My Singapore: A shopping report

Many Filipinos grow up knowing Hong Kong as a shopping destination. My late grandmothers used to shop in places called Shui Hing and Mody Road, while I remember trailing my mom as she shopped in what used to be called Ocean Terminal. This love for Hong Kong has been passed on to our generation. In recent years, however, I’ve noticed our family taking more frequent trips to Singapore.

My dad prefers it due to its leisurely pace, orderliness and the safety it offers, not to mention all the good food your stomach can hold. But since this isn’t a food story, we’ll stick to the shops.

This year I was back for the Great Singapore Sale, which happens from end May to end of July. Unlike Manila where sales are announced for certain stores and malls for a short period of time, when the Great Singapore Sale is on, practically the entire city goes on sale.

Discounts begin in stores, with additional promos all over Orchard Road, and end in more savings at the GST refund counter in the airport.

I’ve been to Singapore so many times it feels like a second home. Whenever I go there I have a mental list of places to go and there’s never enough time.

The most obvious destination would be Orchard Road, which is the main shopping mecca in Singapore.

First on my list would be Takashimaya where I hit the department store from top to bottom. Must-stops include the children’s section for toys and clothes for my boys and a few things for myself in the Hello Kitty section.

I work my way down to the bags and wallets, all the way to the wasteland next to the Home section. “Wasteland” is what we call shops that sell colorful stationery and cute little things you don’t necessarily need but can’t leave without.

At the basement is the all-too-famous Food Hall where new food trends are introduced all year round — from ice cream and chocolate from Hokkaido, bread from Kobe, goodies from Harrods or Fauchon, plus all kinds of international dishes like nasi goreng and Hainanese chicken rice at the food court.

Other stops are Louis Vuitton, which is ahead of Manila in terms of new arrivals; the Chanel and Hermès boutiques we don’t have at home; and the mega Japanese bookstore known as Kinokuniya.

Makeup and beauty addicts will be pleased to know Sephora is now open at Takashimaya.

Right across from Taka I walk to Paragon for the minimalist Japanese wasteland called Muji — most of my loot came from here.

Paragon is the place for watch lovers. My husband scored a Bulgari watch at Dickson, which came out P50,000 cheaper than its price in Manila. 

Still at Paragon, I couldn’t resist Burberry because of its beautiful displays. This trip I tried on a classic Sherlock Holmes cape that was marked down at 60 percent off. Sounded tempting, but it still cost P35,000 so I kindly put it back.

Project Shop offers a unique lifestyle experience combining a coffee and retail shop in one space. We love to browse the minimalist unisex accessories in neutral tones.

I ran over to the nearby Wisma Atria mall for three basic things: the Porter bag store which sells stylish unisex bags from Japan; Sergeant at Food Republic for the best roast Hainanese chicken rice in town; and Famous Amos, to hoard the most sinful chewy chocolate chip cookies to take home.

Here’s a shopping tip: drop by the Concierge and present your Singapore Airlines boarding pass to get special discounts only at Wisma Atria.

This year Singaporeans are excited for the opening of two new malls on Orchard Road.

The high-tech ION Orchard is currently under construction. While I was there I literally saw the finishing of a massive Louis Vuitton storefront. Expect high-end brands such as Cartier, Dior, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana and Prada, as well as dependable staples like Topshop/Topman, Uniqlo, Zara and more to open by 2010.

On the other end of the road is the Orchard Central mall, which had its soft opening on July 2. Orchard Central is Singapore’s first vertical mall with 12 storeys and two basement levels of retail space. While we were there about 40 percent of the mall was already occupied.

What I love about Singapore is that everything is conveniently a cab ride away. I take a taxi to Ann Siang Road in Chinatown, home to elegantly restored shop houses, which have become the trendiest shopping destinations.

We began at Books Actually (5 Ann Siang Road), a charming neighborhood store that stocks mainly poetry and literary books and a small section of non-fiction highlighting biographies. Other curios include manual typewriters, film cameras, stationery and notebooks for sale.

Asylum (22 Ann Siang Road) is a concept store selling artsy books on culture and design, experimental music, one-off fashion pieces, and products by contemporary designers. The store also serves as a gallery/gathering place for artists and art lovers, as well as a venue for free workshops.

Here’s a concept store you don’t see everyday—Style: Nordic (39 Ann Siang Road) offers contemporary Scandinavia designs in furniture, textile, home accessories and cutting- edge fashion from the likes of Nudie Jeans and Filippa K, POUR and Rodebjer.

We leave Ann Siang Road and take another cab to the hip Arab district known as Haji Lane. We first came upon this place in 2005 in search of the first Comme des Garçons guerrilla store in Singapore. While the temporary store is no longer there, four years later, Haji Lane continues to be a port of call for all things trendy.

Loft & Republic (16A Haji Lane) combines retail and art in one creative space with one-of-a-kind products by local and international designers and an artsy space for rent to groups or individuals holding private events or gatherings.

Salad (25/27 Haji Lane) is a white, lifestyle space offering splashes of colors in trinkets, home products, fashion accessories and music from across the globe. Once sold out, goods are unlikely reordered, making all items limited and unique.

White Room (37 Haji Lane) sits in a three-story shophouse with decor inpired by the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The store stocks fashion labels like FurrMuse, Fru Fru & Tigerlily, Stray Stolen, Hem & Haw, Kill City and Borderline. On the second floor is a modular space for exhibitions, screenings and even a couture bazaar.

Know It Nothing (51 Haji Lane) offers menswear, footwear and other lifestyle products on the main floor, while the second floor is a studio that also functions as a gallery.

Retail shops on Haji Lane close typically between 8 and 9 p.m.. With time and energy to spare, we end up in a cab back to Orchard Road, to Borders bookstore in Wheelock Place. This is where we bought last- minute books and magazines to read on the plane and hoarded colorful stationery we couldn’t resist.

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Experience the Great Singapore Sale which is ongoing until July 26. To find out more, go to http://www.greatsingapore sale.com.sg/2009.