Indholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Tatler Philippines

September is always a defining month for fashion and style. Tatler Asia joins in that celebration with the announcement of its highly anticipated Asia’s Most Stylish list. This much-awaited annual event, which has been a beacon of style and originality for over 15 years, is more than just a roll call of well-dressed individuals. It recognises those who embody bold self-expression, creativity and the fearless pursuit of style. With an exclusive event on September 5, Tatler celebrated 11 Filipino icons who transcend boundaries and utilise fashion as a force for change. This was a gathering of the fashion elite, a select group of individuals who are tastemakers, never afraid to push the envelope and show us what style means,” said Tatler Philippines’ Managing Director Irene Martel Francisco in her welcoming…

Our homes are small windows into our lives. What we choose to put on our shelves or how we arrange our furniture sheds insight into our personality and character. Villeroy & Boch, a brand renowned for its ceramics, is among the few that sees the potential beyond the common space. Take the coloured washbasins of its Artis collection, curated by the brilliant award-winning designer Gesa Hansen, that infuse vibrancy into one of our home’s most intimate spaces. With bathrooms, functionality comes first and aesthetics often take a back seat, but it still remains a part of our homes and demands the same attention to detail as we would give to our living rooms or kitchens. Villeroy & Boch’s Artis collection combines the utmost refinement of their ceramics with bold colours…

How do you develop the adaptability to one day dine in the bush with Kenya’s Maasai, and the next to sit down with a nation’s president? Christophe Gudin, general director of Institut Le Rosey, believes the renowned Swiss boarding school’s unique model plays a central role in nurturing such qualities. Founded in 1880, the storied Le Rosey has long attracted students from wealthy and influential backgrounds worldwide—European royalty and nobility; the offspring of politicians and discerning stars. The school’s ethos has always been about bringing young people from different cultures and linguistic backgrounds together. Last year’s intake, for example, saw representation from 72 countries, though the school’s quota system ensures no more than 10 per cent of the student body comes from any one nation. “We want to make sure…

Zurich is a microcosm of Switzerland: the national identity of quality, discretion and precision lays itself across medieval streets that open onto a pristine lake backdropped by the cascading Alps. As one of the birthplaces of the Reformation, when some Christians rejected spiritually and physically the decadence of Catholicism, the streetscape is on the less decorative side among major European cities; and its renown as the financial centre of Switzerland, and maybe the world, might lead the casual visitor to assume that it’s simply a dull banker bunker. But while lunchtime at Paradeplatz—the central square where the equivalents of NewYork’s Wall Street, Times Square and Fifth Avenue meet—is flooded by a sea of blue suits, underneath the veneer of gold bars, watches and melted cheese is a bustling system of…

Few figures have shaped the international perception of Chinese contemporary art quite as much as Uli Sigg, whose Chinese art collection, at its height comprised approximately 2,200 pieces by 350 artists, including Ai Weiwei and Cao Fei, is the biggest in the world. In 2012, he donated the bulk of it, a total of 1,510 pieces, to M+, Hong Kong’s museum of visual culture, ahead of its opening. Yet the Swiss collector’s professional journey has nothing to do with art: he did a PhD in law; in his youth, he was first a business journalist, and then went on to become a diplomat and a businessmen. “I chose to put myself under pressure to change my life every few years, so as not to remain complacent but keep learning,” he…

In Filipino culture, there is no image more emblematic of collective action than bayanihan— the sight of a community coming together to physically lift a neighbour’s home and carry it to a new location. It is a tradition rooted in shared purpose and mutual support. As Hands On Manila prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2026, this powerful spirit of bayanihan serves not just as a cultural touchstone but as the very foundation of its story and the blueprint for its future. “Volunteerism is rooted in the collective spirit of bayanihan,” says Gianna Montinola, president and co-founder of Hands On Manila. “It is not just tradition, it is transformation. Volunteer action is a powerful force for creating change.” For nearly 25 years, the foundation has been the architect of…

“I’ve always loved spending time in the Swiss outdoors. There’s nothing like the fresh air, the incredible views and just stepping away from the routine for a while,” Federer tells Tatler. “One of the great things about Switzerland is how close nature always is—even in our biggest cities, you’re never far from a forest, a lake or a river.” Spring I like getting outside for walks in the countryside or visiting parks and gardens when everything starts to bloom. The areas around Lake Zurich or Lake Neuchâtel and the foothills are especially nice in spring. Summer Summer is perfect for hiking in the Alpine regions, such as Valais, or just spending time outdoors with family and friends. Whether [I plan on hiking] a mountain trail or relaxing by a lake,…

Dreams do come true—and sometimes they arrive in the most elegant form imaginable. Last year, during a luncheon with our Tatler Chairman and CEO, Michel Lamuniere, his wife, Tamara, and Managing Director Irene Martel Francisco, I shared my dream of featuring Roger Federer on our cover. While he may not hold the most Grand Slam titles like Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, to me, Federer embodies something transcendent—the very soul of tennis, wrapped in unparalleled grace and professionalism. Few athletes retain such deep admiration past their careers; yet he continues to command reverence and respect. He has elevated the world of tennis like no other. My fascination with Federer runs deep, and I have a funny story that highlights just how starstruck I was. I found myself in a cramped…

“Design goes beyond decoration; it is a language of culture, memory and aspiration,” said Tatler Homes Philippines editor Jet Acuzar. “The architects and designers we have gathered here today ensure that Filipino creativity soars to new heights. They remind us that beauty is never surface level, but deep and something made tangible.” Such impactful interiors extend past functionality, turning each space into a kaleidoscope of self-expression over time. The designers who bring such spaces to life situate their projects in a modern context, while breathing new life into traditional Filipino design. “Everything begins at home,” Acuzar enthused. “It is the first place we know comfort, the first place we see beauty and the foundation of a good life. A home is not just where we live—it is where we learn…

In the polished towers of Singapore’s financial district, David Jacob is recognised as the CEO of Marsh McLennan Asia—a leader skilled at navigating risk, strategy and people. But far from the boardroom, Jacob has been quietly pioneering a revolution—not in finance, but in the field of wellness. Come October this year, in the heart of Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila, Jacob will unveil his most personal project yet: Longevity Labs, a state-of-the-art sanctuary dedicated to biohacking, cellular optimisation and what he calls “life improved”. For the executive, the journey to founding Asia’s first social biohacking centre was born out of necessity. “I turned 50 in 2018—I’m 57 now—but you wouldn’t know it,” he says. “I looked good. I was physically strong. I was doing all these major athletic extreme events,…

I have always been fascinated by our obsession with time. We want to stop it, stretch it, outwit it. The oldest known surviving epic poem, The Epic of Gilgamesh, from ancient Mesopotamia is a tale of a man chasing immortality. Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León, whether or not he searched for the Fountain of Youth, has gone down in history as if he did. The Greeks had Clotho, the spinner of life’s thread, and the gods themselves were defined by eternity, what mortals could never have. Or could they now? From the beginning, we have looked at ageing not as a natural course but as a problem to solve. Now, the myth has moved into the laboratory. The alchemists of today are not trying to turn lead into gold…

UNTIL OCTOBER 12 | PINGKIAN: ISANG MUSIKAL This Aliw and Gawad Buhay-acclaimed musical, penned by Juan Ekis and Ejay Yatco, returns onstage. Based on the life and writings of Emilio Jacinto, the “Brains of the Katipunan”, and a fictional take on his dreams and aspirations for the Filipino nation amidst the Philippine-American War, Pingkian: Isang Musikal promises to be an awakening theatrical experience. Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez, CCP Complex, Pasay City. 18 | LOVE, SESSIONISTAS Following its sold-out debut concert that reawakened fans of the ASAP Sessionistas, the group is back for another round, featuring unreleased original songs. Watch out for Juris, Sitti, Duncan Ramos, Kean Cipriano, Nyoy Volante, Princess Velasco and Ice Seguerra as they reunite in a celebration of the enduring magic of OPM. The Theatre at Solaire, Entertainment…

The grand unveilings at this year’s Watches and Wonders saw Rolex once again commanding the world’s attention. Among a cohort of exceptional novelties, the Oyster Perpetual Datejust 31 in 18 carat yellow gold entices with its fiery red ombré dial, capturing the fleeting glory of twilight. The concentric gradient, reintroduced to the catalogue in 2019, finds its most evocative expression yet—a mesmerising chiaroscuro where the fire at its centre transitions to a deep darkness at its edge, enhanced by ten diamond-set hour markers and a bezel set with 46 brilliant-cut diamonds. This new Datejust is a paradox of timeless elegance and technical innovation. While it retains the iconic aesthetic codes that have made it instantly recognisable for decades, it also embraces the very latest developments of the brand. The 31mm…

Colour me shocked. No, really, because when I stepped off the train in Lucerne, I expected the quintessential Swiss experience: a shimmering lake enveloped by mountains and a picturesque Old Town with a medieval bridge. Those things do exist and are all very charming. But this city, with its storybook façade, also has a few tricks up its sleeve—one of them being its unexpected art scene. With everything from galleries housed in former national banks to contemporary art spaces located in old municipal swimming pools, Lucerne’s artistic pulse is strong and surprising. Sammlung Rosengart One of the most underrated and lesser-known art museums in the world, you won’t find Sammlung Rosengart—also known as The Rosengart Collection—in most guides. Housed in a neoclassical building that was constructed in 1924 as a…

Since 2024, Iqbal Khan has been the co-president of global wealth management and president of Asia Pacific at UBS, Switzerland’s largest banking institution and the world’s largest private bank. His move to Hong Kong from Zurich last September was a significant milestone, marking the first time a divisional president of the bank was based in Asia. This strategic relocation underscores the region’s importance to UBS. At the UBS Asia Investment Conference (AIC) Singapore Wealth Edition held in May, Khan said, “APAC is crucial to our growth strategy, as reflected in our first quarter results, where our APAC business surpassed US$900 billion in assets under management. The results highlight our clients’ trust in our advice and global capabilities to protect their wealth in today’s macroeconomic environment.” Since arriving in Asia, Khan…

Caroline Scheufele’s family acquired Chopard when she was barely two years old, so it’s no exaggeration to say she’s grown up with the brand. She is also the reason the brand moved into jewellery: it was established in 1860 as a watch company, which her parents bought in 1963; it wasn’t until 1985, when a 17-year-old Caroline sketched a clown pendant with diamonds and coloured stones floating in its stomach, that the business expanded into this new arena. Her parents Karin and Karl Scheufele III decided to put her design into production, launching the maison’s first jewellery line. She is famed for this innovative spirit. In 1998, she proposed redesigning the iconic Palme d’Or trophy for the Cannes Film Festival, a symbol whose design had remained unchanged for 50 years.…

This issue highlights the wonders of Switzerland, prompting us to explore what makes the country so captivating. Many people are enchanted by its breathtaking natural beauty, a sight to behold with majestic snowcapped mountains, sparkling lakes, and charming villages that seem to emerge from the pages of a fairy tale. Others appreciate the values that are deeply woven into everyday life: a harmonious order that avoids rigidity, punctuality that reflects respect, and efficiency delivered with a sense of calm. Our friends from the Tatler community, who have strong connections with Switzerland, have generously shared personal stories that vividly illustrate their experiences. These accounts, filled with personal insights and emotions, reveal what continually draws them back and how living or visiting Switzerland has subtly transformed their perspectives on time, place and…

Ladurée unveiled its highly anticipated flagship in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Manila and with it, a new chapter in its storied legacy—an opulent reverie poised delicately between two worlds. Dubbed Ladurée Tropical, the boutique is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia—a concept created especially for the region. Far more than a patisserie, this flagship redefines the brand’s identity through a uniquely Filipino lens, transforming its signature Parisian refinement into something profoundly and beautifully local. The result is a transportive experience: soft pastels and high ceilings open up into a space that feels lifted from a period drama, while intricate solihiya accents and handwoven rattan breathe warm island soul into every detail. The interior is unapologetically lavish—marble, velvet, solihiya and gilded trims interlace beneath the soft glow of chandeliers…

A night of nostalgia and gratitude unfolded at the Forbes Ballroom of Conrad Manila as SM Supermalls marked its 40th year with an elegant Partners’ Appreciation Night. Key SM executives, including the Sy family and SM Supermalls President Steven Tan, joined to welcome a room filled with longtime partners, tenants, stakeholders and friends—many of whom have journeyed with SM since its inception. It all began with a bold vision. When the late Henry Sy, Sr, opened SM North EDSA in 1985, he imagined malls not just as commercial centres but as spaces accessible to every Filipino. What started as one man’s dream has evolved into a network of 88 malls across the country, vibrant hubs that have become part of the very fabric of Philippine life. “Tonight is special—not only…

A waft of fragrance captivates; a quick glance lingers into an affectionate gaze. You are caught in a Dolce&Gabbana trance through its potent combination of perfume and palette: My Devotion Eau de Parfum Intense (EDPI), a fragrance with a more personal and intimate touch that carries the warmth of Capri’s Marina Grande; Ever Icon eye palette; and the Everlast concealer. All are sealed within the brand’s iconic Sacred Heart. Overflowing with passion, My Devotion EDPI is a floral and fruity gourmand fragrance crafted by master perfumer Olivier Cresp. It begins with the top notes light pear blossom softly intertwined with the vibrancy of Cassis grapes. At its heart is the delicate scent of a field of peonies, brought together by the brightness of orange blossom. The result is a graceful…

The most memorable stays offer more than elevated comfort and picturesque views. What lingers long after a journey are the stories stemming from a sense of place, shaped by the people who know it best. MGallery Hotel Collection has made that its signature, and in Bohol, this takes a quiet but meaningful form. Fringed by the crystalline waters and coconut groves of Panglao Island is the brand’s second property in the Philippines: South Palms Resort & Spa Panglao–MGallery Collection. Designed by a global team of architects, the resort is visually modern but textured with artisanal, Boholano details—from the handcrafted rugs and furnishings to the polished bamboo and coconut wood that douse each corner in warmth. Much like the curated atmosphere of the 188 rooms and suites, dining is rooted in…

Bangkok is a city of electric energy and endless discoveries, but what happens when you crave a little high-altitude tranquility without missing a beat? Tucked away on the 28th floor of the Dusit Thani Bangkok, there exists a rare two-storey urban sanctuary that feels less like a hotel room and more like your own private penthouse. Step inside and the city unfolds before you in a spectacular panorama. Natural light floods the space through large windows that offer sweeping views stretching from the serene oasis of Lumpini Park all the way to the glittering horizon of Bangkok’s skyline. Often compared to New York’s Central Park, Lumpini Park is the city’s most luscious green space and staying in the Duplex Suite might have you wondering if you’re in Bangkok or staying…

Asia’s second-longest-running trade show celebrates Filipino artistry once again this October 16 to 18 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. For its 73rd edition, it moves its lens back to its muse—nature. With the theme, Objects of Nature, Manila FAME reconnects with the environment and community while continuing its mission of championing the inherent qualities of Filipino design. Emphasising sustainability, the use of recycled and upcycled materials, and expanding aesthetics in biophilic design—these directions for the trade show acknowledge consistently rising international trends that Manila FAME foresees to prevail next year. “The word ‘nature’ refers to our physical world, and it can also mean the qualities that are basic or inherent to a person or an object,” Executive Director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions…

“I first started DMark Beauty almost 25 years ago,” founder and CEO Nikki Tang recalls. Clad in a green power blazer and a Dion Lee mesh panel skirt, she speaks with assertive confidence. It is easy to forget that she is a 52-year-old single mother of two boys, to boot. “I entered the emerging beauty industry with a vision. Our company aimed to bring in products and devices that are safe, efficient and effective.” To supplement these efforts, she founded DermAsia to bring in cutting-edge technology and technical know-how. “We are very aggressive in attending and engaging in medical events, congresses, conventions and training [programmes],” Tang explains. Her company’s initiative, Beauty and Beyond, tours the country, gathering leading doctors and dermatologists to share their expertise with both peers and consumers…

When it comes to hospitality, in Switzerland—the birthplace of the international hospitality industry and a world leader in hospitality education—the bar is set astronomically high. This summer, Tatler spent a week in Central Switzerland, sniffing out the cream of the crop, and we were not disappointed. From an unassuming award-winning restaurant in a quaint village inn to a celebrity-favourite wellness resort in the mountains 500m above Lake Lucerne—this article maps out our epic journey, which begins in the lush resort town of Interlaken. Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa Poised between two shimmering lakes and at the foot of the snow-capped Jungfrau massif is Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, a go-to for royalty and dignitaries since it opened in 1865 as the Pension Victoria. But to call it Interlaken’s Grand Dame,…

The road to Andermatt winds higher and more scenic with every turn. Verdant slopes rise on either side, interrupted only by glinting rivers and distant peaks. As Zurich falls away behind and the climb into the Swiss Alps begins, the temperature drops and the air sharpens. Perched at 1,444m above sea level, Andermatt sits among the mountains—a quiet alpine village tucked into a broad valley, modest in size but rich in atmosphere. In summer, Andermatt is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise. Hiking trails stretch for hundreds of kilometres through alpine meadows and past glacial lakes, while cyclists tackle dramatic climbs across the region’s iconic mountain passes. In winter, the mountains are blanketed in snow and the pace shifts—skiers and snowboarders descend on the village for its varied terrain and reliable conditions.…

There’s something mystical about standing on the shores of Lake Geneva as dusk settles over the Alps, watching the Montreux Jazz Festival’s main stage, which sits over water like some ethereal platform between Earth and sky. The setting feels almost too perfect to be real—a stage that seemingly floats on the lake, with the dramatic Alpine backdrop creating a natural amphitheatre that no concert hall could ever replicate. This is where Tatler watches British pop band London Grammar, as vocalist Hannah Reid’s voice merges with the gentle lapping of waves below the stage. Later, as Sydney-based alternative dance group Rüfüs du Sol’s electronic soundscapes washes over hundreds of strangers united in a collective trance, the music feels less like performance and more like shared meditation, each note echoing off the…