Innehållsförteckning för March 2023 från Tatler Philippines

TATLER PHILIPPINES US-based Filipina artist Jana Benitez, whose perspective has been refined through a study of religions including Buddhism, Taoism and Christianity, discusses how our greatest inspiration can come from within. TATLER INDONESIA Entertainers, entrepreneurs, politicians: Maia Estianty, Chuchu Liu, Lusyani Suwandi, Amelia Anggraini, Nafa Urbach and Ashanty may have very different lives but, as they explain to Tatler, the six friends always make time for each other. TATLER MALAYSIA Su Kim Hock of Restaurant au Jardin in Penang—one of Malaysia’s first Michelinstarred restaurants—is Tatler Dining’s Chef of the Year. He shares how his work is celebrating his home island’s unique food scene. TATLER HONG KONG Vicky Lau, winner of the 2023 Tatler Dining Chef of the Year Award, speaks to Tatler about her journey from design to cooking, and…

MARK NICDAO Over years, this sought-after photographer has captured some of the most beautiful faces in the country. With his artistic eye, his photographs have landed prime spots in some of the best magazines and commercial campaigns locally and internationally. This lensman is the eye behind this month’s cover shoot, which spotlights four exceptional female mayors in the metro. SHAUNA POPPLE-WILLIAMS Very much familiar with the world of weddings, the former editor of Tatler Weddings in the Philippines was more than thrilled at the prospect of not only sharing what was such a momentous milestone with her dear friend, but to also write about the magic that unfolded that day. In Love Wins, she tells of the modern day fairy-tale that is the love story of Henry Motte-Muñoz and Adrien…

Bench’s highly regarded Ternocon returned with much flare. This year, the goal was to champion Filipino artistry by giving prominence to the Balintawak dress, a quintessential Filipiniana piece with its signature puffy sleeves, butterfly-shaped wings and low-cut bodice that often take on plaid or floral patterns. The Balintawak gained popularity in the Thirties and was popularly worn by Filipino women in the countryside for picnics or outdoor activities—a casual alternative to the terno, the country’s national dress. “The national dress is important to us not just because we are in the business of fashion, but because we are foremost Filipinos,” says Ben Chan, executive director and founder of Bench. “It links us to our past in personal and national ways.” Stressing the significance of the Filipiniana to his brand, Chan…

For Katrina “Kats” Razon, being a DJ means having the “responsibility to create moments of collective euphoria”. She was always surrounded by music. Razon, popularly known as DJ Katsu, started playing music for crowds at 16. “Throughout my childhood, my mum played music. She would take my brother and I to Tower Records in San Francisco, where we would listen to different types of music and walk away with a handful of CDs,” says Razon. “I remember vividly when my mum first played Depeche Mode’s Enjoy the Silence in the backseat of the car; I was eight years old, and it was my first meaningful connection to music.” Razon’s understanding of art became more apparent as the years passed. The Wonderfruit festival producer sees music in a different light. “Music…

Tina Leung is the modern-day cool girl next door. But instead of a floral smock and combat boots, she’s more likely to be dressed in the couture Rosette Flower Gown by downtown New York cult favourite label Area. She’s frequently snapped by the coolest street fashion photographers and is a staple on the global fashion circuit, sitting front row at shows for the likes of Gucci, Prada and Miu Miu. She was even at that Schiaparelli show at Paris Couture Week 2023, which she described as “pure magic” on her Instagram. And yet, Leung doesn’t seem to believe that she is as famous and influential as she is. “It always surprises me when people go ‘Tina!’” when they see me at fashion weeks, she says in a confessional for the…

It began with a 128.54-carat Fancy Yellow diamond, which was renowned as the largest and finest yellow diamond in the world at the time. Tiffany & Co’s Jean Schlumberger had just begun his work at the company then under the chairmanship of Walter Hoving. One of his first artistic assignments was to create a high design for the famous Tiffany Diamond. Archival sketches show that he initially envisioned three settings for the precious diamond: wrapped in diamond ribbons as the centrepiece, held by diamond-set wings as a clip, and surrounded by diamond daisies on a bracelet. The final design would later be worn by Hollywood’s brightest darling, Aubrey Hepburn, in publicity photographs for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. This was the moment that cut it for Schlumberger’s career. Later in 1995, the…

NANETTE MEDVED-PO FOUNDER AND CHAIRPERSON, HOPE: BUSINESS FOR GOOD AND PLASTIC CREDIT EXCHANGE “I think today’s women are eager to live up to their full potential and show they deserve a place at the table. It is proven that women bring not only increased value and energy to the positions they occupy but are also inclusive and empathic leaders who will be sorely needed if we intend to heal what has become a broken world. Being a woman today means fearlessly answering the call to create positive change within ourselves, within our homes, and in our communities to ensure a better future for all.” “The modern woman is now limitless. We continue to break boundaries, we challenge the norm, we shake convention” ANGEL LOCSIN ACTRESS AND PHILANTHROPIST “Women’s rights and…

HONG KONG Ramona Pascual wrote herself into the history books in 2022 when she became the first woman from Hong Kong to fight in the UFC. In 2021, the Hong Kong-born Filipina fighter moved to Las Vegas, the home of UFC, to take her career to the next level. She hopes her success and ground-breaking visibility will raise the sport’s profile in the city so that in the future, fighters don’t need to leave to go professional “so kids who are into martial arts see that you can be from Hong Kong and make it at this level”. SINGAPORE Junie Foo, the president of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations and a member of the Council of Board Diversity, is one of the foremost champions for corporate gender diversity, helping…

The digital revolution is upon us and with it comes the emergence of a new breed of pioneers. Among them is Beryl Chavez Li, who cofounded Yield Guild Games, a play-to-earn gaming guild for gamers around the world. In her platform, people can earn rewards through games, and even invest in NFTs. Li is passionate about her field. She was on the founding team of crypto exchange platform Coins. ph and holds a Master of Finance from the prestigious Cambridge University. During her time there, Li also sat as president of the Cambridge University Cryptocurrency Society. Under her helm, Yield Guild Games has been a success. In 2021, the company made US$12.5 million in 31 seconds in a token sale, and raised US$4.6 million from A16z, the venture capital firm’s…

Beauty and science will always go hand in hand in enriching our lives in innumerable ways,. This perpetually linked industry is where Dr Kristina “Kaycee” Reyes has likewise found her life’s work. Today, she is the proud woman behind Luminisce, one of the country’s esteemed skincare clinics known for a variety of holistic science-backed services. Along the way, she also founded Innosense, a provider of organic, anti-inflammatory food products for a clean and healthy lifestyle. Even as a young girl, Reyes has already shown an ambition to build an authoritative wellness brand that would cater to a person’s whole being, encompassing the body, mind, soul and spirit. She always knew that she was going to be a doctor. Eventually, she studied and practised medicine across multiple institutions around the world,…

There is perhaps nothing more empowering than witnessing a self-made woman rise to the top with her empathy and inventiveness at the fore. Throughout her life, Nikki Tang, the visionary behind the brands DMark Beauty and DermAsia, was fortunate enough to see this up close with two figureheads to be inspired by. Looking back at her start in the cutthroat industry, she muses about discovering her knack for entrepreneurship thanks to strong female representation in her family. “My grandmother being the first woman entrepreneur in our family and my mum’s business acumen inspired me to take on the beauty business and become an innovator and trailblazer, believing that ‘beauty is power’,” Tang shares. Following a short stint in the dental care business and with the belief that she was in…

EDITOR’S PICK Hublot loves art, and this watch shows it. The HUB9009. H1.RA.B movement, which has a five-day power reserve and a mesmerising dual-rotation tourbillon, powers the vibrant beast. The watchmaker has set an example with its bold, beautiful (and bulky) designs in the past, and the launch of the MP-09 is proof that this trend will continue. What makes it special? The watch creates an illusion of a rainbow of gemstones with its three-dimensional juxtaposition of carbon with coloured composites—making it a creative expression of horological advancement. TREND Double down on lapine designs; after all, it’s Mad Hare month in the Year of the Rabbit ROARING TWENTIES TUDOR’s 1926 line, named after the year “The Tudor” was officially registered, pays homage to the brand’s origins and watchmaking traditions. Timepieces…

There is a spate of talented Filipinas in the field of jewellery design. Their works, ranging from colourful gemstones, long and sparkling necklaces and meaningful pendants, are a testament that Filipino talent is noteworthy. In the following pages, we feature the creativity of Erica Concepcion-Reyes, Nicole Whisenhunt, Joyce Makitalo, Marigrace Reano and Tim Tam Ong, who has provided some of the country’s most sought-after accessories. JOYCE MAKITALO Her works are remarkable for being chunky, bold and colourful. As a painter and graphic designer in the late Nineties, Joyce Makitalo considers herself an artist. “I saw myself more as an artist than a jeweller when I started, but after years of handling rocks, I consider myself to be both,” she says. According to Makitalo, her fear of boredom keeps her from…

Bodabil was introduced in the Philippines by American and European travelling vaudeville troupes in the early 20th century. The variety show that presented classic and contemporary American songs and dances, magic numbers, circus acts with or without animals, and comedy skits patterned after their American originals initially served as a powerful (because pleasurable) instrument for the Americanisation of the Filipino heart and mind. But like the komedya, sinakulo, sarsuwela, and other dramatic forms introduced into the country under Spanish rule, the bodabil inevitably indigenised. More creatively, it provided some Filipino artists with a progressive worldview and value system that allowed them to transform some long-held, albeit regressive, beliefs of Filipino society. One such artist was Katy de la Cruz, acknowledged in her time as the Queen of Jazz and, later,…

For the first time in more than seven decades, the Miss Universe organisation, known for its annual beauty pageant Miss Universe, is owned by a woman. And its new owner wants to bring about much-needed change. Thai media mogul and transgender woman Jakkaphong “Anne” Jakrajutatip is the founder and CEO of JKN Global Group, which purchased the Miss Universe organisation in October 2021 for US$20 million. “Pregnant women, married women, divorced women—they are allowed to be in the competition,” says Jakrajutatip of the competition rules she has amended so far. “And of course, we allow trans women to come into the competition,” she adds; the competition was opened up to transgender women in 2012. However, an age of limit of 28 for contestants remains, something that the recently crowned winner…

Travel trend forecasters around the world are all in agreement: travel centred around art is poised to replace culinary journeys and tours as a leading luxury trend. Museums, galleries and special exhibitions are attracting more travellers than ever. And while limited-edition art is old news, limited-edition art experiences are currently highly desired by art lovers around the world. These five-star hotels and luxury tour operators are offering their guests some incredible, once-in-a-lifetime art encounters. A SECRET AT THE SILO Situated on Cape Town’s waterfront, The Silo Hotel is housed in a historic grain silo, soaring above Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA). Designed by acclaimed London design firm Heatherwick Studio, it is the world’s largest museum dedicated to contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora. Nightly rates at The…

As a child, my ideas of power and authority were influenced by my parents. I would hear them speak about the president and the local authorities, particularly the mayors and how the municipalities then were akin to the wild, wild west whose leaders brandished their authority like peacocks. Suffice it to say, we were terrified of them, not only of them but of their children and their entourage. Fast forward to today. Much has dramatically changed in our metropolis—and yes, for the better. We asked four women city mayors to grace the cover of our annual women’s issue. Mayors Joy Belmonte, Abby Binay, Lani Cayetano and Honey Lacuna-Pangan have all championed the role of women in the country. They have changed the bias that authority is only a man’s territory.…

True, the Antonio’s wedding reception of Henry Motte-Muñoz and Adrien de La Motte in Tagaytay may have been dampened by the inclement weather, but, as the running joke of the evening went, Rain = Luck. And so, apparently, the couple’s good fortune is now tenfold. A pioneer in the Philippines’ ed-tech sector, Henry met his match in Adrien, a London-based lawyer specialising in asset management, on a dating App while on lockdown. Intent on keeping the momentum going at a time when in-person meetings were impossible, they communicated incessantly for two months before finally meeting in person. It was instant chemistry. Not long after, and traditional to the core, Henry, carrying his bespoke engagement ring designed by Natalya Lagdameo, got down on his knees and proposed to his intended in…

The country’s turbulent sociopolitical climate in the Seventies and Eighties paved the way for the rise of social realism and abstract expressionism. Challenging the class struggles and worsening political conditions, the artists protested art’s formalism. So, they started using their platforms to spark conversations on social justice, eco-consciousness, gender equality and much more. As with many activist groups after the 1986 revolution, artists have always faced the Quo Vadis question through time. Imelda Cajipe-Endaya, one of the staunch pioneers of feminist art in the Philippines, was surrounded by her “sisters” in giving voice to the voiceless. Driven by their fervent desire to continue making an impactful change in society, she and her friends formed Kasibulan in 1987 and formally registered it in 1989. Kababaihan sa Sining at Bagong Sibol na…

Are you for or against Prince Harry’s and Meghan’s decision to share their story with the world? BOBBY CUENCA YES Monarchies are built upon a history of inequality, brutality and incessant warfare. Seeing the great number of monarchs who lost their thrones, the British monarchy decided to shut their mouths and live a life of stultifying empty celebrity-hood. No light was allowed to pierce their opaque existence, the better to hide their enormous untaxed wealth, unearned privilege and absurd traditions. Harry has shown that, for the Windsor family, the be-all and end-all of their existence is to stay at the top of the food chain. Anyone who is considered a threat will be thrown under the bus. RAJO LAUREL NO I’m indifferent about Harry and Meghan. I know that it’s…

It’s often said, “Do what you love, and you will never work another day in your life.” Such is true for Veronica “Nica” Resurreccion, CEO of Extraordinail, the nail salon of choice of many local stars. With her incredibly hands-on approach to the business, she has expanded the now household name to four branches around the metro, with each one welcoming a slew of beauty enthusiasts, style mavens and celebrities on the regular. While Resurreccion once said it wasn’t her idea to start the enterprise but her husband’s, that hasn’t stopped the spirited entrepreneur from demonstrating how this is truly what she was meant to do. In 2017, she had the guts and wit to introduce Extraordinail’s Luxury on Wheels, a mobile salon where patrons could receive total pampering without…

LOVE LETTERS Romantic motifs are en vogue well after Valentine’s Day. Be it a brooch, a bag or dress with cut-outs, hearts and roses are blooming all over the apparel and accessory world. SHORT AND SWEET Nobody is suggesting you commit to the no-pants trend approved by Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, but we’re fully on-board with extra-short shorts this spring and summer. Seen on the runways of Loewe and Etro, micro shorts are on track to replace the ubiquitous miniskirts of last year. ALL ABOUT THE DRAMA Rip up the rulebook: thigh-high boots are here for spring. Fashion brands are taking the assignment seriously, mixing second-skin shapes with extravagant details such as metallics, sequins and chunky heels. LIGHTER THAN AIR 2022 was all about Barbie Pink, and Viva Magenta…

EDITOR’S PICK Chanel’s versatile Coco Crush collection now includes adjustable necklaces in four different lengths featuring the maison’s instantly recognisable quilted motif and available in 18-carat beige, white and yellow gold. Stack your wrists with bracelets featuring the letters C and O to spell out “Coco” and channel the founder’s chicness. TREND Show your love for the natural world with these bejewelled, animal-inspired trinkets PIPING HOT Bulgari’s Tubogas collection for 2023 harks back to the shapes that became classics in the 1970s. This renaissance includes three bracelets and one statement necklace made from 18-carat rose gold and featuring cabochon-cut rubellites surrounded by pavé diamonds. Special editions available exclusively in mainland China feature amethyst and blue topaz options. LOCKED AND LOADED New additions to Fred’s gender-neutral Force 10 collection embrace the…