Travel & Lifestyle Expo 2025: Travel, Explore, Discover, and Roam at Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati

A Celebration of Travel, Culture, and Lifestyle from August 29 to 31, 2025 

Manila, Philippines – Get ready to Travel, Explore, Discover, and Roam! The much anticipated Travel & Lifestyle Expo 2025 is back, happening on August 29 to 31, 2025, at  the Activity Center, Upper Ground Floor, Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati. 

Organized by JJ Events Management, in partnership with STEP UP Travel + Events, the 3-day event will once again bring together top travel destinations, lifestyle brands, tourism agencies, and media partners to offer exciting deals, immersive experiences, and fresh travel inspiration for all wanderlusts and adventurers. 

Kuris-kuris Exhibit by Gibraltar at Gateway Gallery from August 16 to 22

Filmmaker and visual artist Ray Defante Gibraltar is marking an important period in his life with a pair of milestone projects — his first solo art exhibit and first book. Both deal with themes of mental health and are direct expressions of his former struggles with addiction.

Titled “Kuris-kuris At Ang Pagpapaamo sa Aking mga Dragon,” the art exhibit features  striking abstract mixed media pieces that portray a tapestry of mental, psychological, and emotional turmoil. Kuris is a Bisayan (Cebuano) word for doodles or scribbles

The exhibit runs from August 16 to 22, 2025, at Gateway Gallery, 5th floor, Gateway Tower in Araneta City. It’s the same venue where Gibraltar held his previous exhibit, Under Construction, a two-man show with colleague Jom Vega in August 2024.

Folded into the “Kuris-kuris” opening event is the debut of Gibraltar as a published author. Titled “Nag Dyo-dyornal Din ang Adik (Mga Pinta at Kuwento Tungong Kahinahunan),” the book is a companion piece to the exhibit, containing a catalogue of all artworks in the exhibit and essays on select pieces that feature the autobiographical stories and inspirations behind them.

Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. and Uratex Renew Partnership to Inspire Curiosity Nationwide

The Bonifacio Art Foundation, Inc. (BAFI) and URATEX are proud to renew their partnership for  another 10 years. URATEX is one of the founding partners of The Mind Museum, marking a new  chapter in their shared mission to champion the arts and sciences for learners of all ages. This  renewed collaboration builds on a relationship rooted in shared purpose, innovation, and a deep  understanding of the power of widespread inspired learning in science, math and the arts to shape  futures. 

Uratex President and CEO Mrs. Natividad Cheng affirmed the new strong potential of this  partnership saying “We, in Uratex, want to be able to reach as many Filipino communities as  possible through the innovations that we do to improve Filipino lives. Since BAFI has music, math  and science programs and projects that are so engaging, and reaching out across our country as  well, this made us really think it was a natural alliance.” 

A Taste of Heritage: Cordillera Cacao Shines at John Hay Hotels

John Hay Hotels and chocolatier Angeleah Montilde present an artisanal experience celebrating Cordillera’s cacao legacy through craft, culture, and purposeful luxury.

Amidst the cool mountain breeze and towering pine trees of the Cordilleras, a unique experience unfolds at John Hay Hotels, one that blends heritage, artistry, and conscious craftsmanship into a celebration of cacao’s rich legacy.

Through an exclusive partnership with Angeleah Montilde, Baguio-based founder and chocolatier of Kokomo Chocolate, John Hay Hotels presents artisan chocolate-making workshops that immerse guests in purposeful luxury, featuring the ancestral rhythms of Cordillera cacao, from its origins in the highland soil to the delicately crafted bars that tell stories of community and culture.

Landco Pacific Corporation Champions Education and Sustainability through its Adopt-a-Scholar Program

Batangas youth empowered to become future leaders in hospitality

Landco Pacific Corporation, a pioneer in premium leisure and sustainable seaside developments for over 30 years, deepens its commitment to community development through its Adopt-a-Scholar Program. This is an initiative that provides long-term support to underprivileged yet deserving youth from the surrounding communities of Landco BeachTowns Club Laiya and CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach) in Batangas.

The Manila Hotel Expands its Vegan and Vegetarian Culinary Selections

The Manila Hotel, long regarded as the Grand Dame of the Philippines, broadens its culinary offerings with an enriched selection of vegan and vegetarian dishes now available across all dining outlets. Led by executive chef Konrad Walter, with the support of consultant Riza Shanti Lim, the initiative reflects the hotel’s commitment to inclusive, ingredient-driven, and sustainable cuisine.

This development comes after an intimate dinner hosted at the Champagne Salon, where members of the media were served an elegant vegetarian set menu. The experience was met with glowing feedback, proving that meat-free dining can be both refined and indulgent.

“Our menus are rooted in freshness and balance,” said executive chef Konrad Walter. “We focus on seasonal produce and non-processed ingredients to create dishes that are not only nutritious, but also full of flavor. We’ve seen guests try them out of curiosity, and walk away surprised at how satisfying and complex vegan cuisine can be.”

Dragon Court Elevates Hot Pot Dining with New Sets and Individual Stations

Hot pot season is officially in full swing at Dragon Court, the signature Chinese restaurant of Manila Prince Hotel. Beginning August 1, 2025, guests are invited to gather around the table for a feast of simmering flavors with its new hot pot sets, now made even more enticing with the addition of individual hot pot stations, offering a fully customizable dining experience.

Elevated Indulgence: Premium Hot Pot

For those with a refined palate, the Premium Hot Pot set is now available at a special rate of Php 1,088 nett person, regularly Php 1,288. This set includes premium ingredients such as beef tenderloin, sausage, shrimp, oyster mushrooms, and squid balls, among others. All served alongside an abundant serving of vegetables and noodles to complement the broth of choice and dipping sauces.