Mumcations: a great way for mums to take a well-deserved break from the constant demands of career, motherhood, household chores and other tasks. For 36 hours, our mums put themselves – their well-being and mental health first at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa, at a Mother’s Day mumcation. Here, they indulged in blissful pampering, and picked up practical tips to balance mothers’ multiple roles with grit and grace. During this time, they also focused on personal growth, challenging themselves in picking up a new sport, as well as creating invaluable bonds of friendships with other like-minded mums. All this so they could return to their families refreshed and recharged.
Arrival at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa
Back Row, left: Genevieve Edward, Amanda Leong, Ming Bridges, Germaine Fraser, Vivian Low, Audrey Tan, Priscilla Tan, Leanne Ho and Tay Kewei
Just under an hour away from Singapore – with a direct route from BatamFast ferries, our mums were whisked away to the resort with express clearance. Upon arrival, they were given the signature Montigo welcome to their home away from home.
Mummyfique Special: Use MONTIGOFAM when booking your next stay and get complimentary late checkout and margherita pizza at TIIGO.
Refuel: But First, Breakfast at TADD's
During the mumcation, guests refueled at dining establishments around the resort, starting with TADD’s for breakfast after they arrived at the resort. The all-day dining restaurant featured a bountiful breakfast spread, including the crowd favourite nasi lemak. At the live stations, guests could have eggs, mee soto and roti prata cooked to their preferences.
Additionally, the beverages include the traditional Indonesian herbal tonic jamu and barista-made coffees and teas.
For an additional caffeine-free boost, our mums also tried Company of Wellness’ Triple B ($108), which ramps up metabolism, relieves fatigue and helps the body release energy. Other benefits include improving fat oxidation while reducing fat accumulation. Triple B also promotes good gut health and better digestion.
Resonate: Sound Healing and Crystal Bowls
Afterwards, they changed into their activewear for a sound healing experience at Glory Hall. Anahata founder Genevieve Edward, who has been practicing meditation for more than a decade, has embarked on meditation teacher training at the Chopra Center and taken mindfulness-based stress reduction courses at the SMU Lee Kong Chian School of Business. Currently, she is the resident meditation instructor and sound bath practitioner at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa.
The session started with a short yoga practice, followed by the sound healing segment with gongs and crystal quartz bowls. As guests relaxed on their yoga mats, with their SOVA mulberry silk eye masks, the bowls produced sounds that help improve their overall wellness. Some benefits include promoting healing, improving blood pressure, heart and respiratory rates.
Reigniting the Inner Fire of Motherhood with Grit & Grace
What followed was a heartfelt fireside chat by Skin Inc founder Sabrina Tan, who shared the challenges she faced as a mother and running a global skincare brand. Executive Chairman of KOP Ong Chih Ching moderated the discussion between Group CEO Leny Suparman and Sabrina.
Sabrina first shared some practical tips on balancing multiple roles. Then, she also shared about the recent challenges faced as Skin Inc attempted to pivot its business fully online, and closed its flagship outlet at ION Orchard.
Guests Share Their Personal Challenges
Some interested comments from the floor included Mummyfique Co-Founder Gidania Wong sharing about how women, especially mothers, juggle many roles.
These include work, family and social engagements. Mums often have to rely on self care and love to soldier through.
Next, banker Germaine Fraser touched on the disparity between real and reel, and how women never really have it all at the same time.
Additionally, Genevieve shared about the challenges that single mothers face. Not only do they have to build a career, they also have to play dual roles of mother and father to the child and single-handedly cope with motherhood.
Another common concerns mums had was mum guilt, where Amanda Leong asked Sabrina how to better manage this feeling when taking time off from the kids for work or self-care.
Preschools vs Old Folks' Homes
Rounding up the session, Chih Ching asked what the difference was between preschools and old folks’ homes. She said that preschools always have mums looking in. Conversely, at old folks’ homes, the people are looking out, and they rarely have anyone looking in at them anymore as their mums aren’t around. This thought-provoking insight made a lot of the mums in the audience tear up.
Reconnect: Farm-To-Table Lunch
Over lunch, guests could reconnect or build new friendships, filling their social cups and helping them find their village. The Farm-to-Table lunch featured the freshest ingredients, most harvested right from the farm, such as broccoli, spinach, and kai lan. With their choices of proteins and vegetables, the chefs could create a custom dish for them, whether with tortilla wraps, grilled banana leaf rice or steamed rice, topped off with sambal and condiments.
Relax: Montigo Wellness Signature Massage
Mums then pampered themselves with a blissful Montigo Signature massage (about $60 for an hour, and $81 for 90min). The therapists use long strokes, with light-to-medium pressure to encourage gentle relaxation, while easing surface tension and stimulating circulation in the muscles. Some guests even fell asleep during the massage.
Rejuvenate: Glow Up with Skin Inc: 3-Step Facial at Home in 3 Minutes
During this session, Sabrina unveiled Skin Inc’s latest, renewed products. Mindful of busy mummies’ skincare needs, the Skin Inc team created a quick and effective home facial. Start with the Pure Revival Peel ($58), to gently exfoliate the skin, followed by the newest My Daily Dose® of Vitamins ABC+ Cocktail Serum ($169 for 30ml, $850 for 250ml). These combine encapsulated Vitamins A, B3+ and C into a single, stable formula for maximum results and minimal irritation. Finally, hydrate, nourish and heal the skin with the cult favourite Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask ($128 to $228), with deepsea water from Japan, soybean extracts and hyaluronic acid.
Mother’s Day Special: Get 20 per cent off Skin Inc’s products sitewide with code HMD20
Recharge: Pool Party Dinner at TIIGO
Against a breathtaking sunset, guests headed to TIIGO for a pool party, with a DJ playing live music. Dressed in their finest beachwear, in metallic and bronze hues, our mums were ready to party the night away, celebrating Mother’s Day together.
Replenish: Oatbedient Breakfast Bar
Containing simple ingredients, Oatbedient has created a wide assortment of products which are not only convenient, but also nutritious. Our mums started the day with a filling and nutritious oat-based breakfast, such as overnight oats or smoothie bowls, paired with bircher muesli, yoghurt and fruits. The hearty breakfast was essential to fuel them for the pickleball tournament that followed.
React: Pickleball Tournament
Our mums paired up and battled against each other in the first Mother’s Day doubles pickleball tournament. Some benefits of playing pickleball include helping with personal growth, improving reaction time, agility, coordination and spatial awareness. Additionally, playing it regularly helps enhance mental acuity, reducing anxiety and improving their moods. The guests enjoyed themselves, saying it was a great team-building exercise. Ultimately, two doubles winners emerged – Helen Su and Priscilla Tan in first place, and Germaine Fraser and Ming Bridges took second.
Relish: Award Ceremony and Lunch at Hinotori
Before guests left for Singapore, they enjoyed lunch at contemporary izakaya Hinotori, where the menu featured Hamachi crudo and unagi rolls for starters. Following these, guests feasted on mixed yakitori skewers of chicken and vegetables paired with garlic fried rice, and delectably light cheesecake to round off the meals.
Sponsors:
BatamFast Ferry
Currently the only ferry company in Singapore that takes guests from Tanah Merah to Nongsapura, you can reach Montigo Resorts, Nongsa in under an hour. BatamFast‘s updated ferry schedule now has eight different sailings to and from Batam, making it even more convenient for impromptu weekend getaways for the whole family.
Cheak activewear
Cloversoft Resort Essentials
An eco-friendly brand, Cloversoft‘s range of products are safe for everyone at home – even those with sensitive skin, and the littlest infants. Other products include sustainably sourced and high quality bamboo toilet paper, tissue paper, wet wipes, and kitchen rolls. Furthermore, Cloversoft also donates part of its proceeds to Polar Bears International to save the polar bears.
Company of Wellness Triple B Metabolism Boost and Good to Glow sunscreen
Company of Wellness, previously established as Cheryl W Wellness & Weight Management, decided to encompass mental wellness, and delve further into physical wellness’ foundations: food and exercise. They believe in making major impact with micro habits, a little each day to create a lasting change to improve weight and body wellness. One such product is Good to Glow ($108), which provides protection against harmful UV rays just by consuming one to two sachets a day. Other benefits include reducing melanin production, increasing the skin elasticity and firmness and enhancing your skin’s health.
Evryday Studios Beach Basket Bags
Focusing on natural tones and classic designs, Evryday Studios offers children and mums comfortable silhouettes for everyday wear and play. Bring along a stylish essential – the Samantha or Bloom Basket ($25 to $26) – for your next family holiday. As these can be taken apart and reassembled, they are the perfect accompaniment for your outdoor and overseas adventures. Otherwise, store toys and books at home in these practical, yet aesthetically pleasing baskets.
Laderach Chocolate
A decades-long family business, specialising in luxury Swiss chocolate, Läderach Swiss Chocolatier‘s beginnings started in the hometown of Glarus. Back then, in 1962, Rudolf Läderach Junior opened the first factory, and the family business has since been handed down from generation to generation. Celebrate the mothers in your lives with the FrischSchoggi Sticks Assorted Mother’s Day Gift Box ($36 to $100), with nine assorted flavours, including fresh dark chocolate with large roasted caramelised Piedmont hazelnuts. Other fruity flavours include the blackberry dark and raspberry blackberry white chocolates.
Lumi Beauty Masks
Oatbedient Breakfast Bar
Oatbedient‘s products are great for the whole family, without any preservatives, gum, thickeners, artificial flavours and colourings. For example, its Oat Milk Cafe Trio bundle ($35.70) features oat milk powder, coffee or matcha powder and a little sugar. Use these on its own as as a nutritious drink, or in recipes like overnight oats, desserts and crepes.
Oh Hello Bae
Oh Hello Bae‘s founder Rachel Wee set out to develop a skincare line to help her acne. In doing so, her skincare is easy to use, and safe without essential or mineral oils, sulfates or phthalates. Backed by science, their formulations ensure maximum absorption and penetration into your skin, with science-based actives to treat your skincare concerns. Even better, they only use ethically sourced ingredients, and earth-friendly, recyclable packaging, and definitely do not test on animals.
Our Second Nature
Our Second Nature, a clothing and lifestyle brand, combines functionality and touches of nature, colour and playfulness, with matching family outfits and home and lifestyle products. For example the foldable and reversible shopping bag ($24), made of 100 per cent recycled ripstop nylon, is perfect for grocery runs, shopping trips and picnic days. Within are three pockets reinforced with double lining, and the bag easily rolls up when not in use, and can be secured with its attached strap.
Skin Inc
Currently PETA-certified to be cruelty free, the homegrown gone global brand has unveiled several innovations in its 17 years. Some of Skin Inc’s newest innovations are the De-Age Pro ($308) and Aurawave Pro LED Treatment ($799) to improve body health. Additionally, their revamped My Daily Dose Cocktail Serums use the newest Japanese encapsulated technology for better absorption and efficacy.
SOVA Silk eye masks and scrunchies
For deeper, better sleep, improve your sleep hygiene and create a consistent routine. Start with SOVA Silk’s eye masks to block out any light, and rest your head on the hyaluronic acid infused pillowcases ($199). These have an added benefit of helping your skin retain moisture as you sleep. Pair these with luxuriously soft pyjamas or slip dress ($169 and $129 respectively).
SOVA works with partners who farm ethically and sustainably throughout the process from growing high quality mulberry trees to spinning and weaving the silk fabric. It uses the highest grade (6A) long fibre 22momme mulberry silk, for the best shine, thickness, softness and durability. Additionally, they are tested and OEKO-TEX® certified.
Related Reads: Mother’s Day retreat at Montigo Resorts, Nongsa, and Skin Inc’s 15th Anniversary Celebrations
