Cliff Fordan

Two nurses’ shared dream took them first from the Philippines to Singapore, and then New Zealand, before bonds of friendship and support brought them back to Singapore General Hospital again.

Making major life changes is not easy and sometimes not everything works out. But life is not always linear.

Meet Cliff Fordan and Denmark Morales Dela Cruz, two nurses with Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and good friends whose shared dream took them to New Zealand, and whose bond brought them back to SGH.

In search of a better life for their families, Denmark left SGH in 2023 while Cliff left a year later. Now back at their former workplace, the two Senior Staff Nurses feel more energized and driven, ready to care for their patients and contribute to their team.

What made them leave in the first place?

Father to five daughters studying in the Philippines and husband to a nurse who was working at Changi General Hospital at that time, Cliff wanted better opportunities for his family. New Zealand offered better income prospects and free healthcare and education, ideal for him to be together with his family. His plan was to settle there first and gradually bring the rest of his family, but it did not turn out quite as planned.

After two months in New Zealand, Cliff realized that the country was not an ideal choice for himself and his family. The living expenses and taxes were substantially higher than Singapore, and healthcare, while free, was not quite the same as in Singapore. For him, the harsh winter there was isolating and dispiriting, despite having a positive work environment and a Filipino community there for support. That was when Cliff decided to halt the plans to relocate his family and return to SGH.

Denmark Morales De La Cruz

For Denmark, New Zealand had an additional draw - his sister and her family are already settled there. This prompted him to relocate with his wife, who was also a nurse with SGH, and young son.

With a young child to care for, both he and his wife only managed to work part-time. He found it increasingly difficult to sustain living there due to the high costs. “Housing rent alone was NZ$2200 per month,” he said.

Having moved his family there, it was not easy for Denmark to make the decision to return to Singapore quickly. With his son’s schooling in mind, he eventually decided that it was best for him to return to Singapore first while his family remains in New Zealand, with the support of his extended family and friends.

Why come back to SGH?

Returning to SGH was a complex process but it was made easier by their previous supervisor, Nurse Manager Tan Chor Kien, whom both reached out to. To the question: “Why come back to SGH?”, Cliff cheerfully answered, “I already have my mentor and friends here. I feel at ease with them. And I feel more naturally adapted to the work and living conditions in Singapore.”

Denmark with his fellow nurses from Ward 77

As both himself and his wife now have Permanent Resident (PR) status here, Cliff intends to bring his kids to Singapore soon for school.

Denmark shares the same dream. “I want my family to be together so I hope to apply to be a PR here soon,” he said. When asked if he has any advice for people who are considering a similar journey, Denmark replied, “Experience is subjective; you will never know unless you experience it”. However, he suggests researching well before making major life decisions such as relocating to another country.

Cliff and Denmark are good friends.

Everyone of us is on a journey—and for some, that journey leads them right back to where they started. For some, it’s the familiar faces; for others, it’s the values, the environment, or simply the sense of connection that remains, even after time away. The return of these nurses reflects not only their personal choices, but the kind of environment in SGH - supportive, progressive, and open to those ready to contribute once again.

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