Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2023 i Tatler Philippines

TATLER PHILIPPINES Four public service trailblazers leading some of Metro Manila’s most progressive cities share their journeys and how they intend to use their influence to amplify their advocacies and address some of the critical issues, especially those involving women and gender equality, affecting society today. TATLER INDONESIA Kevin Maharis and Ricky Maharis, the brother duo behind cosmetic dermatology-focused Maharis Clinic, discuss their passions, the challenges they faced and how they overcame them. TATLER MALAYSIA Afghan playwright Salah Sepas is the founder of Kuala Lumpur’s Parastoo Theater, and an Asia’s Most Influential 2022 honouree. He speaks to Tatler about empowering refugees through the arts, the challenges of life in a creative industry, and what he misses most from home. TATLER HONG KONG Annabelle Lopez Ocho, the choreographer behind Coco Chanel:…

BJ PASCUAL With hundreds of magazine covers and countless brand campaigns captured, LA-born Filipino creative genius BJ Pascual remains one of the most sought-after photographers and most influential social media sensations today. In this issue, he hikes up the mountains of Tanay, Rizal with the Tatler team to capture the stunning actress, singer, mental health and animal rights advocate, Nadine Lustre, for the cover. ANDONI AND ARANTXA Spanish couple Andoni Mesa and Arantxa Santamaria, who go professionally by Andoni and Arantxa, met in 2004, setting up a photography business after travelling the world together. Their clients include Cartier and L’Oréal, as well as international publications such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vanity Fair. They are now based in Paris, where they shot this month’s fashion shoot for Tatler. LOU ESCOBAR…

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Philippines is often top-of-mind for leaders and activists concerned with the environment. An international organisation that operates in close to 100 countries, WWF works to uplift local communities and conserve the natural resources that they depend upon. With more than half a million individual supporters in Asia—and five million across the globe—it is no surprise that WWF wields a lot of influence. The Philippine chapter of WWF has been at the frontlines of conservation since 1997, and many have stepped in to helm the organisation. Vince Perez, chairman of Altnergy and the former Philippine Energy Secretary, first came across WWF as a banker. Back then, he was in charge of an initiative doing debt-for-nature swaps, where creditors forgive debts in return for government commitment to…

Ballet Philippines went into the digital platform during the Covid lockdown to continue its performances for the benefit of its audience as well as its dancers. It produced 42 short videos via Zoom and choreographed by its artistic director, Mikhail Martynyk. One of these was Diyosa, a 4-minute multi-disciplinary ballet expanded into a full-length dance to end the company’s 53rd season. Taking on the task is the architect, Carlo Calma. “Carlo is an architect who explores many other art forms,” says Kathleen Liechtenstein, BP president. “His architecture is also modern but very much in the realm of what is current and relevant. He designs around nature, using it instead of changing it.” According to Liechtenstein, Calma fits right into the mould of the company’s shift to a multidisciplinary collaboration between…

Fine dining has become a matter of great contention in the past few months globally. Last January, chef René Redzepi announced that Noma, his three-Michelin-starred restaurant named The World’s Best five times, would be closing its doors. Speaking with The New York Times, he proclaimed that the modern fine dining model is “unsustainable…financially and emotionally, as an employer and human being, it just doesn’t work. “We have to rethink the industry completely,” he declared. “This is simply too hard, and we must work differently.” This news came after The Menu, a dark comedy film released in November 2022. A social commentary on the commodification of fine dining, the film also points to the increasingly competitive, high-pressure environment that many of the world’s top chefs are subjected to—one that has encouraged…

1 DISNEY IN CONCERT Experience the magic of Disney in a musical celebration featuring some of the most famous scores ever. The musical explores classic storytelling, characters and themes through the eyes of Disney animated feature films, memorable melodies and film sequences. The Theatre at Solaire 21 ANG HULING EL BIMBO This hit musical makes an epic comeback. Aside from featuring some original cast members, the 2023 run will have fresh actors like Bullet Dumas, Anthony Rosaldo, Paw Castillo, and Katrine Sunga. Directed by Dexter Santos from the libretto by Dingdong Novenario, the musical showcases Eraserheads’ songs. Newport Performing Arts Theater Until April 2 KUNG PAANO NANALO SA KARERA SI ROSANG TABA Dulaang UP is adapting to the stage Dean Francis Alfar’s short story about Rosang Taba. This Palanca awardee…

In the bustling southern city of Davao, The Fat Cow and Asian Cow are two well-revered dining establishments owned by 27-year-old chef and restaurateur Patrick Co. If one were to trace where the young visionary’s passion for food started, it was when he was just 13 years old. On weekends, he would create his version of the delectable dishes he would see on television, experimenting with the ingredients native to his hometown. After attending the Center for Asian Culinary Studies Davao and training in two restaurants, he realised it was time to carve his own path. He says, “That’s when the lightbulb lit up, and I told myself it’s time to open my place.” In April 2016, he established The Fat Cow with the help of his father, a long-held…

BE MORE RIRI Since Rihanna performed at the Super Bowl in a custom Loewe bustier, moulded bodices and breastplates are officially on the radar—think Schiaparelli and Alexander McQueen’s sculpted designs, or Burberry and Gabriela Hearst’s statement corsets. Off the runway, layer over a dress or under an oversized blazer STRAP IN In yet another Noughties trend that won’t go away, skinny-strapped sandals are everywhere for spring-summer 2023. As seen at Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Ferragamo, the chic style is the go-to with everything from a sleek suit to a dazzling evening gown SHEER BRILLIANCE Level up your layering game: as seen at Chanel, Prada and Molly Goddard, sheers are here to stay. This season, the look marries the visible branded underwear and extremely sexy sheer evening gowns that have…

Many know Illac Diaz as the man behind Liter of Light, a global grassroots movement committed to providing affordable and sustainable energy sources to those with little or no access to electricity. Despite today’s modernity, millions around the globe still live in “energy poverty”, a term Diaz uses to refer to populations living without stable connection to necessary light sources. “The solution”, he says, “should be macro-scale as well as bottom-up”. Liter of Light operates through a network of partnerships around the globe. Incorporated as an organisation doing relief operation in Tacloban after Typhoon Haiyan, Diaz’ organisation movement now mobilises volunteers to teach marginalised communities how to use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate homes, streets and businesses. In the Philippines alone, Liter of Light has already…

When we meet Michael Tay during the vernissage of Art SG in January, the Singaporean art collector had already made his way around the two levels of the Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Marina Bay Sands during the VIP preview three hours earlier to survey the presentations from the more than 160 galleries from 35 countries exhibiting. His first reaction: “I’m walking on clouds; it’s a surreal experience, and I say so only because it’s a moment I’ve been dreaming about for a long time—and it has arrived. We finally have a fair of international stature that’s appreciated by everyone.” Concluding its five-day run on January 15, the international art fair presented by UBS and organised by The Art Assembly was almost five years in the making, having been…

The equivalent of a rubbish truck-full of unwanted clothing ends up in landfill every second worldwide, according to the Hong Kong-based non-profit environmental organisation Earth.org. To create a change in brands’ and manufacturers’ business strategies in consumer behaviour and in government regulations is no mean feat; but thanks to the efforts of those advocating for change, we might finally be moving in the right direction. Tatler speaks to Christina Dean of sustainable fashion NGO Redress, Dounia Wone of luxury resale platform Vestiaire Collective, and Edwin Keh of The Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel to learn about how they’re moving the needle. CHRISTINA DEAN, REDRESS Christina Dean founded the NGO Redress in Hong Kong in 2007 with a mission to promote sustainability in fashion. She is also behind…

TREND Test your mettle with steel bracelets that make a case for fashion armour GET SET GO If Tag Heuer’s latest Carrera Chronograph is any indication, orange is the new black—again; in this case, the sparks of heat made by a Porsche on the asphalt. The 44mm case houses the Calibre Heuer 02, an automatic movement with a column wheel and vertical clutch that provides a power reserve of 80 hours. The fiery reddish orange gives the outlines of the sub counters, the seconds hand, strap seams and Porsche logo pop subtly against the black calfskin leather strap and ceramic bezel. COCO AND CAMELLIAS In an ode to Coco Chanel, who was often seen wearing a pincushion on her wrist, the Mademoiselle Privé Pique-Aiguilles collection of timepieces features a bold…

Pharrell Williams is beyond happy. The artist and businessman is striding between recording and mixing rooms at a studio in Paris at 1:03am. One moment he’s recording a verse for his upcoming song, hitting a high note that most prepubescent boys would struggle to reach; the next, he’s in the adjacent room with rapper Kid Cudi, debating the merits of one song versus another and composing runs on a keyboard. The temperature in the studio is not much warmer than the Parisian winter outside. There is an entourage of half a dozen individuals around the singer, tapping away on laptops or aiming cameras and smartphones in his direction, but his whole world at the moment is just a one-metre radius from the keyboard. This is Pharrell in the throes of…

The location for this month’s cover could not have been more appropriate. Tanay, Rizal is a two and half hour’s ride from Manila. Surrounded by verdant greens, a clean flowing river and a breathtaking mountainscape, I was blown away. (Note to self: I need to discover the country more.) The place was spare, with no AC, and we didn’t have electricity for about three hours. Nadine chose the place as she had stayed here once before and even opted to stay behind for two more nights to be with her team and her boyfriend. When we were ready to shoot, we had to take about a 30-minute tricycle ride on an unpaved road. I had my dose of adventure for the month. It was my first-time meeting Nadine in person…

The annual Tatler Dining Guide by Tatler Philippines was launched spectacularly on February 21 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila, an event attended by over 350 of the F&B industry’s finest, plus foodie friends to boot. Stepping into the Grand Ballroom, guests were welcomed into a space decorated with plush blue and orange-hued lounge seating, surrounded by interactive food stations and free-flowing wine, bubbly, The Singleton whisky, Santa Ana Gin and Engkanto Beer. Guests were spoilt for choice with a juicy brisket, a smoked salmon bar, a nitrogen-chilled ceviche station, and international pass-around bites. With the support of co-presenter and partner for many years, HSBC, and supporting partners (The Singleton, PickUp. Ph, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls and Shangri-la The Fort, Manila), the launch focused the spotlight on this year’s Tatler Dining Awards.…

SINGAPORE Frank Phuan is the CEO and co-founder of Sunseap, the Singapore-based solar energy system developer which was acquired in February last year by EDP Renewables, the world’s fourth largest generator of wind and solar energy, and became EDPR Sunseap. Phuan has played a vital role in engineering and reducing the levelised cost of solar energy in Singapore, with noteworthy milestones including the country’s first grid-connected photovoltaic system and its first utility-scale energy storage system, among others. EDPR Sunseap has also increased its operational capacity in Vietnam by entering into a U$284 million deal with Xuan Thien Group, one of the country’s main renewable energy developers, to acquire its two solar photovoltaic projects, part of EDPR Sunseap’s vision to lead the energy transition in Singapore and the rest of the…

Drinking is not lost on Japan. Amidst the insatiable demand for sushi, ramen, tempura and takoyaki is a trove of quenchable beverages. This, I got to discover and experience first-hand, as I jumped from one express train to another to satiate my thirst for their homegrown and brewed beverages. On a trip organised by the Japan National Tourism Organization, I started my quest at the capital, where amidst the bounty of beer, which remains to be the most favoured alcoholic drink of the Japanese, I ended up indulging in something more befitting the 2-degree weather. Tucked in an alley located inside the fashionable Omotesando district is a Forties house that may look time weary on the outside but not on the inside as it plays home to a mix of…

A social enterprise lovingly known as The Plaf, or The Plastic Flamingo, first launched its pilot project in Manila back in 2019. Its core mission is to tackle marine plastic pollution through recycling. Under the leadership of COO Erica Reyes however, The Plastic Flamingo has expanded to offer both services and products, but all catering towards environmental responsibility. Corporations can partner with The Plaf to create corporate social responsibility programmes, or simply get a hold of recycled products for communal spaces that include classrooms, storefronts and even boardwalks. A big challenge for us is importing heavy machinery coming from China. The pandemic has really affected the timeline of the project. But we constantly stay motivated knowing that we operate to create social impact, even with the workers we hire; most…

In the 16 years that Bryan Benitez McClelland has lived in the country, the Filipino-American entrepreneur has made quite an impact as a fierce eco-warrior. He has proudly introduced and popularised a line of innovative, handmade bamboo bicycles known as Bambikes, which are crafted locally in partnership with the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation. With fair-trade labour and green building practices at the heart of the enterprise, socio-ecological purpose is what undoubtedly fuels McClelland’s business and, by extension, his life. McClelland’s passion for sustainability sprouted early in his childhood. “When I was a kid, I went to a summer camp called Keewaydin in rural Vermont that was geared towards outdoor activities and adventure trips. So many of my formative experiences happened there,” he muses. “Living in cabins and tents while…

NATURE AND NURTURE L’Occitane en Provence boasts its use of the shea fruit, harvested with the utmost care by the women’s cooperatives in Ghana and Burkina Faso. The fruit is then converted into butter and mixed with other organic-certified ingredients, offering the skin more comfort, a softer texture, and more robust protection. With its equally earth-friendly packaging, the body cream is a must-have—especially for people with dry and sensitive skin. POWER SERUM Unarguably a skincare, cosmetics and fragrance brand that has stood the test of time, Elizabeth Arden offers biodegradable Ceramide Capsules that nourish the skin and give it visibly firmer, healthier glow. Made only with vegetable and mineral-based materials, each water-soluble and preservative-free pod is conveniently designed to deliver a single, concentrated dose of advanced, youth-restoring ceramides. Perfect for…

TREND Spring has truly sprung, so embrace nature in all its beauteous forms, whether floral, animal or something in between BLOOMIN’ BEAUTIES Less is more, and the pendants, rings and bracelets in Chopard’s Precious Lace Mini Frou-Frou collection are proof. K-pop band Aespa, who serve as the maison’s brand ambassadors, are seen here wearing the latest additions to the collection, which feature the brand’s floral monogram created from pear-shaped white diamond petals and scalloped borders. Pair the 18-carat ethically sourced rose- and white-gold pieces for a two-tone look. IT WAS ALL YELLOW This necklace from Graff ’s tribal collection is the perfect reason to get into the yellow stones trend started by major high jewellery collections last year. The symmetrical setting features a 1.53 carat fancy vivid yellow pear-shaped diamond…

With a preference to be called in the plural third person pronouns, Filipino multimedia artist Gab Mejia explores the different fabrics of visual storytelling, environmental engineering and ecology through their lenses. Their works have reached the National Geographic channel, the International League of Conservation Photographers, Jackson Wild Media Lab, CNN, United Nations Development Programme, among others. In the photographs they sent— Singularity, Fireflies and Blood Moon respectively—Mejia shows us their keen attention to detail. “These photographs are reminders of what I have come to love in the place I have come to be—love as a relationship to the seeming divinity of our mundane confrontations with nature,” they share. “A reimagination of the magic by bringing the ephemeral behaviour and fond encounters of creatures and our cosmos to life.” As of…