Hello,

This month, we celebrate Filipinos breaking boundaries and making their presence felt in their respective fields. Our cover is graced by Filipino-American star Vanessa Hudgens, the country’s global tourism ambassador. With her beauty, intelligence, and charisma, she will be starring in an upcoming travel documentary shot in the Philippines. Inside this issue, get to know more Filipinos making waves in the international scene like EJ Obiena, Small Laude, and Elwince Magbitang, to name a few. Don’t miss also our special photo essay featuring style icons Anne Curtis and Heart Evangelista from their recent walk around the streets of New York City.

Aside from these personalities, there are more Filipinos putting our country and our nation on the global map. For one, the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences invited Dolly de Leon to be a voting member, after her phenomenal entrance to Hollywood through the critically-acclaimed film Triangle of Sadness. Truly, Filipinos don’t only have the potential but the abilities to set the world turning. Find out more stories of breaking boundaries here:

• See how esports leader Ferdinand Gutierrez is developing the next generation of Asian digital athletes
• Find out seven architecturally distinctive hotels in Asia
• We give you the Tatler Guide to matching watches according to dress codes

Cheers,
Franz Sorilla IV
Assistant Digital Editor

Choosing the right watch can make or break your outfit. While there is no one-size-fits-all concept in watch collecting, knowing what to wear is essential. Whether you’re attending a formal event, a casual gathering, or an important business meeting, having the correct timepiece determines whether you make a lasting impression.

Know which watch to wear depending on the occasion.

At least a thousand dead bodies. Mass hostage-taking. Extensive looting of civilian and government property. War is and will always be a terrible thing—and the city of Marawi is no stranger to this after the infamous battle that occurred in 2017. Alongside the Mamasapano Massacre in 2015, the Zamboanga City Crisis in 2013, and the Super Ferry bombing off the island of El Fraile in 2004, to name a few, the Battle of Marawi is one of the most devastating terror attacks in the country.

Know more about the Islamic City located along the shores of Lake Lanao and how it’s been since the “war on terror”.

Restaurants that receive Michelin stars are singled out for their excellent cuisine, but a handful of said restaurants also showcase stunning interior design by acclaimed architects and interior designers.

There’s the two-starred Sezanne in Tokyo, masterfully crafted by Studio Andre Fu, which strikes just the right balance between elegant and intimate with soft-edged contemporary decor in a pastel palette. Meanwhile, Studio Piet Boon's exquisite work at the two-starred The Jane in Antwerp transports guests to a realm where historical grandeur meets contemporary sophistication.

Explore these beautiful restaurants where the interior design is as memorable as the meal.

There has been a selection of talented Filipinos in the past that got invited as well, particularly filmmakers like PJ Raval, Baby Ruth Villarama, and Ditsi Carolino, or even the likes of Walt Disney Animation Studios story artist and animator Josie Trinidad, Pixar story artist Trevor Jimenez, animator and Oscar nominee Bobby Pontillas, and producer and Emmy Award winner Lisa Valencia-Svensson.

De Leon, however, is the first Filipina actress to be invited, particularly in The Academy’s Actors branch—proof of her emerging prestige in the industry.

Check the full list of 398 members of the Academy can be found on the Oscars website.