastronomic adventure, foodies can go to the World Street Food Jamboree, from May 31 to June 9, at the F1 Pit Building and Paddock. It promises 40 of the world’s best street-food masters who will offer everything from Indonesian kaki limas to American food trucks and Chinese food inns. Famous foodies such as Anthony Bourdain and Jean-Georges Vongerichten are expected to grace this affair. This is definitely one culinary experience any food lover shouldn’t miss!

Eventful
Singapore hosts over 30,000 art and entertainment events in a year. When one goes there this summer, there is bound to be a major event. Currently happening is Samsung Fashion Steps Out from March 28 to May 12, showcasing the latest fashion trends with outdoor runway shows and a fashion bazaar. Then, there is the Asia Fashion Exchange 2013 featuring new local and Asian talents, latest fashion insights from fashion thought leaders at Asia Fashion Summit, fashion concerts, after-parties and runway shows. The trade show will be from May 16 to 17, while the emporium will be from May 18 to 19.

Loving the nightlife
Party lovers will love Singapore as it has a very vibrant nightlife. Hip bars nowadays are the Pangea, Avalon, St James Power Station and Zouk. Currently rooftop bars is becoming trendy. Check out the Lantern, Ku D‚ Ta, Orgo, 1-Altitude, Loof and Helipad.

Getting there
With the rise budget airlines, going to Singapore has been convenient and affordable for Filipinos. The Philippines’ largest carrier, Cebu Pacific (CEB), boasts of the most flight options and schedules to Singapore with up to 52 weekly direct flights from Manila, Clark, Cebu and Iloilo. It also offers the lowest year-round fares starting at P1,599.
“Singapore has always been one of our guests’ favorite destinations. Now, not only can they fly direct to this city-state from four major Philippine cities, they can also make the most of their travel budgets with these special summer discounts,” revealed Cebu Pacific vice president for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.
Cebu Pacific is partnering with the Singapore Tourism Board to offer deals and discounts to its passengers to Singapore from March 28 to July 31. They can avail of special deals by presenting their Cebu Pacific Singapore boarding passes.
CEB passengers has a 15 percent discount on the Singapore Flyer, said to be the world’s largest giant observation wheel, which can take you as high as 165 meters. Here, they can have a spectacular dinner through the Singapore Flyer-Sky Dining Flight package. It is available at 15 percent off by using the Cebu2013 booking code on the Singapore Flyer Web site, and this includes a four-course fine dining menu served by a dedicated butler, plus free entry to Journey of Dreams Interactive Gallery.
At the Marine Life Park in Resorts World Sentosa, passengers can get 10 percent off on one-day S.E.A. Aquarium or Adventure Cove Waterpark passes. They can get up to six tickets at a discounted rate per Cebu Pacific boarding pass.
There is also a one-for-one promo at the Jurong Bird Park. Those looking for an authentic taste of Singapore can also book the Original Singapore Walks and get 20 percent off on The Tipple Exchange Walk to discover a different side of the Lion City.

For more information on the Cebu Pacific and Singapore Tourism Board promo, visit http://www.cebupacificair.com/HTML/hot-deals.html. For more information on seat sales and events happening in Singapore, visit www.cebupacificair.com and www.yoursingapore.com/ph.

Snapshots and Flip-flops: Cebu Pacific Holds Online Travel Journal Photo Contest

We did the touristy works in Bohol, one of the Philippines’ destinations of the moment, an island province at the heart of the archipelago with nice beaches, diving sites, a clean river to cruise on, old churches, intriguing fauna, landmarks that are worth your while, well-appointed resorts and an overall rustic feel much touted and romanticized by stressed out city dwellers.

A burst of rain welcomed us when we arrived the first day of July, the start of the run of Cebu Pacific’s Wandering Juan, a Web site in which its customers can create their own travel photo blogs. The best ones will win trips. The rules are: They must be creative and they must incorporate the tsinelas or flip-flops in the photos.

Why the tsinelas? Although it is of Japanese origin and design, the tsinelas has been part of Philippine popular culture, supplanting the traditional the wooden clogs called bakya as the footwear of choice around the home, when going to the market and even when on excursions. Once relegated as "lowly" or "uncouth," the flip-flops became fashionable with the surge of branded ones, particularly the Brazilian Havaianas. Not just worn around the house and palengke, the flip-flops are now also worn inside malls and offices.

Like footprints, the tsinelas has become a symbol of an itinerant lifestyle. And how Filipinos on excursions love to boast "I was there" indirectly, via photographs of themselves with the landmarks. Never mind if they don’t know the history and meaning of those landmarks. There will always be kodakan moments along the journey. The pictures will be shared with friends, most often as pang-iingit.

Now, with easy access to digital technology and the Internet, pictures are not only shared with friends, but with the larger public. Travel photos are posted in online journals and blogs, spawning travel photo blogs—not much words, only photos.
Cebu Pacific makes use of old loves and a new craze for their latest promotion: The Wandering Juan online travel journal photo contest.

"Wandering Juan provides Pinoy and Pinoy-at-heart travelers a venue where they can brandish their travel achievements for all the world to see," said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific vice president for marketing and distribution.

The country’s popular budget airline has been one of the spurs for Filipinos to travel around the country. The country’s topography, an archipelago, and the high cost of transportation have been restricting travel around the country. Now, with Cebu Pacific’s low-cost promotions, different destinations are made relatively accessible.

Travel spurs travel photo blogs, which inspires more travels. In the case of Wandering Juan, creative travel photo blogs win more travels.

The contest runs from July to October 2009, and accepts entries taken during that time and in Cebu Pacific destinations both local and international. Those who wish to join the contest must create a visual journal of their travel experiences — photos featuring their tsinelas in landmarks and sites they’ve visited, with people they’ve met or in a sequence a la travelogue story. The complete mechanics may be viewed at the Wandering Juan site, www.wanderingjuan.com. At stake are trips to Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Incidentally, if contestants want their entries printed, they can avail of Cebu Pacific’s Fun Prints service, which is operated and maintained by Mozcom, the Philippines’ first commercial Internet service provider.

"This is a good time to be a traveler and learn more about the world and our places in it, given all the affordable options and unique services that make travel dreams possible and more meaningful," Iyog enthused.

We, a group of journalists, had sort of a test run in Bohol, a lovely place to do it. Cebu Pacific has daily flights to Tagbilaran, the capital of the island province.

Bohol is a rising star of Philippine tourism together with Palawan. Like Palawan, Bohol has interesting sites, resorts, beaches and tourism structures that make going to the sites and beaches painless. They also retain their precious provincial feel characterized mostly by the lushness of the vegetation and the lesser incidence of crowdedness. Many people complain of its "sedateness," of it being too laidback and too rustic, and the lack of a nightlife. But you don’t travel here for the nightlife; you had better remain in the city.

We booked for the popular Bohol Countryside Tour, which takes you around the island’s popular spots, including the famous Chocolate Hills.

From Tagbilaran, we went about 20 kilometers east to the town of Loboc for a river cruise. The start of the tour was at the Loboc Tourism Complex, by the Loay Bridge and across the old and august Loboc Church, where there are souvenir shops, a multi-purpose hall, restrooms, booking stalls for the river cruise and the floating restaurants. The restaurants were barges really with tables and chairs that can accommodate about 50 passengers and pushed by a motorized banca. Lunch was served buffet style, while the barge glided further inland. There was entertainment—a girl singing an incongruous repertoire of folk and pop songs—while we passed by fields, huts, other floating restaurants and coconut groves. Some portions of the river bank were spruced up with ornamental plants, mostly cannas, and ornamental lampposts, a jarring sight among banana trees and coconuts. We made a stopover in a riverside shed in the barangay of Gotozon for dances and rondalla music, a livelihood project in tourism. There were much kodakan. At a point we turned around and headed back to the tourist complex.

The Chocolate Hills are located in the middle interior of the island, more than an hour’s drive from Loboc. Going out of Loboc, we through the Tina-i sa Manok, literally "chicken intestine," a portion of the road that winds around the mountains, and passed through two kilometers of highway fringed and canopied by a "man-made forest."

The forest, about 800 hectares in the towns of Loboc and Bilar, of mahogany trees growing in an orderly manner looked beautiful in its uniformity, the result of a reforestation program in the 1960s. Today, tourists frequently make brief stops to take pictures. At the time we went, it was probably the mating season of the giant millipedes. The millipedes here are many times larger than the ones found in Luzon—creepy but peaceful little critters. The first time I saw one was in Mabinay, Negros Oriental. They were brown. In Capiz in Panay Island, they were bottle green. Here in Bohol, they were blue.

In Bilar, the Chocolate Hills began to appear—huge limestone mounds like islands on the bristling green sea of rice stalks. There are about 1,500 of these haycock hills scattered on the island’s central plain, mostly in the towns of Carmen, Batuan and Sagbayan. They turn brown during the summer, looking like giant Hershey’s Kisses, hence the name. This early part of the rainy season, they were green.

To have a panoramic view of the hills, we went to the barangay of Buenos Aires in Carmen, where the Chocolate Hills Complex, with its old tourist facilities, was built on two hills. Concrete stairs of 214 steps lead one to the view deck where much kodakan happens. The view of hills is truly impressive from this vantage point.

Aside form the Chocolate Hills, which amazes me every time I see them, another iconic image of Bohol is the tarsier, the smallest primate, endemic to the island. Every tourist will want to see a tarsier, which is nocturnal and currently endangered. Many roadside eateries keep one or two in small cage to attract visitors. By the Loboc River, there is a walk-in cage where visitors can see them up-close and feed them crickets. Despite warnings, visitors get away with touching or poking the animal as supervision is lax. Protocol is strictly observed at the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in the town of Corella , 14 kilometers northeast of Tagbilaran City.

Managed by the Philippine Tarsier Foundation, a non-stock, non-profit organization established in 1996 that aims to conserve and promote the tarsier, the sanctuary maintains about 130 hectares of secondary growth forest on the foothills of the barangay of Canapnapan.

The sanctuary has a large cage where the tarsiers live, maintained by Carlito Pizarras, who is frequently interviewed in articles and documentaries. Called the "Tarsier Man," Pizarras once caught and sold tarsiers. Now, he is conservationist, working with the sanctuary.

Staff members accompanied and guided us as we searched for tarsiers among the thick growth. We found about five, including a mother and her baby.

Out last stop was the Baclayon Church. Bohol is known for its old churches, which mostly retain their original features. The churches of Loboc, Loon, Dauis, Maribojoc and Panglao are the outstanding ones, and Baclayon is the oldest of them all.

About six kilometers east of Tagbilaran, the Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Baclayon was built in the early 18th century by the Jesuit missionaries using huge blocks of coral stones. Beside it is a school and an old convent with a museum housing relics and religious items, dating back as far as the 16th century. In the late afternoon, students spilled out of the school, some gathering at the small park by the sea, in the shadow of the church that faces the sea, austere, gray and eternal.

We retired in the modern comforts of Amorita Resort in the island of Panglao, 18 kilometers away from Tagbilaran. Panglao lies on the southwest of the main island of Bohol connected by a bridge and a causeway. The towns of Panglao and Dauis are located on this island, and also Alona Beach, with its one-and-half kilometer stretch of white sand and string of resorts. Opened in 2008, Amorita is one of the newest resorts in the tourist strip and perhaps the most prominent, being perched on a cliff overlooking Alona Beach.

Amorita has 20 deluxe rooms and two sky suites at a hotel near the reception, and 14 villas, six of which have a view of the Bohol Sea, spread over the landscaped garden lush with palms, hibiscus and birds of paradise. With 150 square meters, each villa has a wooden gate, which leads to a private plunge pool and the room, Zen-like in its cleanness of design.
Though the resort has no beachfront, it has an enviable view. Guests are afforded a panorama of the Alona stretch, best enjoyed at the infinity pool, or at the restaurant or at a platform where dinner can be set under the trees and globular lamps and diners can feel as if floating toward the sea and sunset. The open-air Saffron Restaurant, so named because of the color of the sunset which casts a lovely glow on the restaurant, is where one can watch the beautiful sunsets of Bohol and enjoy comfort food.

We imbibed the view while sipping cocktails and lying on the lounges. With legs propped up, the whole Alona Beach with its waving palms and bobbing white boats on turquoise water seemed to be at our feet. We simply had to take pictures.