Entrepreneurial Farmer

Ambrosio R. Villorente

Singapore: A Model Island City State

"Beauty may lie in the eyes of the beholder, but the truth is, the history of humanity has given rise to a diverse spectrum of views on what is considered beautiful."
What is beauty? People often describe beauty as lovely, gorgeous, superb, pretty and awesome.
Our early lovers of nature such as farmers, horticulturists and agronomists had elevated ideals that blend beauty with nature and spiritual heights from mother goddesses. Beauty is perceived usually by definition, but most people go far more as they describe a person, place or thing using terms like heavenly and ethereal. Does anybody who has visited heaven?
But people have a notion of divine ideal, of what heaven looks like, a divine ideal that reflects nature from plants, animals, birds, rivers, mountains, fishes and even men’s inventions such as vehicles, boats and buildings. It portrays beauty in human creation like paintings, music, drama, sculpture, music, dance and architecture.
My short visit to the City Island State of Singapore of five days (Aug. 20–24, 2007) enabled me to see what beauty is in Singapore. I have been to a limited number of countries in Asia, Europe and North America but what I saw in Singapore was a perfect beauty in terms of public governance, tourism management, environmental management and conservation, business, housing, transportation and other public utilities.

PURPOSE OF VISIT

Rencee, my loving wife, and I believed we have been working hard that we have to pause a little, give ourselves a break. So we decided to have a short vacation from our usual job, visited Singapore for pleasure and study. Since Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is about five hours by bus, we went to Kuala Lumpur and spent one day and one night in that city.
To me, my trip was to see, appreciate beauty, study and observe what they have in Singapore which maybe useful if adopted in the Philippines. And true for there are more good things I saw which are really applicable in the Philippines particularly in Aklan. I will share with you these beautiful ideas, practices and information which will really make Aklan, the beautiful if emulated.

POLICE ON THE ROAD

As far as police visibility is concerned, the Philippines is too far advanced than Singapore and Malaysia. Do you know why? Because we have hundreds of policemen in Aklan patrolling on the road. In Boracay, there are 100 policemen which according to Col. Benigno Durana, Jr. their number is not enough.
In Singapore, I never see any policeman. See? We are advanced. But be careful as Mr. Ferdie Ubanos told me, everybody’s action on the road is clearly monitored via hidden cameras installed all along the road sides and above.

ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING

Singapore has no toll plaza for road users but it has its ERP known as Electronic Road Pricing. All vehicles must be provided with this ERP gadget, installed in front of the driver. The application principle is similar to the celphone. One must load it so it can use the road network. The cost in the use of the road depends upon the frequency of road use which is registered thru a machine installed above the road once a vehicle passed.
Once the gadget has no more load, it rings and it is time to reload. To continue driving without reloading means a fine of $500 Singapore dollars or about US $340.00.
The drivers are very courteous. During my stay in Singapore, I never heard any driver blowing his horn. Drivers obey all traffic rules and signals. It is really beautiful to drive in Singapore.
Both sides of the roads are planted with trees. They are wide with ample markings, very plain, no potholes. The roads are all "one way" with road dividers either planted with ornamentals or trees. Under it is underground drainage, no flood. I did not see any tricycle in circulation. Wire thieves will not prosper in Singapore for all wires for electricity and telephones is underground. Cost of car registration varies. The older the vehicle, the higher the registration fee. Any traffic violation is registered in the surveillance cameras such as beating the red light. Penalty in cash will be sent to the culprits at the end of each month. Cancellation of driver’s license maybe meted.
What a beautiful place Singapore is for drivers. Please watch for the next issue for I will entertain you or enjoy with me with my visits to Singapore National Museum, Jurong Bird Park, Singapore Science Center, Sentosa, My Cable Car ride, Dolphin Lagoon, Sentosa 4D Magic, Songs of the Sea and Underwater World. /MP