The Christmas table

(Part II)

- OF TREES AND FOREST FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT MANNY VILLAR

We recently opened Balustre in Crosswinds, Tagaytay. I envisioned it as a nod to the Filipino way of gathering around the table—a place that celebrates delicious regional dishes and the memories that come with every bite. I imagined every meal becoming a moment filled with stories, laughter, and the familiar comfort of home. I also saw it as a way to revive a Filipino tradition now threatened by modernity and technology.

The Filipino tradition of gathering around the dinner table to share food and stories has changed a lot. It was a quiet, almost unnoticeable change: phones appearing beside plates, messages buzzing in the middle of conversations, someone pausing a story to reply to a chat. At first it felt harmless, but slowly the rhythm of our meals shifted. Where there used to be long conversations, there were shorter answers. Where eyes used to meet, they now looked down at screens.