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.
Art Deco: Modernity and Design in the Philippines, 1925–1950 at the National Museum of Fine Arts
I spent a recent Saturday afternoon at the National Museum of Fine Arts for the opening of “Art Deco: Modernity and Design in the Philippines, 1925–1950.” The exhibition gathers more than 300 objects from over 40 collections, offering a remarkable look at Philippine Art Deco during the two and a half decades that marked the country’s golden age of industrial and agricultural progress leading up to World War II.
Presented by the museum’s Architectural Arts and Built Heritage Division, headed by Arnulfo Dado, and co-curated by Ivan Man Dy and Miguel Rosales, the show drew a crowd dressed in Art Deco–inspired outfits, curators included. They led guests through the two galleries that house the exhibition, setting the tone for an afternoon steeped in glamour and history.
Art Deco, of course, traces its origins to the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in Paris. It arrived in the Philippines during the American colonial period, first transforming the architectural landscape and later influencing sculpture, fashion, visual arts, and graphic design. – Yvette Fernandez, Chief of Editorial Content
Ground Floor, National Museum of Fine Arts Building, P Padre Burgos Ave, Ermita, Manila, 1000 Metro Manila. Website: https://www.nationalmuseum.gov.ph/our-museums/national-museum-of-fine-arts/
The Fortunate Son
I admit I’m surrounded by men in the family and in my friend group who appreciate good clothes, well-made objects, and small luxuries, but who have no desire to shop for them. So when The Fortunate Son, a subscription service by The Tiño Group, launched last Saturday, I immediately thought it would make for a great gift.
What makes it all so interesting is its range. It goes beyond wardrobe upgrades and steps into the pantry, bar cart, and gentleman’s chest, assembling menswear, accessories, and lifestyle items (for example: pastas made with heirloom grains, balsamic vinegar, D.O.P., of course, and small-batch gin distilled in Calabria) around each member’s preferences—all gathered after a private onboarding session. Each subscriber chooses from three tiers: The Pioneer, for men “refining their style”; The Heirloom, which leans toward craftsmanship with heritage; and The Legacy, a collector-level selection of high-quality pieces built for long-term use.
At its debut, The Fortunate Son included Colony Clothing, a Singapore-based label known for clean lines, Japanese workmanship, and a global sensibility. Their Ultrasuede safari jackets, overshirts, and tailored layers offer the comfort of technical fabric with the refinement of menswear classics—ideal for men who travel frequently or simply prefer pieces that work almost everywhere.
Alongside Colony Clothing was Mono, a collection of artisanal pantry and bar essentials sourced from Italian families who have kept their craft alive for generations. Expect Laudemio’s vibrant olive oil, Tirrena’s heritage wheat pasta, Acetaia La Bonissima’s aged balsamic vinegar, Mokaflor’s Florence-roasted coffee, and Captain Santor’s aromatic Southern Sea gin. These aren’t typical grocery finds, which make having them on-hand extra special.
What ties everything together is the ease, packing it all into one streamlined experience. For the man who wants quality without the hunt, it’s a quarterly delivery that feels both personal and polished. – Kimberly Rocha-Delgado, Digital Editor
Sign up for the subscription here.
Bahay Kubo Plate Collection by Toyo Eatery x Atin
“Bahay Kubo, kahit munti, ang halaman doon ay sari-sari.”
Those familiar words and melody always bring me back to childhood and somehow capture the richness of home. So when I first saw the Bahay Kubo Plate Collection, a limited-edition collaboration between Michelin-starred Toyo Eatery and Philippine homeware brand Atin, the song echoed instantly in my mind. It felt like stepping back into a familiar garden, one rich with stories, ingredients, and the quiet pride of being Filipino.
The limited-edition series celebrates the spirit of the Filipino garden in two beautiful forms: a Dinner Set of four plates and a Grand Serving Platter. Each piece is adorned with finely drawn illustrations of the vegetables named in the folk song, transforming a beloved childhood tune into something tactile and enduring.
What makes the collaboration feel especially natural is Atin. The brand has long been known for creating plates, diffusers, and home pieces inspired by Filipino themes such as Philippine fruits, vegetables, flora, fauna, and other botanical elements that remind us of who we are. Their designs feel like small love letters to the Philippines’ natural abundance, which makes them the perfect partner for a Bahay Kubo collection.
For Toyo, the Bahay Kubo dish has been part of their story since opening in 2016, becoming a signature dish that mirrors their philosophy by honoring indigenous ingredients and local flavors deeply rooted in Filipino tradition with both creativity and ingenuity.
These new Bahay Kubo plates offer a thoughtful reflection on identity and place, and serve as a quiet reminder that every meal worth having is one gently seasoned with poetry and nostalgia. – Alicia Colby-Sy, Lifestyle Editor
Available at Toyo Eatery and select Kultura stores.