Editor’s Note
There was a time in history when it was illegal for women to sit at a bar and have a drink, and working in a bar was even considered a felony. Yep, ladies, we have come a long way. Thanks to the many women who have shaped how we drink today, we are now more than able to enjoy a glass or two of our favorite tipple anywhere and whenever we want, and women are more than welcome to hold the stick and create their signature cocktails behind the bar.
March 8 celebrates International Women’s Day, and a lot of women-fueled events will be taking place worldwide; some countries even made it a national holiday where offices and schools are closed to celebrate the women in their lives. At DrinkManila.com. we want to honor the many women who are breaking barriers and creating a gender-equal environment in a male-dominated drink world.
Read about our feature on women bartenders working behind the bar in leading local hotels, bars, and restaurants. And learn about some of the influential women in our local drink industry.
Today is also a day to thank the many men who have encouraged, mentored, and continued to support all the women in the drink world. Cheers!
Tatum Ancheta I editor-in-chief
Women & Tipple
Photographs by Star Sabroso • Shot on location at Discovery Primea’s 1824 Whisky and Cigar Bar and Edge • Special thanks to Margaux, Lennon, Edraine, Queenzy, and Camille
Assistant Dean I College of Hospitality Management, Enderun Colleges
Bel’s commanding presence can be intimidating to most. Being one of the founding faculty members of Enderun Colleges, she is one of the people who has shaped the minds of people from the F&B industry who have passed through the colleges’ hallowed halls to go through their beverage program and get their WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) certifications, which Enderun introduced to the country in 2014. Read more
Managing Director I Moet Hennessy Philippines Inc
Olga Azarcon’s journey in the wine and spirit industry has come full circle. After traveling and discovering vineyards and distilleries in college, she joined Jardine Caldbeck to gain more experience in wines and spirits before working at Moet Hennessy Asia Pacific in sales and marketing. Read more
General Manager I Diageo Philippines
Diageo’s General Manager Vanee Gosiengfiao got into the world’s largest producer of spirits even though she admitted that she only drank Bailey’s at the time. That didn’t stop her from succeeding in the industry. Read more
Owner of 2shotsandapint.com | Beverage and Restaurant Consultant | Beverage Writer | Part-Time Instructor for the WSET Program, Enderun Colleges
Between consulting for restaurants, contributing to several online publications, and helping out in the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) at Enderun Colleges, Gail Sotelo accidentally put up a beverage site, 2shotsandapint.com. Read more
The Women Behind Don Papa Rum
Meet the women behind the international brand Don Papa Rum: Monica Llamas-Garcia, Communications Director and Co-Founder; Cristhel “Cri” Molina, Senior Brand Manager for Global Travel Retail and NPD; and Erica Larkins, Brand Manager. Click on their names to read more.
Chief Executive Officer I VASST Exchange International Inc.
Vanessa Singson got into the spirit distribution world when she moved back to Manila back in 2016. She helped a friend distribute Stella Rosa Wines without really expecting it to grow. “But our orders started getting bigger, so we decided to bring in more product. Then Vasst Exchange International Inc. was born, and that was the beginning of my career in importing and distributing wines & spirits,” she says. Read more
Freelance Content Creator | Columnist, Metro.Style Buzz and Bites | Contributor, ANCX
Cyrene de la Rosa is the go-to gal to ask where to eat and drink. She makes the bar and restaurant rounds in the Philippines and abroad to see what’s good and then tells us about it through her columns and contributions to ABS CBN’s Metro Style and ANCX. Read more
Deanna Rubiano and Michiko Soriano
Founders I FOMO Concepts
Deanna Rubiano and Michiko Soriano, recognizing the lack of engaging events in Manila, established FOMO Concepts, a boutique agency focused on experience design. Their goal is to transform generic events into interactive and immersive experiences for consumers. Additionally, they aim to support the growing craft culture in Manila and foster community connections. Read more
Read more inspiring stories of women in the world of drinks.
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