Filipina

EXPAT DIARIES: DONNA – FILIPINA IN SINGAPORE

June 18, 2017 by Little Miss Honey 1,148 Comments

(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are Expats or I would often call it, adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and two sons living here in Singapore.

I am featuring expats in different countries to share their experiences and adventures with you and me. I love listening to thier unique adventures

I knew of our featured expat today through a common friend. I was interested of her journey as a medical doctor and her venturing into the healthcare quality assurance industry in Singapore. It is the same path that I am currently taking and I can’t help but admire her resilience and confidence. Meet Donna, a beautiful soul with a rock-solid strength and faith

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1. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A creature of habit that is stirred by spiritually profound matters, wanderlust amazing art, worthy causes, and the excitement of a challenge.

2. What made you move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

Finding myself in Singapore was an unexpected move on my part. It was one of those let’s-try-this-road-less-travelled –route decisions and it end up as THE PATH that lead to exciting ventures and before I knew it, I’ve been here for a decade.

3. What do you miss about the Philippines ?

4 Fs (Family, Food, Friends, Familiarity of home). Family tops the list! 

4. What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about in Singapore?

When I first came here, I was impressed by the clean surroundings and the abundance of trees. Till today, I’m grateful for the ease in taking the public transport which makes navigation throughout this island nearly hassle-free. I’m also fascinated by the Singaporeans’ propensity to form orderly queues in every instance that entails waiting (i.e. MRTs, food stalls, fitting rooms, etc.) and their cool, calm, collected behavior even when watching action packed and suspense filled movies (the cinemas are oh so quiet devoid of gasps and occasional chatter). These are just a few things among many others that make this country special.

5. Can you share with us the challenges in working and living in another country?

The language barrier is one of the challenges particularly when conversing with the group of locals who cannot speak or understand English. Also, it took some time for me to catch up with the local jargons (i.e. “giddy” is another term for dizzy, while “can” means yes, etc.) and learning to pepper my speech with “lah” and “leh”. Understanding the local customs and adapting to people of various nationalities with differing beliefs is also challenging yet an enriching experience.

On a personal note, I still deal with homesickness especially during special occasions when I’m not with my family to celebrate with them.

6. What are the 3 tips you can give to fellow expats in Singapore or those you planning to move here?

They might want to “explore the land” first and see the country, the way and pace of life to assess for themselves whether they can live here. Second is to set realistic expectations, though we might have grand goals, yet we might not get things exactly the way we plan it, so learn to make the most of the opportunities given to us. And the third could be learning to adapt with diverse people of varying nationalities and beliefs and respect one another’s differences.

7. The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FAVORITE FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES & current FAVORITE BOOK?

Favorite Travel Spot – This is a tough question to answer since I have many favorites. I can probably share the criteria that can make a place/country one of my favorite spots should have warm helpful people, good food, unique architectural structures with interesting history, and a treasure trove of art (the last one is a good to have).

Favorite Restaurant Discoveries – Recently, I’ve been to the Open Farm Community (Minden Road) which a good place to have brunch for its laidback backyard garden feel and fresh organic food. Also, Timbre Plus in Ayer Rajah is cool with plenty of food options, live band at night and colorful food vans.

Favorite Book – The Holy Bible is my go-to book for all time. There’s so many good books with little time to read nowadays, so I just enumerate the authors of books that I’m reading at this point in time namely – John Bevere (Extraordinary), Ravi Zaccharias (Beyond Opinion), and for easy reading will be William McRaven (Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World).

8. Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

Inspiration comes to me from various sources and forms. I get inspired from reading the news/books, travelling with my loved ones, browsing IG or FB posts, attending an insightful lecture or conference, and even through conversations.

9. Can you share more what the industry in Health Quality Assurance is all about and what is the career path in this industry?

Healthcare Quality Assurance is akin to an “invisible” hand in the healthcare industry since it has been there in the background laying the ground work for systems & processes to be safer for patients yet not receiving that much attention compared to the clinical aspects of care. Hence, with its sublime role, working in Healthcare Quality Assurance maybe perceived as a regular administrative day job, yet it can be impactful as this field crafts policies that can change work processes, elevates the quality of care through inspections/audits & implements projects that improve patient safety and satisfaction.

10. How do you unwind or what is your idea of destressing?

Simple things such as having a good meal, nice long shower, soothing massage, watching animated or comedy movies and at least 8 hrs. of sleep.

11. Tell us the last 3 memorable trips you had.

Another challenging question since I’ve been blessed to travel to quite a lot of great places. But if I have to narrow it down to the top 3 countries (aside from my beloved country – the Philippines) that made a lasting impression on me, it would be:

1. Israel – Seeing and being in the same places where Jesus actually lived, walked & performed miracles was totally life-changing. The bible just came alive & my faith was further strengthened by the experience.

2. Italy – Be it in Florence, Milan or Rome, the warmth of the Italians stood out in my memory as well as the scrumptious gelato in nearly every street, the awesome architecture (from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the intricate ordinary house doors in Florence), and the divine pasta & pizza! It is worth a second visit!

3. UK – Seeing the mysterious Stonehenge and pretending to be a student in Oxford University (to satisfy my geek chick fantasy to actually step in the oldest university in the English-speaking world) ticked off some of the things in my bucket list. A big plus was the friendly & polite British people.

12. If you have a friend coming to visit Singapore for the first time and you have the whole day to show her around, which places are you going to take her?

The “touristy staples” has to be visited by having a quick tour of Sentosa and USS (take the express tickets to save queuing time), followed by seeing the Cloud Forest, catch the musical symphony of the Supertrees at the Gardens by the Bay & finish the day by having dinner of local food fare at Glutton’s Bay or Lau Pau Sat.

13. Lastly, can you share with what is your inspirational mantra in life?

Jeremiah 29:11 is my life verse that I hold on to in this roller coaster ride called life.

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Thank you Donna for inspiring us your story. All the best with all of your endeavors.

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

EXPAT DIARIES: GLAI, FILIPINA FINANCIAL ANALYST IN SINGAPORE

February 15, 2017 by Little Miss Honey 1,887 Comments

“(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and sons here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries to share their experiences and adventures. Meet Glai, a fellow Filipino in Singapore.”

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1. Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

My name is Glaiza Villanueva-De Leon. Glai for short. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I worked and lived in Switzerland and I am now based in Singapore with my husband. I’m a Financial Analyst by profession but I pursue a few passion projects on the side: traveling, baking, and taking photographs, and writing about them.

What made you move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

My husband has been working in Singapore for a long time and when we got engaged four years ago, we decided that we should be together and I should move to Singapore. Luckily, I got a job opportunity months before the wedding. It’s been three years since we received that blessing and I’ve always been grateful for that.

What do you miss about your home country?

Family. Friends. Food!

What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about in Singapore?

Singapore is definitely more than a concrete jungle. I love its unique and futuristic architecture but its the existence of parks and nature reserves that I love even more. It’s a beautiful garden city which proves how great the urban planning is. I like how efficient things are, from transportation to transactions in government offices. I can say I’m spoiled by Singapore in these aspects. I also like the hawker culture because it transcends the barriers of race and social class. And of course, the food is cheap and so good!

What are the 3 tips you can give to fellow expats in Singapore or those you planning to move here?

First, take advantage of the parks and nature reserves here. They say there are two things that Singaporeans love to do: eating and shopping, so most people go to malls for that, but I would encourage them to do nature trips, instead. As for the food, I fully understand why it’s the people’s favorite past time. So my second tip is to try as much Singaporean food as they can. My top 3 recommendations would be salted egg chicken, cereal prawn and laksa. Lastly, learn more about their culture, language, and even politics. Aside from being a good conversation starter, it’s always good to learn as much as you can about the place you’ll live in because it enables you to understand the locals better.

The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FAVORITE FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES & current FAVORITE BOOK?

TRAVEL SPOT: I noticed that most Filipinos who visit Europe don’t stop by Switzerland but it’s one of the most beautiful countries in the world! I lived there for almost a year and I had a wonderful time. Yes, it’s expensive but it’s worth experiencing once in your life. My top 3 recommendations: 1. French speaking region which has a breathtaking view of Lake Geneva and the French Alps. It’s just four hours away from Paris by train. 2. The town of Zermatt with a great view of the iconic mountain, Matterhorn. It’s like a real-life snow globe. 3. Mayenfields / Appenzell which they say is the inspiration of the book Heidi. Not only will you see beautiful landscapes, you’ll also witness traditional Swiss culture. Whichever place you visit, don’t forget to try the Swiss cheese (Gruyere) and chocolates (Cailler). And always be on time to catch the train! They’re on the dot, 90% of the time.

Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Zermatt, Switzerland

Zermatt. Switzerland

Appenzell, Switzerland

RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES: For a casual dining experience, I’m Here Café in Changi Business Park is a very cute place which also serves good food. Try their Chicken Teriyaki, Aglio Olio Pasta and Truffle Fries. You know you’re there if you see plenty of Teddy Bears inside. For a more formal and fine dining setting where you can go during a special occasion, the Dallas Restaurant & Bar in Suntec City Sky Garden is a good choice. They have big glass windows with a view of the Suntec city area so it’s perfect for bloggers and foodstagrammers searching for natural light. Their lobster bisque, chicken fajitas, and warm pudding are to die for!

I’m Here Cafe

FAVORITE BOOKS: If we talk about fiction, growing up, I was and still am a Potterhead and later on became a Game of Thrones Geek. I just love well-thought fantasy series where there are many important characters and you see them all grow, and you also grow with them. But for non-fiction, I love Susan Cain’s book, Quiet. As an introvert, I found it helpful because I stopped thinking of my introverted nature as a drawback. It convinced me that we have our own set of strengths and can be successful while maintaining the quiet nature. Another non-fiction book that changed the way I think is Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. In a nutshell, the book says that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach in changing our habits. The first step is to understand ourselves and determine what works best for us.

Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

My first inspiration will always be my family. I grew up living a simple life in the countryside in the Philippines. I am proud probinsyana. After years of studying and working, my life changed significantly but I never forget that I everything that I do is for them. They inspire me to do my best and strive to be better. They also remind me to be humble, to always look back to my roots, to keep my feet on the ground but still aim to fly high.

Believe it or not, I got my inspirations for my passion projects on Instagram. In this platform, I discovered a lot of artists, creative entrepreneurs and other people who have creative pursuits. I learned that there’s a interesting life outside the corporate world and there’s so much skills and crafts that you can learn that not only helps you improve yourself but also gives you happiness and fulfilment.

Share with my readers more about your personal blog.

I have a personal website, Oh My Glai! (http://ohmyglai.com) which documents my Notes and Photographs from Journeys Around the World and Through Life. In the blog, you’ll find my Photo Diaries and Travel Guides and also some musings and inspirations which I call Life Notes. I hope readers can find something from the blog that can help them in their own journeys. I wish to connect with like-minded individuals who have the same passions and interests and are going through the same stages in life. I also have a portfolio section where I feature my Photographs (Mainly Nature and Architecture) and Videos from travels. Aside from blogging, I’m also curating content for the @makeitblissful hub in Instagram, my account is @ohmyglai. Watch out for my curated grids every Monday! My online presence in the blog and IG are my creative outlets and I hope I can encourage others so start their creativity journeys. I’m one of those people who are confused on what I’m passionate about so I decided to follow my curiosity. That’s when I started searching for inspiration, kept on trying and learning new things and eventually moved to having my own creations and curations. I don’t know when or how but somehow I know that it will lead to a more fulfilling life and if it can also add value to other people’s lives, that’s would be so much better.

Where have you recently travelled? Share with us some of your recent travel adventures.

I have always been a Europhile and an opportunity to live there is a dream come true so I maximized my stay and visited all places that I can afford in terms of money and time. It’s hard to pick a favorite because they’re all beautiful in their own ways. But aside from Switzerland, these are my top 3 recommendations because they’re the prettiest cities I’ve seen:

London: Make sure you drop by the Notting Hill district which has the loveliest pastel-colored neighborhoods! You can also shop in the Portobello Market Road. If you are a Harry Potter fan, don’t miss out on the Warner Bros Stuidos and the Harry Potter and the Curse Child Play on West End.

2. Prague: Get the best views of this charming city from the Clock Tower in Old Town Square, from the rooftop of the Dancing House and from the Prague Castle.

3. Vienna: Catch an opera at the Vienna State Opera or see the famous Gustave Klimt paintings in Belvedere Palace or just walk around the pretty neighborhoods and stop by a cozy Coffee House to try sachertorte or apfelstrudel.

Trust me, you’ll fall in love! More stories are coming up on the blog soon.

If you have a friend coming to visit Singapore for the first time and you have the whole day to show her around, which places are you going to take her?

In general, our itinerary would be like this: A quick tour of Marina Bay in the morning. Hawker Lunch. Haji Lane and hipster cafes in the afternoon. Dinner at Clarke Quay. It actually depends on the interests of the person but I am very willing to bring them to the cool public libraries in Singapore like Library @ Orchard and Bishan Library.

Lastly, can you share with what is your inspirational mantra in life?

At the start of the year, I challenged myself to refrain from chasing anything superficial and worldly and focus on what and who really matters so my mantras in life are: Family First. Live a Simpler Life. Choose Experiences over Material Things. Never Stop Learning.

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“Thank you Glai for giving us a glimpse your life adventures and igniting our wanderlust. I can’t wait to visit the places you recommended.

For more Glai’s life & travel adventures, visit her blog at (http://ohmyglai.com)

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

EXPAT DIARIES: MARICHRIS, A FILIPINA YOGA ENTHUSIAST IN SINGAPORE

August 15, 2016 by Little Miss Honey 1,056 Comments

“(Wikipedia) ‘An Expatriate (often shortened to Expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of their citizenship. The word comes from the Latin terms ex (“out of”) and patria (“country, fatherland”).

This blog aims to discover people who are adventurers like me, venturing out in a new place to call home and creating memories. I have previously lived with my parents and siblings in the Saudi Arabia when I was in high school. I have enjoyed and cherished my memories in the beautiful Sandbox I once called my home. Now, I am in a new adventure with my husband and sons here in Singapore.

I am featuring Expats in different countries to share their experiences and adventures with you and me.

Today, I am featuring a schoolmate from Saudi Arabia who I am happy to know is also in Singapore with her husband and cute baby girl. She is a yoga advocate, a new mom and a beautiful spirit. She will be sharing with us her Singapore adventure. Meet Marichris or lovingly known as Chee to her family & friends.”

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1. Can you tell the readers a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?

Credit:Pervical John Photography

• Born and raised in Saudi Arabia

• Moved to Manila to finish my studies and answer fascinating questions about the desert life to curious classmates.

• New mom to my favorite human and a wife to my complete opposite.

• On Mondays I like my coffee venti size and on Fridays – tall size, my essentials to effectively work as a Marketer for a pharmaceutical company.

• Yoga is my favorite thing to do.

2. What made you move to Singapore? How long have you been here?

It was a spontaneous move. I remember how unprepared I was and how little I had when I arrived. It’s been 6 wonderful years and so much has happened since.

3. What do you miss about our home country?

Driving. My car was present in all my fondest memories. Sometimes, traffic jams are a good thing.

4. What are the wonderful discoveries and things you like about in Singapore?

I live in Geylang. Believe me when I say I rarely see any of the wild shenanigans the area is famous for.

I live here because of convenience, which makes it a wonderful discovery:

a) Accessible food. The famous Hokkien mee, ban mian, char siew pau, the Airport Road Hawker Centre, and many more are all within walking distance from our building.

b) Yoga. I live 700 meters away from one of the most popular studios in the country, Yoga Inc.

c) Singapore Cafes. Artisan coffee and homemade desserts within reach. Need I say more?

d) Singapore Sports Hub. We live 2 bus stops away from Singapore’s newest tourist destination which features all you need to keep fit. Although we mainly go there to eat.

5. What are the 3 tips you can give to fellow expats in Singapore or those you planning to move here?

Get lost in Singapore, Complain Less, and Support Local Businesses.

6. The LITTLE MISS HONEY community gets inspired through travel, food and books. Can you tell us your current FAVORITE TRAVEL SPOT, current FAVORITE FOOD/RESTAURANT DISCOVERIES & current FAVORITE BOOK?

• Favorite Travel Spot – Palawan. Besides the beaches, I do imagine myself living in Puerto Princesa sometimes.

• Restaurant Discovery – I love exploring Singapore Cafes/Restos. There are just so many of them to try here. The latest one we went to is Nosh at Rochester Park. Their Crab Benedict is a must-try. Also, you don’t see many places that serve shakshouka so the arab in me was pleased.

• Favorite Book – “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss, “The Wonderful Things You Will Be” by Emily Winfield Martin. I’ve read this to my daughter so many times I now know the words by heart. I think these books just hit me more. Children’s books make great motivational books.

7. Where do you get your inspirations? Who or what inspires you?

I get a lot of lightbulb moments in a yoga class. In class, you surrender to the voice of the teacher. Your body flows according to their instruction – the transitions, the breathing. “You don’t think, you just do.” When work or home becomes too much for me, I escape here for an hour. After yoga, I am calmer and my mind is clearer. Therefore, lightbulbs.

8. You are a yoga enthusiast. I love yoga too! What attracted you to practicing yoga?

Yoga keeps me sane. I started with shallow reasons – to lose weight. I thought going for hot exercises would help me achieve that. Last 2008, I googled (or yahoo-ed?) for hot exercises and Bikram Yoga was on top of the list. I did my first Bikram class in Makati and got hooked instantly. Class after class, I cared less and less about my weight. I loved the effects it had on me which made me love myself more. Fast forward to 6 years later, I started practicing other yoga disciplines. My world got bigger, and so did my heart. But my first love will always be Bikram Yoga. It is nice to have something to be passionate about.

9. Where are your suggested best yoga places here in Singapore?

For Bikram Yoga or Hot Yoga, I recommend Bikram Yoga Katong and Bikram Yoga Harbourfront. The Bikram community is small, warm, and loyal. Aside from the intense exercise, you will find family here.

Yoga Inc at Guillemard Road is my second home. Not only is it nearby my place, but they offer a wide selection of yoga to choose from. A lot of my breakthroughs happened here, a lot of inspiration as well.

10. Can you give us an easy yoga flow sequence we can do daily?

Sun Salutations is the most popular flow sequence. But to add a little fun, I reverse it.

Sun Salutation A:

Credit:Pervical John Photography

• Stand at the top of your mat in mountain pose (tadasana) with your hands in prayer. You may set an intention for your practice if you choose to.

• Inhale, bring your arms out to the side and and gaze at your hands above your head. Slide your shoulders away from your ears. You can do a slight backbend.

• Exhale, swan dive over your legs into a forward fold (uttanasana) and let your head hang heavy.

• Inhale, gaze forward and lift your fingertips up to form a flat back or a straight spine.

• Exhale, step or jump back to plank pose. Shift your weight forward and bend at your elbows to lower your body until your upper arms are parallel to the floor and and close to the ribs (chaturanga)

• Inhale, slide to upward facing dog.

• Exhale, tuck your toes to downward facing dog.

Reverse Sun Salutation A (Going back to where you started)

Credit:Pervical John Photography

• From downward facing dog, inhale – roll your spine back to upward facing dog.

• Exhale, move down to chaturanga and push yourself back up to plank pose.

• Jump or step forward to your hands with a flat back or straight spine. Remember to gaze forward.

• Exhale, forward fold into uttanasana.

• Inhale, rise fully and look up with your arms over your head.

• Exhale to mountain pose with your hands in prayer.

11. If you have a friend coming to visit Singapore for the first time and you have the whole day to show her around, which places are you going to take her?

We’d probably start the day at Gardens By the Bay to wake up and smell the roses. Go up the overhead bridge towards Marina Bay Sands Hotel and take in the 360-degree view.

From the hotel, have lunch at the Shoppes. My favorite lunch place is Pizzeria Mozza. Because, they have a Filipina exec chef.

Walk around the Art Science Museum, cross the Singapore River via the Helix Bridge and walk towards the Esplanade. Rest and enjoy the free shows.

Have dinner at MakanSutra, buy a dish in every stall to get a taste of the famous Singaporean food. Walk towards the Merlion and finally, relax with a few drinks by the river.

12. Lastly, can you share with what is your inspirational mantra in life?

It never gets easier; you just get better.

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“Thank you Chee for that detailed itinerary for visiting friends going to Singapore. I will definitely use it as a guide. I love your easy yoga sequence you shared with me and my readers. You made me rekindle my love for Bikram Yoga. I will be trying this sequence tomorrow morning.

For more yoga love and inspirations, follow Chee in instagram at www.instagram.com/yogicakes/

If you are an expat or know any expats who are interested to be featured, drop me a line at littlemisshoneyblog@gmail.com.”

*All photos by Marichris’ talented husband. Check out Pervical John Photography.