Tasteful Traditions: Make Thanksgiving extra special with SM

When DJ, host, and media sweetheart Andi Manzano-Reyes gave birth earlier this year, fans from her earliest radio days and folks from the world over were all raring to tune in. First-time parents GP and Andi, their families, and the 91,000 or so doting netizens have found a darling in their daughter, Olivia Manzano-Reyes.

“The amount of joy she brings us has become so uncontainable,” says GP, creative director of the Century Properties Group, and co-owner of Draft, 71 Gramercy, and The Palace. If the daily flood of double-taps and comments are any indication, this joy has spilled over to the rest of the online public. “What began as social media posts of her photos for our friends and family has brought an even exponential amount of joy to people we’ve never even met.” It’s because the 7-month-old Olivia exudes the warmth that her parents give.

NEW EXPERIENCES
“Going on trips is the best family bonding for us because it's just us three, seeing the world and having new experiences,” says Andi.

For the past two years, the couple has been flying to Singapore and back for annual family festivities. GP’s siblings, and this year also Andi’s brother, are all abroad for work; these seasonal traditions allow them time for brief reunions. “That's what happens when we get older,” says Andi. “People start working and have careers.” This year, however— the first that they will spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with Olivia— GP’s family is flying home for the holidays. “We want Olivia to feel the essence of a Filipino [celebration].”

FAMILY TRADITION
Just as newborns have a way of instantly bringing families together, Olivia has provided everyone due cause to gather, dine, and celebrate. Brunches and dinners are all in order for the coming weeks. “It’s important to dine together. After a long day, you just want to reconnect with everyone and ask how their day went, and sometimes it’s the only time you have together, complete as a family,” says Andi.

When dining out, they’re at the recently-opened Halal Guys, getting their fix of the Chicken rice.

It’s always in childhood that people’s fondest memories are formed, and even as young as seven months, Andi and GP introduce Olivia to the culture of a loving home. Andi’s mother, Rose Manzano, couldn’t wait to dress up her grandchild, the way she did with her four girls in the family. “Many years ago there was a time when I would go to SM and I would have to go to all the departments to buy clothes for my kids,” she says. Whatever the apparel, we foresee that Olivia Manzano-Reyes will bloom as gracefully as her mother. “But still,” GP quips, “Daddy says no boyfriends allowed ‘til she’s 30!”

PERPETUALLY GRATEFUL
Andi’s parents, Rose and Bobit, have put up their own business at SM: Bath Origins’ first branch, offering natural products from soap, essential oils, odor eaters and diffusers. With thriving business ventures, media features, travels, reunions, and a newborn this year, the Manzanos and the Reyeses never run out of things to be grateful for. There is, of course, one common thread that binds all these. As Andi herself attests, “Family. Nothing else is a greater blessing.”

FAMILY FAVES

Their preferred shopping, dining, and bonding destinations at SM:

HALAL GUYS
“GP loves Halal. The second day they opened, I lined up to try some [with] him.”
— Andi Manzano

SKATING RINK
“[We remember] going to SM Megamall as a child because it was the only mall with a skating rink.”
— Angel, Bella, and Sofia Manzano

BOWLING ALLEY
“We loved celebrating our birthdays there!”
— Manzano sisters

DEPARTMENT STORE
“We had the girls teens, boys teens, girls pre-teens, toddlers and babies section to check all in one day! I had children of all ages and SM really served us well. And because it’s our love for the mall that we decided to put up our business Bath Origins’ first store there.”
– Rose Manzano