5 Filipino film and TV stars who opened restaurants – from Jodi Santamaria to Marvin Agustin – and why you should give them a try
From Richard Yap to Maxene Magalona – whether recreating their famous family’s weekend brunches or attempting to bring their hometown’s signature dishes to the masses, these Filipino celebrities just want to share their love of food with you
We’reused to celebrities sharing photos of their impressive home-cooked meals and stylish dinners out – hey, sometimes even the contents of their fridge (they must know we care about this stuff) – but opening a restaurant signals that they really mean business.
The sheer number of eateries in the Philippines makes it hard to stand out from the crowd, but these five celebrities had a head start. Read on to find out more about their restaurants and why you should visit them.
Joel Torre
Actor and TV star Joel Torre has been in the entertainment industry since 1978. Over the course of his career he has brought several memorable characters to life, most notably Rafael Dacanay in the 2010 film Amigo, which led to his best actor win at the 17th Puchon International Fantastic Film Festival.
The actor’s love of food, but in particular Bacolod city’s signature inasal (grilled marinated chicken), is the reason he says he decided to become a restaurateur in the first place. He opened his first eatery, JT’s Manukan Grille, back in 2003, with a menu crammed full of Ilonggo food from the province of Negros Occidental. Is it any good? Torre has done so well that he now has over 20 branches in the country, and one in Guam.
Marvin Agustin
Marvin Agustin is best known for his gritty performance as Filipino boxing champion Rolando Navarette in an episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya, and as Lemuel, a disturbed psychopath in the horror-thriller Kutob.