Tatler Philippines – March 2026

Summary

Iza Calzado, photographed by Ryan Tandya in a Christian Dior couture gown, headlines Tatler Philippines March 2026 with a 12-page dual-issue feature that positions her as both cover star and guest editor for the magazine's women-and-art edition. The 178-page issue also marks 25 years of Tatler Philippines with a "25 Influential Women" portfolio spanning politics, fashion, science and activism.

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Calzado's profile ("Work of Art," p.110) reveals her pivot from acting to producing: she optioned a Filipino novel for screen adaptation in 2025 and is developing a documentary on postpartum mental health. The "25 Influential Women" portfolio (p.122) names Senator Risa Hontiveros, fashion designer Mich Dulce, marine biologist Dr. Aletta Yñiguez and Olympic gymnast Aleah Finnegan among its honourees. The Features section carries a 6-page investigation into anti-ageing peptides (p.54), a profile of Indonesian-French architect Nadya Hutagalung's bamboo school in Bali ("French Flair," p.44), a Gen.T special on 8 under-35 founders (p.66), and a deep dive into the electric-vehicle transition in the Philippines ("The Electric Shift," p.168). The Style section runs 22 pages anchored by a Valentino shoot shot in the Banaue Rice Terraces ("In the Presence of Valentino," p.96).

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Regular departments include Editor's Note (p.15), The Guest List (p.14), a Calendar (p.72) and In the News (p.74). The Scene section (p.18-32) covers 5 events: the Toast to the Future gala, a Rooted in Resistance exhibition, and a 25-year retrospective of the BenCab Museum. "The Art of Feeling Good" (p.88) is a 6-page fashion story blending ready-to-wear with wellness accessories—yoga mats, meditation cushions, weighted blankets. The Last Word (p.178) closes with a sustainability entrepreneur's advice on circular fashion.

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Content Guide

▸ Cover Story

p.110 · Work of Art
Iza Calzado, 43, describes the 18-month depression she experienced after her 2022 pregnancy and how therapy, Pilates and a podcast called The Real Thing helped her rebuild. Her production company, Artikulo Uno, optioned the novel "Smaller and Smaller Circles" for a 2027 feature film. She now allocates 30 percent of her annual income to mental-health advocacy.

▸ Features

p.54 · The Peptide Phenomenon
A 6-page investigation into anti-ageing peptides. Dr. Aivee Teo explains the difference between copper peptides (for collagen) and GHK-Cu (for wound healing). Cost ranges from PHP 2,500 per session for topical serums to PHP 15,000 per session for injectable treatments at licensed clinics. Always patch-test a new peptide serum on your inner arm for 48 hours before applying to the face.

p.66 · Gen.T: 8 Under-35
Eight founders under 35 with a combined PHP 600 million in revenue. Fintech founder Miguel Cuneta (SquidPay) does PHP 200 million in monthly transactions. Agritech start-up Mayani raised USD 3.2 million in Series A. All 8 are hiring—open roles listed on the Tatler Gen.T portal.

p.168 · The Electric Shift
The Philippines' EV transition lags behind Thailand and Indonesia: only 2 percent of new car sales in 2025 were electric. The feature cites BYD's new assembly plant in Laguna, charging infrastructure gaps and the Senate's proposed EV incentives bill. The practical advice: lease an EV for 2 years rather than buying, given the expected battery-price drop in 2028.

▸ Style

p.96 · In the Presence of Valentino
Shot at the Banaue Rice Terraces, the 8-page spread pairs Valentino's 2026 resort collection with traditional Ifugao beadwork. Five local artisans contributed hand-embroidered pieces. Each look is photographed at sunrise to capture the terrace light.

p.88 · The Art of Feeling Good
A 6-page wellness-fashion crossover: Lululemon leggings with a Manduka yoga mat, Outdoor Voices sweat sets with a Theragun Pro, and a 24-karat gold-plated meditation bowl from Bali. Every product includes a Philippine retailer or online stockist.

▸ The Scene

p.24 · Toast to the Future
Tatler Philippines' 25th-anniversary gala at the Shangri-La at The Fort: 400 guests, 8-course dinner, a live auction that raised PHP 5 million for the Philippine Educational Theater Association. The cover feature's 25 women were each presented with a limited-edition porcelain plate from manufacturer Hidalgo.

▸ Regulars

p.178 · The Last Word
Sustainability entrepreneur Reese Fernandez-Ruiz answers 10 questions. Her Rags2Riches brand employs 320 women artisans. She reads labels for polyester content and won't buy above 30 percent synthetic. Her tip: "Rotate your wardrobe by season—store off-season clothes in vacuum bags to double their lifespan."

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Editor's Take

The 25 Women portfolio is the issue's cornerstone—genuinely diverse across age, geography and sector, with Senator Hontiveros sitting alongside a marine biologist and a Gen Z gymnast. Calzado's mental-health transparency gives the cover story unusual emotional weight for a lifestyle magazine. The Peptide Phenomenon piece (p.54) is the most substantively researched beauty feature in any Tatler Philippines issue this year. But the issue's "art" theme is inconsistently executed: the Valentino shoot at Banaue is visually striking but the styling has no connection to the rice terraces beyond location, and the "Rooted in Resistance" Scene piece is too brief (2 pages) to develop its thesis on indigenous art and colonial erasure.

Strengths
• 25 Influential Women list crosses sector, age and geography genuinely
• Peptide investigation with clinic prices, ingredient science and patch-test protocol
• Calzado interview addresses postpartum mental health with specific recovery tools

Weaknesses
• Valentino shoot location (Banaue) and styling lack conceptual integration
• EV feature correctly identifies barriers but offers a single action tip for consumers

Verdict: Recommended — The 25 Women portfolio makes this a keeper for brand researchers and feminist collectors; the peptide report is a bonus.