It’s been eight years since I last visited Singapore. The last time was in 2018, when Tito Tony and Tita Mads Tuviera generously invited our dabarkads on a trip. I remember it vividly because we were a huge party that included Manay Ichu Maceda, Tita Susan Roces, Mother Lily Monteverde, Dolor Guevarra and her two daughters, Jaypee and Anes, June Rufino, Malou Choa-Fagar, Bechay Nakpil, Law Tan, Shirley Kuan and Grace Poe. We stayed at Marina Bay Sands.
Sadly, Manay Ichu, Tita Susan and Mother Lily are no longer with us. That trip was also our last trip abroad together before the pandemic, and we were complete. Over the years, the dabarkads have traveled together to Hong Kong, Bangkok, Osaka and Singapore. Those were precious times, filled with stories, laughter, good food and happy memories.
This time, a quick getaway to Singapore was a welcome respite from the bad weather and bad news besetting Manila. With some friends, we flew out Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 2, looking forward to getting our fill of delicious Singaporean cuisine. We promised each other we were not going to do any shopping but instead make it a food-trip jaunt.
As we landed at Changi Airport, a feeling of envy and sadness enveloped me as I saw how beautiful, clean and efficient their airport is compared with our Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Changi is a showcase of lush indoor greenery, sprawling spaces, rows of shops and restaurants, and facilities designed to enhance the traveler’s experience. No wonder it consistently ranks among the world’s top airports.
After breezing through the automated immigration gates and collecting our luggage, we took a cab to our hotel, the Hilton Orchard, a favorite among Filipinos because of its strategic location along Orchard Road and because one of my favorite restaurants, Chatter Box, is right there.
As soon as we arrived, our friends who had flown in the day before were waiting for us in the lobby. We then walked together to Imperial Treasure at Paragon mall, just across from the hotel, for dinner. We enjoyed Peking duck, sweet corn and crab meat soup, sweet-and-sour pork, steamed fish, braised assorted mushrooms and crispy chicken. After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and bought ice cream sandwiches from a street vendor. It was a sweet way to cap the evening.
The next day, after enjoying the hotel’s breakfast buffet, we headed out to Orchard Road for a bit of window shopping. Singapore has always been an expensive city, but this time I would say it has become exorbitant. When I exchanged US dollars for Singapore dollars, the rate was US$100 to S$124 — almost S$1 to P50. So, we did what we had promised: we strolled along Orchard Road and simply window-shopped.
When we finally worked up an appetite, we headed back to the hotel for my favorite Singaporean fix: Hainanese chicken and lobster laksa at Chatter Box, an indulgence I always give in to.
After a late lunch, we returned to our rooms to rest and wait for the evening.
For dinner, the unanimous decision was Long Beach Seafood, where we feasted on Dungeness crabs in black pepper sauce and chili crabs with mantou bread, clams cooked in oyster sauce with ginger and scallions, cereal prawns, braised tofu, morning glory sautéed in shrimp paste and, because apparently we had not had enough duck the night before, another irresistible serving of Peking duck. By the end of the meal, we were all in a food coma, but we agreed it was the best meal of the trip.
Worth mentioning, too, are the snacks and drinks we discovered along the way. To quench our thirst, we had Molly Tea and Chagee on separate occasions. Molly Tea is the brand that became controversial after Louis Vuitton sued the company in China over its similar four-petal design and motifs reminiscent of Louis Vuitton’s iconic monogram. Chagee already has branches in Metro Manila, but we wanted to try its limited-edition merchandise featuring The Little Prince.
The best snack, however, was Yo-Chi yogurt, for which we lined up with what seemed like everyone else in Singapore. I got the basic vanilla and topped it with fresh strawberries, blueberries, strawberry-flavored boba, strawberry mochi, granola and Biscoff sauce. It was refreshing and delicious.
On our last day, we took it easy. I made a quick trip to Guardian to replenish my supply of Tiger Balm and some over-the-counter medicines, and stopped by Decathlon to get athletic wear for my kids. True to our promise, there was no serious shopping spree — although, in hindsight, I suppose food tripping can also be a form of shopping.
And perhaps that is what made this Singapore trip special. It was never really about the shopping or even the food, delicious as everything was. It was about stepping away for a few days, catching our breath, laughing with friends and enjoying the simple pleasure of sitting around a table with people we enjoy. Singapore may have looked different from the last time I was there eight years ago, but the things that matter most — good friends, good food and good memories — remain wonderfully familiar. And after a weekend like that, I came home feeling that sometimes the best getaway is simply one that reminds you to savor the moment, one meal and one story at a time.