Ramblings on a Rainy Day

Ten years ago I lived in Loyola Heights in a townhouse that my husband and I rented for the first three years of our marriage. I loved that place and miss it dearly. We decorated it to our taste and liking—minimalist meets antique. Two of our most treasured possessions were also the centerpieces of our home: an ELBA cooktop which we mounted on a custom-built cabinet for our set of Calphalon pots and pans (wedding gifts) and the 4-seater white sofa placed strategically, facing the cooktop so guests could watch us whip up meals (we fancied ourselves to be “entertainers”). We did plenty of entertaining in those days, in fact we kept bottles of wine handy for friends, mostly single, who would drop by after work and leave in the wee hours of the morning. We didn't mind really as we didn't have kids yet.

Anyway, I digress. Memories of that townhouse, Loyola Heights, my alma mater U.P., Ateneo and Katipunan keep me coming back to the vicinity to see how much it has changed or hasn’t. Lately I’ve also embarked on a mission to help search for a venue for a Yoga Manila shala in Quezon City (it's just something I've taken upon myself to do since I live close by; I hope more would help out) to bring yoga closer to this location. With so many residents as well as students in the North, QC is definitely an untapped market.

I didn’t find any potential places for practice today. But my quest led me to discover the Manna Specialty Bakery on the ground floor of the Casa Baronesa building on Esteban Abada. Being a frustrated architect, I was initially attracted by the sage-coloured and angular structure of Casa Baronesa. Then the simple and classic signage of Manna caught my eye next. I had to walk in. Besides it was nearly time for lunch.


I am a bread and pasta person and prefer these complex carbohydrates to rice. I ordered the Kesong Puti sandwich and it was delightful! I’m no food writer but for me, the focaccia bread was the “life” of the sandwich. It had just the right crunch yet was soft and moist on the inside which was slathered with pesto, tomatos and a thick slice of native white cheese. A manna from heaven, indeed! I always take my sweet time when ordering my food—usually because I like to make my own decisions without the help of waiters--so it was quite rewarding to learn that this is their bestseller. They did insist that I try their cinnamon with walnut foccacia, four-cheese pizza on a whole wheat crust and pasta arabiatta next time.

Manna Specialty Bakery breads are not greasy I noticed. They bake their bread using traditional methods and without preservatives. They believe in extracting the fullest flavour of the grain. Manna breads are also sugar-free, egg-free and dairy-free. They offer a wide-range of specialty breads such as the cinnamon walnut focaccia, another bestseller, that are available on specific days (see bread schedule below).

The Manna Mantra

Manna "Bread Schedule"


I had my sandwich with a cup of Benguet coffee, not my favourite but definitely better than Starbucks. The interiors are small but cozy, inviting and conducive to long conversations with good friends. Would be a great place to relax after a yoga class nearby. Om.

[Images from the Manna Specialty Bakery website and food bloggers]