Envisioned by one of the country’s leading hair and beauty authorities as a semi-outdoor haven for clients and their companions to de-stress, pamper themselves and enjoy a good meal, Jing Monis Salon Al Fresco and Café in Pasay City is so far the first and only one of its kind in the country and perhaps the world.
By Alex Y. Vergara
Photos by Jar Concengco
Jing Monis Salon Al Fresco and Café, the latest addition to the Jing Monis Salon chain, now joins the ranks of older, more established branches in Greenbelt, Greenhills, Alabang and Quezon City.
Originally envisioned by Jing as an urban oasis for his clients to de-stress and pamper themselves “without leaving the city,” the recently opened Pasay City branch is the first and so far only one of its kind in the world, he says.
Set in a once empty lot that Jing acquired years ago from his relatives, his newest baby is composed of two single-story buildings—a spacious non-air conditioned common area consisting of eight chairs and a shampoo station, and a smaller air-conditioned private room, which can accommodate three to four people at a time, including Jing.
Menu of services
Several outdoor chairs on the opposite side of the gravel-covered garden come with huge beach umbrellas, where Jing’s team of manicurists do their magic. Several long, weather-beaten wooden picnic tables occupy the middle of the garden, while a makeshift kitchen fashioned from bamboo and nipa, which is situated opposite the main salon area, supplements the café’s main kitchen in the old wooden-and-concrete house in front.
“But unlike the common area,” Jing explains. “Our small private room only attends to those who belong to the same bubble or family. We decided to limit its use within the same group for safety reasons.”
Those who wish to avail of Jing’s salon services are still advised to book in advance. But diners, except big groups, are welcome anytime to drop by to satisfy their cravings. Jing has devoted his Fridays and Saturdays to personally attend to clients in his Pasay City branch.
Going into this direction, Jing explains, is his way of providing people who are still reluctant to have their hair, nails and makeup done in a more public and enclosed setting like a mall-based salon, to finally venture out and enjoy themselves.
At the same time, the veteran stylist offers changes and additions that are sure to attract clients to troop all the way from, say, Quezon City or Alabang to his new place. Since there’s hardly any decent restaurant in the area, much less a coffee shop, Jing thought of putting up his own café to serve clients as well as an additional source of revenue.
Like in his previous ventures, Jing, who remains very close to his siblings, opted to make his Pasay City expansion a family affair by involving them and a number of their children.
Family affair
He also decided to do away with the services of an architect, interior designer and even landscaper, and relied primarily on his vision and the advice of family members. Rather than go the usual route by coming up with structures inspired by Mediterranean or Asian minimalist aesthetics, Jing opted for a more modern but rustic Filipino look.
“And that involves using vintage wood, including hard-to-find narra, from our demolished old house, and either incorporating them directly unto the structures and furniture pieces, or refashioning them into sliding doors and door jambs,” he relates.
Most of his modernized furniture pieces made of rattan are on loan from designer and good friend Jed Yabut. The same goes for artworks displayed on the walls by various up-and-coming artists.
“In a way,” says Jing, “the place also doubles as a furniture showroom and gallery. Clients are welcome to buy the pieces. Proceeds from the sale of the artworks will go directly to Bahay ni Maria, a home for elderly and abandoned women in Calamba, Laguna, which I’m supporting.”
After he and a landscape architect he previously hired were unable to agree on a common design, Jing decided to take matters into his own hands. “I don’t want a lush, English-type garden,” he tells us. I don’t even know what some of the plants’ names are. I chose them for their appearance.”
Side by side with his menu of beauty services, Jing offers clients and their companions a range of coffee and other beverages, including wine, pasta dishes and classic Filipino favorites such as chicken and pork adobo, pork binagoongan, ginataang puso ng saging, sinaing na tulingan and lumpiang shanghai stuffed with ground bangus, among other dishes.
Wizard in the kitchen
This time, Jing partnered with his nephew Renzo Monis, a young chef, and his friend, a seasoned barista, in putting up the café. You see, apart from knowing at a glance what shade of hair color or foundation suits you, this master stylist also knows his way around the kitchen.
“I grew up in this part of Pasay,” Jing shares. “Many of the dishes came from recipes that have been passed down from one generation to another.”
The house where Jing and his immediate family used to live is no more, but his late aunt’s house in front of the property, a vintage structure that dates back to late 1930s, still stands. Jing later bought the vacant lot behind the house from one of his cousins and, for the longest time, generated income from it by turning it into a parking lot.
But more than a year into the pandemic, and despite the lifting of government restrictions that cut the beauty and service industries some slack, Jing was still hard-pressed generating profit, let alone making both ends meet.
Along with his beauty salon on wheels, where some of his best stylists, garbed in face masks, PPE and all, provided home service to clients, Jing put to good use his knowledge in the kitchen by offering various home-cooked dishes via delivery at the height of the pandemic.
“Those were challenging times, but, in a way, I also found reasons to feel joyful and hopeful because they brought out the best in us,” he says. “We became more creative.” And from that out-of-the-box thinking later came Jing Monis Salon Al Fresco and Café.
Located at 2628 Tramo St., Barangay 51, Zone 8, Pasay City, Jing Monis Salon Al Fresco and Café is open Monday to Sunday. For inquiries, call 0917-5630875.
