Yael Yuzon’s Singapore swing—and sling
When in Singapore, Yael Yuzon builds his itineraries—not around shopping, theme parks, and iconic landmarks, but around scenic running spots. The food, the sights, and the chance discoveries come naturally, as he pounds the pavement.
For the Sponge Cola frontman, who has been running for almost as long as he has been a professional musician, there’s no better way to see a city than immersing in it, one step—or stride—at a time.
“I love running and I have been doing it pretty much everyday since 2007. There’s just something about being on foot and really getting to know a place—from major tourist spots to those hidden, IYKYK (if you know, you know) gems,” Yuzon tells Lifestyle Inquirer. “It’s just a very safe and clean place that’s easy to explore.”
His go-to spot for speed runs is the Rail Corridor, a 24-kilometer nature trail along a former railway line that once linked Singapore to Malaysia. For scenic trail runs, the lush forests and boardwalks of MacRitchie Reservoir Park and the coastal charm of Coney Island, provide a refreshing change of pace.
Where the locals eat
Just a stone’s throw from Coney Island, the Punggol district offers numerous running paths and scenic spots, like Punggol Waterway Park. “There you can do speed workouts or tempo runs as well,” says Yuzon, who counts joining the Singapore Marathon last year as one of his most memorable moments in the Southeast Asian city-state.
“But always bring sunscreen,” he stresses, “because the sun can be really harsh, anywhere.”
Running off the beaten path inevitably leads him to neighborhoods away from the usual tourist magnets. And where locals live, locals eat. “I also like exploring lesser known hawker areas, like those near residential areas for that legit, ultra local experience. Food is great everywhere anyway, so I’m going for the vibes,” he says.
If you don’t run, you can always just hop on a random bus. “Watch the world outside and watch the people come and go,” he says.
And if you can’t—or simply don’t have the time—to veer too far from the city center, he suggests checking out these two favorites: “I usually tell people to go to Newton Food Centre and try the sambal stingray. On Serangoon Road, there’s The Fabulous Baker Boy, which makes amazing pancakes.”
A homecoming of sorts
On his next trip to the Lion City, however, Yuzon is packing more than just clothes and sunscreen—he’s bringing his gear, musical instruments, and the rest of the Sponge Cola crew. While he and his bandmates—guitarist Armo Armovit, bassist Gosh Dilay, and drummer Tedmark Cruz—have already been to Singapore multiple times, they haven’t played there since 2017.
That’s why the rock group’s upcoming show on Aug. 31 at Timbre+ One North feels like “a homecoming of sorts.” “Singapore is one of the band’s favorite vacation spots. It’s always nice to celebrate with a show,” Yuzon says. “We have also made a lot of friends there, both Pinoy and foreign.”
Aside from the band’s slew of well-loved hits, including “Jeepney,” “Bitiw,” and “Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay,” the fans can also expect to hear some of Sponge Cola’s latest material like the catchy and punchy “LNP” and breezy “Liwanag,” which Yuzon describes as “a close cousin” of “Tuliro.”
Of course, performing for fellow Filipinos in Singapore—or anywhere overseas for that matter—is the highlight. “We feel like we’re playing for family,” says Yuzon, whose experiences with long-distance relationships and longing for home have found their way into his compositions like “Makapiling Ka,” a cut from the band’s 2008 self-titled album.
“My mom was a flight attendant and I wrote that song with her in mind. It’s about her coming home after being away for some time,” he relates. “I’ve written a lot about long-distance relationships because I also have so many relatives abroad.”
A stroll down Queen Street
But there’s a deeper reason Singapore feels like Yuzon’s home away from home. More than a backdrop for running, food trips, and music, the place also bore witness to his blossoming romance with his wife, singer-actress Karylle.
The couple had just started dating in 2011 when Karylle relocated to Singapore to shoot the musical television series “The Kitchen Musical.” Every few weeks, Yuzon would visit Karylle, and from those trips emerged the song “Singapore Sling” (named after a famous cocktail created at Raffles Hotel), which ended up being played in their wedding in 2014.
Yuzon has written about anything and everything in life—basketball, televisions shows, and heck, even coffee. Surely, his love story with Karylle deserves its own soundtrack. “It’s a song about how getting to know a loved one is a never-ending process,” he told us in a 2014 interview. “There’s no period—just a lot of commas.”
And maybe that quote also best describes Yuzon’s enduring affinity for Singapore, and how he revisits, every so often, old haunts and other places dear to him and his loved ones.
The Church of the Good Shepherd, for one, is quite special, Yuzon says, because he has nothing but great memories there with Karylle and her late father, Modesto Tatlonghari. “We talked about the most random funny things,” he says. “Maybe, as a spirit, he has revisited the place since he can now travel anywhere, anytime.”
There’s also nothing quite like a stroll down Queen Street for a reminisce. “Karylle and I pretty much lived there,” Yuzon says. And there, it’s not his feet that start running, but memories.
“Every time I pass by there, a montage starts playing in my mind.”
