EJ wears Short-Sleeve Rayon Kona Camp Shirt South Pacific Swell by FAHERTY, Puretec cool™ Stretch Linen Cotton Walking Shorts Summer Khaki by Tailor Vintage, and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La);
Images produced by elsewhere studios for Rustan's
Rustan's Man On the Move: EJ Lagman's Life in Surftown
Rustan's Man On The Move:
EJ Lagman's Life
in Surftown
Rustan's Man On the Move:
EJ Lagman's Life by the Shoreline
EJ wears Short-Sleeve Rayon Kona Camp Shirt South Pacific Swell by FAHERTY, Puretec cool™ Stretch Linen Cotton Walking Shorts Summer Khaki by Tailor Vintage, and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La); Images produced by elsewhere studios for Rustan's
On the Move:
The Dynamic Lifestyle of
The Rustan's Man
In On The Move, we get a front-row seat to the Rustan's Man's fast-moving and fluid world. Armed with work-life balance, they dish out how they slow down in their daily routines and the fashion pieces that accompany them in their dynamic lifestyles.
Effortlessly cool and endlessly creative, he is a free spirit with a distinct style that reflects his unpretentious and continuously evolving personality. Get up close and personal with EJ Lagman as he shapes the narrative of Filipino cuisine in the thriving restaurant industry. Styled in the latest brands and collections from Rustan's Man 2.0, he shares a set of values that best define what a dynamic lifestyle is all about.
WORDS BY MARI SANTOS AND TIMOTHY DIAO
EJ wears Graphic Sun and Sea Tee White by FAHERTY and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La); Images produced by elsewhere studios
EJ Lagman, Chef and Entrepreneur
After studying culinary and juggling odd jobs in the kitchen, EJ Lagman opened his restaurant MAKAN—an experimental Filipino restaurant in the heart of surf town San Fernando, La Union. It prides itself on tying together nostalgia and the joys of dining; blending experienced Filipino flavors, creativity, culinary techniques, and everything beautiful about sharing a plate of food. MAKAN, for him, is an expression of what Filipino food can be.
How does food inspire your creativity?
Food inspires my creativity the same way skateboarding does: when I skate, I try to do a sequence of tricks in a line, using different obstacles (if possible), while keeping the flow going. With food, a complete dish is the line, the cooking methods are the different obstacles, and the different ingredients are the tricks. The challenge here is the creativity in dealing with all those different tricks so they all line up properly. I try to maintain a flow when I cook. That's basically when the entire process is harmonious—from getting your mise en place together up until the finished dish.
How would you want diners to experience Filipino food at your restaurant, MAKAN?
We call it experimental Filipino food because we’re trying to push the boundaries of what Filipino food could really be, but we still want our diners to experience a bit of nostalgia and just have fun while eating. Sharing is caring! And eating with your hands is encouraged.
I chose Filipino food for its simplicity and ‘cause we didn’t learn anything about it in culinary school, so I thought I could reimagine the dishes I had growing up with flavors and techniques.
How do you start your day? What’s the best part of your morning routine?
I start my day by walking on the beach with my wife, Alex and our two dogs, Buckwheat and Soba. Buckwheat’s a Great Dane and Soba’s a Boxer, and they have two very different personalities. My wife isn't really a morning person and I am, so our morning walks are really special ‘cause I feel like the four of us really get to spend that time together as a family.
How does an off-duty day look like for you? How do you wind down after a busy week?
What is an off-duty day? (Laughs) Our week really starts on Wednesdays with the weekends being the busiest. I guess ideally we’d be winding down on Mondays and Tuesdays but usually, that’s when we go to Manila for a supply run. If we do get to stay at home on those days, I'm usually on a board (surf or skate) and/or just lounging around really.
EJ wears (clockwise) Green Phalaenopsis Modern Barong with Collar Details by Kelvin Morales (available in-store at Rustan's Makati); Short-Sleeve Rayon Kona Camp Shirt South Pacific Swell by FAHERTY, Puretec cool™ Stretch Linen Cotton Walking Shorts Summer Khaki by Tailor Vintage, and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La); Cabana Organic Cotton Terry Cloth Polo and Beacon Trunk 7" Red Multi Floral by FAHERTY; Beacon Trunk 7" Faded Floral Batik Blue by FAHERTY.
Images produced by elsewhere studios for Rustan's
What does being “On the Move” mean for you?
For me, it means productivity. Whether it's for the mind, body, or soul, being on the move means doing good in any of those three respects. I believe life’s all about balance and anything you do to complement that is a win.
What does your everyday wardrobe look like? And what was your favorite look from the “Rustan’s Man On the Move” shoot?
I throw on anything light and airy. I live in a beach town so it’s always warm and humid.
I’d live in that Faherty Kona Camp shirt if I could! I sweat a lot but that button-up kept me nice and cool all day!
Rustan's Man On the Move:
EJ Lagman's Life
in Surftown
In On The Move, we get a front-row seat to the Rustan's Man's fast-moving and fluid world. Armed with work-life balance, they dish out how they slow down in their daily routines and the fashion pieces that accompany them in their dynamic lifestyles.
Effortlessly cool and endlessly creative, he is a free spirit with a distinct style that reflects his unpretentious and continuously evolving personality. Get up close and personal with Mr. EJ Lagman as he shapes the narrative of Filipino cuisine in the thriving restaurant industry. Styled in the latest brands and collections from Rustan's Man, he shares a set of values that best define what a dynamic lifestyle is all about.
Words by Mari Santos and Timothy Diao
EJ wears Graphic Sun and Sea Tee White by FAHERTY and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La); Images produced by elsewhere studios
EJ Lagman, Chef and Entrepreneur
After studying culinary and juggling odd jobs in the kitchen, Mr. EJ Lagman opened his restaurant MAKAN—an experimental Filipino restaurant in the heart of surftown San Fernando, La Union. It prides itself on tying together nostalgia and the joys of dining; blending experienced Filipino flavors, creativity and culinary techniques, and everything that's beautiful about sharing a plate of food. MAKAN for him is an expression of what Filipino food can be.
How does food inspire your creativity?
Food inspires my creativity the same way skateboarding does: when I skate, I try to do a sequence of tricks in a line, using different obstacles (if possible), while keeping the flow going. With food, a complete dish is the line, the cooking methods are the different obstacles, and the different ingredients are the tricks. The challenge here is the creativity in dealing with all those different tricks so they all line up properly. I try to maintain a flow when I cook. That's basically when the entire process is harmonious—from getting your mise en place together up until the finished dish.
How would you want diners to experience Filipino food at your restaurant, MAKAN?
We call it experimental Filipino food because we’re trying to push the boundaries of what Filipino food could really be, but we still want our diners to experience a bit of nostalgia and just have fun while eating. Sharing is caring! And eating with your hands is encouraged.
I chose Filipino food for its simplicity and ‘cause we didn’t learn anything about it in culinary school, so I thought I could reimagine the dishes I had growing up with flavors and techniques.
How do you start your day? What’s the best part of your morning routine?
I start my day by walking on the beach with my wife, Alex and our two dogs, Buckwheat and Soba. Buckwheat’s a Great Dane and Soba’s a Boxer, and they have two very different personalities. My wife isn't really a morning person and I am, so our morning walks are really special ‘cause I feel like the four of us really get to spend that time together as a family.
How does an off-duty day look like for you? How do you wind down after a busy week?
What is an off-duty day? (Laughs) Our week really starts on Wednesdays with the weekends being the busiest. I guess ideally we’d be winding down on Mondays and Tuesdays but usually, that’s when we go to Manila for a supply run. If we do get to stay at home on those days, I'm usually on a board (surf or skate) and/or just lounging around really.
EJ wears (clockwise) Green Phalaenopsis Modern Barong with Collar Details by Kelvin Morales (available in-store at Rustan's Makati); Short-Sleeve Rayon Kona Camp Shirt South Pacific Swell by FAHERTY, Puretec cool™ Stretch Linen Cotton Walking Shorts Summer Khaki by Tailor Vintage, and Sneakers by Satorisan (available in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La); Cabana Organic Cotton Terry Cloth Polo and Beacon Trunk 7" Red Multi Floral by FAHERTY; Beacon Trunk 7" Faded Floral Batik Blue by FAHERTY. Images produced by elsewhere studios for Rustan's
What does being “On the Move” mean for you?
For me, it means productivity. Whether it's for the mind, body, or soul, being on the move means doing good in any of those three respects. I believe life’s all about balance and anything you do to complement that is a win.
What does your everyday wardrobe look like? And what was your favorite look from the “Rustan’s Man On the Move” shoot?
I throw on anything light and airy. I live in a beach town so it’s always warm and humid.
I’d live in that Faherty Kona Camp shirt if I could! I sweat a lot but that button-up kept me nice and cool all day!
Be On The Move with the
Latest from Rustan's Man
All styles are available online, and more in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La.
Be On The Move with theLatest from Rustan's Man
All styles are available online, and more in-store at Rustan's Makati and Shangri-La.
Read more
Fashion
Rustan's Man On The Move: Life Through Ralph Mendoza's Lens
Get behind the lenses of Ralph Mendoza as he dominates the evolving photography scene. Styled in the latest brands and collections from Rustan's Man 2.0, he shares a set of values that best define...
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