Melo Villareal
The Singapore Travel Showcase in Manila 2017
The Singapore Tourism Board introduced its latest destination brand called Passion Made Possible to the Philippines through its Singapore Travel Showcase held last September 15 to 17 at the SM Megamall Fashion Hall. The successful event gave Filipinos an introduction of what the Lion City’s diverse cuisine, shopping destinations, world-class attractions, and wide experience has to offer.
The new brand Passion Made Possible draws on the qualities that strongly represent Singapore. It captures the spirit of the nation and reflects on the character and authenticity that it has that can build stronger connections with travelers and businesses. This brand projects the Garden City as a country that can enable visitors to discover, ignite, and pursue their passions.
Passion Made Possible was first introduced in Singapore last August 2017. It’s rolled out to 16 different markets in the world which includes Australia, China, India, Indonesia, United Kingdom, and the United States through different trade events, consumer launches, and industry partnerships.
While giving the welcome remarks, the Singapore Tourism Board Executive Director for Southeast Asia, Edward Koh said, “Passion Made Possible is not just a tourism brand; it is a reflection of who we are. We believe Singapore is a place where new possibilities can be discovered and fiery passions can be pursued.”
The event’s Guest of Honor, Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines H.E Kok Li Peng talked about the growing connection between the two countries, the Philippines and Singapore. This bond can be seen through the growth of bilateral ties, trade investments, and tourism arrivals between the two growing countries. The Guest of Honor also pointed out that both the Philippines and Singapore are each other’s 7th biggest source visitor market for the year 2016.
Awakening the Passions
Also present in the event are popular celebrity and travel blogger Mikael Daez along with Filipino entrepreneurs Nicco Santos and Andre Chanco. All the guests shared how Singapore inspired them and played a huge role in their discovery and pursuit of their passions today.
Nicco, the owner of Any Any, Hey Handsome, and Your Local, shared about how he discovered his love for food through Singapore’s cuisine. He also revealed that the country continues to inspire the flavors of his restaurants until today. Meanwhile, Andre shared his humble start as a barista at one of the premier specialty coffee shops in Singapore that led him to start his own coffee journey that spearheaded Yardstick, a business to business enterprise and cafe. Mikael, on the other hand, shared a blog of his latest trip to the country as he talked about his passion for adventure and food, as well as his favorite spots in Singapore.
“Passion Zones” and its unique attractions made the Singapore Travel Showcase more engaging for the attendees.
Visitors also enjoyed free taste of some of the country’s signature dishes such as Kayo Toast and Chicken Rice at the Foodie Zone that took them to the Lion City’s famed hawker centers. People who have a passion for fashion and shopping also learned more about the country’s local brands, Irvins, Naiise, and Benjamin Barker at the Collectors Zone. Kids also enjoyed the event through fun and games at the Explorers Zone that featured miniature versions of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Singapore Botanic Gardens, and the famed Supertrees from the Gardens by the Bay.
Lael Loh, the Singapore Tourism Board Area Director for the Philippines, said, “We are very excited to be holding our very own Singapore Travel Showcase for the first time here in the Philippines. Through this 3-day event, we hope fans and friends will be able to discover what Singapore has to offer. Whether you’re a Foodie, an Explorer or a Collector, we invite you to live up your passions in Singapore.”
Release the inner adventurer in you and indulge in your passion. To know more about what Singapore has to offer, you may visit www.visitsingapore.com.
