My City: Manila with Designer Mark Wilson

Born in Manila to a Filipino mother and an American father, designer Mark Wilson has spent his career bringing new life to the ancient traditions of the Philippines. This is especially on view with Caro Wilson, his jewelry line that uses heritage techniques in new ways. Case in point: the Cordillera Bracelet, which transposes traditional basket weaving into 18 Karat gold or sterling silver strips, hand-woven to be as pliable as rattan. (In 2023, the Design Center Philippines included the bracelet in its “50 Years of Philippine Design” at the National Museum of the Philippines.)

Wilson has observed Manila’s evolution into a thriving culture capital. “In the last 10 years, there has been an incredible interest in contemporary visual arts,” he explains, highlighting the number and quality of galleries devoted to Filipino artists. “The creativity in art, design, and food culture is very strong,” he says. “I enjoy partaking in and being part of that.”

And though Manila “on its surface, looks very Westernized,” Wilson affirms “it’s an Asian city, with Asian behaviors. While English is spoken, there is a very local version of it, and it’s fun to see how English is expressed locally, where Filipino English is unique, and also which Filipino words have become part of American English (boondocks, for example)...Manila’s culture is polyglot and hybrid and rich.”

Read below for his insider picks on where to eat, and wander in the island nation’s capital.

Top Restaurants

Lusso for lunch, because of the view of the incredible garden, not to mention the Italian food, and the elegant mise en scene. And Sala Bistro outdoors in the garden for dinner. The service & food are top notch.

The Museum Every First-Time Visitor Should See…

Casa Manila is an exaggeratedly grand vision of a residence from Spanish colonial times, but it’s a pleasure looking at the wooden structure and all the wonderful antique furniture inside. I recommend it to first timers because it gives you clues into Filipino identity.

…And The Museum Worth Revisiting Over and Over

The National Museum of Fine Arts, for the breadth of its collections, and for the wonderful, historical building it’s in.

The Neighborhood to Explore

Legazpi Village, and adjacent Greenbelt, with the verdant gardens at its center, are my favorite. Greenbelt has a 1970s church by national artist Lindy Locsin, shaped like a rounded tent, and “floating” on water; there are mature trees; Ayala Museum is wonderful and it’s part of this complex of retail, food, & greenery. Legazpi Village has a lot of new restaurants to visit, and also has the wonderful Washington Sycip Park.

A Nature-Filled Getaway

Manila looks like a cement jungle, but as you discover it, the cement gives way to pockets of green—where forces of nature are very strong, and plants love to grow in the fertile soil & humid air. Orchids, palms, ferns, hardwood trees all thrive.

I go to Baguio [a city four hours by car from Manila], at about 5,000 feet above sea level, for the trees, and the lovely climate. It is always 10 degrees Celsius cooler than Manila. I also like the beach, so I go mostly to Nasugbu, but sometimes to El Nido.