SINGAPORE — I was never a walker. Why would I be? In my hometown, Davao City, I can simply hop on a tricycle (the motorcycle-based three-wheeled vehicle that is a familiar sight on our streets) or a payong-payong, a bicycle fitted with an additional wheel, and get almost to my destination. For longer trips, there is always the jeepney, our trusty public utility vehicle. Walking, for me, was never really a lifestyle. It was simply something I did when there was no other choice.
So coming to Singapore for the in-person program of the Asia Journalism Fellowship 2026 turned out to be an entirely different experience. I came here to sharpen my journalism skills. I didn't expect to train my legs.
On Aug. 1, my University of the Immaculate Conception high school classmate, Marion Mosqueda Ramirez, picked me up at Changi International Airport. We took the MRT to Lyf Funan Singapore, the official AJF 2026 residence in the heart of downtown. Lyf, by the way, stands for “live your freedom.” Little did I know that my freedom in Singapore would involve a lot of walking.
After settling into my new home for August, Marion and I immediately went out for a walk. It was around 3 p.m., and the Singapore sun was scorching. From Hill Street, we walked to Parliament Place, passed the Asian Civilisations Museum — where I was surprised to learn that it was Marion's first museum visit since she and her family moved to Singapore 20 years ago — and continued to the famous Merlion Park. Of course, I took lots of photos, with Marina Bay Sands in the background. We eventually stopped at Lau Pa Sat for an early dinner.
By the end of that first day, I had logged 10,229 steps. I was tired enough to take a Grab back to Lyf Funan. I just didn't realize that day was a preview of what was to come.
Walking became a lifestyle. My Singapore-based friends, Marion and sisters Faith and Angeli Dimakiling, kept encouraging me to walk because, they said, it was the best way to experience the city. They were right.
Our AJF 2026 non-classroom activities also gave us plenty of opportunities to explore Singapore on foot, from neighborhood walks to the Geylang Adventures tour and countless trips between MRT stations, museums, restaurants, and meeting places. And apparently, my feet were keeping score. My average daily steps were 7,408 in Week 1, 8,165 in Week 2, 5,766 in Week 3, and 8,059 in Week 4 — roughly 7,350 steps a day across the four weeks.
But the best part of walking wasn't always the places we reached. It was the conversations along the way.
Whether we were exploring Chinatown, wandering through different malls, heading to the Expo, or simply making our way from one MRT station to another, walking gave us something a classroom never could: time.
We talked about journalism, our countries, our families, our careers, our dreams, and sometimes just the ordinary things that made us laugh. Without the rush of getting somewhere, conversations flowed more naturally. A short walk could turn into an hour of stories, laughter, and getting to know one another beyond our identities as journalists and fellows.
In the end, some of my favorite AJF memories weren't inside a classroom at all. They happened while walking beside my co-fellows and Singapore-based friends.
Then came Aug. 10. My fellow female fellows and I started the day at IMM, hunting for special National Day outlet deals. In the afternoon, Angie and I took a bus to Universal Studios Singapore, where we spent hours on our feet exploring the park. From there, we hopped on the MRT to Gardens by the Bay and continued our evening adventure. By the time we finally called it a day, my phone had recorded 21,561 steps. I had never done anything like that in my entire life. We were practically on our feet from sunup to sundown, and my legs were screaming by the time I returned to Lyf Funan. Yet, strangely, I felt fulfilled. I had spent an entire day moving from one adventure to another, seeing so much of Singapore along the way. It was exhausting, but it was the kind of exhaustion that made me grateful I had said yes to the journey.
Throughout the month, I often verbalized my dread of walking. I would happily make the case for taking the MRT or bus — more convenient, more efficient and, frankly, much easier on my feet. But somewhere along the way, I found myself enjoying what Singapore residents do every day: walk.
Because when you walk, you notice things you would otherwise miss. You notice the architecture, the old buildings standing beside modern towers, the little shops tucked along streets you might otherwise simply pass, the people, the food, the sounds, and the small details that don't make it into a tourist itinerary. You don't just get from one place to another. You experience the city.
And somewhere in those walks, something else happened. There were moments when I would stop to take a photo of a building, a street corner, or simply a scene that caught my eye. Then, unexpectedly, I would feel my eyes well up. Sometimes, I actually teared up.
Not because I was sad. But because the reality of where I was would suddenly sink in: I was in Singapore. I was here for the Asia Journalism Fellowship 2026.
Me. A journalist from Davao.
For years, I had written stories about other people's journeys, struggles, triumphs, and opportunities. And suddenly, I found myself living a story I never imagined I would get to tell about myself.
It felt like such a great blessing.
In those quiet moments, away from the lectures, presentations, and fellowship activities, I found myself simply grateful — grateful for the opportunity, for the people who made the journey possible, for the mentors and professors who shared their knowledge, for my co-fellows who became friends, and even for the long walks that initially felt like punishment.
Perhaps that's why those ordinary walks became some of my most treasured AJF memories. They gave me time to stop, to look, to breathe, and to realize just how far I had come.
That realization became even more meaningful after the AJF 2026 culmination day. We were all brought back to Lyf Funan by bus shuttle after the program, but instead of staying in for the evening, I went out again on foot. I found myself taking photos of the buildings, establishments, and familiar scenes that had become part of my daily Singapore landscape. As I walked from Clarke Quay toward the MRT station, bound for Dhoby Ghaut to meet Marion for dinner, I realized how familiar those streets had become.
Then came another walking adventure: the Singapore Night Festival. The Bras Basah-Bugis arts and heritage district came alive after dark, with illuminated installations, performances and people filling the streets. Places that had looked ordinary during the day suddenly felt magical under the lights.
And there I was, walking again.
Only this time, I wasn't complaining. I was taking photos, stopping to look, talking, laughing, and taking in the moment.
I realized then that I had come full circle. The woman who arrived in Singapore wondering why anyone would choose to walk had become someone who no longer wanted the journey to end.
I came to Singapore for journalism. I walked into a new city, new friendships, and new perspectives. And somewhere along the way, I walked into a deeper appreciation of the blessing of simply being there.
The steps may have tired me. But they also taught me to slow down enough to notice the gift.
So, yes, I came for the stories.
But I stayed for the steps.
And when I finally leave Singapore, I know I won't just remember the places I visited or the lessons I learned. I'll remember the conversations that stretched for blocks, the laughter shared between destinations, the familiar faces walking beside me, and those unexpected moments when I had to stop, look around, and wipe away a tear because I suddenly understood just how blessed I was to be there.