Pipol

Profiles, interviews and human-interest stories focused on individuals. Columnists and their stories.

Chef Miggy Cabel Moreno: Cooking and Storytelling for Belonging

By Tatung Sarthou

September 11, 2025

In a city where adobo and sisig crowd the menus, Chef Miguel “Miggy” Cabel Moreno makes room for smoke-charred chicken from Zamboanga—and now, for a…

Ebe Dancel Concert 2025: From Sablay to Sold-Out

By Simpol

September 11, 2025

“Ako ang hari ng sablay, oh-oh, hari ng sablay.” That refrain has lived in jeepneys, dorm hallways, and karaoke rooms for more than twenty years.…

From Father’s Kitchen to Culinary Cup: The Chefs Behind Marriott Manila’s Winning Streak

By Simpol with Hanz Daniel Cortez

September 9, 2025

Before the chandeliers shine for weddings or banquets, the Grand Ballroom of Marriott Manila has another life. In the weeks before the Philippine Culinary Cup…

Chef Andrew Malarky: From Boracay’s Dos Mestizos to Shaping Siargao’s Food Future

By Tatung Sarthou

August 26, 2025

On a humid afternoon in Siargao, the air carried the scent of grilled fish and herbs as Chef Andrew Malarky moved between farmers and young…

The Many Goodbyes of Rico Blanco

By simpol

August 25, 2025

Rico Blanco took his time with “Paalam.” For years, the song sat unfinished, like a letter never sent. He first sketched it in the ’90s,…

Jewel Owusu Turns Desire Into a Self-Love Anthem With “spark”

By Simpol

August 23, 2025

Jewel Owusu has just released her new single, drawing much attention from fans and critics alike. Jewel Owusu is the kind of artist who has…

Ten Years Later, Clara Benin’s Concert Plays Back the Songs We Never Forgot

By Simpol

August 14, 2025

In 2015, Clara Benin released two quiet records that outlasted the noise of their time. Human Eyes and Riverchild weren’t hits in the traditional sense—but…

Nicole Alba’s Simpol Guide to Money: Practical Tips to Being a Smart Spender

By Simpol

August 14, 2025

Nicole Alba started earning money by selling origami at school when she was five. By 19, she was running a P200,000 windbreaker business and growing…

Nicole Ponseca and the Big Question: What Makes Filipino Cuisine? | IMFF 2025

By Tatung Sarthou

August 13, 2025

At most culinary festivals, the heat comes from the kitchen. At the International Manila Food Festival (IMFF), it came from the questions—intellectual, emotional, and deeply…