Pola Esguerra del Monte

I specialize in stories for the 1%. Covered luxury, gastronomy, fashion, arts, and other fine pursuits before becoming a pioneering editor of a title under Southeast Asia's first business newspaper. Currently promotes cutting-edge skyscrapers and villas by the #31 Designer of the World.

CNN • 17th March 2020

Filipino airline employees remain hopeful amid aviation’s ‘worst crisis’ in history

Landing on deserted airports aboard near-empty planes, airline workers feel the trepidation in the air as the world faces this century’s biggest crisis: the novel coronavirus pandemic.

BusinessWorld • 9th August 2017

Hong Kong’s swans

In dingy theaters and man-made canals not too far away from where domestic workers spend their Sundays off, other Filipinos assume the fantastic roles of swans.

Weekender • 28th August 2015

When the ghosts come to town

In this chaotic, ramshackle world that is Manila today, businessmen, the work force, the economy — all are still haunted by the so-called "ghost month."

20th August 2015

Tara, kain! Culinary destinations in the Philippines

The present generation of Filipino chefs are spreading the gospel of good local cuisine. The mission, however, requires resolving what could be a marketing problem.

BusinessWorld Weekender • 7th August 2015

Bitch, I'm Watching Madonna

The social implications of watching Madonna live in Manila

BusinessWorld • 26th June 2015

The economics of being transgender

As economic reasons hinder some trans people to receive the health care they need, the effects on their overall mental health threaten the way they function every day.

BusinessWorld • 14th May 2015

Small plates transport diners to France

A cigarette-sized stick of duck liver terrine, buttery foie gras, itsy bitsy slices of fruit, a drizzle of honey and a dollop of spicy red wine jelly, everything arranged like an edible galaxy—miniature instead of infinite.

BusinessWorld • 29th April 2015

Fusión Revolution

A squab lies in the middle of the plate, its stiffened neck and dried-out eyelids a portrait of death.

High Life • 1st May 2014

The counterpoint of Daniel Libeskind

Rectilinear distortions as tense as an Alkan fugue. Finding lightning.