The Good Life: Editors’ Picks of the Week

In every The Good Life: Editors’ Picks column, we round up our editors’ favorites—restaurants, cocktails, experiences, exhibits, and everything in between. Here is our latest list.

Flora de Filipinas Porcelain Collection by Maison de Rivoli

Elegant blue and gold table setting with nested plates and a floral center plate on a beige tablecloth.

Lately, I have found myself coveting pieces that make everyday rituals feel more meaningful which is exactly why I cannot stop thinking about Flora de Filipinas, a new porcelain collection from Maison de Rivoli, the French Filipino luxury house that celebrates heritage and craftsmanship.

Elegant blue-gold table setting with floral centerpiece and crystal glassware on a white tablecloth

Developed in collaboration with Royal Limoges, the oldest porcelain manufacturer in France, the collection pays tribute to the Philippines through the lens of its rich botanical heritage. The designs are lifted from Flora de Filipinas, an archive of botanical illustrations dating back to 1877, giving each plate and serving piece a sense of history.

Blue gift box with gold lettering beside a navy-rimmed plate with botanical print, placed near a white bouquet of flowers as a present.

I love how the collection balances refinement with identity. It carries the elegance associated with classic French porcelain, yet feels unmistakably anchored in the Philippines. In many ways, it reflects what Maison de Rivoli does best: highlight cultural heritage through beautifully made objects that feel both timeless and personal. – Alicia Colby Sy, Lifestyle Editor

Maison de Rivoli is located on the second floor of The Peninsula Hotel in Makati.

Master Class Produced by Philippine Opera Company

Courtesy of Philippine Opera Company Master Class Poster — Courtesy of Philippine Opera Company

I’m excited to see Master Class at the RCBC Plaza Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, especially following the rave reviews surrounding Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo’s turn as Maria Callas. Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-winning play—widely regarded as one of modern theater’s great backstage dramas—follows the legendary soprano as she conducts a series of classes for young opera students, though the real subject is artistry, ego, discipline, and the cost of greatness.

Female singer on a red-lit stage, one hand raised toward the audience with a dark backdrop of vertical panels. — Courtesy of Philippine Opera Company/Myra Ho

Directed by Jaime del Mundo, the production also features performances by Louie Angelo Oca as accompanist Manny Weinstock, Alexandra Bernas as one of the students, Sophie de Palma, and Arman Ferrer playing another student, Anthony Candolini. Much of the conversation so far has centered on Lauchengco-Yulo’s performance, which many have described as commanding, funny, and deeply moving. – Kimberly Rocha-Delgado, Digital Editor

Master Class runs until May 30 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati, with Friday and Saturday evening performances and weekend matinees. Purchase tickets here.

Michel Couvreur French Whisky

A Frenchman deciding it isn’t all about terroir?

We opened a surprisingly smooth entry-level (for the house, anyway) French whisky from Michel Couvreur. Couvreur decided in 1978 to focus on specially chosen casks to bring the proper life to spirits, and now chooses and treats every cask specially and specifically. They cork, wax, and label every bottle by hand.

Underground wine cellar with wooden barrels stored on metal racks along a damp stone wall.

Run today by his son-in-law Cyril Deschamps and cellar master Jean-Arnaud Frantzen, Michel Couvreur make a special case of every cask, with their last production pre-sold in a hundred year old cask borrowed from a sherry maker. It’s literally hard to get—everyone who bought has to wait 12 years for their one bottle. – Carl Cunanan, Cars and Watches Editor

Visit the website here.