CATEGORY: STAY & EAT

FORMAT: PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTOGRAPHY: CARMEN DEL PRADO

Siquijor no doubt marches to the beat of its own drum. Its chaotic hippie tu-ne is the true source of its power, a spell the island subtly casts on visitors to open their hearts to slow living and improvisation. This is our love letter to Siquijor’s people, traditions and gastronomy.

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN

FORMAT: PHOTO ESSAY

PHOTOGRAPHY: TERENCE VER ANGIOSO, KATHERINE JACK

We spend 24 hours with El Nido-based British photographer Katherine Jack while she captures the seascapes of Palawan with her camera.

CATEGORY: STAY & EAT

FORMAT: LIST

Our curated lists of hotels, restaurants and cafes promoting local cuisine, community bonding and sustainable practices.

CATEGORY: BIOPHILIA

FORMAT: PHOTO ESSAY

WORDS: NIKKI LIZARES

PHOTOGRAPHY: WILLIAM COATES-HAMILTON

Writer Nikki Lizares and photographer William Coates-Hamilton visit Curma, a conservation centre that protects turtle hatching sites in La Unión and promotes a lifestyle known as ‘Turtle Mentality’.

CATEGORY: SHOKUNIN

FORMAT: ARTICLE

Asin Tibuok, which literally translates to “unbroken or whole salt”, is one of the many kinds of salts unique to the Philippines. Those who produce it are called ‘Asinderos’. They have protected the secrets of salt making for centuries, however, now their trade is at the edge of extinction.

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN

FORMAT: INTERVIEW

Japan-born artist and designer Wataru Sakuma has led a peripatetic life. He and his family have lived in Japan, Dubai, India, the United States, and the Philippines which has provided him with a unique perspective of life. He is now head of Masaeco, a Manila-based Product Design company that explores the creative applications of Japanese Washi paper.

CATEGORY: STAY & EAT

FORMAT: PROFILE

WORDS: NIKKI LIZARES

Meet Carmela Ellaga, green activist of the year and the woman at the front of the Danjugan Island Project.

CATEGORY: HOSPITALITY

FORMAT: ARTICLE

WORDS: ANGELICA ‘KYLIE’ MISA

Local writer Kylie Misa explores the folklore and history of rattan in her country and explains how this plant is taking the global furniture industry by storm.

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN

FORMAT: LIST

Where can you enjoy great art and design in The Philippines? Our experts have selected an exclusive list of studios and spaces changing the rules of the game.

CATEGORY: ART & DESIGN

FORMAT: GRAPHIC DESIGN

GRAPHIC DESIGN: ENRIQUE MASIAS

Propelled by values of culture and environmental responsibility, multimedia artist Enrique Masias uses design as a platform for raising awareness about climate change and other threats to the natural world. The pieces in this article represent his own perspective on the relationship between Filipinos and nature.

CATEGORY: STAY & EAT

FORMAT: ARTICLE

These days, El Nido is becoming synonymous with bars brimming with backpackers and overcrowded island hopping tours. EcoSanctuaries is here to revert that trend. Having opened in 2022, this secluded seafront hotel emphasises on creating intimate guest experiences while prioritising sustainability, community empowerment and wellness.

CATEGORY: CULTURE

FORMAT: LIST

WORDS: DANIELLE FRANCO

Ever wondered what to read and listen to before travelling to a new destination? Music writer Danielle Franco introduces her homeland through a curated selection of albums and book titles.

CATEGORY: CULTURE

FORMAT: OPINION

WORDS: PORTIA PLACINO

Portia Placino debates the difficulties indigenous artists and craftsmen in the Philippines face to access new markets.

CATEGORY: STAY & EAT

FORMAT: ARTICLE

PHOTOGRAPHY: MANAMI

Manami Resort is breaking the rules of luxury hospitality in The Philippines by focusing on nurturing deep connections with local ecosystems and other fellow humans. Its wellness concept - one based on ancestral Negrense remedies and a sea-to-table gastronomic approach - is the perfect introduction to the Manami nga pangabuhi - “the beautiful way of life”.