RAYMOND JOSEPH, the youngest of the four Joseph brothers running the country’s pioneering wine and spirits importer and distribution company, Philippine Wine Merchants (PWM), is the only Filipino I know that is a real sake sommelier. Raymond has been frequenting Japan since 2009 to learn more about sake since PWM took on the distribution of Gekkeikan Sake Company Limited -- one of Japan’s oldest (founded in 1637), and perhaps the largest, sake company in the world, from Fushimi district, Kyoto prefecture. Raymond even underwent a rigid two week “Sake Sommelier Apprenticeship” crash course from Gekkeikan over eight years ago, and has been attending sake courses from different prefectures to further hone his knowledge. This is Raymond’s passion now, and with PWM as his vehicle, Raymond is dead set on bringing sake culture to the Philippines.

WHILE THE recent holiday nearly bankrupted us as we splurged on gifts and food and travel abroad, let’s usher in the New Year with new experiences that don’t break the bank — unless you buy a piece of good art (which is an investment!). Here is a list of some of the galleries in the metro that offer good Filipino art — and entrance is free (or very nearly).

LAST YEAR’s theater scene was lively and jampacked. This year is shaping up to be just the same, if not more.

FOR CULTURE vultures, 2019 will hold a dazzling array of museum exhibitions. From London to Los Angeles and Brooklyn to Basel, there are thoughtful, sweeping, and often provocative shows to look forward to.