SPOT.ph's 24 Most-Read Features and Essays of 2024
The list is a reminder of what we lost, what we gained, and what gave us pause.
(SPOT.ph) It was a year of breakups, breakaways, and for a bunch of kids going through puberty, breakouts. It was the year of books and book sales—because was there ever a weekend when the Big Bad Wolf wasn’t hovering in some vast mall space helping us pile on more titles to our have-yet-to-read stacks back home?
It was also the year of the Eras Tour, the year of Bini, the year of screenshots, and the year we, including Small Laude, had to learn the dance steps to “APT.” The year 2024 will go down in history not only as the year when a Filipino athlete clinched a double gold victory at the Olympics, but also when our teleseryes, long threatened by the more immediate, more exciting entertainment offered on TikTok, had to fight tooth and nail just to get a slice of the Senate and QuadCom hearings viewership.
Actually, it's you who made this list
Pardon our reminiscing: it’s the last few hours before a new year and we can’t let go of the outgoing one just yet. So we drew up a list—well, it’s really more a list YOU created because it’s based on how many of you did the clicking and the reading. It’s 24 of our most popular features and essays of 2024 based on page views.
And looking at the lineup, it doesn’t only offer us a glimpse of the various topics we covered (uhm, that’s what you call range), but the topics that intrigued you enough to click (many of you eat out a lot, obviously, and thank you so much for coming to us for recommendations). This list is also a reminder of what we gained (quite a few pounds, TBH, from going thru the dining spots on our 50 Great Restaurants list), what we lost (a beloved vegan restaurant in Corner Tree Cafe), and who we lost (The Great Jaclyn Jose); who made us laugh (Davao Conyo!) and what gave us pause (the Yulo family drama and the online reactions to it).
Anyway, lest we burn our media noche handa and before we say adios to the Year of the Wood Dragon, here are the 24 Most-Read Spot.ph Stories of 2024, ranked. If you haven’t read some of these stories yet, the links are provided. Happy New Year!
Here are the 24 Most-Read Spot Features and Essays of 2024:
24. A Pasay Local's Guide to Shopping, Dining, Chilling at Cartimar
Who knew your Tito’s favorite shopping haunt for his Ban-lon shirts and imported perfumes is alive and well and serving the best chilled taho in town?
Our Cartimar guide here.
23. It's Not The Last Supper: No Reason To Be Outraged Over Drag Performance in Olympics
Our favorite excerpt from this very informative, very funny piece: “By the outpouring of performative outrage on Facebook, what a showcase it turned out to be. But hear me out: For those of you who saw blatant disrespect for our Lord’s passion and sacrifice with that bacchanalian display of drag queens and a Dionysus in blue body makeup, please remember that Christianity does not hold a copyright on arranging people around a table for a religious feast.”
The rest of Andrew Paredes' essay here.
22. We’re Tired of the Yulo Family Drama, Especially The Chloe Hate
It’s gone on too far and too long, and the body-shaming and sexist comments should just stop. Read Pola Del Monte’s think piece here.
21. The 10 Jaclyn Jose Performances We Will Never Forget
The Cannes-winning actress passed away in March but left us with performances we will forever remember.
Andrew Paredes lists the top 10 here.
20. This Chewy, Buttery Marikina-Made Pandesal Has Loyal Fans From Near and Far
The history, and the whys and hows of the Genesis Pandesal supremacy here.
19. Chef JP Anglo Shares His 10 Favorite Holes in The Wall
Sarsa chef JP Anglo sat down with Spot at his favorite inasal place in Makati to talk to us about his favorite holes in the wall, but also to teach us the best way to eat what is arguably the best chicken dish in the Philippines.
Secrets spilled here.
18. 10 Brutalist Buildings in Makati You Can See in a Day
Did you know the Makati CBD has the highest concentration of Brutalist buildings in the country? In this story, the nice guys behind Brutalist Pilipinas helped us draw up a guide for those inclined to go on a personal tour. Find it here.
17. Here’s Your Definitive Guide to Restaurants at Little Tokyo, Makati
From Sekitori to Seryna, we plot down the necessary stops to a complete Little Tokyo food tour here, recommendations included.
16. 10 Dance Studios in Metro Manila to Get Your Groove On
Because with all the TikTok dancing going around, you wouldn’t want to feel left out. So here’s a guide on where to go and what they do best—to equip you with the proper moves and the confidence to do them. Story here.
15. This Manila Library Keeps School Records of Rizal, Father Burgos, Mabini, et al
And also a copy of the oldest book printed in the Philippines, as well as the oldest Spanish-Chinese dictionary in the world. A guide to the 12 Most Important Treasures Inside the UST Library and Archives here.
14. Where Manila's Top Chefs, Food Folks Go When They're Craving Steak
Here's a list of the best according to those who really know. Find our story here.
13. The Davao Conyo Interview: 'Between Aircon and Kanal, My Humor is Room Temperature'
Quote from the introvert comedian Philip Hernandez a.k.a. Davao Conyo, in which we learn that he wants to be a zipper: "People need zippers but they don't talk about zippers."
For context, the full story here.
12. 10 Really Good Spanish Restaurants in Manila
A guide you can confidently keep coming back to every time your date/boss/ favorite parent wants a good Spanish meal—from the new Cantabria by Chef Chele to the classic go-to Cirkulo in Makati. Click on this link.
11. 10 Reasons Rizal Park Is Worth Visiting Now
"Reason no 4: You can bring friends and play chess at The Chess Plaza
The plaza, with its split-level brutalist design, opened to the public in 1979 to mark the occasion of the World Chess Championship that took place in the country's summer capital, Baguio. The event, which put the Philippines in the world chess map, was headlined by two Russian greats: Anatoly Karpov and Victor Korchnoi. Don’t worry about getting too much sun here: the trees in the area provide shade. And if you don’t play chess, you can just sit with your S.O. on one of the carabao head-shaped benches designed by National Artist Abdulmari Imao."
All 10 reasons here.
10. Meet Lyka Rayat, The Spunky Pinay Who Stole the Show at Ne-Yo's Concert in Manila
Many people like to blab about “living out loud” and “dancing like no one’s watching.” Well, guess what, some people actually walk the talk. Count Julianne Lyka Rayat among them. The 26-year-old cycling studio manager took on the dance challenge at Ne-Yo’s Manila concert last October 9 as if her life depended on it, and ended up stealing the show from the visiting R&B performer. We spoke to her a couple of days after, and found her even more admirable. Our story here.
9. Meet Carlo Alvarez, The Guy Behind BGC's Much-Talked-About Pizza Spot
Carlo Alvarez, the guy behind the swanky pizzeria Carlo's Pizza at the Asian Century Center, is passionate about food—and the environment he consumes it in. It shows in his JJ Acuña-designed restaurant, which is a mix of Italian and American sensibilities, just like the pizzas that come out of his oven. “I wanted it to be the kind of restaurant that serves the things that I want to eat on my off time…but in a nice setting for me to enjoy them,” says the 28-year-old. “Don’t get me wrong. I love Chili’s and I love their mozzarela sticks. I love calamari and all those things but I also want a nice setting to enjoy these things. I like it sexier.”
Carlo's profile in this link.
8. Inside the EDSA Architectural Gem You've Always Been Curious About
That geometric building that houses a KFC in EDSA that you've always wondered about? Well, guess what? We went inside, interviewed people, and got vintage pictures. You were taking too long! Anyway, did you know it's been there even before the MRT was completed, and even before the two EDSA revolts?
Here's the story by Mia Rodriguez.
7. Somebody Feed Phil was in Manila: Here's What Phil Ate, Where He Stayed, How He Charmed Fans
You mean you didn't know he was here? He stayed at the Pen, was in Tagaytay, and may have even managed a trip to Pampanga. You're lucky we got to stalk him. Here's our report, care of writer Michiko Manalang.
6. How Not To Cancel A Wedding: Lessons from the Bea-Dominic Split Aftermath
Favorite quote: "Keeping a breakup private is the most dignified way for A-listers—a.k.a. people no stranger to rumors—to weather a canceled wedding. This would include asking people around them to stop themselves from talking, even sharing cryptic posts, which, though vague, add fuel (no relation to Cleanfuel) to the fire."
For more context, Pola del Monte's piece is here.
5. A Love Letter to Cubao
For our Cubao Neighborhood Guide, we spent more time in the Araneta Center vicinity and neighboring environs than we did in the office. But no one can beat writer Philbert Dy who's been living in Cubao as far as we can remember, and whose mother even ran a cafe there in the 80s and 90s. Because of this, we asked him to write an ode to this most perplexing and seductive of Metro Manila enclaves.
Click to read the letter here.
4. Last Order at Corner Tree: Owner Chiqui Mabanta On The Journey of A Makati Dining Landmark
Before its OG branch in Jupiter Street closed its doors forever last September, we had one last meal at this pioneering dining spot. The success of this story just proved how many people loved Corner Tree. Read it here.
3. The Most Beautiful Restaurants in Manila, According to Design Pros
When we asked our designer friends to name what for them are the most visually stunning restaurants in Manila, we didn’t think we were also getting a lesson in taking note of things we overlook when we enter a dining space. So here are 25 of the most beautiful restaurants in the city, from the trained eyes of those who create beauty themselves. Story here.
2. 10 Libraries in Metro Manila That Are Open to the Public
A handy guide for students, writers, and anyone who just wants a quick escape and a book to read for free. Find it here.
1. The 50 Great Restaurants of 2024: Best of Manila and Beyond
Our annual list of excellent restaurants—from the standout hidden gems, buzzy spots, and chef-driven surprises from the year about to close. All them 50 are here.