Pilgrim finds home, venture in Baguio

There was a time when wine was not on the list of drinks to accompany Filipino celebrations. It was usually beer and traditional hard liquor, such as brandy and rum.

The taste preference has shifted to include wine, however, as more Filipinos broadened their palate and became more willing to experiment. This spelled good news for La Peregrina Filipina, a family-owned wine-import business based in Baguio City. Established in early 2019, La Peregrina Filipina, or “The Filipina Pilgrim,” takes inspiration from the Spanish roots of its founders, the Manzanillo family. Drinking wine with a meal is common in Spain and a part of the culture of the Manzanillo family. “Our family has always been into wine. You could say it runs in our DNA. From our grandparents to my parents, down to us, the motto has always been ‘where there is wine, there is food, family and friends!’ Wine is, indeed, a beverage very close to our hearts,” shares Raymund Manzanillo, who cofounded La Peregrina Filipina with his parents, Maria Raquel and Carlos Manzanillo, with other family members and friends.

La Peregrina Filipina founders, Raymund Manzanillo and his mom, Raquel.

“La Peregrina is a story of diaspora; of leaving and returning and establishing a beautiful legacy in a country that is closest to our hearts. It’s a story of how our ancestors from Spain came to the Philippines passing on beautiful layers of culture from one generation to the next,” shares Raymund.

This is done by bringing in specialty wines that are not easily found in other stores in the Philippines. Such is the meticulous care the owners pour into their wine business, putting everything into consideration, by understanding the growing Filipino wine culture and knowing that the food and beverage industry is constantly reshaping.

Cultural bridge

“La Peregrina Filipina acts as a cultural bridge by partnering with global wine producers in the importation, distribution and marketing of quality products that can be found no place else in the Philippines,” he says. Bodegas Luzón is one of La Peregrina Filipina’s Spanish partners that produce quality wines from the D.O. Jumilla. It is also one of its most historic wineries, producing wine since the late 19th century. Plus, Bodegas Luzón was named after the largest island in the Philippines and traces back to 1841 when Don José de Molina, commander of the Royal Armies stationed in the Spanish colony of Manila, retired back to his homeland of Jumilla, where he christened his vineyard as Finca Luzón in honor of the Philippines.

Raymund Manzanillo of La Peregrina Filipina primarily handles the family business based in Baguio City. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

“If you come to think of it, there is just so much good wines waiting to be discovered. We take it upon us at La Peregrina to look for these gems and share it among wine lovers and enthusiasts all over the country,” he adds.

As a proud family-owned business that’s riding the challenges of the pandemic, La Peregrina Filipina strives to make available to the Philippine community some of the world’s quality brands of Spanish wine.

“We understand the need to adapt to ever changing fortunes of time now more than ever. While we can never predict the economic landscapes, it is our duty to uphold the legacy passed on to us from our ancestors. We do this through La Peregrina Filipina. After all, it is not just a story about our family, but also our deep love for this country,” Raymund says. —CONTRIBUTED INQ