A Storied Life
There is nothing I like more than a good story. This love of mine transcends literature and permeates everything around me. I’m drawn to charismatic people with interesting backgrounds, to dishes rich in history and peppered with exotic flavours, to art that is not only layered in technique but steeped in philosophy. I believe in living a storied life and choose to surround myself with objects that have unique tales behind their creation, discovery or purchase.
Much like a stellar glass of wine, where in each sip one can imagine the vineyard’s distinctive terroir and the winemaker’s legacy, a handcrafted object elicits similar emotions of reverence. We cannot help but have respect for the genius behind each piece, and I find myself imagining the creation process and the people involved. How many years did it take for a master carver to learn his craft? How many meticulous stitches did a leathersmith make in finishing a supple armchair? Where do these artisans come from and why did they choose this path? Did they learn from their ancestors or stumble upon it by chance?
In this issue we celebrate the hands that make the beautiful objects that fill our homes and the raw materials from which they are born. Photographed by Paco Guerrero, our cover stories—jet Acuzar and the workshops of Las Casas de Acuzar in Bataan—illustrate the excellence of Philippine craftsmanship. We juxtapose Jet’s minimalist yet heritage-centric home with the wonderful, creative grit of her family’s atelier. Chef Aaron Isip also opens his bachelor pad, sharing his Filipino wabisabi ethos. There are also wonderful stories from across our country featuring master potters, historic mansions and sustainable woodsmiths. And placing the spotlight on raw materials, we also showcase handblown glass, luxury leather and sleek stone lighting.
We also cannot ignore that glorious blue sky and brilliant sunshine that embrace us during these summer months. To add a splash of colour: there are colourful bedroom designs, vibrant coastal homes and stunning abstract artworks by young contemporary artists like Gabby Prado, JC Intal, and Fitz Herrera. The latter’s gorgeous and uplifting work has a place in my office above refurbished, custom-made, vintage narra buffet by Allen Oblena. The impeccably elegant Fortune Ledesma gives us a peek into a day in her life while Juana Manahan Yupangco teaches us how to eat a rainbow palette of produce.
I hope you enjoy this soulful tapestry of stories as much as we have enjoyed weaving them into this issue.