Northern Living: 2014 March

NORTHERNliving March 2014 Volume 8 | Issue 7

MAN OF THE WORLD

CONT ENTS

NORTHERNliving BRAND AND COMMUNITY EDITOR DIANNE PINEDA EDITORIAL ASSISTANT MARAH S.D. RUIZ CREATIVE DIRECTOR NIÑA MUALLAM JR. ART DIRECTOR MARIA AIAM ANGELES CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS KAT PATIÑO-MARQUEZ, CHINGGAY LABRADOR, SEP MAHINO, NANTE SANTAMARIA HAIR AND MAKEUP ANGEL MANHILOT, ARIES MANAL, CAMILLE VILLARUEL STYLIST EDLENE CABRAL PHOTOGRAPHERS CYRUS PANGANIBAN, JOJO GLORIA, CHOLO DE LA VEGA, RONAN CAPILI, SAM LIM, JILSON SECKLER TIU, GABBY CANTERO

16 COVER STORY Wearable pieces of art spring from Paul Syjuco’s able hands

MARCH 2014 02 HEALTH Ease travel stress with yoga and meditation techniques

20 MARKET Pack light with these travel essentials

COPY EDITOR LESLIE LEE EDITORIAL CONSULTANT RIA FRANCISCO-PRIETO

21 EATS Earth Kitchen brings food from the earth to your dining table

04 FIXTURE Xbesitzer is terrifyingly beautiful 06 NORTHERNER See the world through the lens of Joseph Pascual 08 BEAUTY Start your summer adventures with healthy feet 10 STYLE Lightweight layers and muted hues spell destination dressing

BOARD CHAIRPERSON ALEXANDRA PRIETO-ROMUALDEZ FINANCE ADVISER AND TREASURER J. FERDINAND DE LUZURIAGA LEGAL ADVISOR ATTY. RUDYARD ARBOLADO HR STRATEGY HEAD RAYMUND SOBERANO CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER ALLAN FLORENDO VP AND CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER IMELDA ALCANTARA SVP AND GROUP SALES HEAD, INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES FELIPE R. OLARTE

26 RECIPE Hold off the scorching afternoon heat with this refreshing cocktail 28 THE GET Making a case for the utilitarian

SALES DIRECTOR MA. KATRINA MAE GARCIA-DALUSONG KEY ACCOUNTS SPECIALIST ANGELITA TAN-IBAÑEZ ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES RAM DANIEL TAN, RACHEL ANN DE GUIA, ABEGAIL GINAGA, ANDIE ZUÑIGA SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANTS RECHELLE ENDOZO, LA FLORES

EDITOR’S NOTE Big Changes Northern Living magazine started more than seven years ago, and as I write this, I’ve just watched another year blink past. We greet the first half of the year with new and welcome changes in the magazine. As you may have noticed, we’ve transitioned to our new 100 percent recycled paper and new size, reflecting our shift into a more sustainable approach to reaching our readers. But not only that is new. As we expand our content, we focus on what truly matters: the community.

We delve into art, food, photography, fashion, and everything in between. This month’s cover story focuses on jewelry designer Paul Syjuco,

on his world of art, views on our local design culture, and his creative process. Here we also talk about travel in our March issue, but more than the dreams of idyllic destinations, we ease your way into vacation mode with simple and practical tips you can do at home. Sep Mahino talks about proper care and treatment for where we need it the most: our feet. Stylist Eds Cabral, on the other hand, shows us the right threads to wear and essentials to bring for a stylish getaway.

Make your own cocktail drinks as you bask in the sunshine. This change excites and keeps us on our toes. What a ride it has been indeed.

Talk to us on Facebook and you just might win a special prize from us.

Visit www.facebook.com/northernliving now. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter at @nlivingph. We'd love to hear from you.

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PRODUCTION MANAGER NOEL CABIE PRODUCTION ASSISTANT MARICEL GAVINO FINAL ART SUPERVISOR DENNIS CRUZ FA ARTIST JOEMARY WELIE CRISTOBAL

This magazine was printed responsibly using recycled papers with biodegradable inks.

HEALT H

TRAVEL MEDITATION

it back to that state of youth and comfort.

Find space in your pre-travel schedule and in your vacation itinerary to tune into your body and breath, and in turn, allow your practice of yoga to help you make the most of your vacation.

TEXT CHINGGAY LABRADOR ILLUSTRATOR BN CHAVEZ

Breath and Mind. Manage your restlessness by focusing on your inhales and exhales. If you’re a nervous flier or are getting queasy from that short boat ride, try taking 10 to 20 minutes for some “pranayama” exercises that can allow your thoughts to settle and still themselves.

• Three-part breathing. Count your inhales from one to three, inhaling from the belly and allowing the breath to rise up to the lungs. Pause before exhaling fully, counting one to three again. Repeat several times with the eyes closed.

• Two-one breathing. Once you’ve found a steady rhythm with the breath, try exhaling for as twice as long as you inhale.

• A guided meditation CD, app, or podcast can give you something to think about as you slowly learn to decompress.

Stay grounded as you sail, soar, or steer towards your summer destination

Taking time out to escape the daily grind and relish the season of sand and sun may seem idyllic, but trips can also put strain on both the body and mind. Making arrangements, covering logistics, and ensuring that everything at home runs smoothly while you’re away can certainly induce anxiety. And whether you’re travelling in a cramped economy seat or rolling through a rocky bus ride for hours on end, taking a break can also subject the body to stress, leaving you with less time and energy to really vacate the hassles of everyday life.

A well-rounded yoga practice that involves “pranayama” or breath work, “asana” or physical postures, and meditation or sitting still, can give you the tools you need to get your mind and body prepped for all the fun (and sometimes inevitable setbacks) that come with going on vacation. A daily practice—whether it means going to a vinyasa flow studio class or meditating to clear your mind—gives the body the tune-up it needs and gets your mind ready to turn inward and calm down, especially when stress levels increase.

Incorporating this daily practice even while you’re away gives you access to that much-needed steady space, allowing you to fully enjoy and relish your travel time.

“Yoga teaches us how to be present with whatever’s going on without turning it into a stressful situation, without turning on the stress hormones—that idea of fight or freeze. When anything challenging comes into your life—whether it’s a challenging pose, a challenging moment with your partner or at work—you don’t end up flooding the body with hormones that turn the body into a factory for inflammation,” says Annie Carpenter, LA-based SmartFLOW yoga teacher and part of Urban Ashram Manila’s international faculty.

It’s the inflammation in the joints and the brain that makes us age and causes discomfort—and revitalizing the body with a physical yoga practice, allowing it to rejuvenate through the breath and through the stillness, brings

Body. Keep your spine healthy and your body supple with these poses you can practice in an airplane seat, on the sand, or even in your hotel room.

• “Parivrtta Sukhasana” (Seated Twist). Sit tall with your legs comfortably crossed. As you inhale, lengthen out your lower back as you place your left hand on your right knee. As you release the breath, use the left hand as a lever to help you turn your entire rib cage to the right. Repeat on the other side.

• Lateral Standing Stretch. Inhale while reaching your right arm up and lengthening both sides of the waist. Exhale, bending to the left from your waist and stretching the side of the torso. Avoid bringing your shoulders to your ears and keep the chest squared to the front. Stay in that position for five breaths and release as you exhale. Repeat on the other side.

• “Gomukhasana” (Cow Face Arms) with “Tadasana” legs. Standing tall, bring your arms out to a T. Bring the right arm up, bend at the elbow keeping it pointed forward and reach your hand towards the nape of your neck. Rotate your left thumb down. Slowly bend your left elbow and bring the arm behind your back, with the top of your hand reaching the middle upper back. Clasp your fingers together or use a towel if they can’t reach each other. Keep the shoulders level while pressing your shoulder blades in towards your chest as you soften the front ribs. Stay here for a few breaths and slowly release. Repeat on the other side.

Download a handy travel yoga guide through Urban Ashram Manila’s Practice in My Pocket travel edition at www.facebook.com/urbanashrammanila. Visit www.urbanashrammanila.com for more details.

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FIXT URE

Xbesitzer houses striking taxidermy and a range of exotic objects that one may find gruesome or interesting.

STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL

Heads, hides, and horns-Xbesitzer is a place of macabre beauty TEXT MARAH RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY JOJO GLORIA A beautiful bison head hangs right in the middle of Xbesitzer. It is one of the first things you’ll notice once you enter the well-lit space, partly because of its size and mostly because of its novelty. It is tempting to grab the tufts of coarse hair on the bison’s neck or run your hands along its horns. An assortment of skulls and stuffed birds line the shelves of the shop and horns from different animals are artfully scattered on replicas of retro tables that the shop also sells.

Xbesitzer is a handful of things. It is a furniture store, a taxidermist, and an art gallery. All of their furniture is manufactured and fabricated locally. The pieces are designed by a local design collective and are put together by a team of skilled workers. Aside from the original designs, Xbesitzer makes replica furniture and also carries a smattering of vintage bags and shoes. Their taxidermied pieces are mostly from the private collection of artist Jeremy Guiab.

As such, the pieces that come to the shop depend on the hunting season abroad. Deer heads figure prominently in the shop, while a handsome moose head hangs in the backroom. A fox pelt hangs over a leather chair, together with its coyote buddy, as if peeking from the shop’s glass doors and getting in some sun. Artwork from their featured artists share the space with the vintage lamps and bleached skulls.

Xbesitzer. 178 Mabini St., Brgy. Addition Hills, San Juan. +63(915)380-5172. www.facebook.com/Xbesitzer.

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NORT HERNER

LENS FLAIR

On The Radar

A photographer shares the beauty of seeing the world through a new set of lenses TEXT KAT PATIÑO-MARQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY JOSEPH PASCUAL Flipping through old photo albums and scanning each picture one by one always brings a flood of nostalgic emotions. Through a simple 3x5 printed keepsake, it’s easy to recall even the most obscure of memories regardless of how little or big their relevance is in our lives. And even as photographs have taken a new, digital form, it’s still the preferred medium to make these memories last forever. Though accidental, Joseph Pascual found photography not just as a way to document his life but to see the world through a completely different perspective.

Joseph was on the route to pursuing a career in film making. Little did he know that his life would take a small unexpected turn when his grandfather offered him an old point and shoot digital camera.

He obliged, out of politeness, not knowing that it would later alter his path. Without thinking, he started to bring it everywhere—documenting his daily activities, friends, family, and anything that caught his eye. By 2006, he immortalized each photo by posting them in an online photo journal (www.otherjoseph.livejournal.com). It was through this journal, that is still up and running today, that Joseph nabbed his first paid job. Eventually, Joseph booked more projects through his site—even going as far as working for publications.

Joseph now works from project to project,

always moving around where there are new sights to capture. Although portraits are more his forte, photojournalism through travels comes as a close second love. Through this style, he’s allowed to truly open his eyes—seeing the wonders of the world even in the most ordinary of things.

“Taking photos while traveling just hones my eye to seeing beauty and the unnoticed ordinariness of things, which I then take home with me here,” he shares. Among his travels, Hawaii and Hong Kong inspired him the most for different reasons and still remains his most memorable destinations. “There’s a pristine, otherworldliness to Hawaii, and Hong Kong has a frenetic pulse that suffuses it.”

For now, Joseph has no plans of going anywhere yet he still hopes to visit more places someday.

Until then, Joseph keeps himself busy with his projects both professional and personal. “A personal project I’m working on is my first exhibit, which I envision to be portraits of people I know and love, shot in their bedrooms,” he shares. We can hope to see more travel photos from Joseph as he jets off to familiar and unknown locations.

But he encourages everyone to give photography a shot saying, “Always keep your camera beside you, shoot first and think later, keep your eyes open, [and] walk everywhere.”

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“I always go to Maginhawa and Malingap streets for their very relaxed restaurant scene.”

“Henry’s in Trinoma Mall for camera equipment.”

“Appraisary in Cubao Expo for their great coffee cocktails and board games.”

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BEAUT Y

WALKING ON SUNSHINE

Great summer adventures start with healthy, pampered feet TEXT SEP MAHINO ILLUSTRATION BN CHAVEZ There are beautifully formed feet, and there are those that look like flowering bulbs of ginger. Still, aesthetics take nothing away from the great, daily work that our feet do for us—carrying us, our whole weight, and all the baggage we tote wherever we go. When we talk about travel, images of planes jetting off to exotic locales or a car full of friends breezing down the expressway immediately come to mind. Yet, every day we travel, one footstep after another, from one destination to the next.

As the popular adage goes, every journey begins with a single step, but that would be hard to follow with another one once you encounter pain and other kinds of problems with your feet. Hence, for your summer sojourns, whether it’s a transatlantic flight to some cosmopolitan European capital or a backpacking trek through lush local trails, keeping mindful of the health needs of your feet becomes all the more important.

They don’t really require anything special by way of care: A hygienic routine of washing them daily with water and mild soap, thorough drying especially between the toes, and applying moisturizing cream especially on the heels is always the best form of defense against skin problems that afflict the feet, such as fungal infections and dry, cracked skin. Regular pedicures and nail trimming done by trusted and capable technicians can prevent ingrown nails. Foot spas and massages do a world of good in invigorating blood circulation, and so does giving your feet a break from constant wearing of high heels.

There’s a specific pre-travel to-do list, though:

Once you get down to paring your whole beauty ritual into TSA-approved sizes, don’t forget to pack for your feet, too. Aside from a moisturizing cream, a cuticle balm, and maybe a deodorizing foot spray—this is more for the sake of your bunkmates—pack a few sachets of bath salts so you can give your feet a nice, warm soak at the end of a day’s sightseeing. It would also be a good idea to prepare a foot care kit for emergency cases: bandages, a nail file, nail clippers, cooling foot lotion, and antibiotic cream.

In planning your plane outfit, think of comfort—especially if it’s going to be a long flight.

Foot and leg swelling is a common condition during air travel due to inactivity, the constant seated position, low cabin pressure, low humidity, and dehydration. Reduce the risk by not wearing tight clothing, particularly those that cinch at the waist; you can always change into something more stylish in the cabin restroom before touchdown.

Essentials:

NORTHERNliving

When you’re finally up in the air or on the road, keep yourself hydrated and stretch your legs and ankles every hour; if it’s possible, take a short walk to get the blood in your legs and feet circulating back to the heart. If short walks aren’t possible, do ankle rotations by drawing circles with your toes, and keep the legs and feet elevated as much as you can. Sure, you’d look strange in your seat but your lower extremities will thank you for it.

The footwear you’ll use during travel is also an important consideration. The smart thing is to stick to shoes that you’ve proven to be comfortable and provide proper arch and heel support instead of ones that you’ve yet to break in. Ballet flats and flip-flops don’t make for trusty travel shoes, as despite the flat-heeled comfort they give, they offer absolutely zero support to the feet—you’ll just find yourself groaning in pain after a day spent walking around.

Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Foot Soak, Burt’s Bees Cuticle Cream, both available at Beauty Bar; Tony Moly Moisture Balm, SM Beauty Department; Susanne Kaufmann Leg and Vein Spray, Univers, One Rockwell

08

C H A SI L N I GG H T Against a dusky sunset, a light wardrobe offers possibilities STYLING EDLENE CABRAL PHOTOGRAPHY CHOLO DE LA VEGA Jacket, Tommy Hilfiger, P8,950; polo shirt, River Island, P1,790; trousers, Brooks Brothers, P4,450; sneakers, Anthony Morato, P5,998

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STYLING ASSISTANT BULLET REYES. MAKEUP ARTIST ANGEL MANHILOT FOR MAC COSMETICS. HAIR STYLING ARIES MANAL. MODELS: ADRIEL AND MARIA OF ELITE MANILA

ST YLE

On Maria: Long cardigan, P25,000; and trousers, P18,000, both from Ralph Lauren. Silk top, River Island, P1,790.

On Adriel: Polo shirt, River Island, P1,690. Eyewear, Anthony Morato, P1,998.

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ST YLE

On Maria: Sleeveless cover-up, P25,000; and wraparound skirt, P15,000, both from Ralph Lauren. Ankle boot sandals, Zara, P5,990.

(Opposite Page) On Adriel: Blazer, P7,300; and ankle boots, P5,998, both from Anthony Morato.

Button-down shirt, P6,950; and trousers, P4,450, both from Tommy Hilfiger.

On Maria: Blazer and trouser both from H&M, prices available upon request. Button-down shirt, Mango, P2,490. Lace-up sandals, Zara, P3,490. Eyewear, Celine, P16,500.

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COV ER STORY

GOLDFINGER

This man of plentiful passions tells Northern Living how he handles life with hands and fingers that turn everything he touches into gold TEXT NANTE SANTAMARIA

GROOMING CAMILLE VILLAROEL. SHOT ON LOCATION AT BRASSERIE GIROLLE.

PHOTOGRAPHY CYRUS PANGANIBAN

If in Jose Rizal’s El Filibusterismo we find Simoun, the jeweler, a saboteur wearing blue-tinted glasses as he slyly infiltrates Manila’s high society to sow chaos for anarchist vengeance, in the famed artists of the Syjuco clan we recognize Paul, our hero of opposite virtues. Practicing an heirloom craft received from his grandparents, Paul, through his clear thick-framed spectacles, has the gleaming vision of a master appraiser, the handsome gait of a young husband, and the quick hands of an able cook at day and an indie band guitarist at night. Studied as he may be in the world of finance, Paul Syjuco has learned to channel his less calculative side into things that demand instinct—say, telling the worth of anything that glitters, assessing the spice from an alien pot of stew, or jamming to his cult label Terno Recordings-approved music project Children of the Pilgrimage.

Let’s begin with your shop Aum Jewels, to say it as in the sound of The Beatles’s “Jai guru deva om.”

It’s derived from the scientific word for gold, aurum. I’m a third-generation jeweler.

What was your exposure to the craft as a child?

I’ve always been interested in art, conceptualizing, and music. I just needed an outlet. Sometimes, when I was younger, I’d go to the workshop. I guess that was normal for me, seeing those things, but I didn’t really go there straight after college. I did the corporate thing.

Because you were a trained economist!

I was in a bank, handling credit card marketing, and I was a financial analyst for that company. I got tired of it, in 2001, after two years.

Do you remember the first pieces you touched?

Younger, I was more fascinated with diamonds than metals. I remember being fascinated with it, in my mom’s office, with stones and different colored gems. I didn’t really have the books until I studied gemology in Thailand. That’s when my love for gemstones really grew.

What were your pieces from that show?

They were very basic. I was exploring techniques and was more into rendering. They were more masculine, minimalist, architectural, hardedged, very European, very German. During that time, maybe 14 years ago, I didn’t think people were ready for it. It was too harsh. I think people still appreciate it, maybe a select few do. They are to whom I cater. You can’t please everybody. If you’re a jeweler, you basically use the same materials, the same gold, the same stones, and the same diamonds. It’s just the way you design and manufacture your pieces that makes the difference. I wanted to push beyond the typical way of valuing a gem in terms of its material worth than through its design. Design has an added value to a piece.

“Travel expands your mind. You’re pulled out of your comfort zone, and you’re exposed to other cultures and other aesthetics, so I guess, unconsciously, that goes into your mind as a library of images that you pull out from.

For me, it’s not just about travel. It’s also being interested in other things like art, photography, [and] food.”

Did you acquire a New Age edge because of working with these gems?

I would never really subscribe to that, but when I touch an amethyst [his birth stone] or a geode—the raw state of crystals, uncut in their natural form—I sort of feel a slight energy. To think that I’m skeptical about it, so I guess there’s some truth to it, why people wear their birthstones.

How long did you study gemology?

I stayed in Thailand for about a year and studied jewelry design, diamond grading, and pearl grading. It’s more on evaluating stones and appraising. It’s a trade school for people in the field. It’s actually the most respected school in terms of gemology. I felt the need to study after going into the business because it’s one thing to do business and another thing to have technical knowledge. To get a gemologist’s degree, we needed to pass this test of identifying stones, and it had to be a perfect score. For jewelry design, we had an exhibit.

You recently revisited Bangkok. Do you consciously set aside time to get inspired?

Travel expands your mind. You’re pulled out of your comfort zone, and you’re exposed to other cultures and other aesthetics, so I guess, unconsciously, that goes into your mind as a library of images that you pull out from. For me, it’s not just about travel. It’s also being interested in other things like art, photography, [and] food. You have to be interested in a lot of these things because, if you’re just interested in looking at jewelry, your output would be so onedimensional. Inspiration has to be clever, smart, and yet, simple.

How do you see Filipino jewelry design?

Filipinos like big and bold. Now they like color.

I think the Philippines, historically, has its own jewelry culture.

Are you familiar with the Boxer Codex?

Yes. Some of those things are exhibited in the Ayala Museum. If you look back, even in our pre-colonial stage, we have a big jewelry culture in Surigao and Bicol, where a lot of gold is found. We’ve always had this culture of adorning ourselves. I think it’s more for yourself, about feeling better. It is more psychological than about status.

Do you see it as starkly different from that of other cultures?

I guess some cultures are more modest in terms of accessorizing. The Japanese like fine and dainty pieces or almost none, and they are more organic, as visible even in their pottery. A lot of it is cultural context.

What are you wearing now, in our cultural context, so to speak?

This is my wedding band. It’s just hammer-finished. It’s super thick and heavy.

It doesn’t look like a wedding band. It’s very simple.

What attracts you to this unfinished look?

I guess it’s just my aesthetic. The unfinished and organic look can be classic. I suppose it just adds another aesthetic dimension to jewelry— instead of being polished the whole time—this contrast between textures and color.

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COV ER STORY

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COV ER STORY

Syjuco’s shirts are monogrammed with his initials, something he picked up in Bangkok.

It’s like taking this craft culture that has reached a very sophisticated level and paring it back to its previous form through unlearning.

It’s more of doing things simply but elevating its materials. If you have a simple stone, and you put so many things around it, they detract from the stone’s beauty. It’s different from being simplistic. It’s making sense of things.

What gem, metal, or form are you really highlighting? You focus on that.

Your shop in TriNoma carries brands with similar leanings.

There’s Jul Dizon, Janina Dizon, and Kristine Dee. I carry select designers who have the same drive to push Filipino design.

How has traveling to certain destinations changed your design perspective?

Maybe we can start from last year. My wife and I went to Coron, Palawan.

I haven’t been with nature in so long, and it made me step back and see again how amazing it is. It’s mostly unspoiled, and you rarely see that. It takes millions of years to attain that state and overnight to destroy it. You get to appreciate the many textures and colors.

The second trip we took last year was to Kyoto. It used to be the Japanese capital, and the good thing about it was that when they transferred the capital to Tokyo, they kept things in place. They preserved it, and it’s so normal to find establishments that are 200 to 500 years old. They’re all family-run

businesses, and they take so much pride in one thing and only that thing. I take inspiration from that discipline, focus, and love for culture. Kyoto is a different animal. There’s purity in everything they do.

In Bangkok, we just ate a lot—from the sidewalks to the markets. It’s like Manila, and traffic is a little worse sometimes, but I’m very familiar with it.

I notice that every time I go back, something changes… Their independent designers who do clothes, shoes, and jewelry are very much alive. They have a museum of materials collection there—a database of building materials.

It’s a library. I actually prefer shopping in small stores or in the markets, in Chatuchak and Asiatique where they have all these brands that are welldesigned, well-made, not so expensive, and very unique.

A lot of jewelry materials were discovered through voyages. What are your favorite finds from your personal conquests?

I just look for unique stuff. They don’t need to be expensive. I like old, old shops, curios, and antiques. Sometimes, I use old pieces from those—like old jade and agarwood. It’s the most rare wood in the world. It’s highly resinated. I found it through this Chinese guy. It has this sweet scent. It’s used for Buddhist rosaries, and they use the extracts to make perfume. I’m not a big shopper. I’d rather make or have something made, and when I travel, I’d rather eat. I try more to experience.

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M ARKET

WANDERLUST

Let your journey be the ultimate story with these essentials in tow STYLING EDLENE CABRAL PHOTOGRAPHY RONAN CAPILI

1. Nylon pouch, Armani Exchange, P4,550, Glorietta 4 2. Eyewear, Celine, P16,550, Glorietta 5 3. Patterned scarf, Armani Exchange, P2,950, Glorietta 4 4. Camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC GM1K, price available upon request 5. Handbag, Polo by Ralph Lauren, P26,000, Rustan’s 6. Wallet, Polo by Ralph Lauren, P13,500, Rustan’s 7. iPad case, Polo by Ralph Lauren, P13,500, Rustan’s 8. Clutch, Zara, P1,990, Shangri-La Plaza Mall 9. Lonely Planet London, P1,095, National Book Store 10. Flask, Brooks Brothers, P3,950, Rustan’s 11. Card holder, Brooks Brothers, P3,950, Rustan’s

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EATS

Earth Kitchen makes scrumptious dishes with the freshest ingredients straight from their partner farms.

NATURE’S WAY

This restaurant proves that indulging in good, hearty dishes can be done minus the guilt TEXT MARAH S.D. RUIZ PHOTOGRAPHY SAM LIM

EARTH KITCHEN

Healthy, local, sustainable—these three words best describe the joint project of the Got Heart Foundation and Hizon’s Catering, Earth Kitchen. The restaurant is dedicated to serving good food with the freshest local produce from the Got Heart Farm in Tarlac and other partner communities from all over the country. They hope to sustain the livelihood of marginalized communities, as well as encourage more farmers to go the organic route. Having just opened in the middle of last year, Earth Kitchen plans to have major changes in the menu every six months, and make minor changes every month, depending on the availability of produce.

The refreshing and light Mushroom Spring Roll (P280) consists of shiitake mushrooms, vermicelli noodles, and the season’s selection of herbs and greens rolled snugly in a rice wrapper and served with lime hoisin sauce. Have it with the very colorful Wild Watermelon and Rocket

Salad (P245), which has edible flowers, pili nuts, and homemade “kesong puti” tossed in and served with balsamic vinaigrette. For those who love pumpkin, make sure to try the creamy Pumpkin and Goat’s Cheese Paccheri (P310), which has salty goat cheese mixed in with mashed pumpkins stuffed into sheets of pasta, and topped with pili nuts and bacon. Fans of fish shouldn’t miss the Fish and Roasted Sesame Soft Tacos (P240), which has breaded and deep-fried parrot fish, cucumber, seaweed, and edible flowers and is served with roasted sesame dressing. For dessert, Goat’s Cheese-Frozen Cheesecake Ice Cream (P220), topped with wild honey, dried figs, and cashew nuts will really hit the spot.

Once you’ve had your fill of the sumptuous food, head over to the next lot and visit the Got Heart Shop, which carries most of the ingredients used in Earth Kitchen.

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EATS

The menu keeps it light with dishes like Mushroom Spring Roll (left) and Wild Watermelon and Rocket Salad (right).

The living wall is a throwback to the space’s past as a greenhouse (below).

Earth Kitchen. Lot 10 B-10, White Plains, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City. +63(917)584-3278, +63(2)961-0572, +63(2)577-9138. www.facebook.com/TheEarthKitchen. care@gotheartfoundation.org.

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The Art of the Plated Dessert

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EATS

Merrymaking starts from dinnertime till dawn at this laid-back gastropub that pairs good eats with great brews.

FULL AND FIZZED

This gastropub’s dishes are laced with booze and a little bit of humor TEXT DIANNE PINEDA PHOTOGRAPHY GABBY CANTERO

TIPSY PIG

Beer, when served in the right temperature and in the perfect glass, makes a great drinking experience—but when paired with the best complementary dish, the experience becomes sublime. Matching food with beer can really elevate a dish and provide a contrasting yet interesting and refreshing mix of flavors to please the palate. Tipsy Pig, a newly opened gastropub in Capitol Commons, has risen to this challenge and even took a step further by making alcohol an ingredient in some of their best-selling dishes. Such is the case with its Jack and Coke barbecue ribs—pork ribs rubbed, marinated, and seasoned with spices and a shot of good ol’ Jack Daniel’s. It’s a combination that blends the sour mash of whiskey and the tangy taste of barbecue sauce slathered in tender, falls-offthe-ribs pork. “It brings another dimension and depth to the dish,” chimes in chef Rainier Barbers.

For a hungry group, the Beer Can Chicken will not disappoint, as it is as delicious as it is a sight to behold.

A whole beer-flavored roasted chicken is served on top of a can of beer. Another dish that one can’t miss is the Belly Good Sisig Tacos, the chef’s own version of everyone’s favorite local beer complement. The

crispy sisig that is wrapped in tortilla and glazed with Asian soy garlic is sure to enhance a drinking session, whereas the Spiced Chicken Quesadilla is a fitting choice for those who are simply looking for something good to nibble on.

Cheekily named drinks such as Dirty Salted Caramel Martini, Emily’s Garden, Ron-dezvous, RJ Mint Spritzer, and Dancing Papi form part of Tipsy Pig’s extensive collection of drinks. Chef Rainier shares that the names came from inside jokes among partners.

The dishes are served on wooden boards while drinks, in cool little mugs that add to the restaurant’s classy yet laid-back appeal. The interiors are quite impressive as well. In what Chef Rainier refers to as a “deconstructed barnhouse,” the place features wooden planks on the walls and accents on high ceilings, all carefully thought out and designed by owner Ton Gonzales, an architect by day and restaurateur by night. After a night of merrymaking and dining at Tipsy Pig, you’ll certainly come out of this watering hole feeling fully satisfied and happily buzzed.

Tipsy Pig Gastropub. U-21A & R-2B Capitol Commons, Meralco Ave. cor. Shaw Blvd., Oranbo District 1, Pasig City. +63(916)734-2837. www.facebook.com/TheTipsyPigGastropub.

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RECIPE

AFTERNOON DELIGHT

This cocktail cooler is the best excuse for a summer afternoon drink TEXT KAT PATIÑO-MARQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY JILSON SECKLER TIU

KIAT KIAT FROZEN TEQUILA SUNRISE Servings: 4 Ingredients

½ cup frozen orange juice concentrate 1 ½ cups fresh kiat kiat juice ¾ cup golden tequila 2 tablespoons triple sec 2 tablespoons lime juice 3 cups crushed ice ¼ cup grenadine Garnish: 4 orange slices 4 maraschino cherries Coarse salt for rimming glass 1 lime wedge for rimming glass

Procedure

1. Spread a layer of salt in a shallow dish. Run lime wedge around the rims of the four glasses to moisten; dip rims in salt.

2. Place orange juice concentrate, fresh kiat kiat juice, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice in a blender. Add ice and pulse until smooth. Divide margarita evenly between glasses.

3. Tilt glasses and pour 1 tablespoon grenadine down the side of each drink; grenadine will sink to the bottom and create a sunrise effect.

4. Garnish with orange slices and maraschino cherries. Serve.

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T HE GET

LEATHER PHASE

Pencil this in: Classic, handstitched leather for your writing tools TEXT DIANNE PINEDA There’s something about leather that makes it such an alluring material—its classic color, the way it feels to the touch, even its distinct smell. From the clichéd image of a cowboy in leather chaps and motorcycle riders in heavy black leather jackets to expensive designer luggage, leather has been shaped into all forms—whether for the rugged or for the refined. That is why making something out of it requires a certain technique, care, and expertise, and only those who know and honor leather—such as Ruben and Trina Flores of Bags by Rubbertree—can make the ubiquitous pencil holder into something quite out of the ordinary.

The “pen hoarder” as it is called, is a cut and a stitch above the average pen holder that usually has no visual appeal. Its leather quality and handy feature rolls up form and function, and “every piece has [its] own distinct leather wash and identity,” as Trina puts it. It may look simple, but this quirky tool may just add a little something extra to your workspace, whether as a decorative piece or as a tool to keep your creative ideas right at your fingertips.

This pen holder, however, is but one of the many creations that come from the couple’s craftsmanship.

Staying true to their raw and unpretentious designs, they work on the treatment, cutting, and stitching of leather in their cozy design studio just outside their house along Maginhawa Street. And those who pass by will surely see the couple working with their hands, hear the sounds of hammering and get a whiff of that nostalgic, unique scent of new leather.

Pen hoarder. +63(2)433-4482. bagsbyrubbertree.com. rubbertreedesigns@gmail.com.

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