In a year when travellers found themselves sheltering in place to escape the grim spectre of COVID-19, several brands are enabling people to escape in different—and certainly creative ways, and making a difference in their respective fields
2020 will forever be remembered as the year when the world stood still. Due to the dangers posed by COVID-19, national borders were closed, flights were grounded, ships moored to their docks and even the simplest of road trips was called off. But for those with adventurous hearts and open minds, travel is a state of mind. Even while one stays home in the name of prevention, numerous brands are bringing the world into individual homes in numerous ways.
From the creation and provision of safe havens where one’s family can grow in safe and beautiful surroundings, to having a world of flavour at one’s fingertips, these brands have offered an escape of a different sort. Celebrating its 145th year in the Philippines, HSBC continues to be one of the country’s most steadfast partners in progress. Aside from leading the way in the financial sector through innovative approaches to personal banking and wealth management, the bank has also played a role in championing Filipino entrepreneurs and artisans as it encourages its clients to support local hospitality and dining destinations, as well as home-grown brands whose products are at par with the world’s best.
With tourism being one of the strongest contributors to the national economy, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is slowly but surely pushing the country back into business. With the recent reopening of key destinations like Baguio, Palawan and Boracay, the DOT is making sure that both travellers and the hard-working professionals working in hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and transportation remain safe and well through various protective measures that will be implemented throughout the New Normal. A golden enclave currently rising in the beating heart of the Global City, Aurelia Residences by Shang Robinsons Properties is redefining the standards of luxurious living for the discerning homeowner.
Combining sprezzatura (the effortless elegance of modern Italian design) with the innate warmth of the Filipino people, each unit promises to be a home where each resident’s health, safety and security are paramount, while world-class amenities offer fun and relaxation. A taste of distant lands is what Malongo Barista Atelier brings to every home fortunate enough to have one of its unique brewing kits. From straightforward French-pressed coffee to more complex brews made with a Chemex, coffeebar-quality drinks become readily available in one’s own kitchen.
Likewise, even the most housebound people will find their tastebuds taken on a trip through some of the world’s leading coffee-producing countries via Malongo’s unique selection of single-origin beans and blends. An escape to better health through improved lifestyle choices is what awaits those who come to The Medical City’s Wellness and Aesthetic Institute. WAI is helping change the game when it comes to total wellness through its use of modalities like lifestyle medicine and complementary medicine to help people live better lives, particularly in the more health-conscious context of the New Normal. The world’s doors may seem to be closed to us right now, but with all these options available, there is still so much to experience even from the comfort of one’s home.