IN THE HOUSE SEPTEMBER 2021

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THE NEXT PHASE September in the Philippines usually marks the beginning of the holiday season, with Christmas carols getting airplay on radio stations around the country. While Christmas in September is a bit of overkill, it does lift the spirits and make us feel hopeful and excited for the last quarter of the year.

That optimism is a little difficult to muster this year. We enter September on MECQ, weary from yet another lockdown. We struggle to stay afloat, hoping that outdoor dining, at the very least, would be allowed soon. Our staff has been double vaccinated, as have most of our Members, but until lockdown restrictions ease, we’re relying on takeaway orders from both Members and the public to keep us going. Ours is not an unusual situation; our friends and colleagues in the food and hospitality industry are all experiencing the same challenges.

But we must, despite everything, remain hopeful and resilient, just like the medical frontliners who continue to work tirelessly and selflessly. We are enormously grateful to our Members and friends who have generously helped feed the frontliners through our Hot Meals for Heroes food programme. Recently, we delivered over 100 meals to the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. To see more, please turn to page 5.

In the meantime, please support us by ordering takeaway, donating to Hot Meals for Heroes, and coming to Manila House as soon as outdoor dining is allowed. You may also opt to pay your Annual Dues for 2022 early, starting this month.

We can never say this often enough, but we thank you for being part of our community.

HOW TO SIGN UP Manila House Rewards is easy and convenient to access. The attached hyperlink https://manila-house.eber.co takes you to the registration/login page.

You will be able to log in to your account using the primary email or mobile number connected to your Club membership.

Best In-House Magazine PHILIPPINES BEST BRAND AWARDS 2018

Editor Bambina Olivares Content & Marketing Manager Arci Catalan Graphic Artist Jad Catalan Editorial Adviser Anton San Diego

Bambina Olivares

Director of PR and Arts, Culture, and Education Programs

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ON T H E COV ER

Fresh off the new menu the Whole Roasted Chicken Adobo with Adobo Rice Stuffing

M H | TA B L E OF C ON T E N T S

SEPTEMBER 1

EDITOR'S NOTE

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TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

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MEET OUR TEAM Nino Caducio

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CLUB RULES Attention All Members

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CLUB NEWS Acts of Kindness

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BENEFITS & PRIVILEGES Essentials in the Time of COVID LifeScience X Manila House

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RECIPROCAL CLUBS

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FOOD & BEVERAGE From Manila House To Your Home All Set

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R E TA I L C O R N E R Book Your Next Trip

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M E M B E R’ S C OR N E R Olympic Hangover

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INTERVIEW Joseph Assad

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T R AV E L The Great Escape

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CALENDAR OF EVENT S

By Design: Why Design Remains Relevant Today Fallout From Afghanistan: What the Return of the Taliban Means How to Avoid Burnout with Dr. Kaycee Reyes Get a Sip of the Rye

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT Fashioning An Identity The Adobo Chronicles In Search Of A Leader

Our new Filipino Family Set Menu in a Tampipi Box

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MH | M E E T O U R T E A M

CHEF NINO CADUCIO Junior Chef de Partie

With experience and expertise, station chefs arguably play critical roles in the kitchen, and Chef Nino Caducio is among the best at his job. A man of few words, he shares a bit about his journey in the culinary world.

What got you into cooking? Was it your childhood dream?

Cooking really is my passion. I’ve always known this is what I wanted to do since I was young. The journey wasn’t easy--- I didn’t go to college and started as a kitchen steward. I worked one step at a time, and now I’m a fullfledged chef.

What are the top three kitchen tools you can’t live without?

A wok, a sharp knife and of course, a chopping board!

How do you relax after a long day in the kitchen?

Playing and watching movies with my kids after work.

I also like cooking for them. Their favorites are Tinapa Pasta and Kimchi Fried Rice.

How would friends and colleagues describe you?

I’m just really quiet and focused at work. I don’t talk much especially when I’m not in the mood! I only become talkative when with people to whom I am close.

What do you look forward to the most after the pandemic?

• My favorite TV series is… Money Heist

Seeing friends and family that I haven’t been with for some time is one of the top things I look forward to, just like most of us. The pandemic really kept us from visiting and spending time with our loved ones.

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POP QUIZ

• If I were a dessert, I’d be… Strawberry Tiramisu • The best place I’ve been to is… My hometown... Leyte!

DIRECTORY

Reservations +63 917 816 3685 reservations@manilahouseinc.com

Banquets +63 917 816 3671 banquets@manilahouseinc.com

Membership +63 917 805 5941 membership@manilahouseinc.com

​ etail R +63 917 851 6500, +63 917 560 0201 retail@manilahouseinc.com

PR and Arts, Culture & Education Programs +63 917 851 6541 events@manilahouseinc.com

Call us: +632 7 958 5007, +632 8 478 7163, +632 8 478 7165, +632 8 478 7176, +632 8 826 3196

Manila House Private Club, Inc. 8F, Seven/NEO, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig 1634, Philippines www.manilahouseinc.com Manila House Private Members Club @manila_house @manila_house Manila House Private Club

MH | C L U B R U L E S

ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS MEMBER REFERRAL AND REWARDS PROGRAMME We’re accepting membership applications again. Refer a friend, family member or business associate for membership to Manila House and we’ll reward you!

For every new Member you refer, you will receive a P10,000 voucher that is • redeemable against food and beverage consumption for dine-in and takeaways • non-transferrable and not convertible to cash • valid for six months from date of issue • valid for single transaction and shall not be claimed with any discount and promotions The voucher is released only upon the payment of membership joining fees by the new Member. The value of the voucher is fixed, regardless of membership type.

For inquiries and more information regarding Member Referral Programme, please call +63 917 805 5941 or email membership@manilahouseinc.com

2022 ANNUAL DUES AND EARLY BIRD PROMO With the last quarter approaching, we encourage our Members to pay their 2022 dues on or before December 31, 2021, and get Early Bird Incentives: • 10% Discount to be given to Investors and their Nominees • F&B Voucher equivalent to monthly dues to be given to Founding, Regular, Associate and Junior Members Kindly send us a copy of the transaction slip once payment is made, for proper recording

MONTHLY CONSUMABLES Annual Dues are inclusive of P700 and P500 monthly consumables. Founding, Regular, and Associate Members will be entitled to P700 in monthly consumables. For Junior Members, the monthly consumable amount is P500. The consumable amounts may be used in all F&B outlets.

If unused, the monthly consumable amount will be forfeited at the end of every month.

For more information regarding Membership concerns, please call +63 917 805 5941 or email membership@manilahouseinc.com

F&B VOUCHERS We continue to encourage Members to purchase in advance the P10,000 F&B vouchers that are fully consumable and may be used for dine-in and takeaway. They may also be used as payment for webinar registration fees which include food delivery options.

SUPPORT MANILA HOUSE VIA TAKEAWAY The current lockdown restrictions have meant that the Club is closed for dine-in until further notice.

In the meantime, we urge all Members to support the Club, and its employees, by ordering from our Takeaway Menu.

For your convience, we offer several ways to order Takeaway: Order from our website (shop.manilahouseinc com), through food delivery services (Pick-a-Roo, Grab Food and Foodpanda), or by calling us directly (+63 917 816 3685).

Thank you for being part of the Manila House community, and for supporting your Manila House family.

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MH | B E N E F I T S & P R I V I L E G E S

Essentials in the Time of COVID A curated selection of necessary items from our partners

STAY WELL AT THE FARM AT SAN BENITO Detox, de-stress and emerge refreshed. Special rates at The Farm await Manila House Members.

Room rates begin at P10,000++ per night and includes Nutrient-rich vegan breakfast for two; Holistic Health Orientation with our integrative Doctor; Participation in Mindful Movements: Yoga Sessions, Mandala Flower Meditation, Immune Boosting Juice and Blends Prep Class, Wellness Talks, and Nature Walks; Use of facilities; Complimentary WiFi To ensure a safe and comfortable stay, all guests are required to take a 15-minute FDA-approved rapid test on-site prior to entry at P2,500++ per person additional fee.

Contact details: +63 918 884 8080, +63 917 572 2325 info@thefarm.com.ph www.thefarmatsanbenito.com

CLOSER TO HOME AT AMANPULO Blissfully marooned in the tranquil waters of northern Palawan, the private island of Amanpulo beckons family and friends to immerse in a serene summer escape together.

Manila House Members may enjoy an exclusive complimentary upgrade from a Deluxe Hillside Casita to a Beach Casita on weekdays (Sunday to Thursday) for stays from May 1 to September 30, 2021, available for booking until September 25, 2021 only.

Immerse in the pleasures of paradise with a two-night stay in a Casita starting at P106,000++ inclusive of daily breakfast, and a choice of a 50-minute massage at the Aman Spa or an a la carte lunch for two persons To ensure a safe and comfortable stay, all guests are required to submit negative COVID-19 PCR test swab results. This will ensure that the entire family / group will be cleared to join the flight and will facilitate a quicker and smoother transit from the Medical Reception to the Lounge.

To book, please call +63 (2) 7976 5200 or +63 (2) 8854 0276 or email amanpulores@aman.com and copy Carla David cdavid@aman.com

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MH | B E N E F I T S & P R I V I L E G E S

LifeScience X Manila House

We’ve been collaborating on talks and webinars with LifeScience Center, the country’s leading functional medicine clinic, and their Care Team since 2018. And now, we’re taking our partnership to the next level.

Get a complimentary Heart Health Monitor session worth Php4,000 when you book Health Management Consult

LifeScience offers holistic, personalized, and preventive healthcare designed to help you resolve chronic health concerns such as autoimmune disease, infertility, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

Get 20% off on the Cardiometabolic Profile Test, and advanced biomarker test that will help you know if you’re on your way to developing heart disease

Designed to make you feel better, and attain optimal health.

As a part of our partnership, LifeScience will curate special packages designed to make us feel better. In addition, a percentage of the proceeds will go towards making the community feel better through our in-house Hot Meals for Heroes feeding initiative.

Purchase doctor-grade supplements from LifeScience and have them conveniently delivered right to your house

Book an appointment or Schedule a free 15-minute call with LifeScience here

SANIVIR SMOKE DISINFECTANT Manufactured in Spain and tested according to stringent standards to assure its effectiveness against the Coronavirus, other types of viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores, Sanivir Smoke contains Glutaraldehyde and Orthophenylphenol which are both FDA and CDC approved active ingredients ideal in killing viruses.

• Ideal for all enclosed spaces • Easy to use, no residue, non-corrosive • Can penetrate hard to reach areas such as crevices, air vents, ceiling as well as surfaces • It can be used every two weeks depending on the area Manila House Members enjoy specially discounted prices for Sanivir Smoke Discounted Price per can P1,200 Sanivir Smoke 25g SRP: P1,500 50 m3 (15 to 30 sq. m)

Purchase your LifeScience Supplements at our Online Shop shop.manilahouseinc.com

BioConcepts Orthoplex BioActive Lipids Php2,300

BioConcepts Orthoplex CitraMag Php1,720

Douglas Laboratories Vitamin D3 1000IU Php500

Douglas Laboratories Vitamin D3 5000IU Php1,000

LCPI Liposomal Melatonin Sublingual Spray Php1,200

Pure Encapsulations Zinc Picolinate Php825

LCPO Immuni-3 Php1,540

Sanivir Smoke 1kg P4,800 2,000 m3 (500-550 sq. m) SRP: P6,000 Prices are exclusive of 12% vat and exclusive of delivery charges. Price of this item is subject to change without prior notice.

For more information, please call

371-3936, 411-2627 or 411-2592

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MH | R E C I P R O C A L C L U B S

Manila House Members now enjoy reciprocal rights at the following Clubs

1 2 H AY H I L L

A L L B R I G HT

London United Kingdom

London United Kingdom

M O D E R N I ST

TH E BAT TE RY

San Francisco, CA USA

ART Y Z E N C LU B Hong Kong

TH E CO U RT

London United Kingdom

T OW ER CLUB Singapore

THE CITY SOCIETY

Beijing

San Francisco, CA USA

T H E A M E R I CA N CLUB HONG KO N G

KJA RVA L Reykjavík Iceland

P ERSH ING Austin, TX USA

1880

Singapore

Hong Kong

W E_ AR E Paris France

B RO DY L A N D Budapest Hungary

HERE HOUSE Aspen, CO USA

STRAITS CLAN

Singapore

THE QUORUM Gurugram & Mumbai

U N I T E D S E RV I C E S

R E C R E AT I O N C L U B

Hong Kong

WORK CLUB GLOBAL Australia

SY D N E Y S U PR E M E

SY D N E Y BA R A N GA RO O

SY D N E Y BAR R AC K PL AC E

CA N D E L A N U E VO Melbourne Australia

CA RTE L C LU B Cape Town South Africa

Please note that all requests for visits to and bookings at our reciprocal clubs must be coursed through Manila House at least three (3) days before your intended visit. Please include the dates of your visit, as well as the number of guests you wish to bring, as each club sets its own limits. We kindly remind you to wait for email confirmation that your visit has been approved before proceeding to the reciprocal club. Please refrain from calling the reciprocal club directly to announce your visit.

You may also be required to present your Manila House Membership Card when you arrive at the reciprocal club.

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MH | M E M B E R ’ S C O R N E R

OLYMPIC HANGOVER

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics brought the Philippines a record medal haul.

We asked Members what their favorite event was

“I love watching these incredible athletes who exhibit so much dedication, strength, and skill as they represent their various countries.

Their focus and talent are incredible, and it’s so inspiring to hear the stories about their road to the Olympics.” ~ JP Mallo

“Apart from seeing how Hidilyn won gold, and following all other Philippine medalists, my favorite is the men’s marathon held in Sapporo, where Eliud Kipchoge won his second back-to-back gold medal.” ~ Emerson Yao

“As always, my favorite part of the Olympics is the Opening Ceremonies. You see unity and peace among all nations in the name of sports. It’s a pity there were no spectators allowed. It could have been much more colorful and great to watch!” ~ Virgilio Villar

“My favorite part was Hidilyn’s historic feat winning the Philippine’s first Olympic gold medal. She is a testament to what unwavering perseverance and faith can do.

Not only did she inspire future generations, she lifted the hopes of an entire nation when we needed it the most.” ~ Sherwin Lo

“It was moving to see people come together after so much time apart. It was fitting that the Olympics expanded its motto to Faster, Higher, Stronger -Together.

It captured perfectly the feeling of our time that we can only get through Covid and all the challenges we face side by side - and together.” ~ Jake Macapagal

“Aside from Hidalyn Diaz winning the first ever gold medal for the Philippines, I love how Margielyn Didal won the admiration of the international sports fans without bringing home a medal. She showed the Olympic spirit and captured the hearts of many while exhibiting the cheerful nature of Filipinos.”~ Chesca Carrere 14

MH | I N T E R V I E W

JOSEPH ASSAD

answers the Manila House Questionnaire

Tell us what you do.

Aside from being a full time Consul of Lebanon in the Philippines - doing everything an ambassador does in the absence of an embassy in the country - we own a small family real estate business that develops subdivisions. But lately in the last few years I have gotten into the forwarding business. I forward messages pro bono from Viber, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc. to my friends, family and groups.

It’s a non-profit business.

How do you define success?

Success is taking the stairs. The elevator to success is out of order. I had to use the stairs, one step at a time. One day at a time. Success is having family and friends who love you and more money in the bank than you can ever spend that you happily end up leaving to your loved ones. Success is appreciating and being happy where you are today and where you are heading tomorrow.

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What life lessons did you derive from the pandemic?

The number one lesson I finally realized is that your immune system loves you, so love and take very good care of your immune system. Exercise and take your vitamins B, C, D, K, Zinc and VCO everyday and Ivermectin every 10 days. Oh yeah no more beso beso or handshakes, just bow like the civilized Japanese. Number two, I have come to believe in and appreciate masks. Not one but two masks, one surgical and one cover that I shall wear even long after this Coronavirus nightmare is over. Bottom line : Health is wealth.

What’s the last movie/series you watched?

I’ve broken my addiction to Hollywood many moons ago and haven’t gone to a moviehouse since I watched the world premiere of The Opium Wars. A great epic film and highly recommended, available now on YouTube.

MH | I N T E R V I E W

“Success is taking the stairs.

The elevator to success is out of order.”

The last two were The Last Czars and How To Become A Tyrant. Oh I almost forgot-- I watched the premiere of my friend Nando Ortigas’s blockbuster production of General Luna in one of the cinemas.

What book is in your bookshelf but you’ve never read?

Robin by Dave Itzkoff biography on the life and death of Robin Williams, just given to me in June for my birthday. I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I was also given another book as a birthday present, and am currently reading, When Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi, a neurosurgeon writing about his own life experience published after his death from cancer.

One day he was a doctor treating the dying, next day he found himself a patient struggling to live. A profoundly moving memoir. Highly recommended.

What song can’t you get out of your head?

To Love Somebody by The Bee Gees. I love to sing that song if ever you ask me.

What would you like to see in the “next normal”?

I’d like to see this Covid-19 pandemic hysteria die down and downgraded to something like the common cold hopefully before 2025.

What’s your favorite thing about Manila House?

I loved Manila House from the first time I was invited there by my cousin Joseph Miro. That cozy, classy and elegant private ambiance that you won’t get anywhere else in the Philippines. The gourmet food, the comfy bar, the drinks and the view of BGC from the expansive balcony, not to forget the great personalized service all rolled into one makes Manila House the only private club on the same level as the Manila Polo Club that I truly enjoy coming to and inviting guests local and foreign. I am always happy that everyone I bring is impressed and thankful for the experience.

If you had to be quarantined (again) which country would you choose to be in?

That’s a no-brainer. There’s no place like home. I may be of Lebanese origin but I am a Filipino and was born in the Assad Compound, went to school and was raised in the Philippines. My family-uncles, aunts, cousins-- the Assads and Miros and second cousins the Ysraels, have called the Philippines home for 107 years since Noah Ysrael and his four brothers got off the boat in Iloilo that was heading for Australia in 1914, then settled and brought the whole family here.

Home is where the heart is.

*The views expressed here are the Member’s own and not the Club’s nor the management’s.

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MH | I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T

FASHIONING AN IDENTITY

We recently hosted a candid conversation about the nuances of culture and identity, as well as craft and fabric, by an international panel of designers and fashion advocates: Rajo Laurel, Anne Marie Saguil of Amarie, Anya Lim of Anthill Fabric Gallery, Gabriele Frantzen, Craig Jacobs of Fundudzi, and Mons Romulo, founder of Katutubo Pop Up Market.

“When I started, we manufactured in Germany, we manufactured in Italy, and so many people said, oh, you can manufacture here or there and you can make more money, and I said no, I want to know the person who sews it. I want to know the weavers… Every piece, there’s a soul behind it who made it, and this is what I want to translate to all my customers, and they appreciate it. I know my Italian [workers] who print, who are doing the things for me. And this always very, very important, long before people were talking about this… It’s more than a trend. We do it by heart.” ~ Gabriele Frantzen, Gabriele Frantzen “For me, embroidery just happened to be this craft that I fell in love with… I feel that, basically, I don’t think identity is something that we really push for. We’re not waving a flag here… I feel that, no matter what, because I grew up here, this is my home, the Philippines is my influence and my aesthetic. Just by virtue of that, that’s how our culture comes through. We don’t have to be having embroidery or weaves [per se], but just being a Filipino designer, a designer in the Philippines, your culture comes through.” ~ Anne Marie Saguil, Amarie “From my perspective in South Africa, we’re very sensitive to issues around other cultures embracing African cultures; it’s an ongoing dialogue. But I think we also need to take a step back and think about it as, if someone else is celebrating your culture, then they are seeing something you might not necessarily have seen. It’s also kind of a little sensitive for me, because I celebrate a tribe (the Venda tribe) to which I don’t belong. My culture is very diverse, my lineage is Asian-European-African-Mauritian. So for me, culture is something that evolves and changes. And as long as whoever is utilizing [the other] culture or is inspired does references, then who are we to disagree with that?” ~ Craig Jacobs, Fundudzi “When we started Katutubo, my focus was Philippine fabrics. But then I realzed that there were still limitations. So I thought, why limit ourselves? At the end of the day, when we put together Katutubo, and [designers] would ask me if they could join, if it’s a Filipino designer, I thought, well, they represent the Philippines and our culture. So we have to support the weavers, we have support our culture, but at the same time, we have to celebrate our designers who are there making beautiful clothes. Sometime their fabrics due to the limitations of our fabrics, they have to get them abroad, but then again, it’s a Filipino culture and intelligence that comes in when they design a certain [piece of] clothing. So that is a celebration of culture.” ~ Mons Romulo, Katutubo Pop Up Market “Fashion in my understanding is a lot of white noise, and the only way to clear through that white noise is to be who you are. Me, being a Filipino, that was my identity as a designer. That was the vocabulary I chose to speak with, the language through which I can epxress my creativity and my art. And I still believe it is what pushes through after all these years of creating clothes, that in my core truth, my core authentic self, my aesthetic is intrinsically Filipino. And if you understand who we are as a nation, as a culture, I believe that we are actually the first global citizens because of all the people who have entered our country. We were colonized

by Spain, so we have that. But intrinsically, we are Malay, so we have that. Then the United States came, so we have that. And the Japanese came for a short period, so we have that. So all of this amalgamation truly defines who I am as a desginer. And now with this resurgence of interest in Philippine textiles, there is this beautiful renaissance actually happening at the moment.” ~ Rajo Laurel, House of Laurel “There’s a huge ripple effect in the pride that it gives to our weavers. In the span of our work, we’ve actually increased the ratio of our younger weavers to elderly weavers by 50 per cent, because of designers who are working creatively to elevante the value of our weaves. When they see how it’s incorporated into their clothes, and young people also wearing what they make, it gives them so much pride, they see the relevance of them valuing their craft and continuing on the tradition. It takes a village, and it’s really an ecosystem. Without the help of design collaborators. we won’t be able to revive the weaving industry.” ~ Anya Lim, Anthill Fabric Gallery 19

Presented in partnership with:

To watch the full webinar, visit our YouTube channel

MH | I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T

THE ADOBO CHRONICLES

The current adobo saga centered around the standardization of adobo served as the starting point for a lively discussion about where Philippine cuisine is at right now, and where it may be headed in the future. A panel of accomplished chefs, culinary innovators and cookbook authors, including Victor Magsaysay, Bryan Koh, Claude Tayag, Gilbert Pangilinan, Tippi Tambunting and Angelo Comsti weighed in with their opinions, and even shared their favorite adobo styles and tips!

Angelo Comsti

Gilbert O. Pangilinan

Tippi Tambunting

“I have no problem with the young chefs innovating. If they want to use different kinds of vinegars, then by all means.

It’s a case to case basis: what if they don’t have access to native vinegar? So I respect whatever innovation they do, by ingredient, by process. But me, I like to explore more of what we have here in the Philippines, that’s why I try to use artisanal salt, for example, when cooking food. Or instead of using distilled white vinegar, I opt to use tuba, because I don’t want [the tradition] to die. So kanya-kanyang innovation, it can be anyone’s interpretation.”

“I was talking to [historian] Ambeth [Ocampo], and I asked him, what is the history of this adobo? And he told me, when the Spanish came, it was here already. It’s just that they used vinegar. That’s it. No soy sauce, no salt, just vinegar to cook and preserve. So he asked me, what do you think, can you standardize it? As a chef, I told him, when we were in culinary school, there were standardized recipes, basic recipes. Maybe DTI should call it basic recipes, not standardized. Because if you standardize it, you’re prescribing for people to follow it. But if it’s basic, you can add, subtract… This is the basic ingredient, you can use it however you want it.”

“Usually, when I make adobo sa puti, or regular adobo, I would put all the ingredients together, let it sit for an hour, and then let it simmer. For the moderno, what we usually do with the leftover, we keep it for days, sometimes we even keep it for a week, because the older it is, the tastier it is. So the pieces of chicken, we keep them in the chiller, and maybe five days or so later, we make it into adobong moderno. And honestly, I like weeks-old adobo, it’s really so tasty… Even if you make your adobo today, Wednesday, and then you try it on Friday, it’s different. You really see the difference in taste.”

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MH | I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T

Victor Magsaysay

Bryan Koh

Claude Tayag

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“I really enjoyed doing an adobo that had gata in the end. I really don’t know where I picked that up. My mother doesn’t do it that way, but it made it more creamy at the end. Once you’ve simmered it all up, the creaminess of the gata worked for me. ..

But I also follow other recipes. What’s nice is that when you’re in another country with another market, being Filipino, going back to panlasa and what you have there, I would often use roquette as a bittering agent when I would do my munggo - it would have that volume, that bitterness that sili would have. It’s all about adaptability and what Filipinos would have [on hand].

Standardize is a really big word for a place like the Philippines.

I think what we should celebrate is how different we all are.”

“It would be a nightmare to standardize anything Filipino.

One of the most wonderful things about Philippine cuisine is its regionality. It’s the fact that I can go to a neighboring town and get something a little bit different… Of course, regionality and diversity are not necessarily a unique Filipino thing. All countries, all cuisines have this; even those with canonized cuisines have great diversity. So even things like tom yang, laksa, soto… things that we assume to be monolithic, they do vary according to where you go… I am asked, what is Filipino food? What does the country have to offer? I don’t think even 10 years after [the publication of my book], I don’t think that anyone has had an issue with the diversity of adobo and sinigang. So it’s not a case of confusion, it’s a case of identity...

When you go that way and say you’re not allowed to change things, then the purpose of cooking as an art is gone.”

“Our usage of the word adobo to apply to our dish is very, very Filipino. Because the Spanish definition of adobo is ’to marinate.’

We don’t marinate our adobo. When the Spanish first came here, they were fed a dish by the natives, and this is the general probable explanation as to why we call it all over the country such a thing as adobo: we just adopted a Spanish word. The thing is, every region would have a kind of adobo called by the locals differently… But how come we have paksiw na pata, how come we have kilawin in Pampanga, how come they have igado in Ilocos, how come they have pinamalhan in Iloilo? These are all simmered in vinegar. These are all kinds of adobo, but we call it by our local names. So adobo was the accepted word generally.”

To watch the full webinar, visit our YouTube channel

MH | I N C A S E Y O U M I S S E D I T

IN SEARCH OF A LEADER

Hosted together with Akademyang Filipino, this was a timely discussion, considering that the presidential elections of 2022 are less than a year away. The elections that will choose the 17th president of the republic are being called the most consequential of our time. We decided to take a look back at history and examine the characters, achievements and flaws of presidents past, and to try to distill from their administrations what makes a successful presidency. We were joined by a distinguished group of journalists, political commentators and academics - Prof. Emeritus of History at the University of the Philippines Maris Diokno, historian and columnist Manolo Quezon, reporter, news anchor and writer Apa Ongpin and Philippine Daily Inquirer columnist John Nery.

“Leaders create, not so much a sense of participation, but a coming together of participants. The first C is Constitutionalism. I can understand why, until he finally stepped down from the presidency, Ramos continued to face criticism about the depth of his commitment to democracy, the rule of law and the constitutional order. He was present at the creation of the monster that was Ferdinand Marcos’ martial law, he continues to bear responsibility for his actions, for his failures to act during the Marcos era as the Chief of the national police, and then as Vice- and as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces. He also explored the possibility of changing the constitution when he was already president to allow re-election. But I think that it should be clear now that in the end, and to the end, he retained an abiding loyalty to the primacy of the constitution. He had what you might call a constitutional sense. He could not conceive of taking action outside of the parameters defined by the constitution…” ~ John Nery, Fidel Ramos: MCsquared “Management skill is not the only issue, but it is probably the one that most determines whether a government will succeed or not. I do not speak as a political analyst or expert, just as a businessman and a business journalist. Of course I am biased towards management; I recognize that. It’s my background. Integrity is also an important issue to the presidency, but I would argue that it is not a key success factor. Cory Aquino probably had the most integrity of all our presidents but her government had many many failures because she wasn’t a very good manager. On the other side of the coin, Ferdinand Marcos was arguably one of the best managers to be president of the Philippines, but his lack of integrity made him a villain instead of a hero in the final historical judgement. As an electorate, we just don’t seem to value management skills, and apparently we care little about integrity… Elections here still remain apparently apparently a personality contest in which voters make emotional choices instead of rational ones.” ~ Apa Ongpin, The Role of Management in the Presidency “[From a letter written by Manuel L. Quezon to Franklin Burton Harrison on December 23, 1938:] ‘The people care more for good government than they do for self-government… The fear is that the Head of State may either exceed his powers or abuse them by improprieties. To keep order is his main purpose.’ In this single saying shows you the whole universe - and it’s a very limited universe - of our expectations and conception of the presidency, as well as of those who hold the office. It is one where we may have a lot of rhetoric about democracy, but there is a very undemocratic fundamental assumption, which is of someone else has been chosen to call the shots and therefore the public has abdicated its powers... However, this is circumscribed by the fear of the head of state either exceeding powers or abusing them. There are limits to the exercise of power. And finally, ultimately, the expectation of every president is the maintenance of order. And a president who forgets this, who lets the debates get too loud, or who lets things get out of hand, suffers for it.” ~ Manolo Quezon, Three Approaches to the Presidency (Quezon, Magsaysay and Marcos) “Listen to the CIA’s perception of the 1957 presidential candidates, and I quote: ‘We believe that Yulo and Macapagal as individuals rate considerably higher than Garcia and Laurel Jr. The Liberal candidates have greater ability, are more principled and are more likely to be concerned with improving conditions in the Philippines and with good US-Philippine relations. However, in these same terms, there is little to choose between the two parties. Both major candidates are beholden to special interest groups for their nomination and for continuing support.’ The CIA thus expected that whichever of the parties would win, ‘party corruption would probably increase and special interest groups would probably exercise increased influence on the government.’ The difference between the two parties being ‘primarily one of degree.’ Today, we find ourselves in need of leaders who will make a real difference, who are not yet, again, another mutation of shade or hue. We must discard the prevailing notion of winnability and its self-feeding mechanism of money and survey ratings. Winnable thinking, in my view, mocks our basic right to vote by reducing our electoral choices to zero: a choice between not good and worse, in place of what is good and just, and what clearly is not. We must not submit ourselves to this mockery.” ~ Prof. Maris Diokno, The 1957 Presidential Elections

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ZOOMING IN Join us on Zoom for our programme of informative, entertaining and illuminating talks which encompass art & design, culture, history and current events

BY DESIGN:

Why Design Remains Relevant Today September 1, 2021 Wednesday at 5PM How we live, how we eat, how we work, how things function - all these are influenced by Design in ways both subtle and obvious. And Design has undoubtedly helped us survived a pandemic. Design thinking, in fact, helps us solve challenges in life, and it can be applied to the expression of Filipino culture, heritage and identity.

Listen to our panel of creative thinkers discuss how Design impacts all of humankind, how it is relevant but often taken for granted, and how design thinking should be incorporated into school curricula.

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FALLOUT FROM AFGHANISTAN What the Return of the Taliban Means

Veronica Pedrosa Award-winning News Presenter and Journalist

September 6, 2021 Monday at 6PM Afghanistan fell to Taliban forces with unexpected, confounding speed. Some Afghanis are able to flee the country as part of evacuation efforts by the American military and its allies. But what of the ones who remain, especially the women? The return of the Taliban after 20 years has chilling implications for the future and independence of women and children in Afghanistan, particularly with regard to their education.

We examine the fallout from Afghanistan from several perspectives. Listen to award-winning journalist Veronica Pedrosa, Kabul-based former United Nations Environment Programme management expert, Ernie Wijangco, political analyst Victor Manhit, and activist, educator and human rights defender, Pashtana Durrani.

Ernie Wijangco Former United Nations Environment Programme Management Expert in Afghanistan

Presented in partnership with: Victor Manhit Political Analyst Founder and Managing Director of the Stratbase Group

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Pashtana Durrani Activist, Educator and Human Rights Defender

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HOW TO AVOID BURNOUT With Dr. Kaycee Reyes September 22, 2021 Wednesday at 4PM Life may have slowed down during a pandemic, but stress has taken on a whole new dimension. How do we identify stress and its related disorders and afflictions? Can we eliminate it from our lives? How do we treat it and regain balance and bliss?

Dr. Kaycee Reyes Wellness Expert, Health Advocate and Preventive Medicine Doctor

Dr. Kaycee Reyes, a wellness expert, health advocate and preventive medicine doctor at Luminisce Clinic, teaches us how to recognize and avoid burnout and manage stress better.

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GET A SIP OF THE RYE September 28, 2021 Tuesday at 8PM Brian Treacy, Sagamore USA President, conducts an exclusive virtual masterclass featuring three expressions of Sagamore Spirit Rye Whiskey paired with food.

Hosted by Whiskey Ambassador, Kris Ong.

Brian Treacy Sagamore USA President

Tasting Menu Signature Rye Hot Smoked Wagyu Beef Tataki with Spiced Soy Sauce Double Oak Honey & Black Pepper Cured Pork Ribs Cask Strength Bitter Chocolate Tart, Caramelized Peach and Butterscotch Kris Ong Whiskey Ambassador Host

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