Singapore Ambassador Constance See takes a break, visits Divisoria

Singapore Ambassador Constance See took a different route on a recent Sunday from her usual protocol-bound diplomatic engagements and headed to Manila’s often-chaotic Divisoria market district.

She wanted to hunt for bargain items and find out why people from all walks of life have been drawn to the popular marketplace despite its cacophonous noise, the tangled maze of stores and stalls and decades-old sprawl.

“It’s simply overwhelming,” See said of the five hours she spent in Divisoria—a beehive of mass retail trading hub offering knocked down prices for an astonishing range of products—from freshly delivered vegetables and seafood to car parts, houseware, toys, rubber shoes to wedding gowns.

The loud yells of vendors competing for the attention of streams of customers they fondly call “suki”— repeat customers—and the array of restaurants and sidewalk vendor carts of all sorts offering ice-cold coconut juice to grilled squid, fish balls and isaw or grilled chicken or pork innards, add to Divisoria’s folksy chaotic scenes. Fear of being victimized by snatchers in a super-busy marketplace that’s jammed day and night by thousands of shoppers, bargain hunters and tourists adds to the experience.

See, who has traveled across the Philippines in her more than two years as Singapore’s top diplomat in the country, offered a small group of journalists, including from the GMA News Online, to tag along in her first-ever visit to Divisoria. 

Clad in joggers, plain white shirt and sneakers instead of her usual formal business suit or dress, the 51-year-old diplomat, touting a backpack, quickly basked in the sights and sounds of Divisoria.

Coming from one of the most technologically advanced and rules-conscious countries in Asia, the Singaporean ambassador said the mass and commonfolk appeal and down-to-earth price tags are Divisoria’s main attraction. The retail trade vibrancy and the entrepreneurial spirit and hope Divisoria sparked among the poor and middle-class traders were very positive aspects that have endured through time, she said.

“There’s a lot of energy and things going on,” See said as she strolled along Divisoria’s crowded streets and alleys and surrounding shopping malls, including Chinese establishments, which extends from the nearby Chinatown that’s widely regarded as the oldest in the world.

“This place is huge. It’s easy to get lost in the maze of stalls,” she said, beaming.

When one hears Divisoria, the first thing that comes to mind is retail shopping, cheap market finds, the noise and bustle. “Imagine if this is done in a place with more infrastructure connected, you can really elevate it,” See said.

As she meandered into one of the biggest shopping centers, See checked out the row of stalls offering an assortment of knickknacks, trinkets, cellphone cases, home decors and keepsakes. She stopped at a vendor selling an assortment of merchandise with colorful cartoon designs. A pile of computer mousepads with bright colors caught her eye—a perfect gift for her two children.

“I think they will love these because they’re into gaming,” she said and bought the items.

Mistaking her for a local, the Filipino vendor spoke to her in Tagalog. In a scene that surprised her journalist companions, the Singaporean diplomat, known for her cool and easy demeanor, engaged in a lively back and forth as she haggled for a discount.

See got the mousepads at a lower price and savored the Divisoria bargaining experience. She then hopped from stall to stall, casually snapping photos and dropped by at shops that picked her interest, including stores that sold Filipiniana dresses, native barongs and Philippine handicrafts.

See is often seen in diplomatic events and formal receptions in the Manila metropolis in lively Filipiniana dress and attire and proudly champions Filipino artisans who make accessories to go with her outfits.    

While wandering through the market’s fashion and garments section with its huge display of mass-produced but delicately crafted clothes, she wondered what would happen to the items that would not get sold while in their prime quality and the impact on the shop owners. “What will happen to all these clothes?” she asked with a tone of concern.

At one stall, the Singaporean diplomat, known for her cool and easy demeanor, engaged in a lively back and forth as she haggled for a discount.

The daughter of a police officer, See graduated from the National University of Singapore with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Sciences. She earned a master’s degree in Strategy and War Studies at the University of London’s King’s College. Her previous foreign diplomatic postings included Washington DC and Taipei, where she served as deputy trade representative at the Singapore Trade Office.

In Singapore, See headed the Southeast Asia division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from March 2017 to March 2023 and oversaw Singapore’s bilateral ties with the Philippines and other countries in the region.

She has always hoped to be stationed in Manila, she said and added that the Philippines is a “natural and important partner and close friend” of Singapore, now a wealthy and high-tech Asian nation that progressed with the help of Filipino professionals.

“Singapore will always remember the Philippines for all the good things you have done when we were just a young country. You sent your accountants, architects to help set up Singapore,” See said.

With noon approaching and after exploring Divisoria’s busy labyrinth of streets and alleys, See craved for the local marketplace food and gamely took an e-tricycle ride with her journalist companions to an old bank building, which has been transformed into a charming restaurant offering Filipino delicacies. It was a perfect end to a long, tiring walk around the bustling and iconic marketplace.

Over a shared meal of rice with the popular northern Philippine deep-fried pork dish bagnet and seafood, she faced the expected question by the journalists to sum up her obviously unforgettable Divisoria market experience. 

“I enjoyed this place more than diplomatic functions,” the Singapore ambassador replied with a laugh and won a hearty applause. — BM, GMA Integrated News