Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest International home furnishings specialty retailer Crate and Barrel collaborated with Malt Manila for What Men Want, an intimate event at SM Aura Premier that celebrated the many facets of the modern man. And what better way to celebrate men’s diverse interests than by having three personalities curate their own living spaces that represent their own personality and style? Using whatever they could find inside the store, chef JP Anglo, tech entrepreneur Ben Wintle, and DJ Jason Soong designed their own vignettes that encapsulated their interests and fields of expertise. Of course, they brought in a few of their own possessions to add a personal touch that elevated the whole presentation. Crate and Barrel and Don Papa The Men in Action Entertaining and serving food were paramount in celebrity chef JP Anglo’s kitchen vignette. He used Crate & Barrel’s kitchen furniture: the Bluestone Kitchen Island and Console Table, the Enclume Standing 8-tier Pot Rack, and the Elevate Walnut Bookcase. JP Anglo with event host Rocio Mari “I’m a very outdoorsy type of person, so if I have to style my home I would choose wooden textures and lots of greens because it reminds me of nature and the beach. As you can see, I’m also a surfer so I definitely have that fun side. As a chef, I definitely like the little details that Crate & Barrel does—like the cutlery, kitchenware, and even the way they curate the whole experience. It can really reflect your personality,” says JP Anglo. Ben Wintle, the food lover and entrepreneur who founded the Booky App, served cocktails using Don Papa Rum—definitely one of the event’s highlights and icebreakers—at the lounge vignette he styled. Using Crate & Barrel’s Knox Modular Storage collection, Stow Leather Ottoman, and Skyler Rolling Bar accented with a 6” Banana Tree and Geobirdhouse, Ben’s vignette definitely brought out his minimalist style. Ben Wintle with Don Papa mixologist Kathryn Eckstein-Cornista “This campaign is about what we mainly represent in life, what we ‘as guys’ want in terms of our style. I think this whole thing really resonates my style because I’m more of a minimalist kind of guy and I’m also into sports and nature, so if you noticed, my space has a lot of sports equipment and wooden texture to it,” said Ben Wintle. DJ Jason Soong, on the other hand, took care of the entertainment while he played his music for the delightful guests. For his space, he chose Crate & Barrel’s Rochelle sofa and chair, Entu coffee and side tables, the Big Sur sideboard, and the Sawyer wine bar bookcase and leaning wine bar. Jason was definitely on fire that night as he played all of his upbeat tracks and made sure everyone left the event with good vibes. DJ Jason Soong A Hint of Island Paradise from Don Papa A cocktail party wouldn’t be a legit cocktail party without, yes, you got it right—cocktails! Master mixologist Kathryn Eckstein-Cornista made special cocktails highlighting Don Papa Rum, a premium rum distilled in the foothills of Mount Kanlaon, Negros and currently distributed in major retail stores and bars in the Philippines. One of the crowd favorites was the cocktail Coco Breeze, which celebrated the tropical ingredients and flavors of the Philippines with a combination of guava juice and traditional Nata de Coco. The pink color of the juice gave a beautiful contrast to the white jellies in this drink, complemented with the flavors of Don Papa Rum. Another drink guests could not stop raving about was Don Papa Rum’s Old Fashioned. According to Kathryn, this is an all time classic cocktail that never gets old. If you’re someone who’s really serious about drinking and savoring the natural taste of Don Papa, this drink is for you. But beware, because it can get really tricky as the night progresses. If you think you’re tough and can handle anything, think twice and don’t get too cocky! We’ve seen strong spirited men and women defeated by this. Some Old Fashioned, anyone? “Crate & Barrel has collaborated with Malt Manila and that’s how Don Papa came in. We are the beverage sponsor for tonight’s event and the whole theme which is What Men Want complements our brand to the very core. Our product is created for wholeheartedly independent people who have strong sense of self just like these three influencers,” said Cristhel Molina, Don Papa Rum’s brand manager for Asia Pacific. Don Papa Rum Gwen Cristobal, Rai Tan, Jamie Yap, Camille Malapas, and JP Anglo Malt Manila founders Trisha Juico and Karrie Bitanga Michelle Barretto, Lynn Pinugu Bermundo, and Kristine Banez With this latest campaign, Crate & Barrel together with Malt Manila and Don Papa Rum are definitely making a statement that men have become more multi-dimensional. Today, a man can neither have too much bravado nor too much sensitivity. He can embrace his many facets and by no means be defined by the expectations of others.