Uniquely Singapore
August 7, 2004 | 12:00am
On Monday, August 9, the Republic of Singapore celebrates its 39th Inde-pendence Day. In less than one lifetime, that island nation has transformed itself from a grubby former colony into one of the most progressive coun-tries in the world. Within my own lifetime, I have seen the Singaporean city-state transform itself from a slum-infested port of call to a model city that justifiably calls itself (to use the tag line from its Urban Redevelopment Authority) "A Garden City of Excellence." In less than four decades Singaporean leaders, and its citizens, have created a homeland, constructed a strong identity, built a nation they are proud of and created an attractive destination that millions of visitors flock to each year.
I was one of the over seven million visitors this year. Tourism arrivals apparently have recovered and may be headed for a record number by December. It was a sort of homecoming for me, since I had lived in Singapore for over 10 years; 12 if you count two years commuting between Manila and Singapore in the heady days of the building boom. I am always amazed at the speed of development and the changes in the physical makeup of the country on each visit.
My first trip to Singapore came in July of 1981. I had traveled on business as an associate of the noted landscape architect, IP Santos. Filipino design consultants were considered world-class and Singaporean developers hired many in those early years of its development. I had the impression in those days that Manila was more modern than Singapore but that notion was quickly dispelled when I landed at the then one-month- old Changi Airport. Our own small international airport was still being finished and I had left via the old MIA on Philippine Airlines’ new "Love" Airbuses that got businessmen to Singapore by mid-day. (PAL has brought this great service back and offers two flights to Singapore daily.)
First impressions last and my first impression gelled, taking that pleasant 21-kilometer drive from the airport to the city. Singaporean planners made sure that the airport had room to expand and that the drive to the city center would not take more than 20 minutes of traffic-free driving. The city itself was already strikingly more modern, efficient and cleaner than Manila. Only Makati could compare then, but it was quickly left behind by Singapore until the late 1990s – in terms of skyscrapers and urban design.
Nothing changed this time around. The drive that took my tour group (organized by RELI Travel & Tours and GTMC Philippines in association with PAL) to the city still only took 20 minutes of traffic-free driving. Despite the city having grown three times in size, planners’ foresight assured that the city’s infrastructure would cope up with higher volumes of traffic.
We managed, as most visitors to Singapore do, to check in our hotel within an hour of arrival. We were quickly off to see the sights. First on the agenda was Sentosa Island. Just off the west coast of the mainland, Sentosa is one of the country’s prime tourist destinations. It is their equivalent of our Corregidor but with easier access (ferry, cable car, bridge), several resort hotels and spas, museums, beaches, formal and informal gardens, monorail, aquarium, golf course, observation tower and a 70-foot Merlion. The place was packed that Sunday afternoon but everyone enjoyed the experience, which ended with a spectacular water and light show.
The rest of the three-day tour was equally entertain-ing–trips to the world-famous Night Safari (also with new animal displays regularly added), Orchard Road and Bugis for shopping, Chinatown, Little India and the Singapore River for culinary delights and a host of museums for culture. Too bad we did not have a chance to catch a show at the new $60-million Esplanade by the Bay, Singapore’s cultural center. Mamma Mia the musical based on ABBA’s song is playing there soon.
New twists to regular Singaporean tours are constantly being added by the country’s highly-efficient and productive Tourism Board. Street bazaars in Chinatown (tiangges) are now a regular feature. A "shop and eat" tour offers the best of multi-cultural shopping and food. River and bay tours on a choice of traditional or modern touring boats are for the asking. A massive new water fun park has opened on the east coast while events like the Singapore Jewelfest are just around the corner. A unique new tour is one that takes visitors to a water processing plant to see just how the island recycles even its drinking water from its waste via an ultra-modern reverse-osmosis system.
Then of course there’s the shopping. (I featured the Great Singapore Sale a few weeks ago.) Singapore is a nation of malls. The whole two-kilometer stretch of Orchard Road is one big linear shopping center. Many are connected underground with air-conditioned shopping tunnels. You need not come up to street level to do all your shopping since the city’s super-clean and punctual MRT connects all (and I mean ALL) shopping districts and most hotel clusters. How’s that for good tourism infrastructure!
Although I have returned to Manila after my OFW experience, I never miss the chance to come for a visit. The clean air alone is worth a few days’ detox. Singapore is also a spa nation. There’s a spa everywhere you look. Unlike Manila, these are not off-the-highway operations in tight quarters. The planning of the city allows numerous parks, open spaces and gardens that form the views for these city spas. In fact, all residential areas are planned with amenities like parks and recreational centers, shopping districts, schools, hospitals and religious centers all within easy reach. Adherance to a long-term but continually updated master plan has assured that the quality of urban life in Singapore continually improves. It has risen to the level second only to Japan’s and may soon be at the level of Switzerland.
It is this quality of life, safe streets, open green spaces, efficient transport, good transparent governance and stable economy that attract foreign investment as well as the best talent in the world. Instead of hiring Filipino firms, as Singaporeans did 20 years ago, Filipino talents are hired as employees of Singaporean or Singapore-based multinationals. Many of Singapore’s modern complexes, urban design and landscape architecture were designed and constructed with the input of Filipino talent. It is only in places like Singapore that many Filipino architects, interior designers, landscape architects and planners find the opportunity to express their expertise fully.
Singapore is unique in this way, a place that welcomes all who can contribute to its economy, culture and physical improvement, a country that has hosted and blended various cultures in its 200 years of formal existence, a city that has kept its heritage while accepting modern construction methods and adapting modernist styles, a nation that has successfully taken the best from east and west without sacrificing core values that has seen it though the last 40 years.
Happy Independence Day to all Singaporeans!
BrandSpace Articles
<
>
