editorial

<p><em>Locally born architect and designer James J.J. Acuna shares his favorite spots in the ever-evolving Philippine capital.</em></p>
<figure id="attachment_135466" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-135466" style="width: 1080px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-135466 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/JJ-Acuna-Portrait-credit-Amanda-Kho.jpg" alt="Photo: Amanda Kho" width="1080" height="720" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/JJ-Acuna-Portrait-credit-Amanda-Kho.jpg 1080w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/JJ-Acuna-Portrait-credit-Amanda-Kho-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/JJ-Acuna-Portrait-credit-Amanda-Kho-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/JJ-Acuna-Portrait-credit-Amanda-Kho-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-135466" class="wp-caption-text">Photo: Amanda Kho</figcaption></figure>
<h5><strong>Eat</strong></h5>
<p>Tucked inside a creative complex on the edge of Makati, <a href="https://toyoeatery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Toyo Eatery</a> serves excellent Filipino fare by chef Jordy Navarra, who presents local flavors and ingredients in elevated ways—his Bahay Kubo ‘salad’ combines all 18 vegetables mentioned in a popular Tagalog folk song of the same name. Another great spot is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/graceparkdining/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grace Park</a> for its farm-to-table comfort food by Margarita Forés, who was crowned Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2016.</p>
<h5><strong>Shop</strong></h5>
<p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/aphroliving/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aphro</a> is Manila’s top concept store, selling artwork and home items by mostly Filipino talents. Price points vary, but there’s something for everyone looking for a one-of-a-kind gift. For Filipino fashion, stop by <a href="https://rajolaurel.com/pages/stores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rajo!</a>—it’s the atelier-cum-showroom of one of the Philippines’ leading designers—or <a href="https://tropastore.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tropa</a>, which showcases local brands with a focus on modern, minimalist attire and low-impact production methods.</p>
<h5><strong>Do</strong></h5>
<p>Explore the city’s walled Spanish-colonial district on an Intramuros tour with performance artist Carlos Celdran, whose theatrical approach to history provides a nuanced look at why the country is the way it is today. Architecture buffs should check out the brutalist National Theater at the <a href="https://culturalcenter.gov.ph/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cultural Center of the Philippines</a>, one of the greatest achievements of celebrated architect Leandro V. Locsin; do take the guided tour to fully admire the sweeping curves of poured-in-place concrete and capiz-shell chandeliers hung from the gold-leafed ceiling. Finally, the cluster of galleries around Chino Roces Avenue—including <a href="https://silverlensgalleries.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Silverlens</a> and <a href="https://drawingroomgallery.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Drawing Room</a>—provides a glimpse into the city’s burgeoning contemporary art scene.</p>
<figure id="attachment_135469" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-135469" style="width: 1290px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-135469 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Schalkx-Manila-2.jpg" alt="Local brands on display at Tropa; Toyo Eatery’s signature Bahay Kubo salad. (Photos: Chris Schalkx)" width="1290" height="800" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Schalkx-Manila-2.jpg 1290w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Schalkx-Manila-2-300x186.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Schalkx-Manila-2-1024x635.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Chris-Schalkx-Manila-2-768x476.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1290px) 100vw, 1290px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-135469" class="wp-caption-text"><em>Left to right:</em> Local brands on display at Tropa; Toyo Eatery’s signature Bahay Kubo salad. (Photos: Chris Schalkx)</figcaption></figure>
<figure id="attachment_135465" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-135465" style="width: 1380px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-135465 size-full" src="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cultural-Center-of-the-Philippines-kevin-rein-bantang-unsplash.jpg" alt="The Tanghalang Pambansa (National Theater) in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Photo: Kevin Rein Bantang/Unsplash)" width="1380" height="920" srcset="https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cultural-Center-of-the-Philippines-kevin-rein-bantang-unsplash.jpg 1380w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cultural-Center-of-the-Philippines-kevin-rein-bantang-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cultural-Center-of-the-Philippines-kevin-rein-bantang-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https://staging.destinasian.com/wp-content/uploads/Cultural-Center-of-the-Philippines-kevin-rein-bantang-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1380px) 100vw, 1380px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-135465" class="wp-caption-text">The Tanghalang Pambansa (National Theater) in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Photo: Kevin Rein Bantang/Unsplash)</figcaption></figure>
<p><em>This article originally appeared in the <a href="http://www.destinasian.com/magazine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">August/September 2018</a> print issue of DestinAsian magazine (“Mad For Manila”).</em></p>


The Tanghalang Pambansa (National Theater) in the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (Photo: Kevin Rein Bantang/Unsplash)

An Insider’s Tips for Visiting Manila