Gabriel Nivera

Nov 29, 2024 | vogue.ph | Audrey N. Carpio |Gabriel Nivera

In Escolta’s pre-war heyday,the Perez-Samanillo building possessed one of the city’s most prestigious business and commercial addresses, with banks, law firms, and dental offices occupying its five floors. Nearly a hundred years since it was built, these same floors are now filled with artist-run spaces, design studios, and creative startups. Outside, a snarl of electrical wires crisscrosses the street, while jeepneys and pushcart vendors ply the lanes.

Oct 16, 2024 | vogue.ph | Patricia Villoria |Gabriel Nivera

At the Sibutu island of Tawi-tawi, the young girls keep track of the moon’s phases for delicious reasons. Some locals might say that back in the 80s, when TV and phones were not widely available, neighbors would pop their heads into each other’s homes asking, “Is it the full moon already?” “Has it been 14 nights?”The full moon, which comes two weeks after every new moon, spells the season for harvesting sea urchins, a practice common across the Sulu archipelago.

Jul 30, 2024 | vogue.ph | Audrey N. Carpio |Neil De Guzman |Gabriel Nivera

On her last night in Manila, Zelda Williams witnessed the glittery extravaganza that is O Bar. She had heard about the legendary drag scene of the Philippines, and if there was one thing she did not want to miss on her first trip to the country, it was a drag show. Her good friend Liza Soberano arranged everything, and even though they both spent the entire day at photo shoots, they made sure not to sleep this night out.

May 10, 2024 | vogue.ph | Audrey N. Carpio |Gabriel Nivera

Bundos Bansil Fara’s Workshop, found on one side of the main highway in Lake Sebu, has only a weathered tarp announcing “Brass Casting Center” to indicate his business, but you might spot Fara’s youngest son Jayson at the counter, carving up a wax mold of a mythological creature. Stacks of polished bangles and beaded gong necklaces are on display for souvenir hunters.

May 9, 2024 | vogue.ph | Audrey N. Carpio |Gabriel Nivera

In Lake Sebu, South Cotabato, there are several hotels and accommodations that dot the edges of the eponymous lake and are popular with tourists. Sunrise offers the best view: the lake, crowded with fish pens, is shrouded in a painterly mist, while the pink water lilies open their petals to a few hours of early daylight.