So what do you do when you’re a lifestyle guru and award-winning TV show host visiting the Philippines? A lot of things, apparently, as seen in Martha Stewart’s recent trip, where she immersed herself in Filipino culture. From meeting with mayors to planting rice and baking, and even being the special guest of honor in ANC’s Leadership Series, Martha definitely keeps a tight schedule!
Meeting with Mayor Isko Moreno and Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat
On her first day, Tourism Sec. Berna Romulo-Puyat hosted a lunch for Martha at the National Museum of Natural History. In attendance were Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and fellow lifestyle moguls designer Kenneth Cobonpue, chef Margarita Flores and others. Martha was served Cebu lechon, tropical fruits, coffee from Filipino artisans and other Filipino favorites.
“The bottom line, of all the questions and answers raised during the program, one thing is important: ‘yung character and attitude (her character and attitude),” said Mayor Isko in a video captured by Philstar.com, who was recently awarded as one of PeopleAsia’s “Men Who Matter” 2019. “You see her character in answering things. She’s very sweet.”
Mayor Isko also fondly remembers Martha’s words when it comes to work. “Sabi n’ya (she says), ‘if you want to succeed, don’t relax,” the mayor emphasized.
Touring around the Philippines
Aside from visiting the National Museum of Natural History, Martha also went to Pampanga where the young-looking 78-year-old crossed one thing off her bucket list: planting rice.
Arriving in the province after a two-hour car ride from Manila, Martha worked the fields in an event hosted by farmer and philanthropist Andy Alviz. The town, she said in an Instagram post, “extol the importance of native rice for the local population.”
It also wouldn’t be a Martha Stewart trip without a trip to the kitchen, of course. As such, this domestic goddess did some baking with Panaderya Toyo in Makati City. She commended the team for being a “responsible and amazing” bakery, as well as for its approach towards sustainability. She described food in the award-winning establishment as “great-bread-no-waste organic local products,” in her Instagram post.
Oh, and she did some shopping at Greenhills, San Juan, too. She was welcomed by San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who she describes as a “popular, young, handsome and smart” Mayor. They were joined by Secretary Berna and Zamora’s wife, Keri.
Great conversations
It wasn’t all leisure for Martha though, who reportedly flew in primarily for ANC’s “A Conversation with Lifestyle Legend and Entrepreneur Martha Stewart,” hosted by Karen Davila at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila’s Grand Plaza Ballroom. There she talked about her recipes to success and shared sage advice to the executives and aspiring business leaders who attended. “I was lucky because when I started lifestyle, it was not an industry yet,” Stewart reminisced. “You have to ask, ‘Is an idea going to stick and appeal to a very broad audience? That’s why I’m successful, because it was a big enough idea to make a good business out of.”
The self-made billionaire also added that an entrepreneur should fill a void. “What doesn’t exist yet that you can fill that void? ‘Need,’ ‘want’ and ‘void’ – think of those three words all the time then make a business plan.” Highlighting the importance of hard work, she also revealed that she wakes up everyday before 7 a.m.
Martha also talked about what she has read about the history of the Philippines on the plane ride to Manila, before explaining that it’s reflective of how her mind is wired. “I was brought up that way: research, research and do more investigation.” While a crash course on Philippine history may have resulted in fun trivia for her, Martha is no stranger to Filipinos. The editor for her Martha Stewart blog, Jocelyn Santos, is, yes, you guessed it, a Filipino.
Now, let these be a lesson to all of us who want to be the next Martha Stewart!
