NOVEMBER 2017
W W W. M A N I L A H O U S E I N C . C O M
IN THE HOUSE T H E M O N T H LY J O U R N A L O F M A N I L A H O U S E
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GRIEF AND GRATITUDE
BAR | CUISINE | ART | POP-UP | EVENTS
N O VEMBER 2017
Grief and Gratitude
In This Issue
The last month cast a sad pall over Manila House as we learned of the untimely demise of our chairman, Edwin CoSeteng. As one of the visionaries behind Manila House, his contributions to the Club’s success, from the early days of brainstorming sessions on Saturday mornings way before the Net Park premises were secured, to his almost daily visits and hands-on approach to running the Club, have been immeasurable and invaluable.
Editor's Note
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Meet the Staff Jano Rombaon
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General Housekeeping
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In Memoriam Edwin CoSeteng
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On Show War Mode, Hand Made
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With grief, neverthless, comes gratitude. And we are most grateful for his stewardship of the Club. His vision for Manila House encompassed an engaging and varied programme of events and activities that would be both entertaining and educational for Members. He was a steadfast supporter of our arts and culture events, attending the concerts we’ve held to date at the Intramuros Ballroom, with his family, including his mother, in tow. He also took a keen interest in lectures and talks that touched on current political events, such as the session on Marawi. And, he was especially proud of Anahaw, our Filipino restaurant, which he envisioned to be an elegant yet cozy showcase of Filipino cuisine at its best - hearty, unpretentious, beautifully presented and deeply satisfying. Edwin’s passing is a reminder to us all to live each day of life to the fullest. And to be thankful for the blessings that we have. Happy Thanksgiving!
Travel Journey to Jordan
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Retail New Arrivals
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In Case You Missed It Cooking it up with Carlos
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Food and Drink
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Calendar of Events
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BAMBINA OLIVARES PR & Events Director OPENING HOURS A NA HAW Fine Filipino food in an elegant colonial-inspired setting. Open from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm for lunch and 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm for dinner AV E N UE BAR An elegant bar that begins indoors and flows into an outdoor deck with incredible views of the BGC skyline. Open from 11:00 am - 2:00 am B O NIFACIO DINING Here, comfort food is served from breakfast and lunch through to merienda, high tea and dinner, from spaghetti Bolognese with our own special meat ragout to irresistibly delicious salads and sandwich standards with our own twist. Open from 8:00 am to midnight IS S H O JAPANESE RE S TAURANT Featuring earth tones contrasted against a wooden floor and under an open ceiling and open kitchen, Issho seats 40 diners. Adding to the contemplative, Zen mood are the glass walls, allowing views of the garden high above BGC and the metropolis beyond. Open from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm for lunch and 5:00 pm - 10:00 pm for dinner TH E GRILL Cozy yet sophisticated, serving steak and seafood grilled to perfection. Open until 11:00 pm on weekends and from 11:00 am - 2 pm for lunch and 5:00 pm-10:00 pm for dinner during weekdays
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ON TH E C OVER: Taken from the cover of GUERRA GUERRA, the the book accompanying Charlie Co's exhibition, designed by Neal Oshima
MEET TH E S TA FF
Get to Know: Jano Rombaon From barista to bar operations, our Bar Manager has risen through the ranks in the service industry, making him a valuable all-arounder. Tell us about your experience in the hospitality industry. How did you end up joining Manila House as the Bar Manager? My experience in this industry started as a barista in a prestigious coffee shop. Over a two-year period I gained knowledge on how to sell coffee, which served me well when I joined the Chateau Group of Restaurants as part of the pioneering team opening the Main Restaurant, Bar and Wine Bar. I then grabbed the opportunity to work in Singapore as the Sports Bar supervisor in one of the lively neighborhood bars. However, because of the change of government in Singapore I was laid off. Back home I applied to Solaire Resorts and Casino, a process which had the longest line of applicants, and involved a whole day interviews. My efforts paid off and I was hired as a busboy in Strip Steakhouse, and from there I strived hard to reach my dream, which is to handle my own team. I was promoted from busboy to server, from server to bartender, from bartender to wine steward and last was from wine steward to outlet supervisor. I met my mentors there handling the All-Day Dining outlet called Waterside as a pioneer supervisor, then returned to Strip Steakhouse with only an Assistant Manager to operate it. When it was sold to a Korean tycoon, I was transferred to Finestra Italian Restaurant handling wines,
bar and dining, working side-by-side with our management team to attain Forbes Standards Pre-Qualification. I dreamt of being the manager of my own outlet and luckily learned that Manila House was hiring. I handled at first Bonifacio All Day Dining and Avenue Bar, and now I focus on making Avenue Bar a success. Should people who manage bars drink or not? I prefer yes, for us to understand and easily build a rapport with our clientele - beverage is the medium to create a Golden Relationship between service ambassadors to service critics. Red or white wine? Both, it depends on the character and taste preference. What’s the best way to deal with a Member who has had way too much to drink? Manage their drinking pattern by offering them water, cold towels, etc., and from there we can determine when we are going to stop serving them. If you owned your own bar, what would you call it? If given a chance, The Habitat Bar Restaurant, where all trends and local ideas will be entertained.
DIREC TO RY D I NI NG R ES ERVAT IO N S +63 917 816 3685 reservations@manilahouseinc.com | M EM BER RELAT IO N S +63 917 657 2073 membership@manilahouseinc.com P R & E V E N T S +63 917 829 0819 events@manilahouseinc.com | BA N Q U ET S +63 917 816 3671 banquets@manilahouseinc.com T E L E PH O N E +63 2 958 5007 | IN S TA GRA M @Manila_House | FA C EBO O K Manila House Private Members Club A D D RE S S Manila House Private Club, Inc. 8F Net Park, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Philippines All mobile numbers are WhatsApp and Viber-ready 4
GEN ERA L H O U S EK EEP IN G
SO CIA L MEDIA PO LICY We understand the confusion surrounding our social media policy and wish to take the opportunity to inform you that we have reviewed and revised our policy as under:
Manila House’s policy goal has always been to protect the privacy of each Member. Members are asked not to take wide shots nor post photographs that may include Members who are unaware they are part of the picture.
You are welcome to take photographs of the food.
Kindly refrain from disclosing or identifying any other Members or their Guests who are in the Club in any media, including social media and personal blogs.
Similarly, Members and their Guests must refrain from identifying or describing any private hire or Member event occurring on Club premises.
For specific situations requiring photography and/or press coverage, please discuss with Management.
Avenue Bar
END OF COURTESY SUMMER JUNIOR MEMBERSHIPS Please note that the summer holiday season is now over, and the courtesy junior memberships extended to Members’ young adult children aged 18-27 during the period July to September 2017 are no longer valid. We encourage all under-30s to take advantage of our regular Junior Membership offer of P50,000 + P6,000 VAT. Junior Members enjoy reduced monthly dues of P1,250 + 150 VAT per month, or P16,800 per year inclusive of VAT. Once a Junior Member turns 30 years old, he/she will not be required to top up the
membership fee in order to obtain Regular Membership status. Upon becoming a Regular Member, however, he/she will be required to pay monthly dues at the full rate, which is currently at P2,500 + P300 VAT per month, or P33,600 per year inclusive of VAT.
the bathrooms. The attendants stationed at each bathroom have been instructed to look out for and who report persons partaking of such drugs; they will also report to management should two persons or more be spotted entering a single toilet cubicle.
For inquiries, please contact Membership at membership@manilahouseinc.com DR UG S & AL C OH OL P OL I C Y
We also adhere to responsible service of alcohol, and staff will not serve alcohol to minors, even if they are accompanied by an adult.
Manila House is a drug-free zone, and we are counting on the co-operation of our Members and their Guests to ensure that it remains that way. As such, we do not tolerate the presence of illegal substances in any form on our premises, including
Persons whose behavior is out-of-control due to inebriation and/or intoxication will no longer be served by the bartender and / or wait staff and will be escorted out of the Club. Unruly Members risk termination of their membership.
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REGISTRATIO N O F MEMBERS A ND NO N-MEMBERS ENTERING MA NILA HO USE As we consolidate our membership and prepare to release membership cards, we kindly request that all visitors to Manila House, Members and their Guests alike, register at Reception. There are sign-up sheets for this purpose. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
IN MEMO RIA M
Edwin CoSeteng October 27, 1962 - October 13, 2017 On October 13th, at 8:55 a.m., our Chairman, Edwin CoSeteng, passed away. It was a huge and unexpected loss for all of us at Manila House. A true gentleman, a brilliant mind, a wonderful husband and father, and a decent and kind human being, he will be missed. Tributes have poured in to honor the memory of this remarkable man, who was integral to the vision that continues to shape Manila House. I'm sure everyone knows this about Tito Edwin - he's a mentor. Whether you're a close friend, a child of a close friend, not a close friend, a friend of a friend, his daughter, his son, his wife...and so on, he gives the most invaluable advice and words of encouragement. He texted me frequently while I was at college, and later on, working in the USA, to brighten up my spirits by commending my hard work. I am eternally grateful for his care - he was a busy and successful businessman but still made time in his day to mentor me while I was living across the world - and that speaks volumes of a person. The world is a less better place without a kind, selfless and generous soul like him. He is a rarity and I honestly do not know how the community will be able to forge on without him. - Samantha Hiranand
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IN MEMO RIA M
EDWIN I am so grateful to have this chance to honor our dear friend Edwin I know I speak for many here about things we should have told him About how grateful we felt for his friendship, his generous spirit He always gave of himself, his energy, his time, without limit. Too often in life we postpone things we want to say for a later date Only to miss the chance to express our feelings, and now it’s too late. Perhaps not…with God and the angel’s Edwin watches from above And with all of us here, I am sure he feels the outpouring of our love. Because many of us have run to Edwin seeking wisdom and solutions Through his work with great companies he made important contributions. He went beyond duty as a leader of the Young Presidents Organization Organizing YPO events and experiences making sure we had continuing education. Most recently he put his knowledge and experience towards a mission To create Manila House as a club with an ambitious vision To bring different sectors of society with different points of view together Through art, culture and programs to understand each other better. Looking back, I wonder if we took his great capacity for granted Like a giving tree, we knew he would be there whenever we wanted He would absorb most of the load, without ever keeping score Oh.... how I wish, I had been there for him and listened more. But now I look deep into the cavern of my remembrance And what I feel is Edwin’s calm and smiling demeanor and presence Whether it’s the times I saw him exploring the market stallsat the park Selecting specialties for Trish and the children, every weekend he embarked. Most of all what remains in the images of my mind and heart Is the admiration and respect he had for Trish.. for her pursuits, her art When he spoke of her, Gaby, Raf and Mik, he would be beaming The way he expressed it…. gives love a new meaning. I look at the stars up in the sky and see one shining bright With God and the angels, we know he is alright Dear Edwin, our dear friend… we feel so sad you have left To have known you and loved you, we are eternally blessed. Thank you for everything. You will be in my heart forever and ever. - Doris Ho
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ON SHOW
War Mode, Hand Made Charlie Co’s exuberant sense of color deepens as he chronicles war in this sobering but sublime new show.
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harlie Co lost his innocence as a citizen and an artist – and as a citizen-artist -- amid the painful and ultimately insufferable scenes of war. The place was Negros Occidental in the late seventies and early eighties; and the war was deeply rooted in vast sugar plantations, dwelling in the lives of hardened workers who toiled for the measliest. This war was not only a battle between people coming from different social classes but a struggle against how society fundamentally shapes itself and forms the consciousness of its subjects. The citizen-artist Co critically chronicled the images of this condition and offered a visual landscape that revealed tensions between competing claims of what an ethical human life really means. His tableaux were oftentimes inflected with irony and paradox, laced with satire, layered with reverie. The theater of operations, so to speak, was part dreamscape and part television: otherworldly and urgent at the same time. Here lies the talent of the artist who regards war of the most primitive and the most persistent kind as present in the here and now and likewise elsewhere and everywhere, surrounding daily life and hovering over the elusive worldview.
In the current time, Co takes up this state of war within the wider lens of the global network of forces and the more lasting cosmology of the local context. He would be struck by the carnage in Aleppo and in Marawi and draw a line linking the two as part of a relay or a series of instances that may no longer be deemed coincidental. The reality of terrorism, racial prejudice, authoritarian governments is common and pervasive. War has become a fatal nexus in the exhibition Guerra Guerra, a repetition of the Hiligaynon word for war. It may signify either anxiety or play as the term springs from a child’s game in which participants go through the motions of war, taking up arms, and exterminating opponents. It is supposed to be make-believe, but fantasies, we realize soon enough, are the spine, and the specter, of our terrifying waking reality.
this instance. The artist turns to the white modelling paste to simulate the topography of the image, as it were.
to the artist’s temperament and heady engagement with the paste and the pleasure of literally scraping the canvas.
The material inscribes the image, instead of merely depicting or illustrating it. Once formed, the image appears as a relief, protruding from the canvas and becoming a thing of its own.
The chromatic climate in this series is, however, confined to a palette dominated by crimson and cobalt, alongside somber earth tones or ember-like incandescence conveying fear and trembling. Such restriction in color inevitably draws our attention to the white modelling paste that had been painstaking molded by hand as the vital vein of the image. It reminds us of the achievement of the artist’s charcoal drawings: impetuous sketch, minimal elaboration, instilled with breathtaking energy. Co is a tireless graphic agent who can infuse into the line the urge of a stroke, thus casting the element as nearly sovereign, shorn of the identity of color. In this suite, it is the viscous immaculate fluid that is animated, building up to generate symptoms of very timely reality and very restless dreams.
The image, therefore, ceases to be an icon, or a semblance or trace of an existing reality; or a symbol that condenses a figurative reference to a broadly conceived reality. It becomes an index that is produced by the very hand or the flesh that thinks about the image. No longer entirely mediated by the brush, form is laid out onto the surface by fingers that feel and deploy a lavishly thick acrylic gel that furnishes painting with density, texture, and opacity. The industrial substance is usually thought of a substrate; but in Co’s recent foray, it is the core and the mode through which form becomes possible. Being true to the spirit of the material, the artist explores its ability to absorb color or soak up tint. This takes us to the second moment of the figuration: the application of color onto the paste that has dried or caked so that it becomes both ground and image. Figure and color, therefore, emerge from some kind of a dollop that is liberally spread out and morphs into furrows and ridges, a testament
Both the war of this scale and the contemporary perspective that makes sense of it require another methodology of social critique and a different procedure of making its presence felt in painting. Co seems to be mindful of this, and so has revisited his intuition and instinct in search of the most responsive impulse. He finds it in the very formation of the figure itself and not in the iconography and iconology of the image. While the latter still manifests without doubt, the manner by which forms are made to materialize matters significantly in
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Whether these intricate and compelling details of war find shelter in the salons of the contented or bleed into the passions of anyone who wants to wage personal revolutions with others, the phantom of war prevails from flesh to flesh of painting and people in the long season of catastrophe. - Patrick Flores Foreword, GUERRA GUERRA
Good or Evil by Charlie Co
"These stirring images of war haunt all of us who are ceaselessly roused from complacency to express either sympathy or outrage and carry out whatever resistance we think is needed."
TRAVEL
Journey to Jordan A RT WORK BY CAMILL E FLOR ES DE M AY O
Founding Member Shy Perez-Sala introduced her company, SPS Travel, to Manila House Members last September. Aside from representing her initials, SPS stands for “Special Personal Sojourns,” which is exactly what Shy creates for her clients.
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n partnership with a Singaporean specialist travel firm, Country Holidays, she presented a bevy of curated trips throughout Europe, Asia and America, offering the sophisticated traveler unique and unforgettable travel experiences. For Provence, for instance, she suggested a Gourmet Hike, which involves traveling through the picturesque region, sampling its superb cuisine, and getting to know the area on foot. This itinerary, she says, cleverly combines culture, cuisine and exercise.
9 DAYS JORDAN & ISRAEL WITH BAMBINA OLIVARES Travel Date: Easter 2018 Small Group of max 16 guests Land Tour Price: USD 6850 Manila House Specials: • Chef Table dinner in Petra • Desert stargazing and overnight in a Bedouin tented camp • Coral and marine exploration by chartered cruise • Meet a local Israel conflict resolution specialist • Accompanied by accomplished author and journalist, Bambina Olivares
She has just created a special trip to Jordan and Israel for next Easter, exclusive to Manila House Members. What makes this trip different is the presence of a Jordan insider with special access to certain sites and personalities, (In the House editor) Bambina Olivares, who previously resided in the desert kingdom. “The trip includes local, expert private guides and private vehicles all throughout,” Shy explained. “Jordan and Israel are a perfect pair as both these neighboring countries, with 15 UNESCO World Heritage Sites between them, are steeped in such rich history and archaeological wonders ranging from the times of the Greeks, Egyptians, the Nabateans and the Romans, to the British Empire; the Arabs & the Jews.”
Early Bird Promotion: First 4 room bookings enjoy room upgrades in Waldorf Astoria, Jerusalem Please note that Filipino passport holders require a visa to travel to Jordan. For more information, contact Shy Perez-Sala at shy.sala@sps-travel.com
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RETA IL
New Arrivals Check out the latest additions to our Boutique Collection. They make perfect gifts for the holiday season. Available at our retail corner beside Issho.
FINE CHINA SETS BY WEDGEWOOD
BEAUTY SECRET MARULA OIL
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RETA IL
VAULT MANILA
FACE AND EYE SERUM BY HELIX-D
VIDRO COLORED GLASSWARE FROM PORTUGAL
SLIP-ONS BY DAILY SCHEDULE NEW YORK
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IN C A S E Y O U MIS S ED IT
Cooking it up With Carlos A
glass of wine is a useful thing to have when preparing a meal, Swiss-trained chef Carlos Pertierra believes. Not just as an ingredient that adds flavor to sauces, but as something to drink. “Cooking should be a pleasure, not a chore,” he said during the cooking demo he held at Manila House last September. “And it shouldn’t be so complicated!” To prove his point, the Les Roches International School of Hotel Management graduate proceeded to show how easy it was to whip up an impressive meal in under two hours. He started with a Chilled Pea and Asparagus Soup with Smoked Salmon Slivers and Dill Seed, then made, for the main course, Zurich-style Veal Tenderloin Tips with Rosti Potatoes, and a Salad of Baby Greens on the side. To cap the meal, he offered the easiest-ever Chocolate Mousse, made from only two ingredients, 70% chocolate and whipped cream, which he then topped with Toasted Rice Crispies and Glazed Strawberries. Carlos is available for private catering and cooking lessons at jcarlospertierra@yahoo.com
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MEMBERS ' C O RN ER
Thanksgiving Thoughts What are you thankful for?
“I am thankful to know I live for a higher purpose and that is to glorify my God in anything and everything I do. Even in my weknesses I know I am complete because of him.”
"I'm grateful for TIME. She has given me a chance to develop routines, habits and opportunities to celebrate life. She serves as a mother, advisor, teacher, friend and writer. In its unexpected form, Time has given me the tools to race against it and the flexibility to make mine."
Cris Albert
Mica Tan
“The love of my life is there for me no matter what life brings. Amazing friendships are there to share all the special moments we have together. Good health allows me a tomorrow. All these things provide me with what I am most grateful for, happiness.”
“Thankful for a good family and the blessings from our elders.” Rajan Uttamchandani
John Hill
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FO O D A N D DRIN K
Turkey Treats Thanksgiving is incomplete without a roast turkey and all the trimmings. This year Manila House prepares a traditional Thanksgiving feast all month long.
T U RK E Y BRE AST DI N N E R Minimum of 4 pax
W HOLE ROASTED TURKEY DINNER Minimum of 10-14 pax
Fi r st C ou rse Pumpkin Soup Crispy Pumpkin Skins, Basil Oil, Thyme Brown Butter
Fir st C our se Pumpkin Soup Crispy Pumpkin Skins, Basil Oil, Thyme Brown Butter
E n t re e Turkey Breast
E ntre e Whole Roasted Turkey Breast
Ac c om pa n i m e n ts Sausage Stuffing Mashed Potato Garlic Sauteed Haricot Vert Roasted Corn Beet and Citrus Salad Giblet Gravy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Ac c ompanime nts Sausage Stuffing Mashed Potato Garlic Sauteed Haricot Vert Roasted Corn Beet and Citrus Salad Giblet Gravy Homemade Cranberry Sauce
D e s se rt Apple Pie
D e sse rt Apple Pie
Price per head P1,800.00 Minimum of 4 pax Tax and Service Charge Inclusive The Turkey Breast Dinner must be booked a minimum of 2 days before
P 19,900.00 Good for 10-14 pax Tax and Service Charge Inclusive The Turkey Breast Diner must be booked a minimum of 4 days before
Add- O n s Creamed Spinach 290.00
A dd -O ns Creamed Spinach 290.00
Herbed Baby Potatoes 290.00
Herbed Baby Potatoes 290.00
Double Smoked Bacon 190.00
Double Smoked Bacon 190.00
Manila House Bolognese 280.00
Manila House Bolognese 280.00
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N O VEMBER 2017 manilahouseinc.com Instagram | @manila_house
8/F Net Park, 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig
Reception + 63 917 816 3685
Mon to Fri: 8am-11pm Sat to Sun: 8am-2am
Calendar of Events
W E D N E S D AY 2 2 , 6 P M
Christmas Tree Lighting A special interactive event to unveil this season’s Christmas Tree. Members are invited to purchase an ornament from our retail store to which they can clip a photo or a holiday greeting, which they can hang on the tree. Each ornament costs P250 and all proceeds will be donated to charity. 18
N O VEMBER 2017
S AT U R D AY 2 5 , 1 0 A M
Kids' Cooking Class: Crazy About Cupcakes
Kids, put your baker’s hat on! You’ll be making cupcakes and decorating them with frosting your way! Price per child: P800 Inclusive of ingredients Advance booking required
M O N D AY 2 7 , 3 P M
Tea Time with Wedgwood and Basilur
Enjoy a mid-afternoon tea break featuring fruit-infused tea from specialty tea label Basilur, served in beautiful Wedgwood fine bone China. Mila Lee of Wedgwood delves into the history of the prestigious English company founded in 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood.
EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Children's Corner
We have a basket of toys, games and coloring materials to keep children entertained over the weekend. Please check with Reception Kids' Cooking Class: Crazy About Cupcakes, November 25
M O N D AY 6 , 5 - 7 P M
W E D N E S D AY 8 , 6 P M
S AT U R D AY 1 1 , 1 0 A M
Business Briefing: Philippine Trust Index 2017
Exhibition Opening: Guerra by Charlie Co
Lego Education Workshop for Kids
The Philippine Trust Index 2017 is the fifth iteration of EON’s multi-awarded nationwide research endeavor that seeks to shed light on the levels and drivers of Filipino trust in society’s key institutions - the business sector, the government, the media, the church, the academe, and non-governmental organizations. Members: Free | Guests: P500
T H U R S D AY 9 F R I D AY 1 0 10AM-10PM
S AT U R D AY 1 8 , 1 0 A M
EON's Chief Innovation Officer Mori Rodriguez will draw from the results of the recently released Philippine Trust Index 2017 to dissect Filipinos' trust in the business sector, and offer ways to build brands in this climate of uncertainty.
The celebrated artist Charlie Co fills the walls of Manila House with large-scale canvasses in dominant, deep hues of cobalt and crimson. A beautifully produced limited-edition book designed by Neal Oshima accompanies the exhibition.
Our monthly LEGO Education Activities continue, with two age-appropriate separate sessions conducted by iCreate Café and facilitated by two qualified trainers. Open to children aged 2-12 Price per child P600 for a two-hour session Advance booking required.
Children's Story-Telling Hour
All That Glitters
An interactive story session with children of all ages featuring well-loved classics In partnership with Fully Booked.
Gold, platinum, diamonds and precious stones showcased in an exclusive jewellery exhibition-sale featuring 14 of the country's top jewellers.
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To book your place at all events, we highly recommend that you email us beforehand at events@manilahouseinc.com