Hinabi Privé unveils its reimagined live art experience, blending Filipino heritage with innovative storytelling and immersive performances.
Hinabi Privé, hailed as “one of the most intriguing cultural debuts” by The Londoner Post, announces the launch of its reimagined live art experience, introducing an ultra-exclusive, invite-only series of immersive gatherings in Manila at undisclosed locations. This is the must-see, must-fly-to-Manila cultural moment of the year, a living art form rooted in Filipino heritage that transforms into an intimate ritual celebrating the archipelago’s soul through an unprecedented fusion of original music, craft cocktails, and multi-sensory storytelling.
The live art experience is the vision of Pat Villaceran, a business architect, vision mentor to startup founders and CEOs, and growth partner to some of the world’s most recognised startup brands. Now applying her innovation frameworks as a social entrepreneur, Villaceran is disrupting the hospitality realm with a groundbreaking, rebellious format that defies convention. Collaborating with British mixologist and composer James Harris, she redefines the boundaries between dining, performance, and cultural preservation. Each gathering accommodates an extremely limited number of guests, creating an ultra-intimate environment where Filipino traditions meet contemporary artistry.
“I’ve spent years scaling global brands through bold innovation strategies,” Villaceran explains. “Hinabi Privé applies that same non-confirmist and pioneering framework to cultural preservation. We’re not creating a restaurant experience; we’re building a live art format that challenges everything hospitality thinks it knows.”
“We’re opening temporary tears in the veil where Filipino culture can be felt, not just observed. Every element, from the Baybayin script to the indigenous ingredients, serves the story we’re telling about Filipino heritage.”
The Manila series culminates with a designated “mythic night” when the Hinabi Privé Society officially forms, welcoming its founding members into an exclusive circle. “DATU”-level (King-level) Society members gain lifetime access to future iterations and other membership benefits of this living art as it expands to select global cities, including London, Singapore, Dubai, and beyond, each location remaining undisclosed until invitation.
Hinabi Privé, named after the Filipino word “hinabi,” meaning “to weave,” integrates locally sourced Filipino ingredients with original musical compositions created specifically for each gathering. UK-based performative bartender Clea Iqbal joins the creative team, bringing theatrical elements to the cocktail presentations.
“This art form honours the precision of Filipino weavers, every thread matters, every element connects,” explains Villaceran. “We’re weaving together food, cocktails, music, and design to create something that exists nowhere else.”
The transformation emphasises cultural authenticity through deliberate design choices. Electronic devices are prohibited during gatherings, encouraging participants to engage fully with the sensory ritual. The team sources ingredients directly from Filipino communities, ensuring each cocktail and dish tells an authentic story rooted in the archipelago’s diverse culinary traditions.
Harris, who specialises in bridging music and mixology through his firm, approaches each cocktail as narrative art. His background spans rock music performance and bartending in Wokingham, bringing an unconventional perspective to Filipino cultural storytelling. He positions the work as challenging traditional bartending hierarchies, viewing the craft as pure service rather than performance.
“Craft is emotion in structure,” Harris notes. “We prioritise emotional impact over technical perfection. This is experiential art, the goal is transformation, not entertainment.”
This live art form addresses a significant gap in global culture: the underrepresentation of Filipino heritage in experiential spaces. By creating an exclusive, ritualistic format, Hinabi Privé positions Filipino culture at the centre of a global conversation whilst maintaining accessibility through its Society model.
Each Manila gathering presents a unique narrative, with bespoke cocktail compositions and musical soundscapes designed to evoke specific aspects of Filipino identity. The team incorporates traditional practices such as Kamayan, the Filipino tradition of eating with hands, alongside contemporary culinary artistry.
“Filipino hospitality creates space for genuine human connection,” Villaceran continues. “We’re reviving traditions that modern society often loses, the last piece on the plate, the rhythm of sharing food, the generosity embedded in our culture. This is innovation with soul.”
Villaceran’s vision positions Hinabi Privé as more than a concept; it’s a movement reserved for the in-the-know. The Manila launch represents the inaugural chapter of an exclusive global journey. Following the Manila series, this hush-hush experiential ritual will emerge in select international cities, each gathering remaining invite-only and shrouded in deliberate mystique.
The art form operates on principles of impermanence and ultra-exclusivity. Each gathering exists as a singular, unrepeatable moment, accessible only to those who hold an invitation. Locations remain undisclosed until days before each gathering, adding to the allure of this luxury cultural experience. This philosophy reflects Filipino cultural values around fleeting beauty and the importance of presence.
Villaceran and Harris’s partnership exemplifies cross-cultural collaboration, with Villaceran bringing expertise in innovation frameworks and Filipino cultural narratives, whilst Harris contributes layered experiences in cocktails and musical composition. Together, they’ve developed Hinabi Privé into a transformative iteration that challenges the very definition of hospitality.
The Manila series marks a significant evolution in live art, positioning cultural preservation at the heart of immersive, ultra-luxury experiences. By limiting capacity, maintaining invite-only access, and prohibiting documentation, Hinabi Privé creates scarcity that elevates the value of direct participation over social media visibility, a bold, rebellious stance in today’s attention economy. This exclusivity signals an investment in a transformative cultural experience rather than mere entertainment.
Access to Hinabi Privé is strictly by invitation. Those seeking to experience this exclusive cultural ritual may request an invite at hinabiprive.com. Founding membership in the Hinabi Privé Society opens after the mythic night gathering, with selection based on alignment with the art form’s cultural values and commitment to preserving Filipino heritage.
About Hinabi Privé
Hinabi Privé is an ultra-exclusive, invite-only live art experience rooted in Filipino heritage, weaving together original music, craft cocktails, and multi-course cuisine. Founded by Pat Villaceran, global startup founder, CEO mentor, and innovation strategist, and musician James Harris, this hush-hush cultural ritual creates intimate spaces at undisclosed locations for a select few to engage with Filipino traditions through sensory storytelling. The name “hinabi” means “to weave” in Filipino, reflecting the art form’s philosophy of weaving diverse cultural elements into unified narratives. Request your invitation at hinabiprive.com.
Media Contact
For press enquiries, interview requests, or additional information about Hinabi Privé and the Manila series, please contact the Hinabi Privé communications team.
Dave Sy
Communications Manager
[email protected]
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