Intramuros has always been pretty special to me. I’ve always loved visiting, walking the streets of old, resilient, historical Manila. I was proposed to inside the walled city and the reception for our wedding was in a small restaurant there as well. It seems fitting as my love affair with Manila has only gotten stronger even on those years spent abroad. Turns out LDRs can work.

I’m no expert though. While I do know my way around, it always offers a surprise or two that makes you want to come back. The Intramuros Administration recently gave a recommendation: Destileria Limtuaco’s museum. It was perfect for our group of diplomatic spouses and it’s something new even for me. I’ve been familiar with their products for quite a while as I always have bottles of the Mango and Calamansi liqueurs in stock for Filipino cocktails whenever we hosted at home and as gifts for my husband’s counterparts when we were posted abroad. So, on a cloudy Wednesday, we braved the dreaded comeback of Manila traffic for a morning of getting to know the country’s oldest distillery.

Chinese immigrant Lim Tua Co’s family recipe of Chinese herbal wine launched the business in 1852. Named Siok Hoc Tong,which roughly translates to “good fortune will come to the family,” the low-alcohol tonic mixed with Chinese herbs became popular in the country, especially among men due to its promises of vigor and vitality.

The Philippines has always embraced immigrants who come to its shores. Come to the family, good fortune did, as they were able to expand their business well through the years. The distillery was passed on to Limtuaco’s nephew after his son died. Now on its fifth generation, the business is being headed by a woman, Olivia Limpe-Aw, who’s steering the company into embracing modern techniques while maintaining some of its well-loved traditions.

Most Filipinos of my generation know of Destileria Limtuaco because of White Castle whiskey. Affordable but truly iconic because of its calendars and commercials on TV featuring a red bikini-clad woman riding a horse with a white castle behind her. Did it age well? Not really. But boy, was it effective some 20 years or so ago.

Everybody waited for who the next White Castle Whiskey Princess was going to be. Notably, the first one to ever grace the calendars was Sylvia Lichauco, daughter of former Philippine ambassador to the UK Marcial Lichauco. Since then, the company has had models, celebrities, and beauty queens on their calendars. The company recently announced their first, openly-queer White Castle muse—online personality Sassa Gurl.

We were walked through the process of creating the rum, whiskey, and herbal wines. The museum is not just for liquor enthusiasts as it also offers a chance to time travel within its walls through some personal items of the family—phones, typewriters, and even early Monroe computers used in the business. The tour ends with an optional tasting at the bar.

Their Intramuros Liqueur de Cacao was a runaway favorite in our group followed by Manille Liqueur in both Dalandan and Calamansi. The Amadeo Coffee Liqueur also garnered a fanbase, including myself.

Now on its fifth generation, the business is being headed by a woman, Olivia Limpe-Aw, who’s steering the company into embracing modern techniques while maintaining some of its well-loved traditions.

The bahay na bato (house of stone) where the museum is was acquired by the family back in the ’70s. This museum used to be a private spot for their family friends but it was opened to the public a few years back. Worth a visit not just for our foreign friends but for Filipinos as well. Another part of our heritage we can be proud of.

Filipino students thriving in Korea

Speaking of national pride, our envoy to Korea, Amb. Ma. Theresa Dizon-de Vega, recently shared some good news with this writer. Five Filipino students in Korea recently received scholarships from Booyoung Group via the Woojung Education and Culture Foundation.

The Filipino students are among the 89 international students from 34 countries who were awarded scholarships amounting to KRW 350 million (₱14.8 million) for this year’s first semester. These students received excellent marks in the foundation’s comprehensive screening which looked into their grades, academic attitude, achievements, financial needs, and future social contribution plans.

Established in 2008 by Booyoung chairman Lee Joong-keun, the Woojugn Education and Culture Foundation has been providing scholarships twice a year to international students from Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Booyoung Group is South Korea’s 17th largest company, which does business in the housing, leisure, overseas banking, and childcare.

Foreign education helps broaden one’s mind and allows students to pick out best practices abroad and bring it back home. “The Philippine embassy is pleased to note the increasing number of Filipino students, scholars, and academics in Korea. The people-to-people exchanges in the academic field is an important pillar of the active engagement between our two countries,” Amb. Dizon-de Vega said. “Scholarship grants by generous groups like the Woojung Education and Culture Foundation serve to motivate our students to aim for higher educational achievements.”

Congratulations to Robie Vasquez, Krizia Magallanes, Maria Victoria Faith Garcia, Clarissa San Juan, and Kristine Faye Mondares.