2025 has been a very good year for The Moment Group.
The Philippine-based F&B company received its first Michelin nod earlier this October when Manam at the Triangle, the flagship restaurant of a chain known for its takes on Filipino comfort food, received a Bib Gourmand distinction. A month later, Manam’s sister restaurant, based in Singapore, hayop, was named a Michelin Selected Restaurant.
Both Manam and hayop are part of The Moment Group’s portfolio of 80 restaurants, including the Din Tai Fung franchise in the Philippines.
According to the Michelin citation, the Manam flagship restaurant in Ayala Triangle “elevates the brand with its minimalist lines, vibrant Filipino pop art and airy, polished aesthetic. It feels welcoming despite its spaciousness. The extensive menu fetes Filipino flavours – try the Tagalog beef cheeks with calamansi, the spatchcock chicken inasal or the standout lechon manok with tutong longganisa rice with a playful choice of gravy: Red Horse beer or Sarsi.”
For more than a decade now, Manam has consistently attracted lines for lunch and dinner, a testament to the everyday craving Filipino diners have for the meals it serves. Manam’s signature riff on sinigang, which adds watermelon to the traditional sour broth, has become one of the restaurant chain’s most defining dishes. Its pancit palabok, a hot noodle dish topped by a medley of savory garnishes, has been transformed into a table side experience and a bold play on the dish’s textures. What’s more, its house crispy sisig, a crowd favorite, has become a crowd favorite, especially with its secret sour-savory sauce and chicharon bits.
Meanwhile, hayop in Singapore offers a vibrant play on Filipino dining. The restaurant was built as a space for Filipinos abroad who long for the flavors of home, and equally as a place for adventurous eaters who are eager to explore the breadth and depth of Filipino cuisine. Hayop’s menu is a reflection of how Filipino flavors can hold their own in a diverse culinary landscape such as Singapore’s.
“Hayop serves modern Filipino fare in a wood-rich space with a subtle maritime theme, a reference to the country’s fishing industry,” the Michelin website says. “The signature dish is Wagyu and watermelon sinigang, a tangy broth with fall-off-the-bone braised beef short ribs – best enjoyed with steamed rice. Pre-order the roast suckling pig 48 hours ahead; known as “lechon de leche”, it is copious enough for a few to share. Try their Asian-inspired fruity cocktails, too.”
“Our goal has always been to share Filipino food with as many people as possible,” said Moment founder and director Jon Syjuco. “That means carefully choosing spaces, not just in Manila, but in other cities, and in the case of hayop in Singapore, other countries where flavors can resonate. The possibility of new locations abroad means getting the chance to bring a taste of home to Filipinos living elsewhere — and introducing Filipino cuisine to new diners.”
Other F&B projects under The Moment Group include 8Cuts Burgers, Ooma, Mo’ Cookies, and Bank Bar.
Since 2012, Moment’s founders, Eliza Antonino, Abba Napa, and Syjuco, have been dedicated to creating dining experiences that are both unique and deeply personal for Filipino diners. As the company looks ahead, the founders see the Michelin recognitions as part of a larger movement. “Manila and Singapore are only the beginning,” said Napa and Antonino.
“Filipino cuisine is evolving in real time, and Manam has always been our way of telling that story — one dish, one meal, one diner at a time,” said Napa, founder and Chief Creative Officer. “For us, the Michelin nod isn’t just recognition; it’s a sign that Filipino flavors are resonating far beyond home. We’re committed to bringing this modern Filipino table to more cities around the world.”
“These acknowledgments remind us of the responsibility we carry,” says Antonino, founder and Chief Hospitality Officer. “We don’t just open restaurants; we sustain thousands of livelihoods and uphold the everyday hospitality Filipinos are known for. As we look outward to new cities, our promise stays the same: every Manam door we open must feel like home.”
