I still remember the first time I met Chef Jonvic Mangibin. It was for a dinner at the old Olive Kitchen and Kitchen Bar a couple of years ago, where he was the Sous Chef of Chef Rob Pengson. Being the second in command of a celebrity Chef would seem like a daunting task, but I was impressed with how Chef Jonvic seemed to have the full trust of his boss.
We were happy to meet Chef Rob, however we weren't expecting him to stay long because of his busy schedule. Lo and behold, Chef Rob just made sure his guests were settled in and comfortable, but by the third course, he bade us all adieu, and left for his next schedule, leaving Chef Jonvic with the reins of his kitchen without a second thought. Mangibin did not disappoint, as he masterfully churned out one dish after another, each dish better than the next.
We were happy to meet Chef Rob, however we weren't expecting him to stay long because of his busy schedule. Lo and behold, Chef Rob just made sure his guests were settled in and comfortable, but by the third course, he bade us all adieu, and left for his next schedule, leaving Chef Jonvic with the reins of his kitchen without a second thought. Mangibin did not disappoint, as he masterfully churned out one dish after another, each dish better than the next.
Chef Jonvic and I crossed paths once again late last year when I visited Lola Cafe, where he had added his own twist to its classic Filipino menu.
During my visit, Chef Jonvic kept gushing at his newest baby, which he called, "Liberty". As much as he enjoyed his work at Lola, he was incredibly excited to unveil to his new restaurant, where no pun intended, he had the "liberty" to infuse his own, original ideas.
Months later, I got the invite that I've been waiting for. Liberty Asian Refuge and Bar has opened in Eastwood!
