Singapore on Foot : Rediscovering Little Red Dot

This is my 10th year here in Singapore and I will confess that I didn’t YET visited all places of interest here in Little Red Dot! Like the famous murals... just visited it last month. (You can watch our less than 2minute clip at this link.) 

But I am proud to say that my husband and I completed the 36KM route of NParks Coast-to-Coast trails. That was last 2019. 

This year most of the leisurely activities were closed for months (COVID era) and for us to seize the moment we have tried to visit the parks, Sembawang, Waterway, Punggol Park, Sungei Buloh, Fort Canning to Marina Bay and longest walk/run for this year that we have done is from Upper Serangoon to Merlion Park which is 13.18km. 

 

Truly, you can explore Singapore by foot with an ease. They have a dedicated pathways for pedestrians and some of it are well covered either by the trees, buildings or by roofed walkways. You can download apps like Singapore Maps for you to pre-plan your trails. What is more rewarding? Strava and Health 365 which gives badges and vouchers respectively. 

Oh! We are all waiting for the LumiHealth app. LumiHealth is a partnership between Apple and Singapore’s Health Promotion Board to encourage the Singapore residents to be active and achieve a good night sleep. The benefit? eVouchers worth up to S$380.

Singapore is all known to be a city-state which only has 725.7 km2 and kuddos to NParks for their initiative to their Park Connectors Projects and Health Promotion Board for the health initiative apps.

This is SPARTA! I am a SPARTAN!

2020 is a year of uncertainty. I left my job and the weirdest thing all I want is to stay safe at home with my husband.

On my spare time last May, I took some free courses from IBM, YouTube and Udemy. Well, I just don’t want to waste my time on nonsense.

While waiting at the bus stop, I stumbled on SPARTA. With no hesitations, I registered right there and then and immediately finished my existing courses for me to start my journey to SPARTA.

Why I focus on SPARTA?

This year 2020, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) announced that there’s shortage of highly skilled professionals of 38-40 million and to address this problem, they launced the Project DARE (Data Analytics Raising Employment). Responding in to that concern, the Philippines, lead by DOST (Department of Sciece and Technology) developed the SPARTA (Smarter Philippines Through R&D, Training and Adoption) program.

DOST partners with Development Academy of the Philippines, Analytics Association of the Philippines and CourseBank targeting 30,000 scholars not only to be trained but also intends to retain and provide jobs for the scholars.

Yes! DOST! To be part of Philippines’ DOST is a prestigious moment for me.

Getting Grounded on Analytics

Essential Excel Skills for Data Preparation and Analysis

Dashboards and Drill-Down Analytics

Do not be fooled with the course. It is DOST. As scholars, you are expected to give the best out of you. It reminds me of my college days (professors giving the introduction but they are expecting that you will give the full report by next day), it gives me sleepless nights and I am exhausting all resources. As in all, not only internet but also the knowledge from my friends, nephews and nieces. It is challenging and exciting. Thrilling! My brain is churning! Woootwooot!

I finished three subjects as of now and can’t wait to finish the whole program. Imagine, your classmates now are your future colleagues after graduating.

Mabuhay SPARTA Scholars!

Your Vision Must Be Bigger Than Your Job!

I once managed a team of men. Yes men! All were men. And not just only men, but all are Licensed Customs Broker in Philippines. Each of us have different companies to supervise and be held accounted for but never did I know that there’s a standard in managing a project or stakeholders.

As I have stumbled upon PMI, well, not PMI colleges that we know in Philippines but PMI (Project Management Institute) - the world’s leading association for project, program or portfolio management. This 50+ year old organization built the standard, tools, resources and even community to give certifications for professionals in management industry.

So why I have chosen to take their Project Management for Beginners? Well of course, this is a good way for me to be exposed on bits of information in importance, influence and role of Project Manager. That will be a good knowledge once I get on board on future company.

Why act as a simple employee if you can contribute your knowledge in project/program management? :)