Observation Studies at Lucky Plaza (and vicinity) Singapore

Prior to my visit to Lucky Plaza Singapore, my research has shown that the picnicking and public gathering of foreign female domestic workers in highly visible areas has generated some controversial discussion amongst Singaporean community. A particular blog that addressed this issue is, Haro Singapore, which detailed the gathering of Filipino domesti workers in the Orchard MRT station in 2005. The article talked about the picnicking, drinking and eating habits of Filipinos in the station and the apathy of MRT officials over the behavior. The blog attracted a number of locals to express their dissatisfaction over the phenomena. With this information, I headed to this area in the early part of my observation day. I found a few people sitting on the edges along indoor space. However, the previously mentioned station area was closed due to construction therefore no Filipinos were seen gathered in the area. Disappointed that the area was closed, I headed towards Lucky Plaza to gather information about their new gathering spot.

Surfacing around Tangs Plaza, I found some Filipino domestic workers gathering around the entrance to the MRT station. Most were alone, waiting for friends and family while sitting along edges along the display windows of the shopping complex. The edges of the window sills were sometimes slanted to prevent sitting or squatting around the area. Towards the Lucky Plaza section of the area, there are larger groups (4 to 5) of female Filipinos that appear to be waiting for more friends to arrive.

In the immediate area outside of Lucky Plaza, some female Filipinos are sitting along the curb of a flowerbed, next to the taxi stand. It appears to be a dangerous spot to be sitting in.

As I entered Lucky Plaza, I noticed a large number of female Filipinos sitting along the edge of a sitting area while others are standing or gathering around the central area. The security guards have installed a barrier to prevent further gathering of the female Filipinos and to make sure that the circulation around that area is not obstructed by the agglomeration of people in the area. Walking around the shopping complex, the shop arrangement of the area is clearly separated, with the more luxurious and higher end products located in the lower floors. The higher floors caters more for lower income domestic workers needs ranging from money remittance, banks, mobile service, food to clothes and cheap jewelry. While most female domestic workers seem to gather in the higher floors, many also gather at ground floors where it is convenient to meet friends and family. One would find small groups of 4 or 5 individuals gathering outside popular shops or major circulation points (such as next to escalators). Due to the design of the complex, there are nooks and corners around the major square that is not part of the major circulation. Female domestic workers stagnant and gather around thesse areas. Clearly, the large number of female domestic workers have forced the shop owners and administrators to take certain measures to ensure better circulation around the complex. Outside higher profile or non-Filipino frequented shops, these signs that say "no-picnicking" or "no-sitting" were placed. This is to avoid large groups of people from gathering in front of stores and prevent circulation and consumers from entering shops. Although there are no signs of picnicking or private gathering in the complex, the designated sitting areas around the mall (usually located in non-frequented) areas are usually packed with foreign female domestic workers. This picture was taken at around 10:00 am when some of the shops have not opened for business but the sitting area is already packed with people. The atmosphere in the complex was very lively and energetic. To understand the phenomenon further, I interviewed the security guard stationed on the ground floor. According to R*, the Filipino domestic workers have been using Lucky Plaza as a meeting point with friends and family for a long time now. Because of the large number of them on Sundays, they inhibit the normal business operations of shops in the complex and therefore, they have taken specific measures to ensure that the people flows through the plaza and do not clog up the circulation. The tenants of the complex, especially the luxury products, do not consider the large Filipino crowd as customers and therefore and unhappy about the overcrowding and the previous "picnicking" that happens in the complex as it affects business from the higher income group. R* thinks that it is incorrect for the Filipinos to think of Lucky Plaza as their "mini-hometown" on Sundays since it is private property. According to him, current threats of "terrorism" has further increased the complex's need to ensure the security of the complex with so many people there on Sundays. He said that he doesn't oppose to the gathering of the Filipinos in Lucky Plaza saying that " as long as they are disciplined and adheres to the rules and regulations, they can come and stay around". He quotes the fact that they do not oppose to those gathered and sitting around the flower beds along the taxi stand (see picture above) so that they have a place to stay. R* is very sympathetic to the fact that Filipinos need a place to eat and meet friends and socialise on their days off but feels strongly about the need to keep order, cleanliness and business operations around semi-public places such as Lucky Plaza complex.

While Lucky Plaza is an interesting place to observe with so many Filipinos frequenting the place, their consumption of the space is severely limited by the strict rules and the limitations placed on them since it is technically not a "public-space". In search for their new gathering spot, I went back to CK Tang to talk to some domestic workers to find out more about their new gathering spots. Around the CK Tang gathering corner, I interviewed Ce* who has been working in Singapore for 2 years after working in Hong kong for 2 years. She is waiting for her family to come meet her for lunch. When asked about her preference between Hong Kong and Singapore, Ce* quoted that her experience in Hong Kong was much better. In Singapore, she is only allowed to leave her employer's house twice a month and there is no place for them to gather. She quotes HSBC bank and Sunset Boulevard and how the area is designated for them on Sundays in Hong Kong. In Singapore, they are asked to leave either by police or security guards, therefore it is inconvenient to use indoor facilities as meeting points. This is problematic as Singapore's tropical weather means that it rains a great deal and outdoor meeting points are highly inconvenient. I asked Ce*about pinicking in Singapore, she explained that there used to be a park opposite of CK Tang and next to Wisma Atria, which is a previous park in which doubled as the Orchard MTR station entrance but was recently taken over the the construction of another high end shopping mall. The area used to have flower beds and open space for picnicking but they no longer have that space. Currently, they have moved to a clearing spot behind Wisma Atria. Ce* picnics there with her friedns and family every other week to cut the cost of lunch and other expenses during their days off. Next to Ce* sits Wt*, an Indonesian domestic worker that is also waiting for her friends. She reveals that orchard road is not the frequent spot for Indonesians although the visit it at times. Indonesians prefer to gather around Citi Plaza. My conversation with her was too short to gather anything substantial because her friends showed up in the middle of the interview. With this new information, I headed towards the picnic spot.

The picnic spot is conveniently located behind Wisma Atria, short distance (around 5 minutes) from Lucky Plaza. Surrounded by higher end residential area along a quite road parallel to Orchard Road, the area is accessible by a flight of steep stairs. The bottom of the staircase is next to a bus stop. As I approach the picnic area, a large number of foreign female domestic workers are seen to alight from the bus to the picnic spot or to walk towards Lucky Plaza. This shows that this is an access point for domestic workers into the area. As I ascend the stairs, I found several female groups(andvery few males) who are picnicking in the area underneath beautiful bayan trees. The area is bare with cow-grass and full grown trees. Except for a small walking path, there are no other concrete walking path, one small trash bin and a few street lights along the facilities in sight. While some groups are sitting on fabric that they have brought from home, others sit on the cow-grass or on large cut up trash bags and on the surfacing roots of the giant trees. Groups closer to the staircase are in twos and threes, indicating that they have just begun to set camp while the groups further into the area is larger around five to six individuals. Walking around, I found most groups are having lunch or chit chatting but some are studying the bible together and was not happy with me prying around. I asked if I can have a chat and they were upset and told me they were busy. Finally, I found a group that took me in and even invited me to dine along their delicious Filipino food.


Rosemary, Flori, Jenny and Michelle are friends who have been working in Singapore for a large number of years (10+), all who have just recently renewed their contracts. They frequent this area for lunch and have brought along fried vermicelli, wintermelon with carrots tomatoes, fried fish and coca-cola to share with friends that day. While we were having lunch, there were some Filipinos that were peddling in paper bags with Filipino snacks and other packed food. On Sundays, they would take turns to prepare food to share with others and set camp in the area as a resting spot between shopping and other activities throughout Orchard Road. While some friends would leave to meet other friends, others would come and rotate in this spot. Our friends also talked about the old spot where they used to camp, next to the MRT station that was shut down. Apparently, that area was much more pleasant, with concrete pavements and flowerbeds as compared to the current spot which is nicknamed "the jungle". The current spot is inconvenient and much harder to clean after a long day of food consumption and therefore, the groups lay down trashbags and other form of disposable layers to ease cleaning after their picnic. I asked about toilets, washing areas, chairs and other facilities needed in the consumption of public space and Flori immediately responded by saying that it is surprising that Lucky Plaza charges 20 cents per person for entry but they feel uncomfortable going to other shopping complexes to use the restrooms there. They don't really mind sitting and picnicking on the floor but the fact that there isn't shade in these open areas are problematic in the rainy climate of Singapore. Previously, they would retreat to inside of the MRT station (when they were picnicking in the previous park) but now, the whole area is closed for renovation and they have no where to go if it rains.

Besides this secluded gathering spot that is clearly not inhibiting the normal Singapore business operations, there is another more active spot that is located closer to Lucky Plaza. In a small area (pedestrian path from Queen Elizabeth Road to Orchard Road) between Lucky Plaza and Hour Glass, a previous group of gathering domestic workers that is sitting on the flowerbeds along that path has grown significantly from early morning to around noon. Notedly, the plaza outside of the hour glass building is roped off to prevent entrance. At around 1 pm, a larger group is seen to be gathered in this area, sound has begun to picnic and camp in the area. I began to take notice of the area even though I was not sure if it was a typical gathering spot. Returning later at 2 pm, I saw a larger crowd and people are beginning to gather in larger groups of 5 to 6 people and are seen to be lunching and chatting amongst themselves. Some are seen to be doing pedicures and manicures for each other and others are seen to be standing and sitting in circles chatting, drinking and eating. The entrance to the area is blocked by an ice cream peddler ran by a local but there are no signs of anyone using the path for circulation purposes since most people around the area appears to be stagnant. Clearly, the area appears to have been "occupied" or momentarily "privatized" for the group in the area. There is also a higher number of male individuals amongst the foreign female domestic workers as compared to the secluded spot.To understand this better, I attempt to enter the area to interview a pedicurist at work. As I approached the area, I was met with curious looks and stares that appears unfriendly as compared to my reception in the secluded picnic spot. When I introduced myself to the pedicurist, she immediately asked if I was a journalist. After I have detailed my research to her, she explained that a journalist has previously interviewed them and have resulted in alot of harassment and newspaper discussion on their public gathering in the area. She appears upset that they have been prevented from gathering in all areas around Orchard Road. Even the open space or semi-public area outside of "Hour-Glass" and "Takashimaya" are now closed on Sundays to prevent them from gathering in those "business" spots. Clearly, there is alot of pushing and negotiation that is occuring between the female foreign domestic workers group and the locals in these public spaces that were open for "public" previously. I asked her about her pedicure and activities in the area and she said that they merely want a place to gather and spend their sundays with friends and family without harassment and maybe operate some personal business such as pedicure, manicure or small trading (street hawking is illegal in singapore and foreign domestic workers are not allowed to receive other income with their visa). The interviewee are very careful to not reveal her name or have her picture taken. It is interesting to see that despite the openness and clarity of their activities in the public area (pedestrian path), the strict government officials have not taken action against the group. My interview with the pedicurist was cut short by an intruding local male who approached me to ask about my presence. He was holding a can of beer and clearly intoxicated as he started to intimidate me. I excused myself from my interviewee and left the area and was again met by gazes by the group in the area.

In the next posting, I will summarize my observation in Singapore.