On a recent assignment, I was tasked to show guests of the Manila Peninsula Hotel around Intramuros. Part of the itinerary was sent to me via text message and I was mildly surprised that some of the stops to be made were not the usual tourist routes. It seemed odd that the other sites to be visited were more artisanal than the usual tourist souvenir shops.
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| Aussie journalists viewing Eugene Jarque's artwork |
It was odd but those were the orders so I decided to dutifully stick to the itinerary. Then when I, on board the Jeepney Tours vehicle stopped at the Manila Pen, I realized this was no ordinary tour. It was part of the Manila Peninsula's corporate responsibility program which invites journalists from different countries to visit the Philippines and promote the country by showcasing the best of what we have to offer.
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| Lilliana Manahan's installation |
On this tour, I was introduced to four Australian journalists and Peninsula Sydney's PR Director Sue as well as Peninsula Manila's PR Director, Maning Garchitorena. While waiting for the other members of the touring party, I had to adjust pretty quickly as everyone was pretty witty... punchlines were thrown at me from left, right and center. You'd have to be ready with funny repartee to catch up.
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| Manila Pen's table setting |
The stops after lunch were inspiring, to say the least. We went to the La Fuerza Compound in Pasong Tamo Extension. What was formerly a distillery has been re-purposed into different atteliers. The first stop was at Gallery where three young visual artists whose works we viewed. Lilliana Manahan had an installation of seventeen layers of drapes that were handpainted aside from smaller frames. Eugene Jarque who featured his frames of wooden collages and Mac Valdezco had her sculptural pieces in plaster and rope. Her pieces seemed like they came from archeological digs and looked very organic.
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| Mac Valdezco's sculpture |
Manila Pen had an elaborate set-up for lunch that served updated versions of adobo, lumpia, and caldereta. I had all been so good that while the conversation kept flowing so did the food and the wine. But since I was on assignment, i begged off on the bubbly and stuck to the cucumber and sprite drink that was so refreshing on a hot summer day.
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| Manila Pen's menu card and cucumber sprite coolie |
Ms Kaye Tinga (wife of former Pateros Mayor) and Andy Vasquez Prada of W17 joined us for lunch after which we proceeded to their store within the compound. All the items in their store are unique finds albeit pricey. You get what you pay for, of course, but their items can hold your attention for hours. I fell in love with a dining table made of one humongous plank of acacia tree. It could've probably seated 20-25 people comfortably. I didn't dare to ask the price... If have to ask... you can't afford it.
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| W17 facade |
Then we headed off to Dasmarinas Village for a private fashion show of Len Cabili's clothes and Natasha's jewelry. This tandem come from two distinct regional backgrounds. Len hails from the south and so early on she was interested in local weaves while Natasha comes from mixed Ifugao/Australian parentage. It was so awe-inspiring that Michael McHugh of Mindfood Australia decided to feature both of the designers exclusively in his glossy mag.
The entire day was a lot of fun and an eye opener for the guests courtesy of one of the better hotels in Manila. The following day, the guests were whisked off to Amanpulo in Palawan for the weekend. I'm so hoping they invite me again the next time around.
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| Andy Vasquez Prada and Mrs Kaye Tinga in thier store W17 |
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