PENTRAVEL and Tours, a travel agency in Clark and the seller of the most number of Cebu Pacific tickets in the region, invited Punto! to join the Singapore Familiarization Tour from April 21 to 24.
Our marketing officer Ning was tasked to represent the paper but she excused herself because the schedule coincided with the First Communion of his son. Hmmm, I came to the rescue and volunteered (or rather “insisted” would be most likely) to be the paper’s representative to the tour. Nobody from the staff objected… or else!
Actually, I have been to Singapore thrice. In 1999, I visited the place with the Land Registration Authority delegation (I was then a member of the Pre-Qualification, Bids, and Awards Committee for its computerization project) to observe the computerized system of land titling and registration in that City State. Yes, they have that as early as 1985, while ours just came to realization two years ago (San Fernando registry just started last year and Angeles City, this year).
We just stayed there for 2 days. Instead of joining the delegation in Sentosa Island Park on the second day, I decided to visit a college friend who works there. Hence, I did not see the tourist spots.
In 2000, I stayed in Singapore for a day before proceeding to Sydney, Australia…also in connection with the LRA Computerization. I just stayed in my hotel room due to limited time.
Then last year, I brought my father and wife to tour the city. Aside from the Night Zafari and the Riverbanks and the big shopping malls, we did not actually tour the whole of Singapore. This was due to the age of my father who could not walk miles, very unlikely in his youth when he can climb even the Everest.
Hence, when the opportunity was offered to Punto!, I immediately grabbed it. Thanks to Ning’s son. I will surely buy that boy a pasalubong befitting his First Communion (not for a Chief of Staff, though).
Ms. Carmina of Pentravel & Tours is very efficient. She immediately emailed to me my ticket and itinerary and replied to my queries and emails on matter of minutes. If she does the same to a non-paying client, I can’t imagine how well she does with their customers.
The itinerary is impressive. We will stay in Hotel Grand Chancellor and my roommate would be Jun Sula of Sun Star. I have not met this guy but will surely looking forward to more bonding moments, together with the rest of the delegation.
Dinner on first day would be at 7,107 Flavors (sounds like a Filipino-owned restaurant). Second day would be consumed visiting 8 hotels and the Night Zafari. Third day would be an adventure trip to Sentosa (cable car, Underwater World, Dolphin Show, Cineblast and Desperados). The newly opened Universal Studios is also part of the tour.
I was told that some of the events would be hosted by the Singapore Tourism Board and that there would be exchanges of ideas how to promote tourism.
The last day is reserved for shopping and free-time. Knocking on my wife for some “pabaon”. Next issues would be reserved dissecting each of those listed in the itinerary. Keep posted.
Our marketing officer Ning was tasked to represent the paper but she excused herself because the schedule coincided with the First Communion of his son. Hmmm, I came to the rescue and volunteered (or rather “insisted” would be most likely) to be the paper’s representative to the tour. Nobody from the staff objected… or else!
Actually, I have been to Singapore thrice. In 1999, I visited the place with the Land Registration Authority delegation (I was then a member of the Pre-Qualification, Bids, and Awards Committee for its computerization project) to observe the computerized system of land titling and registration in that City State. Yes, they have that as early as 1985, while ours just came to realization two years ago (San Fernando registry just started last year and Angeles City, this year).
We just stayed there for 2 days. Instead of joining the delegation in Sentosa Island Park on the second day, I decided to visit a college friend who works there. Hence, I did not see the tourist spots.
In 2000, I stayed in Singapore for a day before proceeding to Sydney, Australia…also in connection with the LRA Computerization. I just stayed in my hotel room due to limited time.
Then last year, I brought my father and wife to tour the city. Aside from the Night Zafari and the Riverbanks and the big shopping malls, we did not actually tour the whole of Singapore. This was due to the age of my father who could not walk miles, very unlikely in his youth when he can climb even the Everest.
Hence, when the opportunity was offered to Punto!, I immediately grabbed it. Thanks to Ning’s son. I will surely buy that boy a pasalubong befitting his First Communion (not for a Chief of Staff, though).
Ms. Carmina of Pentravel & Tours is very efficient. She immediately emailed to me my ticket and itinerary and replied to my queries and emails on matter of minutes. If she does the same to a non-paying client, I can’t imagine how well she does with their customers.
The itinerary is impressive. We will stay in Hotel Grand Chancellor and my roommate would be Jun Sula of Sun Star. I have not met this guy but will surely looking forward to more bonding moments, together with the rest of the delegation.
Dinner on first day would be at 7,107 Flavors (sounds like a Filipino-owned restaurant). Second day would be consumed visiting 8 hotels and the Night Zafari. Third day would be an adventure trip to Sentosa (cable car, Underwater World, Dolphin Show, Cineblast and Desperados). The newly opened Universal Studios is also part of the tour.
I was told that some of the events would be hosted by the Singapore Tourism Board and that there would be exchanges of ideas how to promote tourism.
The last day is reserved for shopping and free-time. Knocking on my wife for some “pabaon”. Next issues would be reserved dissecting each of those listed in the itinerary. Keep posted.
