What does the word ‘Manila’ evoke for you?

Family. Friends. Fun. Endless sunshine. Warm people and country!

Your first memory of Manila?

Popsicles and balloons at Luneta Park. 

Where do you feel most at home?

At the beach.

What is the mark of a true Manila local?

One who is happy despite all the nonsense happening! Our country is like a circus – entertaining and full of surprises.

Which famous figure best embodies Manila?

Manila has many faces to it…

Your favorite place for breakfast?

My home!

Breakfast at home means joyfully eating freshly picked mangoes, mangoes, and more mangoes from my dad’s farm in Pangasinan. He is 91, and he planted the seeds when he was still a bachelor. (It’s mango season now… mangoes in varying stages of ripeness surround me in our living room!)

I also bake our own bread. Or if time doesn’t permit, I order croissants from Ijo Bakery in Lipa, piyaya from Pedro’s or traditional queso de bola ensaimadas from Hizon’s to enjoy with tea or tsokolate (Filipino hot chocolate).

Sometimes, I hop over to Spotted Pig for a yummy mocha and pan chocolat.

Where are the best boutiques?

Seph Bagasao for slow fashion. Natalya Lagdameo for handmade, bespoke jewelry. Caro Wilson for unique home pieces. Be prepared to linger. Their mindful creations enthrall!

Where do you go out in Manila?

Intimate dinners and drinks at friends’ homes are what I am drawn to.

We usually take guests to Metíz, Toyo, 12/10, Hapag, or Balai Palma for local flavors with some flair. Sala and Blackbird, too.

For cocktails: The Curator… or recently, my husband and I discovered a speakeasy in the old Mile Long area. No name. Just a red door. (I think it’s called Big Fuzz.)

Post dinner/dancing: Stardust Lounge.

Which artwork best represents Manila?

Menarco Vertical Museum houses captivating pieces that embody Manila, its history… and our joys and pain as a people.

Esquillo’s fierce natives in Mga Bantay ng Bayan (2017) reveal how Filipinos might be petite but are feisty! Don’t be fooled!

Eustaquio’s twin orchids in The Hunters Enter the Woods (2016) juxtapose Philippine authenticity with Singaporean engineering. Both magnificent creations – one by nature and the other by man. Can you tell which is which?

Manila is a simple place. Filipinos are simple people. What we do best as a nation is make the ordinary extraordinary. Halili achieved this by turning found objects like wood and shells into Stars (Artists’ Eyes) (2018).

What is the craziest thing you have ever heard or seen on the streets of Manila?

Hot pink exposed urinals dotting the EDSA highway.

What can you only do in Manila?

Pee in the middle of the highway.

What do you miss most about Manila when you are away?

My 3 hour hilot (traditional, intuitive, therapeutic massage).

Your best advice for those just visiting?

Go outside of Manila! Experience Pinoy life in the provinces. Soak in the awesome energy at the beach – check out Palawan, Siargao, La Union (if you surf), Boracay, and Batanes. We have 7,000 islands for a reason!

If you really must stay in Manila, hire a chauffeur, so you can reply to email while in traffic. Indulge in a four hands massage at Integra… and taste a fresh mango or pomelo. Make friends with a local and experience Filipino hospitality by devouring a ‘boodle fight’ (food served on banana leaves) with your bare hands. It’s more fun in the Philippines!