Arts & Culture
We Sat Down For an Epicurean Dinner with Jason Atherton
Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton was in town last weekend to cook up a special set menu at his first and only restaurant in the Philippines, The Pig and Palm.

Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton was in town last weekend to cook up a special set menu at his first and only restaurant in the Philippines, The Pig and Palm. As this is is his first visit this year, it’s a special menu indeed, considering that he has sixteen other restaurants scattered across the globe to oversee.
Jason holds four coveted Michelin stars under his belt alongside titles like “Chef of Year” and having many of his restaurant hailed as some of the best restaurants in the world. It’s no surprise that he’s earned that many accolades; he’s worked his way to the top by training with top-tiered toques.

Chef Jason Atherton
His first restaurant, Pollen Street Social, earned its Michelin star three months after they set up shop. It’s among the fastest to earn a Michelin star in the world. What’s admirable about Jason is how he still has his feet planted firmly on the ground—he may have earned four Michelin stars, but he says he’s not looking to get any more.
“I enjoy being part of Michelin, but I’m not obsessed by it. I don’t crave it. We are where we are. But we work to keep it, of course. As long as the customers are happy and they like our food then that’s okay,” he shares casually. “I don’t worry about it too much.”
At The Pig & Palm, Jason ensures that his philosophy of keeping the customers happy is upheld. The restaurant has made a remarkable reputation for itself as one of Cebu’s culinary gems, two years since its launch.
I’ve frequented the restaurant for a long time now, and the quality of the food still surprises me each time I pay a visit. Last Saturday, Jason created a special set menu that teased the tastebuds.
A six-course meal, the dinner started off with canapés and cocktails. Their cocktail menu gives you a variety to choose from, and is arranged in a way that goes with each course perfectly, from appetizers to dessert, and even have their respective hashtags for when you’d like to post it on social media.
Their Dill or No Dill, which is available at every restaurant managed by Jason, is a crowd favourite; it’s made with gin, lemon juice, elderflower cordia, cucumber, dill (of course), and rimmed with smoked salt. Try their McBanDaq, which I describe as a deceptively dangerous banana milkshake, or their quirky Coff’ Medicine, a concoction of Don Papa rum, Kahlua and espresso, that comes with a doctor’s prescription.

Seared tuna with feta cheese, tomatoes and black olives
The first course was their Seared tuna with Feta and Pistachio Mousse, Tomatoes and Black Olives. To be honest, I don’t always get to finish dishes that have raw (in this case, seared) fish, but I surprisingly did with this dish. It was that good. The tuna was fresh and had no strange fishy aftertaste, probably offset by the roasted tomato and the balsamic reduction. The parmesan tuile and minced black olives on top added a burst of umami to the already harmonious flavors.

Cold-smoked duck breast with pickled cabbage, foie gras parfait and candied walnut
The Cold-Smoked Duck Breast was divine. As someone who loves duck, this dish left me wanting more. The duck breast was cold-smoked with apple wood, giving it a delicate flavor. The pickled red cabbage on the side complemented it very well, along with the foie gras parfait.

Fillet of British beef with potato fondant, roasted pumpking and oats
The star of the dinner was their Fillet of British Beef. The Pig & Palm is proud to be the first to market British beef in Cebu, and it did not disappoint. Succulent and tender, it could make other kinds of beef give a run for their money. The sweetness of the roasted pumpkin and the richness of the potato fondant rounded off the dish.

Black forest gateau
For dessert, we had their Yogurt and Calamansi White Chocolate Lolly, which was tangy and refreshing on the palate, and their Black Forest Gateau, a decadent dessert made with layers of cherries, chocolate cake, and chocolate mousse.
Jason shares that these dishes will be available on their regular menu soon, so don’t worry if you didn’t catch him when he was in town. Meanwhile, make sure to check out their cocktails and the other items on their menu!
MSY Tower, Pescadores Street, Cebu Business Park
For inquiries and reservations, call +63 917 657 6866
Open 11:00 AM to 12:00 AM from Tuesdays through Sundays
Arts & Culture
Queer Coding in Cinema: The Best Shows to Binge for Pride Month 2025

compiled by Edge Javier
As Pride Month 2025 goes into full swing, the best way to celebrate LGBTQIA+ voices is with a binge-worthy lineup of shows that center queer stories, joy, love, resilience — and yes, of course, drama. From groundbreaking recent series to must-watch staples and fan favorites, here are the top shows to stream this June that reflect the vibrant spectrum of the queer-coded experience.
1. Heartstopper – Season 3 (Netflix)
Nick and Charlie are back, and the coming-of-age sweetness is stronger than ever. Season 3 explores deeper emotional territory while keeping the wholesome tone fans adore. Expect more queer joy, nuanced relationships, and tearjerker moments that feel like a warm hug.
2. Drag Me to Dinner (Hulu)
Hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, this chaotic culinary competition pairs drag duos in a battle to throw the most fabulous themed dinner party. With outrageous challenges, surprise twists, and plenty of camp, queens serve up equal parts food, flair, and fierce shade. It’s RuPaul meets Top Chef—served with a side of sequins.
3. Queer Planet (Apple TV+)
Hosted by Janelle Monáe, this visually stunning docuseries dives into queerness in the animal kingdom and parallels in human identities. It’s smart, groundbreaking, and perfect for those who want to feel seen—and informed.
4. Fellow Travelers (Paramount+)
This period romance-drama set during the Lavender Scare continues to grip audiences with its tragic beauty and sharp historical insight. If you missed Season 1, now is the perfect time to catch up before the highly anticipated Season 2 lands later this year.
5. The Buccaneers – Season 2 (Apple TV+)
The unapologetically queer period drama returns with more scandal, sapphic yearning, and feminist rebellion among American heiresses navigating high society in 1870s London. Think Bridgerton, but with more edge and better sapphic representation.
6. Our Flag Means Death – The Finale Special (Max)
This fan-favorite pirate rom-com wraps up with a one-hour finale special airing this June. Whether you’re rewatching from the start or jumping into the last hurrah, this show remains a shining example of queer love told with heart and humor.
7. This Is Me Now… The Series (Prime Video)
Following Jennifer Lopez’s genre-blurring film-musical hybrid, the series version delves into themes of love, identity, and self-acceptance, and features cameos by queer icons and allies. It’s campy, messy, and made for Pride Month mood-boosting.
8. Sort Of – Final Season (Max)
This critically acclaimed dramedy about a gender-fluid millennial navigating love, grief, and identity in Toronto comes to a close with an emotionally rich final season. A thoughtful and often hilarious story that never loses its beating heart.
9. Red, White & Royal Blue – Limited Series (Prime Video)
After the hit film adaptation, the beloved queer romance returns in a serialized format, expanding on Alex and Henry’s story with new twists and deeper character arcs. It’s romantic escapism, elevated.
10. POSE: The Legacy (FX/Hulu)
This documentary miniseries honors the cultural legacy of POSE and the real-life ballroom legends who inspired it. Featuring interviews with cast, creators, and icons from the scene, it’s a must-watch tribute to queer history and resilience.
Whether you’re looking for laughter, tears, romance, or revolution, these Pride Month picks for 2025 offer it all—while honoring the complexity and beauty of LGBTQIA+ lives. So press play, turn up the volume, and let queer stories shine this June and beyond. Happy Pride! 🏳️🌈
Arts & Culture
Chaos and Clarity: Zen Aesthetic in Oj Hofer’s Art

by Jing Ramos |
Oj Hofer, our fashion contributing editor, is a Fine Arts graduate from the University of the Philippines. Though he began painting at the age of eight, his artistic journey took a transformative turn in 2013. While volunteering as a costume designer for Siddhartha: The Musical, he encountered Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy, sparking a deep devotion to Japanese sumi-e painting and kanji calligraphy. Over the years, he refined his craft, using his art to share the Dharma through exhibitions while supporting the Hsing Yun Educational Foundation. In 2022, his spiritual path deepened at Nan Tien University, where he embraced Zen and Humanistic Buddhism, shaping his artistic philosophy.

“Plum Blossoms in Moonlight.” Serigraphy on abaca.
In his recent works, Hofer merges traditional calligraphy with serigraphy, drawing inspiration from his friend Charles Lahti—an internationally recognized New York-based painter and printmaker. Lahti, known for his collaborations with post-war American artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Donald Judd, Andy Warhol, and LeRoy Neiman, introduced Hofer to silkscreen techniques. Through a workshop Lahti conducted in Cebu—arranged by their mutual friend Greg Urra—Hofer integrated silkscreen into his Zen artworks, particularly those on abaca.

“The Circle of Harmony” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Hofer’s cross-disciplinary approach challenges conventional Zen aesthetics. His layered paintings on abaca may seem far from tranquil at first glance, but closer contemplation reveals a meditative core. His serigraph of an Enso circle, for example, initially appears chaotic, filled with Tang Dynasty poetry and overlapping, repetitive forms. Yet, by focusing on a single calligraphic element, the viewer experiences a moment of clarity—a glimpse of awakening within the visual complexity.

“Monkey Mind” Serigraphy and Calligraphy on abaca.
Even more engaging is his diptych Monkey Mind. At odds with the traditional Zen emphasis on negative space, this piece is deliberately busy, reflecting the restless nature of the mind. A distracted viewer may struggle to find a focal point, but one attuned to emptiness and presence will perceive clarity amidst the seeming disarray.

Ink and intention—creating calligraphy in support of one of my advocacies.
By fusing Zen philosophy with the discipline of serigraphy, Hofer invites his audience to look beyond surface impressions and discover stillness within movement, balance within complexity. His art does not merely depict Zen—it embodies the paradoxes at its core, offering a path to mindfulness through the act of seeing and the experience of doing.
Arts & Culture
What is Sappia? The Rice Myth Goddess of Bohol Who Helped Feed the People During a Great Famine

by Emma Gomez
The story began when the people of Bohol started to experience hunger and famine. All the livestocks were inedible and the fields were dried out leaving only weeds planted on the ground. The people prayed to the goddess of mercy, Sappia, to ask for food.

Sappia, the rice myth goddess of Bohol
Sappia, from the heavens, heard the cries of the people. She saw the dense population of weeds and offered to help them. Sappia thought of nourishing the weeds to be edible and healthy for the people of Bohol. Straightaway, she sprinkled the weed with milk from her bossom. She emptied each breast until blood came out. Before she left, she whispered to the weeds that they may be nourished and be able to feed the people.
When harvest season came, the people of Bohol quickly gathered the nourished weeds. They observed that the ones sprinkled with milk were white, while the other were red. They called the new plant rice and they replanted these in honor of Sappia, and for the people to devour.
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