I can still remember the fateful day I discovered Local Edition in Legaspi Village—my favorite coffee shop in Makati up to now. It was in 2015, back when I was still working at my previous job as a Marketing Manager of four beauty brands. My then boss used to live in the area and every month, we would schedule flatlay photo shoots of all the products I needed to create social media content for, in her very posh and Instagrammable condo unit.
The first time I encountered Local Edition, it was early in the morning, and I badly needed a cup of coffee to wake me up and give me the energy I needed to shoot photos and videos the entire day. I already started my obsession with coffee at that time, thanks to the Cupcake’s influence, and because it took me a while to get used to drinking coffee black, I would sometimes opt for a flat white without any sugar—and Local Edition’s flat white coffee was the one I instantly fell in love with.Despite how draining shoot days were, they suddenly became my favorite days of the month—all because I knew I’d be a meter or two away from Local Edition, where I can always get my flat white fix. Sometimes, I’d even have three in a day! And because of this, I grew a fondness for the coffee shop. I’d schedule meetings here, find a way to be in the area so I could order my favorite Flat White to-go, or just simply walk to the place from my office along Salcedo Street to grab myself a Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich (which goes perfectly well with their tomato soup!). I love their tagline of being a neighborhood cafe where locals can gather, be inspired, and create. I also remember asking them once or twice about the paintings and artworks on their walls, and I was told that they use their space as a platform where artists can collaborate with them, and send a powerful message through their work. My favorite area is #TheBookProjectManila’s corner, where you can donate books or grab a new one from their shelves (best enjoyed with a cup of coffee, of course!).
Recently, I spearheaded Calyxta’s brainstorming session for 2019 and booked the entire place for a few hours to hopefully motivate the Calyxta Crew in churning out ideas for next year—and it was so effective! Everyone was just fueled by caffeine and inspired to create a whole calendar of plans.
Nowadays, I still love visiting Local Edition (good thing Calyxta is just a 15-minute walk!). It’s a special place that reminds me of where I’ve come, and where I am now. And always, it has served as a conducive space where I’m encouraged to write another article, or come up with another idea (either for work or the blog). I love that it will always have that effect on me.
To know more about Local Edition or book them for your own brainstorming session or intimate event, visit their website here. You can also call them at (02) 556–9655 and (0905) 444-8797, or e-mail them at psst@localedition.ph.