Who hasn’t heard of Flor Contemplacion’s execution in Singapore back in 1996? For a while, it created not only a restrained relationship between the two nations, but also a decline of Filipino applicants to Singapore because of the heightened terror stories of their penalty system.
During my visit there, my brother asked me to freaking use the pedestrian lane and sidewalk, respect the traffic lights (can’t use my “patintero” skills here) and be responsible for my litter, because punishment may come in dollars or cane beating. He neither has money to pay the fine nor Herculean influence to save me from getting whacked. I was more than happy to oblige out of common sense and fear.
Still, my brother got obsessed in scaring me that in so much as I accidentally knock down a can of corned beef in the supermarket or if I step too close to the train’s door – he looks around while pointing at me and declares to no one in particular “ay eto eto, social visit pass lang to o, hulihin nyo na” – then he would giggle foolishly.
This is an account of my uniquely Singapore 30-day experience, which I hope would offer you basic tips as well on your trip.
The Weather
You don’t have to cope with any time difference and temperature changes, they are the same as Manila’s.
The Locals
You will call their elderly “uncle” or “auntie” as a sign of respect. Working senior citizens is a common sight. The government stipulates to create jobs for their senior citizens mostly in general cleaning – in comfort rooms, fast food chains, food courts and the streets. Some conservatives like the Filipinos find this unnerving because for us, senior citizens should be relaxing and enjoying their twilight years. The Singaporeans infer it is only decent to make their elderly feel they are still a valued sector of the society.
My brother warns me to be cautious of elderly Malay-Singaporeans who tend to be more condescending than Chinese-Singaporeans are because the former are the original settlers of Singapore and feel they’ve been somehow outnumbered and thrown out of their land at the influx of Chinese and other races as well.
One night on my way home, I was feeling dejected. I noticed an even more depressing scene in Singapore – they are not a happy lot. Most people you will meet on the street are not smiling. On the Happy Planet Index, Singapore is in the half bottom among the 178 listed countries. Unlike in Manila where you will meet, hear and pass by shiny, happy people who have ready smile all the time.
I may be prejudiced; I just noticed Singaporeans are not good-looking. My brother would describe the female Singaporeans as “ang ganda tsaka ang sexy pag nakatalikod, pag humarap parang sinagasaan ng tren yung mukha.” In the Philippines just turn your head left and right and you are surrounded by beautiful people. But for the East Asians (Chinese, Korean, Japanese), Filipinos are not good-looking.
The Language
Singapore is an English speaking country but their locals tend to speak Singlish. It is similar to how Taglish works but theirs is worse! Try reading this. They speak fast, in a manner where the tip of the tongue seems glued at the back of the incisors and mouth barely opening wide.
On my first job interview, my interviewer kept a deadpan face and spoke so fast I had to say “pardon” many times. Avoid asking them to repeat themselves because it is offensive. They also interject “lah” and “ok lah” in their sentences like “there’s free bus ride lah, you take that one, ok lah?”
Four official languages are used – English, Chinese, Bahasa Melayu or Malay, and Tamil (Indian dialect). The last three are the major races.
On the Road and Transport System
Singapore has a left-hand traffic or right-hand drive, which means if you’re crossing the road, better look to your right first.
Singapore’s cars are marketed as one of the priciest in the world. The easiest way to go around is through their efficient and cost-effective MRT network and bus transport system. EZ link cards, which you can load with purchased credits, can be used in both MRT and buses and sometimes to pay for goods and services as well. It is similar to Globe Telecom’s G-Pass that you “tap” on the reader.
The MRT currently has three networks – North South (Red) Line, East West (Green) Line, and North East (Purple) Line, which should take you around the entire island in one day. By the way remember to stay on the left side of any escalator – MRT, malls, buildings, because the right side is for those in a hurry.
Sorry girls, but in the train or bus, men don’t offer their seats to the female tons. Equality lah. My brother narrates even a pregnant woman gets pushed by hulky men.
Buses are numbered and they ply specific routes. I find the bus guidebook very helpful especially if you intend to go to many places. You can plot your destinations and bus number before you leave the house and feel like a local, go bus hopping as if you’ve done it a thousand times. Nonetheless, bus stops have guides showing the bus numbers that will stop and the routes, exactly what you will see in the guidebook.
When you board a bus, you just need to tap your EZ link card at the card reader beside the driver or if you don’t have a card, drop the right amount of coins. Walang konduktor, so don’t forget your card or coins. Remember to tap again when you get off.
Tip: As you plot your destination, you might be inclined to count the number of stops as a signal for you to get off. However this may not be 100% reliable because if the driver sees that no commuter is waiting at the bus stop and no passenger signals to stop, then he won’t stop anymore.
When stopping a bus you just need to press the button and the sign “stopping” will appear at the LCD atop the driver’s side. Remember to press the button early (you may press it as soon as the bus pulls off from the last stop before your stop). Don’t yell something like “manong para po!” or a panicky “sinabi nang para eh &($^%!” Press the button lah. If you board the wrong bus number and feel you’ve gotten lost, just look for the familiar main streets or any MRT station on the bus guide, and take whatever bus is going there. One time I had to wait for a bus that never came. The taxi driver who took me instead to my office destination said there are some areas where bus trips are scheduled like in industrial areas and office loops where buses only ply their routes during rush hours in the morning and at night.
One Sunday my brother and I traveled far, eastbound. We wanted to go to East Coast Park and beaches only to find out the next bus is scheduled two hours after yet.
Housing
Owing to its smallness, Singapore’s lands are valued high. There are very few landed houses or properties because of their sky-high prices that only the rich locals and expats could afford.
HDB (Housing Development Board) flat is their standard housing. HDBs are clusters of residential buildings, which are normally 8- to 10-storey high. If you see an ad that says HDB flat 3+1 or 2+1 or 5+1 etc., the first number counts the rooms, while 1 means the bathroom and toilet.
Food
Give me any pancit – pancit sa Ongpin, Estero, Chowking, Jollijeep, or any turo-turo – I’ll gobble it with much gusto. In Singapore, they have all kinds of noodles – flat, thin, yellow, egg, tape-like, stir-fried, rice wheat – made perfect with a variety of authentic Chinese herbs and spices.
You may also want to try hainanese chicken rice, laksa, nasi ayam goreng and nasi lemak, and their meriendas – curry puff (like our empanadas but this one is curry-flavored), goreng pisang (banana rolled in flour like our maruya), and most products of Old Changkee’s snacks on stick are good!
If we have the staple sago’t gulaman drink, Singapore has sugar cane juice (tubo), which is your all-natural energy drink, and soya bean milk (taho). They cost 50 cents to $1, you may even order a combi of sugar cane and soya bean. They are not popular in Manila but if you want to try them, some Chinese restaurants in Ongpin sell them.
Communities in Singapore have “hawker” centers, our version of “dampa” or clustered “turo-turo.” If you are on a budget, it’s perfectly safe to eat from hawker stalls as they are regularly checked for sanitation. A rice meal or any noodles cost $1-3. While in the malls’ foodcourts, they may range from $4-10. There are also KFC, McDonald’s, and Burger King there, if you dont to be adventurous in food.
Usually, in the morning, I would cook the usual Pinoy breakfast – noodles, hotdog, fried egg – and cook kuya’s packed lunch as well like adobo, pork steak, corned beef, afritada or whatever ulam I feel like making for him. I eat my snacks from the hawker, Old Changkee or 7-Eleven. In the evening, we have grander dinner. I would buy Malaysian or Indian spices and dips good for boiled or steamed eggplant, okra or string beans, and spices for fried rice. Because my brother knows am addicted to chichiria, we would always have Lays or any potato chips for dinner as well (as side dish hahaha!) and supah yummy F&N fruit-flavored sodas like grapes, strawberry, cherry and orange (sigh I kinda miss them). Or when we feel like dieting, we just eat bread and chips.
Some food courts are divided into two sections, Halal and Non-Halal. I’ve never given this word “halal” too much thought before. Halal foods are prepared abiding the dietary law of Muslims which they believe are permitted by Allah. We all know they Muslims are forbidden to eat pork, blood, alcohol that why’s halal foods follow a strict list of ingredients that should be used. They are pricier than non-Halal foods.
It would be great if Manila could follow this example because we have many Muslim Filipinos, sadly though I don’t remember seeing Halal and Non-Halal sections in any of our food courts in the metro.
Come to think of it, my vegetarian friend finds it really difficult to find vegan-friendly restaurants, what more if you’re a Muslim looking for Halal foods?
Next time, I will tell you about my uniquely Singapore job-hunting experiences! Ok lah?
Travel Date: November 2006
3 Comments
January 21, 2008 at 10:18 am
Wow! Very informative, goodluck on your job hunting! c”,)
February 25, 2009 at 6:19 pm
If you see an ad that says HDB flat 3+1 or 2+1 or 5+1 etc., the first number counts the rooms, while 1 means the bathroom and toilet.
+1 yun common area hindi toilet
April 5, 2009 at 9:29 am
MR GULAMAN, HALL ANG TAWAG DUN. LIKE 2 BEDROOM FLAT + 1 HALL. FYI