Taste of Home is an establishment in itself. As a child, visiting Matina Town Square came with a specific routine: the playground first, and then Taste of Home for mallow bars and pastries while my parents chatted over coffee. I grew out of the monkey bars, but the Taste of Home habit stuck. The place remains warm, nostalgic, and familiar.
And on one rainy June afternoon, it became the setting for something new.
That day, I was there not just for sweets and memories but for a story: one I’ve been meaning to write since I first experienced Gay Drinking with Carlos at last year’s Davao Food and Wine Festival. I had heard the buzz long before then—how Carlos Mangcupang’s boozy explorations were making waves in the food scene not just for being inventive, but also undeniably, unapologetically queer. When I finally tasted his cocktails, it clicked. These weren’t just drinks. They were declarations.
Photos from WIM in Davao
There’s something magical about watching Davao flavors transformed in a cocktail glass: Menzi pomelo that punches through, house-made hibiscus syrup, and maybe even biasong used in ways you never imagined. But beyond that, Gay Drinking with Carlos represents two kinds of pride: one rooted in identity, and another rooted in place.
So when Carlos walks into Taste of Home—Chapell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!” playing in the background, a multi-colored tiny bayong in hand, its handles strung with a keychain of miniature vegetables—it makes perfect sense. Camp meets comfort. Kitsch meets legacy.
Photos from WIM in Davao
He sits with me while I’m already picking at the French Apple Pie with Grated Cheese and Warm Butterscotch Sauce and lemonade I ordered. We waste no time. Within minutes, we’re talking about growing up in Davao, the sting of childhood bullying, and the way queerness and creativity have always been tangled up in his life.
“Kabaklaan ko ang nagdrive, kaartehan ko ang nagdrive sa kung anong meron ang Gay Drinking [with Carlos],” he says with a laugh—but there’s weight behind it.
Carlos speaks of kabaklaan not just as identity, but as fuel; one that powers his flavor choices, his storytelling, and even his team dynamics. He talks about being bullied growing up and how those early experiences sharpened his grit.
“All gays are creative and hardworking,” he tells me. “Grit comes from fear and pressure. True skill doesn’t come from comfort.”
He says the humble team at Taste of Home has gotten a taste of that, too—the pressure, the hunger to prove, and the payoff of creating something worthwhile.
Carlos is fresh off placing 4th in the Diageo World Class Philippines competition, where mixologists from all over the country craft drinks using specific spirits and ingredients. He first joined last year as the only Mindanaon—and this year, it was still the same.
For the final round, he crafted a drink called Bulawang Agila, inspired by sikwate from Bangkerohan and the rich chocolate heritage of Davao, now the country’s official Chocolate Capital. His garnish? A gold motif inspired by the Surigao Gold treasure—specifically the Kinnari, a vessel that’s half-woman, half-bird. A symbol of beauty, hybridity, and power.
That same love letter to Davao is visible in his video Flavors of Mindanao: Kini Ang Dabaw.
“Davao is so much more than what you hear,” he says.
“[The goal was to show] na ito ang Davao. It isn’t perfect but it’s beautiful. Sobrang dami ng pwedeng ipangmayabang ng Davao.”
And yet, despite his accolades, Carlos admits he wasn’t always proud of his craft.
“I only started feeling proud after World Class,” he says. “Standing in front of three international judges and the people I look up to in the bar industry—I showed up, and that was enough.”
When I ask him about Pride in Davao, he’s measured but hopeful.
“I’m blessed to not feel discrimination where I am. And it’s so nice now—there are so many queer-owned businesses in Davao. When people don’t have to hide, that’s when connection begins. That’s how safe spaces are built.”
As for Gay Drinking with Carlos, it’s far from a static brand. It’s a living, evolving platform—and Carlos is always pushing the next iteration. He shares how a major driving force behind his work is the fear of becoming irrelevant.
“The only constant thing in this world is change,” he says—not once, but multiple times throughout our conversation, like a mantra. “If you don’t embrace change, you get left behind.”
Taste of Home, ever cheeky, echoes that philosophy with its tip jar sign: “If you don’t like change, leave it here.”
And Carlos walks the talk. He sketches his own menus. Designs event art. Experiments with Davao-grown ingredients. Pushes new ideas to the surface even before old ones settle.
“Kung hindi mo gagamitin yung alam mong gawin, sayang,” he says. “You have to use your kabaklaan and creativity. Don’t waste it.”
Photo from WIM in Davao
He credits the momentum behind Gay Drinking with Carlos to years of hard work and, most importantly, to “clients turned friends, turned family”—people who saw his vision and poured into it.
This year, that vision culminates in Baklaan sa Davao 2, a Pride event happening on June 21 at Taste of Home.
He’s bringing in top DJs for a night of flavor, flair, and Filipino-fabulous. Expect pours from Manila, Davao realness, and a crowd ready to celebrate queerness out loud. He says that this event, just like last year’s, is his gift to Davao for Pride month.
When I ask him what Pride means to him, he pauses. Then, clearly and with conviction,
“It’s recognizing your story and owning it. We all have different stories to tell, but the point is understanding that this is your reality. You can go with the flow, or against it. But you’re responsible for who you are—and who you’ll become.”
“It doesn’t end with you,” he adds. “If you’re in a position to create a safe space for others, that’s part of the job too. When you finally have a voice, it becomes your responsibility to make sure others are heard.”
And as if on cue, Chapell Roan sings in the background: “Love Me Anyway.”
At its core, Gay Drinking with Carlos isn’t just Taste of Home’s bar or a pop-up. It’s a love letter to Davao, a stage for queer artistry, and a reminder that safe spaces don’t have to be grand—they can begin with a drink, a story, and someone who dares to make space. If you’re looking for a safe space in Davao, visit Taste of Home Davao
ALSO READ: A Night Out in Davao: 7 Restaurants and Bars to Dine and Unwind
Do you have a story for the WhenInManila.com Team? Email us at story.wheninmanila@gmail.com or send us a direct message at WhenInManila.com Facebook Page. Interact with the team and join the WhenInManila.com Community at WIM Squad! We also share our stories on Viber, join us!
