My fellow residents and I attended the 2024 WONCA Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Singapore, themed “The Art and Science of Family Medicine.” I presented a poster, listened to experts, and ate great food. Then we checked out the rest of what the city has to offer.
Another milestone: Family medicine conference
I’ve been to several conventions in the past, specifically the 2023 Midyear PAFP Convention and the 2024 PAFP Annual Convention. But this is the first time I’ve flown out for work, which felt like sanctioned fun. I got my airport tax waived for the first time –that little slip of bureaucratic paper was exciting to hold for some reason.
Read here: Davao City 2023 – Life is Here
It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, I got to travel with my co-workers and friends (definite plus!). On the other, we had to prepare materials and also stick to a schedule. I also expect more schmoozing and small talk if I go after residency. Maybe I’ll stick to work at work, and vacation when I travel…?
But the chance to exchange ideas and to transform perspectives might be too good to pass up. I highly recommend similar conferences to those in residency or interested in continuing professional development. I particularly recommend WONCA conferences to general practitioners and future FM specialists. The insights to the profession, and the resonance of the different efforts toward universal health care, carry weight.
5D4N in Singapore
And now that the work’s done, it’s time to head to the fun.
I flew out mostly on my own right after night duty in the hospital, which was another kind of thrill. I also flew back home to Manila on my own (please don’t tell my mom). I think there’s something freeing about getting to spend time with and by yourself whenever you go abroad. Even for just a day or two… I doubt I’m alone in this feeling. That kind of solitude breeds introspection, but the safe space also encourages empty-headed relaxation.
To state the obvious: I’m a planner. But I also like a bit of spontaneity with my trips. I especially need some buffer time for rest, otherwise the trip would feel too much like scheduled work. So I aimed for a few key experiences, and let opportunity take care of the rest.
Here’s where we ended up:
DIY TOUR STOPS
→ Chinatown and Maxwell Food Centre
→ Gardens by the Bay featuring “Impressions of Monet”
→ Marina Bay Sands and the Spectra show
→ Raffles City Shopping Centre & Chijmes Mall
→ Clarke Quay and Slingshot SG
→ Haji Lane, Bugis & Albert Food Centre
→ Kinokuniya along Orchard Road
→ Fort Canning Park
→ National Gallery Singapore
Once again, I’d like to thank Klook for hooking us up with much cheaper tickets for Gardens by the Bay. We even got to experience the “Impressions of Monet” exhibition. You just need to buy at least one day ahead, otherwise you’ll have to buy onsite.
I also got cheaper tickets for National Gallery Singapore on the same day as my visit, thanks to Klook. A lot of the other attractions were free, or just backdrops to good coffee.
I’m happy I got to visit National Gallery Singapore this time around. The gallery features Southeast Asian art, from classics to contemporary. To compare, we’ve visited the National Museum of Singapore and the Singapore Art Museum in previous trips. I think National Museum of Singapore and National Gallery Singapore are both top-tier museums to visit. It just depends on what you’re more interested in.
Read here: Weekend Date with my Mom in Singapore 2022
I’ll have to write about my favorite pieces at the National Gallery Singapore some day… I definitely loved seeing more of Botong Francisco’s murals and Juan Luna’s España y Filipinas.
Two hands reach out.
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This is also my first time in CHIJMES, which is only a few minutes’ walk from the convention location. For context: I’ve wanted to go since the film Crazy Rich Asians came out, but my mom and I couldn’t squeeze it into our itinerary. The church-turned-mall did not disappoint.
It was pretty, and the coffee I had at Dough was great. Alas, I still haven’t visited the quaint shophouses along Bukit Pasoh. Maybe next time.
The other attractions on our DIY list –such as Marina Bay Sands, Haji Lane, and Clarke Quay– were mostly unchanged. The Slingshot extreme ride was pretty new and exciting though.
At least I’ve added more to my list of hawker centres. I think La Pau Sat was still the best experience for me. No I will not take criticisms. But I guess food tastes the best when you’re eating it with the right people. #cringe
Special mention to the salmon dishes served by the Raffles City Convention Centre for the conference. Each meal was delicious, but these were definitely superior.
And last but not the least, I’d also like to thank the department and PGH for the support and funding.
To more opportunities ahead!
jari m 
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