HOLD ON AS I DROOL WHILE FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES OF THE WALLPAPER* CITY GUIDE MANILA

Southeast Asia’s underrated capital and most progressive art and design hub is slowly paving its way to becoming a regional and  international design destination.

Fast forward, we’re finally on the map, thanks to The Wallpaper* City Guide Manila.

Carefully written and curated by Cheryl Tiu and Kissa Castañeda-McDermott,  it packs 65 beautifully shot photos and recommendations on our city in 103 pages, from art and design to dining.

Whether he/she has a week or 24 hours in the city, this perfect travel companion cover landmark buildings like the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), towering Discovery PRIMEA, design centers like Avellana Gallery (A11) in Pasay for a dose of Filipino contemporary art, and the best shops to buy items unique to Manila, like FIRMA in Paranaque.

And who said Manila’s all about selfies and hour long traffic? Think Sau Paolo.

ON DAILY RITUALS AND THE RIGHT STROKE

My Head Is A Jungle  by Wankelmut & Emma Louise on repeat -  After years of searching for the right shaving brush, I finally found the right one from Parker, thanks to my friend Chad.

Yes, using a shaving brush is the first step to improving a man’s shave and not a generic supermarket hair conditioner and if you have never used a brush during shaving, trust me, you are in for a treat!

For someone who shaves daily, having the best bristles may it be pure badger, boar or synthetic, help prepare the beard allowing a smoother, closer shave with any type of razor.

I have always been pretty traditional just like mi abuelito. Honestly, proper shaving has become a lost art. Try asking today’s average male and you bet, most don’t even have a clue about the fine art of traditional wet shave that our fathers and grandfathers used to take part in.

To top it all off, I am in love with Parker’s sandlewood and shea butter shaving soap! It contains premium natural ingredients resulting to a cool and comfortable shave that soften and conditions your skin – baby soft! Next on my list: Eucalyptus! And oh, the lather generated from the bar is rich, thick and lasting – truly orgasmic! Look mom, I’m clean!

To order, check out Old Fashioned Man. Remember, real man aren't disposable.

BIRTHDAY AND CUPCAKES

Good friends, bunnies and unicorns were part  of the beautiful set in lilac, pink, lime and lavender who came out to celebrate the Bag Hag’s 25^th (she claims) birthday at the Vanilla Cupcake Bakery.

Imagine Lilly Pulitzer, Martha Stewart and Ralph Lauren in wonderland. Alice definitely was in Mary Katranzou. 

LIFESTYLE ASIA, BHUTAN AND TOO MUCH LYCHEE MARTINI

Hail to the Queen! Lifestyle Asia recently celebrated its 26^th anniversary with a Royal Gala honoring The Queen Mother of Bhutan, Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck.

Who knew partying with actual royalty could be so much fun? I mean, seeing Her Majesty dance to the tune of Dancing queen – you just got my applause! 

After a plate of lentil and eggplant salad, Tshoem beef cheek with oyster mushroom, Bhutanese coconut panna cotta and free-flowing  chardonnay and champagne courtesy of Moet and Terrazas wines, Boston-based yet Manila-raised DJ Katrina “Katsunami” Razon kicked the night with intoxicating beats from the 90’s getting everyone the mood to stand and hit the dance floor.

(Ingrid Chua Go, Linda Ley and Jewelmer's Janthina Fong)

Fashion and society fixtures such as Rossana Ocampo - Rodriguez, Ingrid Chua-Go, Maurice Arcache, Tessa Prieto – Valdes and Jewelmer’s Janthina Fong all looked impeccably stunning.

(Myself in a suit by YUEN with Moet Hennessy's Richard Alarcon, Ingrid Chua - Go and Manila Bulletin's Emil Yap)

Congratulation on yet another successful event, I have got to hand it to Cheryl Tiu, Ms. Anna Sobrepena and the team of Lifestyle Asia. *hic* I think I had too much lychee martini .

BOOK: LIFESTYLE ASIA HOME & AWAY

(Lifestyle Asia's Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book now available in bookstores and newsstands)

A big congratulations to Anna Sobrepena, Cheryl Tiu, Cristina Gomez and the whole team on a very successful launch of Lifestyle Asia’s Home & Away, a special limited edition coffee table book featuring the gorgeous homes of Manila society in the Philippines & overseas.

(Top: Amparito Lhuillier and Cheryl Tiu. Bottom: Myself with Alfonso Tagliaferri)

Of course, Cebu Doyenne Amparito Lhuillier, mother of international fashion designer Monique Lhuillier flew in from the queen city just for the event – high five to that!