Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Open Manila Reinvents the Party Circuit with Events at Overlooked Locations How well do you know the secrets of your own city? Heineken’s Open Your World campaign, which aims to bring people from different walks of life together with the idea that there’s nothing a cold beer and a great conversation can’t bridge, has subsequently gave birth to a local initiative: Open Manila. With the purpose of reviving Manila’s vitality and self-confidence, Open Manila drives attention to great places in the city that are often overlooked by both locals and tourists. Discovering the south One of the many emerging destinations in the metro is the south—specifically, Parañaque and Las Piñas, two of the bigger cities down under that have been consistently under the radar of young and cool partyphiles and social media influencers. The second installment of Heineken’s Open Manila parties took place on June 3 at TAS Roofdeck Bar. Located in the bustling street of Aguirre in BF Homes, Parañaque, this quaint rooftop hangout is always packed with young bloods—from college students to yuppies—who are always ready to fire up the weekend. If you live in the north, going there requires patience and a knack for finding lost places (pun intended) as it might be a little hard to find. But once you get there, all is good as the place will definitely not disappoint. Cher Lui Pio, a lifestyle and fashion blogger, says: “Every time I say, I live in the south, people are quick to assume that it’s too ‘provincial,’ which is funny because we are as urbanized as the other major cities. With our love for good food, arts and music, we were able to combine something that is modern yet laid back, creating the quintessential environment for these new go-to places to create a wonderful community. That, for me, is what makes the south really interesting”. Heineken’s famous green logo lit up the party scene “Open Manila is about rediscovering all the many great places that Manila has to offer. It would be remiss to not highlight the many amazing spots here in the south. And as BF Homes is slowly getting noticed and becoming known as an emerging destination for foodies, with fantastic new restaurants and bars opening up, it only made sense why we chose this location. As for TAS Roofdeck Bar specifically, we picked this place because the whole rooftop scene really elevates the mood, plus we really like the vibe and the community here: hip, young, and socially active; a true representation of Heineken,” says Chris Aguilar, group marketing manager for Heineken. UNKNWN Manila’s Samantha Samonte, Rohit Sakhamuri, brand manager and Chris Aguilar, group marketing manager for Heineken All smiles holding their Heineken beers while enjoying the music Guests showing just how lit the night was: laidback, good music, and cold beer “This may sound a little biased because I’m from the south but what I genuinely like most about it is the fact that it’s situated strategically within the metro. It’s close to Makati business district and the airport, yet without feeling that you’re in the middle of the city. Apart from the plethora of hangout choices, options for shopping and entertainment, majority of the places here in the south are covered in vegetation and that for me is extra ‘pogi points,’” Aguilar added. Beyond this campaign, Open Manila is about celebrating life. “What makes this campaign so special is it pays attention to things that we normally take for granted such as these wonderful places; places that are at par or even better than the commercial ones. I think if we start looking past the surface, we’re definitely bound to see something more special. Though the beauty of Manila does not rest entirely on these places. No, this is not just about finding the next big hot spot in the metro. It’s about realizing how wonderful the community within these great places. The people in it are the ones who breathe life to the city and they are the reason why we should celebrate,” according to Aguilar. More than getting the word out there and promoting these local businesses, Open Manila celebrates the life and soul of Manila’s multiculturalism and diversity. The cosmopolitan life that has evolved throughout the years has preserved an aura of authenticity that continues to ignite and intoxicate those who dare to experience Manila. Heineken is currently on the mission to find the next venue for Open Manila. To follow this story, check out the website www.heineken.com/ph and follow Heineken on Facebook (www.facebook.com/heineken) and Instagram (@heinekenph). Photos by @Isamnte