Named after his mother, Aurora serves fine wines and mostly Asian-themed dishes made with the freshest and highest quality ingredients from its quiet corner inside the Pacific Star Building in Makati.
Several floors above stands the office of the nearly 20-year-old DivinaLaw, the firm working behind the scenes—and sometimes at the frontlines—with some of the country’s richest tycoons and most influential personalities.
This setup was deliberate: it gave Divina, a self-confessed foodie, easy access to one of his favorite dishes, while letting him keep a close eye on its operations.
Just two years into this venture, and with a second restaurant opening in the Ortigas area, the effort has paid off spectacularly.
Slow cooking, bold flavors
At the inaugural Philippines Michelin Guide gala at the Marriott Hotel on Oct. 30, Aurora, helmed by executive chef Mark Sanches and sous chef Cehf Dani Lim, earned a coveted spot in the guide’s first-ever Philippines list (Michelin Selected).
“Tucked away on the ground floor of the Pacific Star Building, Aurora delivers Asian cuisine with a focus on slow, deliberate cooking,” according to the Michelin Guide, a global authority on the best dining experiences.
“The chef honors and tributes to the owner’s mother, heartfelt food that is grounded in the classics. Dishes such as crisp betel leaf cups or the standout hamachi collar – yellowtail fish, its skin grilled to a smoky finish, paired with lime and peanut sauce – showcase depth and finesse,” it added.
A rising restaurant group
Divina, who also serves as dean of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Civil Law, is quietly building a broader dining portfolio after opening Aurora two years ago.
“As a lawyer, there’s also a level of perfection and excellence in execution that I always strive for,” he had said.
During a meeting with business journalists last December, he shared that Aurora truly deserved a place in the Michelin Guide.
When asked about his peers in the restaurant scene, he said he holds deep respect for Ana Lorenzana de Ocampo and her fast-growing Wildflour Group.
The next big step with the opening of Bistro Aurora at The Podium in Ortigas.
The restaurant, located on the 6th floor of Podium, serves the same Asian-themed comfort food that’s aimed at a broader audience.
Divina hinted at a few more concepts on the way, suggesting his intent to conquer the restaurant scene with the same drive that defined his legal career.
Miguel R. Camus has been a reporter covering various domestic business topics since 2009.
