Manila isn’t as unimaginative as it used to be. Gone are the days of hapless superclub monotonies with the stamps that don’t only merit you entry, but also affirm that you’re “in.” These days, the velvet ropes have been lifted to more promising territories. Set your sights on two of the city’s one-stop lifestyle exploits, catered to those who’d like a change of pace or scenery–and witness not only a different kind of Manila, but a different aesthetic sentiment altogether.
Mark your calendars for an excursion, and allow the culture vulture in you ransack the city’s finest rogue regions.
THE COLLECTIVE
Don’t fret if you get lost while on your way here for the first time. Unless you’re a human compass or equipped with a GPS system, you’re bound to make a few wrong turns. Tucked in the alleys of the perplexing, one-way streets of Makati, this recent renegade reclamation located in Malugay Street is starting to become the place to see and be seen. The former warehouse-slash-auto-detailing shop-turned-art-cooperative has stirred consciousness among the young and the restless, and has tapped the intuitive and curious minds of everyone and anyone who dare declare their undying love for their craft.
Here, they all gather, in this (aptly called) creative concentration camp called The Collective.
Its general identity is of course, in the name of artistic pursuits, but if you’re willing to peruse, the place will sort itself out into individual nooks with separate personalities, along with their various treasures. Diversity is key, as they say, and The Collective boasts of just that—with a delicious envoy of spunk.
So if you’ve got a certain fascination towards the arts (or even just food), then hop on over to this piece of urban paradise, and devour its hodgepodge of sensibilities. You’re bound to find your niche, or at the very least, depart with a really satisfied tummy courtesy of that good ramen. Excuse the biblical reference, but if there’s one thing The Collective can prophesize, it is this: ask, and you shall find.
Muses
It’s easy to think that the The Collective is the Makati’s “hipsters” irrefutable retreat, but it’s actually more than that. Similar to Cubao X, going to Collective is generally like strolling in a zany concrete park.
The first people you might encounter are folks with wheels—but not the flashy, automobile type. Skateboarders and guys in bicycles can be spotted practicing away in the center square, or in the side alley of the little mall.
The storeowners are like the friendly neighbors you never had—the ones who give fruitcake when you’ve just moved in. You can’t help but smile back at the accommodating shopkeepers, asking if you need anything. And if you’re lucky, you might even rub elbows with a local celebrity, since The Collective is a hotbed of models, actors, and socialites—some, friends of the storeowners.
Munches
If your empty belly has a hankering for some good ole’ diner grub, plop yourself down at Wingman. With a menu consisting of thickly breaded corndogs and decadently greasy fries, Wingman will fulfill your cravings for those Eighties diner staples.
When in search for a quick noodle fix with an original concept in ordering, why not head over to Pasta Box? You start out deciding on the pasta shape, then the sauce, ranging from cream, tomato to ethnic Bollywood. Afterwards, you can knock yourself out piling on the toppings.
Wabi Sabi is the place to go if you need some heart-warming brew to mend your stomach. Given a choice of Pho or Ramen, you may even order pot stickers and buns to accompany your meat-laden stew. This is the definitely the place to get your feel-good fix.
Merchandise
The Collective’s got you covered from head to toe—literally. Aside from the regular graphic tees, colorful sunglasses, and high-cut sneakers (sold by shops like Duerr and Team Manila), expectedly, it also caters to one’s need to be unique.
Vinyl on Vinyl sells records of independent bands and customized artworks. The costume store Skitzo sells everything from clown wigs to the whole Spiderman get-up—all that you need to complete any out-of-this-world outfit. Sundae is yet another shop that sells vintage-like clothes and shoes, handpicked by the storeowner herself. Jumping the green revolution too, is Ritual. The store sells all kinds of locally-made organic items, perfect for unleashing the hippie in you.
Masterpieces
In a place brimming with the eclectic, you can expect the art to stand out, and it can be described in just one word: pop. The Collective boasts art that exemplifies pop, with its bright colors, unique designs, and standout ideas.
A mural decorated with all sorts of graphic art on one of the walls may look like pure vandalism at first, but when one takes a closer look, you will see that its novelty surpasses the whole “graffiti” notion. Another fixture for art buffs OuterSpace, which showcases art that can only be described as one of a kind. The exhibits themselves are rather obscure, but that is what makes OuterSpace out of the ordinary—it is everything you’d think of and beyond.
Mood Movers
Setting the mood for The Collective is crucial—and it certainly delivered through B-Side. With its music ranging from electronic to indie rock echoing along the diverse stores of the community, customers are attracted effortlessly.
However, it’s not the unique music (or the variety of drinks) alone that distinguishes B-Side from any other bar in the metro; it is also known for its cozy aura. This living room approach translates to the dim lights, scattered couches, and homey furniture that the space offers along with the eccentric DJs and occasional bands that grace its stage.
The bar was established in the hopes of catering to the musically open population while igniting the nightlife as it does to this day.
CUBAO X: WHERE ORGANIC ART MEETS URBAN COOL
One notion that must be quelled about Cubao X, is that it’s an unfriendly place. Sure, you’d have to endure a few dubious glances here and there, but once you abstain yourself from the thoughts of being (theoretically) eaten alive by the people who frequent there, you’ll see folks waving from the inside of a store inviting you to come in, tempting you at a second helping of a kalamansi muffin, and giving you a heads up that the latest Scott Pilgrim is up for reservation at Sputnik.
Whether it’s eccentric pastry you’re looking for, some Italian hospitality, a unique little trinket to take home in the form of some old vinyl or a ratty-but-not-really shirt, they’ve got all the bases covered—that, with some glorious art (and a hovering mattress above you) for good measure. Now, if flowers instantly growing on transparent pots still aren’t your cup of tea, you can always go for some old -fashioned good conversation, where small talk evolves into a friendly debate over schools and the pros and cons of coffee and tea.
Still not convinced? Well, there still remains the promise of adventure, and diving into a tiny goblet of inspiration—because if it’s quirky you’re looking for, it’s quirky you’re going to get—if you’re set on to escaping the whole Forever 21 catalogue look, Cubao X might be a nice place to start.
Ultimately, Cubao X is home to a persevering, artistically thriving community—and its residents have molded a nest that’s meant to be marveled, and shared at the same time. So the next time you find yourself hesitating to take a step into its intimidating walls, remember that potential store owner waving and inviting you to go inside and take a look.
Muses
What looks like an obscure, unapproachable little niche for art connoisseurs and artists is actually a hotbed for all types of people, who have a penchant for anything reminiscent of eras that precede ours – and rebranding it to tailor fit our changing tastes. Thrift shoppers, and those just looking for a place to chill are the ones usually found frolicking around the area. Surprisingly, Cubao X is also frequented by businessmen talking over a cup of coffee, whether just for a casual rendezvous or enjoying a few drinks to cap off the week.
From photographers, late-night lovers, to comic book enthusiasts, it is safe to say that just about anyone can be found in Cubao X, relishing the place’s refreshing boho-liberal atmosphere.
Munches
Cubao X has you covered when that groaning noise coming from your feedbag cannot be repressed any longer. Arguably the most popular restaurant in the area is Bellini’s, famous not only because of its local movie ties, but also with its homey atmosphere and scrumptious Italian fare.
For those wanting a change of pace, trek to the Green Halo Café, which boasts an environmentally friendly vegan menu, or Alan’s Grill, with its authentic Filipino cuisine. Movie fans will get their cinematic fix and much more in Mogwai, whose two-storey abode boasts a second-floor movie theater and truly inexpensive beer. Cap a fun night out off over at Manila Collective, which has coffee, tea and pastries (their delicious Red Velvet cupcake is a must-try) and mini exhibits courtesy of various artists.
Merchandise
Ten pesos won’t take you far, but time sure will turn if you wanted it to. In Cubao X, something that you might dismiss as merely spare change can get you a worn out cassette from days old, or even a vintage timepiece grandfather might have owned back then.
This quaint place that rests in the heart of the then Marikina Shoe Expo, houses all things from A to Z. From va-va-voom pieces for the home that resides in the eccentric display of Karma, a burlesque themed furniture shop, to the multicolored array of the newest lomography equipment at Heima – this truly is heaven for the artist within anyone’s heart.
The next time you stop by Cubao X, don’t let size fool you. You know how they that say big things come in small packages? Yeah, that applies here.
Masterpieces
Wading through the streets of this place is almost like being transported into a more dreamlike territory. There is photography of all sorts, from the fantastical to the real, to the ones that hit close to home. On one wall in the Café Manila Collective, pictures of young children decorate the whitewashed walls, with their handwritten dreams in a messy scrawl below each smiling photograph.
Cubao X pushes art back to its very core. The ideals of self-expression—of going beyond the traditional portrait of a young Filipina girl smiling by the river to jar the edges of reality and make a new one, of a girl looking wry by a river of watercolor—are brought alive through all media: oil, acrylic, digital and hand-crafted.
Mood Movers
Cubao X’s establishments bring you to different places with theirs, the ambience being the end goal, and the genre being trivial. The blind guitarist in Bellini’s should be hired by Don Corleone himself, and over next door at Manila Collective, the music was the barista’s iPod—one night it’s the lazy south, like tumbleweed across the desert, another time it was gritty lo-fi.
The bars along the concave of the area have relatively the same music– contemporary monotone can be heard sloshing around in the background. The aptly named Junkie shop plays music any hippie would love. There are also bands that frequent a gig in some shops, but at the end of the day, a different establishment truly is a different place. In total, the music in Cubao X could be summed up into “whatever sounds good.”
