EDWIN LOYOLA, left, DON JAIME ZOBEL DE AYALA, center, NES SANTIAGO, right

THE visual high one gets upon seeing a beautiful work of art is said to be the same as feasting on one’s favorite meal, or, in our case, a piece of meat.

That’s why some art galleries also serve well-thought-of food and drinks. Meanwhile, some bars and restaurants have monthly art exhibits, to entice the bohemian crowd to eat and drink—or just drink—like the Penguin Café and Art Gallery in Malate, Big Sky Mind in New Manila, mag:net Café on Katipunan Avenue, Ricco Renzo in Makati City, Bulan Restaurant in San Juan, and some other lesser-known hideaways in equally lesser-known villages in the metro.

We don’t need to get lost and fancy a bohemian façade in order to enjoy stirring works of art while feasting on our favorite baby back ribs and anything grilled. All we need to do is visit any of the two Tony Roma’s Restaurants, which is celebrating its 12th year in the Philippines with a monthly exhibit of some of the finest photographers on our shores.

We say finest because the names include Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala, Kitkat Zobel de Ayala, John Chua, Edwin Loyola, Nes Santiago, Sam Molina, George Cabig, Bobot Meru, Emil Davocol, Rey Ortiz and other esteemed members of the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation Inc. (FPPF).

There are about more than a hundred of art-photographs in each branch.

The exhibit started in May with travel shots. This month, you will see flowers. Come July, it’s all art photography.

Regular customers should know by now. While knifing through mouthwatering baby back ribs, they are treated to images that seem to be begging to be brought home and kept forever on display in the living room.

We are compelled to describe the experience as a feast for body and soul.

The good thing is, if you buy an artwork, majority of the proceeds goes to fund the FPPF Center, which is still housed in a rented place. It is Tony Roma’s choice for their corporate social responsibility project.

“This is a milestone for Tony Roma’s in the Philippines because we are the only one doing this. I had to clear it first with our parent company. Personally, I appreciate good artworks. I also collect. So with this project, I’m also helping our Filipino photographers showcase their finest works and earn something,” said Rosa Eugenio, general manager of Tony Roma’s.

For those who’ve been living under the rock and feasting on raw vegetables in the last decades, Tony Roma’s has two branches, one in Glorietta 4 in Makati City and the other at Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa City.

Eugenio pointed out that the two branches have different artworks on display. There are also ongoing workshops on basic and advanced photography, which the FPPF has been known for years.  

As of this writing, we’ve learned that the bestsellers were the ones done by Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala and his daughter in law Kitkat. With regard to the price, it is assured that each artwork is within the range of both serious collectors and casual diners.

And so always remember, at Tony Roma’s, you don’t only enjoy feasting on the finest ribs in town, you also have a chance to “buy, own and bring home an Ayala.”

No other restaurant-turned-gallery can claim as much.

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