Organizers led by top Manila bartenders announce dates for the country’s first national cocktail week, but keep full details tightly sealed
Something is stirring in the city’s drinking scene.
With little fanfare but unmistakable intent, two of the country’s most respected bar institutions—The Curator and Southbank Café + Lounge—have quietly announced what appears to be the Philippines’ first national cocktail week. The reveal, posted on a newly created Instagram page titled “Philippine Cocktail Week,” hints at a multi-day event scheduled for February 5 to 8, 2026.
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The post gave no further details. But the people behind it say enough.
Fronting the initiative are David Ong, the creative force behind The Curator, and Kevin Corales, executive bartender at Southbank. Together, they’ve helped raise the profile of Filipino bartending through years of steady, uncompromising work—earning international recognition while cultivating a homegrown bar culture.
Now, it seems, they’re doing it for the country.
Though mum on the finer points, David, Kevin, and a group of like-minded advocates appear poised to turn the spotlight on local talent and present a new kind of drinking event—one that puts Filipino mixology squarely on the map. The effort mirrors similar movements across Asia, where cities like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore have used cocktail festivals not just to pour drinks but to shape perceptions.
The Instagram post kept it brief. Just a date and a name. But in a city where word spreads fast and the thirst for craft runs deep, that was enough.
February 2026 is marked. The rest, for now, stays in the bottle.
Follow @philippinecocktailweek on Instagram for updates.
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