Christmas glitz and glam in singapore

CEBU, Philippines - Last week, Aurelio Acasiano III of Manila Bulletin, Ma. Lourdes Roque of Mindanao Times and this writer of THE FREEMAN were treated by the Singapore Tourism Board to “Christmas in the Tropics,” a mega fam tour for Philippine media. Arriving earliest on November 25 via Singapore Airlines (Silkair was fully booked so I had to fly to Manila), I was met by our STB guide Wee Toon Hee and checked in at our official home – Orchard Parade Hotel. Our hotel is at the start of Orchard Road, at the juncture of Tanglin Road. It is right next door to Forum The Shopping Mall and also near Tanglin Mall.

Our first morning was a walk through the soon-to-open Mandarin Gallery (it was inaugurated on November 27), as well as the Orchard Central towards the other end of Orchard Road. The famous Orchard Road was definitely looking like Christmas, with Santas at street corners, snowmen smiling atop lampposts and couture dressed reindeer posing on the sidewalks.

This Christmas light-up concept started in 1984 but when my family spent Christmas in 1988 (we stayed at Le Meridien), I had no recollection of the decors. When we again came for Christmas in 1990, staying in Westin Stamford in Raffles City, I was impressed with the wonderland of Tivoli lights. I asked my Art Director (I had an advertising & pr agency.) to follow in the next week so he could glean ideas from the street decors. Now, an annual theme collates everything. Last year, it was A Sweet Christmas, with candy canes all over.

After lunch, our STB guide Toon Hee let us loose on Orchard Road to shop. I went straight to Lucky Plaza (the “Filipino mall” in Singapore) to buy some Italian leather sandals from my “suki.” Then, I crossed over to Takishimaya in plush Ngee Ann City to buy my son’s order of the XMI Singapore brand of X-mini2 ipod/laptop speakers. (Another reliable mall for electronics is Funan.) Looking out for the brands suggested by STB, I went around the major stores like the fun-filled ION Orchard where Sephora, a French beauty boutique, has an outlet that far outshines the one they have in Times Square, New York.

Did you know that SCHU in Ayala (also in Mall of Asia) is a Singapore brand? So is Charles & Keith, another known brand in Cebu. That’s why these shoes are trendy but affordable! For classy looking crocodile, ostrich, lizard and snakeskin bags, shoes and accessories, I find Kwanpen a standout. There is also Stella Stella for the romantic at heart. 25 Hours diamond watch designs are so lovely – thank you, STB, for our gift watch! Then, there are Pure Gold, On Cheong Jewelry, and Tian Po among the distinctive local brands of jewelry makers. RISIS, of course, has become a byword in Singapore-made gold-encrusted orchids and leaves. I always get an item as a souvenir of my trip. And they make sure that you get a GST refund at the airport of the taxes added to your purchases.

I know many travelers to Singapore will not miss buying herbal medicines – just like my late mother-in-law Lu Diu Eng who specified Eu Yan Sang for her orders of Chinese medicines. No wonder, as this company has 130 years of unrivalled reputation in Southeast Asia. Another company is 10-year-old Herb de Orient that offers 100% oriental herbs in advanced technological processing for skin wellness and personal care.

There is a Cebuana designer who has made a name for herself, Lotte Edwards, whose designs are carried in the SKYE Boutique of designer Ana Liew, 3rd level, Orchard Central. Uniglo in ION Orchard, on the other hand, offers interesting casual designs that allow the wearer to come up with her own personal style at an affordable price range.

After just half a day of browsing through the shops in Orchard Road, I realized that Singapore is such a fun place to shop, after all…especially since the Singapore Tourism Board has made Christmas shopping a tantalizing, convenient, shop-till-you-drop, one-place-has-it-all experience in Orchard Road.

Buy a ticket to Singapore and have a fun-filled affordable Christmas shopping for dependable and affordable Singapore brands!