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We just learned that Cris Villonco, who will be reprising Cherie Gil’s landmark role as Lavinia Arguelles in the stage adaptation of Bituing Walann Ningning, has always been a Makati girl. “I’ve lived in Makati all my life,” she says. And then: “Nako, ito na naman. Sasabihin nila sosyal ako,” she deadpans. We talk to her about all her favorite things in the city.
BEST THING ABOUT YOUR LOCALE: Everything is accessible. I can go to Rockwell in 5 minutes, Greenbelt in 5 minutes. Maybe it’s the location of my village more than anything, but really, everything is accessible. And everything is walkable, especially in the business district.
BRUNCH: I go to Apartment 1B (G/F, One Rockwell, East Rockwell, Rockwell Drive, Makati. +63 2 8693530. 7am-11pm) or Via Mare (Rockwell Drive cor Estrella Street, Rockwell. +63 2 8981305. 11am-11pm) in Rockwell. In Via Mare, I always have their corned beef sinigang (PHP365), even for brunch. Hinihingi ko talaga yun. If not that, I’ll have puto bumbong (PHP80).
COFFEE: I’m a Starbucks girl. I will always be alone in a Starbucks in either Rockwell or San Antonio (2/F San Antonio Plaza, McKinley Road, Dasmariñas Village, Makati. +63 2 5066459. 6am-10:30pm) doing my quiet time. Quiet time means 10 minutes of me, having my soy latte (starts PHP115), reading something and shutting everyone out.
LUNCH: It’s always going to be Japanese because I’m always watching my weight. I have a lot of favorites in Makati: Kuretake (149-150, Rockwell Dr cor Estrella Street, Rockwell, Makati. +63 2 8980509. 11am-2:30pm, 5:30pm-10pm), Kai (G/F Greenbelt 5, Ayala Center, Makati. +63 2 7575209. 11am-2pm, 6pm-10pm), Isshin (2/F Colbella Arcade, 910 Arnaiz St, Makati. +63 2 8441512). But when I’m working in Quezon City, I go to Kozui (258 B. Tomas Morato, +63 2 4132705. 9am-1am), the tea pace. They have the best spinach soup and chicken wrap. I can get stuff there for under PHP200 bucks.
DINNER: It’s dinner with family and it’s either in my house or in my tita’s house in Valle Verde. It’s never out-out. Dinner is usually potluck and we all have our specialties. My lola likes lengua, my tita lines spaghetti. My mom will always be diet food.
DRINKS: Sorry, I’m boring. I don’t drink. I will do social drinking if I have to, which means 1-2 sips of alcohol. Ten sips max. I relax by watching TV.
Photos: Kuretake/Facebook, Kozui/Facebook, Via Mare/Vozzug
