Text by Raymund Magno Garlítos Images by Noel Pabalate (Photo courtesy of The Hub partner Mickey Lu of Fabricca Manila) Then and now, the Perez-Samanillo Building has already been an oasis for entrepreneurs with big dreams. One of the country’s first department stores, Berg’s Department Store, was started in the 1930s by young German expatriate Ernest Berg who after many years of travel was smitten by the beauty of Manila and the bustling business district of Escolta, once the premier address for retail shops and professional offices for lawyers, dentists, and optometrists. Years later, a young entrepreneur of Chinese descent from Amoy, Sy Lian Teng, owned Cosmos Bazar and eventually took over the Berg’s Department Store in 1951. He would later buy the Perez-Samanillo Building from Cory Aquino’s family in 1979 and rename it First United Building. Upon his passing, one of his sons, Roberto Sylianteng, took the helm of managing the building. Recognizing the heritage of enterprise that is found in First United, Roberto and his wife Lorraine got interested in giving the space that was once Berg’s a new lease in life. During talks on the possibility of reviving Escolta, they met Marika Constantino and Gabriel Villegas, two of the four people behind arts collective 98B COLLABoratory. They started with the weekly Saturday x Future Market, which gave artists and budding entrepreneurs a space to promote their art and sell their products. The success of the Market would later on allow 98B to start The HUB: Make Lab, which, according to their website (http://www.thehubmakelab.ph), is “an incubation space for those  who wish to experiment on a more stable and sustainable setting.” According to Marika Constantino of 98B, “Each quaint space (ranging from 6.12 to 12.25 sq. m. in area), opens six days a week (Tuesday to Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.) are available through quarterly open calls,” she said. Each space is available for a three-month lease period from R3,500 to R8,000 a month, and it is up to the tenants whether or not to extend it. From 98B Feb. 24 to March 3, 2018, 98B COLLABoratory is holding its second bi-annual exhibition entitled “ESCAPE.” Mainly situated at the ground and mezzanine floor of the First United Building in Escolta, Manila, with other activities happening along the street like PAN/// at the Panpisco Building, Syvel’s wall along Burke Street and The Ruins (beside the Capitol Theater). The ESCAPE 2018 edition’s theme revolves around the Filipino root word “SAKSI.” It focuses on specific organized/curated/self-initiated projects of groups/collectives/individuals that “witness” or “bear witness” through art forms, practices, or forms of expression. Some of the tenants are involved with creating and selling artisanal products, arts and crafts, clothes and accessories.  Here are some of the people and businesses that thrive at The HUB: Make Lab. Folk1006 Brian Corella has always been passionate with his grooming business. Having opened a barber shop in Cubao Expo before, he thought of opening another one in Manila, being a true-blue Manileño (he hails from Tondo). Aside from affordable haircuts (basic is R200 and their trademark “folk” cut is only R350), they also sell Corella’s very own line of hair grooming products called The Maverick Pomade. Facebook and Instagram/folk1006 GEN.MDSE. Looking for something artsy that can’t be found elsewhere? Multifaceted artist Derek Tvmala (the ‘u’ styled like the ‘v’ in Bulgari/Bvlgari) sells a variety of merchandise—from indie fashion apparel and accessories, curio items and artworks—many of which are sourced and done by artist cooperatives and individuals. There’s something special and unique for all those who value art. Facebook/genmse The Den Those looking for a caffeine fix after an extensive tour of Escolta might want to try the coffee and tea offerings in this specialty coffee shop by Gabriel Villegas and business cohorts Arts Serrano and Carlo Magno Jose. Aside from the locally sourced coffee (courtesy of Kalsada Coffee, one of the HUB’s partners) and tea drinks, visitors can also relish the dreamy furniture created for them by Mickey Lu of Fabricca Manila (another HUB partner). Try their signature creation Berg, a concoction of espresso, coconut milk, and muscovado syrup. Facebook/TheDenManila; Landline: 960.3650 Fred’s Revolución Partners Gina Abuyuan and Derek Soriano bring the success of its pilot branch in Cubao Expo to Escolta, and along with it the feel of artistic life and the love for drinking and food. An array of scrumptious bar chow (try their lechon hainanese rice, salted egg wings, Thai scotch egg) and drinks like locally made craft beers (Pinatubo from Clark, Craft Revolt/Tap Station from Tagaytay, Beer No. 1 from Cubao) compliment the space that is also for exhibit and book launches and other events. Facebook/fredsrevolucion; Web: www.fredsrevolucion.com